In a runt on what to cook???  Head over to Laura's site I'm an Organizing Junkie and see what the many participates on Menu Plan Monday are having this week!!

Menu Planning October 11th - Oct 27th

Sat - 11:  Prep:  Thaw Roast

 Teriyaki Chicken/Rice (crockpot) and Veggie - **GOOD ADD TO WEBSITE**

Sunday – 12^th     Easy Pot Roast with Veggies

Monday (mom works late) - Pizza

Tuesday:  Prep: Buy Vermicelli

Biscuits and Gravy/ Scrambled Eggs

Wednesday (church) – Prep:  Thaw cooked chicken

Crab Alfredo

Thursday (Off)- Chicken and Rice Casserole ( crock 6-7 hrs low) - NOT THAT GOOD

Chicken and Rice Casserole

1 cup long grain rice, uncooked
3 cups water
2 tsp chicken bouillon granules (or 3 low sodium cubes)
10 ¾ ounce cream of chicken soup (I like fat free)
2 cups cooked chopped chicken
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1 tsp onion salt
1 cup grated low fat cheddar
16 ounce bag frozen broccoli (sometimes I use fresh)

Combine all ingredients except broccoli in slow cooker. One hour before end of cooking time, stir in broccoli. Cook for a total of 3-4 hours on high or 6-7 hours on low.

Friday (Off in AM) (Erik to Sues)  Prep:  Make Secret Sauce in AM

Dressed Up Bacon Burgers and Fries – Movie Night

Saturday – 18^th   Prep:  Thaw Chicken, Prepare Rub

Party at Josh’s???

Sunday  -  Prep:  Thaw Hamburger, Mix Casserole

Roasted Sticky Chicken in Crockpot / Wild Rice/ Veggie

Monday (work late) - Tater Tot Casserole and Seasoned Green Beans

Tuesday - Crustless Quiche, Toast and Bacon

Wednesday – (Church) – Prep: Thaw cooked Ground Beef, Prepare Casserole for tomorrow

Spaghetti/ meatballs and Garlic Bread

Thursday (Book Group – Faith Paper) – Prep:  Thaw cook ground beef

Pizza Casserole – 375 for 30 minutes -

Pizza Casserole  - Tommy didn't like

2 c cooked shell macaroni
1 4 oz can mushrooms
1 small can tomato sauce
1/2 c chopped onion
1 c grated mozzarella cheese
1 # ground beef, browned
1 c pizza sauce
1 c Parmesan cheese
4 oz pepperoni

Topping:
1 c grated mozzarella cheese
Oregano

Combine macaroni and ground beef. Stir in remaining ingredients. Put in casserole dish. Top with grated mozzarella and oregano. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.

Friday – (Erik to Sues) - Sloppy Joes – Chips and Dip - Movie Night

Saturday – 25^th  - Tommy’s Birthday Party – Hot Dogs/ Buns – Beans – Chips/Dip

Sunday – 26^th - Prep: Thaw and cut up Rotisserie Chicken

Confirmation - COYAN CAFE'

Monday - 27th - (Grocery Day/MPTP) Homemade Chicken Soup x 2 (Rotisserie Chickens to the Rescue Cookbook Pg 99) and Grilled Cheese

In looking through menus at Organizing Junkie, I found the blog "A Simple Walk".    I am enjoying reading Kate's posts.  I especially am interested in her monthly grocery shopping and monthly menu planning.   I currently am down to shopping only twice a month.   She has a couple of cool documents for her master menu plan and master monthly grocery list. 

Check it out.......

Jen C

The groceries have been bought and put away.   Supper was made and kitchen cleaned.   We enjoyed a bit of time outside at the bonfire before it started to rain.  now it is time for me to go to bed!!!  Hubby is going to the Viking game tomorrow with friends so I will have the day alone with the boys and Uncle Steve.  We do need to go to Sam's club for a little bit.

I am off to bed...but first I must leave you with this picture I just took of hubby.    I think he has gone to the dogs!  Teddy was so cute...he had a leg around each side of hubby's neck and was resting his head on hubby's head.  Of course baby had to get in on the fun as well. 

Good Night!!

Jen C

 I am so excited our equity loan was approved and we are about to start the first of three major home improvement projects.   Last night we had Asphalt Specialties over for an estimate.   This morning we called and asked them to schedule the work.   I am so excited.  Yes, I am excited about asphalt!!!

Here are our before pictures:

As you can see our driveway is in need of repair.   It will be removed and a new driveway will be laid.   It will be similar in size, but the part that narrows off will be a bit further down the drive way leaving more room at the top of the driveway.   Since I was looking through the company's book, I saw that they also do concrete.   I asked him to look at the front and back sidewalks/steps.  

As you can see from the above picture the sidewalk has sunk and all the water drains to under the step and towards our house.   We do have a sump pump, but it does run alot when it rains.  Hopefully this will help.   We decided to bite the bullet and have the front professionally done since he will be here anyways.   It did put us slightly over budget, but our windows are slightly under budget. 

Maybe you can see better from this picture that the sidewalk tilts towards the house.  So we are having a new front step and sidewalk put in.   He is going to make a more fancy front step which will be curved and will have more room for a waiting area, etc.   I can't wait!

In the back....this is what Josh and hubby decided to do one day.  They dug up all the grass here as they were going to put in a patio.   We are having the sidewalk removed and the area prepared for the patio.   He will bring in the bobcat and correct the grade here so we have correct run off ,etc.    He will lay a rock base and then Josh and hubby can lay the pavers next summer.   I am extremely excited about this as I was upset about dealing with muddy dogs all winter!!  

I will have to show you pictures when they start work.  Wish us luck.  It is scary to be having all these major projects happening.   The plan is for all three projects to be done by Christmas!!

I had fun at Tommy's school this morning.   I sorted gift card orders.  This is a school fundraiser.  It is a great fundraiser.  I buy nearly everything with gift cards now, gas, groceries, walmart, CVS, Sam's.    We get a small amount of the money we spend back and it goes toward's Tommy's school tuition.  

After sorting, I helped in Tommy's classroom.   I volunteered to help the teacher with projects, etc.   I counted the chapel money, hung art projects on the wall and stamped new textbooks with the name of the school.   I plan on volunteering each Friday for an hour or so.   It was so fun to just hear the teachers teaching.  I was outside the 1st grade and Kindergarten room hanging up art projects.   It was so sweet to hear those little voice praying this morning.   I love my son's school.  We are very lucky to be able to send him.

Now I am home and have plenty to do.  I need to pay bills, make birthday invites and plan Tommy's party.  Also do some laundry and run errands.   It is my weekend to buy groceries as well so I need to make my menu and shopping list.  We are meeting at the credit union to do paperwork at 3:00 and need to be home by 5:00 for the driveway estimate.   Busy Day!!!

Jen C

I am off of work again today.   This morning I am volunteering at Tommy's school for about 2 hours.   Then I am home for a bit until we have an appointment at the bank.  We are finishing up our finances so we can get our home improvements done around here.   Hubby and I sat down last night and worked with the numbers a bit.  It looks like that installing the new windows, driveway and elexcrtical will only increase our monthly expenses by less than $100.00.    Hopefully we will see that much return on our heating bill.    We have our driveway estimate later this afternoon.   I really have no idea how much this will cost.   

The plan is to have all the home improvements done by Christmas!   I sure hope it works out like that.  I am a bit nervous about taking on such large projects.    We then have everything updated in the house and have 10 years to pay it all off.   The plan is to have the mortgage and the home improvements all paid off by the time we retire and it looks like that will happen way many years before we retire!   My # `1 thing is that I do not want to retire with any debt.  

Hope you all have a wonderful day!   I love Fall and my mood and outlook is great!

Jen C

Life is busy, but good.   I am enjoying this time in my life and my family so much.   The kids are all doing so well.   Erik is working on finishing his Faith paper to be confirmed and is doing very well.  Tommy is loving piano lessons, soccer and swimming lessons.   I used to HATE to practice my trombone when I was in band, but Tommy loves to play the piano and catches on to each lesson very quickly.   I do have to get after him to not play by ear.  

Yesterday I stayed home so I could take care of a few things around the house.    I had a delivery that was being made that I needed to be home for.

Above is the picture of the cooktop in my kitchen.  It is nearly 45 years old.  We really needed a new one!!

See the big holes burnt into it.  I am not sure what happened to it as it was like that when we moved in.

Yesterday this lovely, sparkling cooktop was delivered and installed.  Only problem is that new cooktops are an electric ignition so I have to have an electrician come in and install a outlet inside the cupboard.   Currently I can use the cooktop, but have to use an extentsion cord to plug it in.  LOL!!!   But I LOVE IT!!!!

Since I was home yesterday I finished up some things and made a number of calls that I have been needing to.   I scheduled to have two estimates made for our driveway next week.   I also have three different electrical companies coming to give us an estimate.  And I finally got all the info to the last window person to get our estimate.   I called the bank and turned in our equity application.   Things are moving rithgt alone!   Hopefully if all the estimates come back favorably we will have new windows, driveway and electrical by Christmas!!

Since I was home, I worked on painting in Tommy's room in between loads of laundry.   I have completed most of the Pirates only Poster. 

I primed the area to start the Treasure Map on the wall.  This one is pretty big so it will take a while!  

Hope all is well with you!!   Enjoy your day!

Jen C

September

Stalked - Brian Freeman -(4/5)

Unaccustomed Earth - Jhumpa Lahiri - (3/5)

October

Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism - Jenny McCarthy - (4/5)

The Last Summer of You and Me - (3.5/5) 

I have really been struggling to read a complete book at all.   I think it is the time of the year and my own mood, but my concentration is TERRIBLE!!!   I am listening to some books on tape while I drive, but I doubt I am giving them a fair review as I tend to miss a bit of them as my thoughts go away from the story.   I miss being able to read. 

Jen C

Mon - 6:   Dad's Choice (AKA McDonald's)

Tues - 7:  Goulash x 2

1 lb ground beef
½ green bell pepper chopped
1 medium onion chopped
2 cloves garlic chopped
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 can tomato soup
1 can water
1 cup cheese
½ cup rice or elbow macaroni

Brown beef and drain the fat. Add bell pepper, onion, garlic, salt, and pepper to taste. Add soup, water and soy sauce. Put lid on a simmer for 20 minutes. Then add a little more water and either rice or macaroni. Simmer with lid for 15 minutes, stir. Add cheese to the top. Take off stove and keep lid on until cheese melts. Serve with bread and vegetables. Serves 4.

Wed - 8:  Slow-Cooker Chili & Corn Bread

Thurs - 9: Breakfast - French Toast, Sausage and Eggs

Fri - 10:  Make Your Own Sandwiches

Sat - 11: Teriyaki Chicken/Rice (crockpot: 6-8 hours) and Veggie