Month: June 2005

  • Today was a busy day, seems like I had the entire weekend in one day!   This is the first time I have had a moment to get to my computer since my hasty post this morning.


    I went and got groceries, stayed within budget and got enough food until we are back from vacation on July 5th.    I stocked up on things I never buy!   I bought frozen pizzas, pizza rolls ups and hamburger helper.  Things my hubby and oldest son can cook in my absense!    I won't eat those type of things.   Ran all my errands, dashed home with 1/2 hour to make lunch and get Tommy to the Dentist. 


    After the Dentist, Tommy took a nap and I cleaned up the kitchen, then I went outside to read and enjoy the day.   Josh, Amy, Melinda and Adam were all here getting ready for the mission trip.  They decided to bake brownies, though I had bought them a ton of junk already for the ride.  



    Making Brownies for the Mission Trip


    After Tommy woke up we went outside to play in the wading pool.  I forgot to take my camera out...oops...no pic of that.


    Then I decided to figure out how many people will be eating supper at our house.   We had a few extras so we added a bit to our meal to stretch it.   I love being able to have extras on a minutes notice.  I am glad the teens like to hang out at our house.  Drives hubby nuts sometimes if it is everyday, etc.    They are all really good kids.....



    Buffet style meal...........


    After Supper, Josh and the girls all packed up and headed to church.  We met them up there later to see them off and bring the van home.



    All packed and ready to go!



    Getting ready to load the bus...............



    HI Josh.....



    My boys...........makes this momma's heart happy!



    All the kids ready to go..........................



    Our Little two guys..........AAAAhhh....


    Now we are back at home and I was able to go on a quick walk.   I am trying to stay on program this weekend.  We have a graduation party in Centerville to go to tomorrow so I need to eat well.  


    Erik had a hard time when Josh left.  He was crying when Josh got on the bus as he will miss him so much.   He is very attached to Josh.   It is late and I should head to bed.......hope everyone has a great weekend! 

  • I am dressed and awake.   Tommy and I are off to get groeries (4 stores to go to) before lunch.   After lunch Tommy has a dentist appointment.  I better scoot...have a great day!


     

  • Time to call it a night.   It has been a fairly easy evening but I am so ready for bed.   I am looking forward to hitting the pillow nad reading for a few pages.  After I got home from the Chiro and started putting the dishes away to make supper, Hubby called and he had left his lights on the needed his car jumped.   So off I went.   The nicest thing of the day was coming home to find out my oldest had done almost all of the weekly cleaning by himself!!  He did all of hubby's chores, and stripped all the beds and started washing sheets for Erik so all Erik had was trash and dishes, but he hadn't gotten to mine since he had to pick up the boys for hubby at daycare.  I am still always amazed and grateful when Josh takes it upon himself to do what needs to be done without being asked.  Makes me so very, very happy!   he is a good boy!   This is the other nice thing about having a routine of cleaning like we do...he knows what needs to be done and when.  Good training for him for when he is on his own. 


    Erik finished up his chores and both boys received their allowance.  After supper they went off to Target and Erik spent most of his allowance so he will be broke until next week.   But I want him to experience it and learn to handle money.  So the little he gets we are letting him manage and working on that.   BIrhtday money or extra he gets will go into his savings account. 


    I ran to the drug store to take all our refills in, 6 between Erik and I ....WOW!   I have our shopping list and menu done so tomorrow morning I will take Tommy with me and we will get groceries.  Tommy has a dentist appointment at 1:00 so I will jsut keep him home with me tomorrow.  I have three grocery stores to run to so I hope he is willing and good. 


    Josh leaves on his mission trip tomorrow night.  We will all miss him, but Erik has such a hard time when Josh is gone.  He really misses him. 


    Time to read and get some rest.....have a great night!


    THURSDAY - WEEKLY CLEANING  -DONE
    MISSION: Wash Bathroom Rug/Shower Curtain
    Cat Litter(DONE)/Brush Cats
    Make Grocery list/Menu - DONE
    Chiropractor Appointment - DONE
    Laundry - Sheets  -DONE
    Bed Time Routine -DONE


    SUPPER:  French Toast - DONE  Made extra and froze some for the boy's breakfasts. 

  • South of the Border Pizzas


    Serves 6


    3/4 pound lean ground beef


    1 1/2 medium onions, chopped


    1 1/2 teaspoons cumin


    3 teaspoons garlic powder


    6 flour tortillas


    non-aresol cooking spray OR oil


    1 to 2 large tomatoes, seeded and chopped


    1 1/2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded


     


    Garnishes:


    Salsa


    Sour Cream


    Cilantro


     


    Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.


     


    Brown ground beef and onion in skillet. Drain off fat.


     


    Stir all seasonings into beef mixture.


     


    Lightly brush tortillas with oil or use a non-aerosol sprayer.


     


    Bake tortillas right on the oven rack for about two minutes. Really watch them, as they can burn easily.


     


    Spoon beef mixture evenly over top of each tortilla, top with an equal amount of tomato.


     


    Sprinkle with cheese.


     


    Return to oven and bake until cheese is melted.


     


    Serve with salsa, sour cream and chopped cilantro OR just as they are when they come out of the oven.



    Per serving: 480 Calories; 22g Fat; 24g Protein; 46g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 64mg Cholesterol; 504mg Sodium. Exchanges: 2 1/2 Grain (Starch); 2 1/2 Lean Meat; 1/2 Vegetable; 3 Fat.

    WW Points = 11

  • I finally have my 2 -12 hour days done and behind me for the week.  The rest of the week is a breeze now!    My Dr called me yesterday and increased my predisone for the next few days.  Hopefully that will decrease my coughing and take care of my breathing problems.  It isn't real bad yet, just starting to worsen a bit.  So hopefully this will take care of the problem. 


    I decided I am just not ready to conquer my zones yet.  I have a few unfinished things I have to get to first.  Hopefully soon!


    MONDAY - FREE DAY – WORK LATE


     Laundry - Towels  - DONE
    Bed Time Routine - DONE






    TUESDAY – FREE DAY –WORK LATE
    Laundry – Lights - DONE
    Bed Time Routine - DONE






    WEDNESDAY - DESK/ ZONE
    MISSION: Clear Bathroom Counters/Check Supplies - DONE
    Purse Boogie - DONE
    Fin. Home Blessing: DESK/BUDGET - DONE - ShoppingList/Menu - TOMORROW
    Help Josh Pack for Mission Trip - DONE

    Laundry - Darks  - DONE
    Bed Time Routine - DONE


    SUPPER:  South of the Border Pizza - DONE - Big hit with everyone!





    THURSDAY - WEEKLY CLEANING
    MISSION: Wash Bathroom Rug/Shower Curtain
    Cat Litter/Brush Cats
    Chiropractor Appointment
    Laundry - Sheets
    Bed Time Routine


    SUPPER:  French Toast -  






    FRIDAY - GROCERIES/ERRANDS.
    MISSION:
    Clean Furnace Filter
    Car Boogie
    Laundry- Socks/underwear
    Begin cleaning/organizing the Toy Area
    Bed Time Routine
    Tommy to the Dentist - 1:00
    Re-fill Meds - Mine and Erik's


    SUPPER:  Crockpot Roast Chicken, Potatoes and Veggies






    SATURDAY -
    15- De-Clutter
    Graduation Party for Pauly!
    Laundry – Tom’s
    Bed Time Routine


    SUPPER:  BBQ Chicken Legs and Pasta






    SUNDAY - 
    15- De-Clutter
    Father's Day
    Church
    Plan for next week
    Iron Clothes for the week
    Finally get my summer clothes all out of storage
    Lay out Tom's Clothes for week
    Fill Med boxes for week - Erik and Mine
    Bed Time Routine

    SUPPER:  Turkey Dinner or Baked Beanritos






       I am excited to plan my meals for next week!  Josh is going on his mission trip to Mississippi and we will be eating all the food he is allergic to.   So it will be a spicy week, tacos, Manwhich, Sweet and Spicy Chicken and Mexican Bowties.   We will miss Josh alot, he is such a help with the kids and stuff.   I hope he has a good time and does alot of good.  They will be doing repairs and painting of houses for families in need.  They also will be holding a VBS for the local children.  I hope as always God protects and moves my young man's heart.   

  • Well home from work......I got home about 10:00, which makes for a short evening.   I quickly made a pasta salad for a potluck at work tomorrow and got everything prepared for tomorrow.   Tucked in the kids and gave kisses around.  Now I am going to head to bed and start a new book.   I started listening to Anna Karenina on tape since I was struggling with the book.    I will have to browse my bookshelf to see which book I will start.   Erik is very excited he is winning our book reading competition for the summer so far.   I haven't started a book yet nor has Josh and Erik has read over 40 pages.   Good to see him motivated to read.   Amy is also going to join our competition.  The more the merrier!


    MY QUICK AND EASY PASTA SALAD


    FETA and VEGETABLE ROTINI SALAD


    1 box tri color rotini pasta, cooked, drained and cooled
    1 cup feta cheese
    1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
    1 cup unpeeled chopped cukes or I substrate green and red peppers since I was out of cukes
    1/2 cup black olives
    1/2 Zesty Italian Dressing
    1/4 cup finely chopped red onion


    Toss all ingredients in large bowl. Cover.  Refridge at least 1 hour for flavors to blend. 


     

  • You won't believe what happened last night????   Tommy slept through the night!  YEAH!!  And so did I.   SO I felt pretty good this morning, minus the after effects of taking some really strong cough syrup.  


    We had a great morning, Tommy and Erik were up and ready to go to daycare very easily.   It was a breeze getting out the door this morning.  I hope our whole summer goes like that.  I was even at work early.  WOW!   Which means I can leave earlier today. 


    My day today is filled with two homevisits and plenty of paperwork.   I need to stop at the Dakota County Library (not the cty I live in) and pick up two books on tape!   I also have two waiting for me our library.  I love living in the cities so I can access so many libraries.   I am jsut about finished with my book on tape, The Namesake.  It is pretty good.   I would recommend it.   Next up...Anna Karenina.  I am having trouble reading this book so I am going to listen to it for book group.   I will start reading a different book I guess. 


    I remembered to bring my walking shoes to work, so I will have to take a walk over lunch today.  I didn't walk at all yesterday.  I am 1/2 ways to lifetime at weight watchers, so I need to keep plugging away.   I hope to hit my next 5 pound increment next week.  I have to lose .8 to achieve that.  I think I can do that!


    Well off to homevisits....hope everyone has a great day!    

  • Ok...I finally have a moment free in my day to update!   Not like anything all that exciting is going on really.   Last night Tommy was up three times in the middle of the night.  I was so tired this morning, I could barely see straight.  I can't wait until I have something better to blog about besides how tired I am. 


    I got to work, but 1/2 hour later than planned.  Oh well.....prepared for meetings, went to weight watchers and then did homevisits the rest of the afternoon.  I just returned to the office and will do paperwork for the rest of the evening.....sound like fun?  


    The kids have done well at home today.   Josh, Amy and Erik went on a bike ride.   I don't know what I would do without a cell phone.  The kids can call me all day, whenever they need me.  So I heard from them a few times, since they have to tell me when they leave the house and when they return.  


    This morning I made all of Erik's appointments for his teeth extraction and braces.   Unfortunately the Ortho office doesn't do Friday or Wednesday appointments, the days hubby and I are at home each week.  Oh well, that means I will  need to take him to the appointments since I have the most flexible work schedule. 


    Time to get back to work after a quick walk.  Have a great evening!

  • Doing the happy weigh in dance this week!!  I lost 2.2 pounds this week.  I am very happy with this!   YEAH!!   I hope I am back on track again.

  • Tonight is a good night....all three of our sons asleep under our roof.  Makes you smile.  God is good!  


    We picked up Erik this evening, which officially starts our summer.  We then took him to Target because we promised him we would let him pick out a pair of sandals.  He picked out a nice pair.  I was surprised what he picked out....I would not have picked them for him.  We actually had to buy him a pair in the men's department.   YIKES!!   Our boy is growing up!    He also picked out summer socks, which he said he really needed.   that confused me becuase I think he has some in his drawer, not sure.  Oh well....and while we were looking at clearance he found a pair of shorts he wanted.    Tommy also picked out spiderman jammies and shorts like Erik's from clearance.    Gotta love clearance for summer clothes.  


    The boys enjoyed the ice cream cake and now are playing their x-box's.  Josh and Erik both brought theirs from their other parents home.  We don't own any type of games like that at our home.  


    Time to head to bed and get some sleep!!  Please let me sleep tonight Tommy!   Hope you all had a great weekend.   


    BTW - A Huge Congratulations goes out to mscaffieneaddict and her family on the birth of their second son!!