Loving life

Menu Planning - If you don't do it...you are crazy! I no longer have a need to even think about eating out, because I feel guilty that Idid the planning for our meals and don't do it. I don't have to stress or even THINK about what are we going to have for supper each night, because it is already planned for me (and I did it:)) I am only listing suppers, because it is assumed that Casey and I will eat leftovers for lunch and the boys eat at daycare:) both breakfast and lunch. It is also assumed that I will serve a fruit and veggie with each meal (unless it is in the main dish). These side dishes will vary depending on the sales and what I have stocked up.

Here we go:
Monday - Mac-n-cheese Broccoli Chicken (meal from Kraft food family magazine -FREE)
Tuesday - Tuna Casserole - Casey's request (it is so nice to get a request BMP (before Meal Planning) the answer to "What would you like for dinner?" was the same. Now I have requests...fun!)
Wednesday - Frozen pizza (Awana night)
Thursday - Taco Pie - New recipe from my Taste of Home recipe card books I got with my Christmas money
Friday - Italian Beef in a Crock Pot - New recipe from my Taste of Home Crock book recipe card book
Sat- Lunch - Leftovers,
Sat- Night - Calzones
Sunday - Lunch - freezer meal
Sunday night - Chix in a pot with mushrooms

What do I need to actually get at the store this week: Onion, milk
I do have a few things that I am running short of that I will purchase if I see they are on sale or have multiple coupons for: PB, Rice, Foil

People claim that a family of four can't live off of $20 a week for groceries...I am out to prove them wrong! I do have plenty stocked up, so that helps too:)

HAVING A HUSBAND HOME: Wow! I can see why my posts were very dark in the beginning of December...no husband. I read on a military wife's blog the other day about life with a military man or someone who travels a lot with their job...it is difficult. When they are home, it is such an awesome feeling to have help, talk to someone, hear another opinion, etc. Casey was gone all week practicing War for the last time for the next 6 years!

HAVING TWO BOYS TAKE A NAP and being able to fall asleep to the Ultimate Recipe Showdown on cable. I realize that cable is an added benefit for most households...but man is it nice! I am loving the food channel.

I will post more tomorrow about our week and include pictures...but just thought I would post my thoughts on saving money, being organized, and loving it! You can do it too! It is easy and so much fun! No need for entertainment for me...just give me CVS, Walgreens and the sale ads:)

Thought I would try to win something...try I said:) This woman has an amazing blog which is the Grocery Cart Challenge on my blog roll.

My Motivated Mom Planner

I would love to try to blog everyday...but it just isn't in my new motivated mom planner:) Go HERE to check it out. I LOVE IT! My house has never been this clean and the boys and I have never had so much fun together. It is my goal to try to blog once a week. I know how disappointing that might be Annie or Kendra...but I am able to fill my time with more productive things like reading my own books, playing with the boys, and saving money.

I have made a meal plan for the past two weeks and stuck with it. So far I have spent $40 on groceries (plus $55 for meat to save for the next time we need to buy a 1/2 a beef). IN the process of saving money though I have lost my wallet (still no activity and still have not found it!) and also lost my $5 in rewards from Walgreens with $20 cash. So techinically I have not saved a stinkin penny due to my disorganization and losing my mind...ugh! But I do feel better mentally!

I have left work at 4:00 since we have come back from break and as of Friday, I have only a short 6 item to do list that I hope to CONQUER on Monday when we have a professional development day (NO KIDS).

I was able to attend the Zion Women's banquet last night and Casey stayed home with the boys. It was great to get out with other women and know that my boys are safe with Casey! Another thing we have enjoyed this week has been hot chocolate and being grateful. Kenner has really turned into a grateful little boy. He says,"Thanks for dinner mom." Or "Thanks for making me hot chocolate." It has been such a blessing to come home by 4:15 and get to do fun things with the boys instead of rushing for supper, then baths, then bed time.

Casey and I have worked tirelessly on our basement. Casey installed a corn stove (thanks to Grandma Judy and bartering) in our basement, which has lead to making it more of a place for our family to hang out with out electronics (aka TV). The boys bought a 132 piece train set with the money they received from Christmas, so Daddy and the boys will be making the train table to go down in the basement this week. We are almost ready for living downstairs minus a few more boxes to go through. We have given all our stuff to the City Mission first and then to Good Will versus having a garage sale. No storing until the garage sale date and it will go to some good people. If anyone has an old couch that is in good shape or any furniture...we would love to give it a home. We are just looking for free furniture to lounge and read on down stairs. Also if anyone has any free okay looking carpet/rugs, we would take it:)

Here are some pics from the week (and over Christmas break at the Elge's...SO MUCH FUN!):

Hot chocolate break

My first shopping trip to CVS, Walgreens, and Once upon a Child (which I sold back $31 of things and got two Valentine shirts for the boys for $3.00!) If you don't count what I lost...UGH!...I spent $17 at Walgreens (pop, 4 cans of mushrooms) with $5 to use next time = $12.00. CVS - no luck. Super Saver - $20.00 (had I not gotten the rubbermaid tub (which was on the clearance shelf in the back of the store for my flour for $5) I would have only spent $15.00 this week on groceries)

Family pic at our house. We also hosted the Courtney's and Elge's this week at our house for our yearly get together. It was great to talk with them and have them at our house! Come back anytime!

The Elge Family:)

Boys hiding from nap time under the desk downstairs...sneaky! (Kenner is in his doctor's costume which is on backwards!)

Where's Waldo or The Generals?

Hmmm...I cleaned out the medicine cupboard downstairs and thought it has never been raided before. So I "hid" the M and M's in there, which are a reward for Bubbi to go potty. Guess who found it and also DUMPED the entire bag of M and M's in the sink...as seen below!

Photography 101 with Grandpa Dennis

Year of the crock pot

Because I am making it a goal to cook more meals for my family, I think I will need help. Help is on the way with my crock pot. I even found a blog out there that the mom of the family used a crock pot everyday of the year...WOW! http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/ Go there for some great recipes!

Money Saving ME!

Hey guys - I have some new blogs/websites on my blog roll. There are some amazing people out there who put a lot of time and effort into saving money for their family. Watch out though...you could get hooked! I am!

Happy Bargain Hunting!

I have my meals planned out for the next two weeks. I will try two new recipes each week and only HAVE to buy milk and bread at the grocery store this week. I am dealing with the doubt of stock piling necessary items versus buying them after we run out on sale... I have only spent $21 this week on groceries and again...I only need milk and bread to survive another two weeks! It also helps when you lose your wallet! Ugh - 2 times in one year

Rhi

Happy New Year and Resolutions...

If any of you know me personally, you have already predicted that I have set many resolutions. Much to my husband's dismay...none of which result in working out (because they never pan out). Here are some:

1) Daily reading of the One Year Chronological Bible. I understand that Jesus died for my sins and the story of Jesus...but I don't know many other stories. I started to read this at the Elge's and it caught my interest. I have yet to go buy the book for myself...but that is on my to do list this weekend.

2) Leave EVERYTHING at work at 4:00. Yes my to do list at school has grown by leaps and bounds...but I have yet to see a clear to do list a school. Lots of other teachers can leave by 4:00...so I am going to leave my "Leaving at 5:15 club" and join the 4:00 Mom's group. This week has been great. I didn't dread going to Awana tonight, because I already had two great nights at home playing, cleaning, watching TV (YES WE HAVE CABLE!), and reading...yes I did say READING!

3) Be more frugal. I have put away old toys, so that instead of buying new when we are tired with the old toys we will open the old toy box and have new! I have planned meals and now will be shopping on Wednesday nights (during Awana...yes shopping with one child on a Wed is a much different story than two on the busiest day of the week!). This allows me to look at the ads on Sunday and Wednesday to look at the lowest prices and to only get things on my shopping list. I have meals planned out two weeks in advance, so that I only buy things I need. I have a "Sale" section on my to do list for things that we are low on, but don't absolutely need unless they are a "deal." If you have a way to organize prices/groceries/home maker things...please pass on any ideas. Please post them as a comment so that we can all share our ideas together.

Here is my first share:
http://food.realsimple.com/realsimple/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=610466

The real simple magazine is a great place for ideas. Their recipes don't include ingredients that I "have" in my pantry...so I am not sure how money wise they are...but the lists are great.

Note that I don't have a blogging resolution. I will try to do as I can:) I do have to blog about the AWESOME time we had in Aurora as well. Praise the Lord that we still have a non-broken boned Levi with us. God was definitely with him as we all watched in despair...more story to come!

Our Christmas Letter

"When is the cartoon guy coming?" asks Kenner

HE IS HERE...THE CABLE GUY! YEAH! YEAH YEAH! The windest day of the year and the cable guy has to go on our roof to install our DISH...yes our DISH. Can you believe it?

We will be paying the same for our internet and phone and NOW 40 channels of DISH. No more unclear channels or need for more DVDs. I do have a need for a visual schedule so that the boys will be able to watch TV during times they are allowed or have earned it.

YIPPEE!! I might even get to watch Oprah from the view of my own couch (you see I was only able to get a very unclear picture of it from my bed).

Ahh! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Family, family and more...cookies!

Family Christmas at my mom and dad's. I took this photo to show that this will be the last year without carpet:) Playing Mario Kart on the Wii...note Kenner's head. He thought he was playing the whole time. Good thing he doesn't care if he is the only one playing with a black remote:)

Kenner has chosen the best friend to have...his Great Great Aunt Idonna.

Grandpa Pat and Grandson Patton

All the Kenner Grandchildren with Great Grandpa Roger. Tell us another story Great Grandpa!

Svitak boys hanging with Great Grandma Jackie. We hope that you begin to feel better Grandma. You are in our prayers!

Kenner and Grandma Jackie. I realized that I don't hardly have any pictures with these grandparents, because Jackie is always doing something and Grandpa is always doing something else. What great pictures!

Read us some more Great Grandpa Jimmy!

Hop on Pop - Svitak version

Casey with his Mom, Judy, and brother John. See the resemblance at all? Like the hair lines boys:)

Patton LOVED where Great Grandma Jan placed her cookie tray...within reach of Patton. He helped himself to over 12 cookies. Yum Yum. If you can read his shirt...it was fit for the day- Feed Me!

Annual Grab Bag that my Great Grandmother Pauline started. The running joke year after year after year is that I will cry if you take the $100 away from me. Solution: Don't:) and we will all be happy!

Gotta get those pics for the wedding video...this one might not make the cut though. Nice smile Becca!

Both Casie and Mike forgot to read the tags for the gender specific gifts - Casie got men's cologne and Mike got mascara. Now there is one for the wedding video!

What are you doing Grandma?

Christmas at Kenner's (My mom and dad's)

Wow! What an AWESOME Christmas with more memories still to make with going to the Elge's this week. This was the first time that all my sisters (and families) and brother were able to be under one roof for more than 2 days straight without havign to go to a single event (except for other family functions). It was awesome to play Mario Kart on the Wii (which is very hard to adjust from the old Mario Kart), awesome to go shopping with the girls in Belleville, awesome to see ALL our grandparents and get to spend time with all of them. Minus Kenner's fever for three days, we had an absolute awesome time!

Bub the Chef - or Ratioulle we called him. Kenner the Doctor - We are so happy that Kenner can be the doctor and not the patient this Christmas!

The three cousins - sorry so small. I didn't actually have my camera on Christmas morning because my dad did.

Opening Santa's gifts.

Look what Santa dropped down the chimney for us!

DPP 22 - 23 - 24 - 25

I know the December Photo project is over...but I wasn't around my computer to upload the photos. I always like to finish what I start...so here is the end of the Photo Project. A huge Thank You to Rebecca for the idea and jumpstarting this December Photo Project! I don't recall having this many pictures in my December file on my computer or for any month for that matter! What a great project!

DPP 22- Happy Birthday Daddy!

DPP 23 - The view that I look at without faces of my kids at school. This group of students encompasses Autism, Cerebral Palsy, and low cognition. I absolutely love to teach this group of students how to read, be a good friend, and be their friend.

DPP 24 - A daily view of the boys conversing and playing or should I say Kenner teaching Bubbi everything he knows. I often overhear many things I have told Kenner that are now being told to Bubbi. I love it! Only if you were able to hear this conversation.DPP 25 - Look what Santa brought us...Wiggles and Rubber Ducky and Rubber Chicken.

DPP 21 and DADDY's HOME!

We were able to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus tonight at the Sprague Community Church's Christmas program. Thanks to the Mrs we were able to actually sit and not scream too:)

Choices...today was the first day in 6+ weeks that I was able to sit down and make a choice of what I WOULD like to do versus do what I HAD to get done in order to stay ahead of the game. Reason: Daddy is home! Man alive it is great to have your better half home.

Poor Daddy's car got backed into not even being home 1 1/2 hours yesterday. Daddy had to move his car after that incident and you would have thought the boys were never going to see him again. They were sobbing until Daddy appeared again and then they were EXCITED!!!

Welcome home Love!

DPP 20

Brotherly love! What a great picture of the two cutest boys in the world (I might be biased a bit!)

DPP 19

Last night, I told Kenner it was time for supper. He responded, "Mommy, I can't eat. My hands are tied down." WHAT?!? WHERE did he get this at? He, of course, was pretending...but to pretend you must have seen it somewhere. Where...I don't know.

Bubbi is a crazy man. He is attempting to lean as far as he can without falling or the freezer door opening. Oh the day that his weight overcomes the freezer door...that will be funny for us, but an ouchie for him.

DPP 18 - Do not feed the...humans

Brother wanting, other brother denying. Nothing like real time photographs to capture the essence of brotherly love.

Brother allowed play with one animal, during suppertime. Only to distract Mom so that the entire zoo of animals could come join us at the dinner table. Step One: Feed the animal.

Step 2: Eat OFF the animal.

Step 3: Give the animal something they are suppose to eat while wild. Observe the animal eat it (hoping mommy wouldn't make him eat it after it had touched an animal.)

Observe the all natural Zoo Keeper tending to his flock.
Last step: Bathe the animals. They can NOT go to bed with food all over them!