Wordy Wednesday: Menu Planning

Today I'm going to talk about menu planning.  This saves me.  Really and truly.  My method won't be for everyone, and that's ok.  As is always my intention, read it, take what works for you, and leave the rest.

So, I started my menu planning by making a list of ALL the things I cook on a regular basis (Baked potato soup, 4 types of chili, burgers, fish, shepard's pie...)

Then I printed 3 of these:  Weekly Dinner Planner

I added in our meals and tried to include one of each "type" of food in each week-a different type of chili, a beef dish, a chicken dish, a vegetarian dish, fish, breakfast for dinner.  You get the gist.

Then to make my life simpler I numbered each one, and made a grocery list that included EVERYTHING I would need to make ALL THE THINGS.  Now, I don't typically need EVERYTHING, so I still check to see if I actually need minced garlic that trip, but it saves me the time of writing the list over and over and over.  It's a win all around.

Don't forget that you need stuff for lunches, snacks, breakfast (you can print a few more of the planners and go to town!)  This will help you keep healthier options on hand for all of those which saves you a few pounds in the long run.  Saves you money (because you aren't hitting up a restaurant or a convenience store for something last minute) too!

Sideways Saturday

The Last One

For today's post, I'm going to share this link to a post about "The Last One."  Your last baby is a special, magical, heartbreaking thing.  My "last one" will be 5 in just three short months.  He is SO damned excited about the coming birthday.  And, I am falling apart inside at the mere thought that my last BABY is going to be 5.  How did this shit happen?

I've been pretty honest on this blog (and with those who know me IRL) about my intense feelings about Four.  He came into the world a complicated being from the very start.  Redheaded and full of my grandma's spirit.  He's been trouble from the very start (even before he was actually IN the world, when he was still IN my womb.)  At least once a day, I utter the words "This one's going to be the death of me."  I frequently tell people if he'd have been FIRST he'd have been an only, because no way would I have signed up for MORE of this.  All that SOUNDS negative.  I don't really mean it that way.  Because, even with ALL of that, I'm bonded to this one differently than the others.  Our relationship is inherently different.  I adore him, and all his complications.  I don't want these days of him still needing to "tell me a secret in my ear" or "I just want to snuggle with you." to be gone.  Being the mother of teenagers makes me even more painfully aware of just how quickly this time goes.  And with "the last one" it feels doubly hard to watch it happen.

These moments are precious.  Grab them, mamas and daddys.  BE in the moment, and love them all.

Sunday, Sunday...

I know that "normal" Sunday posts are pictures, and I'm going to put one of those up too, but I'm working on something and thought I'd share with you all.  My posts have been all over the place lately, but my 'offline' life is really going well.  I'm going to make an effort to be back here more, and share more, and just generally be MORE awesome.  *wink*

I'm working on re-creating a control journal.  I had one for years, and it really worked for me and then I became a slacker.  No, truthfully, my life went in a bad spiral.  It lasted for a LONG time (a couple years) and while it has climbed back out of that spiral, the house work stuff isn't really back on track yet.  *sigh*

I'm using this website, and Flylady.net as well as Pinterest to create a new book to keep myself on track.  Does this sort of thing work for everyone?  Nah.  Do I put EVERYTHING I find in my own book?  Nah.  You have to know whether or not this system will work for YOU, and you have to know what you will and will not use of all the wondrous tools available on the interwebs.

My big guys are gone to Y-Guides, and my small guy and I are meeting them for dinner soon, so I have to get back to work!

Snow Days!

We've had more snow this winter than we've had for many winters. We had several days two weeks ago where we were snowed in. Three was the most excited to have snow, he's been really wanting it for months now (yes, even before winter was here he wanted snow!)  However, after two days of it on the ground he was done. He asked "Will the snow be there tomorrow?"  I answered "Yes, but it should start to melt tomorrow. "  He then said "How long til summer?"

He'd rather swim, apparently. 

He isn't at all excited about our current storm. It's old news now, this snow stuff. It's just annoying. It cancels our activities, we can't get out of the house, it's really cramping our style. 

We aren't opting out of school because of the weather, if anything we're doing MORE because we're trapped inside.  We're looking at snowflakes and how they are ALL different. We're discussing the three states of matter (two of which are visible from my back porch!) and we're making valentines-yeah, I hadn't gotten around to that yet...thanks snow!

I hope whenever you are you are warm and dry and safe, and making the best of the weather you are experiencing!

Well, Hey!

Remeber me?  I bet you don't!  It's been so long again. My life has been flipped upside down (I'd like to take a minute...just sit right there... Wait, no?) and it's de-railed school entirely. I'm not really at liberty to discuss some of it because it's not MINE to discuss but we've been helping out with some family stuff (that's as far as I'll go with that,) contemplating becoming a foster family to a child we love who has found herself in a precarious situation, there has been a lot of family drama going on (not in the family who lives in our house, but close family nonetheless,) and lastly One decided she wanted to move out. That last one shattered me to my core and rendered me pretty useless to anyone and everyone. 

Now-One came home. So with all my pieces back in place, I've pulled my head out of my rear-end and school IS happening this week. I'm only truly concerned about Three. I know that realistically he isn't where he should be.  That's completely my fault. Well, a combo of the stuff going on, me not being consistent and Three loathing most things called "school." He can read, but if I had kept at it, he'd be much more proficient by now. He is adding and skip counting, but again, these skills could be more honed. 

I've been on it this morning though. I came out of the gates swinging. We will have an extra little being here today, so it's really now or never. Plus, One and I are going to get a manicure today (I'm going on a ladies weekend, and it's also US time.)  

It's 8:05 as I type this and we are one thing away from being done. That's right. Ya heard?  ;)  Reading, Language Arts, handwriting, social studies, all done!  Just math remains. Sweet!