See the Blue Sky

• Jan. 12, 2009 - Menu Plan Monday

Well, since I seem to not be making it to write out an entry but once a week or so these days, I thought I'd see how many I could post in one morning, while I'm still enjoying the sound of silence in my home . I really liked my menu plan last week. It helped me and it helped the girls, too. My middle daughter was looking forward to tuna sandwiches ALL WEEK. I wrote it on a paper pad that I bought for this purpose quite some time ago and posted it on the fridge. We did do some altering, but it still worked - woo hoo. I didn't do one meal, because my frig is filling up with leftovers, so we had those more than once. This week for breakfast I am trying eggs with sauteed veggies, in an effort to get more veggies into me, and hopefully my kids. I am also including a fruit smoothie. I may continue with the basically one thing for the week plan for a bit, just to give myself the time to adjust to eating well, losing weight, and not having to plan. On the weight loss topic, I joined an 8 week gym program at our local gym. If you participate in at least 3 specific classes each week for 8 weeks, they refund your $50 class fee. So, I joined with a friend. Last week I went to 5 classes, so I am on my way to reward. My goal is to attend a minimum of 4 classes, but I am going to aim for 5. This week I am down 3.5 pounds, so I am on my way towards my goal. I am also in a weight loss challenge with my exercising friend for 12 weeks. I am hoping to lose about about 30 pounds during the challenge. So far I am on my way to success! Sorry for the menu interruption... Breakfasts - eggs & veggies (sometimes with some cheese) Lunches - salad, soup, tuna, refried beans & cheese Dinners    Monday - Steak Stir Fry    Tuesday - Salmon, rice, & green beans    Wednesday - Taco Soup    Thursday - Maple glazed chicken & rice    Friday - leftovers For more great menu ideas, often with recipes included (sorry I'm not including any this week), head on over to Org Junkie. Have a great week!!!

Comments (2) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

• Jan. 12, 2009 - Chore Chart Update+

• Jan. 12, 2009 - Photo Meme

Picket Fence Mom tagged me for this photo meme. You are supposed to go to your photo folder, open the 6th folder and then the 6th picture. Post it and tell us about the photo. I thought this was relatively easy, so I could play along. It's a picture of my oldest daughter being baptized in 2007 with my husband baptizing her. I'm only going to play along half way. If you would like to play along, consider yourself one of the 6 tagged. Then, please let me know that you posted, so I can go see your picture. This was a fun and easy meme.

Comments (1) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

• Jan. 5, 2009 - Menu Plan Monday

OK, my ready for the week. I'm feeling organized and on top of things. My girls are excited about their new chore charts (see previous post). It's a new year with new goals, aspirations, etc. One of my goals for the new year is to lose weight by eating healthy and making right food choices. I would like to lose about 60 pounds. I lost 60 pounds a couple years ago and have slowly gained back 40-50 of that. I would like to get to where I was and then a bit more. But, I realize that losing it quickly will only end me back to where I am now. I am incorporating many of the things that I learned that last time into my eating plan, but also giving myself a little more freedom than I had, so as not to "fall off the wagon." Breakfasts: Biscuit & gravy - to celebrate starting school again, the girls and I went out for breakfast this morning, not diet, but yummy and I did only have one biscuit, I would have liked 2 :) The rest of the week I'm planning on having an egg and a piece of toast. The weekend we'll see. Lunch: Salad Tuna Refried beans & cheese I will rotate all of those throughout the week Dinner: Salmon, rice, and green beans Spaghetti & meatballs Homemade turkey soup Beef ribs in crock pot, corn Steak stir fry & rice No recipes this week, because I'm just doing things that I "know".

Comments (3) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

• Jan. 3, 2009 - Chore Charts

OK, I'm really excited about our new chore charts! Chores has been an area that we've struggled with. If they get done, it's only because I am constantly making sure that they get done. And, as previously noted, consistently doing this is not my strong suite. I've tried a few chore chart type of things in the past, but the cycle still continued. Clean rooms and clean kitchen are the two main areas that the girls help in consistently. I sometimes have them do other things, but if they would do these two things regularly without me hounding them, I would be in heaven - well, almost at least. Each girl has their own chart and cards of chores. It's a simple one. Cards to do, cards done. I have some extras that I will add, depending on the day of the week. My girls get an allowance, and in the past it has not been tied to anything, they just get it. Now, they will still get, no matter what, half of what they have always got. We will start at their regular allowance. For every day that they don't get all their cards done, they lose 50 cents. If they do their chores EVERY DAY of the month, they can earn an extra $5 for their allowance. We're two days into in, and this morning they all woke up and worked on their cards without me asking. THIS is so refreshing. My youngest is bragging how she got more of her cards done than her sisters. Here are pics of my new chore charts. We won't mention that I totally had fun creating them.

Comments (6) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

• Jan. 1, 2009 - Happy New Year!!

Well, I've been blogging for a year now. I'm pretty proud of myself, too . I have enjoyed sharing with you all and I have really enjoyed getting to know so many different people - being inspired, encouraged, challenged, and learning new things. Thanks for a great year. What does this new year hold? There seem to be so many uncertainties in our economy right now, that it really makes me wonder. Gratefully, financially we have not been affected as of yet. Dave has continued to have work in his plumbing business and been able to provide for the family as planned and needed. There was only one brief period of 1-2 weeks that we got really worried. My real estate selling has a been slower, part in due to the housing market, but also in part to my own choices. This year I really made the decision to choose my family over work. This is one area that I really grew in this year. I remember always feeling guilty that I wasn't working enough, but then when working I was feeling guilty that I wasn't with my kids. As a result, I wasn't able to do either job real well. This revelation was eye opening and freeing. It has given me freedom to enjoy my kids and my job. I chose to go into real estate at this time to learn from my dad, not to make a career. My goal is to build a LONG-TERM career. When my kiddies are gone, I'll have put in the time and be able to have a successful real estate career. The area I really want to focus on this year is being more hands on with my girls. I tend to say, "go do this." I don't take the time to teach and "do" with each of them as much as I should. I give a brief explanation, expect it just the way I would want it, and am frustrated when it isn't done right, as well as surprised that they aren't enjoying themselves. So, this is my new focus for the year. Thanks for reading all my babble and sharing with me over this past year. It's been fun!

Comments (1) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

• Dec. 30, 2008 - Consistently Inconsistent

• Dec. 15, 2008 - 12 Days of Giving

My friend, heidi, posted this great idea. I'm a few days late in posting, but our family is enjoying thinking of ways that we can give. We don't have all our days figured out yet, either. But, what we are doing is going off the 12 days of Christmas theme and thinking of 12 different ways that we can reach out to our neighbors and community to give. So far, here's what we've done and/or are going to do: 1. Dave and Kinsey took some food and wood to a single, old lady who has a fixed income and a lot of debt. 2. Our church is selling Christmas trees to benefit a local house that we started where women just coming out of jail can come to live and help them deal with their addictions, grow in their faith, etc. It's COLD!!! We took some hamburger, buns, and hand warmers to the crew that was their on Sunday afternoon. 3. Take cookies to our neighbors and sing a Christmas carol. 4. Take a donation to our local food bank. 5. Make a financial donation to Family Promise, which helps homeless families have a place to sleep and eat. 6. Take a blanket to a local men's shelter. We are still coming up with our list. It's not to late for your family to do some giving as well, even if you can't do the full 12 days. Head on over to heidi's for the instructions and logo. Then share your ideas with everyone. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Comments (2) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link

• Dec. 8, 2008 - Menu Plan Monday

• Dec. 5, 2008 - Sausage Fondue