Another year of reading has flown by!   Below you will find my top 10 list for 2008!

4.  Mistress of the Art of Death -  Ariana Franklin - (4.5/5)

5.  The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch - (4.5/5)

6.  The Bastard of Istanbul - Elif Shafak - (4.5/5)

7.  The Septembers of Shiraz - Dalia Sofer - (4/5)

8. Stalked - Brian Freeman -(4/5)

9.  Lottery: A Novel - Patricia Wood - (4/5)

10.  Family Tree - Barbara Delinsky - (4/5)

 Random Holiday photos to share.   It am always amazed what I find on my camera. 

Hmmmmm....looks like one of my children took a picture of them being naughty.  Hmm...Josh or Tommy???

My brother, Monte joined us for Thanksgiving!! 

As always the day after Thanksgiving we all put the Christmas tree up!   Josh came over for the day to put up the tree as well.  That really made me happy since it is hard for me to do our holiday things without him!

All done......

This is Tommy and his friend before their Christmas Program at school. 

This is the blanket I made for Tommy for Christmas.  I made it while I was in Duluth for the evening for work.  Gotta love those evenings away once a month.  I am always able to accomplish something I have been meaning to do.

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Random photos from Christmas and Christmas Eve at our home.   Only two of our sons were with us as Erik spent Christmas this year at his moms.   Josh did come over and spend both days with us.   Christmas Eve, we opened our gifts from each other, enjoyed a big meal of appetizers and then went to the Candle Light Services at church. 

Really, Tommy was excited about Christmas, but maybe not the outfit his mommy put him in!!

Two of my boys on Christmas Eve...

Josh, being Josh.....enough said!

Even the two of us could not get the santa hat on Baby that Tommy bought for her.

CHRISTMAS DAY.........

Santa Josh.....came over Christmas morn in his pjs.

Daddy and uncle Steve untwisting the toys from the packaging!! 

Tommy was so very excited about the gun.  Santa, What have you done???   Finally, after two years of asking, Santa finally gave in and brought the nerf gun.  This renewed Tommy's belief in Santa.  Of course he is real....my mommy would never let me have a gun!

Baby can't believe all these presents and paper to play in!

Robbie has gone to sleep under the tree....too much excitement for him.

Tommy snuggling with the blanket mommy made for him. 

The boy and his dog!  

Mommy and her baby puppy!

All our pets were caught taking a snooze together. 

Josh......don't ask me!!  He is goofy sometimes!

Yes, he really is my son.....don't ask me to explain him!!

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Erik and Tommy making Cookies with Mom. 

Tommy a bit surprised by the mixer.

Tomorrow it is back to work.  I am ready and not ready at the same time to return to work.  I wish I would have gotten more done around the house and read a few more books.  But i like the structure of work as well. 

Yesterday we went and got groceries.  I was a bit over budget, but no name steaks were on sale and we bought a number of those.  I do think that the food I bought could be stretched to last about 3 weeks.  So I hope that will help.

Grocery Totals:

Aldi - 124.31 - this did include a fair amount of meat
Cub Foods - 116.22 - this included 4 boxes of no name steaks and smart ones for my lunches.

Total = 240.53 - if this only lasts 2 weeks than I am about 40.53 over budget.  But if I can stretch it to last three weeks, then I am under budget!!!

Time to go clean up the kitchen and do some more laundry.  Later!

Menu 1/3/09 - 1/17/09

Start the new year off right by planning your meals.  It will save you time and money.   Stop by Organizing Junkie to browse through other particpants Menus.

Saturday- 3rd - Honey Glazed Chicken Drumsticks/Cheesy Rice/ Vegetable

Honey Glazed Chicken Drumsticks

12 chicken drumsticks

1/2 C. honey

2 cloves garlic, minced fine

1/2 C. soy sauce

4 Tbsp. vegetable oil

Remove skin from chicken and cut off all fat. Combine sauce, honey, oil and garlic. Coat chicken pieces. Refrigerate for 2 hours to marinate. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line pan with foil. Place chicken on foil and bake 25-45 minutes or until cooked through.

Sun - Roast/Mashed Pots/ Vegetable

Mon - Spaghetti

Tues - Beef Stroganoff

Wed - Chicken Tortilla Soup - Six-Can Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 15-ounce can whole kernel corn, drained (substitute yellow hominy)
2 14.5-ounce cans regular chicken broth (or 3 cups homemade chicken stock)
1 10-ounce can chunk chicken (or 1 1/2 cups leftover chicken)
1 15-ounce can black beans
1 10-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, drained

Pour corn, chicken broth, chunk chicken, beans and tomatoes with peppers into a large saucepan or stock pot. Simmer over medium heat until chicken is heated through. Serve over tortilla chips, and top with shredded Cheddar cheese. Serves: 6.

Thurs - Chicken, Ham and Rice Casserole / Broccolli

Fri - BBQ Pork Sandwiches / Fries

Sat - Cornish Game Hens w/ Bacon Rice Stuffing / Brocolli

Sun - Sausage Lentil Soup

 Sausage Lentil Soup

• 1 lb. smoked sausage, sliced
• 1 lb. (about 2 cups) dried lentils, rinsed and drained
• 1 cup ham, diced
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 small green pepper, chopped
• 1 medium carrot, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 Tsp thyme
• 1/4 Tsp pepper
• 1/4 Tsp cumin
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cans (14.5 oz. each) beef broth
• 2 cans (14.5 oz. each) chicken broth
• 2 cups spinach, coarsely chopped

Combine all ingredients except for the spinach in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for about 6 hours or until lentils are tender. Add spinach and cover. Let stand 5-10 minutes or until spinach wilts. Remove and discard bay leaf.

Mon - MPTP - Egg Rolls

Tues - Hamburger Veg Soup

Hamburger Vegetable Soup

1 pound ground beef
4 cups chicken broth
4 cups water
2 (1 ounce) packages dry onion soup mix
1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 onion, chopped
1 (16 ounce) package frozen mixed vegetables
3/4 cup uncooked elbow macaroni

Place ground beef in a sauté pan and brown over medium heat. Remove from stove, drain and set aside. In a large stock pot, combine broth, water, onion soup mix, tomato sauce, celery, onion, frozen vegetables and macaroni. Bring to a boil and then simmer until macaroni is done.* Add browned ground beef, stir and serve. Serves: 4.

*Note: If you plan for this to simmer for a while, cook the pasta in a separate pot, rinse and set aside. Add pasta just before serving. If allowed to simmer with soup, pasta may turn to mush.

Wed - Crab Alfredo

Thurs- Chicken and Rice Casserole / Veg

Fri - Hamburgers and Fries

Sat - Meatloaf/Mashed Pots

• Pay Bills - DONE
• Laundry
• Menu/Shopping List - Done
• Dishes - DONE
• Figure Daycare for Year - Taxes
• Clean Tommy's Room
• Clean Up of Fridge
• Clean off My dresser
• Make cookies with the boys - DONE

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!   I am looking forward to 2009.  I am sure I will post some goals for the year and revisit my goals from 2008.  But not quite yet.   I am a bit tired tonight.   I do have to share that we had some very good soup for supper tonight.  YUMMY!!!   We made Chicken Enchilada Soup with Pico de Gallo.  My hubby made the Pico de Gallo as I just hate to mince things that small.  I have no patience!!!   but I made the soup and it was very good.   I found it on he What's For Dinner Website.  It will definitely be added to our family cookbook as a favorite!!

We also tried the meatloaf recipe from WVCountryRoad's Blog.  It was very good and definitely something we will make again.  My hubby also likes the meatloaf with stove top dressing in it, but I prefer this one instead!!  It is now my favorite meatloaf.  The sauce on it is very good and very kid friendly!!

Tomorrow I am home with the kids.  I need to make my menu and shopping list for the next two weeks.  We will get groceries on Saturday morning probably.   I haven't looked through many of the Menu Plan Monday sites so I will have to browse those tomorrow morning!!  There were 229 participants last week. 

Well I am off to bed to read my book.  Have a great night!!!!

Jen C