Weekly Worship - Leanna Crawford - Truth I'm Standing On (Official Lyric Video)

This song - I had never heard it before this week and then someone from church posted it; my sister-in-law shared it and I heard it on the radio.  So I hope you enjoy it today and maybe it will show up during your week too. 

2020 Week in Photos #38

 This was our first full week of a regular school schedule and I was almost immediately reminded of how little I get done on school days. From 9-12 and 1-3 I spend most of my time with one of my kids working on school work.  I'm thankful for that opportunity, though, and thankful my kids are at home with me! 

Here's a look back at the week. 

Saturday - I worked to finish organizing the garage and I can say that it is done.  Yes, we can park in the garage once again and it is great!  There are a few little projects to still do but even those are currently organized in a space so I can get to them when I get to them.  

Sunday - We love Football.  We enjoy watching the games and cheering on our teams.  Darryl and I also did some yard work later in the day so that we didn't feel like we did nothing HA! 

Monday - School :-)  

Tuesday - School :-) 

Wednesday - School . .. our day gets a little shorter on Wednesdays.  I cleaned our Living Room carpet and rearranged.  Our furniture is super heavy . .. I was quickly reminded of why I don't rearrange the furniture LOL  

Thursday - Nate had his follow up appointment for his surgery and all went well.  We enjoyed lunch at my mom's on our way home.

Friday - Wait, I have photos! 

Our morning started with our first Connections Academy Field trip of the year!  This year all field trips are virtual so instead of our annual meet and greet at the cider mill, the field trip team put together a virtual trip with lots of activities.  We could only stay for the 1st hour but it was still fun. 

From there, we went to our Co-op Pizza Party.  We can't have our weekly co-ops this semester but we are trying to get together when we can.  We met outside (obviously) and enjoyed warm pizza on a very chilly day!  It was fun to see our friends. 

And . . .. Tae Kwon Do finally started!  Due to Covid requirements, they can't meet as a large group so we meet with 8 other members and a black belt who teachers this group.  Nate was very happy to be back and he gets to be senior student, which he enjoys as well.  

So, that was our week.  I might have to get creative with photos . . ..our weeks are pretty much the same this time of year! 

One last thing, I would like to wish my brother Ken a very happy birthday - yep, his birthday is today!  (He doesn't read my blog . .. but my other brothers do!) 

Weekly Menu

Last week pretty much went as planned.  I threw in a few new recipes for some game day food but otherwise we stuck to the tried and true!  I'm continuing the pattern this week.   

Friday - Our weekly night out! We all look forward to this treat.  By the time Friday evening rolls around, I'm ready to not cook and not clean up especially now since Nate starts TKD and I'll be gone most weeks from until 4:30ish! 

Saturday - Finally, dinner back at my mom's!  I love this because I don't have to cook (or clean up HA!).  We really enjoy hanging out with my mom too!  

Sunday - I've been trying to plan some fun football foods while also keeping myself out of the kitchen as much as possible so I can enjoy the games too. This week I just plan to have Taco/Nacho supplies for "Kick-Off".  Everyone can make what they want to eat :-)  Last week we had Boboli Pizza in the evening and that was perfect because it was easy and tasted good.  I think I'll plan that again!  

Monday - Enchiladas (with leftover Taco Stuff) 

Tuesday - Slow Cooker Zuppa Tuscana and Bosco Sticks

Wednesday - Swish Chicken Supreme, Mashed Potatoes and green beans

Thursday - Chicken Scallapini and pasta and garlic bread 

What I'm Reading

 

This past month I read through this series - Love Blossoms in Oregon.  I love a good series and this one did not disappoint.  The author did a good job at connecting the story throughout each one of the books and therefore keeping the characters that you learn to live "alive" throughout the whole series.  The negative?  Book 4 was short and anti-climatic.  I felt like the author had committed to writing a 4 series set but ran out of ideas after book 3 (Sorry, that's harsh but . . well, true) 

I feel like I read more than just 4 books but looking back through my Kindle, these are the 4 most recent books.  

Not sure what I'm going to read next - I need to figure out what books on my Kindle I haven't read plus I have some actual paperback books to read too :-) 

What we are Eating - Football Food!

 We are enjoying our Football Sundays and also our football food!  This past Sunday I made two different recipes and just wanted to share links to both since I didn't take photos! 

First, I made the best meatballs I ever made!!  The recipe is from No Spoon Necessary and they are Dr. Pepper Meatballs. Just plain amazing.  I did leave the jalapeno out of the meatballs since we aren't fans and I left the siracha out of the sauce.  Otherwise, I made it like it is posted.  Once cooked, I placed them in the crock pot with the sauce and set it on warm for us to enjoy.  Yum! 

Second, I made Rotel Dip and the recipe can be found HERE (Spaceships and Laser Beams).  I should really call it "Non-Rotel" Dip because the biggest change is that I don't use Rotel.  Instead I use a jar of salsa and we love it that way.  This time I made it with sausage instead of beef and it was super tasty!  Darryl said it was his favorite. 

Do you know how you know it's good?  We ate it so fast that I never got a good photo of either one!  I guess I might have to make them again :-)  

Enjoy! 

October Goals

 Welcome to October!  Hasn't this been the longest year?  On one hand, it's nice.  It felt like years were zooming by and it has been nice to slow down and enjoy the everyday.  On the other hand, I feel like we've had 72 months in this one year HA!  Oh well.  Along with that, I feel like I accomplished a lot of things AND Darryl also accomplished most of his "Covid" list before returning to work BUT I also feel like I could have gotten more done!  Oh well.  We are creeping towards the end of 2020 and I still have goals to meet! 

1. Scrapbooking - This is my most fun goal yet it is the one that I usually accomplish the least on each month.  Here's my goals: 1) Finish my nieces book.   I just got a new printer so I can finish printing letters and get the book to her.  2) Order April Photos - 2011, 2017, 2018, 2020.  3) File the photos I ordered last month by date so they are ready to scrapbook 4) I'm working on shifting some albums a little based on album color to make them work better.  So, my goal this month is to start with 2001 (the year we got married) and put albums into the correct colors (this is hard to explain).  I also want to make sure that page protectors are on everything and, depending on the year, add the memorabilia to those albums.  Plus, order imprinted spines for at least 5 albums.  This goal is one of those where I'm just going to go one or two yers at a time as I organize so lets see how far I get this month. 

2. Reading - I truly love to read.  I love curling up with a good book and a foo foo coffee (I need to put a kurieg on my Christmas list so I can enjoy my foo foo coffee again!) and reading the afternoon away!  Anyway, I used to be much better and setting my reading list goal for the year and for the month and actually accomplishing it!  Well, that's the 1st part of the goal 1) Set my reading goal for 2021 - How many books I want to read, what non-fiction books to read, etc. which means doing some research on some topics I want to study/learn more about.  2) Read - read every day.  This really isn't a hard goal because I usually kick back after my extra kids leave and read for 30 minutes or so until it's time to make dinner  3)Read 1 non-fiction book this month!!

3) Cleaning - Last month I created a great calendar to follow to accomplish my goals and it did work - it at least helped me focus.  It broke down the living room and basement into 20 minute (or so) tasks each day.  This month the room of choice is Josh and Nate's bedroom.  It is crowded since we took the bunk beds apart. It's time to be "mean" (ha - not really, I am so not that mom!) and go through all the bins, games, boxes, etc. and clear stuff out.  I'd love to be able to get even a shelf or two out of the room to open it up.  I actually have high hopes of cleaning off a plastic storage shelf and being able to move it back to the basement!  

4) Family - This month is Josh's birthday so we will focus on that this month.  Darryl and I also have a weekend away planned.  I also need to go through the boys clothes with them and clean out anything they don't want or have outgrown.  (this kind of goes along with cleaning their room).  Once done with that, I will need to get them some pants/long sleeves.  

5) Homeschool - My only goal in October is to get into our schedule and to finish the month on schedule or ahead of schedule.  Nate has a month portfolio that is due by January - we've set a goal to finish it in October so it's done.  

6) Holiday Journal/Planning - It's REALLY time to get this journal out and look at Thanksgiving plans.  I'm hosting this year so I want to start grocery shopping for some things early.  It's also time to start thinking about Christmas.  I actually just ordered a few stocking stuffers.  I need Christmas lists from both Josh and Nate.  I'd like to be at least started by the end of the month.  Finally, I just ordered Nate's Halloween Costume but Josh is undecided so I still need to get his.  Finally, I want to make a plan for taking the boys shopping for their people.  I feel like that is always a rushed pressure and I would instead like that to be done early this year. 

7) The Basement - I'm continuing on with my calendar plan - 20 minutes a day or organizing.  I'm transferring everything into see through containers and also transferring everything into easier to carry containers instead of HUGE heavy containers!  

8) Piano - This kind of goes with homeschooling - Josh and Nate will start having "seatwork" time which will include piano practice.  I also want to get the piano tuned this month.  

9) Photography - Time to read my new book once section at a time and practice :-) 

10) Spiritual - Read my daily devotional 

11) Misc - 1) Clean up the yard and fill in the holes 2) Have Josh finish his artwork from last semester 3) Get new tires on Darryl's vehicle 4) Take the AC units out of the windows (I'm glad I put this off - I was still running them at the end of September!) 5) Pick out camping dates for next year so I'm ready to reserve them on time  6) Organize the bathroom cupboard - it just needs to be done and can't wait for the month I deep clean the bathroom! 7) I have an idea brewing for a vacation next summer but in order for it to happen I have to plan now and begin saving so my goal is to get it all planned so I can start saving for it :-)  8) Clean out the vehicles and set up my new organizing bins in each one (for lysol, wipes, extra bags, etc) 9) Make sure my October flag is hung up :-)  10) I cleaned the garage last month but there are 4 bins of "donations" that I put out there like 5 years ago HA!  While pulling them down to decide what to do with them, I found a basket and two bins I had been looking for for quite awhile so I've decided I need to go through those bins before I donate them!  

September Goal Overview

 As I expected, September slowed us way down as school started.  After having lots of freedom since basically March, my days are taken up again with lots of schooling and trying to come up with a schedule that works for both Josh and Nate (oh,  and me too!)  Throw in a surgery and we still aren't anywhere close to a routine yet!  (Plus our friends JUST went back to school!)  

Thankfully, I can mark a few things off my list though! 

1. Scrapbooking - 1) This month I have a weekend scrapbook "retreat" planned.  It is a Creative Memories Virtual Crop and I have marked it off to participate as much as possible.  I even purchased the "secret bundle" to open "live" together online.  2) Finish my nieces graduation book - still trying to get those last letters.  3) Order all March photos for 2011, 2017, 2018, and 2020.  I'm just really working towards getting them all printed so I have them.  Still want to finish 2019 before I pick my next "year" to work on.1) Well, the "retreat" fell on a busy weekend so I didn't make it a priority so I didn't do anything.  I did open my box, which was fun.  2) I'm still trying to wrap up my nieces book - which includes needing a new printer to finish printing things  3) The March photos are ordered and actually already delivered. 

2. Reading - 1) Read for fun every single day.  2) Read  A Longing for Paris.  I decided to try and focus on one book this month my goal word - Peace.  And this is the book! 1) I didn't get to read every day but I tried to read as many as possible.  The weather is cooler so I have even enjoyed sitting outside on my swing again for 30 minutes and reading.  2) I have not started "A Longing for Paris".  

3) Cleaning - Besides doing my weekly home blessing hour (Flylady!) I'm focused this month on the living room.  As we pick up with school I feel like I need to focus on the room we spend the most time in and deep clean it (Also Flylady - deep cleaning!)  Who knows, I might even steam clean my carpet :-) At the beginning of the month, I wrote a task for each day in order to deep clean the LR. They were 20-60 minute tasks but, I can say that I'm on schedule!  I'm hopeful to finish up the last few things on the list this week so I can start October on schedule. 

4)  Family - Get Josh running shoes.  Go camping. We camped.  No shoes.  HA!  Actually, In October I'll have cleaning out Josh and Nate's clothes on my list so when I take Josh to the store to pick out a few things, I'll see about shoes.  

5)  Homeschool - We are ready to go and will have our first day on Friday, September 11th right after returning from camping.  My main goal in September is to have Josh finish on schedule for September; Nate - it will depend on how many days (up to two weeks) he is down after surgery. We are on schedule! 

6) Holiday Journal - It's time to get that thing out and remind myself of everything I've forgotten about our holidays! Haven't even looked at this yet. 

7) The Basement - 20 minutes a day.  That's my goal.  Going through boxes and bins and reorganizing things, cleaning things out and setting things up on the shelves so that all is organized. I'm making progress finally!  Sometimes I think it will take longer so I don't start but amazingly, Flylady is right, just set a timer for 15 minutes (ok, I do 20) and stop when it goes off.  I got through 6 bins - sorted them, and put them away in that time frame.  One box at a time, right? 

8) Piano - 1) Get the piano tuned 2) Start our at home lessons once again. This is part of the "schedule" that hasn't happened yet. 

9) Photography - I got my new book and my goal is to just start on page one, read it and do it. Need to get busy on this one! 

10) Spiritual - 1) Read my daily devotional. Nope! 

11) Misc Goals:  Gather cameras/video cameras and make sure they all work/are charged etc.  2) Continue work on cleaning up the yard 3) Clean the garage now that the door is fixed!!  4) Fill the holes in the yard 5) Clean out both vehicles 6) Get a new flag pole for the front of the house and keep my flags up to date 7) Decorate for fall (I usually do this right at the end of September so I'm adding it to this months goals)  8) Put up outside Halloween Decor (also right at the end of September)  1) Not done 2) Working on it 3) Done 4) Working on it 5) Not done - I just ordered a couple of bags to help organize the vehicles so this is moving to October.  6) Not done 7 and 8) These aren't done yet but will be done this week.  The indoor bins are already upstairs to work on this week and I plan on decorating outside by the weekend.