• you really have to be on top of the menu planning in order for this to work
• leftovers occur lots more than I thought they would
• if you REALLY plan you don't have to go to the store near as much as if you don't plan
• if you don't go to the store as much you really can save money
• cooking from scratch is not as hard as you might think it is, but it is time consuming, therefore you must PLAN..
• I gotta figure out how to get my kids to lay off the milk some..they really go through lots of milk

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Blackie: "You want to do WHAT?"

Well you know Blackie dear, my goal has always been to milk you ...we would really like to have some of your wonderful milk....well and you're gonna have a baby soon so that does mean ..umm....MILK......well if Clover  & Suzanne http://suzannemcminn.com/blog/2008/08/27/the-taming-of-clover-or-how-i-took-the-tears-out-of-milking/   can do it...so can we....you will cooperate won't you?

Blackie:....."um, well see"......

So my hubby will be home in a few days  and well we need to talk....I have been thinking...I know exactly what he will say...OH NO she's been thinking again...we are in trouble now....by I have been thinking so here goes...

my animal goals for 2009

1. I want to milk the goats...we have 4 of them....and well lets face it milk isn't getting cheaper at the stores.....and we have four count them 1...2...3...4....goaties that we could be milking.....we can at least TRY can't we..
2. So goal # 2 means at least a wall of some sort to block the wind so we can milk....we have enough scrap materials to do that around here.....and D & I can manage that.
3. We need a bigger hot wire box....just gotta find some $ for that.
4. I want the chicken co-op FINISHED...my goal is before spring actually gets here...I want to work on it while hubby is home at Christmas......this spring I want certain children to paint it.
5. I want to get enough chickens in the spring to = at least  a dozen chickens...right now we have 8 chickens.
6. I'd love to have more gunieas..but how do I keep them from being dog\coyote  food...this is a struggle....any suggestions????

my farm\garden goals

1. To plant a successful garden but NOT on a BIG scale...hubb always want to do it BIG...I can't handle it that big...besides the water bill it is just too much to keep up with & the weeds take it over....I want small & managable this year......I have a plan in my head...I'm actually going to map it out on paper soon.
2. I want to plant a couple more trees.....just a few....we won't go into why .

my home\house goals

1. To pay off\down cc bills
2. To not aquire anymore debt.
3. To build up an emergency fund.
4. To buy a new freezer....with CASH $$$
5. To connect electricity to the shed
6. To sort through & clean out a bunch of junk.
7. To cook more from scratch...and not eat out unless it is a special occasion...which I am already implementing!!
8. To get healthy, buy exercising more.

One last thing before I close for today...

WOW menus REALLY work....I have always struggled with making a menu & incorporating it, but out of NEED(hubb is coming home, we CAN'T afford to eat out AT ALL while he is here & so I planned every meal until he goes back to work) I did this the other day  and so far it is working wonderfully  and there has been no need to run back to the store (because I  forgot this or that)   I worked out the grocery list to go with the menu before I shopped the other day....this WILL continue....I'm keeping a shopping list in the kitchen so I can write things down as needed....it helps.

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We are getting into the Christmas spirit around here....the kids have watched a few Christmas shows on tv(Frosty the Snowman was on the other night),  the tree is up & decorated...the presents...well they are not wrapped yet, but we will get there....I took a "family" picture in front of the tree....well as much of a family pic as I can get without dad home....so instead of the ENTIRE family(mom & dad) we added the dogs...well they are family too....see..

Charlie Brown Christmas should arrive from netflix today....it hit me the other day that my 2  youngest kids have never seen Charlie Brown Christmas....ugh, faint....how could that possible be...every childhood should have the Charlie Brown Christmas show in it...it should be a law or something...but we do not receive ABC out here in the boonies & that is what channel it is always on......so my kids have not seen it....well we will rectify that now won't we!

My all time favorite Christmas show is It's a Wonderful Life......we have started making it a tradition to watch it every year...well we haven't watched it yet, but we WILL...I promise we will(I'm thinking the 19th) ....I think we need to pull out the Muppets Christmas Carol & the Grinch too...

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How crazy can I possibly be?

     Yesterday was a rather long & eventful day..first off we went to early service at our church, the adult choir did their Christmas program. We then went to the church that my girls have choir at, & oh was is a sight to see...well hear..oh whatever it was beautiful..all the different choirs performed the orchestra, band, the hand-bell ringers, the kids of all ages sang...it was beautiful.

Then along with all the other idiots in our area we went to Candy Cane Cash....it is where you receive tickets for patronizing different merchants from the weekend after Thanksgiving until a certain weekend in December....well it was yesterday.They draw tickets to give away money with the grand prize drawing being $10,000.....well it was gorgeous when we first go out there yesterday, in fact I was thinking geeze it is hot  in this sweater, I should have warn short sleeves........but then here comes the clouds & the wind...and MORE WIND...and the COLD...freezer yourself to the bone COLD......and the radio announcer even said hey, did somebody turn on the air conditioner?......I wanted to leave, but I was torn...I wanted the $10,000 too.....well we started venturing to the car after the second to the last drawing...slowly....we needed to get up & move around & warm up but we still wanted that $....we ended up running into hubby's grandmother on our way to the car...was she NUTS for being out here in this weather???  I know I was...but ya know what people won't do for some money !

so we didn't end up winning any money...and I always vow never to go back again...until Thanksgiving comes around & the grocery stores, restaurants, banks..etc.. start giving out tickets again....and then I think to myself  it only takes one ticket to win...and my kids beg to go because well...you know they are kids & they don't mind freezing to death outside while eating enough sand to choke a horse....so until next year..

Then we rushed back to our church WITH the heater on full blast I may add..trying to get the feeling back in our bodies....oh my ...my fingers were hurting so bad..

So we got back to our church for the children's Christmas program...which was fun to see as always and after that we had a church potluck Christmas dinner...so I didn't have to cook dinner ...which made me a happy camper.

Then we came home and watched the end of surviver to see Bob win....I wanted Sugar to win, but she didn't.

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ABSOLUTELY NO WHERE!!!!!!!

That car is not being started at all...we are staying HOME!

I have 2 days of freedom from the December madness...and I'm taking advantage of it.

Now in all honesty tomorrow we will go into town, but not for any activities, not because we HAVE to, because I will make out my small grocery list & go very early tomorrow morning(and probably all by myself WITHOUT children..) to wal-mart..& braum's for milk.....it has been so long since we have not had co-op on a Friday....wow ...the next couple of Fridays are not filled up all day long....I love it!!!

So on my to-do list for today & tomorrow:

• clean house, clean house & more cleaning of the house
• catch up on laundry
• kids must do school work
• go on a walk
• turn the compost pile
• clean the back yard up..wind has blown all kinds of trash around

I like that list...lol....very simple list.....my new word is simplicity..lol

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I want someone to make up a menu for me & tell me what we are having for breakfast, lunch, dinner & snacks....poof......there is my diet....that is what I want....I don't mind fixing it, just tell me what to cook.

I went to Sam's today...haven't been there in a LONG time now because I let my card go & with gas prices the way they were I could not afford to drive the hour to get there to buy the stuff...but we went to a field trip today in the town that the nearest Sam's is in & a friend has a card so we went..I stocked up on

• toilet paper..that was the #1 thing...lol
• fruit
• butter..can I freeze it?
• sugar
• REAL maple syrup
• salsa
• and REAL vanilla

really makes me miss my freezer being in Sam's..I would have loved to have bought lots of frozen veggies...but no room in the freezer for it...sigh..one day I will have a big freezer again.

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Snow is a big deal around here...we don't get it very often...and of course if is forecast for the afternoon\night BEFORE the morning that we need to get up REALLY early to drive to Lawton for a field trip...of course, that is when we will get it...I HATE driving in snow...I love to see it snow, but driving in it...not for me.....snow is meant for times when you have NO WHERE TO GO.....do you hear me mother nature???

The space shuttle is coming....was coming...is coming....shoot when it gets here it is here....it was supposed to be here yesterday...delayed...now it is looking like Tuesday....when it gets here we will try to get pics!....the town we live very near is an airforce town & is the midway stop for the shuttle when they are transporting it back to florida...very cool for us!!!

Oh yes, our field trip...we are going on a field trip to chop down a christmas tree & have an old timey christmas decorating party....this is at the one room school house....very neat little place....and tis free we like free.....gotta rmember not to forget the camera!

Friday was our last day of co-op until January....yeah....we like co-op...but every Friday was a bit much...starting in January it will be every other Friday...I'm loving that!

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I just thought I would get to relax after Wed of next week....HA......I found out yesterday that my girls are singing the 14th ...and will have practice on the 13th, along with candy cane cash...and my oldest's ever busying work schedule....umm...and his band schedule now...gulp....his guitar teacher really wants them to do some playing before Christmas......don't think I'll be relaxing too much.....but at least it won't be AS bad as the next few days...

My oldest's ipod came in yesterday...he is one happy boy!...and I'm happy because HE bought it!!

I love Christmas music, I love waking up to Christmas music...

Goody's rubber bands..I have bought these for YEARS. to pull our hair back with.....what on earth have they done to them...they never used to break like they do now.....I feel so jipped off....ggrrr

Why does my house never looked like it is cleaned...we clean it, then it just goes back to looking all messy in 5 minutes??

Why do SOOOO many bills have to be due in December? December is a bad bill month for us.

I need coffee this morning...

It is payday...I'm procastinating....I don't want to figure the bills\checkbook....

I've been up since 5am...which is ok, but I should have more done by now than I do.....

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First off I just dumped in a bunch of stuff in the crock pot for a concoction I call chicken chili...I don't know if that is really what it is, but we call it that & my kids love it.

• chicken..frozen chicken tenders..nope I didn't even defrost them.
• a can of tomatoes
• a  drained can of navy beans
• a can of drained whole kernal corn
• enough chicken stock to cover
• a big palmful of chili powder

and cornbread is in the oven to go with it.......so when we get home tonight dinner is just a matter of sit down & eat & then clean up.

Now to my post for today......ok maybe it is just me, maybe I'm just built this way , but I do not understand how people we can be on "GO" all the time....we have an EXTREMELY busy next few days..up through Monday is cram packed.......and then next Wed. is just INSANE........why people feel the need to cram everything into the first week of December is beyond me..there is an entire month before Christmas gets here people....spread it around why don't ya...

but after next Wed. life is all about RELAXING....hehehehe

I have this one mom friend whom I think alot of, she is a good friend, but my gosh she NEVER stops....I have no idea how she does it.......she seems to thrive on  "going, going, going," and "doing, doing, doing".... .....I would have died from exhaustion with her schedule....I like time at home, I like relaxing with my kids..........no we are not bums far from it, but I have a point where I get all bent out of shape when I get too busy......I can only handle so much.....and I have come to the realization that I DO NOT LIKE evening activities.....yes sometimes they are unavoidable, but I like being home & ready for bed early.....doesn't always happen but it sure makes me feel good when it does.

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I did , from the comforts of my own home...we usually do shop on Black Friday, but this year..honestly there wasn't anything major on sale that I could afford nor I couldn't  do without.....But I did shop.

I got 2 pairs of jeans from JCPenney for my youngest..she has been needing something to cover her rear end....lol..though this is not for Christmas it is just becasue she needed jeans...and no shipping was paid and I got a very good deal!...btw jcp is the ONLY place I have jeans that fit her rear end..sigh

I also ordered myself 2 pairs of jeans ..because lets face it needed something to cover my rear end too...here I paid shipping but it was a better deal to pay the shipping and take the 40% off price, instead of the free shipping coupon.....so I still got a good deal.

I ordered from Amazon too, but I can't tell ya what I bought there(trust me it wasn't alot)....sorry that is a Christmas secret......but I can tell ya that I ordered the Taylor Swift CD for $6.99...now that is a good price...and A. is paying for that , it is hers..she just used me to buy it...lol...I can tell ya that everything I got was a really good deal and of course no shipping.

And D ordered himself a refurbished Ipod from the Apple store...he has been saving for just this day...he actually got a very good deal...of course now he is broke..well not totally  broke ,but he needs to pretend he is totally broke......I was very proud of him...he could have bought a brand new one  but he weighed the pros & cons & decided this was the best way to go.....and he is THRILLED! I Received an email that it has already been shipped last night......he was bouncing off the walls....and ordering through Apple he gets the same one year warrenty as if it was brand new.

On all of the purchases(except Amazon) I also used ebates...I love ebates...in February I will have a nice little check coming in the mail.....I always check ebates before buying something online...and yesterday was DOUBLE cash back.....I do love ebates!

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For most people today means turkey, stuffing, green beans, PIES...for us ...not so much...

Since hubb is not home......our choice, we would rather he be here at Christmas longer, than he be home for both holidays a shorter amount of time.........it just makes things more relaxed and enjoyable for us.  Most people look at me like I have two heads when I say that, but oh well..........it works for our family and they just don't get the truck driving lifestyle............so we always get all these invitations to go to people's house for Thanksgiving.........ok I'm NOT a stick in the mud, really I'm not but I LIKE being HOME on the holidays, I like for it to just be me & the kids on Thanksgiving day...........it has been this way the last few years and we have come to enjoy our own "Thanksgiving Traditions" we do what WE want to do........no we aren't making turkey & stuffing but we are:

• making homemade biscuits to go with breakfast......yum-o
• watching the Macy's parade
• putting the Christmas tree up this afternoon..and other decorations... trust me it takes up the entire day

these have come to be our family tradtions...and we enjoy them....my kids even ASK for us to do these things......so don't feel bad that we aren't having turkey, that we aren't going to someone's house so we won't be "alone" on the holiday........We are enjoying our holiday...our way......oh and yes we will have PIE!!

As for Christmas...we will have turkey & all the trimming...because that is what dad wants...and he deserves his turkey, he works hard for all year long he will get his turkey....but  for New years....we are having HAM........because that is what the kids & I want!

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I was laying there SLEEPING minding my own darn business not bothering anyone nor anything when all of a sudden that noise.....that noise...where was it coming from.... why would it not stop...I'm trying to sleep here....stop that...go away....but it just keeps coming back...and louder each time it starts up again......and it makes you want to sing "I'm every woman...I'm every woman "  each time it plays.

Who in their right minds would put such an annoying tune on a phone ...and  then make it go off at 2AM....my gosh I would NEVER have set an alarm to go off at 2AM...what kind of torture is this....what did I do to deserve this......somebody is gonna pay for this....I don't know who  but somebody is gonna pay......so after I finally figured out ..I hope, at least that it is figured out.... it hasn't gone off in the last 10 minutes now...how to shut the darn thing up.......I sit here WIDE AWAKE at 3:30 in the stinking morning......and I was sleeping so well not bothering anyone nor  anything........I derserve a brownie for this....

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Here is what we had the other day:

 I cooked frozen onions, bell peppers, & celery in a little bit of olive oil.....added garlic....cooked a little bit more .....added lentils & water...let cook oh about 30-40 minutes(I didn't really time it).til they were soft..tasted...blech...BORING...added a can of rotel tomatoes( ..don't want to upset the girls by making it too spicy) added a little cajun seasoning....shh don't tell the girls...added salt...added more salt...they seem to need a lot of flavoring...but by the time I got all the seasoning added to a good amount....it was very good.....we had over rice

D. still thought they were too bland.....he added salsa on top of his... BUT he went back for seconds..so that is saying ALOT for him...

skip to yesterday...we had left over lentils and left over rice...

I took about 1\2 lb of hambuger meat & browned it..added leftover lentils..added leftover rice.....added a big palmful of chili powder & a small palmful of cumin....heated through......then i took flour tortillias & shredded cheddar cheese & layered them with the mixture....it was DEVINE..and not a bite left over......the dogs were very unhappy as they didn't get ANY of it...the kids LOVED IT...

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is upon us...

I have plans for this week...different plans that usual...

Yes we will still accomplish some schooling, you know that math just WON'T go away.....but it will not be a FULL week of schooling...Monday we are going to the high school preformance of Cinderella......a friend of our's daughter is playing the Fairy Godmother...how exciting!!!

Tuesday we are going bowling...since stopping the bowling league we haven't been bowling & though my kids were tired of it every week...they do still enjoy bowling..so we are going this week and meeting up with friends...Tuesday morning while certain kiddos...oh yes I mean THOSE kiddos of mine, are working on MATH  and other dreaded subjects I plan on CLEANING my room...YES I do intend to accomplish this....or at least get started on it...not that it is a HUGE mess but it does serve dual purposes as bedroom & office\computer area...it gets MESSY in here..

Today after church(and lunch) my living room & kitchen are getting the cleaning movement in their direction....yep living room & kitchen HERE WE COME.....it must be clean before the tree can go up!

Wed...you guessed it more ..ugh..sigh...math.....and more cleaning..before guitar..we are off of choir this week due to the public schools being out.....

Thurs....aahh...Turkey Day..without the turkey...my kids said no turkey since dad is not going to be here..so they requested pizza..not sure they will get their request but they aren't getting turkey...lol...and we will put the christmas decorations out including the tree...that would be why the living room needs a good cleaning..

Friday..now Friday is still up in the air, my kids LOVE going to the black friday sales..getting up early & fighting the crowds..but I don't know this year..there isn't much that I have seen on sale worth getting out of bed for yet....and it isn't like  my checkbook is screaming "I HAVE MONEY SPEND ME"...infact it is more like it is screaming.."I HAVE NO MONEY HIDE ME"...AAAAAAA

as for next weekend...who knows yet.....A. is going to her friend's house Sat..it is her friend's birthday...and D. will probably be working..so it may just be me & Sarah Sat.....we shall see ...

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I am so proud of myself when it comes to the heater....the air conditioner not so much becasue my house does not stay cool..no matter what...but the heat is a different story....I have no need to turn the heater on until it hits about 45 degrees outside......and at night it is quite warm & toasty in the house with the blankets on the bed........so i typically keep the heater set at about 65 & if it kicks on during the day and we don't need it I will totally turn it off...& at night.. it doesn't seem to kick on unless it is REALLY cold...but it is nice & warm under all the blankets....oh how I do love to bundle up...I confess I'm a blanket hog.

The ONLY problem with keeping the heat low ..is crawling out of bed in the morning...brrrr....and then sitting on the toilet...WOW...ok now that would wake ANYONE up....so I have decided I need a toilet seat warmer!!

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