Oh Crap! – Musings of an Unperfect Mommy

Menu Plan for the Week

August 31, 2010

Menu planning has changed my life! I don’t know how many years ago I started but it’s been an absolute life saver and a necessity given our crazy family life these days. How do I do it? I just write down for each day of the week a breakfast, lunch, and dinner and then from that list make a shopping list. The hard part is figuring out the meals for the day – lunch is the hardest for me – but once you have a good repertoire of regular meals, keep a list of those handy with which to build your menu. So here’s the plan for the week:

Monday 8/30 – Lunch – tostadas

Dinner -homemade pizza

Tuesday 8/31 – Lunch – vegetable soup

Dinner – pork roast, potatoes, vegetable

Wednesday 9/1 – Lunch – chicken salad sandwiches

Dinner – SPOP (Sausage, potatoes, onions, peppers)

Thursday 9/2 – Lunch – lunchmeat sandwiches

Dinner – chili (with an “i” – hehehe)

Friday 9/3 – Lunch – fish sticks

Dinner – biscuits, gravy, eggs

Saturday 9/4 – Lunch – DIY

Dinner – Not sure yet

Sunday 9/5 – Lunch – pigs in a blanket, pork and beans

Dinner – DIY

I don’t have any breakfasts written down, but it’s usually oatmeal, cereal, eggs, waffles, etc. Sometimes I make blueberry muffins. I’d really like to do some mega baking again and stock our freezer up with muffins and quick breads. I also usually have a vegetable on the table with lunch and dinner and sometimes a fruit. We’re eating more fresh fruit and not much canned because people around here got tired of the canned stuff. So, I guess that’s a good thing.

I’m all set for the week although I’m positive I will have to go to the store for milk. We need a cow :-).

2 comments
Weekend Gallery – Back to School Edition

August 30, 2010

Well, tomorrow is our first day back at school for the new year. We are starting our 16th year of homeschooling as well – hard to believe it has been that long. So, with that in mind here are some pictures of our school area (a.k.a. the dining room):

This is the area with our paper, pencils, crayons, etc. Mike put up little wire shelves for me a couple of years ago and it has worked wonderfully! I think, though, the poster board needs to go some place else.

This is our school cubby - as you can see it's all nicely color coded for the kids.

And here is Joe's artwork for the first day of school - hmm obviously someone is not ready.

Here's me, Katie, and Becky in school "heaven" - smiling and happy that school is starting.

And here's Joe, Steve, and Maggie in school "heck". I hope they don't behave like that tomorrow!

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Happy Birthday Jeff

August 29, 2010

I want to wish my second son, Jeff, a HAPPY 22nd BIRTHDAY today!! I was going to tell the tale of his birth, but wondered if he might be embarrassed. He already knows how every night the last month I was pregnant I ate peanut M&M’s and drank Pepsi slurpees. In fact, when I finally went to the hospital, they asked me what I’d eaten so I told them. The nurse looked at me very weird. I don’t know why the odd look – I was pregnant for cryin’ out loud! It’s called cravings!

Anyway, I just want to say, Jeff, how very much I love you and how proud I am of you in every way. You’ve grown into a wonderful young man and I hope for you all the best in the years to come. You’re about to make another transition in your life (to college) and I hope it’s a fantastic experience for you and that you’ll learn what you want to so you can have the career you dream of. Thanks just for being the wonderful person you are and I’m so glad I’m your mom!

Love, Mom

3 comments
Oh Crap Moment #5239

August 27, 2010

Well, I decided to go hunting for our one and only pencil sharpener because I need to sharpen my pencil so I can finish planning lessons for school. I’m throwing out papers, looking under coloring books when, “AHA – there it is!” and I grab it. It comes apart sending pencil shavings everywhere. *sigh* I love vacuuming don’t you?

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Friday Fluff

Okay, this (Friday Fluff) was something I did for the last year or two on a homeschool board I was on. There were a lot of heated discussions and my life was kinda in the toaster too at that time, so I thought it couldn’t hurt to have a fluffy topic. Today’s topic happened to be my very first Friday Fluff. My first response on that first Fluff was, “Yeah, that’s fluff all right” – hehehe! Anyway, please chime in because that’s what Friday Fluffs are all about – sharing. So, without further ado here’s today’s FRIDAY FLUFF:

What is your favorite ABBA song? (I told you it was fluffy!)

Here are mine in no particular order:

1. Knowing Me Knowing You

2. Dancing Queen

3. When I Kissed The Teacher

4. Angel Eyes

5. Mamma Mia (And no, I actually haven’t seen the play or the movie)

6. Lay All Your Love On Me

7. Super Trouper

8. S.O.S.

9. Waterloo

10. Honey, Honey

11. Ring, Ring

12. Happy New Year (Amazing how many decades have passed since this one came out in 1979!)

13. On and On and On (Not an incredible favorite, but I always sing along)

14. The Way Old Friends Do (always makes me cry)

15. Bang-A-Boomerang

Okay – those are my faves – what are yours? Oh, and I predict ALL of my older boys will say, “NONE” :-).

5 comments
Only Four Months Until Christmas

August 25, 2010

Yes folks, if you have been to Hobby Lobby lately or tuned in to QVC on the 25th of the last two months, you know that Christmas is just around the corner. But have no fear, I’m going to link you to a website that has made my life SO much easier in helping me get ready for the holidays.

It’s called the Christmas Countdown at the Organized Christmas website. This is a six week plan that starts at the end of October and runs through the end of November and helps you to gradually get what you need to get done done. Each week has a different them and has specific things for you to do that week (articles to read, cards to address, presents to buy, etc.) Then, in December, you’ll have time to go to those Christmas parties, or spend time in quiet prayer for Advent, or bake cookies for the first 3 weeks like we do. There are also printables to make your own holiday notebook (which I do each year) so you can keep track of everything and keep it all in one place. I don’t know how many years ago I found the Christmas Countdown – 6 or 7 at least – but it has helped me to stay organized and on track. Okay, maybe not the last two years but I have a good reason and will talk about that later.

Anyway, go check the links out and I hope they will be helpful for you.

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Today

I have been awake since about 2:30 this morning – could not go back to sleep so here’s a list of things I’m not going to do today.

Today I am NOT going to run around doing a bunch of things (Oh Crap – I need to go to the store).

Today I am going to take my shower and then go walk around in the yard after I have my coffee. It’s only 60 degrees outside right now and I want to enjoy it (that is, if my little Keurig ever makes me a cup of coffee this morning!!).

I will not do a massive amount of getting ready for school (we start next Monday) or housecleaning today. I will do some, but mostly I will relax. (Well, as much as I can with 7 of my 8 home today).

I will not get on the computer very much today (checking my blog doesn’t count does it?).

Today I will probably do just as much as I did yesterday *sigh*. Maybe I’ll have time to put my feet up though – after I have that cup of coffee.

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Music Monday

August 24, 2010

All set for another Music Monday?? Me too! Let’s ROCK!!

Today’s music topic is Journey – the fantastic group from the 70’s and through the 80’s. I’m not sure I really heard much of them until the late 70’s and early 80’s when their popularity was at its height. I also think bands should stop touring when the original members are no longer altogether. Steve Perry’s voice made their sound what it was and I’m a purist in that sense – no one can replace him even if they do sound similar. It’s just not the same.

I also liked a couple of Steve Perry’s songs when he went solo – “Oh Sherrie” and “Foolish Heart”.

I saw a Journey biography on tv once and they talked about how the song “Only the Young” was dedicated to a young boy who was dying from Cystic Fibrosis. Read the story here. Very moving.

These are my favorite Journey songs – in no particular order:

1. Only the Young

2. Don’t Stop Believin’

3. Send Her My Love

4. Girl Can’t Help It

5. Be Good To Yourself

6. I’ll Be All Right Without You

7. Faithfully

8. Wheel In The Sky

9. Ask the Lonely

10. Lights

11. Separate Ways

Now I know some of you are thinkin’ – where is “Open Arms” on that list?? Well, let’s just say it was way overplayed on the radio and I really don’t like it anymore. Sad but true. It’s okay, but not one of my favorites.

Okay, now it’s your turn – let me know your favorites, if you ever went to a Journey concert, etc. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say!!

6 comments
Weekend Gallery 1

August 22, 2010

This is a new feature of my blog and each weekend I’ll post some pictures of the kids or some of their artwork or something else along those lines. So, without further ado here is my first Weekend Gallery! Enjoy!!

Chili pepper plants in the garden

Sophie, Robin, and Sandy are just hanging around

Becky, Katie, and Maggie and their friends

OH NO! The Whimzy House is on fire!!

Yay! The ambulance is here!! Sally and Mittens stand by. At a donut stand??

1 comment
Mommy-No-Brains Strikes Again

Yes, and that would be ME folks. I got some rice out of the fridge to heat, and then I went to the dining room to grab a plate to put it on. After I retrieved the plate, I saw the milk was still out so I grabbed it and headed back for the kitchen. I put the milk in the fridge and the clean plate in the sink. Hmmm – that’s not quite right is it?? *SIGH*

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