Snow day lesson

We had a snow day yesterday, which was a nice surprise. I am really ready for spring, but the unexpected day off was nice. 
I had today scheduled off, but my sub had sick kids so I went in.  I was able to get most things packed and Easter baskets done yesterday. Laundry is mostly up to date. 
Mostly because it grows exponentially every day :)

I had the dilemma of bored kids yesterday too.  Hearing "I am bored" is something I dislike.  We have so much for them to do, and if they don't want to play I can put them to work :) 

Finally after hearing my youngest utter the dreaded words, I sat down at a game he chose. 
Scrabble
He is 10 and wanted to play me and his 14 year old brother. 
I knew it wouldn't end well and suggested many other games.  Nope, this is what he wanted to play. 
He stopped playing after 3 turns because he got sent to his room for throwing tiles in anger.  Fun stuff right there.
My 14 year old and I finished the game and had fun too.  (I really don't like the game personally, it's their Dads favorite.) He beat me, of course.
We packed together, watched a movie together(while I finished taxes-boo), and ate leftover chili for lunch.
He just wants to be "together" still.  I have to remind myself that he is only 10 and we were doing everything together when the others were 10 because we had to!
He was lamenting at dinner and I agreed to take him sledding at a nearby hill.  No one else wanted to go.  It is the whole, "I'm tired of winter thing" and my 14 year old son didn't want to get out of his pajamas.
Did I mention I'm tired of winter and I really have never liked playing in the snow, not even as a kid.

It was just he and I sledding.  There were a few other people there on the hill, but not many.
I went down the hill 5 or 6 times, and a few times the 2 of us went down together.
I realized what I don't like about sledding.

It isn't the cold, getting wet, or fast speed. 

It is the impending doom I feel when I am hurling toward a tree and the edge of the creek.

My boy loves it though, he sees how close he can get to them. He must get it from his dad :)

On the way home he said "Thanks mom for taking me, I know you don't like it.  That was so much fun though, did you see how fast we got going?"

It was all worth it. We were only gone an hour and it meant so much to him.

I said "No, thank you for taking me sledding, I had so much fun with you "
I need to remember this more often.

 This is what you think of when a mom and son sled.

 These are what it felt like sledding!

(Not actually our photos.  I was afraid I would break the camera on the way down.)

Menu Monday and a recipe

Be careful what you wish for.
 I have been wanting just one or two days free to get some much needed cleaning done.  Joe and the boys went to a basketball tourney Saturday and Sunday, and the girls and I stayed home.  The girls had some events and things going on that we didn't want to miss.  I hate not going to the bball games, but it is needed sometimes. 
The girls and I had fun shopping 3 different Goodwill's and a consignment shop.  We found lots of great finds.  We even found Amy's prom dress for $75, so that was a score.  It is modest and looks great on her.
After shopping I got to work cleaning.  I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned.  Sad to say it doesn't look much different!  But I feel so much better about it.  All of the little things I don't normally have time to do, got done.
 I cleaned all of the drains (I'm weird),
scrubbed the bathrooms from ceiling to floor,
cleaned out my linen closet and a bunch of cabinets,
changed out all of the our flannel sheets because I am sick of winter,
dusted,
cleaned out the kids totes and found many of the "I can't find it" items,
cleaned and organized our bedroom,
purged a bit,
blew out the garage of all the leaves and dirt,
cleaned out the magazine pile,
grocery shopped,
hosted 5 teenage girls for a sleepover,
cleaned the top of the refrigerator off (gross, by the way),
and did 1 million loads of laundry.
This list isn't meant to impress, but to help me remember what all I did!  My legs were hurting last night!
On to menus:
Monday
Steak fajitas
chips and salsa

Tuesday
Crock pot potato soup
bread
salad

Wednesday
Crock pot chicken teriyaki( I still haven't made this :)
rice

Thursday
Italian baked chicken
green beans
boiled potatoes

Friday

Pizza

I made up a Tortellini Soup last Friday when I didn't have time to use the crock pot version.  It was so yummy!

1 box of chicken broth
1 bar of cream cheese
2 T minced garlic
2 cans, undrained, Italian diced tomatoes
2 cups milk
1 package frozen tortellini
2 cups tore up baby spinach leaves
1 pound turkey sausage

Brown the sausage then add broth and CC.  Stir until cream cheese is melted. Add the rest of the ingredients except the tortellini.  Cook tortellini according to package directions and then add to soup. Cook until all ingredients are incorporated.  Serve with a sprinkle of fresh Parmesan.

It was a hit with everyone.  Aaron and Ann picked out the tomatoes of course.

Menus

Busy week with lots of crock pot meals!

Monday
Chik fil a night for afterprom

Tuesday

Chili in crock pot


Wednesday
Crock Pot chicken teriyaki


Thursday
Crock pot Tortellini Soup


Friday
Pizza

Waiting

Waiting is hard.
Especially for this control freak.
Maybe that's why God does it, to stretch me.

“This is how God works. He puts people in positions where they are desperate for his power, and then he shows his provision in ways that display his greatness.” David Platt


Waiting....on so many things. Trying to be patient.

Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:31

Reminding myself that God has brought us through so much more, why would He suddenly not?  When I say it out loud it sounds ridiculous.  Faith.

Once again, it comes down to Faith. My word for the year keeps popping up.

I take it as God reminding me. 

He is faithful. He will not leave me, nor forsake me.  Seems like such a "duh" statement.  Of course He won't. Sometimes our heads and hearts don't meet up though and the doubt sets in. 

That's where I  am.  Pushing down the doubt and stepping out in faith.

"These trials have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."  1 Peter 1:7

Monday Menus

I left my notes at home as to menus that I wrote down on Friday when I had a minute!  This is what I remember. 
Monday
Sausage tortellini dish
apples

Tuesday
Chicken Parmesan
salad

Wednesday
Spaghetti and meatballs

Thursday
Lemon chicken breasts
vegetables
fruit

Friday
chili

Now I am off to instill the virtue of showers and deodorant to a bunch of stinky 4th graders!

Menus

What a difference a week makes.  This weekend I went on the 7th grade retreat as the nurse.  I came home with a sore back, I can't stand up straight without pain.  Grr, luckily it usually is short lived.  A minor inconvenience.
My house is a wreck again, and laundry piles are plentiful.  Oh well, life is well lived at our house:)

Monday
Pork Chops(never had them last week) I "fry" them in a skillet with coconut oil and Mrs. Dash Lemon Pepper seasoning.
Salad
fried potatoes
Strawberries

Tuesday
Slow Cooker Carmalized Onion Pot Roast in the crock pot with potatoes and carrots

Wednesday
Ham and cheese quiche

Thursday
Chicken strips
mac and cheese
salad

Friday
pizza

Menus and a recipe

We have the day off today, I so love 3 day weekends.  My laundry is caught up, house is somewhat clean and I am rested! Woohoo.  I took the kids to see "Parental Guidance" this afternoon.  It is the second time I have seen it and I cried again today.  It really is a clean, cute movie.
 Here are our tentative menus for the week.
Monday
Taco salad

Tuesday
Crock Pot chicken and dumplings
strawberries

Wednesday
Meatloaf
baked potatoes
salad

Thursday
Pork Chops
caesar salad
fruit

Friday
Chili

Weekend
I am off on a 7th grade retreat. They are on their own.

I tried out this new recipe a couple weeks ago.  It was a hit.  I took it to a friend who is pregnant with twins and not feeling so great, and she asked for the recipe.  That usually tells me it is pretty yummy!

Creamy baked Ziti

4 cups  ziti pasta, uncooked

1

jar  (24 oz.) marinara sauce

1

can  (14-1/2 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained

6

oz.  (3/4 of 8-oz. pkg.) Cream Cheese, cubed

3/4

cup Sour Cream

1

pkg.  (8 oz.) Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

1/3

cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 pound turkey sausage, browned

 Preheat oven to 350. Cook ziti according to package directions.

Mix all ingredients and place in greased 9x13 pan.

Bake for 30 minutes