Weekly Menu

Monday         McDonalds

Tuesday         Taco Salads

Wednesday  Abbey's house or at the softball field

Thursday       Burgers/watermelon

Friday            Chicken & steak kabobs. Grilled potatoes

PS, our grill is arriving today!

Go, Go, Go

Yesterday was more eventful than my average Monday. I took the day off for a dentist appointment and it turned into this:

Got up, got ready, got 2 girls ready.
Packed all our bags, then went to visit Grandma Darlene
Drove to Rapid, waited at Eddies Truck Sales
Jed finally turned his phone on so I knew he was getting closer.
Jed arrived in the semi, jumped in my car and took me to the dentist
Jed and girls went to Story Book island, which is conveniently, next to my dentist office.
He picked me back up, and we went to the Imperial. Ahhh the Imperial..how I love your crab rangoon. {drool}
Next stop, Runnings. No chain saw chain in the right size.
Next, the mall. Jed ditched me by store 2 so I drug the two girls into Baby Gap. {I can't help myself}
Found Paisley a swimming suit on the clearance rack. {I love the clearance rack} Found Jayda the cutest pair of daisy duke shorts I've ever seen {also on the clearance rack}.
Saw Jed going in the salon to get his hair cut {thank heaven, I didn't even have to make him}
Went to the bathroom, went to the Buckle, then Jayda decided she needed to go to the bathroom. Went back to the bathroom. Went back to Buckle. {Yes Paisley is still with us}
Found Jed, and we're out.

Next stop, Tractor Supply. No chain saw chain there either. On to Wal-mart. Jed takes Jayda, I take Paisley.
Jed goes to Menards FINALLY finds the chain saw chain! Then goes to Scheels because he's smart and knows better than to rush me while I'm at Wal-mart. And because he knows he asked me to get him underwear and he doesn't want me to forget. I'm still not sure who was more uncomfortable while I was in the men's underwear isle. Actually I am sure, because I didn't give a hoot. The young man also shopping for underwear wished I'd go away though.
Checked out, walked out, loaded up my wagon and away we went. And that, is how we roll.

Style {common} sense

Someone recently offered to give me a shirt she didn't want or like, but for some reason assumed I would want or like. She assumed wrong.

The most annoying part is trying to decide if I should be insulted, offended, or just annoyed as I already am. Perhaps I have an altered sense of self, but I believe myself to be much smaller in size than this person. I'm fully aware that I am not a small person by any means, but I do think I am smaller than this particular person. I'm fairly sure it is her who has the altered sense of self, issue. 

Then there's the sense of style. Oh my. . . . .
I wouldn't be caught dead in just about every thing this person wears on a daily basis. At some point in our adult lives, I think we have to give up the mini skirt phase, or the biker look, or the fancy cut outs in my white trash shirt, look. And while we're at it, if you've had the same pair of taupe pumps for 25 years, it's safe to say they are out of style. Long, long out of style. Even if they came back in style, they'd need a fresh coat of paint, or whatever it is they are lacquered with. Stop buying cropped length, fringe, leather jackets and buy some new shoes.

And to answer your question, No, I don't want your shirt.

I tried to be nice however, and oblige her by accepting the shirt. Wrong move.  For the next week, she asked me nearly every day if the shirt fit and if I liked it.

No. No to both.

If you're embarrassed by the size you wear that you feel you have to cut the size out before giving it to someone, yet you think it will fit the person you're giving it to? Something is wrong there. Wrong, annoying, AND insulting.

Burgers, boys, basketball, barns, bolleyball

I had a B theme going, so I couldn't ruin it with volleyball thrown in there. Plus that's how Jayda says it anyway, and we all know, what Jayda says, is final!

This past weekend, Jed's family came over to help put tin on our garage. As most things go, it ended up being an all-dayer even though it didn't start until noon. My wonderful husband informed me of this large gathering occurring at our house, about an hour after we got home from the grocery store.  His timing is impeccable.

So the panic starting setting in, as I'm wondering what I'm going to feed 16 people. I never have enough food on hand to feed 16 people. Even though I live in the boonies, food for 16 people goes bad before it gets eaten at my house. Bread, buns, you name it. We are a family of 4, and technically 3 since the wee-one doesn't eat people food. Not that she eats dog food, just not people food.

We decided on burgers and Amy stopped for buns. Of course it all turned out fine, even though meal TWO rolled around and starving, famished mouths needed to be fed. Burgers again, of course.

In the meantime, the garage is now almost fully-tinified except the south facing wall that every one sees as they drive up to our house. Why would we want to finish that side first? Jed decided he wants a few windows on the side, thus the wait. I'm a lover of windows, so I'll hush up and be patient. Of course the windows were HIS idea also, so again, I'll hush up and agree to agree for once!

After the tin was finished, a few games of volleyball were played, super was served and basketball was next on the agenda. Action packed is our style. The girls got to run through the sprinkler, play barbies and whatever else they were up to. It's good to have friends, it's even better to have cousins!

Weekly Menu

This may start to look repetitive. Pipe up with new ideas anytime folks!
Last week we strayed from the menu, so I'm repeating what we didn't have last week. Jed was inside earlier than usual and has the tendency to pull out steaks when given the chance!

Taco Salads
Creamy Chicken Enchiladas
Beef Nachos
Spaghetti
Beef stroganoff

PS, I ordered the new grill! Free shipping and $100 cheaper than Lemmon's store. Sounded like a winner to me. Plus I don't have to haul it, double bonus!

This and that

This post may be all over the place, I'm sure you won't mind.

Since the weather has finally been decent for a few weeks, we've been grilling out pretty much every night. Except by we, I mean I have been grilling every night. In doing so, I figured out why it is that men seem so smitten with grilling and why women generally give their husbands the reins when it comes to this activity.

Grilling requires ones' full, uninterrupted attention. It requires you to stand guard over your kill and protect it from being blackened. Women have a hard time with this because we are multitaskers. We can do more than one thing at a time, in other words. We can feed a baby, do the dishes, sweep the floor, all while preparing a meal at the same time. Grilling drives us crazy, because we want so badly to be doing something else while grilling that we just can't stand it. I found that I can water flowers and pull weeds while grilling, and shut the door on the screaming children. It's my newest form of stress relief. Men however can only concentrate on one thing at a time. They are determined to perfect every morsel of food they cook, and they are absolutely sure this is the best steak you've ever had, simply because they cooked it. I personally think they see it as their opportunity to get away from everyone else in the house and stand around acting like they are really doing something miraculous.

Update: I think I've found the grill I'm going to purchase. It's a large chunk of change, but I think it'll be worth it. At least that's what consumer reports and hundreds of reviews tell me.

Now in a totally unrelated blurb.

Jayda has a habit of throwing her clothes on the floor NEXT to her laundry hamper, rather than INSIDE the hamper. Which drives her mother insane. Her Dad has this same habit, but we won't go there. Not today anyway. So I walked into her room and told her she needed to pick her clothes up and not be so messy. I said, "I'm not your slave, that runs after you picking up everything, you can help me out." She then said, "You mean I'm not your Indian?"


Oh my....where did that come from?

Last night she came out of right field with another Oh My statement.

We got home from Amy's and she was telling me how they went for a jog that day. She said, "I need to get skinny, so I can get a boyfriend."

Help me

Please?

Weekly Menu

Here we go again!

Hot dogs, Cheese burgers & fruit

Super Nachos

Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Salad

Goulash

Homemade Pizza

Jayda's back

Jayda is home and all is right in our world again! She was more excited to see Paisley's new shoes and a silly tank top I bought her, than she was to be back home. I guess she takes after her mother and her obsession with tiny shoes. Seriously though, how can anyone NOT love teenie tiny shoes? Boggles my mind.

She was also bummed that she didn't get to go to Amy's today, she apparently has a new attitude towards going there. As just last week she told me she wished she could stay home every day. I guess we're all entitled to change our minds once in a while. And distance truly does make the heart grow fonder.

We're happy to have her home again and ready for a weekend AT home. It seems like it's been a while. I've got big plans for yard work and flower planting on Saturday. Funny the effect a 10 month old has on any plans one tries to make.

Speaking of 10 months old, Paisley is just that! Yesterday marked the occasion, with just 2 months and counting left of bottles! I keep trying to introduce a sippy cup into her life. But she's not having it, not interested at all. Not even with juice in it. She's also not interesting in trying to walk, or even stand. She's a stubborn little gal. Not going to rush her way through life! She is trying to say ball { buh } and Jayda {jaw duh}. Great, just what I need, another early talker! Must be a girl thing, and I have to admit it's much less annoying than constant"Uh Uh Uh's."

Other weekend plans may include a trip to Pierre on Sunday to watch Sawyer and Sutton H.S. Rodeo. Last chance for Sawyer to make it to state! Very excited for Sutton, who qualified last weekend!

New Kicks

diet yuck

I'm trying to convert from Coke, to Diet Coke. So far.... yuck

This might just be my ticket to being pop-free. If it tastes that bad, why bother?

That, and every time I reach for it, I think it's a beer can. But it's 9am and it's not, and my brain isn't quite functioning yet.

Highway to Heaven

A couple days ago Jayda and I were on our way to Rapid. As we were driving by the National Cemetery where my Grandpa is buried, I told Jayda, "maybe we'll stop on our way home and see where Grandpa is buried." Then I pointed to the cemetery and tried to explain what the headstones were. She looked over at me and said, "We get to drive to HEAVEN?"

Then I cried for the next 10 miles and tried to keep my car on the road.

We then went into an in depth conversation about how your body is put in a casket {box} and buried in the ground, but your soul and your spirit go to heaven to be with Jesus. "What's a soul? What's a spirit? How does Jesus get them out of you? Does it hurt?"

Oh boy.

I'm terrible at explaining these things. Hey, how about we talk about tornado's again?

No

OK, Uhm your soul  and spirit are what live in your heart and tell you to love Jesus and follow His word. They make you who you are.

"So he takes your heart out when you die?"

Well, in a less gruesome way, yes.

So, where should we eat lunch?

"I miss my old Grandpa and the old days."

Me too honey. We all do.

My four year old misses the "old days!" How funny is that.

Menu

Here is this week's menu

Grilled chicken salad

Taco Casserole

Ribeye steak with baked potato

Chicken Fajitas with tortilla chips

Spaghetti

Knows where she came from

Before I forget:

This weekend at a rodeo, Jayda walked up to Jed and I sitting in the grandstands.
Jed said, "hey, where'd you come from?"  {She had been off playing with Sophie and Gracie}

Jayda replied, "uhm YOU!"

quick little whipper snapper isn't she?!

Milestones

It's Friday, and it's beautiful outside. And I'm stuck INSIDE. Ugh. Last week I took a leap that could change that. I'll let you know how that turns out.

This weekend we are off to Rapid again, this time for Taylor's graduation! Very excited for her to accomplish this milestone and excited to see where her future leads her. It's such an exciting, yet difficult time in your life. So hard to know exactly what it is you think you want to do with your life. Ahhh the choices. I always admired my classmates that knew exactly what college they were going to, and what career path they were going to take. Even as a successful student, I had no clue.
I'm positive that Accountant was no where on my list, but then again, I didn't have a list. Softball was about the only thing I felt passionate about, and it wasn't exactly a career choice at the time.

I suppose it's the journey that we are supposed to embrace, as we find our way through life, rather than the plan we make for ourselves. But sometimes that journey is a difficult one, without a plan.

I'm a little bit sad today to hear that we won't have our summer babysitter. I'm bummed that Paisley won't know what it's like to get to stay home all day without being packed off to a babysitter. And sad to know that Jayda will wonder why she isn't coming back. I guess Patti Loveless said it best, "Life's about Changing, Nothing ever stays the same."

Dinner and a plan

A while back I listed a few of my goals for 2010. One was to lose weight, thus eat healthier. Another was to set up a budget and stick to it. {and incase you're keeping tabs, one was to graduate college. . . .check! done!} I've decided to finally do what many others probably already do, and start planning my family's weekly meals. I always wanted to, I just always seemed to be at a lack of a moments time to sit down, think about it, write it down and stick to it.

So, here is this weeks meal plan
Monday-Holiday, ate out {phew that was easy}
Tuesday- Grilled chicken & pineapple Quesadilla's with corn salad
Wednesday- BLT's with watermelon, strawberries & lettuce salad
Thursday-Grilled burgers or steak with grilled potatoes and veggies
Friday- I won't be home until late (annual meeting at work) so I'm thinking chicken wings and mac/cheese or whatever Jed feels like making

Weekends are a free for all. We seem to be gone more than we are home, so these will be our spontaneous cooking days!

While it may not be the healthiest meal plan {yet}, it is almost preservative free, loaded with fruits and vegetables, and nearly everything is grilled. Definitely going to get a new grill for me Jed. It's a start and so far it's destressed meal time about 100%. I don't mind cooking, as long as I don't have to think about it and figure out what to cook. This is my solution.
My goal is also to do 1 weekly grocery stop and eliminate a large portion of my walmart trips. I will still stop when I'm in town and get fresh fruit and the more expensive items that cost an arm and a leg here. But I'm also going to try to shop the sale bill for my local grocery stores and plan my meals around what is on sale that week. Yes, this is actually what I think about and do in my spare time. Stop mocking me. I'm a busy body, and must occupy my mind.

I'll try to post my weekly meals here, for any of you that might need ideas. Or for those of you that don't but just want to be nosy and know what I am eating that night. Feel free to toss out dinner ideas also! Always open to new ideas!

A tomato

Last week I was trying to think of something interesting to write about and couldn't think of much. Thus the bodily fluid post. Somehow I failed to remember the tornado that ripped through our yard. Minor event. Jayda called it a tomato for a few days, but has since mastered the pronunciation of TOR-NA-DO. That and all information concerning a tornado. She had a gazillion questions and we finally got to the point where we banned anymore questions.

Her swing set was torn to pieces along with a barn over at Bonnie's. Jed got to spend some quality time with Rio, his cow dog, in the well pit. I'll get some pictures up shortly.

My best guess at how Jed looked when he saw the tornado coming. Jayda and I got a good laugh out of it!

In a tornado related quote, on our way home from Hermosa this weekend, while driving near Newell, Jayda shouted from the back seat, "OH MY, look at what the tornado did to that house! There's junk EVERY WHERE!" Unfortunately {fortunately?} a tornado had not hit that house. . . . .

Jayda's swing set used to be here

It's new location

The tree's didn't fare so well

There used to be a roof on this barn

Tin scattered every direction