Menu Plan Monday!

A day late...
Monday: Smoked sausage with rice
Tuesday: Parmesan Chicken
Wednesday: Whatever we find
Thursday: Spaghetti with meatballs
Friday: Fend for myself

Not too exciting this week! Sorry!!

I am going go take my test today before class...we have to take it at the testing center since my instructor is blind. So, I am going to take it around 10:00 this morning then take some time to read the next chapter that we will discuss today. I didn't have time to read it since I've been studying!

UGH!!!

What have I done?!I'm supposed to be studying for my test that I am taking on Tuesday, but I decided to clean out my craft closet and organize it. Now, I have to clean out my room! The shelves still have crap on them in the closet too. I think I should just take everything out and just start over. I should have cleaned off my scraptable before starting so I could make piles. UGH!! I will start studying soon...I promise!!

I'm SORRY!!

I have totally neglected my blog. I really need to get into it again. Here are some of the pictures of our trip home for Christmas. The first picture is of my brother Adam, Sister-in-law Jenn, Michael, Me, Cameron, my dad Gerry, his sister Martha, her son Spencer and their brother Ed. My mom is taking the picture! This next picture is just one of my brother and Cameron while we were visiting my grandfather.
Here is one with my brother and I with Grandpa. We took a few shots and this happened to be the best even though Grandpa isn't looking at the camera.
This is Cameron with his cousin McKenna. She is Michaels sisters little girl. Cameron LOVES spending time with McKenna. He kept counting down the days that he would see her. When we stayed at Michael's moms after Christmas Cameron got to spend the night at McKenna's and was very excited. He was sad when it was time to go home. He wants McKenna to come visit us at our house.

I started Biology on the 9th. I have my first test on Tuesday. There is so much info I need to memorize by then too. It makes it hard to study when you don't feel good. I've been fighting a head cold for the past few days and it really sucks trying to read and understand on top of that!

I vow to do better with my blog once again. I will start posting my Monday Menus again too. Today I am cleaning house and studying. So far I have cleaned the bathrooms, done laundry, cleaned up the kitchen, straightened the family room and updated my blog...and it's only 9:45!

I'm still alive!

I just haven't had time to post anything. We had a great Christmas...I do have pictures. I start school again tomorrow so I will try to post something soon.

One year ago today

Today marks the one year anniversary of Michael's accident

I pray every morning that Michael makes it to work without injury. I am so thankful that he is still in our lives. He had a doctors appointment yesterday to check everything. It still looks like things are healing up pretty well. He has to go back in a year for more x-rays and see how the hip is doing. He deals with pain pretty much on a daily basis and usually does not take anything for it. I try to encourage him to take some ibuprofen on days that he has over done it and he normally listens. I just pray that he continues on the path of healing and that he never has to go through anything like that again. I can still remember the phone call that I receieved and it makes my heart break.

My tackle for the day is to finish wrapping a few items, clean my scrapbook room and work on the scarf I am making.

I hope everyone has a fantastic day!

Oh, here is my Menu Plan Monday (just a day late)...


Monday: Crunchy Tacos (Cameron's request)
Tuesday: Cheesy Chicken and Rice with broccoli
Wednesday: Chili and cornbread
Thursday: Spaghetti with salad and garlic bread
Friday: Whatever we eat on the road

NO MORE MATH!!!

HOORAY!!!

Today was my math final. I am so glad that it is OVER!! I missed 4 on it. That gave me an 85%. I should not have looked it over when I was done as I changed two answers...I would have had a 93%! Oh well! I figured out my final grade for the class and I finished it with an overall score of 94%!!! That's a freakin' A! Can I just say that I am thrilled to death?!?!?! I haven't gotten an A for math before!!

I start school again on January 9th. I will be taking Biology this next semester. I could take more classes at once, but I am just too chicken to have too much on my plate.

I took Cameron to see Santa yesterday. Here is his picture...

He really wanted to ask Santa for a Nintendo DS lite and a Pokemon game for his gameboy. Santa was done with his gifts already, but I have a feeling he might be getting what he asked for from him. When we were in Colorado for Thanksgiving Cameron had fun playing and watching the children play with their Nintendo DS and was determined to ask Santa for one. That was the first thing out of his mouth when he sat on his lap. Too cute. Before Santa arrived we were standing in line and Cameron said, "I think I am going to be too shy" He wasn't!

Off to knit a scarf. I got the knitting bug last week and decided to give it another try. I tried last Christmas and actually succeeded so I thought I would do it again.

Menu Plan Monday!

Monday: McDonalds...YUCK! Cameron was good all week so he got to choose his reward.
Tuesday: Soup & Sandwiches. Swimming night and we get home too late.
Wednesday: Tuna Casserole
Thursday: Chili Macaroni
Friday: Pork Carnitas
Saturday: Dinner at the Desert Star

I am so excited to almost be finished with my math class! I have my final on Saturday. I will be a studying fool tomorrow. I'm going to find a friend that Cameron can go visit for a few hours too. I just had my 5th test on Saturday. I was crying Friday night because I just wasn't getting it. Well, Michael is pretty fed up with my freaking out over my tests. The reason he is tired of me freaking out is I have gotten an "A" on every single test! YEAH me!! I always come home and tell him I did really well. He told me the other day if I say anything about not understanding stuff for the final he will not listen. So, I will just say it here!

I am signed up to take Biology this next semester. I just can't take more than one class right now. I will be taking Chemistry the following semester and "might" take a Nutrition class online to get that one out of the way too. School costs soo much these days. Just this one class in January is just over $500. When I went to the University of Washington back in the early 90's I was paying $571 for 18 credits! I am scared of what it is going to cost us when Cameron is in school.

Well, off to start a scarf or clean the house. I haven't decided which one I want to do. I really should clean the house so I have most of the day tomorrow for studying and not feeling guilty that my house is a mess while I am doing it. Ok, so I guess I am going to clean the house tonight.

We're home

We went to Colorado to spend time with family on Thanksgiving. It was nice to actually be with family this year. We haven't been with family for the past two years. Michaels dad and step mom went to CO to visit her sister and mother so we drove over to be with them too.

Dana (Step-mom), Angela (her sister) and I went shopping on Friday. However, we didn't go early in the morning. We got a few things that we were looking for. Dana bought us all some boots! I love my new boots! She also bought us all candles! I LOVE candles.

Michael wasn't feeling to well so he slept most of Friday. Cameron had a blast playing with Sophia. She is just a few months younger than him. They had so much fun. Each night they would just play and play. They both have SOO much energy!

We drove home yesterday. Michael should have drove, but he was sleeping pretty much the entire drive. Until I got pulled over! I got my very first ticket on this trip. UGH!!! At least he only caught me when I was doing 10 over. I didn't even see him. He must have been driving coming from the other direction on the freeway. I KNOW he wasn't stopped anywhere. Who knows if I really was doing 10 over. Oh well. It ended up taking us longer to get home than it did to get to CO. I set the cruise control for 5 over the limit. I think those Wyoming officers just like to pull over out of state drivers so they can make some money. They know that we will not drive back to go to court. So, I get to pay the state of WY $95. FUN!

I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving.

Girls Night Out!

Shannon and I had our Girls Night Out that we have been talking about doing for MONTHS! It was so nice to actually get out and do it. Last week I asked her if she has ever gone to a ceramic paint studio. She had not and I haven't been to one since living back home. So, that is what we did. We went to Provo and had dinner at Olive Garden then drove all over creation to find the paint studio. Eventually we were near the mountains with no paint studio in sight. So, Shannon called 411 to find out how to get to the place. We pretty much drove back to the freeway, decided that we could find the place, turned around headed back in the direction of the restaurant, called the bookstore that was supposed to be near the paint studio, and FINALLY were headed in the right direction. We had already been pretty close to it by the restaurant. At 9:00 we pulled into the parking lot...good thing the place closed at 11:00.

The studio is called Color Me Mine! It was date night at the studio so it was quite crowded. I honestly didn't think there would be so many people there, but we had a great time. We were told to find a piece to paint and we could then be on our merry way to creating something. Shannon and I both picked a Christmas tree candy dish. Too cute!

I can't wait to see the finished product. I added a few dots to the bottom of my tree and would have shown that picture, but it was blurry. I will be heading back down to Provo on Friday to pick up our trees.

I can't wait to have another Girls Night Out. We are just hoping it doesn't take us another 6 months to actually do it!

I don't have a picture for today's tackle. I have homework that I need to get working on. I have about 6 sections of radicals and exponents to do. Not fun! I am sure it will take me most of the day.

Monday: Chinese Chicken Pasta Salad (never did make this last week)
Tuesday: Chicken Noodle soup with sandwiches
Wednesday: Salmon with salad (yuck!)
Thursday: Grilled cheese with soup
Friday: Tacos
Saturday: Eating out with Shannon

I have to figure out a way to cook the salmon on Wednesday. I can't stand fish, but Michael loves it and I should eat it for health reasons. Last time I cooked it I just grilled it in foil with lemon and onion, but it was too lemony for me. If you have any ideas for me please let me know.

Here is the recipe for the chicken salad

Chinese Chicken Salad

Bake 4-6 boneless skinless chicken breast sprinkled with lemon pepper seasoning at 375 degrees for about 35 minutes or until done. Cool and slice diagonally.

Dressing
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 tsp. each salt & pepper
1 tsp. dried parsely
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/4 cup sesame seeds
Mix well

Pasta
1 - 12 oz bag bow tie pasta, cooked
1 bunch of green onions, sliced
1 green pepper sliced
1 yellow pepper sliced
1 red pepper sliced
snow peas (optional)

Toss pasta and chicken with dressing and refrigerate. Before serving add approx. 1/2 bag spinach leaves and 1 small bag of almonds.

A new post and lots of pictures

I feel bad that I haven't really updated my blog with pictures and such. I will try to give a brief summary of what has been happening around here. Not that it is very exciting, but there has been some activity.

First Cameron had his birthday on October 24th. We had his Superman party on the 28th. Here are a few pictures from that event.



Next we had Halloween. Cameron was Superman. No surprise there!


My boss became a grandfather for the very first time on October 30th. I made this little pillow for his daughter Nicole. They are so thrilled to be parents and my boss is elated to be a grandfather. He never thought it was going to happen.



Today is Michael's 36th birthday! Happy Birthday to him! Sorry, I don't have any pictures to share of him today. He is downstairs playing some new Xbox 360 game that he bought Friday night. He had a few guys over for dinner and games while I was at school. They left around midnight. It's always fun for Michael when he has people over to play with him. We are heading over to Gary's house in a bit for a dinner/birthday thing. Gary called to ask me for a meat thermometer, but he won't tell me what is for dinner.

I just finished another book...this one wasn't from my list. It was Until Proven Guilty by J.A. Jance. My mom reads her books so I thought I would give it a shot. Not bad for a mystery type book.

Well, I am off. I will post my menu for the week tomorrow. Sadly, I haven't followed the few days this past week that I was supposed to do. I will be cheating and adding some of the same things to the list since I don't think I cooked one time this past week.

It's been a week!!

I can't believe it has been one week since I have updated my blog! YIKES!! Sorry to all of you that check it for updates. Cameron turned 7 on Tuesday and I was just studying for my exam. I only ended up with a 91 this time. Still an A, but I could have done better. Oh well, there is always next time.


Monday: Tuna casserole
Tuesday: Pizza
Wednesday: Whatever the guys eat. I have an OSHA class that evening
Thursday: Grilled chicken with salad
Friday: Chinese chicken pasta salad
Saturday: Out to dinner for Michael's birthday


I'm still working on my Fall Into Reading challenge. I started These is my words by Nancy Turner again. I am just having the hardest time getting into it. It could be because I am trying to read it during Cameron's swim class. I'm also reading another book that is not on my list, but I am caught up for the month so all is good.

My list to read by the end of the challenge (December 21st):

1. These is my words - Nancy Turner
2. 2nd Chance - James Patterson
3. Pope Joan - Donna Cross
4. The Memory Keepers' Daughter - Kim Edwards
5. Night - Elie Wiesel
6. Key of Light - Nora Roberts
7. The Known World - Edward P. Jones
8. The Guy Not Taken - Jennifer Weiner
9. The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck

Menu Plan Monday

Last week I didn't follow any menu plan. I think we only ate dinner as a family twice. This week I vow to be different. I haven't been doing very well with my daily blog updates, but again, I vow to be different.

Monday: Taco Soup with chips
Tuesday: Sloppy Joes with fruit
Wednesday: Cheesy Chicken with Rice and broccoli
Thursday: Mock Chicken Pot Pie
Friday: Leftovers
Saturday: Chili with cornbread

I have a test this Friday and this time I really am freaking out over it. We've done 11 sections in the past two weeks and some of them are downright HARD!! Can I just tell you that I HATE story problems?!?!?

Tomorrow is Cameron's 7th birthday! Boy does time sure go quickly!!

So far I am doing pretty darn good on my Fall Into Reading challenge. I have read two books and am trying to figure out which one on the list I want to read next. I think I am heading towards Night since it is pretty small. I am half way through the month and 2 books done on my 3 book per month goal! I've been doing more reading at Cameron's swimming lessons and before bed. I am even taking the books to work with me and reading on my lunch break. Much better than going out to spend money.

My list to read by the end of the challenge (December 21st):
1. These is my words - Nancy Turner
2. 2nd Chance - James Patterson
3. Pope Joan - Donna Cross
4. The Memory Keepers' Daughter - Kim Edwards
5. Night - Elie Wiesel
6. Key of Light - Nora Roberts
7. The Known World - Edward P. Jones
8. The Guy Not Taken - Jennifer Weiner
9. The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck

Photos from our weekend

There aren't too many photos from our weekend, but I will share a few with you. I also have NO idea how the pics will show up on your monitors because they are all wonky for me.


















The last picture is soon after we arrived at the Homestead. Cameron and Michael were watching some cartoon on tv while I was putting my hair up to go to the pool.

The Other ramblings

Blogger is being a booger! I can't upload anymore photos right now so I can't share our time at Heber/Midway from the weekend. I will try later. Off to clean the house and get ready to pick up Cameron from school.

Tackle It Tuesday and other ramblings

My tackle of the day is the pantry. This has been a bother of mine for some time and I just needed to set some time to just clean and declutter it. Some of the appliances and other items that aren't used that often have been banished to the basement. I have a few other areas that I am going to tackle as well today, but after I take care of some basic household chores.

BEFORE

AFTER

Menu Plan Monday

Today is my first Menu Plan Monday. We have a fairly busy week so it will be fairly simple.

Monday: Soup and Sandwiches
Tuesday: BBQ Pork Sandwiches (crockpot)
Wednesday: Meatball Minestrone Soup, Rolls
Thursday: Cheesy Chicken with Rice
Friday: Pizza

I hate it when my weeks are so busy that I have to do things quick. Today and tomorrow we have swimming. Then I work on W, Th. I have school Friday night so I will pick up a pizza on the way home. How boring is this week?

We had a great time this weekend up in Midway and Homestead. Cameron has only stayed in a hotel once before so they whole way there he was very excited and asked if every building was the hotel. When we finally got to the hotel he wanted to go swimming right away. We made him wait about 30 minutes before we went and he had a BLAST! Tomorrow is his last night of this swimming session and he is doing awesome! He is finally moving up to the second level. I just loved watching him tonight. He was so confident in what he was doing. He would swim back to the wall from his teacher then look at me giving me the "thumbs up" sign. Too cute!

I will post pictures tomorrow from our Heeber Creeper outing. I don't think I took any pics at Homestead to share, but I might have. I will have to look tomorrow.

YIKES!!

So, this is what my scrapbook room looks like yet again!

Why, oh, why do I have such a hard time keeping this room clean?!?! I have been busy working on my All About Me swap and I really don't have much room to work on it. I guess I could clean the room, but I have more important things to do today. None of which has gotten done. I did clean two of the bathrooms. I have one more to do and then some light picking up. I have SOOOO much tv that I need to catch up on as well. I just haven't been in the tv mood lately.