It's a Terrific Contest

5 Minutes for Mom with the help of Best Buy is giving away this awesome TV. It is an Insignia 37" flat-panel LCD HDTV (it has a retail price tag of $799.99)

I've entered to win, so go ahead and check it out. But don't feel you have to enter...don't mess up my chances to win :) (LOL) Seriously, go over and enter to win. Just remember I have the perfect place for it.

Nothing much going on

Well, at least this week is better than last week. Seems everything bad that could happen did...hope I'm not jinking myself. This week has been busy (at one point today I realized that I had 8 (yes, eight) kids in the house. But it was great, they all played together nicely, and I got to do a few things. Gotta love that!

I'm in the process of putting together/organizing my craft room/studio. In the last year or so, my husband has been using a lap top with work. So he's been using it everywhere, BUT the office. So I decided to kick him out of the office and take over!!! So the plan is, that by the end of the week I'll have all my crafts in one location. No more running around trying to find something that I need. I can't wait. He's desk is big, so I've covered it up with shelf paper - the non-sticky type. I figured he'd be a little upset if I get, ink, paint, glue, etc all over. I put my sewing machines down there, all my paints, stamps & ink, scrapbooking, everything. Now I just need to organize it. Yay! I'm a bit excited, can you tell, I keep repeating myself. Oh well.

Menu Plan Monday - July 30

Well another week. And July is almost over. Where did it go? Last week was not a good week, just one of those weeks where it would have been nice to curl up in a ball, sleep and wake up much, much later. But somehow with 4 kids (I'm watching a little girl for 2 weeks) that was pretty much impossible :) But this week should be better.

A few friends came over last night to scrapbook. I only got 3 pages done...not in a very creative mood. But all well.

Here is this weeks menu, I did not put done what I'll be having for lunch..just the kids...because I have no idea what I'll be having.

Monday - lunch - sandwiches, chips, grapes
dinner - Korean Chicken, rice, broccoli, carrots

Tuesday - lunch - make you own pizzas, apples
dinner - ham, baked beans, corn bread, veggies

Wednesday - lunch - chicken nuggets, fries, fruit
dinner - spaghetti, cheese bread, salad

Thursday - lunch - hot dogs, mac & cheese, grapes
dinner - Greek chicken, roasted potatoes, salad, veggies

Friday - lunch - leftovers
dinner - Family movie & pizza night

Saturday - lunch ?
dinner - going to my in-laws

Sunday - lunch ?
dinner - flank steak, baked potatoes, corn-on-the cob, grilled veggies

Have a wonderful week, and thanks for Laura for hosting.

Bloggy giveaway - winner

Thank you to everyone who entered my give-away. Since my blog is so new, I've really enjoyed so many new readers visiting. A winner has been chosen, and she has been contacted by e-mail.

I've enjoyed looking at all of your blogs, and will definitly stop by again.

Dog Days of Summer Bloggy giveaway

I'm finally getting to this! Yay! Such excitement. All you need to do is add a comment and your entered to win a.......fabric covered paper-mache letter. I will make any one letter you would like, and use fabrics in your color choice. I layer different fabrics on, to create different layers. It's about 8 inches tall, and the width depends on the letter. And it's 1 inch deep.





You do not have to have a blog to enter, just a valid e-mail address. Oh, and I'm really sorry, but I can only mail to the U.S. & Canada. Thanks.

The winner will be announced on Friday, July 27th. Probably later that night.

Don't forget to check here for more participates.

Menu Plan Monday - July 23

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. We did pretty good last week keeping to the menu plan. I only have carryover meal.

Monday: lunch kids - chicken, tater tots, veggies & dip
lunch me - dilled shrimp salad
dinner - tacos, refried bean, rice, queso, chips & salsa

Tuesday: lunch kids - pita pizzas, grapes
lunch me - bun less burger, salad
dinner - Easy ranch chicken & corn, broccoli & carrot mix, blueberry muffin

Wednesday: lunch kids - turkey dogs, mac & cheese, fruit
lunch me - Italian sausage
dinner - Spaghetti & garlic toast, salad
me - gf spaghetti

Thursday: lunch kids - leftover tacos, fruit
lunch me - chicken Caesar salad
dinner - parm chicken, scalloped potatoes, corn, creamed spinach

Friday: lunch kids - sandwiches, chips, veggies & dip
lunch me - leftovers
dinner - family pizza & movie night

Saturday lunch kids - corn dogs, fries, apples
lunch me - ?
dinner - going to my in-laws

Sunday lunch kids - sandwiches, chips
dinner - spaghetti, cheese toast
dinner me - I'll be out scrapbooking!!
Thanks to Laura for hosting Menu Plan Monday. Check out her blog for more menu plans.

Proud Moment

Science boy rode his bike (sans training wheels) for the first time yesterday. He's been practicing, but would only go 1 or 2 peddles after we let go of him. Yesterday, he soared! Today Charles and him rode to the park, then decided to ride to school. It's amazing to see him do so well, and be so proud of himself. He loved surprising his friend, and his friend's mom, today. What a pro!

Dog Days of Summer give-away

Click on the above button (isn't it the cutest) to find out all out this increadible bloggy give-away. Then check back here on Monday to see what I'll be giving away to one special person! I've got lots of ideas, I just have to choose one.......

Little Gems

Sometimes the things little princess comes up with really crack me up. Although she is only 3 1/2, she is much more "with it" then the boys were at this age. Ryan was advanced in speech, but immature in other things. Spencer still was not talking at 3, so I'm really amazed with little princess.

One day when she was 18 months old she was being very grumpy and I asked her what was wrong she said "but mama, it's hard work being a princess". What can you say to that.

Lately I've been saying "Lord, child" when I get frustrated. It hasn't been a lot, but I guess more than normal. The other day I said "Lord" and she said "that's Lord child"

At the pool the other day we were told that Lego boy and Little Princess could not wear their arm floaties. But they did have life vests that they could use. After calming Lego boy down, and reassuring him that yes I understood that it was unfair, but that those were the rules, I went to get life vests for him and little princess. He put his on, and went swimming along. Little princess looked at the life vest, and announced that she would not wear it "it will cover up my beautiful bathing suit".

Today she was just all over the place, and being very funny. I said "what rock did I find you under?" her answer "I really don't know"

She so keeps me on my toes. And I thought that after two boys, phew, a girl would be easy. Ha! But of course, I wouldn't trade her for anything, she is my joy.

Menu Plan Monday

Well, my hubby did get home last night! yay! Little princess was still awake, so she got to see her daddy. She took a late nap, so was not ready to go to bed at her normal time, but she stayed in her bed...so I got her up when he got home. It was so wonderful to see how she just melted into him. She would look at him, smile then just melt. Wow!
Last week was busy. little princess had another fever, but is doing great now. The boys had a Lego class at a local college. They had so much fun making crazy contraptions. They both are already talking about going next summer.

Ok, here is this weeks menu:

Monday: Lunch - kids & me - going to the gym and the pool, so we'll get something to eat there.
Dinner - BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, broccoli, baked beans

Tuesday: Lunch - kids - eat-a-pita-pocket pizza (Emmeril's kids cookbook), grapes
me- gazpacho, burger (no bun)
Dinner - garlic & soy grilled pork chops, grilled veggies, and a salad

Wednesday: Lunch - kids - grill-it-up-a-notch ham & cheese sandwich (Emmeril's), apples
me- Greek salad, sugar-free jello
Dinner - tacos, beans, queso, guacamole, tamales

Thursday: Lunch - kids - not sure yet
me - dilled shrimp salad
Dinner: Grecian Chicken w/ zucchini, peppers, onions, roast potatoes, and probably some other veggie the kids will eat

Friday: Lunch - kids - chicken nuggets(from Emerill's kids cookbook), fries, fruit
me - chicken Caesar salad, sugar-free jello
Dinner - Family movie & Pizza night

Saturday: Lunch - kids - hot dogs, mac & cheese, apples
me - I'll be out for the day
Dinner - going to my in-laws

Sunday: Lunch - kids & hubby - sandwiches, chips, fruit
me - leftover dilled shrimp salad
Dinner - parm. chicken, spaghetti, garlic bread

Have a wonderful week, and as always, thanks to Laura for hosting menu plan Monday

What a wonderful day!!!

My husband is coming home today. After being in Angola since July 4th, and with little princess being sick, twice, and all the rain here, well we are all excited that he will be home tonight. And I'm thinking that the kids will all be in bed when he gets home (they go to bed early), so we'll have some time together :)

I'm hoping this week we can get back to normal. Start going to the gym everyday, swimming, etc. We had all these plans for the summer, and so far we have not been able to do any of it. With little princess being sick, etc. it's been hard to get out and do anything. I'm finally feeling better, so that always makes life easier.

Last night the kids spent the night at my sister-in-laws. So I was able to go through toys and get rid of a bunch (3 trash bags....how did we get so much). My friend is having a garage sale next week, so I'll have plenty to add. I was also able, to finally, go through all the kids school work and throw away a bunch. Why is that so hard. I know there is no point saving it all, in the long run it's just paper...but I just keep thinking how hard they worked on all their school work, and how far they have both come and I just feel guilty throwing it all away. But the practical side, I only have so much room to store everything :)

So now it's off to Target to buy some folders to keep the paperwork I am saving, plus to keep lego boys medical records at the ready...I need them for school, etc. How I love Target, I just hope I can actually get out of there without spending more than $50..I never seem to , but there's always hope.

Menu Plan Monday - July 9

This week I am going to also add lunches to my menu plan. I think it will make it so much easier. Of course, only science boy and little princess will eat what is planned, and most of the dinners. But it makes it's more doable to come up with one meal as opposed to three. And for most of their dinners I can make during the day. For my lunches and dinners I'm going to be making stage I of South Beach Diet.

Monday - lunch - kids cheese tortilla w/ ham, watermelon
me - Greek salad
dinner - kids - chicken, macaroni & cheese, corn, blueberry muffins
me - grilled salmon w/ rosemary, salad

Tuesday - lunch - kids - turkey hot dogs, chips, apples
me - chicken roll-ups
dinner - kids - picky pockets, salad
me - coconut chicken, zucchini & squash

Wednesday - lunch - kids - Teeny tiny tacos, grapes
me - gazpacho, burger, salad
dinner - kids - man-oh-man potato casserole (Emeril Lagasse's kid's cookbook)
me - beef kabas w/ peanut sauce, broiled tomatoes

Thursday - lunch - kids - sandwiches, bananas, chips
me - mixed greens w/ crab meat salad
dinner - kids- chicken nuggets w/ honey mustard dipping sauce (Emeril Lagaee's kid's cookbook), baked french fries, salad
me - sage & rosemary pork, veggies

Friday - lunch - kids - go out
me - leftovers (I can't eat fast food)
dinner - kids - pizza
me - baked portobello caps w/ melted goat cheese, salad

Saturday - lunch - kids - leftovers
me - dilled shrimp salad w/ herb-dill dressing, jello
dinner - kids - are going to my sister-in-laws for a sleepover!!
me - either go out or leftovers

Sunday - lunch - kids will still be at my sister-in-laws
me - ??
dinner - kids -spaghetti
me - baked portobello caps w/ melted goat cheese

Be sure to check Laura's website for more menu plans.

Isn't it always the case

that when your husband goes out of town either a kid gets sick, or something happens to the house. Last time he was gone I had carpenter ants all over little princess' bedroom wall. That was fun :) Last night little princess had a fever of 102 and a cough. So this morning, after dropping the boys off at the in-laws, I took her to the Dr. and guess what..she has pneumonia. pneumonia! Wow, did she get it quick. So went off to get a chest x-ray, and now we are waiting to see how bad it is. The Dr. said we didn't have to head to the hospital..yet. Don't you love that word, especially when a Dr. uses it. Oh, what fun! And of course today we had plans with friends, and I really, really needed to go to the grocery store..I'm totally out of milk and laundry detergent. ugh!

**update** she does not have pneumonia it's some virus in her lungs. Nothing serious, but lots of meds.

Happy Fourth!!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful fourth. Things around here are nuts. My husband was suppose to leave for Africa on Monday, then Tuesday, and then today. 1 1/2 hours before he was suppose to leave for the airport they canceled the trip for a few reasons. Then one hour before his original flight was to take off, the trip was back on. So now it's been a wait to see when, today, he will be leaving..getting all the flight arrangements etc. What a mess. Hopefully all will work out :)

The kids were excited because they figured if dad wasn't leaving, we could go to the fireworks tonight. Only to find out, that due to all the rain here in Texas, the fireworks have been postponed. So today it's just playing the waiting game! and praying that everything works out...he gets there safely and is safe there :) and that all his luggage etc. gets there, and that there isn't alot of "technical" problems. Lots of praying will be going on here for the next few weeks :)

Menu Plan Monday - July 2

Before I get to this weeks menu, I have a question. How does everyone "schedule" their housework? Especially during the summer with the kids at home. Time management has always been a big problem for me. I keep thinking/hoping that as the kids get older it will be easier. But so far that hasn't happened. So any suggestions/sharing your schedule, etc. would be really appreciated. Thanks in advance.

This weeks menu plan is going to be real simple. My husband will be going on a business trip to Africa, so on days when I'm not in the mood to cook it might be a trip to McDonald's or hotdogs & french fries :)

Monday: kielbasa, fried potatoes, spinach, corn
Tuesday: Apricot glazed chicken, rice, green beans
Wednesday: not sure yet :)
Thursday: ham, mashed potatoes, veggies, corn bread
Friday: Family Pizza and movie night
Saturday: Going to my in-laws
Sunday: Spaghetti, cheese bread (I'll make GF pasta cabonara, for myself)

As always, thanks to Laura for hosting Menu Plan Monday