Disney 2014 Pics

I shared a few pics from our vacation off my phone here on my Menu Plan Monday last week.  I have more though.  Keep in mind, these are just some of the MANY pictures I take.  Hubby gets a little frustrated.  Even though it wasn't our first time at Disney, I still stopped to get kids pics with characters, as well as many of the same pics of parades, rides, and surroundings.  Buy hey,  the last time we went, we didn't have Baby Samuel!  That means all of these things were new to him and he just LOVED it ALL!!! Well, not the haunted mansion (yes, we took him on there), but everything else :-)

So, without further adieu:

 My absolute favorite picture!!  

Can you tell we had a lot of fun?  If only we could do this two or three times a year. Still very thankful for the times we are blessed enough to get away with our little family.  God has truly blessed us!!  So thankful!!!

Menu Plan Monday February 17, 2014

I was blessed enough to spend the last 2 weeks in sunny Florida with my family, visiting Mickey and Minnie Mouse (pics to follow).  I did a little cooking while we were there, but not near what I thought I would have to do.  Taking 8 people to Disney World requires us to stay on a tight budget.  Fortunately, a couple expenses we anticipated didn't happen and we had more money to spend on food.  That means all I cooked was spaghetti and meatballs in the crock pot, chicken/green beans/potatoes, ravioli, and we always fixed breakfast at the condo.

However, my spoiling is over now!  It's time to get out of vacation mode and back into chief cook mode.

So, here's the menu for this week:

MONDAY - potato soup

TUESDAY - homemade pizza

WEDNESDAY - slow cooker beef and broccoli

THURSDAY - Amazing crock pot tenderloin, glazed carrots, roasted potatoes    

FRIDAY - baked chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans

SATURDAY - hamburgers and french fries

SUNDAY - Hubby's choice since he will be the one fixing it - I have to work :-(

For more meal planning ideas, visit Menu Plan Monday over at Organizing Junkie.

P.S. I will be posting pics from our vacation and I am working on a post of tips for large families going to Disney, but here's a sneak peak:

Menu Plan Week of January 20, 2014

Better late than never, I often say.  I had my menu planned, just not a computer to be able to post it on my blog.  Our laptop is on it's last leg, I believe.  Put it's temperamental attitude together with my 6 kiddos and I can't get on here very often at all.  But, on a brighter note, it's working this morning!!

So,  after a busy November/December, it slowed down for a week or two and now we're back at busy, busy, busy.  It's a good busy though, we are heading to Disney World in less than 2 weeks.  YAY!!!  What that means is on top of the normal homeschooling, cooking, cleaning, and working I will add more laundry and packing up 8 people!!  I do a little bit every day so that I don't have to stay up the night before doing it ALL!!!  I have already packed up the swim wear; the pools are heated were we stay and we often spend an evening or two relaxing in the pools and hot-tubs.  I have also already pulled out socks and underwear for the girls (yes, they have that many undies and socks).  This year,  I'm trying a different packing system I saw somewhere online.  I'll share that later, depending on how it all works out :)

On to the menu:

MONDAY - we had fried pork chops, green beans, applesauce, and crescent rolls

TUESDAY - we had chicken gravy biscuits, mashed potatoes, corn, and cooked carrots

WEDNESDAY - ham, mac n cheese, roasted potatoes, corn bread

THURSDAY - taco night

FRIDAY - If it's not Truth for Youth at church, we'll have homemade pizza

SATURDAY - Breakfast for dinner - waffles, eggs, bacon, and fried taters

SUNDAY - Roast, potatoes, and carrots

For more menu planning ideas visit Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday.

Menu Plan Monday January 13, 2014

I have enjoyed time away with family and church family over the holidays.  However,  it's time to get back to school, chores, and routines.  It's time to get back in the kitchen, school room, and laundry room :(  I can't even tell you how wonderful it was to be away for just a few days in the hotel with church family - no laundry to do (though I did have to when we got back),  no food to prepare,  or kitchen to clean up.  IT WAS GLORIOUS!!!!

Now,  we're counting down until our Disney trip......................  Every time we are getting shoes on, my youngest asks, "we going to Disney World now?"  I love how excited the kiddos get.  We stay in a fully equipped condo, so I will still be fixing a few meals. Disney for a family of 8 isn't cheap, so we cut some costs where we can.  One thing we do is keep our eating out to a minimum.  I will be taking my crock pot!!  It's still a great time away with our little family.  I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

On to this weeks plan, dreams of Disney must wait:

MONDAY - Potato soup and cheesy biscuits

TUESDAY - Steak n gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, bread

WEDNESDAY - Whole chicken in a crock pot, roasted potatoes, cooked carrots

THURSDAY - Homemade chicken noodle soup

FRIDAY - Crock pot roast, potatoes and carrots

SATURDAY - Homemade pizza

SUNDAY - Out to eat since I have to work!!

Here's to another busy week and a plan to conquer it!! Hope everyone has a blessed week!!

For more menu ideas, visit Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday.

Elvin's Antics

Three years ago we started the Elf on the Shelf fun here at our house.  I didn't go buy the expensive little guy that came with the book.  I just grabbed a cute little elf at a local craft store (much cheaper) and off we went.  This year was a lot of fun, as usual.  Here are some of the things he got into this year:

 Elvin was the d.j. at his going away party he threw himself!!

 the party guests

 Dressed up and ready for church

 wrapped up some gifts for the kiddos

 Packed and ready to head to WV with the gang.  Unfortunately,  I needed him to stay home and care for the kittens!!

 Showing off for the ladies

 Giving a Christmas concert for some friends

 He tp'd my tree :-(

 Making himself a house to stay awhile

 He made us some cookies

 Elvin was missing the North Pole - he made it snow in my house??????

 Roasting marshmallows

 Captured by the south

 Tangled in the tinsel

 Zip-lining

HE'S BACK!!!!!

I know the pics are backwards,  but I added them the wrong way!!  He was a lot of fun this year.  I can hardly wait for next year, I already have a few ideas brewing!!!

Blog Neglected

Wow,  it's been a long time since my last post.  My excuse? Well, I have a few; work, kids, school, travel, holidays, elf on the shelf antics, etc.!! I should have made time for it, but I was just so tired from everything going on that my down time was spent in the bed (naps and a few extra stolen minutes in the am).

 I have been working two extra days each pay period to get some extra money for Christmas and our Disney trip coming up.  While the extra money is nice, the days away from the house has taken its toll.  I could show you with photos, but I'd be embarrassed!!!

We also traveled to West Virginia to see family between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Here's a peek:

 Doing what we do best - eating!!!

 My brother and his youngest - isn't she cute?  You can see half of my sister to the left there :)

 The annual pic at great grandma's house so she can see how much they've grown.  Unfortunately this year, she was on the couch and unable to actually come out and see this.  But, we all hugged her neck and showered her with kisses!!  

 Opening presents :)

More presents :)

The day after Christmas, we headed to Pigeon Forge for a few days with our Church youth group(that was a lot of fun packed into just a few days).

 Dixie Stampede

 How is a person suppose to sleep with these two?

 One of the youth leaders climbing for the team!!

 Chillin' in the room!!

One of our teens doing the chicken dance :)

So,  there has been a lot going on and I hope to get back into the normal routine of blogging, again!!  This happens far to often.