Monday Menus

After a week on the road, I am ready for some consistency!  I am not ready for the crazy busy pace my life is zooming toward!

Monday
Meatloaf
red potatoes
green beans

Tuesday
Shredded BBQ chicken
Beans and rice
fruit

Wednesday
Shredded beef in crock pot
rolls
fruit

Thursday
Left overs

Friday
Chili in the crock pot

Saturday
Potato soup in the crock pot

El Salvador

Annie and I are heading back to San Salvador,  El Salvador this summer.  We had our first team meeting last week and it got us both excited to go.
I can't wait to see Jose Manuel, our little boy that we support.  I wonder if he will even remember me?  Loving on him can be hard, he has had a rough life and doesn't trust many.  We pray for him every night and have his picture on our refrigerator.  He is a part of our family.  I am not sure he knows what a real family is.  His house parents and other orphans are his family.

We leave June 9 and come home June 16th.  We are excited to be able to participate in a Toms shoe distribution while we are there too. 

Ann will be helping with a VBS program for the kids and I will be on the construction team.  I am not skilled, but I am willing :).

Our fund raising is up to the half way mark with support letters sent out and Christmas baking funds.  Ann has been saving up, babysitting and birthday money.

 We have raised $2375 and we need $3500. We will hopefully be able to get that this next week.

The center of the volcano, has been inactive for 20 years.  Residents are still scared of it.

The kids and I with Jose Manuel.  We pray for him everyday!

One of four childrens homes on the Exodo campus.

Monday Menus

The girls and I had a relaxing weekend at home while the boys were off at a basketball tournament.  We ate out a lot, and shopped a little and just relaxed and had fun. 
I did start the packing process for our Spring Break trip this week, it is an all week process for me.  Working full time stinks like that :).

Monday
Breakfast burritos
salad

Tuesday
Meatloaf
red potatoes
green beans

wednesday
Leftovers and clean out the fridge day!

Thursday
Chances are it will be Mcdonalds or Taco Bell, since we will be on the road!

Have a great Spring Break for all of you who get to celebrate!

Monday Menus

I am doing ok on the decreased grocery spending.  I still spend a lot on food. Fresh fruits and vegetables are important to me, that our family eat.  I was able to get a few things at Costco Friday on our day off.  I forgot what an ordeal it is to take all 4 with me to the store.  Geez, they are older, it should be easier, right? 
I had to tell the boys to stop wrestling in the aisles more than once. 
They got in trouble for going back for seconds on the samples. 
They wanted everything. 
I love the fruit at costco, but it is gone already and I won't get back there for awhile.
I am trying to stock up on a few things for spring break that I can.  We usually take already made meals with us, and a lot of groceries too, since the prices on the island can be high.  This year we are stopping in Washington DC for a few days before heading to Hilton Head Island.  There will be no fridge or freezer in the DC hotel, so I will be cooking in HH.  Eating out every night isn't an option for us.  One night out as a family and one date night is our usual.  I cook the rest of the time.
For this week! Joe is out of town most of the week, so it will be simple.

Monday
Baked Potatoes with the fixings (left overs from a friends party) FREE
Orange chicken from the freezer.
veggie stir fry

Tuesday
Potato soup (if there are leftover Potatoes)

Wednesday
Chicken fingers
mac and cheese
Berries

Thursday
Spaghetti and meatballs
garlic bread

Friday
Pizza or leftovers

Monday Menus

After a busy weekend, I need another weekend to catch up.  Luckily we have a 4 day week this week due to a flex day!  Whoo hoo!

Monday
Hamburgers on the grill
strawberries
tater tots

Tuesday
Enchilada meatballs- new recipe
rice
green beans

Wednesday
Italian chicken- in crock pot
garlic bread
salad

Thursday
Taco shells- new recipe
fruit

Friday
Pizza

Saturday
soup in crock pot

Sunday
small group

The new recipes are from Pinterest and I will post if they are "worthy". They sure look yummy!

WFMW- free stuff

Works for me Wednesday is a weekly event over at We are That Family <--------.  Click on the sidebar to see what it is all about.  A lot of great hints and tricks!

Here is mine for the week: Look for free offers online and near you!

A free Quart of paint at Ace Hardware
http://www.acehardware.com/coupon/index.jsp

This offer is ONLY for this Saturday at participating Ace Hardware Stores, and can be color matched. 
I love Paint! especially when it's free!

Monday Menus

I realized that last month I spent way over budget for groceries, so I am tightening the reins a bit this month.

Eating through our pantry and going cheap!  I try not to buy meat, since we bought 1/4 cow last fall, but I found stew meat marked way down yesterday when I ran in to just get 1 thing.  I never come out with one thing!  We are having beef tips to celebrate the great deal.

Monday
Beef tips
rice
strawberries

Tuesday- Joe gone
Chicken fried rice, made with leftover rice from last night.
I will probably have to make some chicken strips for the boys too!
fruit

Wednesday
French dip sandwiches in the crock pot. (obviously the meat is only made in the crock pot-ha!)
Recipe below
salad

Thursday
Kids meal, Joe and I have a dinner commitment
Grilled cheese and tomato soup

Friday
Soup in crock pot

Weekend in Fort Wayne balling it up!

French Dip in Crock pot

1 medium onion, sliced or chopped
3 lb Beef roast, it doesn't matter what cut.
1 envelope onion soup mix
2 bouillon cubes
1 can water or red wine or beer
1 can beef broth

Cook on high 5 hours or on low  for 8-10 hours.  This is usually more of a shredded beef sandwich, but the Au jus is yummy.
Serve with provolone cheese on toasted and buttered hougie buns.