Monday - 29th - Paul Cooking (D)*

Tuesday - Chicken and Noodles /Vegetable (Change of Plans - Pizza Party for Soccer)

Wednesday - 31st - Leftovers or Sandwiches

Thursday- November 1st - Crustless Quiche x 2 and Bacon

Friday - 2nd - Turkey Cheese Rolls/ Artichoke Dip and Chips/Snack Crackers

Saturday - 3rd - Sticky Chicken - Potatoes and Gravy

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Are you struggling to figure out what to cook for supper???  Join us in planning our menus each Monday.  Stop over to Laura's Blog "Organizing Junkie!" and see what is on all of our menus and find new great recipes to try!!

   Hello Everyone.......

Yesterday I was home from work to take Erik to the Psychiatrist and then we didn't have a PCA for the afternoon so I stayed home.  Today, I planned on going to work, but our furnance decided to stop working last night.  It was a bit chilly in the house by morning.   Before the weather gets too cold here in Minnesota and the heating companies are very busy.....I figured I better get it fixed.   I am hoping it isn't anything too much.  The blower motor is working as that is running, it just isn't blowing hot air.   So of course the furnance is in the laundry room right next to Mt. Washmore (my laundry pile).  ARGH!!  So I sorted everything nicely into baskets and ditched the comforters and sheets in the playroom until later.   I wish I could just keep caught up with laundry!!!   Maybe if I end up being home this afternoon I could do a few loads of laundry. 

I have the play area all cleaned up down stairs.   I am moving most of the toys out of Tommy's room and down there.  He has a very small room and really enough room for a bed and dresser.  I convinced Tommy to get rid of alot of toys.  I will be taking them to Good Will today.  I told him we needed to make room for his new toys he will get for his birthday and Christmas.   We cleaned out 3 large bins of toys and I am not done.   It really was time to part with our baby toys. 

  Tomorrow is my baby's Birthday!   Tommy will be 6 years old tomorrow!

1st Day of Kindergarten

Tommy Age 5

Age 5

Graduation from Preschool

4th Birthday - Pirate Party!

The morning of his 3rd Birthday!

Tommy's 2nd Birthday

Tommy's 2nd Halloween

Tommy's First Birthday!

1st Halloween - 5 days old

Tommy Hospital Picture - 1 day old

I just love the new google feature.  I don't use google for much except as a search engine.  I am actually not sure how new this is...but I love the feature!!!!!

Google Documents

This is great for me as I have files both at home and work and need a central place to organize my personal information.  I will be working on organizing and cleaning out my hard drives!  

I also need to chech out and start using Google Calendars.  Love more chances to become more organized!!!

Hello Everyone -   Laura over at Organizing Junkie asked how much each person spends a week for groceries and tips to save money.  On of my favorite topics!! 

My Best Tips for Saving Money on Groceries

#1 - Menu Planning and buy only what you need!  I also base my menus on meat I have on hand or is on sale.

#2 - Shop every two to three weeks - less times a month in the store = less opportunities to spend money!

#3 - Make your own/cook from scratch whenever you can. 

#4 - Freeze Extra Produce before it goes bad.  I just froze a number of peppers from our garden. 

#5 - Eat Your Leftovers or Use for Lunches 

Below is my menu for the next two weeks.    I spent a total of $97.91 for the next two weeks of our menu.   I spent 82.04 at Aldi and another $15.87 at Festival.  I am having another week where I planned my meals around what is in the freezer.  I buy meat when it is one sale and stock up.   I am pretty stocked on Chicken and Hamburger.  I have cooked and uncooked chicken and hamburger ready to go.   I was happy with staying with in my budget.  It has gotten to be a bit of a game for me.  If you would have said that a year ago I would be feeding my family of 5 or 6 people for less than $50.00 a week, I would laugh!!   But all the things I have learned from various blogs and internet sites has really helped me stream line this area of our budget.   I buy very little processed food and cook from scratch most of the time.  

Many times I am able to stretch my grocery shopping an additional week by utlizing my leftovers well.  I am hoping the menu plan below will actually last 3 weeks!

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Friday - 19th - Make Your Own Sandwich Platter/Chips and Dip

Sat - 20 - Rotisserie Chicken/ Mac and Cheese/ Mashed Pots with Gravy

Sun - 21 - Slow Cooked Steak -(crockpot 6-8 hrs) - Parmesan Noodles and Veggies 

Mon - 22 - Chicken Pot Pies - (D)*

Tues - 23 - Taco Cresent Bake/ Vegetable

Wed - 24th - Easy Parmesan  Garlic Chicken/Box Potato or rice/Vegetable

Thursday - 25th - Paul's Choice - (D)*

Friday - 26th - Crockpot - Versatile Slow Cooker Chili/ Corn Bread

Saturday - 27th - Crockpot Sloppy Joes/ Chips and Dip

Sunday - 28th - Hashbrown Soup/Biscuits

Monday - 29th - Paul Cooking (D)*

Tuesday - Chicken and Noodles /Vegetable

Wednesday - 31st - Leftovers or Sandwiches

Thursday- November 1st - Crustless Quiche x 2 and Bacon

Friday - 2nd - Turkey Cheese Rolls/ Artichoke Dip and Chips/Snack Crackers

Saturday - 3rd - Sticky Chicken - Potatoes and Gravy

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New Reccipes from Last Week That Were a Hit  (Add to my Online Cookbook)

Scalloped Potatoes and Ham/ Apple Crumble - The Apple Crumble was requested and made again this weekend for Dessert! 

Slow Cooked Steak -(crockpot 6-8 hrs) - Fix-It and Forget It - 5 Ingredient Favorites pg 88

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Meals/Items Not Made Last Week - Carry Over

Mac and Cheese

Other back up quick meals......

Chicken Nuggets/Fries
Garlic Chicken Skillet (frozen bag meal)
Frozen Pizza

D = Dad is cooking that night as I am not home for supper

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Are you struggling to figure out what to cook for supper???  Join us in planning our menus each Monday.  Stop over to Laura's Blog "Organizing Junkie!" and see what is on all of our menus and find new great recipes to try!!

Saturday was a beautiful day here in Minnesota.  The men folk were busy all day getting things done in the yard.  The lawn was mowed, the gazebo and patio furniture put away for the winter.  Tommy and the neighbor boy drove Tommy's motorized truck and hauled all the grass clipping to the compost site.   Hubby started a very nice compost pile in the garden.  A very good way for us to fertilize the garden.   I have to remember to take my peelings out when I cook up veggies, etc. 

The boys since they worked so hard started getting the stuff out to make the haunted house in the garage.   They have a new layout this year so we had to go to savers to buy some more sheets.   We also bought some vases that we are thinking about burying in the side garden and putting candles in them.   Hoping it will light the pathway to the haunted house and be creepy.  

I spent my day running errands and getting groceries.   Before leaving I had to finish up my menu and shopping list for the next two weeks.  My menu is in the post below.   First I was going to do the errands.....first Stop was Once Upon A Child to sell some of Tommy's clothes.  Then I headed off to buy Tommy's birthday party.  We decided to get him the TMNT van and some guys.   So I bought in the van and 4 guys.   The boy still loves his guys. 

Next stop was Factory Card Outlet for a pinata for the party.  We are having a halloween theme birthday party this year.   I  bought some poster board at Office Max to make a game, "Pin The Nose On The Pumpkin".  Each year I draw some sort of pin the (insert theme of party).  Last stop was Sam's Club for Halloween Candy and two chickens.  

I stopped at home and put supper into the crockpot before heading to get groceries.  Before groceries I stopped to mail bills and buy syringes for my cat.  Did I mention our oldest cat is diabetic???   He has to have two shots of insulin each day.  I think he is nearing the end for his life....he is urinating outside the litterbox throughout the house.  You have to make sure you have nothing on the floor in your room or he will pee on it.   Not fun!    But he doesn't seem to be in pain or anything, a bit senile though.  

Groceries I did great on!!  I spent a total of $97.91 for the next two weeks of our menu.   I spent 82.04 at Aldi and another $15.87 at Festival.  I really had another week where I planned my meals around what is in the freezer.  I buy meat when it is one sale and stock up.   I am pretty stocked on Chicken and Hamburger.  I have cooked and uncooked chicken and hamburger ready to go.   I was happy with staying with in my budget.  It has gotten to be a bit of a game for me.  If you would have said that a year ago I would be feeding my family of 5 or 6 people for less than $50.00 a week, I would laugh!!   But all the things I have learned from various blogs and internet sites has really helped me stream line this area of our budget.   I buy very little processed food and cook from scratch most of the time. 

Since I had leftover grocery money I was able to let the boys get things for their haunted house.  I was tired, but stayed up late and made Tommy's Pin The Nose On The Pumpkin Game.  It turned out very well.  I am also going to bob for apples and make a treasure hunt.   I fell into bed and was out before I knew it!

SUNDAY - BUSY KITCHEN DAY

We were up and attended church.  I forgot there was no Sunday School due to MEA, so Tommy came to service with us.  He did very well and was very patient.   The rest of my day was spent between working on getting out harvest all put away/frozen . I baked 4 more squash and make apple crisp and apple/Squash casserole.   Hubby washed, peeled and cut up all our carrots from the garden.  I was sure tired after all that.  I made some supper and sat to blog a bit before cleaning up the kitchen.  The kitchen is a mess.  I have been doing laundry all day.  I have done about 5 loads, but have more in the laundry room waiting.  ARGH!!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend with their families.  I think it is early bedtimes around here tonight!!!

Mon - 8th - D-Hotdogs and Buns/ Chip and Carrots with Dip

Tues - 9th - D-Taco's - Soft & Hard (meat in freezer)

Wed - 10th - Church- Fried Egg Sandwiches

Thurs - 11th - Spaghetti and Meatballs with Garlic Bread

Fri - 12th - Hamburgers buns with Fries

Sat - 13th - Steak/ Baked Pots/ Mixed Vegs

Sun - 14th - Breakfast - Pancakes/Eggs/Toast/Bacon

Mon - 15th - D- Pizza Rolls

Tues - 16th - D - Pot Pies

Wed - 17th - Church - Frozen Pizza and Salad

THurs - 18th - Scalloped Potatoes and Ham/ Apple Crumble

Fri - 19th - Rotissiere Chicken/ Mac and Cheese/ Mashed Pots with Gravy

Sat - 20th - Slow Cooked Steak -(crockpot 6-8 hrs) - Parmesan Noodles and Veggies 

Other back up quick meals......

Chicken Nuggets/Fries
Garlic Chicken Skillet (frozen bag meal)

D = Dad is cooking that night as I am not home for supper. 

Hopefully this is Tommy's last day of school he will be missing.  I did take him to the Dr this morning and he has the Adenovirus according to our peds.   He said the fever usually lasts about 1 weeks so Tommy should be coming to the end of it.   I think we will be laying lown for the weekend and hopefully he will return to school on Monday!  

I sure hope no one else gets it!

Well I think Tommy is home another day.  We are starting to wonder if we should take him to the Dr.  He is still congested and running a bit of a fever.  So no school for him.  I will stay home in the AM and then hubby will come home from 1:00 until 2:30 when Amy will come to get Erik off the bus.  Then Josh and Amy will watch everyone until I get home that evening.   Hubby has plans to go out with friends so it will probably just be the boys and I for the night.   We always have a good time.....well I am off to bed.   NIGHT!!

Tommy is starting to feel a little bit better.  He actually asked me to make him some scrambled eggs this evening.  He really hadn't eaten all day.   I think he will be home again tomorrow from school.  He still seems very lethargic and has a croupy cough.  

I went to my dentist appointment today and they used some type of material to fill in the broken off area of the tooth.  It doesn't hurt as much anymore.   I will need a crown on that tooth.  I have one more stress fracture and two buckle fractures on that tooth.   Hopefully another part doesn't fall off before I can get the crown put on.  I had no idea how incredibly expense that would be.  The estimate for the crown is $982.00.  Yikes....that is a house payment.   I plan on getting the temporary crown put on when I have the day off for Veteran's Day.  

Well I am off to go and lay down with Tommy.  I am having him sleep in our bed with me and I want to make sure he is breathing of throughout the night.   Tomorrow I will go into work for my unit meeting in the morning than I will come home and stay with Tommy.  

I really didn't do well at getting up on time this morning.  ARGH!!   I am just getting up now.   I went to bed on time, but I took Tommy to the ER around 1:30AM.   He woke up wheezing and gasping for air.  He was crying " I am dying I can't breathe".   He was scaring me, since I am asthmatic I took him to the ER.   He has an upper respiratory illness. 

He would get croup so much when he was a baby.  He still has a pretty croupy cough   I hope he is better soon.  So I am home with him until 11:00 and then Josh will watch him so I can go to the dentist.  I have a later afternoon meeting so my hubby will need to come home so I can go to that.  

Never a dull moment with little ones......