Menu Plan Monday December 10-16

The flu has invaded my little world (church and work) and I'm trying my absolute best to avoid it.  Unfortunately SOMETHING has got me DoWn :(  I'm hoping that it is NOT the flu!!  I am a little worried though,  fever, chills, aching, headache, cough, and congestion...............UGH!!!  But, enough whining!!!

This also puts a big damper on all my plans for the week.  It does NOT pay to be a procrastinator!!  I have so much to do this week; baking, shopping, wrapping, laundry,  packing, shipping, crafting, and of course working!!!  I'm fairly sure it will not get ALL done!!

So once again, this week's menu is super simple:

MONDAY - hot dogs, grandma's hot dog sauce, mac n cheese, and green beans

TUESDAY - hamburgers and homemade fries

WEDNESDAY - chicken gravy biscuits, mashed potatoes, corn, and peas

THURSDAY - taco night

FRIDAY - ravioli and garlic bread

SATURDAY - Out to eat

SUNDAY - Pizza at church (The kiddos will be spending the day at church preparing for the Christmas program)

Again I am linking up to Menu Plan Monday over at Organizing Junkie.  Head on over and find some more recipes and menu ideas.

Only 14 more days shopping days til Christmas!!!

Favorite Thing Friday

This week's Favorite Thing Friday has a theme: favorite Christmas ornament or decoration.

So,  I'm going to share two.

The first one is our Christmas Tree.  It's not the actual tree I love,  but all the special ornaments on it.  Since I got married,  my Grandma has given us an ornament every year for Chrsitmas.  They are all on there.  Plus,  there are the handmade ornaments from the kiddos.  I may have to get a fatter tree in the future.  Here is just a sample:

The one I should have put first is our nativity set.  I put one out EVERY year.  I've had this one for a long time.  It's been through many children and pets and unfortunately it shows.  I would love to get a larger one and keep this one down for the kiddos.  It usually sits under our tree,  but with the new kittens and little fingers this year,  it's up on a shelf.

I know you can't tell in the picture,  but the poor cow is missing an ear as is the donkey and lamb.  One of the wings on the angel is chipped as well.  Maybe a new one next year?

I'm linking up to Favorite Thing Friday this week over at Sippy Cup Chronicles, go check them out!!

2012 Christmas Card Photos

Hard to believe another year has passed and it's time for the "painful" Christmas card photo session.

Why "painful" you ask? Well,  first there is the outfit coordination (which this year, isn't so great).  Then, just getting them all ready takes ALL day and I just hope no one gets "messed up".  Finally,  my children are NOT camera bugs.  The actual idea of pictures makes them turn and run!!!

Obviously,  that would make you think I would start early,  right?  WRONG!!  I am a procrastinator to the core.  I keep telling myself I'll do better next year,  but the same cycle rolls around and here we are.

This year,  we did the standard Christmas tree photo, then took it outside to a covered bridge not terribly far from our house.  I'd been wanting to get some pics of the kids there and this was as good a time as any.

So, without further ado:

Not too bad.  Turns out I got a couple of good ones to put on the cards.

Until next year...............................................................................................................

Menu Plan Monday December 3-9

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..........Well,  not weather wise.  It's another beautiful day here in the south and the rest of the week looks pretty promising.  I must admit,  it's hard to get into the Christmas spirit without the colder weather.  A few snow flakes wouldn't upset me either!!

I've finally got our house starting to look a little like Christmas.  The tree is up and the girls did a super job decorating it.

I've also done a pretty good job not moving any ornaments (well, except the ones baby Samuel takes off and I "put back").  

The stockings are hung by the chimney with care!!  Well,  we don't have a fireplace,  so they are on the wall, but they are waiting to be filled.

Elvin the Elf has arrived to watch over the children and report whether they are naughty or nice (I'm guessing naughty).

I still have so much to do, but it's a start.  This week  is looking to be just as busy: school,  work, and Christmas prep.  That means easy prep meals since Mr Helper will be assisting in the kitchen.

MONDAY - Whole Chicken in the Crock pot, green beans, carrots, and corn

TUESDAY - Chicken gravy biscuits and mashed potatoes

WEDNESDAY - Chicken noodle soup (in the crock pot)

THURSDAY - Potato soup and grilled cheese

FRIDAY - Pizza

SATURDAY - hamburgers, homemade fries, and mac n cheese

SUNDAY - Spaghetti n meatballs, garlic bread

I'm linking up with Menu Plan Monday over at Organizing Junkie.  Head on over to get some more meal planning ideas.

Snickerdoodle Bread

A new take on an old favorite.  Well, new to  me anyway.  I'll have to be honest here and admit I've never actually made snickerdoodle cookies,  but I do enjoy eating them.  This recipe is quite delicious as well.  Being that it is Christmas,  they would also make a yummy gift for a teacher, neighbor,  pastor,  boss,  friend,  or anyone!!  

Here's what you need:

      2 1/2 cup flour

      1 tsp. baking powder

      1/2 tsp salt

      2 tsp cinnamon

      1 cup butter (softened)

      2 cups sugar

      3 eggs

      1 tsp vanilla

      3/4 cup sour cream

      1 pkg Hershey's cinnamon chips

      3 TB sugar

      3 tsp cinnamon

1. Cream butter, sugar, salt, and cinnamon until fluffy.

2. Add eggs and mix well.

3. Add vanilla and sour cream and mix well.

4. Mix flour and baking powder in a separate bowl. Add to wet ingredients and mix until all combined.

5. Add cinnamon chips and stir into batter. Set aside.

6. Spoon batter into 4 mini loaf pans until about 2/3 full.

7. Mix 3 T sugar and 3t cinnamon in a bowl and sprinkle over the batter in each loaf pan.

8. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Let cool before removing from pan.

In all honesty,  I completely forgot the last step and didn't put the extra cinnamon and sugar on top,  but no one complained.  They were still good. 

Put one in a cellophane Christmas gift bag, add some ribbon, a handmade name tag, and cheerfully give!!!

30 Days of Thanksgiving

In the land of facebook,  many people were posting each day what they are thankful for.  I'm going to do it all right here,  because I knew I would forget and miss many days.  So, here's my list:

     1.  First of all,  I'm thankful for my salvation.  My relationship with Christ gives me love, hope, peace, and so much more.

     2.  My highschool sweetheart, my hubby.  I don't know what I'd do without him.

     3.  My 6 beautiful children, they are a handful,  but I love them.

     4.  Caring, Godly parents, both mine and hubby's!!

     5.  Our home - it's not big and fancy, but it is just what we need.

     6.  Our jobs - I'm so glad I can honestly be thankful for my job.  This year the Lord provided a new position in which I have better hours and less stress.

     7.  Our vehicles - I know this one sounds superficial,  but with 6 kids, transportation can get rather tricky.  We have been blessed with 2 full sized vans, one of which is all wheel drive so we can visit family in the winter.

     8.  Our church - Thankful for a place I can freely go and worship with like believers.

     9.  My country - The greatest on Earth, still!!  Even with everything going on right now,  there is no place else I'd rather be.

     10.  My dear friends - you know who you are!  I love that even though we no longer live close by, anytime I call,  they listen! They also know the same is reversed!!

     11.  Freedom -  I'm thankful for the freedoms we are given.  I fear we are letting them go one by one without even being aware what is happening.

     12.  I'm thankful for always having food in our cabinets.  We may not be eating steaks very often,  but we have NEVER went hungry.

     13.  Another odd one,  but I'm thankful for telephones and internet.  They allow me to keep in touch with family and friends I don't get to see often.

     14.  I'm thankful for my Bible.  I'm thankful for the guidance it provides.

     15.  Prayer - for the ability to go directly to my Saviour with my needs, and for knowing that there are others praying for me as I pray for them.

     16.  My washer and dryer - again,  it seems silly,  but doing laundry for 8 people, I'm VERY thankful for my washer and dryer!!!

     17.  Running water and electricity - My dad recently went 2 full weeks without power.  He did have a generator so not all was lost,  but I'm so thankful that my lights turn on when I flip the switch and for knowing that even when the power is out,  it should eventually come back on.

     18.  The freedom to home school - People often ask why I have chosen this and I have many reasons,  but one main one is it allows me MORE time with my children.  They grow up so fast.

     19.  Family - There are many and we don't always agree,  but they are the family God has given me and I love them all.

     20.  Thankful for God's Protection - every day that I get in my car, watch my children doing crazy things,  or some of the crazy things I've done myself,  I know that our guardian angels are working overtime.

     21.  Hope - another odd one,  but I'm thankful that my outlook on life is generally positive.  I know that no matter what,  my life is in God's hands.  I know that one day I'll see my mom and others that have passed on again.  Being a nurse,  I see a lot of people without hope and in such a sad state, that I'm just thankful for my hope!!

     22.  Our timeshare - I'm thankful that every other year,  we are able to get away as a family and enjoy ourselves, leaving the cares of daily life behind.  If it weren't for our timeshare,  I know we would not be able to have this luxury!!

     23.  Quiet time - Since I have 6 NOISY children in my house,  I am VERY thankful for the quiet moments.

     24.  Family time - I'm thankful I'm married to a man that enjoys time with his children and makes an effort to be with them.

     25.  Memories - I'm thankful that even when people are absent from this life,  there are so many memories recorded of their time with me:  pictures,  movies,  letters, little things passed on, etc......

     26.  God's timing - I'm always amazed how things work out.  God always knows what is best for us and just when we need things.

     27.  Love - I'm thankful for God's love for me, which allows me to love others.

     28. Dishwashers - Yep,  my dishwasher runs 2-3 times a day and if I had to handwash all those,  I'd be forever in my kitchen!!!

     29. Learned lessons -  I'm thankful for all the things I learned growing up and for the ability to learn from experiences every day. Sometimes those lessons are hard,  and it takes a little longer to sink into this hard head,  but lessons learned none the less!!!

     30.  Finally,  since we are now entering the Christmas holiday,  I'm thankful for God's son being born an earthly man and paying the ultimate price for MY sins allowing me to have hope for my future,  my children's futures, my family's futures and all those that receive His gift of salvation.  The knowledge that I will someday leave this world and live with Christ in Heaven is hope above all else.  There'll be no sorrow there,  no more burdens to bare,  no more sickness, no pain,  no more parting over there.  And forever I will be with the One who died for me,  What a day,  glorious day that will be!!!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.  God bless!!

Menu Plan Monday Nov 19 - 25

Thanksgiving week is here!  Where has this year gone?  So much to do, so little time.  It is always so hectic from now until after Christmas.

Oh well,  prepared for another busy week.  Thanksgiving dinner will just be me, hubby, and the kiddos, but I still fix a feast.  That means the other days will be very easy meals.

Here's the plan:

MONDAY - potato soup

TUESDAY - steak n gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans

WEDNESDAY - homemade pizza

THURSDAY - HAPPY THANKSGIVING FEAST!!

FRIDAY - leftovers

SATURDAY - Turkey noodle soup

SUNDAY - spaghetti and meatballs

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Week.  Head on over to Menu Plan Monday at Organizing Junkie for more menu ideas.