Menu Plan Monday!

I can't remember if I've shared this or not, but Mark & I have enrolled in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University to get a better handle on all things budget, saving, planning....finances...bluck. I can see how this program (if followed) can result in saving more, investing better and how to budget to accomplish that. I can see how all of that is liberating...but so far I still equate finances to math...and you KNOW how I feel about math. BLUCK.

Anyway - what does this have to do with Menu Plan Monday? Well, since we started chipping away at the daunting task named "budget" I've been looking for ways I can maintain my love for all things Target, Thrifting addiction and my beloved Diet Coke. So to give me a LITTLE sumpin' sumpin' in these categories, I'm trying to chisel down the grocery budget. (yes, I know this isn't the point - the point is to chisel down so you can SAVE more/give more/eliminate debt, etc., etc....but we haven't gotten there yet...so whatever..i'm manipulating the system for now). Anyway - to lessen the grocery bill, I've found that menu planning works WONDERS! If I plan out the week's meals on Sunday, buy the groceries we need for those meals only....I'm eliminating stupid little trips to the grocery for stuff we won't use. This saves $$$$!!!

So Thank you so much to orgjunkie for getting me going on this....stop over there and see what everyone else is eating this week!

Monday: Pork Chops/Scalloped Potatoes/Green Beans

Tuesday: Tacos/Spanish Rice/Pudding

Wednesday: Quiche

Thursday: Sesame Chicken/Egg Rolls (box kit & Schwan's)

Friday: Pizza Rolls (still looking for non-crescent roll recipe...something w/frozen bread dough or pizza dough maybe? anyone?)

Saturday: Chicken Salad Sandwiches - maybe Panini style (unless I can swing it & take Mark out for his b-day...the b-day he spent with the flu last week)

Sunday: Hamburger/Rice Casserole

Here are the recipes for the Hamburger/Rice Casserole (very economical & yummy) & the Quiche (super easy recipe) - enjoy!

Pizza Quiche

(the only thing that makes it pizza-ish is the cheese & the pepperoni…just mix up the meats or omit the meats and call it any kind of quiche you want)

Deep dish pie crust – Bake @ 350 for about 10 min.

Then mix the following:

2 C. cottage cheese
5 beaten eggs
4 oz. browned sausage
2-3oz. sliced pepperoni – sliced in strips
1 ½ C. shredded mozzarella
½ C. grated parmesan (or ramon, asiago, etc.)
¼ c. chopped onion &/or peppers, mushrooms, etc. – whatever you want

350 degrees for 45 min. or until center is done (almost ALWAYS longer by 15-20 min.)

Tips:
I use frozen sausage patties, warm in micro & chop up w/my chopper
Use any combo of cheeses you like
Also any veggies you like, etc.
Can vary from “pizza” to ham & cheese, broccoli, etc.
Important note:
Might look “milky” in center – that’s probably the cottage cheese – the yellow “egg” part will be yellow-ish

Hamburger/Rice Casserole

1 lb. hamburger
1 T. onion flakes
Salt/pepper to taste
1 C. raw rice OR 1 ½ C. Minute Rice
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can either cream of chicken or cream of celery soup (I use cream of onion)
2 soup cans of water
2 T. soy sauce

Brown hamburger w/onion flakes, salt & pepper. In a large casserole, put uncooked rice, soups and water; mix. Add drained meat & soy sauce; mix. Bake at 350 degrees (if using raw rice, cook for 1 hour, 15 min…..Minute Rice – 1 hour). I’ve often made this recipe w/out the soy sauce & it is still good.
Note: BEST as left-overs…..and feel free to melt some cheese over the top or sprinkle shredded over indiv. Servings ---- mmmm.

When we were sick, my Mom dropped off video games for the kids/husband. The kids haven't really played video games....it was a really sweet gesture from a desperate Grandma who just wanted to make it all better. Since she wasn't allowed in the house (quarantined!) she just dropped them off. Today was the first day anyone felt well enough to give them a try. Here's Lauren's first video game experience. She's really gettin' into "Dora Saves The Mermaids"... SOO funny to watch her try to control what's going on on-screen. She lifts her body up off of the floor trying to get Dora to jump, she leans right, leans left....lifts the controls way up in the air. hilarious! But also quite amazing. With little to no instruction, she pretty much just knew how to hold it, how to make Dora move, etc. What a different generation of kids. Here's video of the little gamer. =-)

Today Lauren was busy writing her shopping list. She carried around a pencil and note pad scribbling things like "cookies" and "juice boxes." It got me thinking...in a few short years I'll be able to actually have her write my list and then I can send Bailey to the store to buy it. Life will be good.

We made it!

By Thursday night we ALL (The Mom of 'Em included) were down & out with the nastiest stomach "flu" to hit our house EVER. Even the baby had a version of it - but no vomiting from him thank goodness. He did however have the NASTIEST diapers I've ever encountered, poor baby. I gave him a bath yesterday and afterwards he still smelled. Sickness is seeping from his pores I think. He is still battling the nasty diapers today but seems to feel okay otherwise. The rest of us are up, feeling well and hungry. We are a little nervous about what to put in our stomachs, but we feel pretty confident that we are over it.

On today's agenda? CLEANING! I'm going to open this germ-ridden stink hole out and fill my bucket with bleach water and get busy.

The Mom stands alone. The Mom stands alone. Hi-Ho The Dairy-Oh, the Mom stands alone. Yep - I'm the only one left standing. The stomach "flu" has knocked down Lauren, then Bailey last night, then Mark this morning...and then the baby...who isn't vomiting but the other delightful effect of the flu. It's just me now....and I'm determined I am NOT going to get it. And if I do? We're in BIG trouble.

A quick update:

Bailey got sick at 3 a.m. last night....Mark only made it a couple hours before coming home from work. Grant isn't eating....sleeping a lot....FOWL diaper. I'm the only one left....and I am NOT going to get it.

The eyes open....5 p.m.

More of the same... 1:00 p.m.

52 Blessings - #8 (yes, I'm behind)

After our unexpected trip to the emergency room last night, I am reminded how blessed we are to have good medical insurance as well as excellent health care providers in our area.

Better...but still sick.She's hydrated again - VERY thirsty and a fever today. She's pretty much just lying around, poor baby. She's not lethargic though and has some pink back in her skin, so much, MUCH better than last night.

It started at 12:30...complaining of "tummy hurt"...but I didn't think much of it b/c she's been saying that on-an-off since she was sick 3 weeks ago....usually she says that followed by...I need a pop (b/c we gave her 7-Up then)....at 3 she woke up crying and then BAM! Undigested mac & cheese everywhere. I threw her in the tub to wash chunks out of her hair. She continued to vomit all afternoon....when I didn't give her something to drink...she vomited bile. By evening she wasn't even lifting her head or sitting up to vomit...just lying there. Around 7:30 she vomited bile with little chunks of blood in it.

15 minutes until walk-in closed and we're off...Bailey rode along to hold the bowl while I stayed home w/Grant who is bawling and has a fever from shots yesterday. Mark called shortly after 8 to say they want to send her to the E.R. because she is deyhydrated, lethargic and they want to run tests that they can't at walk-in.

So I'm at home....worrying...hoping it is just the flu and that it wasn't really blood chunks but a Fruit Loop fragment or something from breakfast. If they admit her or if it will be late I'll have my Mom come over to stay with Grant (who is now asleep...for now).

I'm worried....how can a Mom NOT be? Even if it is just a bug....to see your toddler lethargic is horrible.

UPDATE: They started an IV to replenish her fluids. This took about 45 min....to find a vein. But the Child Life people are AMAZING and were great at distracting. They gave her some sort of anti-nausea drug, which ended the vomiting. Her electrolytes looked good...so about 30 more minutes on the drip and then she can come home! She is currently sleeping in Mark's arms....hasn't thrown up in awhile...just really thirsty. I know all of this thanks to text messages from Mark....what did we do without that technology in the past????? Iowa Methodist Rocks!

Lauren performing the Caillou number...

All Before 8:00 a.m.

Grant had shots yesterday (6 months...just a little early). He was/is fussy, running a low-grade fever, not hungry, wants to be held....poor baby. Because of this he was up at 2 a.m., 4 a.m. and 6:30 a.m....poor baby/me.

While I'm mothering my sick little man, Lauren brought me these in a plastic cup from her play kitchen:
She said "I broke my baby." Apparently ripped the eyelashes right off of her doll! And to think...just the other day she declared "Daddy? God is in my heart." =-) Thank goodness we don't buy NEW things - things that cost good money...I bought this Bitty Baby from a friend on-the-cheap...and here she is....eyelashless:

I explained to her that we need to treat our toys nicely, etc.....to which she replied "OK! Mommy!" in the absolute sassiest tone I"ve ever heard. She was immediately put in a TIME OUT. This led to much kicking and screaming and carrying on....which led to a move to her bedroom where there was about 15 more minutes of this behavior. I know they say a minute for every year...but what lesson is learned if they haven't calmed down yet first? I think she needed to calm down and reach remorse (the I'm sorry) before she gets outta that time out. Finally she got there. shwew.

Then Bailey missed the bus, so Mark had to take her to school, making HIM late for work. yikes. All before 8 a.m.

Busy Easter!

The day began at 5:30 a.m. - Bailey & Mark had to be at church by 7 a.m. (confirmation kids served breakfast and Mark supervised) and I wanted to grab a shower before they left. When the little ones woke I fed Grant, put him down for a cat nap and set out to get Lauren ready. You can read about THAT here.

Miraculously, I had everyone ready and loaded up for church by 8:30 a.m. Shwew! We had a nice service at church - and so nice to have Bailey sitting with us. She is usually in Sunday School while we are at church.

During church I started to sneeze, my eyes watered, my nose filled up, my throat was scratchy....not sure if it was the lillies or something else...still feeling it tonight. ugh.

After church we came home to find that the EASTER BUNNY had been here (that sneaky little bunny!) Then I hosted Easter Dinner (my parents came over). i cooked almost everything the night before and the ham cooked all morning while we were at church. MMMMM..smelled good!

Here are a few pics of our weekend - and my good lookin' family. (i can say that b/c I'm not in the pics (of course).

I don't have all of the details worked out yet on my meals this week, but I will tell you this....it will be much like the quote below...just substitute the word "Easter Ham"...

From the movie Forrest Gump...

Bubba: Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sautee it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it.

I'll try to post the ACTUAL meals for the week...but seriously...lots of left-over ham involved.

Thanks to orgjunkie for hosting Meal Plan Monday....go see what other people are eating....wonder if I could barter ham for something on their menus?

Lauren: I want a bwuuuuuu dress.

Me: Your blue dress is for summer - this is your pretty Easter dress! (with encouraging enthusiasm) You look like such a beautiful princess in this pretty yellow dress!

Lauren: I no WANT a lellow dress. (arms crossed, lips pouted, brows furrowed)

Me: Lauren could you please go get me the phone? I need to call the Easter Bunny and let him know about this.......

Happy Easter!!!!

How DEEP the Father's love for us

HEARTBREAKING!!!

I can't believe the end of the Drake game - absolutely heartbreaking! The game went in to overtime....and it was tied with just a few seconds left. Western Kentucky has the ball and with literally LESS THAN A SECOND left on the clock, they shoot a 3-pointer and win. Not jsut any 3-pointer....it was closer to the half-court mark than the 3-point arch I think....and a one-in-a-million shot of making it un-manned, let alone with THREE Bulldogs on ya. Swish. And there I stood....stunned....mad....heartbroken. So here is what I have to say about that:

What the heck is a Hilltopper anyway? And what sort of stupid brand identity crisis does that school have going on? Ok - so you are "hilltoppers"....your mascot is a big red blob...and that's what they call him! And your logo? A red towel. That's the dumbest thing I've ever seen/heard. I'm mad at you hilltopper towel blobs - stealing away my victory (and ruining pools across the nation).

I'm rooting for Butler now....at least I can say Drake beat them recently. Ugh - I'm mad.

Today's schedule:

1. Kids to see Easter Bunny
2. DRAKE game!!! 11:30 a.m. Central.... My Bulldogs take on the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky!!!
3. Nap for Lauren
4. Grant to Grandma & Grandpa's house
5. We (Mark took a vacation day) take the girls to see Horton Hears A Who
6. Clean (hear that family?)