Have you registered! I registered with the State Do Not call and my number of telemarketer calls only dropped minimally. I hope this helps more!

National DO NOT CALL Registry - click to register!

My week of doing things I have put off way too long .......

I am finally getting the auto glass repaired in my car and Paul's truck. Don't ask me how long it has been.

The appraiser came this morning. He asked me what I told the mortgage company I thought the house was worth. I told him 170,000. He said that was a conservative amount, he said more like over 200,000. Cool, so that should mean my loan will go through fine. I will be able to refinance at a lower rate. That will be nice. I did not do any cash out as i think you get into trouble when you do that sometimes. You spend the money on new things and then you still have that debt.

I am using the Debt Free computer program to set up a pay off schedule for all our credit cards, etc. Should take 2 years and all will be paid off. That will be a nice feeling, now to jsut stick with the plan. Hopefully my car will make it a bit longer so I can work on paying things off.

Well I am off to hang with tommy until nap time. I have to watch Kristen at 11:30 for a bit too. Another busy day.

Tonight for Supper:
Rice & Bean Burritos

TO DO:
Clean off the top of the fridge
Clean off top of Microwave
Update quicken
Do my last procrastination projecT

Macaroni & Ham Salad

2 Cups cooked elbow macaroni
8 ounces cooked ham, diced small
½ cup diced cheddar cheese
½ cup chopped celery
1 small onion, chopped
½ cup mayonnaise (approximately)

Combine first 5 ingredients in large bowl. Stir in enough mayonnaise to coat. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Makes 6 servings.

Cookbook: Six Ingredients or Less

Hello - I have updated my weekly menu. I should say I have finally gotten around to making my menu and grocery list! Tonight is shopping night for the next weeks menu.

AAAh...a nice quiet Sunday afternoon. Tommy is napping and the boys are watching TV with hubby. I will be taking Tom out to play in his wading pool once he wakes up. I spent some quiet time finishing my book. My friend at work will be happy, she wanted to read it as well. A fun little read, only took me about 2 days to read. It is called Shopaholic Ties the Knot, the last book in the Shopaholic series. Next I need to get busy on the book for book group. The book group is meeting on July 24th at my house. We will be discussing the Dress Lodger.

I best go get my chores done before the baby wakes up.

• Clean off Desk
  
• Clean top of Fridge
  
• Sweep Laundry Room
  
• Evening Routine
  
• Update Quicken

Hubby is home from work!! yeah...so I get a few minutes alone to type on the computer. Let's see I will give a quick run down of our last few days.

THURSDAY NIGHT....

We went to Cub Foods to get the items we need for the BBQ on Friday.   That was most of our evening.  Then when we got home the boys were dieing to light some of their fireworks.  After going for a walk with hubby and Tommy, we supervised the boys as they shot off their fireworks.  My SIL and kids come to joi i the fun as well.  At about 10:30 we called it a night and said it was too late for any more fireworks.  We all head in for bed.

Hubby and I go to bed.  Hubby is woke up by someone in our neighborhood shooting off fireowrks.  He was MAD!!  He ran outside to yell at them thinking it was the neighbors.  Back to bed....more fireworks, this time hubby is really mad.  He has a bad headache and has been woken for the second time.  He runs out side yelling at whoever is shooting the fireworks "ARE YOU DONE YET??".   AAAh......all is quiet now in the neighborhood and off to bed we go.  Hubby had a terrible time falling back to sleep so was up most of the night. 

FRIDAY!! 

Happy Fourth!  We all slept late waking up around 9:30 for the day.  I shower and get the baby up.  He has a bath and gets dressed/  Hubby wakes up around 11:30 for the day.  I head to the grocery store to buy some corn on the cob for the party.  We had about 25 people over for the FOurth.  We had a meal and hung out until dark.  Then Paul and the boys went to his sister's as they had bought 400.00 worth of fireworks.  I picked up the house a bit and put Tommy to bed.   I spent the rest of the evening listen on to smooth Jazz and reading my book.  AAAAH....very enjoyable. 

Hubby and Josh come home around 11:00.  Josh isn't feeling very well he says.  He lays on the couch.   Erik is brought home by my SIL after 12:00.  Finally, I can go to bed!!!

4:00am - Josh is upand so am I.  He is sick and puking. He is not feeling very well.  Josh continued to be sick until about 6:00am   I went back to bed to get up at 9:00 with the baby.  Hubbby is off at work.

Josh spent most of the day on the couch.  I needed to run to the library this morning.  I go out to the car and it won't start.  ARGH!!  So I call my BIL who comes over to jump start th3e car.  I take the two younger boys and head to the library.   When we come out the car won't start again.  OH GREAT!! I call my sweet BIL again.  He comes to our rescue and follows us home.  The car dies at the stop light on HWY 61, but luckily BIL is behind us.  It takes abit to start the car again, but home we head.  BIL runs the last of my errands, to get saltines and 7_up for Josh.   SO I was at home the rest of the day. 

So I know my car is needing either a battery or alternator, we will see when we get it to the service station on monday.  GRRRR...one more expense.   Both of our vehicles are so old and we are in need of new ones, but can't afford it right now.  Maybe after we finish refinancing the house, but I doubt it as then Erik's child support will begin again and she wants more.   Such is life i guess..............at least for a while. 

Today I did a few chores, did up the dishes from the party, some laundry and scrubbed the counter and sink in the kitchen real well, with the tooth brush.   I guess I should scoot as we checked the movie Lord of the Rings out from the library.   I think we will watch that now or I will read for more.  my book is a lot of fun! 

TO DO :

• Clean off Desk
  
• Clean top of Fridge
  
• Sweep Laundry Room
  
• Evening Routine
  
• Update Quicken

HONEY LEMON CHICKEN
½ Cup lemon juice
1/3 Cup honey
¼ Cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 teaspoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon salt-free seasoning blend
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon lime juice
6 boneless skinless chicken breast halves

In a bowl combine the first 10 ingredients; mix well. Pour 2/3 cup marinade into a large resealable plastic bag; add the chicken. Seal bag and turn to coat; refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Cover and refrigerate the remaining marinade.

Drain and discard marinade from chicken. Coat grill rack with nonstick cooking spray before starting the grill. Grill chicken, uncovered, over medium heat 12-15 minutes or until juices run clear, turning once and basting occasionally with reserved marinade. Yield: 6 servings.

Quick Cooking: May/June 2003

Sloppy Joe’s

1 pound of Ground Beef,
1 Cup of Ketchup
2 Tablespoon of Brown Sugar
1 Cup of Water
1 Package of Onion Soup mix

In a skillet, brown ground beef over medium-high heat; drain. Stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer, stirring occasionally, 10 minutes. Serve over hamburger buns.

Short blog as I am declaring this my free night and not doing all my chores and heading to bed to read! I did pay bills and went to Sam's club tonight. That is enough.

I wanted to share the great news! My hubby had his second interview with US Bank and he was provisionally offered the job. YEAH!! He had to run back down there this afternoon and take a drug test. It isn't exactly the job he would want, but it is in an organization that is large enough so he could apply for internal openings. At least he will be internal. I think it is an entry level job, but the benefits are nice. Now we have a month to sit down and compare his benefits against mine to see which is the better deal. I am happy for him, he really wanted this job. I don't think my hubby has ever been turned down a job once he is interveiwed. He is a nice guy and a hard worker and it shows.

I tried a new recipes tonight for Honey Lemon Chicken...everyone liked it. I will post if later! I am off to read my book. Later!!!

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY..........That is the permanent state of my life.

TUESDAY...

Only word to say....Busy.  Man, what did we do....hmmm.   Hubby was home first and we jsut had leftovers for supper.  So the fridge is all cleaned out. 

Here is how our evening went......

Homework after supper - 1 hour - Erik worked on Mavis Beacon Typing program, reading comprehension and math problems.  Joshua read his book.  Tommy worked on a computer program with Daddy.  He loves it!  He was having a great time.  Then Tommy worked on coloring for a bit.

Exercise - Hubby, Tommy and I went for a walk.

Tommy - bath, dressed for bed, snack and to bed about 8:45 or 9:00.

Now my night begins...LOL!!! 

Items I had to get done before bed.....

• Made bag lunch for Erik for Wild Wednesday
  
• Switch Laundry Around
  
• Iron Shirt and Pant for hubby's interview tomorrow
  
• Wash Dishes
  
• Make Marinade for Chicken for Supper on Wed. night
  
• Review Budget with Hubby
  
• Write To Do List for Josh
  
• Clean off both Tables
  
• Put Clothes away

FINALLY...FREE TIME.....wow, it was 10:00 and I was so tired,  So my free time was spent sleeping...

DAILY UPDATE - TAKING CARE OF SELF??

1. Took Meds
   
2. Exercised
   
3. Drank two bottles of water (but three sodas)
   
4. Bed by 10:00
   
5. No time for me too tired!

TO DO WEDNESDAY:

• Pay Bills/Budget
  
• Clean off Desk
  
• Clean top of Fridge
  
• Sweep Laundry Room
  
• Clean Kitchen Counter
  
• Evening Routine
  
• Wrap Present for Daycare Party
  
• Update Quicken

Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving.  - Kahil Gibran