Monday, October 20, 2014

Menu Plan Monday


It has been forever since I've participated in Menu Plan Monday! I used to use this link all the time, but life just got busy, and my blog evolved into more Facebook time than Blog time. But, I feel like starting my online journaling again, so here goes!

Menu planning is even more important to me now, since I started back to school this fall. I got my first degree back in 1992, in Small Business Management, and now I've decided to change paths completely and get a nursing degree. My goal is to be an RN specializing in either Pediatrics or Oncology. I should be done by 2019. And since I'm loading up on credits - 15 currently - and still have three kids and a hubby to take care of - menu planning is uber-important! And including my family in the planning stages is important too. We sit down on Sunday nights and plan out the week - find out what's going on in the evenings, and plan what is best for us. A lot of times I let the kids pick out their choice for a meal. It makes them feel more invested in what we are eating, and they like to help prepare the meal they have chosen. I also planned ahead before school started and spent an entire day preparing about a dozen meals ahead of time to put in my freezer. They are great to pull out when I don't have the time to cook!

So here is this week's menu.

Monday - Comfort Meatballs  Crash Hot Potatoes
Tuesday - Orange Chicken and Black Rice
Wednesday - Meatloaf (my mother-in-law's recipe) and mashed potatoes
Thursday - French Dip Sandwiches and French Fries
Friday - Pizza - we have our kids' Fall Carnival at school, and then the last home football game, so we need super easy and fast for tonight!
Saturday - Either Pork Roast or Beef Roast - not sure yet!
Sunday - Family Dinner at my parents' house - not sure what is planned yet!

I love The Pioneer Woman - and my kids love her recipes. Three of my dishes this week are from her website or TV. She always has such yummy, down-home, stick to your ribs meals!

 I'm an Organized Junkie hosts these Menu Plan Mondays. Head on over to her blog to take a look!

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Thankfulness

* Listening to my boys play in the tree house we built this summer. Dream come true!

* Gretchen playing with arts and crafts in her bedroom. I love her creativity!

* spending family time together watching high school volleyball

* hubby helping with dishes and laundry when I am knee-deep in homework

* God opening so many doors for me to go to college again

* teacher friends that help my daughter when she is sad

* friends who encourage me when I have a bad day

* God providing the funds needed for a new school computer

* a day spent cooking with a good friend means great meals in my freezer - and a good day spent with a friend!

* encouraging and loving texts from my husband to keep me going when school is hard

* love notes from my daughter hidden in my backpack and left at my dinner seat