Menus

I have been working hard to spend under $500/ a month on groceries lately. That's a lot of money, and that doesn't count eating out(which we seldom do) Our new Pear Budget, has shown me some very interesting trends. I am trying to beat down even more savings.

Do you know how many people in Africa, Costa Rica or El Salvador $500. would feed in a month?
I don't either, but I am sure it's a lot.

So, for our family of 6 it takes coupons and sales and deals and a lot of homemade cooking. The $500. includes the kids lunches, since they mostly take their lunch everyday.

Monday
Tacos- leftover from last week's menu

Tuesday
Chicken Parmesan- freezer meal
salad

Wednesday
Rotisserie Chicken from Costco- I can't pass up the big bird!
Green beans
strwberries

Thursday
Crazy crazy day- who knows what we will eat.
Class, 2 kids in Math Bowl, a swim meet and Joe's Basketball game.
I don't think we will have time to eat.

Friday
Off to Fort Wayne, eat on the road.
Saturday
Fort Wayne- Aaron's basketball tournement(last of the season)

Forgiven

This is one of my favorite songs right now.  I love lyrics, they speak to me. 
My favorite line in this song....
"I don't measure up to much in this life,
but I'm a treasure in the eyes of Christ!"

Menus

I can't call it Monday menus, since I seldom get it up by Monday. 
Oh, well.  I have been slacking in the menu department.  Swimming and basketball do that to me.  After my 5th trip to Kroger last week, I thought " I need to get back on the menu thing".  So here goes....

Sunday- Small group
French dip sandwiches
salad
fruit

Monday
Sloppy Joes
Mac and cheese
fruit

Tuesday
Tilapia (costco frozen meal)
Broccoli
sourdough bread

Wednesday
Baked Ziti ( freezer meal, made in advance)
salad
garlic bread

Thursday
Tacos (meat made ahead and stuck in freezer)

Friday
Pizza

Saturday
Chicken and rice soup(freezer)

I looked in my freezer and thought, I am working too hard.  I had an abundance of food that I was saving for when I don't have time.  Silly me- thats now!

I don't want my Children to be Happy

Read here to find where I got this title.  So good, and my thoughts exactly.

Tired

Today, I am just tired.

Up at 7am. Kids were up sooner than that, I stayed in bed and prayed.  Glad I did.

Shower, laundry, quick house clean up, check email.

Off to work in Andrews class by 10am.

1115 done with Andrws class and off to my class.  A quick stop at Starbucks for a pick me up. (thank you Angela for the gift card)

Drive to IUPUI, park at lot and catch shuttle.

Arrive in class at 1230, go over notes for today with Chelsea.

Class starts at 1pm, we go over 197 power point slides in preparation for our first test next week.  Quite overwhelming.  My teacher knows be by name and talks to me.  Much different from last years class!

Class goes over and I leave at 415pm to catch the shuttle back to my car. Drive and drive in icky traffic. I miss county roads.

Home by 515, in time to say goodbye to Joe and boys leaving for Basketball practice.

Ann and I leave at 530  for Kokomo for Amy's swim meet.

615-800pm  sit in hot pool area watching my daughter swim.  I really like watching her swim.

Drive home with a mad daughter who wanted to ride the bus home.  I am mean, and don't want her to have any fun. Obviously my goal tonight.

Home 845pm, Joe heads to church league basketball game.   Put everyone to bed, pray, bless them, and head downstairs. 

I am tired and the house looks like I never picked it up this morning.

I don't want to go to work tomorrow.  We are celebrating "the marriage" tomorrow. I am tired, and don't want to deal with it. God give me strength.

Gone are the days on end at home without leaving with little ones running around.  I miss it, but I like this too.

Much to be thankful for.

Sorry for the rambling, have I told you ?  I'm tired.

Arbitron and Sourdough

We got this in the mail yesterday:

We are now a research family for Arbitron.  They research TV and radio. I am a sucker for research, I fill out surveys, talk to the phone guys.  I guess I feel bad for all the hang ups they get.  And I think my opinion is important.  I want them to know that people listen to Christian radio and watch reasonable TV.  Also they are giving me this.....

Money.  I like money.  We just have to carry around these little beeper things to monitor what we listen to.  We aren't letting the kids carry them to school.  Yes, everyone gets one.  Everyone gets $5. for each too. We have made about $50. so far, for answering some questions.  All of the money for this is going to our El Salvador trip.(a post on that later)

Now for the Sourdough.  It is completely unrelated to Arbitron research, it just ame on the same day.  I really love getting packages in the mail.
I ordered this Sourdough starter from King Arthur Flour.  It sounded easy and I love bread.  When I opened it, the instructions seem a little intense.  Maybe it will be me and Ann's science experiment!  I will let you know how it goes.

video- the mom song