Now it's that between Thanksgiving and Christmas where we do some fun things but try to spend as little money as possible HA! That fine balance of doing Christmas shopping and being intentional with it all while still keeping up with life's responsibilities! That means sticking to a menu and our food budget is pretty important this month too! I'll be honest, I've been a little "lazy" the past few weeks with our eating out budget . . .we've stopped a few times for lunch or grabbed dinner because it was easy. This month I have to be tough! HA! It doesn't meant we won't eat out - just that we need to NOT eat out when it isn't planned!
So, with all of that said, here's the plan for the coming week:
Friday - Tonight the boys are at a friends house for a birthday party so Darryl and I get a "free" date night.
Saturday - My mom offered to make dinner with Thanksgiving Leftovers so we won't turn her down!
Sunday - I'm hopeful we will still benefit from those Leftovers creations of my mom today :-)
Monday - Back to reality of cooking HA! Tonight will be Tacos to keep it easy (And to make it easier - I had plenty of leftovers last Monday so I froze them to use tonight!)
Tuesday - Pulled Pork BBQ, Homemade Applesauce, and Biscuits. This is also a benefit of leftovers from last week - a week ago I made a pork loin. I froze the leftovers for dinner tonight. I had planned to make applesauce last week but it didn't happen so I kept the apples to do it this week. I love simple meals
Wednesday - The boys are back to AWANA this week so Frozen Pizza it is!
Thursday - Ham and Cheese Quiche, Lemon Bread, and Fruit. Guess what? Leftovers! I had some diced Ham I used in another recipe a few weeks ago that I froze plus I have a pie crust in the freezer so it's easy to make the quiche and the bread is from a box mix.
I love it when I can use items in my freezer to keep our grocery bill lower and also make some amazing meals! (When we have good food to eat - it is easier to eat at home!)
Friday, November 29, 2019
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Recap of November Goals
I know that November isn't quite over but I thought I would post my recap now since I don't think I'll get much else done before Saturday :-) I didn't accomplish as much as I hope to but looking back I know we focused on school a lot and school is also taking more time out of our day. Weekends have been busy which means I've had less time to tackle some of my projects.
1. Finances - I've said it many times - we live on a very tight budget. Yes, this is a choice because it is important to both Darryl and I that I stay home with the boys. The Lord has always provided - sometimes in mysterious ways (anonymous gifts through the mail that I receive every once in awhile - just a $20.00 bill - but it is always a blessing) but he does provide. This past year I have tried to make it a priority, almost my job, to be intentional with our spending. I've failed miserably at times but a few months along the way, I've succeeded. Amazingly, the harder I work at this "job" the more stress free and joyful our lives our because we aren't overwhelmed by finances. All of that to say my goal this month is to track. every. single. thing. This time of year with Christmas and another birthday always gets financially stressful. I want to alleviate that as much as possible by not spending on unnecessary items. This was a 50/50 success. I started out strong but then fizzled out about half way through for no reason other then I tend to forget to write things down!
2. Cleaning - At this point, I've "deep cleaned" every room. Which really just means that I've taken time to intentionally clean each one and get rid of what doesn't belong. The main goal this month is to set up a routine of keeping everything clean. I love Flylady ideas of cleaning - I just need to own it. Each week I started out with the goal to follow the zone lists but I just did not get through it at all!
3. Scrapbooking - My main goal this month is to finish November 2014 and December 2014 I have no goals of ordering any supplies or photos. Why? Go back to #1 listed above. I have plenty of supplies to use; I can make a list of things (stickers) that I want to add in and purchase them a little later. Generally though, I have plenty of what I need! November 2014 is done (I had some great scrapbooking time on November 2nd!!! which actually allowed me to finish November photos!) I'm about 1/2 way through December 2014 and this is the one thing I might finish by Saturday if I get a chance!
4. Family Fun - I will be looking for some family fun activities to do. Inexpensive but fun! We went to a Wedding which was fun. The boys participated in Library activities and we had our Presentation Night!
5. Purchase all of Nate's birthday presents by mid-month. Done!! yeah!
6. Finalize what we hope to purchase the boys for gifts for Christmas and start saving for those items. Also make a list of other gift buying - you know, the ones that surprise you a week before Christmas - and start purchasing those items as well. The list is done and I've started buying things that are on sale.
7. Decorate for Christmas. My mom is hosting Thanksgiving this year so I feel like I can get our decorations for Christmas out the week of Thanksgiving. I want to be intentional with our decorations. Put out what I love, get rid of what I don't love or have room for and make it easier to put things away in January. Done!
8. Decorate outside for Christmas. I like to do this in November before it gets REALLY cold. Done!
9. Finish November schooling current! I've been really striving this year to stay current and not get a few days behind on lessons. Barely . .well technically I think there are like 2 lessons left but I'll let that slide.
10. Register for our winter semester at Agape. This technically happens the first week of December but I need to plan for it and set a little money aside to pay for it so the planning happens now. Classes are picked and we are ready to register!
11. Write our Christmas Letter, take a family photo, and make our photo cards. Last year, I figure out it is super cheap to turn a "photo" into a collage photo and use it as our Christmas card and it only costs a few dollars. It's the perfect solution to get it done at the right price. I also have stamps already so this year, doing one of my favorite things, is well within our budget! I forgot about this one - this will be done this weekend because I want to get our cards sent out the first week in December.
12. Find a few Christmas projects to do with the boys. I love projects but the last few years I haven't planned well. I'd like to find something that they can make and enjoy! I have the list made - now to just do it!
13. I know I listed cleaning above but the basement is always its own category. Now the basement is cleaned and organized so now, I want to go deeper though. For example I have two HUGE bins full of baby clothes from the boys. I got rid of a lot, but kept even more because of memories :-) I feel like I am far enough removed from them now that I can re-sort them and keep only the super special ones and donate or sell the rest. Ultimately, I want to create a bin for each of the boys of things that I find special. That way I can add things like sports shirts, birthday shirts, etc. as the grow older. So, this month, I want to go through those two bins specifically and clean off my drafting table (it was my dads). The drafting table makes a great place to wrap gifts - but it is never, ever cleaned off! I don't think I went into the basement other then to wash clothes HA!
14. Pick out the photos of the boys for my wall. This might also mean taking a photo as well. I worked in October on getting "the" photo but have really struggled this fall with great photos! Still in the works.
15. Clean out the big black rolling cart stored in my bathroom currently! It ultimately needs to go to the basement but first I need to clean it out :-) Nope!
16. Plan out our December intentionally. Things like our photo with Santa, our Christmas tree, seeing Christmas lights, the annual parade, and making Christmas Cookies (which I think my mom wants to do, or at least help do, this year) are all fun things! Done!
17. Order my Christmas soundtrack and practice it; plus pick out the next song I'd like to sing. Done!
18. Get the dog's nails cut :-) Nope!
19. Clean up the yard - put away the stuff like the hose, summer decor, ect. This has to get done before it's buried in snow! We will also have to move the pop-up camper but we are watching the weather for that - when they are forcasting inches of snow on the near frozen ground, we will move it to the side of our garage. Until then, it sits in the driveway :-) Everything is done but the moving the pop-up. We did get a snowstorm but then it melted and we've had rain so we haven't needed to really move it yet. I'm watching the future forecast and when it looks we are getting a good snow, we will move it!
2. Cleaning - At this point, I've "deep cleaned" every room. Which really just means that I've taken time to intentionally clean each one and get rid of what doesn't belong. The main goal this month is to set up a routine of keeping everything clean. I love Flylady ideas of cleaning - I just need to own it. Each week I started out with the goal to follow the zone lists but I just did not get through it at all!
3. Scrapbooking - My main goal this month is to finish November 2014 and December 2014 I have no goals of ordering any supplies or photos. Why? Go back to #1 listed above. I have plenty of supplies to use; I can make a list of things (stickers) that I want to add in and purchase them a little later. Generally though, I have plenty of what I need! November 2014 is done (I had some great scrapbooking time on November 2nd!!! which actually allowed me to finish November photos!) I'm about 1/2 way through December 2014 and this is the one thing I might finish by Saturday if I get a chance!
4. Family Fun - I will be looking for some family fun activities to do. Inexpensive but fun! We went to a Wedding which was fun. The boys participated in Library activities and we had our Presentation Night!
5. Purchase all of Nate's birthday presents by mid-month. Done!! yeah!
6. Finalize what we hope to purchase the boys for gifts for Christmas and start saving for those items. Also make a list of other gift buying - you know, the ones that surprise you a week before Christmas - and start purchasing those items as well. The list is done and I've started buying things that are on sale.
7. Decorate for Christmas. My mom is hosting Thanksgiving this year so I feel like I can get our decorations for Christmas out the week of Thanksgiving. I want to be intentional with our decorations. Put out what I love, get rid of what I don't love or have room for and make it easier to put things away in January. Done!
8. Decorate outside for Christmas. I like to do this in November before it gets REALLY cold. Done!
9. Finish November schooling current! I've been really striving this year to stay current and not get a few days behind on lessons. Barely . .well technically I think there are like 2 lessons left but I'll let that slide.
10. Register for our winter semester at Agape. This technically happens the first week of December but I need to plan for it and set a little money aside to pay for it so the planning happens now. Classes are picked and we are ready to register!
11. Write our Christmas Letter, take a family photo, and make our photo cards. Last year, I figure out it is super cheap to turn a "photo" into a collage photo and use it as our Christmas card and it only costs a few dollars. It's the perfect solution to get it done at the right price. I also have stamps already so this year, doing one of my favorite things, is well within our budget! I forgot about this one - this will be done this weekend because I want to get our cards sent out the first week in December.
12. Find a few Christmas projects to do with the boys. I love projects but the last few years I haven't planned well. I'd like to find something that they can make and enjoy! I have the list made - now to just do it!
13. I know I listed cleaning above but the basement is always its own category. Now the basement is cleaned and organized so now, I want to go deeper though. For example I have two HUGE bins full of baby clothes from the boys. I got rid of a lot, but kept even more because of memories :-) I feel like I am far enough removed from them now that I can re-sort them and keep only the super special ones and donate or sell the rest. Ultimately, I want to create a bin for each of the boys of things that I find special. That way I can add things like sports shirts, birthday shirts, etc. as the grow older. So, this month, I want to go through those two bins specifically and clean off my drafting table (it was my dads). The drafting table makes a great place to wrap gifts - but it is never, ever cleaned off! I don't think I went into the basement other then to wash clothes HA!
14. Pick out the photos of the boys for my wall. This might also mean taking a photo as well. I worked in October on getting "the" photo but have really struggled this fall with great photos! Still in the works.
15. Clean out the big black rolling cart stored in my bathroom currently! It ultimately needs to go to the basement but first I need to clean it out :-) Nope!
16. Plan out our December intentionally. Things like our photo with Santa, our Christmas tree, seeing Christmas lights, the annual parade, and making Christmas Cookies (which I think my mom wants to do, or at least help do, this year) are all fun things! Done!
17. Order my Christmas soundtrack and practice it; plus pick out the next song I'd like to sing. Done!
18. Get the dog's nails cut :-) Nope!
19. Clean up the yard - put away the stuff like the hose, summer decor, ect. This has to get done before it's buried in snow! We will also have to move the pop-up camper but we are watching the weather for that - when they are forcasting inches of snow on the near frozen ground, we will move it to the side of our garage. Until then, it sits in the driveway :-) Everything is done but the moving the pop-up. We did get a snowstorm but then it melted and we've had rain so we haven't needed to really move it yet. I'm watching the future forecast and when it looks we are getting a good snow, we will move it!
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Weekly Worship -- Shane & Shane: He Will Hold Me Fast
Shane and Shane puts out some good songs and this one doesn't disappoint. A friend of mine shared this sometime this past week and I really enjoyed listening to it. I hope you do as well.
Saturday, November 23, 2019
Our Week in photos #43
Here's a look back at our week!
Saturday - We had a fun day. We started the day by attending a late morning wedding at our church. It was a beautiful wedding and fun time to gather with friends and family. Later in the day we went to a Pancake Dinner Fundraiser for one of the little boys in our co-op who has been in the hospital for two months due to complications from an e-coli infection. I didn't get any photos of either activity but we had a great day!
Sunday - Plans changed when Josh woke up running a fever. He seldom runs a fever for any reason so his body just needed to rest. Nate went to church with Nana since they had Christmas Program practice and he didn't want to miss that. I enjoyed a quiet day at home where I got lots done! Again, no photos, but we had another nice day despite the fever.
Monday - The boys and I went on an awesome field trip to the Gerald Ford International Airport. We tour the field maintenance building, had a brief tour of the airport, met with a pilot, got a tour of the air traffic control tour, and got to hang out at the airport fire department. It was an amazing time!
Tuesday - After a full day of school, we headed to our monthly Art Lab at one of our local libraries. The boys painted space pictures. (The librarian takes pictures but she waits a month to post them on their Facebook page!)
Wednesday - This was just a full day of school.
Thursday - After a morning of school, we headed out to the monthly Homeschool event at another one of our local libraries. This year they are learning about National Parks.
Friday - This is our first Friday home in a long time. We worked on some school projects trying to "knock a few things off our list". As much as I love our Co-Op, it is nice to be home on a few Fridays and get caught up/ahead on school!
Saturday - We had a fun day. We started the day by attending a late morning wedding at our church. It was a beautiful wedding and fun time to gather with friends and family. Later in the day we went to a Pancake Dinner Fundraiser for one of the little boys in our co-op who has been in the hospital for two months due to complications from an e-coli infection. I didn't get any photos of either activity but we had a great day!
Sunday - Plans changed when Josh woke up running a fever. He seldom runs a fever for any reason so his body just needed to rest. Nate went to church with Nana since they had Christmas Program practice and he didn't want to miss that. I enjoyed a quiet day at home where I got lots done! Again, no photos, but we had another nice day despite the fever.
Monday - The boys and I went on an awesome field trip to the Gerald Ford International Airport. We tour the field maintenance building, had a brief tour of the airport, met with a pilot, got a tour of the air traffic control tour, and got to hang out at the airport fire department. It was an amazing time!
Tuesday - After a full day of school, we headed to our monthly Art Lab at one of our local libraries. The boys painted space pictures. (The librarian takes pictures but she waits a month to post them on their Facebook page!)
Wednesday - This was just a full day of school.
Thursday - After a morning of school, we headed out to the monthly Homeschool event at another one of our local libraries. This year they are learning about National Parks.
Friday - This is our first Friday home in a long time. We worked on some school projects trying to "knock a few things off our list". As much as I love our Co-Op, it is nice to be home on a few Fridays and get caught up/ahead on school!
Friday, November 22, 2019
Weekly Menu
Can you believe that it's Thanksgiving week? I can't! I feel like we just started school yesterday and yet it's almost the end of the year. This is the first year in several that I am not cooking Thanksgiving dinner so I think that plays a part in it too - usually I plan out the meal and make a master grocery list at the end of October so I can buy everything on sale throughout the month. My mom wanted to do it this year so I let her ;-)
Despite not cooking on Thanksgiving, I still have to cook the rest of the week so here's the plan.
Friday - Breakfast for dinner - Amish Breakfast Casserole, Coffee Cake, and Fruit. This has been on the menu for weeks and just keeps getting carried over!
Saturday - I haven't decided yet. Sometimes on Saturdays - I'm ready to grab something simple - whether we all go to McDonald's or treat ourselves to Pizza Hut, it's just nice to have a night "out".
Sunday - We have our annual Thanksgiving dinner at church at 5:00 so, I will keep lunch a little lighter. Grilled Cheese Sammies and Tomato Soup sounds good :-)
Monday - Tacos :-) We eat in shifts on Mondays so Tacos is always a good thing to have for everyone to eat!
Tuesday - Pork Loin, Mac and Cheese, Applesauce, and biscuits
Wednesday - I don't know about you, but the night before Thanksgiving I've learned to keep it simple and as far away from Turkey as possible. My tradition the last few years has been homemade pizza and I think I will stick with that again this year. We all get our own little crust and get to put our own toppings of choice on it. It's fun, simple, and not too heavy!
Thursday - It's Thanksgiving! We are going "over the river and through the woods" to Nana's house!
Despite not cooking on Thanksgiving, I still have to cook the rest of the week so here's the plan.
Friday - Breakfast for dinner - Amish Breakfast Casserole, Coffee Cake, and Fruit. This has been on the menu for weeks and just keeps getting carried over!
Saturday - I haven't decided yet. Sometimes on Saturdays - I'm ready to grab something simple - whether we all go to McDonald's or treat ourselves to Pizza Hut, it's just nice to have a night "out".
Sunday - We have our annual Thanksgiving dinner at church at 5:00 so, I will keep lunch a little lighter. Grilled Cheese Sammies and Tomato Soup sounds good :-)
Monday - Tacos :-) We eat in shifts on Mondays so Tacos is always a good thing to have for everyone to eat!
Tuesday - Pork Loin, Mac and Cheese, Applesauce, and biscuits
Wednesday - I don't know about you, but the night before Thanksgiving I've learned to keep it simple and as far away from Turkey as possible. My tradition the last few years has been homemade pizza and I think I will stick with that again this year. We all get our own little crust and get to put our own toppings of choice on it. It's fun, simple, and not too heavy!
Thursday - It's Thanksgiving! We are going "over the river and through the woods" to Nana's house!
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Weekly Worship - Tauren Wells - God's Not Done With You
A friend of mine shared this on Facebook this past week so I thought I'd pass it on.
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Our Week in Photos #42
Here's a quick look back at our week!
Saturday - I got to attend a ladies breakfast with some friends which was a nice treat for me! Then the boys and I went with my mom so they could all shop for their Operation Christmas Shoebox gifts. Finally, the boys had a friend come over to play for the afternoon.
Sunday - Church followed by packing boxes at church for Shoeboxes! This is the first time we attended and it was really an enjoyable event. The boys loved it.
Monday - The plan was school but . . .we got a snow storm. The first of the season so we had a snow day and the kids all played outside!
Tuesday - We got some school done followed by a trip to the Orthodontist and piano lessons!
Wednesday - Finally - just a school day!
Thursday - I had a leadership team meeting and then Nate went to a friends house to play for the afternoon.
Friday - We had a Co-Op gathering today followed by an afternoon at home.
It was a busy, but fun week!
Saturday - I got to attend a ladies breakfast with some friends which was a nice treat for me! Then the boys and I went with my mom so they could all shop for their Operation Christmas Shoebox gifts. Finally, the boys had a friend come over to play for the afternoon.
Sunday - Church followed by packing boxes at church for Shoeboxes! This is the first time we attended and it was really an enjoyable event. The boys loved it.
Monday - The plan was school but . . .we got a snow storm. The first of the season so we had a snow day and the kids all played outside!
Our dog does NOT like the snow HA!
A few friends playing in the snow!
Wednesday - Finally - just a school day!
Thursday - I had a leadership team meeting and then Nate went to a friends house to play for the afternoon.
Friday - We had a Co-Op gathering today followed by an afternoon at home.
It was a busy, but fun week!
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