Updated my look for a more fall look....now I should get going on my day!    Have a great one, we are off to the library!  I still need to update the buttons, that that will have to wait for a bit.    Later!

MORE NEW RECIPES ADDED TO MY WEBSITE:

MARINATED FLANK STEAK

TEX-MEX PASTA SKILLET

SPAGHETTI SAUCE 

Can't Sleep.....Add Recipes....

NEW RECIPES ADDED TO MY WEBSITE:

BUTTERMILK BISCUITS

I woke up and can't fall back to sleep so I guess I will blog, what else!  I am sure part of the reason I can't sleep is I had forgotten to take my predisone so I took it right before bed.....and this is a common side effect I get from the med. 

After school the house was rocking as always.  Josh's friends came over and were dancing downstairs.   They are so goofy.   A few of them stayed and had supper with us and watched the Stomp video with us before we went to the neighbors.    Josh, Amy, Hubby and I are going to the STOMP production in two weeks.  We went once before a few years ago.  It is a great show!  

Hubby, Tommy and I went to the neighbors for a fish fry.  Her soon to be stepfather, went deep sea fishing in Mexico and caught a Marlin.   So we had grilled Marlin.  It was great!!  YUMMY!!!

We came home around 10:00 and went to bed....so I got a few hours of sleep before I woke up.   Josh just got home from taking everyone home from the football game/dance.  He is off to bed and will be going to his Dad's tomorrow. 

Not much else too exciting around here.....I guess I will check out a few blog and then go read my book until I get tired!   Or do a bit of midnight cleaning....LOL!!

Good night!

I finally have a moment to sit and relax.   It has been a busy morning.  I am working from home today,  but took the morning to get groceries.  I am going to pick up a bit and then work on some reports for work this afternoon.  I have to pick up Tommy early from daycare as my SIL has an appointment.   

TODAY

I slept in a bit.  I got the boys off to school and then paid bills and worked on our budget until Tommy woke up.  All bills were paid and I was able to save 200.00 to future bills (specifically van repairs).    I took Tommy to daycare and then I came home to get my grocery list done.   I used some of the MenuMoms recipes to plan next weeks menu.   I am challenging myself for the next two weeks to try and eat out of our freezer or food we have at home here.   My freezer is pretty full.   That should help to save up a bit of money to pay for the van repairs.  I have a tow truck coming to take it to the service station in a few minutes.  I am hoping it isn't too expensive of a repair.   ARGH....it is always one of the vehicles needing repairs. 

Tonight we are invited to my neighbors for a fish fry.  So we will be there most of the evening.  It should be fun.  Tommy loves playing with Noah their son.   Josh and the girls are going to the football game tonight.  Erik was upset about that since he is going to his mom's and can't go with Josh and them.   Josh is going to his Dad's tomorrow afternoon.

TOMORROW

Library day is tomorrow.    We don't have much else planned for the day.   I was thinking about getting some paint, but I will need to wait until I find out how much the van repairs will cost.  I will probably just do some fall cleaning in the living room tomorrow and read a bit of course. 

SUPPER:  Mexican Dip and Chips (for Josh, Amy and Emma)

Thursday.....one day closer to the weekend!  I can't wait.  I hope to work from home tomorrow so hopefully it will be a productive day.  Right now I am at one of the public libraries on my lunch break in between meetings.  I snarfed my sandwich down in the parking lot so I could blog...LOL!!!

YESTERDAY

Last night was the first night for Wednesday night programs at our church.   We all went early to church to have supper.  Amy joined us and Erik's friend Josh S came with.  I think that is a good thing.  Tommy went to his class really well since his friend Ethan was there.  We also saw our neighbor Max there.  I am glad to see so many of our neighbors bringing their children to First.   Hubby and I are joining Alpha, but it doesn't start until like the 26th I think it is.  So we sat in on the large group of confirmation.   We sat in the back and enjoyed it!   When the confirmation class went to their small groups I took hubby home so he could go to bed and I came back to church to read until the kids were done with their classes.

Then it was home for an early bedtime....we were all very tired last night!    Hubby and Tommy were asleep before 9:00 and I sat and read until 10:00.  I got another 50 pages done in my book.  Maybe I will actually get it done before book group! 

TODAY

Tommy did great at preschool.  He went right to play with the rescue heroes and I left.  Hubby called me to let me know he was picking Tommy up.  I was in a home visit at the time.....now I am in between visits.  

I have one more home visit today and then I will go to the office to pick up some work for tomorrow since I am going to work from home.   I was in too big of a hurry this morning to get that done.  I have a chiro appointment tonight at 5:30 as well.   . 

TOMORROW:  I think I will get groceries in the morning and than work the rest of the day from home.   I have a couple of reports to write and a few phone calls to make.  I just don't want to drive to the office.   They did increase my mileage reimbursement for the rest of the year, but it is still very expensive to drive to the office when I have no meetings and can work on my laptop from home.  I need to pick up Tommy early from daycare on Friday too as my niece is having the rest of her senior pics taken that day. 

SUPPER:   Chicken Cordon Blue/Bread Sticks/Broccoli Casserole

THIS WEEKEND:   Hoping for a quiet weekend at home to do a lot around the house!    I am thinking I might try and paint my accent wall this weekend if I have enough money after paying bills tonight to buy paint!  I haven't totally selected a second pain color yet, but I want to see the accent wall up to help in selecting the other color.  I will be doing some fall cleaning in the living room and wiping down the walls and floor, cleaning out closets and everything else.   I also hope to get a fair amount of reading in as well.  

Erik will be at his mom's and Josh is going to his Dad's I assume.  So it will just be hubby, Tommy and I this weekend. 

Well I am off to do some paperwork to prepare for my next home visit.  Hope everyone has a great day!

Trying to eat a quick lunch before my next meeting of the day.  YAWN!!   Another busy day!   But sitting in meetings make me so tired!   

YESTERDAY

Yesterday was just a nice day.  Josh and the carpool girls came home and unloaded all my Sam's Club purchases.  They all hung out at the house for a while.  Erik came home and did great riding his bike with his friends.   He brought 4 friends home with him so we had a house full!  I love it!   Our house is so busy, but I love how alive it feels!  

Then my BIL came over and dropped off my niece, didn't realize we were babysitting.  SIL said she told hubby the night before...LOL!!  Usually they tell me since hubby tends to forget.  He couldn't recall being told she was coming.  My FIL dropped my nephew off after OT.   So we have 7 for supper.   I did a little scrambling, but everyone got fed.    We are now eating at our larger dining room table more often as the kids have friends over and stuff too.   I am trying to clear it off each night.  It is where I fold clothes and my laptop is on there.  

Hubby did homework with Erik most of the evening.  Amy went to Loaves and Fishes to feed the homeless.  Josh didn't feel like going.  I think Josh and Erik will go next month.   I got a few loads of laundry done and cleared off the dining room table.  I cooked up 3 pounds of chicken and froze what I didn't use to make supper.   

TODAY

Erik and Josh were both up early this morning!  WOW.  Erik was so excited to ride his bike to school he was up, showered and ready for school before 7:00.   I hope that continues...LOL!!  Tommy and I sort of took it slowly this morning, but got to daycare in plenty of time.  

I had a school observation this morning.  I love doing school observations!   I looked in to monitor a little 2nd graders IEP.  That age is so cute!   This afternoon I have a mandatory section meeting and then I will race off to meet my family at church.  

Tonight is Erik's first night of confirmation.   His friend Josh S is in his small group with him so he is happy about that.   My Josh will be at confirmation tonight too....he is a Jr Guide.  It is his last year with his group as they will be confirmed.    I was wondering if he would sign up for another 3 year commitment or not, but didn't ask.  Last night Josh said he will start with a 6th grade group again next year so I guess he will be continuing to teach.   Erik will be so very happy about that.  He was upset that Josh couldn't be his guide this year.  

We were teasing Josh about his MCA's last night.  It is a math test the kids take in MN. We had just gotten his results in the mail.  He did very well, all sections were well above the state average.  He even scored a 100% on a section.  LOL!  What a geek!   But he is a smart geek!  No really, we are very proud of him. 

The van still is not starting so it will probably need to be towed to the garage.  ARGH!!   Someday we will be able to get rid of that thing!  I can't wait.

TOMORROW

Work....homevisits and chiropractor.

SUPPER:  Eating at church tonight before class.

GRATITUDE:  Good Friends....wonderful boss.

CURRENTLY READING/LISTENING TO:

Just finished (FINALLY) - Leap of Faith - Queen Noor - 4/5

Started - Second Glance - Jodi Picoult

Reading - East of Eden - Steinbeck

Quiet night at home.......Erik and hubby are doing homework.  I must say I am very impressed at how well hubby does in teaching Erik things, especially math!!   Geez, I love that guy!   He is a great dad.   Now if I could get him to have a bit more patience with Tommy

Tommy is playing in the basement for a bit until bath time.   I have the house cleaned up and hubby did the dishes.   So I guess I will fold one more load of laundry and read for a while. 

It has been a nice day!

Morning....I am enjoying some quiet time cleaning this morning on my day off!  YEAH!   I didn't get much sleep at all since hubby started coughing at 2:00 and didn't stop until 2:45 so I got up to sleep on the couch since I didn't have to work.  GRRRR...I didn't fall back to sleep until 5:00 and the alarms start going off at 5:30 around here.   So I was a little crabby this morning.    I pray today is a day Tommy decides to take a nap.  I really really need one!

YESTERDAY

Last night I cooked at church, it went pretty good.  I just wasn't into it after working the entire day.    I was at church all evening.  Erik had about 2 hours of homework and still has some to do tonight.  Hubby took care of that while I was gone. 

I came home and got things ready and headed to bed with Tommy.   I have a feeling I was asleep before Tommy since I can't remember!

TODAY

Today I am off since my daycare is closed.   I am continuing to work on my fall cleaning today.   I am working in the entryway today.  I am washing the walls, and banisters, etc.  I have no clutter in my entryway so that is not an issue.  I just need to wipe everything down a bit.  I am about 1/2 done, so I am taking a little break.   I just have to wipe the walls going into the basement and scrub the floor.   

Then I will pick up Tommy from preschool and we are going to Sam's club to pick up some household items.  Believe it or not, the van won't start so Josh is without a vehicle.  ARGH!!   More money out the window.  My savings is getting eaten up!    I need to be saving money for our plan tickets to Florida in March. 

BTW - Tommy did great separating from me at preschool today.  It is the week you bring your Teddy bear to school and he was excited to show his Teddy the Rescue Heroes so Mom got to leave right away!  YEAH, TOMMY!!!

After Sam's it will be lunch time and then Nap time!!  I can't wait!!!!   3 hours of sleep just doesn't do it for me.  

Since I am home today we are letting Erik ride his bike to school with his friends.  He is the only kid on the entire block who was riding the bus.  The rest were all riding bikes.   He really needs to fit in socially so we are trying it.  Hope it goes well for him!  He already feels he stands out since he needs extra help in class, so we don't want to have him stand out as the only kid that *has to ride the bus. 

TOMORROW

Back to work and the first night of Church.   

SUPPER:  Chicken Biscuit Pie/ Veggie/ Cottage Cheese with Pineapple

GRATITUDE:   Hmm...this is a stretch as I am pretty crabby this morning. ...I am grateful for occasional quiet mornings to myself! 

MENU FOR WEEK OF SEPT 12th

MON - Ravioli and Bread Sticks

TUES - Chicken Biscuit Pie/ Veggie/ Cottage Cheese with Pineapple

WED - Eating at Church

THURS - Chicken Cordon Blue/Bread Sticks/Broccoli Casserole

FRI - Mexican Dip with Chips/Veggie Sticks and Dip

SAT - Roast Chicken/Mashed Pots/Carrots

MENU FOR WEEK OF SEPT 19th

MON - Chicken Stir Fry

TUES - Hamburger Helper/Vegetable/Cuke and Tomato Salad

WED - Eating at Church

THURS - French Dip Sandwiches/Broc w cheese/Pasta Salad

FRI - Crustless Cheese Quiche/Fruit/Biscuits

SAT - Beef Veggie Stew/Bread/Salad

SUN - Birthday Party - ????