July already??? Here's our menu...

My older sons are both in town for the wedding reception festivities this week.  This marks the first time in four years that I have had all my children home at the same time.  I am a happy mama.

This week is very busy, and there will be lots of meals out (planned).  I've mapped out lunch and dinner for us... last week, we stuck to the plan well, so here's hoping this week  goes as smoothly!!!

Sunday~ 
lunch: subs on the run (headed to a Bridal Tea)
dinner: huge pot of spaghetti for the whole tribe (DIL too!)

Monday~ 
lunch: pizza from the freezer               
dinner: sticky chicken (rotisserie-style chicken), fried okra (ds#2's request), twice-baked potatoes, and fresh corn on the cob (from a friend)

Tuesday~ 
lunch: homemade sub sandwiches using this bread recipe, chips, fruit
dinner: out to a local minor league ball game, eat at the ballpark

Wednesday~ 
lunch: out to our fave local Mexican place (ds#2's request)
dinner: guys are headed to another ball game - they'll eat there.  I'll fend for myself. ;)

Thursday~ 
lunch: everyone's on their own; I'll be with my sister decorating for a family dinner
dinner: at a local Italian restaurant to celebrate the union of our families

Friday~ 
4th of July cookout!  Burgers, dogs, sausages, chips, baked beans, etc....

Saturday~ 
Today's the reception!  My sis & I will be helping to decorate so the guys will have to fend for themselves.  Dinner will be at the reception.

What a week!!!!!

Get some inspiration for your menus at Menu Plan Monday!

It's a Wedding....RECEPTION, that is. And the menu too!

My oldest son is a Marine.  He was married in the fall, in Hawaii, where he is stationed.  We took a trip to see him last year.


He was married a few months after we left, before he deployed.  He and his wife are coming home this week and next week, we will have a big reception to celebrate the happy couple.

We've been at work planning a 'rehearsal dinner' of sorts, except it's not really a rehearsal dinner, because they've already had the wedding.  It's actually a chance for the families to be together before the big event.




Marine Son will take a quick road trip with his buddies to see some baseball games while his wife finalizes plans, and Son #2 (formerly Airman Son) will arrive at the end of the week to participate in the festivities as well.  We'll have a full house next week and I'm SO EXCITED!!!!  It's been several years since we've all been together.




Meanwhile, I traveled to D.C. to see my oldest niece graduate from high school.  My brother and sister-in-law were very gracious hosts.

This was after graduation, and locking keys in a running van, and taking turns waiting for the locksmith to come so my brother wouldn't miss his daughter's graduation.
(my dad, my sister and me)

This is a pic of my mom (dinosaur mask), my sister-in-law (pink squid),
my sister (one of the green squid), me (red), and my nieces.
This is what we do when you let us out in public.

Here's what we ate after I got home:
Tuesday~ Spaghetti, cooked by my sweet husband, because I had enough restaurant food while I was gone.
Wednesday~ Beef tips, mashed potatoes & gravy, Caesar salad.  Cooked by me.
Thursday~ Rotisserie chicken, salad, and homemade rolls.
Friday~ Lasagna (from the freezer), salad, and french rolls.
Saturday~ Burgers, hotdogs, and sausage on the grill.  Baked beans and cucumber salad to go with, and chocolate cake for dessert.  My mom came to eat with us while my dad is on a missions trip in Nicaragua.

And this week??
Sunday~ for lunch: leftovers from the grill.  For dinner: pizza & swimming with friends.
Monday~ Sticky chicken, mashed potatoes, cucumber salad.
Tuesday~ The newlyweds arrive!  We're going to Olive Garden for dinner with them.
Wednesday~ Tacos with all the trimmin's
Thursday~ Pasta toss (pasta with tomatoes, mushrooms, zucchini, whatever veg we have on hand, tossed with cheese - usually feta)
Friday~ 'Macho' nachos with any leftover taco fix in's
Saturday~ Son #2 comes in.... so it'll be whatever he requests!

Take the time to savor moments with your loved ones this week.  

And check out Menu Plan Monday for more inspiration.

School's out!!! Getting ready for summer Menus.

Last week's menu plan would be classified as a FAIL.
So here's hoping that this week is better!

A dear family welcomed a new baby on Wednesday, so we will be taking them dinner this week, and ds#3 will hang out with their oldest son too.

Kids are officially out of school - teachers have a few days to wrap up - so it's time to deploy all the creative juices to keep the boy occupied.  I never had this issue with his older brothers, because there were two of them, and lots of kids in the neighborhood.  Now, not so many kids around, and ds#3 is the only one at home.  So, get BUSY, Mom!

I'll spend more time actually planning once I'm done with work, because if I don't have a lunchtime plan, we always spend more $$$.

Sunday~ homemade sub sandwiches for lunch; Bourbon chicken (with no bourbon) with rice and green beans for dinner
Monday~ Chef salads
Tuesday~ Roast in crockpot, mashed potatoes, Caesar salad
Taking dinner to our friends tonight: beef tenderloin, mashed potatoes, Caesar salad, crescent rolls.  Cookies for dessert. :)
Wednesday~ ds#3 is spending the night with a friend, so hubs & I may have a date.  Or a quiet evening in.  
Thursday~ Steaks on the grill, baked potatoes, salad.  Yum!
Friday~ Spaghetti, our favorite standby.
Saturday~ TBA...maybe something yummy from the Farmer's Market.

What's cookin' in your casa?  Share at Menu Plan Monday!