Science Fair

We spent the ENTIRE WEEK completing our science fair projectslast week! I even told my friends not to call until it's over because it's taking up so much of our time. Here's a pictoral of our week:

"CAKES RISING : Baking Powder or Baking Soda"

"BALLOON ROCKET"

"FAVORITE GERBIL FOOD"

"VOLCANO ERUPTS, AGAIN!"

As Lent Begins...

We've all decided what we're going to sacrifice - each child came up with their own. And what family and personal prayer we're going to add into our days plus Lenten Adventure...

I'm a little sad. I love Lent. But the schedule of prayer and fasting will preclude me from doing any crafty, cool activities for Lent that we've done to describe it to the little kids in the past. They mostly understand and don't need the crafty activities. Then, I know, that just doing life and adding these times of prayer and sacrifice will take God's grace to get me through. I know--that's the point--relying on God alone. But I also know how much of a struggle it is to do and how much I fail. Today is busy with activities and checking each other's foreheads to see whose ashes have wiped off -- but I'm very reflective, considering the burden that sacrifice brings...and hoping for the strenth of God to carry me.

meal planning

Now that the science fair is over *THANK YOU, GOD!* (my apologies to all those who like science) I needed to get my house, life and school back on track. I spent several evenings planning and today was the culmination of all those plans.

These are my meal planning steps :

• choose 7 breakfasts
• choose 7 lunches
• and 10 dinners

I make my list from inexpensive meals. For our family of 6 (plus a baby) I have a list of
25 breakfasts (variations on a theme) with an average cost of $1.76
45 lunches with an average cost of $3.76
35 dinners with an average cost of $5.33

Those average costs are for the entire family. It doesn't include beverages per meal (which average $.95) or side dishes (which I usually have at least one veggie and averages about $1.25)

So, I plug and chug and made a menu plan for breakfast, lunch & dinner for a month (this time it was 6 weeks hoping to get me to Easter.) My goal is $400 for a month. This month I bought 3 fish meals and those were pretty expensive $8-10/meal just for the fish. I tweaked a few meals to lower my overall cost, so I could do it.

Yesterday I shopped for 4 hours (that was longer than it needed to take, but I ran into some glitches) and I came home and cooked 15lbs of hamburger, 6lbs of chicken (which left the remaining 9 to be cooked the next day), and 2 lbs of sausage. The girls and I (and a very pregnant friend came for a few hours -- she wanted to come help!) spent all day cooking. The boys helped some and were on baby duty alot. We put up 13 side dishes (mashed potatoes, garlic & cheese buscuits, cornbread and rice pilaf) and 17 meals (3 lasagna, 3 shepherd's pie, 3 sausage & rice bake, 3 sloppy joe, 5 omelet mixes). I also put up all the meat for the rest of the meals.

I ran out of time (and steam) and still need to make 10 meals worth (40 Cups) of Alfredo sauce, but then I'll be done. I'm so pleased that I don't have to mess with cooking for quite some time! One more item off my plate and we can focus on school! YEAH!!

Real Life

This was one of the best blog posts I've read! It's got a Christmas theme, but it is applicable anytime - REAL LIFE

Pro-choice....

Pope Benedict ROCKS!

Holy Heroes Lenten Adventure

They're having the same kind of FREEEEEE program for Lent that they had for Advent. We're signed up -- are you?

They have coloring pages you can print FOR FREE! They have videos of kids praying and saints for the day...crossword puzzles, word searches, .....and more!!!
WOW! I wouldn't have had to plan ANYTHING for Lent and this would have taken care of our Lent supplements with this free product!!
Click the picture above to go to HolyHeroes.com and sign up for your FREE daily Lent Adventure!!
EASY, complete and FREE! What a GREAT Lent present to moms!!

This is from their website when you sign up -

Join your family with Holy Heroes to learn more about:

Family traditions from around the globe that you can make part of your family's Lent and Easter
The Stations of the Cross
The Seven Last Words of Christ from the Cross
How to live a fruitful Lent of prayer, penance, an alms-giving
The Rosary and other prayers and devotions that bring the faith to life in our homes
Like to sing? Sing along while you learn the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Regina Caeli, and the Stabat Mater - in English and Latin
And much more!
Sign up now, and you'll receive your 20% off coupon code and instructions for sending us your videos about your own family traditions.
http://www.holyheroes.com/

Bourbon Street Hideaway

Dave called me last week and asked me if I'd like to go on a date that night.

Bourbon Street Hideaway, originally uploaded by Scott Spaulding.

It was AWESOME! It was expensive. We didn't have an appetizer, but did each have a cocktail and we split a desert -- the bill ended up being around $70. It was something we almost never do. We both loved it.

It was a like a taste explosion in my mouth! I don't like fancy food and I don't particularly like spicy food -- but this was FANTASTIC! Definately out of the norm and wonderful!

Here are some REAL reviews, if you'd like to consider it further :

• Bourbon Street Hideaway is a Delicious Boon for Ivy Tech Culinary Grads
• Taste New Orleans at Hideaway
• Bourbon Street Hideaway - pics

12-year-old speaks out on the issue of abortion

This was FANTASTIC!

My Blog Spot

It's not pretty, and it's ALWAYS messy (the last place in the house to get cleaned), but it's where I blog from (and teach from and drink my morning coffee from and grade papers from and...)


Amy tagged me, so I'm tagging Anne, Grace, Stacy & Nancy -- where do YOU blog from?

Would you be willing to...

Sit like this just to pick up a book?

I don't think that looks very comfortable....

Football has been very, very good to me

Superbowl Party 2009

If you weren't here, this is the excitement you missed!

"Football" is one of the baby's 5 favorite words. He talks about it (saying the word over and over) all the time!