Screw the Menu Plan!!

Having a cast means very, VERY basic menus over here!!! I mean SERIOUSLY, I have type with ONE HAND!!!!!!  We relied on freezer and quick meals last week and are doing the same this week!

Chris made a couple trays of ziti for the freezer and I still have a couple of crockpot meals in there too, THANK GOD!! My friend Heidi dropped off dinner last night so between Halloween (Mummy Dogs for dinner) and Selena Gomez concert Friday night (staying in San Antonio for the night, YIPPEE!!!) I have NO PLANNING to do...YAY!!!


I'm trying VERY hard to keep a good attitude but I really feel like this on the inside!!!!

Only I could trip over my own two feet right at the END of my run and am STUCK like this for SIX weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carry on little warrior, carry on....

Menu Plan Monday

Happy Monday!!!  Here's what's cookin' in our home this week!  We are finishing studying Mexico, hence the themed dinners! :o)

Uncrustables, chips

Muffin Tins

Mac n Cheese

Protein Pack Plate

Green Smoothies and Blueberry Bagels

Monday:  Chicken Pot Pie & Split Pea Soup

Tuesday:  YOYO

Wednesday:  Freezer Meal

Thursday:  Quesadillas

Friday:  Tortilla Soup

Saturday:  Mexican Pizza

Sunday:  Pasta Primavera

Thank you God for Rainy Days!

There is something SO magical about the rain!  I don't say that because it hardly EVER rains here and we really do need the rain, I do love the rain for my yard but, I love it for SO many other reasons!!! 

cuddling on the couch with my lovies

reading a good book

watching an old movie

baking something

wearing cozy socks

fuzzy blankets

THE SMELL

THE SOUND

it's all so surreal!

I was sitting outside sipping my coffee looking over this week's lesson plan, writing my shopping list and thinking about a the menu for the week.  It's all very routine for me to do on Sundays, but today was a nice break in that routine because I was sitting alone in the rain. It was peaceful, it was beautiful!  I feel well rested and felt so inspired by a special friend this week, her words lingered in my mind...

You are a Warrior

You are Strong

You are Beautiful

and a little whisper from God during my morning prayer.....

YOU ARE ENOUGH.

A wonderful way to kick start my week! 

13 *almost* PERFECT Years!

13 years of marriage.....longer than either of our parents made it, that alone is success!  Chris and I both come from broken homes, heartache and painful childhood memories, BUT we are making our *own* story, moment by moment, forgiving during the tough seasons, growing TOGETHER as ONE, and celebrating each year that passes by (often way too quickly!).

Life is busy, kids grow too fast, time FLIES, and while we do the best we can to be still in the moments, appreciate them while we can, marriage is still HARD.  It is a sacrifice, it is learning to love SELFLESSLY and GIVE without expecting anything in return.  We vowed 13 years ago to honor and cherish each other through it ALL and today I am every so grateful that in spite of the breakdowns, the temper tantrums, the frustrating/emotional moments (I'm talking about myself and not the kids, LOL), he is still here, loving and supporting me, NEVER walking away.  I thank God for him!!! 14 years ago Chris came into my life like a true night in shining armor and rescued me, no doubt. 

Today, I celebrate the love of my life.  He truly is my better half.  The LOVE given to me has QUADRUPLED since I met him over 14 years ago!  I never imagined the love I felt that was given to me would be x4 13 years later! We have a beautiful family together and while life is HARD, this family we made keeps me joy filled!

Thank you for the life you've given me Chris!!!!!

Happy Anniversary my Love!!!!

My DREAM come true!

We celebrated thanks to my sister in law and brother in law watching the kids on Saturday, and Chris's Marriott points!!!!  We went to what was THE most GORGEOUS resort we've been to so far (well, besides our honeymoon!) J.W. Marriott in San Antonio!  Dinner, coffee, snacks, a relaxing go around the lazy river over and over WITHOUT kids!!!!  I even snuck in a nap by the pool!!! The gorgeous weather held out for us, cold front came in that evening while we were having coffee!  It was PERFECT!!!!!!!!

I'm looking forward to MANY more anniversaries and am excited at the possibilities our future holds!!

Menu Plan Monday

Yep, this was me yesterday.....NO CLUE what to put on the menu this week!!  I am *trying* to cut back on those carbs, increase my veggies and just say NO to the extra sugars! LOL  We are also studying Mexico this week so I wanted to tie that in with lunches and/or dinners too.  Those that know me know I do NOT really like Mexican food.  I know, pick your jaw up from the ground, everyone in Texas seems like they love Mexican. NO, I'm NOT a Chuy's fan either....gasp....I could take it or leave it! HA!

I am trying to build up my freezer meals over the next couple of weeks and am bringing a meal to a family on Friday so I'm going to be making a triple batch of that one for sure!  It's late, I'm tired so here you go....

Monday: Turkey Meatloaf, pasta & beans, green bean salad (cold with garlic, O&V, my fave!)

Tuesday:  Pizza at Sam's Club since we are going right after swim and will be there during dinner time!

Wednesday: Tacos (taco salad for me!)

Thursday: Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken from freezer

Friday: Chicken Alfredo Bake (x3, eat one, give one, freeze one!)

Saturday:  Split Pea Soup, homemade bread

Sunday:  Lasagna

I let the kids pick the lunch each day...here is what they have to choose from, always with carrots, cucumbers, celery sticks or salad w/ranch:

Leftover Spaghetti
Homemade Uncrustables
Quesadillas
Muffin Tins, their choice (usually has a hard boiled egg, veggies, salty and sweet treat
Homemade Mac n Cheese


Have a GREAT week!!!

Week 4 IN THE BAG!

The last three weeks of school have been great!  Well, let me rephrase that, with the meltdowns and "real life" stuff, we've had an AWESOME few weeks!  This is not an easy journey but fulfilling in ways words cannot describe!  We explored all the continents and oceans in Geography, moving right on to memorizing all 50 states!  The kids learned about different types of maps, all about the globe, animals all over the world and just SOAKED UP everything we learned about the US!  I am AMAZED at my little Geography nerds....LOVE it!

I'm really enjoying teaching My Father's World ECC and they are having a blast learning!  I supplement alot with FUN activities and skip over some of the stuff that I know won't interest them.  The JOY of homeschooling!

We've hit some bumps in math with Christopher but we are trying out something different for the next couple of weeks....we'll see how it works!  Seeing him super frustrated to the point of wanting to cry is NOT cool!  I am researching, seeking advice from fellow HS moms and teacher friends too!  THIS is my job!!  I fall more and more in love with it as time goes on!!

Here are some pics of the past few weeks...

After finishing our first week of studying the continents and oceans, we baked a world cake!

This was a surprise I came downstairs to one morning!

First Day of Fall.....crafts, pumpkin muffins and FALL books!

Nature Journals ready for some exploring!

Celebrating the First Day of October! Pumpkin English muffins for breakfast!

Candy Corn Math Drills

First Day of October fun!

Scarecrow Multiplication Drills

She still LOVES to work with flour!

Yay for October!

Fall Art on display

Just a snipit of the funny moments at The Auditore Schoolhouse! LOL

FUN U.S. Puzzle!

Finished our United States Study with cooking from our US Cookbook for Kids!

Adrianna made the pumpkin cake for us! LOVE my little baker!

Does it get ANY better than this????!!!!  Moving on to studying MEXICO next week!  So excited!!!