Date night

Last Friday night Steve & I enjoyed going out on a date.  Our dates are never really exciting but we cherish the time on our own.  With 4 kids & the busy life we lead it can be hard to time to enjoy being together.  Often we go shopping because well . . . we enjoy puttering around together.

So recap of Friday

Dinner at Red Lobster
Shopping for new sandals for me!
Dessert at Steak & Shake
Home before the kids were back(its nice having one that carts the other around)

We are boring but very content & still in love going on 19 years.

Projects to do

There seem to be little projects all over my house. They are nagging at me & driving me crazy.  Here is the current list.

Piles--well they are everywhere currently.
Paint the shelves for the bathroom
Time decluttering the school room & shelves

Photo Day

Yesterday was a major photo ordering day!  Walgreens had 20 free prints so got free ones with that.  I also took advantage of Snapfish's birthday deal of 10 free prints(paying shipping) and I used their code to get 10 free 5 x 7's--Grandma's will be happy!  I am excited to get working on several albums that aren't our regular family album.  I do one for the Scrapbook Getaway weekends and the Boy Scout Troop album needs major updating.  Also I want to do one for Michael using all the the pictures from his senior slide show--the expanded version!


I am hopeful that I will win a drawing for a free sitting fee through In Focus Photography.  It would be nice to have a family photo done and perhaps some individual shots!  I have been taking our families portraits for a couple of years but the whole group is a bit beyond my skills!  You can sign up for the free give away too!  Just mention that you read about it here--so I get credited for it. :)

Piano Time

As we get closer and closer to graduation, Michael has been trying to decide what song he wants to play for his Senior presentation.








I caught him playing & practicing. It has been such a blessing to our family & church for him to learn how to play the piano. I sometime just stand in the kitchen and listen(or sing along) when he plays. There is a certain song he played for his last recital by Chris Rice that just brings tears to my eyes when I hear it.






Somehow no matter where he ends up next year I know I am going to miss listening to him practice.

Menu Monday

Over the years, I have discovered that I am much better in the kitchen with a plan and some preparation. I have said before that I plan our meals out a month at a time. There are many reasons for that but here are some of the most important ones.

1. Healthy meals--I balance our types of food more. No chicken 4x a week ;)
2. Fewer trips to the store--I check each Monday to see if we have on hand what is needed for the next week so I don't just run to the store for 1 or 2 things.
3. It saves my sanity at 5 o'clock--this is worth a million bucks!
4. Keeps us eating at home and saves a lot of $

So the plan this week is . . .

Monday

Pancakes & sausage, Beans & Rice, Fried Chicken Salad(freezer meal)

Tuesday

Yogurt & Strawberries, Farmer's Casserole, Swiss Steak(crockpot meal)

Wednesday

Oatmeal, Fried Egg Sandwiches, Enchiladas(freezer meal)

Thursday

Yogurt & Strawberries, Italian Hot Dish, Lemon Chicken(freezer meal)

Friday

Blueberry Muffins, Broccoli Potatoes, DATE Night!

Saturday

Cereal, Leftovers, 3 Bean Soup

Sunday

Oatmeal, Baked Orange Pork Chops, ?

I like that my advance prep work is laid out for me. When I post my meals here I make myself some notes on my Meal Planner(posted on the frig). Like tomorrow we are having Beans & Rice--well I think we have some frozen black beans but I am not sure. So I will check before bed. If I don't then I will start some black beans in the crock pot before bedtime. That way they are done by lunch. Saves some $ too--cause dry beans are WAY cheaper than canned ones--less sodium too. While I am in the freezer I will get out the steak for the Swiss Steak and check the canned goods for diced tomatoes. It just keeps our family life flowing better to have a meal plan.

Tonight we made pancakes for supper because not everyone was hungry for a big supper. I don't like making pancakes. Lots of dishes & mixing & everything. But last week I made up my own(healthy) dry mix & only had to add milk, egg & oil. That made it a breeze & something I was willing to do. The kids loved it! I loved it because it was easy. By the way I got the recipe from here if you are interested.

So what is your "cheater" trick to make a fast, easy & healthy meal?

See more menu plans at I'm an Organizing Junkie