Windows 10 - Photo Woes

I just updated my computer to Windows 10 this past week and it really went without a hitch except . . .the way it organizes and opens up photos is totally messing with my brain.  I can't find them on my computer yet I can see them and open them within windows and when I want to open older photos, it wants to open them in some other photo organizer.  So, I'm trying to figure that out and then I can post more photos :-)

Weekly Menu - Life has thrown us a curve ball

The past two weeks have not been what we expected as my dad had a massive stroke and is still in critical condition in a coma. My oldest brother, Kel, has reminded me that I haven't blogged in awhile so I thought I'd start back with an easy post and just blog our menu for the next week.  I've found a great blog with "kid friendly and affordable" meals.  I am impressed with this blog so far because her meal choices are similiar to mine so often, I can use my own recipes for her meal plans yet her plan helps me lay out my weekly menu without getting stuck in a rut!  This is only my second week using it though so we'll see if I stay impressed. 

Here's the plan for the coming week:

Saturday and Sunday - I'll be on the other side of the state with my mom who is spending all of her time at the hospital with my dad.  We'll be eating cafeteria food I'm sure ;-)  Darryl and the boys are on their own. 

Monday - This is the first night that both boys have baseball practice which puts us at the fields from 5:30-7:00.  Makes for a long night.  I plan on trying to feed the boys before practice and then have a snack afterwards.  So, on the meal plan is Slow Cooker Pulled Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches and French Fries.

Tuesday - Pancakes, bacon and sausage, and Fruit

Wednesday - Today is my birthday.  At the writing of this, our plans are up in the air.  What I do know is that I won't be cooking :-)

Thursday - Quick and Easy Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas, Rice, and Beans

Friday - Pizza Ring, Salad and Chips.  This is an old Pampered Chef recipe but I also made it using taco fillings.  I'm hoping both boys will like this - I'm going to tweak it in a way to make 1/4 of it more Nate's style and 1/4 of it more Josh's style. 

Weekly Menu - Back to normal

Last week we survived on Easter leftovers and eating out.  I love a good break from cooking but it's time to get back into planning dinners and actually cooking.  We are planning a vacation in June so we really need to cut back on any extra, unplanned spending before we go so we can have a no stress time away!

Here's the plan for the coming week.  I'm trying to use some things I have here and spend very little at the store:

Saturday - well, the kids are still gone.  I know, crazy right?  So Darryl and I will enjoy one last dinner out.  I will say, I'm so thankful for my parents willingly wanting my boys for almost a week.  It's been a refreshing break especially since it lined up with the extra kids being on vacation part of the time too.  It is not very often that I end up with no one at home a couple of days!  

Sunday - going to the parents for the day! (Time to love on those two great-nephews again!)

Monday - Chicken Thighs, Fried Rice, and Garlic Bread

Tuesday - Tacos!

Wednesday - Spaghetti and Meatballs w/homemade Garlic biscuits

Thursday - Ham and Scalloped potatoes in the crock pot

Friday - Maybe left overs with Mac and Cheese as the extra option

Teaching Tuesday - Star Student

One of the best things about the whole On-line school "thing" really is the teacher interaction especially with Josh's first grade teacher who is just fabulous. 

Well, this week, Josh was the star student! 

To say he was excited is an understatement.  There is just something special for a kid when they see their picture and name come up on the computer screen. 

To top it off, a day later, Josh got mail - his teacher sent him a packet addressed to "Josh Star. . .."  The smile at that kids face was priceless and he just kept saying, "My teacher is the best". 

So, for all of the days when I questioned this whole on-line thing, these special moments make it worth it!

Weekly Menu - The One with Easter and No Kids

I feel like this week and just flown by and I'm ont sure what we ate.  This week we had sick people in the house.  Both Darryl and Nate got hit with the cough, cold thing going around and even all of the sliced up onions all around the house didn't clear it up as fast as we'd like but I think they are both finally on the mend. 

I still have been going to the store on Tuesday but this next week should help get things back on track.  Here's the plan for the coming week!

Saturday - Darryl's working today since he missed a few days this past week due to illness.  The boys and I are going to hit up a couple of Easter Egg Hunts (including one with lunch!) and then I'll be cooking food up for Sunday so I plan on having Darryl bring something home or we'll meet him in town for something.

Sunday - Easter!  A few years ago I said I would never cook on Easter Sunday again because I literally spent the entire day in the kitchen.  Plus, Easter Sunday mornings are long between breakfast at church, Darryl and I both involved in the service and a longer service than normal.  (Sometimes I feel like we lose what Easter really is about and instead are just busy!) but, I decided to try it again.  Everything will be made and just need to be cooked.  So, Ham, Cheesy Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, Broccoli Salad, Jell-O Salad, and Rolls.  I figured that the potatoes and beans can cook while the boys open their Easter Baskets. 

Monday - The Kids are gone for a visit to Papa and Nana's.  Darryl and I can eat at Applebee's for $15.00 (thanks to half price burgers) so that's what we do!!!

Tuesday - Either Darryl will bring something home or we'll eat out. 

Wednesday - Darryl has rejoined the music group he played in for years (but had to take time off due to his back) so I'm thinking about meeting him in town for dinner. 

Thursday - Last night without kids so of course I'm not cooking HA!

Friday - The kids come home today so I'm going to plan Tacos - easy peasy.

Weekly Menu - Busy Lives

Things have been busier around here, or so it seems.  Our weekends have been full, many of our evenings have been full in one way or another so that just puts other things on hold!  My meal planning/cooking/grocery shopping has been give and take lately.  My weekly grocery shopping turned into a quick run to the store every single day for like 5 days HA!  I finally made it to the store this past Tuesday and shopped for a week but that throws off my menu planning.  :-)

Here's what I have for the coming week so far:

Saturday - We've gotten into a pattern of eating out on Saturday evenings BUT we will be eating lunch out today after the boys finish up at Sparks Olympics and my parents will be with us too!  So for dinner, I've planned  . . .leftovers :-) 

Sunday - Today we have a banquet at church for the main meal.  I'm taking Taco Salad and Turtle Brownies.  At home for dinner I plan on making a simple BBQ chicken Tortilla Pizza that we had last week and LOVED!

Monday - Tonight is the last night of gymnastics for this session so we get to watch the boys and see what they have learned.  We will celebrate by going to Applebees for 1/2 price burgers. 

Tuesday - Pork Chops, Loaded Cauliflower Mash, Mac and Cheese, Salad and Rolls

Since I shopped for "Tuesday-Tuesday" I don't have anything else planned at this point.  Hard to believe, though, that Easter is just around the corner! 

Weekly Menu - The One I haven't planned

I am sitting here on a Thursday evening realizing that I haven't even thought about what to cook this coming week.  I need to go back to last Sunday when we got to enjoy eating pizza with my brother and sister-in-law, Kelly and Deb plus meeting our new great nephew for the first time (oh, and see his parents haha). 

As of the writing of this, here's what I know:

Saturday - Darryl's working so, I'm already leaning towards him bringing something home like . . .Jet's Pizza :-)  I have considered meeting him in town for dinner so we'll see what happens.

Sunday - We have another missions lunch at church so I don't have to really plan dinner.  I'm in charge of bringing rolls and salad.  I'm going to do a little "salad bar" and make some yeast rolls

Monday - Gymnastics and Choir which means dinner has to be easy.  We all eat at different times in order to make it work out.

Tuesday - Friday . . .I'm still planning.