Menu Plan Monday 10/19-10/25

**Another week is upon us so that means it is time for another menu plan! This is just a plan and it could change on the cook’s whim!

Last week's menu plan was a disaster! Hubby really wanted something more than chicken so a day after I planned the menu the menu for the rest of the week totally changed! One bright spot in the week though was my “no cooking” day on Thursday when we took the kids to my parents’ for an overnight so that hubby and I could have a date night! Date nights don’t happen as often as they should around here so it was sooooo nice to get out and enjoy ourselves.

This week's shopping trip was to get beef in the house along with doing some more stockpiling because of the sales. After doing my shopping, we found that our truck is going to need about $1100 worth of work done to it, so I will be working at stretching the food we have over the next couple of weeks.

This week, we are trying a new to us recipe along with some family classics. I also am going to be trying to get some baking done as the family has been begging for cookies and muffins.

Lunches listed are for the kids and me. Usually with our lunches I serve carrot sticks, and some kind of in-season fruit along with juice or water to drink. Hubby usually takes dinner leftovers each day along with several items for snacks.

If you are looking for some inspiration you can find links to my menu suggestion lists over in my right side bar down by Organizing Junkie's button.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check other delicious meal plans that have been linked at Laura-Organizing Junkie's site! **

Sunday (10-19)
Breakfast: eggs, sausage links, hash browns, and cinnamon rolls
Lunch: pizza rolls
Dinner: ???
Snack: snack basket

Monday (10-20)
Breakfast: cereal and toast or muffins
Lunch: sandwich & chips
Dinner: bbq pork chops, Crashed Potatoes, corn (carryover from last week!)
Snack: yogurt, donuts & milk

Tuesday (10-21)
Breakfast: waffles & sausage
Lunch: pizza
Dinner: Chicken Cordon Bleu, boiled potatoes, peas or salad (carryover from last week!)
Snack: snack basket

Wednesday (10-22)
Breakfast: “Cook’s Choice” (community service day—stay tune for details later)
Lunch: sandwich & chips
Dinner: turkey, mashed taters & gravy, corn, squash and biscuits
Snack: cookies & milk

Thursday (10-23)
Breakfast: pancakes and sausage
Lunch: leftover tacos
Dinner: chicken stuffing bake (new recipe below), green beans and crescent rolls
Snack: snack basket

Friday (10-24)
Breakfast: cereal and toaster strudel
Lunch: leftover spaghetti
Dinner: burgers, fries, corn
Snack: ice cream night

Saturday (10-25)
Breakfast: “Cook’s Choice”
Lunch: ??? probably leftovers!
Dinner: Easy Beef Stroganoff(no mushrooms and making own beef gravy) over noodles, peas or salad Snack: snack basket or popcorn


Chicken Stuffing Bake
**thanks to my friends, Swanny & Mx5 for the inspiration!

4 chicken breasts, diced
1 can cream of chicken soup
½ cup sour cream
1 box stuffing mix
½ cup margarine/butter, melted
Shredded cheddar cheese

Mix stuffing mix with melted butter, set aside. Place chicken in 9x13 pan. Mix soup & sour cream together, and pour over chicken. Put shredded cheese over soup mixture. Top with stuffing mixture. Bake in oven at 375° for 40 minutes.

All about "D"

The week was a little too busy to get everything in that I wanted to do so I let her play more than doing "school".

We read books about dinosaurs, dress-up, ducks and dogs.

We talked about the dentist and the doctor.

For our Bible stories this week, we talked about Daniel and David.

We played with dominos and dress-up. We dressed in clothes with dots.

We did our "D" book. We also colored pictures of "d" things like dog, duck, drum and dress.

We ate donuts, and dipped carrots in ranch sauce.

I am going to finish up "D" on Monday with us putting together our "D Lapbook". Then it will be on to "E" with elephants, and eggs!

Thanksgiving Unit Study

Links/Websites:

All about Plymouth, Massachusetts

Colonial Kids--Celebration of life in the 1700s about life as a colonial kid, see how the pilgrims dressed

Celebrating Thanksgiving teaching ideas and activities for teaching about the first Thanksgiving; an interactive on the first Thanksgiving, voyage on the Mayflower, look into their daily life, learn about the Thanksgiving feast.

Thanksgiving books in the sidebar there is more links to other Thanksgiving themed items like history, clipart, games, activities, and more!

Thanksgiving Teaching Theme writing sheets, songs, recipes, crafts, vocabulary builders, games, lesson plans, and much more

Mayflower History

All about Squanto

Thanksgiving unit study

Thanksgiving Unit Study

Thanksgiving/Pilgrim Unit Study

Thanksgiving Lesson Plans using books

Thanksgiving Lapbook

Billy Bear's Thanksgiving activities Loads of fun Thanksgiving activities for the younger set: games, puzzles and crafts.

Thanksgiving at the Holiday Zone Find Thanksgiving craft projects, discussion ideas, language arts activities, songs and more.

123Child Thanksgiving Art, games, math & science, songs & finger play, make a recipe book with kids favorite recipes, and dramatic play

KinderArt's Paper Turkey Craft Craft project for little kids to make table decorations that resemble turkeys.

Enchanted Learning Thanksgiving These crafts projects are for preschool, kindergarten and elementary school children. The crafts use materials found around the house, like egg cartons, cardboard, paper, boxes, string, crayons, paint, glue, etc.

ABCTeach unit study Print out these pages from ABCTeach to have a complete unit study for a young child.

Turkey Booklet Create this easy and colorful booklet in your home and write down what you are most thankful for this year.

Thanksgiving on the Net stories of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving, turkeys to take home, holiday pictures for the kids to print and color, tasty holiday recipes and e-greeting cards to send your friends and family

Thanksgiving Family Fun crafts, family fun, clipart and much more

Thanksgiving Traditions & History history, traditions, and customs

The Pilgrims 1621 Thanksgiving

Pilgrim clothing

Mayflower History Mayflower history including a passenger list.

Thanksgiving lesson ideas articles, lesson ideas, site reviews, books, crafts, clipart and much more

DLTK's Thanksgiving Crafts crafts, activities, recipes and much more

Bountiful Thanksgiving history, crafts, activities, parades, and much more

Thanksgiving activities for the younger grades

Teacher Planet's Thanksgiving Page links to lessons, units, worksheets, clip art and other resources

Thanksgiving mini unit Kindergarten level--Thanksgiving mini unit

Thanksgiving Lesson Plans & Activities activities for all grades

Thanksgiving Theme books, music, and tons of links

Mr. Donn's Thanksgiving Page lesson plans and activities on Pilgrims and Native Americans

Crayola's Thanksgiving Activities crafts, activities and lesson plans

Thanksgiving story on pdfs

History of Thanksgiving –first Thanksgiving table manners and the type of meal.

Day in the life of kids at the Plimouth Plantation1st grade lesson plan

Myths & Realities of Thanksgiving facts on the first Thanksgiving

1st Thanksgiving kdg./1st grade level unit of crafts, activities and lessons.

Wampanoag history (Native American group—New England)

Books: (this is just a small selection of the books that are available)

~~A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
~~Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’
~~A Turkey for Thanksgiving
~~The First Thanksgiving
~~Don’t Know Much about Pilgrims
~~If You Were At the First Thanksgiving
~~Its Thanksgiving (I Can Read Book 3)
~~P is for Pilgrim: A Thanksgiving Alphabet
~~Thanksgiving on Thursday(Magic Tree House Book)
~~The Story of Thanksgiving
~~The Mayflower Secret: William Bradford (Trailblazer Books #26) (older kids book or read aloud)
~~If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620
~~Sarah Morton’s Day: day in the life of a Pilgrim Girl
~~Samuel Eaton’s Day: day in the life of a Pilgrim Boy

Hymns:

**We Gather Together
**For the Beauty of the Earth
**Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
**Come, Ye Thankful People, Come
**Give Thanks


Projects:

• Acrostic Poem using “Thanksgiving”
• Imagine yourself on the Mayflower write a story about what life is like on the Mayflower
• Create your own first Thanksgiving feast, cook up some of the dishes that the Pilgrims ate on that day.
• Make a turkey craft
• Make a book of blessings---shape book from abc teach.
• Do a Thanksgiving themed Lapbook

Facts/People/Terms to know:

Governor William Bradford
Squanto
Samoset
Wampanoag Indians
Pilgrims
Mayflower
Plymouth
Life on the Plantation
1621
Foods that were served at 1st Thanksgiving
Hardships of the Pilgrims
How did the Indians help the Pilgrims?

Weekly Shopping Trip---Savings $84.05

This week, my goal was to get beef in the house! All that was in my freezer for meat was chicken and pork! So I made two trips to the local grocery store looking for markdown meats. I found some so now my freezer and pantry are ready to roll out some delicious meals this next week!

Here is the breakdown of my savings this week.

1st trip to Family Fare...

• 2.09lb cube steak $5.83


• 2.59lb hamburger 75/25 $5.15


• 2.12lb beef stew meat $5.91


• .63lb thin cut bottom round steak $2.20


• .59lb bottom round steak $2.06


• 1.12lb ranch steak $3.67

Total: $24.82
Savings Total: $8.91




2nd trip to Family Fare...

• .73lb eye of round steak $2.65


• .73lb eye of round steak $2.65


• 2.37lb top round london broil $6.62


• 2.02lb top round london broil $5.64


• 1.03lb hamburger 75/25 $1.58


• 1.04lb hamburger 75/25 $1.60


• 1.09lb ground chuck 81/19 $2.44


• 1.10lb ground round 86/14 $2.69


• 1.07lb ground round 86/14 $2.61


• 1.05lb ground round 86/14 $2.56


• 2 containers carmel chocolate & heath bar dip $3.00


• 1 container half & half $1.00


• 2 pkgs. cream cheese $2.00


• 1 box instant oatmeal $1.00


• 2 containers bread crumbs $2.00


• 2 jars applesauce $4.00


• 1 box Spartan brand rice krispies 99 cents


• 3 dozen eggs $2.97 (99 cents/dz)


• 2 pks smoky links $6.38

Total: $54.38
Savings Total: $28.31

My weekly trip to Meijer...

• 1pk. Always super pads $1.97


• 1.79lb bananas $1.06


• 2 bags chex mix $4.18


• 1 bag chex mix 75 cents


• 1 box Honeycomb cereal $2.75


• 1 box Corn Pops $1.79


• 1 Juicy Juice Harvest surprise $2.49


• 1lb deli turkey breast $3.95


• 3.03lb ground chuck $6.03


• 3.06lb ground chuck $6.09


• 5.11lb half porkloin $9.66


• 1 bottle softsoap 64 cents


• 1 pkg beef brats 84 cents


• 2 pkgs rope beef sausage $1.78 (89 cents each)


• 20lbs potatoes $5.98


• 1 pkg tortillas $1.50


• 2 cartons beef broth $3.50


• 3 boxes choc. chip waffles $2.90(97 cents each)


• 1 bottle Aussie hair gel $1.50


• 1 pkg Oscar Mayer deli creations 67 cents


• 2 boxes pie crust $3.40


• 1 box frosted flakes $1.00


• 1 box froot loops $1.00


• 1 box Bunches of Oats Choc. Clusters $2.00


• 1 box Raisin Bran $2.00


• 6 bottles Juicy Juice $13.50


• 3 M&Ms-dark choc. peanut $1.53
  

Total: $85.97
Savings Total: $46.83

Grand Total: $249.22
Grand Total OOP: $165.17
Grand Savings Total: $84.05

***Morale of the shopping story this week...to slow down and pay close attention to the fine print of the sales ad!! Looking back over my receipts this week to do this post, I realized that there was FIVE items that I purchased that did not ring up at the sale price that I was expecting! I really need to get back into watching them ring things up or really check my receipt before leaving the store! I probably could go back to the store and get the difference back but it would not save me anything after I would figure in the gas for a second round trip.

For more savings stories head over to MoneySavingMom's Super Saturday Savings and Becentsable's Centsable Saving Stories

Parenting Series--ABCs Christian Parenting--Part 4

Did you do any building or affirming or communicating positively this past week with your child? I can answer yes! I did work at doing these things with my children this past week! I really worked at reaching out to my one child that at times just seems unloveable. I worked at controlling my tone and watching what I am saying to my children. This week, we are to the fourth letter of the alphabet!

DEDICATE yourself to the body of Christ through commitment to a congregation, regular worship, bible study, and prayer.

I see this concept as being vitally important to us as parents. We can not deny ourselves this kind of support! Not only the support of other believers but also the support of Christ.

We need to be showing our children that our faith in Christ is important. They need to see actions over words regarding our commitment to Christ. We need to show them what being faithful is all about in our lives. Yes, we can be faithful in the other aspects of our lives but we really need to show them that being faithful to Christ. This way we are not coming across as being fake and they will be able to tell and know for a fact that you love Christ.

Committing ourselves to regular interaction with other believers is showing our children that we truly understand and respect the reasoning for Christ coming to earth, His death and resurrection. Also showing them that we are not too busy to keep alive in our hearts God's love for us. We need the encouragement of others while we wait for His return!

Hebrews 10:23-26 "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Let's commit to going to church on a regular basis! Let's commit to being active in our church! Let's commit to keeping our children going & being active in church!

Here is a few interesting articles about children/teens/students being active in church...

Church Attendence Boosts Students GPAs

Best way to get teens to church is to go with them

Parents can help teens stay in church

A Glimpse of a day in Sonshine's life...

In an effort to keep things real and show that I do more than sit in front of the computer daily. Here is a glimpse into my day! Just the basics and doesn't include diaper changes, wiping runny noses, or being "referee".

~~showered and dressed by 8:30am (that is an accomplishment in and of itself since usually it doesn't happen til lunchtime!)

~~breakfast for all (cereal & bagels)

~~checked email and made sure direct deposit was in

~~checked to make sure all library books had been gathered.

~~went to the library for an hour

~~lunch for all (chicken nuggets & tater tots)

~~went to the DMV to renew my driver's license and had to wait 45 minutes before waited on. ALL total was in there for 50 minutes!

~~went to the grocery store and spent approx. $80 for the week's worth of groceries. I still need to make it to another grocery store for about another $20 then my grocery shopping will be done for the week. :)

~~took care of the groceries.

~~made up burger patties for the freezer.

~~cooked 1# of bacon for breakfast sandwiches.

~~cooked/browned 2# hamburger for the freezer.

~~made a batch of brownies

~~made dinner for all (homemade pizza & breadsticks)

~~made breakfast sandwiches (4 sausage,egg & cheese and 6 bacon, egg, & cheese)

~~made a batch of M&M cookies(I cheated and used one of my bargain cookie mixes so I just had to add softened butter and 1 egg to mix them up!)

~~did 3 loads of laundry(wash & dried) they are now waiting to be folded!!

~~kids did school today too. (I didn't work with my kdger. though!)

Weblink Wednesday--Ancient Rome

Looking at doing a unit study on Ancient Rome? Here is a list of sites that you might find useful!
Rome Project

Rome Unit Study

Mr. Dowling's Electronic Passport

Rome Land of Emperors

Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome Resource Links

Six week Ancient Rome Unit Study geared for grades 3rd-8th.

Ancient Rome Lapbook

Ancient Rome and the King of Kings

For other weblinks, head over to Homeschooling with Encouragement!

Kitchen Tip Tuesday

Now I know why I can't plan monthly menus!

Now I know why even my weekly menus are just plans!

Now I know why I have to keep a variety of meats in my freezer!

Now I know why it is not good to get in a "meal rut"!

Now I know why I do simple meals!

Now I know why having picky eaters can be difficult at times!

Now I know why having a pantry stockpile(the pic to the right!) is important!

Now I know why stockpiling when items are on sale at good prices is important!

Now I know why I try to keep an organized kitchen!

Now I know why I can plan and plan and really think that I have everything figured out only to find out I don't!

You probably are wondering by now where in the world the kitchen tip is in all those "now I know" statements. Well the kitchen tip is that no matter how much you plan ahead or stockpile or stay organized, life will happen and those items will and do change so instead of stressing over it just realize that you can figure or plan something better than what you did in the first place.

I say all of this to say that life is happening at my house! I planned what I thought was a great menu this week only to have my hubby say to me that despite the fact that he likes chicken, he is sick of eating chicken! Oh he knows that 90% of the meat in the freezer is chicken and I do NOT have any beef in the house right now! He doesn't want chicken all week! Oh and on a different note, he also told me that I am going to have a no cooking night this week! Soooooo needless to say, life is happening and I have to re-work the plans which excites me! I might be able to get away from the rut and try something new without too much resistance!

For other kitchen tips, head over to Tammy's Recipes, where she tells an easy way to dice carrots!

Menu Plan Monday 10/12-10/18

**Another week is upon us so that means it is time for another menu plan! This is just a plan and it could change on the cook’s whim!

Last week's menu went off without a hitch! We stayed the plan and ate the meals as planned.

I find that using master lists helps streamline menu planning so last week I took the time to update my master menu suggestion lists! (follow this link or you can find a link to each category over in my right side bar down by Organizing Junkie's button.)

This week's shopping trip was just to get the few things I was out of for meals and to do about $10 worth of stockpiling because of the sales.

This week, I have planned meals to use up things in my freezer since I had to pull several things out of it because the freezer door was left opened again!! The child is totally banned now from going into that freezer!

Lunches listed are for the kids and me. Usually with our lunches I serve carrot sticks, and some kind of in-season fruit along with juice or water to drink. Hubby usually takes dinner leftovers each day along with several items for snacks.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check other delicious meal plans that have been linked at Laura-Organizing Junkie's site! **

Sunday (10-12)
Breakfast: eggs, sausage links or bacon and biscuits
Lunch: chicken nuggets & chips
Dinner: Arby’s
Snack: snack basket

Monday (10-13)
Breakfast: cereal and donuts
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: creamy chicken over noodles, peas or salad, and rolls
Snack: yogurt, muffins & milk

Tuesday (10-14)
Breakfast: waffles & sausage
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: homemade pizza & breadsticks
Snack: snack basket

Wednesday (10-15)
Breakfast: bagels, yogurt, and cereal
Lunch: chicken nuggets & tater tots
Dinner: Chicken Cordon Bleu, mashed potatoes, corn and biscuits
Snack: cookies & milk

Thursday (10-16)
Breakfast: French toast
Lunch: pizza
Dinner: Chicken Rice Soup and homemade honey oatmeal rolls
Snack: snack basket

Friday (10-17)
Breakfast: cereal and toaster strudel
Lunch: sandwich and chips
Dinner: bbq pork chops, Crashed Potatoes, corn
Snack: ice cream night

Saturday (10-18)
Breakfast: “Cook’s Choice”
Lunch: ??? probably leftovers!
Dinner: chicken parmesan, spaghetti, and French Bread
Snack: snack basket or popcorn

Singing Sunday

I Know
by MercyMe

Where do I begin with what to say
I’ve played this conservation in my head so many times
I’m certainly not claiming to know everything
But what i do will save your life

I know, I know
That God is able
I know, I know
That He still reigns
I know, I know
That love has found a way

No matter what it is you’re going through
Even if you think you’re far beyond where hope can see
I know there is a hand that’s reaching out for you
Because He did the same for me

Chorus

It wasn’t that long ago when my own world fell apart, it fell apart
And everything here inside of me said to let go, you must let go
I found myself crying out to the One who knows my heart, He knows your heart
And holding tight to the few things that I know
I know, I know, I know
That love has found a way

Chorus