Trying to get organized...and the menu...

Thanksgiving was a wonderful holiday....
it had the potential for lots of drama, but things settled down nicely and everyone enjoyed a feast - and the company of the family.

It is a tradition that my mom, my sister and I all go shopping on Black Friday.  Last year, we got up to go with the crazy people that stay out all night and fight to get in the doors first.  We decided we will NOT do that one again.

Instead, we met at 6:00 a.m., had breakfast, and then began our shopping.  We had a marvelous time and did not, thankfully, run into any maniacs.

So I've spent the past couple of days trying to organize the month of December, knowing that it will be very busy.  I've mapped out our calendar with all the events, and tried to plan menus up until we get out of school.  I've also put together an advent/activity calendar for ds#3... to help us all stay focused on the Reason for the Season.

And so, here's what's coming up:
Sunday~ Chicken noodle soup, biscuits (it's raining all day here, so we changed to soup)
Monday~ Beef tips & gravy with mushrooms in the crockpot, green beans, leftover mashed potatoes from Thanksgiving
Tuesday~ Turkey, stuffing, sweet potato casserole
Wednesday~ Tacos (using this taco seasoning from Heavenly Homemakers) & Quesadillas

And December:
1~ Spaghetti & stuffed peppers
2~ Sausage with peppers & onions
3~ Sticky chicken, hm mac'n'cheese, collards, corn

**set up nativity, put up outside lights**

4~ Nachos (use leftover taco meat from Wed)

**watch "It's A Wonderful Life"**

5~ Breakfast for Dinner
6~ Pasta Fagioli in crockpot
(prepare pasta separately; combine to serve)    

**CONCERT NIGHT**

7~ Pepper Steak, rice
8~ Leftovers    **CONCERT NIGHT**
9~ Frozen Pizza
10~ Chili Mac     **Christmas Parade**
11~ Alice Springs Chicken, green beans

**make sugar cookies**

12~ Out to eat :)
13~ Meatballs, with either tomato sauce & noodles, or brown gravy, mashed potatoes & broccoli
14~ Quesadillas (part one of History Fair for Dad)
15~ Out to eat with the fam after ds#3's Christmas play! (part two of History Fair)
16~ Hamburgers & hotdogs....
CHRISTMAS VACATION BEGINS!!

**campout in the living room**

17~ Turkey rice soup, sandwiches

We'll check the status at that point, and make a plan for the rest of the month.

Share your menu marvels at Menu Plan Monday!

Game of Your Life

P&G and Walmart have
teamed up to design family movies that ensure everyone wins.
Their latest creation: "Game of Your Life." 

http://www.vocalpoint.com/GameLifeBlog

Team up with everyone you know for a chance to win $5,000 for your favorite grade school or high school. All you have to do is register and watch the trailer for "Game of Your Life." It's a humorous and heartfelt video gaming drama about a promising young video game designer who has to make a choice that will affect his future and the lives of everyone around him. Then ask all your friends, family, teachers, fellow parents and PTO members – everyone you know – to watch it so they can vote for your school once a day, too. Because if any one of the people you tell wins, your school wins $5,000.







Zach, a high school gamer who lands a scholarship to an elite video game design program, has a bright future as long as he can survive the intense freshman year project that eliminates half the class in the first three months. But when Zach learns that his father is in financial trouble, he has to make a choice that will affect his future and the lives of everyone around him.This humorous and heartfelt drama is a great reminder to kids – and all of us – that the choices they make impact the people around them. “Game 
of Your Life” airs Friday, December 2nd 8/7c on NBC.






*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 18 or older as of the last day of the month prior to the date of entry. Ends 12/2/11. To enter and for Official Rules, including odds, and prize description, visit http://tremor.promo.eprize.com/gameofyourlife/  Void where prohibited.

To Thanksgiving...and beyond!

I'm so thankful to have my family surrounding me at the holidays.

I'm missing my two oldest boys terribly, and looking forward to a holiday when we are ALL here.  This year, the Marine is deployed and the Airman cannot get leave.  So goes life as a military mom.

And still, we must eat! :)

Sunday~ Spaghetti (sauce in the crockpot... how I love that thing!!)
Monday~ Sticky chicken, sweet potatoes, peas
Tuesday~ Chili mac
Wednesday~ Bowling for my guys... so I'll be doing something....
Thursday~ HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!  Turkey, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, swiss beans, mashed potatoes, rice, gravy, and all manner of sweets for dessert.
Friday~ This is our traditional "shop-til-we-drop" day for my mom & sis.  It's probably be leftovers for dinner, or something I throw in the crockpot.
Saturday~ Tacos, or burgers if hubby feels like grilling

And the following week:
Sunday~ Beef tips and gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans
Monday~ Breakfast for Dinner
Tuesday~ Turkey sandwiches and various leftovers
Wednesday~ Bowling night for hubby=simple supper for ds#3 and me

That brings us to DECEMBER.... how life is flying by.

Share in the marvelous menu madness at Menu Plan Monday!

Just when you thought it was crazy...

...there's a full moon.
And then it REALLY gets crazy.
Like last week.

We did stick to the menu reasonably well, but it was an insanely busy, crazy, mixed-up week.  One we would not like to repeat.

So this week...
Sunday~ Stuffed peppers
Monday~ Out to dinner for my BIL's b-day
Tuesday~ Breakfast for dinner (some fun ideas are listed here: http://blog.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/2011/09/30/breakfast-for-dinner-recipes/ )
Wednesday~ Fend For Yourself (hubby's bowling night)
Thursday~ Beef tips & gravy with mushrooms and green beans (similar to these: http://www.southernplate.com/2009/04/steak-tips-over-rice-and-the-significance-of-a-doughnut-shop.html )
Friday~ Some kind of chicken to be determined...
Saturday~ Hubby's History Club Workday, Bowling Tourney.  Out to eat.

Link up with Menu Plan Monday at Laura's!

November waits for no mom...

Well.
There was very limited activity in the kitchen last week.
Friday evening was the first night that we were all at home to eat dinner together, so we had spaghetti.  Saturday, I scored a great deal on some steaks, so we had grilled steak and sauteed mushrooms.  Simple, but very yummy!

This week will be hectic too, but hopefully I've got a better game plan.

Sunday~ BBQ chicken (not grilled - with barbeque sauce), collard greens, mac'n'cheese
Monday~ Dinner in the crockpot: chili
Tuesday~ Fend For Yourself/Leftovers... big county-wide concert for me (ds#3 will come too) and big meeting for hubby
Wednesday~ Leftovers... hubs goes bowling
Thursday~ Soup - maybe French onion (I've got some in the freezer)
Friday~ Veterans Day Holiday: burgers on the grill.  Thank you to all who have served and are currently serving!
Saturday~ TBA

Share in the menu madness at Menu Plan Monday!