Meal Plan for 3-22 thru 3-28

Monday: Minute Steak, mashed potatoes and corn
Tuesday: Dinner with the in-laws for Apple's first birthday
Wednesday: Pork loin slices on the grill and pasta salad
Thursday: Spaghetti and veggies
Friday: Something with chicken
Saturday: Bacon Burgers (new recipe)
Sunday: Hamballs or meatballs

I have no imagination this week! I'll take any recipe suggestions...I'm in a major rut! Check out what everyone else is having over at I'm an Organized Junkie!

Welcome to the world!!

I am pleased to introduce you to Damon and Lynden....my adorable nephews! They were born March 16 at 8:39am and 8:41am, 8 weeks early. Damon weighed in at a hefty 4 pounds 1 ounce and Lynden weighed 3 pounds 9 ounces. Both of them are doing wonderful and so is momma!

Damon had to be intubated Tuesday evening for a short time but was off the vent by Wednesday morning and nursing from Gab by Thursday! Lynden has only had to have nasal oxygen since birth...and we were all worried about our little fighter! He has proven that he will not let big brother pass him by. Lynden has tried nursing but hasn't figured it out quite yet. They are both under the billi lights right now for jaundice but for 32 weekers they are shocking us all! At this rate they will be home before their early May due date!

Damon...Chubbs
Lynden....Little Fighter

How do I love thee....

This is for my husband Kevin. I think I sometimes take advantage of the relationship I have with him and just need to remind myself why I love him and why I married him. I can't wait to celebrate our 50th anniversary and look around at the family we have created. You are my everything Kevin. Thank you for loving me!

Things I love about you:

• You support my crazy dreams
• How you always say good supper sweetheart
• the way you always slap my butt. I know I tell you to stop but please don't!
• The way I can tell you find me sexy even though my body has changed
• The way you work hard to support our family
• How you are always there to listen to me when I have had a bad day
• The way you are so involved with how we raise Jaelynn. i am so lucky to have you support me.
• How you want to get healthy so you will be around for a long time.
• The way you support me in losing weight but don't say bad things when I eat sweets
• The songs you make up and sing
• Even when we argue and fight I know you aren't going to walk away for good
• How handy you are with things around the house and our vehicles
• Your body. I think you are the sexiest man alive!
• The way you make me laugh when I need it most
• You aren't afraid to help with the house work
• How you will get up with Jaelynn in the middle of the night if you know I'm really tired.
• You put up with my family because you know how much they mean to me. (For the record...he really likes them..)
• how you are always so strong and constant. I know that Jaelynn and I can ALWAYS count on you!
• The way you refer to Jaelynn and I as your girls
• That you put up with my crazy hormonal mood swings
• How you want to beat up my boss (not really...but I know he would if I asked him too)
• How I know that you will never lie to me or do anything to hurt me
• The way you can melt me with a kiss
• That you know me well enough to know that kitchen gadgets and cookbooks are perfect gifts for me
• The way you give 150% to everything you do. Whether that be sports, xbox, parenting or our marriage
• That you are sharing your passion of bow hunting with me
• How you stick your tongue out when you are concentrating
• That you don't mind if the house isn't perfect all the time
• That you always put our family first!

(Thank-you to my good friend who told me to do this!)

Menu for 3-8 thru 3-14

It's that time of week again! Last week went really well. We stuck to the menu for the most part. Jaelynn came down with the stomach flu on Friday so we did throw a pizza in there for Kevin and I to eat. The good news is that the little one feels better and she is a hungry monkey!! Another wonderful thing....the snow is MELTING!!! I may actually be able to get to my grill this weekend!

Monday- Frozen cheese filled ravioli with meat sauce
Tuesday- Volleyball Night! Subway
Wednesday- Chicken Enchiladas
Thursday- Pork loin slices and veggies
Friday- Hot dogs and mac and cheese or Stromboli. If I find a yummy Stromboli recipe I'll switch.
Saturday- Checking to see what my mom wants
Sunday- Sunday roast with all the fixings

I also wanted to post about my quick shopping trip last Friday. This is why I love coupons and am trying to get better about matching sales and coupons.

Fareway
baby carrots: .88
red grapes (2.03 pounds): 1.99
5 Gold Medal AP Flour: 12.45
4 Old Orchard Juice 64 ounce: 3.96

Total: 19.56
OOP: 8.06
Saved: 11.50 41%!!

This post is linked to I'm an Organized Junkie, where everyone shares their meal plans every Monday.

Menu Planning Monday

I'm not really sure how many people follow this blog that don't know me in person. But in case you don't know who I am let me tell you a little known secret...I love to cook! I started cooking when I was very young and as I've grown older it has become a way for me to unwind at the end of the day. I love knowing that I'm putting a hot (or sometimes cold) meal on the table for my family. I love making people happy through my food. I like structure and organization in my life (umm...control issues) and cooking is a great outlet for me! I'm going to start posting what we are eating through the week and probably share recipes with you. I have been in a bit of a cooking rut the last few weeks. Hopefully this will help me be a little more creative. It would also help if we could find our grill through the remaining 30 inches of snow.

Monday- Easy Sloppy Joes (I make my own sauce), beans and cottage cheese
Tuesday- Volleyball Night! Brats and leftover beans or Subway
Wednesday- Hamburger Stroganoff over egg noodles and veggie
Thursday- Pork roast, potatoes and veggie
Friday- Iowa Deer Classic with hubs! I'll probably grab a pizza for the girls.
Saturday- Hamburgers
Sunday- Fried Chicken and fixins'

Now that I've posted it lets see how well we stick to it! Have a great week everyone!