Such a Good Day

Do you ever have one of those days where everyone in your house is smiling most of the day? That's exactly what happened in my house yesterday. We told the boys we were going to have a toned down Christmas since K still hasn't found a new job, so they thought it was going to be pretty bare bones. I guess we surprised them because when Z saw the tree he made the comment that he thought this was gong to be a "smaller Christmas". K and I found good deals and paid cash for everything, so to us it was a toned down day.

Z met me as my bedroom door opened at 4 o'clock. He was so excited! Did I mention he is taller than me and almost 13 years old and he still loves the surprise of Christmas? I am so thankful for that kid! We got the Cinnamon Rolls ready and waited for the little boys to wake up. Finally about 6 o'clock he couldn't stand it anymore and asked his daddy if he could wake up his brothers.

There were smiles and a few surprised looks. Not so many things that they got tired of opening, but enough to keep them busy building Lego sets for a few days!

I hope everyone else had a great day too!

Until next time,

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours we wish you all a wonderful family filled Christmas and an amazing new year!

Menu Plan for the Week 12-19-10

I cannot believe it has been two weeks since I posted anything. Sorry 'bout that! It seems that the last two weeks before winter break at school are crazy for me! I was trying to get kids tested, learn a Christmas program, finish apron orders, and keep my family clean and fed. So I guess you could say I've been busy!

Now we are all on break for 3 weeks. I think I may just be as happy about that as the boys! We will be enjoying sleeping in, making treats, watching movies, and a quick visit to see my grandma.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Here is what we have planned to eat for this week:

Breakfasts: Cereal, Oatmeal, Biscuits, Muffins, Pancakes, French Toast, Waffles, Fruit

Lunches: Ham or PB & J Sandwiches, Meat and Crackers, Leftovers, Fruit or Veggies, String Cheese, Hard Boiled Eggs, Granola Bars, Fruit Leather, Homemade Chewy Bars

Dinners:

Sunday- Roasted Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus, Rolls

Monday- PW's Chicken Pot Pie

Tuesday- Hamburgers, Onion Strings, Veggie Tray

Wednesday-Lasagna, Salad, Buttered Bread

Thursday- Tacos, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice

Friday- Pizza, Salad

Saturday- Christmas Dinner~ Ham Roast, Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli, Deviled Eggs, Cranberry Jelly, Rolls, Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Fudge

Find more menu planning inspiration at Organizing Junkie.


Until next time,

Menu Plan for the Week 12-5-10

This is going to be a busy week! Seems like I have something to do every night. We have the boys' Christmas Programs on Tuesday night, so it will be a quick dinner before we head off to that event. I will also be saying goodbye to my friend at her services this week. I hope I can keep it together.

My mind is busy with things I need to accomplish. I think I need to make a list to keep it all together!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Here is what we have planned to eat for this week:

Breakfasts: Cereal, Oatmeal, Biscuits, Muffins, Pancakes, French Toast, Waffles, Fruit

Lunches: Ham or PB & J Sandwiches, Meat and Crackers, Leftovers, Fruit or Veggies, String Cheese, Hard Boiled Eggs, Granola Bars, Fruit Leather, Homemade Chewy Bars

Dinners:

Sunday- Chicken and Dumplings (It turned out so good, it will be back in the rotation again!)

Monday- Sloppy Joe's, Corn, Buttered Bread

Tuesday- Grilled Cheese and Soup

Wednesday-Beef Roast, Potatoes, Carrots, Rolls

Thursday- Spinach Ravioli, Salad, Buttered Bread

Friday- Pizza, Salad

Saturday- PW's Marlboro Man Sandwich, Onion Strings (Such a yummy dinner!!)

Find more menu planning inspiration at Organizing Junkie.


Until next time,

Friendship

Last week my school was rocked by the loss of a dear aide. She had become my friend and I loved seeing her smile everyday! She had been through hard times, but always stayed positive and kept moving forward. I am so sad for her friends and family because we all miss her very much, but I know she is no longer in pain and can truly be a guardian angel for her children.

I was blessed to have her in my life for 5 years and I will cherish all the talks we had for the rest of my life. Miss Diana you will be missed, but your impact on the lives of the students in our school will live on!

So today I am so very grateful for the time I had to get to know Diana, even if it was much too short.

Until next time,


Linking to Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers

Menu Plan for the Week 11-28-10

Well Thanksgiving was awesome at our house. I made a ham this year and just turkey breasts, so we wouldn't waste a whole turkey. It worked out wonderfully! The ham is almost gone! Can you tell we love our ham around here!! It was much quieter than last year, but I really did miss having our friends and family spending the weekend with us. Hopefully next year they will be able to join us again.

I cannot believe I only have 3 weeks until winter break begins. Where has this school year gone?!? All I can say is I am really looking forward to the time off. It has been a tough year. The boys are ready for a full break too. I see lots of chilling in our future!

I spent most of the weekend on my sewing machine finishing orders for aprons. It is a relief to have them complete, now I will have time to get new orders done before Christmas. The boys have picked out fabric for their teachers Christmas gifts, so I will be starting those aprons today. I love being able to be creative and make some extra money at the same time!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Here is what we have planned to eat for this week:

Breakfasts: Cereal, Oatmeal, Biscuits, Muffins, Pancakes, French Toast, Waffles, Fruit

Lunches: Ham or PB & J Sandwiches, Meat and Crackers, Leftovers, Fruit or Veggies, String Cheese, Hard Boiled Eggs, Granola Bars, Fruit Leather, Homemade Chewy Bars

Dinners:

Sunday- Homemade Pizza

Monday- Grilled Cheese and Soup

Tuesday- Hamburgers, Fries, Salad

Wednesday-Pulled Pork, Corn, Salad, Buttered Bread

Thursday- Tacos, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice

Friday- Pizza, Salad

Saturday- Tri Tip, Rice Pilaf, Broccoli, Salad

Find more menu planning inspiration at Organizing Junkie.


Until next time,

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!


May your bellies be happy and your hearts full as you spend this day with friends and family!

Menu Plan for the Week 11-14-10

I am ready for a busy week of parent conferences. I have to hold conferences for all my students and attend conferences for my boys. It should go well, but I am going to be a busy lady for a few days!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Here is what we have planned to eat for this week:

Breakfasts: Cereal, Oatmeal, Biscuits, Muffins, Pancakes, French Toast, Waffles, Fruit

Lunches: Ham or PB & J Sandwiches, Meat and Crackers, Leftovers, Fruit or Veggies, String Cheese, Hard Boiled Eggs, Granola Bars, Fruit Leather, Homemade Chewy Bars

Dinners:

Sunday- Zuppa Tuscana and Gnocchi Soup

Monday- Tri Tip, Rice Pilaf, Broccoli, Salad

Tuesday- Quesedillas, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice

Wednesday-Beef Stew, Buttered Bread, Salad

Thursday- Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Mac-n-Cheese, Salad

Friday- Pizza, Salad

Saturday-Homemade Chinese~ Mongolian Beef, Lemon Chicken, Rice, Broccoli

Find more menu planning inspiration at Organizing Junkie.


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 pap was so very proud of his Navy career. We were blessed this year when he passed away to have a full military color guard presentation of the flag to my grandmother. To see these young soldiers show such honor to a man who loved his Navy brought tears to my eyes.

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!

Until next time,

The Teacher

Well it is report card time at my school. The nice thing is the report cards are all done on the computer. The bad thing is the report cards are all done on the computer. It's a little frustrating and time consuming to have the report cards on the computer when you can only work on them at the school. Our system has issues, but when you have about 90 teachers all trying to put in their grades at the same time it's a problem.

I have become smarter about this issue and I try to work on the report cards when other people probably aren't working on them. My before school time, recess time, and lunch time are consumed by report cards. Fortunately, I only have about 9 report cards left! WooHoo!! Until that last one is done; however, I feel buried in a sea of paper and decisions about who gets what for all of the categories. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I will be free to enjoy my day off school tomorrow!

I hope you all have a great day!

Until next time,

Mr. Fred

K and I were out running errands on Saturday when I mentioned to him I had seen the SPCA trailer in front of the pet store. He quickly said let's go see. I am so glad we did!

Mr. Fred was up for adoption from the county shelter which just happened to be at the pet store too. The poor little guy was turned in my his owners because they were moving. I don't know about you, but that just bothered us a lot. We get pretty attached to our fur babies!

So scared Fred came home with us! He perked up a little right when we brought him home, but now he is just a super happy guy. He moves just like Roxie and they are having fun together. Our little Schnauzer boy is going to fit in great around here!

Until next time,

Menu Plan for the Week 11-7-10

We had a great weekend. K and I brought home a new dog for Roxie to play with and for us to love. He was given up by his previous owners to the pound. He was so sad and scared, but not any more. Our new little Schnauzer boy, Mr. Fred, is doing great and the tail is wagging. He is the calmest dog we have ever had, but he is so sweet. It's been a fun couple of days getting to know him.

The rest of our weekend was the usual chores and giggles. We are all fighting some kind of little bug, so we were all just a little off. I guess eating right and drinking our raw milk is helping our bodies put up a fight! I don't think this crazy California weather is helping matters. In the 80s last week and nothing above 64 for this week. I guess fall is finally here!

I spent yesterday cutting aprons for orders from school. I am really working on getting things finished and extras made, so I can finally get my Etsy shop up and running! I need to get some pictures taken and I will be ready to roll.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Here is what we have planned to eat for this week:

Breakfasts: Cereal, Oatmeal, Biscuits, Muffins, Pancakes, French Toast, Waffles, Fruit

Lunches: Ham or PB & J Sandwiches, Meat and Crackers, Leftovers, Fruit or Veggies, String Cheese, Hard Boiled Eggs, Granola Bars, Fruit Leather, Homemade Chewy Bars

Dinners:

Sunday- Lasagna, Buttered Bread

Monday- Tri Tip, Rice Pilaf, French Cut Green Beans, Salad (never got to it last week)

Tuesday- Leftovers

Wednesday- Pulled Pork (freezer), Mashed Potatoes, Salad

Thursday- Hamburgers, Fries, Salad

Friday- Pizza, Salad

Saturday-Tacos, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice


Find more menu planning inspiration at Organizing Junkie.


Until next time,

Proud Mama

Last week I had the privilege to go to an awards breakfast for my little boys. They were both chosen as student of the month for citizenship. Their teachers didn't even realize they had chosen brothers until the boys came into class and told them what had happened. It was pretty nice hearing about my boys being role models in their classrooms! I am so very proud to be able to share the moment with them. Taking the day off was totally worth it!!

Proud Daddy with his boys


Proud Mama with her boys

I am so grateful that we have instilled in our boys the importance of doing the right thing and being respectful. It shows everyday and it truly makes my heart sing! I love being the mama to all three of my boys!

Join me over at Heavenly Homemakers for Gratituesday!

Until next time,

Menu Plan for the Week 10-31-10

We have had a busy and fun couple of days getting ready for Halloween! There is always a lot of work to do, but seeing the finished costumes is totally worth it!

We are up for a regular week, so things should calm down around here. I enjoyed my extra time off last week, now I think I am ready to jump back in to school mode. I was able to spend time with my family and get some extra things accomplished, so it was time well spent!

Here is what we have planned to eat for this week:

Breakfasts: Cereal, Oatmeal, Biscuits, Muffins, Pancakes, French Toast, Waffles, Fruit

Lunches: Ham or PB & J Sandwiches, Meat and Crackers, Leftovers, Fruit or Veggies, String Cheese, Hard Boiled Eggs, Granola Bars, Fruit Leather, Homemade Chewy Bars

Dinners:

Sunday- Hamburgers, French Fries, and too much CANDY

Monday- Fajitas, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice

Tuesday- Fettuccine Alfredo, Broccoli, Buttered Bread

Wednesday- Kielbasa Sausage, Ranch Potatoes, Salad

Thursday- Tri Tip, Rice Pilaf, French Cut Green Beans, Salad

Friday- Pizza, Salad

Saturday-Potato Soup, Rolls, Salad


Find more menu planning inspiration at Organizing Junkie.


Until next time,

Happy Halloween!

Our Lego Lava Rock Monster and Star Wars Galactic Marine
I love the power of cardboard, duck tape, fabric, and spray paint!

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween!

Menu Plan for the Week 10-24-10

Sorry for the late post. My internet connection was goofy this morning, but K got it fixed for me while I was at school.

We have been enjoying the cooler weather, so I am hoping it sticks around. We had another good weekend and got a good report on my grandmother from my sister. She is doing well and pretty happy now that my sister got the computer moved into her bedroom so she can play her games! I am glad she is doing better and hoping it stays that way for a long time!!

I am doing better too. I decided to take a couple of personal days from school at the end of the week. With all the craziness in teacher's lives these days I think more teachers should take a day or two for themselves. I know we all need to regroup sometimes and just step back and breathe. My sub will be great and my students will survive without me. I am really looking forward to being able to be with K and the boys!

Here is what we have planned to eat for this week:

Breakfasts: Cereal, Oatmeal, Biscuits, Muffins, Pancakes, French Toast, Waffles, Fruit

Lunches: Ham or PB & J Sandwiches, Meat and Crackers, Leftovers, Fruit or Veggies, String Cheese, Hard Boiled Eggs, Granola Bars, Fruit Leather, Homemade Chewy Bars

Dinners:

Sunday- YOYO (you're on your own)

Monday- Beef Tri Tip, Rice Pilaf, Broccoli, Asparagus, Salad

Tuesday- Nacho Night (AKA~Dad cooks and L's night for the happy dance at dinner)

Wednesday- Beef Stew, Buttered Bread, Salad

Thursday- Burritos, Quesedillas, Salad

Friday- Pizza, Salad

Saturday-Roasted Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Asparagus


Find more menu planning inspiration at Organizing Junkie.


Until next time,

Tired

I am tired today. We have had a crazy week or so around here. First, we had great news that our mortgage would be modified after we were told it would not be modified. That was a huge blessing and we are so thankful.

Then, we had to go to a hearing to determine if K was suppose to have been getting unemployment all this time or not. No matter how it turns out we feel vindicated because the woman that caused K to lose his job was made out to look like an idiot by the judge. I know it's silly, but she caused us a lot of trouble. Seeing her squirm was pretty nice. We don't know what will happen, but we feel good about being able to finally speak our peace.

I was told last week that one of my most challenging students might be moved into a special smaller class to better meet his needs. He is a handful, but I know it's just because he was so far behind and frustrated. He had come a long way, but I just could not devote enough time to him. Well, Monday afternoon his mom agreed to let him move into the other class. It will be better for both of us.

I was pretty happy to have my stress load lowered, but then I got a phone call. My grandma is not doing well. We thought we were going to lose her in January, but she hung in there. Now we don't know what is wrong. She has been sick for a long time, so she may just be tired and ready to go be with my grandpa. We all knew it was coming, but it doesn't make it any easier.

Today I am just worn out. I am ready for a break. I am ready for this emotional roller coaster to come to a stop for a while. Today I am focusing on today and trying my best to not worry about tomorrow until tomorrow. A verse came up on my perpetual calendar that fits so well. It always amazes me when the timing for something is just right.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
~Matthew 6:34

Until next time,

Homemade Chinese Dinner

My family loves Chinese food, but I hate forking out $50 to eat out so I had to come up with a way to get our fix without breaking the bank. I googled Mongolian Beef and found a recipe to give me a launching point. I also use a friend's recipe idea to make our own version of lemon chicken. I am still trying to figure out how to make orange chicken, so if you know a sauce recipe let me know!

Here's how I make the Mongolian Beef:

1 1/2 -3 lbs cube steak cut into strips (depending on how many almost teenage boys you are feeding)
oil or lard
cornstarch
1/2 yellow onion sliced
1 TBS chopped fresh Garlic
1 TBS chopped fresh Ginger
3/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup vegetable broth (you could just use water)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 bunch green onions sliced

First I cut the cube steak with my kitchen shears. If I use a knife it just is a pain because the meat has been tenderized so much. I then coat the meat with the cornstarch and set aside.

Next I get the sauce going. Saute the ginger and garlic in a sauce pan for a minute or so with light oil, but do not let them scorch. Add the soy sauce, broth, and brown sugar. Bring to a boil for 2-3 minutes. Set the sauce aside.

Brown the meat and onions in a fry pan. Cook until the meat thoroughly. Add the sauce and simmer for a few more minutes. The sauce will thicken slightly with the cornstarch from the meat. Garnish with the green onions. Ask your family to keep their fingers out of the pan until the rest of the meal is finished cooking.

Now for the Lemon Chicken:

1-2 lbs cubed chicken breast
2-3 eggs beaten
3-4 cups flour
garlic powder
seasoned salt
pepper
oil or lard

1 jar lemon curd
2 TBS honey
1/4 cup vegetable broth


In a ziploc bag add the flour, garlic powder, seasoned salt, and pepper (add the spice amounts to your personal taste). In a bowl combine the chicken cubes and eggs until the chicken is completely coated. Add a few pieces of chicken at a time to the flour bag. Shake vigorously to coat the chicken. Add chicken to a fry pan and brown on all sides. Remove from the pan into a towel lined bowl. Repeat until all of your chicken is cooked.

While the chicken is frying you can work on the sauce. Add lemon curd, honey, and broth to a sauce pan. Heat until thoroughly mixed, but do not boil. You can leave the sauce to add to each dish or you can add the sauce to your bowl of chicken and mix is all at once.

Make up some steamed rice and a bit of broccoli and you have Chinese food at home! Enjoy!

Until next time,


This post is linked to Tasty Tuesday over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

Menu Plan for the Week 10-17-10

We had a great weekend just being a family. I drug all the boys with me to farmer's market on Saturday. K was my bag handler. It was so nice to have an extra set of hands to carry our goodies. Then we went to one of the thrift stores in search of some Halloween costume accessories. It was fun to be together and giggle in the car.

K and I spent Sunday getting some things done around the house. We are trying to be better about getting the boys to help us rather than just doing it ourselves. We figure we're not helping them if we don't teach them to do routine cleaning and house maintenance chores. We don't want them to ever leave, but we know they will and they must be ready to take care of their own homes.

We should have a quiet week around here, so I am hoping to get some more sewing done and finally get things listed in my Etsy shop. The holidays are just around the corner, so I better get on it!

Our homemade Chinese food was a hit again. I took pictures as I prepped and cooked, so be on the lookout for a post on that soon!

Here is what we have planned to eat for this week:

Breakfasts: Cereal, Oatmeal, Biscuits, Muffins, Pancakes, French Toast, Waffles, Fruit

Lunches: Ham or PB & J Sandwiches, Meat and Crackers, Leftovers, Fruit or Veggies, String Cheese, Hard Boiled Eggs, Granola Bars, Fruit Leather, Homemade Chewy Bars

Dinners:

Sunday- Zuppa Tuscana, Gnocchi Soup, Garlic Focaccia Bread (it was so yummy!)

Monday- Hot Dogs, Creamy Mac-n-Cheese (so good with our whole raw milk!), Salad

Tuesday- Leftovers

Wednesday- Spaghetti, Italian Sausage, Buttered Bread, Salad

Thursday- Pork Country Ribs, Mashed Potatoes, Salad

Friday- Pizza, Salad

Saturday-Tacquitos, Refried Beans, Spanish Rice


Find more menu planning inspiration at Organizing Junkie.


Until next time,