LAST NIGHT

Was a pretty quiet evening.   Josh was at work until closing.   We had our Potato bar for supper so everyone ate well.   Tommy love broccoli and Cheese on his potato.   The boys spent the time after supper playing play-doh while I cleaned out a few cupboards and wiped them out and reorganized them.   I still have a couple to do this morning.  

TODAY

 I plan on going to the mall to walk this morning.   We need to go to the library and get more references for Erik's project as well as return our other things.  We also need to go buy a sprayer hose as the one under the sink sprung a leak last night.  ARGH!!  In the afternoon I hope to catch a nap so I can stay up until midnight tonight.  I usually am out by 10:30.     We are going to our neighbors for fondue and a pool tournament so I need to stay up later!  

Hope everyone has a great day!!  

CHEDDAR CHEESE FONDUE

1/3 cup flour
2 teaspoons dry mustard
2 cups half and half
2 Cups (1/2 pound) shredded sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
2 drops Tabasco sauce

1. In Fondue pot, combine flour and mustard.
   
2. Set heat control to SIMMER setting and add half & half gradually.  Stir until thickened.
   
3. Add Shredded cheese, 1/4 cup at a time, and stir until melted.
   
4. Add Worcestershire sauce and hot pepper sauce; stir.  Heat 5 minutes to develop flavors.
   
5. For serving, spear rye or french bread with fondue fork or dip with crackers.  Makes 6 to 8 servings. 

Still snowing!  The boys had needed to go out and shovel twice already.   I am glad we ran all our errands this morning.    I did really well on groceries and spent less than $60.00 for the week.   I even used a coupon for pop so $11.00 of that was pop.  YIKES!!  We stopped at the Dollar store and got mouth wash and toothpaste so we are set I think.  

Tomorrow I need to go and buy the ingredients for Cheese Fondue .  We are going to our neighbors for a New Year Party.  Should be fun. 

Tommy and I just got back from sledding while supper cooked.  He loved going down the hill on the sled.   I went with him since he was a little scared.   We had a great fun!  Well off to get supper finished up.  We are having Baked Potato bar.......YUMMY!!  

Well it snowed over night and hubby woke up the boys before leaving for work to get them to shovel.  They were happy about doing that on their break I am sure.   Actually there wasn't a one complaint out of either of them.   Tommy went outside to play a bit while the older boys shoveled.   Now he is in wanting some oatmeal....BRB.

Oatmeal is served.....I was going to walk at the mall today, but might not venture out this early due to the snow.   I do need to get groceries and run a few errands this afernoon.   It was payday today so that means grocery day.  Tommy wants bananas desparately.  I still need to make my menu, shopping list and clip coupons.   I also need to stop at the dollar store for soap, toothpaste and mouth wash.....exciting, eh?

I woke up this morning with a matty eye...looks like pink eye.  Luckily I have some drop left from last time Tommy had it.   I will just use those I guess.  

Not sure what I will be doing today besides errands/groceries.   I think I will start in the kitchen and take everything out of the cupboards and wipe them out.   I do think since I have Tommy home with me today, I will take a nap when he does.     

Oh...I forgot to mention our great luck.   Actually as always I think it is just answered prayers.   Yesterday we picked up Josh's car and it now has working brakes.  That was a little over $200.00.  Then I sent him out to get some estimates for the front end repairs.  One of Josh's friends, Dad owns a body shop and he gave us a great deal since he recognized Josh's name.   Over $600.00 less than any other estimate.   He is a very nice guy.    He can't get it in to fix it all in one day until February, but he said if we left it he would work on it in between jobs and get it done in 2 weeks or so.   Sounds great to me!!   Then I told him about the rim that Josh had bent when hitting the curb.   I asked him where would I go to get that sort of thing fixed, since it was really wobbling when I was driving behind him.   He said he would find a used one for me and slap it on for $20.00.   What a nice guy!    We are just blessed that Josh is a good kid and everyone knows and likes him.  So Josh is without a car for a few weeks and will be sharing with Mom and Dad.  

I also have to mention that I am hoping to read the bible more often and I am hoping to read it chronologically.   I have a schedule I will follow, but I started before the 1st since I wanted to get into the habit this week of reading it each day.   So I started in Revelations at the beginning of the week and will finish that book tomorrow.   All  I can say is interesting....I have never read it before.   I was highlighting things and reading it to my hubby in the evening to discuss it with him.   Actually was talking about it with Josh, he of course had read it before. 

I need to come up with a Cheese Fondue recipe since we are going to our neighbors for a New Years Eve Party.  Should be alot of fun!   We are going to have a neighborhood pool tournament, which should be interesting since I don't know how to play pool.   Good friends and neighborhood....what a blessing.  

Well I am off to start on the my menu/shopping list.   I have 4 more bags of stuff today to drop off at GoodWill.   LOL!!   I love the feeling of getting rid of stuff and starting the year off anew!   A new Beginning......

I am at home and not working and still didn't find time to blog yesterday.   LOL!   I always seems to be busy.   I like it like that though. 

YESTERDAY - Wednesday

I worked on my mroning routine in the morning.  I need to really get back to doing my morning and bedtime routine ala Flylady.    It is so helpful, but I had fallen off the wagon a while ago.   It is a New Year...so back on the wagon, Jen. 

I dropped Tommy off at daycare and went to the mall to walk again, another 2 miles down.   As I was walking I saw Old Navy put out their clearance sale sign.  Gotta check that out!!    I got some great deals on school clothes for next year and this year.  Erik needed some more clothes since he grew a size since school started.   I think he is cover for this year now very well.   Until he outgrows everything again that is!   LOL!!   There was alot on clearance, but I only bought the shirts that were $1.97 each.  Most were long sleeve t-shirts.   I bought each boy one hoody as they were 9.99.    As for pants I only bought the pants that were under $10.00 a pair.   These items were a great deal.  There was alot of other stuff on clearance too, but it was only marked down 30% and that isn't enough for me to buy it.  I can wait!  The other stuff will be marked down to these prices soon enough.   I try to stop in Old Navy about once a month to check for clearance and nab $1.97 shirts.    

Then I stopped at Target to stock up on PJ sets since they were 50% off.   I bought each child 2 pairs.  That should get us though another year.   I will stock up on toys at Target in January when they are 75% off.   Right now they are only marked down 30% and that isn't enough for me to purchase.   I will usually find great deals for Christmas next year for my great nephews and birthdays through out the year at daycare.   My gift totes are almost empty this year after Christmas!

Then it was home and time to pack up and head over to my my in-laws to clean their apartment.   I wasn't able to afford to rent a rug doctor this month, but we will go clean the carpets in a the next month or so.  My MIL  and FIL both have failing eye site, but MIL is actually blind in one eye I believe and has alot of trouble walking, etc.   So I took both older boys with me and we did some deep cleaning.   Josh was in charge of vacuuming and using our little green machine to try and get a bit of stuff out of the carpet.   It didnt' do very well, so a rug doctor is definitely needed.   Erik was in change of dusting.  Grammie has alot of knick knacks so that was a task!   He did very well.   He also wiped walls, door knobs and light switches.    I had the task of cleaning out the fridge and cleaning the kitchen.   I also scrubbed the bathroom and both the kitchen and bathroom floors.   So everything is all clean again.   I need to put this on my calendar and try and get over there about every three months to do some cleaning.    Next time I am over there I need to clean the oven as well.   Now I probably could have done this job quicker without Erik helping, but I am really working on thinking of other with him and he needs to do for others as well.   Josh has been going over there with me each time I clean and always helps.  It was time for Erik to start helping and understanding about taking care of others who are unable to do what they once could.    

After that I was really tired!   When we got home there was a message that Josh's car was done.  Well at least it has breaks now.   The first esitmate for the body damage is 1400.00  Argh!   Then I took a quick shower before making supper.  

My evening was pretty relaxing.  I was so tired from cleaning at my in laws.   I poped in a movie I rented from the library and paid bills and worked on my our budget.   I watched the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.   Pretty good chick flick......then enjoyed an early bedtime!

TODAY

I was up early since I couldn't sleep.  Not a big deal, plenty I want to do today and I can take a nap in the afternoon if need be.   I actually have not taken one nap since being off this week.   That is unusual.   

I did follow my new revised morning routing this morning and it worked out pretty good.   I started an hour early, but was done in the allotted time.   Now to try it when I get up at 6:00 instead of 5:00.     Today I will work on getting my bedtime routine revsed and give that a try starting tonight.  I still need to come up with a different morning routine for Preschool days, T and TH. 

Jen's Morning Routine - M, W, F

6:00 - Get Up/ Make Bed
6:15 - Start Toast/Start Load of Laundry/Get Pop
6:30 - Devotions/Breakfast/Meds

Computer Time until 6:45

6:45 - Shower/Dress/ Make-up
7:00 - Wake Erik
7:15 - Dress Tommy
7:30 - Fold Laundry
7:45 - Dishes Away

Coats on at 8:00 and out the Door
 We will see how this goes.....so far this morning it worked great!   I might switch my shower and computer time around, I will have to see how it goes once everyone is trying to get ready at the same time. 

PLANS FOR TODAY  -

Josh will be getting up and taking his car to get two more estimates on the body work needing to be done.  Then I will hopefully have him drop it off somewhere today to get the work started.    This is all out of pocket since I only had liability insurance on it.   YIKES!!

Erik will be working on homework.  He has a very large project that he neglected to mention to anyone.  Though I am a bit disappointment that the school didn't inform us better on it as well.   A heads up would have been nice.  He thinks he might have already had a month to work on it.  

Tommy will be going to his last day of daycare for the year.   Daycare is closed on Friday.   Some might wonder why if I am home, Tommy has been going to daycare.  Well that is easy, I have to pay for the week anyways so I figure I will use the time to do some tasks that need doing with out his help, like clean for my in-laws.    

Me - I will have to skip walking at the mall toady, since Josh will be gone getting estimates and I don't like to leave Erik alone much.    I will try to fit in walking on our treadmill.   Today I plan on finishing declutter my bedroom, washing the curtains, dusting and stuff.  Then I will straighten the kitchen cupboards.  That is all I have planned.   I do have to stop off at the library and post office after dropping off Tommy.   The rest of the day might include a nap or reading if I get the kitchen and bedroom done.  

TOMORROW

All our kids and my hubby will be home tomorrow and I really don't what I have planned.

Well, hubby is up and leaving for work.   I am going to start cleaning in my bedroom, I guess since Tommy is still sleeping.   Since we don't have to be at daycare at any specific time I let him sleep as long as he likes.    

Have a great day!

Hey....how has your day been??   Ours has been pretty nice.   I got up early and read a bit and was on the computer only a bit since xanga was down.  Then I did the dishes and cleaned up the kitchen.   I took Tommy to daycare and went to the mall to walk again.   I walked 2 more miles today, that is 4 for the week.   I hope to go walk again tomorrow morning after dropping off Tommy.   I really need to lose before my next weigh in at Weight Watchers.   I am going to stop by a center near here on Saturday to weigh in since my at work one is off due to the holidays.  

After walking I went to Goodwill to drop off some donatations and check out the books.  LOL!   I ended up finding a new king sized comforter for only 6.00.  Many people don't know it, but at the Goodwill here Target donates alot of there stuff.   So many times I can find new things from Target or Old Navy very inexpensively.  

I also found two new large bath towels for 1.99 each.   Some of ours are getting pretty ratty and need to be thrown.  of course once I put the new comforter on I started cleaning the room.  I decluttered my night stand and magazine/book basket.   Then hubby came home and he went through his clothes and got rid of 2 garbage bags of clothes he no longer wears.   So of course I will be stopping at Goodwill to drop more donatations off tomorrow.  

After Goodwill I came home to check on the older two boys.   Then I needed to go to AAA to get our plane tickets for our trip over Spring Break.   I actually got the tickets at  a cheaper price than I had found anywhere on the internet.   I was very happy.   I was thinking about cancelling the trip, but after talking to my brother I knew we had to go.   I will not have regret about not doing the things I wanted to with my children when they are young and at home with us.  We only have them with us for a short time and we are going to have great memories not regret to look back on.    I am the goofy mom that dresses up for halloween and throws crazy parties and does things with my children.   And we will take our children to Walt Disney World and have that one amazing memory!    It is priceless.   My hubby and I will have years to do many things together....it is time for our children now.   Like my bro said,  at the end of my life what will money do for me....it will be the memories especially those with my boys that will mean the world to me.   Gosh, I love those guys!    So go sledding with your children and have fun with them.   Those memories are so sweet to look back on.   Erik was just talking about the first plane ride he took to Colorado and his memories of it.   So I choose to live my life without regret!  

After getting the tickets I stopped at the library and target.    I needed to get a gift for a daycare birthday tomorrow.  We need a new toaster too, but they were a bit more than I wanted to spend so we will wait for a sale. 

That all took most of my day.   I than came home and worked on homework with Erik for a while.  I still need to neb a bit each day so I was able to read while doing that.  

Well tomorrow is another day....I will finish decluttering my room tomorrow and make another trip to Goodwill to get rid of stuff.   Have a great night.........remember, make time for what matters.......... 

OK, OK...OK....I did make my buttons and finish up the change of the look around here and on my website. 

Updated my Menu for the rest of the month as well........

http://jasmine1931.tripod.com/Cooking/menu.htm

I started redoing the decor of my blog, but need to make new buttons yet.  I just didn't feel like doing it right now.   I did enter in new recipes I have tried so I have those to share with you all.  Tommy fell asleep on the ride home from pickign up Erik.  ARGH!!  I need to go and try and wake him soon.   Erik is reading and hubby is on his computer.  Everyone is enjoying a bit of quiet time.   Now...on to the new recipes.....ENJOY!

CRUSTLESS QUICHE

CHICKEN, HAM, and RICE CASSEROLE

EASY LASAGNA

PEPPY PIZZA PASTA

FUDGY MINT COOKIES

PEANUT BUTTER CUP COOKIES

CHILI MAC

PIE A LA ITALIAN

EASY CHICKEN PARMESAN

JELLO FRUIT SALAD

RANCH PASTA SALAD

CHEESY BROCCOLI SOUP

HASH BROWN SOUP

NAVY BEAN SOUP

PARTY POTATOES

Finally getting my entries caught up.  I haven't felt that much like blogging...not sure what is going on with that.  I was off work today, but got up early and spent some quiet time on the computer.   I dropped Tommy off at daycare and then went to the mall to walk.   I walked 2 miles before heading home.   

Then we tried to get our airline tickets for our trip in March.  I called and got a quote from Hobbit travel, but we couldn't go to AAA because they were closed.  So instead we went to 1/2 books.   They had 20% off of everything in the store.  YEAH!   I bought a few books off the clearance rack that were only $1.00.   I spent most of the money on the kids as always.  A new books for Erik and Josh.  

Then I went to Barnes and Noble to sign up for the members club that Josh bought me for Christmas and bought a couple of books as well.   That is my one weakness in life......BOOKS!!  

Now we are home and soon will need to go get Tommy and Hubby will need to go get Erik as well.   Nothing much else planned for the day.   I think I will spend the next hour on my website updates.  Later!

SUNDAY

We were up fairly early on Sunday.  Tommy couldn't wait to get his brothers up so they could open presents.    Santa filled th boys stockings with candy and stuff of course.  Santa brought some items for the whole family.   We received the new Charlie and Choc Factory Movie and two new games.   They boys each got books and socks.  Santa always brings a book for each boy. 

Then it was off to church.  We went to the 10:15 service.  Erik went home with his Mom from church to spend some time with them for Christmas.  It was suppose to be our year for Christmas with him, but we felt he should spend time with his mom.   Though oddly he ended up being there more than here on our year for Christmas, since she asked for Monday in addition to the Christmas Day we offered.  Sort of interesting how that worked out.

We came home and I made some quiche for brunch.   Josh went and picked up Amy and we spent the afternoon watching our new movie from Santa.   I threw in a ham to cook that I had gotten on a good sale.   Josh and Amy went to the movie with Amy's parents and Hubby, Tommy and I went to visit grandma and grandpa.  We took over and set up Grandma's new keyboard.   Very fun!    Tommy got fussy after a while so we had to leave.  

We came home and I cut up the ham and ended up with about 8 - 2-cup packages for future casseroles or soups.   I saved the Ham bone so will be making soup with that soon.  Hubby made more cookies and Tommy played his v-smile game.    Tommy and I headed to bed fairly early and called it a night.   It was a nice quiet weekend......

We have had a wonderfully quiet weekend together.  Just like we like.  

SATURDAY

We had a quiet morning and than got the house straightened up a bit.  The boys cleaned their rooms and prepared for the holidays.   Hubby and the boys went to Target so I could get a few last minute gifts/Christmas things done.  We went to church at 4:00.  It is a great services.  Lots of Christmas music and a good turn out.    Then we came home.   Some friends dropped by to chat for a bit.  They were visiting their parents across the street for the holidays.  

I put some appetizers in the oven:

• Wings - Buffalo Wild Wings Sauce:  Spice Garlic, Teriyaki and Sweet BBQ
  
• Buffalo Style Tenders
  
• Mozzarella Sticks
  
• Spinach/Artichoke Dip

Since it was a special occasion we had a picnic in the living room with our appetizers.  I don't let the kids eat in the living room so that was a treat.  We ate and watched the movie, Polar Express. 

Our Feast.....The boys are being silly! 

My guys opening Presents......

After the movie and we opened out presents from each other.   Tommy wanted to hand our the presents.  So he grabbed a present and I said "who is it for"?   He said To Dad from Josh.....I said "let me see".   He read it correctly.  To my amazement Tommy can read everyone's name in the family.   WOW...we were all so surprised. 

After we had opened all our presents Erik went to the other room and brought another gift in for me.   We had taken the boys to the dollar store to buy gifts with their allowance, but Erik had asked Dad to take him to Target to day with his allowance to buy me another gift.   It was the sweetest thing....he was so proud of his gift!  He bought me a lovely necklace.   He was just tickled pink about it and was beaming ear to ear!    Of course momma will be wearing her new necklace to church even if it doesn't match her shirt!!!  

• 
  
  Tommy received a V-Smile preschool video game from us and enjoyed that.    Josh bought Tommy the set of Beethoven movies.  Erik bought him a light saber, which was a BIG hit! 


• 
  
  Erik received some Lord of the Rings Figures and some magnetic that light up to go with his set.  He also received the box set of Family Guy from Josh and Amy. 


• 
  
  Josh received a car care set and a gas card from us.   OOPs....no working car right now though!  Erik bought him a box of popcorn.  Tommy bought him an ice scrapper for his car. 


• 
  
  Daddy received a funny Onion book from Josh.  A computer book and shirt from me.   Some bird seed from Erik and a bag of cheetos from Tommy. 


• 
  
  Momma received a lovely pic of my boys from hubby and 2 candles.   Erik gave me a cookbook and the lovely necklace that still makes me smile thinking about the sweet thought of it.   Tommy gave me a cookbook as well.   Josh bought me the new Rachel Ray 365 Cookbook and a membership at Barnes and noble.   Such lovely gifts and a beautiful time together with our children. 

Christmas for us is all about traditions, family and memories.  I will have to type about those things too.  

After presents we baked cookies for Santa and got his plate of cookies na milk ready.  Santa had to have new cookies made for him!    We got Tommy to sleep pretty early and then played Santa before going to bed.   We were all very tired!  

Well time for me to get ready and take Tommy to daycare.  Hubby and I are off today and on the hunt for some plane tickets for spring break!    Have a great day!!  More later!