Menu Plan for the Week- 11-29-09

Wow! I cannot believe how fast this weekend flew by! Our company was a blast. I think we might have a new tradition for hosting Thanksgiving at our house now!

 

Here is what we have planned for this week:


Breakfasts: cereal, oatmeal, waffles (freezer batch), pancakes (freezer batch), banana nut muffins, French Toast (freezer batch)


Lunches: Ham or PB & J Sandwiches, fruit or veggies


Dinners:
Sunday- Fried Shrimp, Rice Pilaf, French Green Beans

Monday- Tacquitos, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice

Tuesday- Beef Tri Tip, Rice Pilaf, Broccoli

Wednesday- Toasted Cheese Sandwiches, Chicken Noodle Soup

Thursday- Spaghetti, Italian Sausage, Buttered Bread, Salad

Friday- Homemade Pizza, Salad

Saturday- Sloppy Joes, Corn, Salad

Find more menu planning inspiration at Organizing Junkie.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a wonderful day filled with friends and family, good food, and lots of laughter!

Thankful Thoughts

I am beyond blessed in my everyday life. I don't have everything my little heart desires, but I have everything I need. I have been thinking a lot about all of the things I am thankful for in my life and it pretty much comes down to my boys, my hubby, and my friends and family. Sure it's great that we have a nice house and dependable cars, but those things are not my world. I am thankful for those things, don't get me wrong, but I am most thankful for the people I am surrounded by in my life.

This weekend we get to host our friends and family from out of town. I am so excited to see everyone and to be able to share our home. I will be running around after school for the next few days like a little busy bee, but it will all be worth it when I get to talk (probably nonstop) and cook (a whole bunch of yumminess) and shop (until we drop) with these amazing ladies.

So on this week of thankfulness I am most thankful for the people that I have in my life!

You should stop by Laura's for Gratituesday to see what everyone else is thankful for this week!

Until next time,

Menu Plan for the Week

I am ready for this week, I think! Simple meals and clearing out the refrigerator up until the big feast will keep me sane and ready to indulge in some of my favorite treats. Here's what we're planning...

Breakfasts- oatmeal, cereal, pancakes (freezer stash), french toast (freezer stash), and waffles (freezer stash).

Lunches- ham sandwiches, PB & J sandwiches, apples, carrots with ranch, leftovers

Dinners-

Sunday-Tri Tip, Rice Pilaf, Corn

Monday- Beef Stew

Tuesday- YOYO Night

Wednesday- Nacho Night

Thursday- Traditional Thanksgiving Feast

Friday- Homemade Pizza Night

Saturday- Leftovers Feast

I hope everyone has a great week, eats lots of wonderful goodies and enjoys the time with family and friends!

For more menu ideas head on over to Organizing Junkie for Menu Plan Monday!

Until next time,

Thanksgiving Preparations!

The ultimate vision of a wonderful Thanksgiving!

As I have mentioned we will be having a full house for Thanksgiving this year. I am beyond excited and a little overwhelmed at the same time. I want everything to be perfect because I am a certified perfectionist, but I have learned (the hard way) enjoying my company is much more important than a perfect dinner presentation. I am making myself a bunch of lists to stay focused on what is really important for the comfort of my impending guests.

1. A welcoming home
2. Lots of good food
3. Clean bathrooms
(I live with 4 boys, so this can be a struggle, what can I say just keeping it real)
4. A hostess that is not grumpy
5. Letting these amazing women help me in the kitchen

Now on to the TO DOs before everyone gets here Wednesday:

1. House cleaned
-vacuum, dust, mop, bathrooms, kitchen
2. Little Boys' bedroom ready for guests
-fresh sheets, clean comforters, surfaces cleared
2. Pies baked
3. Eggs boiled for Deviled Eggs
4. Turkey defrosted
5. Craft supplies/ materials put away
6. Desk in kitchen cleared for serving dishes

TO DOs on Wednesday:
1. Go to school and enjoy my kiddos
2. Peel and cut potatoes
3. Cranberry jelly in fridge
4. Bake pies
5. Enjoy our guests

I think that's about as simple as I can make it for myself. I know I'll want to add in extras, but I'm working hard to remember to focus on what is truly important...spending time with our friends and family.

Have a great week everyone!

Until next time,

Menu Plan for the Week

This will be a busy week for all of us. We have the boys' parent conferences on Monday and then I start parent conferences for my students on Thursday. All of that mixed with getting a house ready for 15-20 people coming over for Thanksgiving and 6 of them staying with us for most of the weekend too! I am glad we have this week and one more weekend before we have a full house, we'll need it for me to feel like we're ready for all the fun!

Here's what we have planned for our meals this week.

Breakfasts- oatmeal, cereal, pancakes (freezer stash), french toast (freezer stash), and waffles (freezer stash).

Lunches- ham sandwiches, PB & J sandwiches, apples, carrots with ranch, leftovers

Dinners-

Sunday-Lemon Crispy Chicken, Steamed Rice, Broccoli

Monday- Fettuccini Alfredo, Breaded Chicken Patties, Broccoli

Tuesday- Hamburgers, Onion Strings, Salad

Wednesday- Toasted Cheese, Chicken Soup

Thursday- Pork Country Ribs, Twice Baked Potatoes, Broccoli

Friday- Homemade Pizza Night

Saturday- Tri Tip, Buttered Pasta, Broccoli

Hopefully everything will go well, I am enjoying having the oven on with the weather cooling off so much. If you need more inspiration head on over to Organizing Junkie for more menu ideas.

Until next time,

Veteran's Day

Today I want to thank all of my friends and family members who have chosen to serve our country in the military! We have every branch covered by someone we know and love very much. I am so very proud and humbled to have these brave souls in our family circle! The Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, and Marines are lucky to have or have had your time and your dedication to the defense of our great nation!

My grandpa Don paid the ultimate sacrifice and lost his life protecting the men who served under him in Vietnam. I never had the honor of meeting this man, but I hold him in the highest of regards for the sacrifice he made. His bravery is what serving in the military is all about!

So today it is our duty to honor and salute those active members and those that have retired from the armed forces! We should be humbled by the choice made to serve, it is an awesome responsibility.

Hug a veteran or active member and say, "THANK YOU!" For all you do!

Saluting our service men and women works for me!

Until next time,

Life's Path

I am grateful today for all the twists and turns that have made up my life. None of the things I have or am doing today were in my "plan", but of course I am learning it's not really my plan that is going to be my life. My hubby tells me often, "If you want to hear the sound of God's laughter tell him your plans."

I am grateful that the university I first attended was not a good fit for me because it lead me to find my very best friend who is now my hubby! I am grateful we were blessed with three amazing kids we didn't plan for, they still like to sneak up on us! I am grateful that my career in medicine was rerouted to a career in education. Being a mom has helped me to be a better teacher and vice versa!

It amazes me every day how well the trials in my life have turned out! I have just known things would be okay, even if I did panic a little (okay, well a lot sometimes!). I guess my faithfulness that I will not be given more than I can handle has gotten me through. Although, sometimes I wish He didn't think I could handle so much! (hehehe)

I guess I am just in a reflective mood today! Things are good and I am so grateful for the messes and the busy times and even the noise (but I have to admit we talk about noise canceling headphones a lot around here). Life is what you make of it and I'm trying everyday to train myself to make the most of every moment!

Have a great Gratiuesday and visit Laura's to see what everyone else is grateful for today!

Until next time,

Menu Plan for the Week

I have had a busy weekend in the kitchen. Lots of good stuff going on! I love this time of year, but I think my cooking gene goes into hyper-drive!

Here's what we have planned for our meals this week.

Breakfasts- oatmeal, cereal, pancakes (freezer stash), french toast (freezer stash), waffles (freezer stash), and Banana Nut Muffins (freezer stash).

Lunches- ham sandwiches, PB & J sandwiches, apples, carrots with ranch, leftovers

Dinners-

Sunday-Fajitas, Spanish Rice(turned out AWESOME, according to the men around here), Refried Beans

Monday- Spaghetti, Italian Sausage, Buttered Bread

Tuesday- Meatloaf, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy

Wednesday- Pulled Pork, Corn on the Cob, Pasta

Thursday- YOYO (leftovers)

Friday- Homemade Pizza Night

Saturday- Tacos, Spanish Rice, Beans

Well that's it, I am looking forward to being home on Wednesday for Veteran's Day. We have a lot to remember this year as we honor all who serve and have served! If you need more inspiration head on over to Organizing Junkie for more menu ideas.

Until next time,

Life

This has been a great week at school and at home. I am feeling truly happy and encouraged by all the good little things that are happening around me.

My boys are staying healthy and eating like crazy. (I don't think I'm going to be able to "plan" YOYO nights anymore, there simply have not been any leftovers!) I think they're eating extra as the temperatures around here are dipping (only some days, it's California weather, hehe). We have their parent conferences in about a week, so I am looking forward to hearing about their progress!

K has been busy around the house. We can walk around in the garage much easier now! It is amazing what a little organizing can do. I like having K home, so it will be hard when he goes back to work.

My students are doing an amazing job! I taught a lesson about adding -er and -est to words and one of my little boys found an example in his library book. I asked him the base word and he was correct. He tells me, "Wow, I really am getting smart!" I think those are words any teacher is happy to hear. Also, a piece of equipment that had broken 3 weeks ago was returned yesterday. I was doing the happy dance when the computer tech walked in!!! I am trying my best to stay focused on my kids and not get caught up in the politics around me. So far the more I keep my focus the happier I am to be doing what I do!

Doing all things in my life with intention has improved my attitude and I am thankful for that! So today on this Finer Things Friday I am celebrating all the little things that are making my life so rich these days!

Head on over to Amy's to see what happening on this happy Friday!

Until next time,

So Cool!

I got to do the coolest thing ever last night...I walked out into my garden with a bowl and a knife and I cut our very own homegrown broccoli for our dinner! Okay, well maybe it's not the coolest thing ever, but it sure is AWESOME!

I really thought my broccoli was never going to produce, but I decided to leave it alone and see what happened. You know what happened?!? It grew! Who knew?!? I am so stoked to be able to serve something so fresh and so full of flavor to my family! My kids and hubby gobbled it up! We will be having broccoli often as my plants continue to grow. I just hope the weather keep cooperating!

I always have broccoli on our Thanksgiving menu, but it will be even better this year coming from our own labors! Maybe we'll even feel like the pilgrims celebrating the harvest! Well, that may be a stretch, but we will enjoy the broccoli of our labor. Hehehe!

Having a garden in my back yard totally works for me!

Until next time,

House to Home

Wow! It's Tuesday already?!? The days are flying by around here, but that is okay because it means we're getting closer to Thanksgiving! I am so excited this year because we are having a lot of friends and family coming to our house to stay with us! I LOVE cooking for Thanksgiving, so when a relative asked if she could bring her family to our house this year it took me about 1/2 a second to say YES! Then I got the wild idea to invite another friend and her family to come stay with us too! She talked to her main man and he was super excited about the idea and that's from someone who doesn't like to go visit people. I did remember to ask K if he was okay with all the guests and he said it sounds like fun. Did I mention I love that man!

So today on this Gratituesday I am very grateful for a house that is turning into a home with friends and family welcome any time! I am also grateful that we have rekindled family relationships and never let friendships die off no matter how many miles are between us. Life is so good and I am trying my best to remember to enjoy every moment!

Head on over to Laura's at Heavenly Homemakers for a month of Gratitude!

Until next time,

Menu Plan for the Week

Halloween went great for the monkeys, but I am in Thanksgiving mode now. Lots of planning to do since we will have a house full this year. I can't wait!

Here's what we have planned for our meals this week.

Breakfasts- oatmeal, cereal, pancakes (freezer stash), and Banana Nut Muffins (freezer stash), Strawberry Bread (freezer stash).

Lunches- ham sandwiches, PB & J sandwiches, apples, carrots with ranch, leftovers

Dinners-

Sunday-Frittata

Monday- Poor Man's Meal
(Check out Miss Clara if you haven't heard of her before, my boys LOVE her)

Tuesday- Tri tip, Rice Pilaf, Broccoli (from our garden!)

Wednesday- Fried Shrimp, Steamed Rice, Green Beans

Thursday- Pork Chops, Steamed Red Potatoes, Asparagus

Friday- Homemade Pizza Night

Saturday- Sloppy Joes, Corn on the Cob

Well that's it, I'm looking forward to some of our family favorites this week! If you need more inspiration head on over to Organizing Junkie for more menu ideas.

Until next time,