Luke @ his t-ball game 5/2/09

Sarah-Prom Night 2009

1st and 15th Siesta Scripture Memory

1st and 15th Siesta Scripture Memory

"In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and He answered me by setting me free. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The LORD is with me; He is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies." Psalm 118:5-7 (NIV)

1st and 15th Siesta Scripture Memory Team

My verse for 4-1-09...

"Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:19 (NIV)

This is one I really need to work on.

Luke's first Pinewood Derby

The car...

The competition...




The track....




The WINNER!!!!

1st place for Speed
2nd place for Design

District, here we come.

Lowes Foods Shopping Trip

All of this, plus a bag of salad that I forgot I had already put in the fridge, for $13.56.

Total saved: $21.81

Those little strips are 2) $1 off you next shopping order coupons (for buying the mustard) and

1)free gallon of milk coupon (for buying Frosted Flakes).

This was my second great trip to Lowes this week. (The little bicycle was not part of my loot, Luke just wanted it included in picture.) =]

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - (Sarah has dentist appt) Rotisserie Chicken from Wal-Mart, Alfredo Noodles, Broccoli, Sesame Artisan Ring.

Tuesday - (Cub Scouts-6:30) Tacos, Mexican Rice, Refried Beans

Wednesday - (Church 6:30) Pork Burgers, Garlic Oven Fries, Slaw

Thursday - Fend for Yourself

Friday - (Pinewood Derby Race 6:30)Chicken Viola, Garlic Bread

Saturday - Baked Ham, Brussell Sprouts, Pintos, Potatos

Sunday - Lunch with Mother-in-Law
Check out orgjunkie.com for lots of menu ideas.

1st and 15th Siesta Scripture Memory Team

...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be feint. Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

This is my verse for 3/1/09.

Snow!!!!

Luke just went snow tubing at WinterPlace on Sunday, but I think he had almost as much fun playing in this snow at home.
I woke him up at 6:30 and he was dressed and outside by 6:45am. The sun isn't even completely up yet.
He has been waiting for about 3 years to use the snowman kit his Aunt Sabrina got he and Sarah a few years ago. He was very proud of his first snowman (he got a little help from mom & dad).

Luke and Ronnie and "Frosty" - I couldn't get Luke to be any more original with his name.

Menu Plan Monday

This week is going to be busy.

Monday - Chicken, Rice, Broccoli

Tuesday - Cub Scouts 6:30 - will put something in the crock pot

Wednesday - Church - will put something in the crock pot

Thursday - Cub Scout Leader Training, includes dinner. Not sure about the rest of the family.

Friday - Cub Scout Blue & Gold Banquet, includes dinner.

Saturday - Ham, Peas, Mac & Cheese

Sunday - Snow Tubing with Scouts.

Check out orgjunkie for lots of great menu ideas.

1st and 15th Siesta Scripture Memory Team

I have been participating in this since the beginning, but I wanted to start posting my verse here as well. You can read about it here and just go in on the LPM blog on the 1st & 15th to leave a comment with your scripture to participate. My scripture for this time is....

"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - Busy day helping Mom & Dad empty their old house, appt., basketball practice and our Baptist Young Women group meets tonight. I think we will just eat what ever we can find.

Tuesday - 15 Bean Soup w/italian smoked sausage

Wednesday - Speedy Chicken Stir-Fry

Thursday - Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

Friday - Mexican Beef Stew, Mexican Corn Bread

Saturday - Valentine's Banquet at church

Sunday - Ham, Mac & Cheese, green peas

Check out orgjunkie.com for more great menu plans

Updates

The last couple of weeks have been sort of crazy. I haven't given up my New Years Goals yet, I just haven't been able to work on some, or update others. I started new job responsibilities on 1/14/09. Same place, lateral move. This was a last minute thing, we had a girl leave and I thought I would benefit from learning a new job (can you say job security?). I am now handling Medicare instead of Blue Cross and Blue Shield for all seven of our medical offices. The girl doing this job before gave a whopping 3 day notice so I only got about 45 minutes training before she left and had to jump in with both feet. Since I do most of my posting at work and I haven't had much time for breaks, that has drastically cut into my blogging time.

Also, that same week I started coming down with something. I'm still not sure what it was, but it really hit me hard this weekend. I finally saw the Doctor Monday morning and after 5 doses of antibiotic, I am finally feeling like myself again. So here are my updates:

1) I am down a total of 10 lbs. so far. I haven't done real well on my eating the last couple of weeks, but I am back on it now.

2)I have not been exercising the last week. Just haven't felt like it. But I did have my cholesterol checked Friday and my "good" cholesterol was up to 38!!! This is still 8 pts too low (this number should be >=46) but since I usually come in around 27 or 28, this was a really good number for me. Exercising is really the only way to get this number up so I am accomplishing something.

3)I am still just depositing in my Way2Save account at Wachovia, but that account is growing.

4)Still no firm plan on paying down the debt. I have not had time to work on that plan.

5)I am probably doing the best on this goal. I am currently about 2 weeks ahead of my schedule to read the Bible through in one year.

6)I have started a budget just for stuff to do with the kiddos. I have been spending more time with them in the evenings just being in the same room with them instead of elsewhere in the house working on this, that or the other.

2009 Monster Truck Jam

Luke had a blast, we will definately be going back next year.

New Years Goals

Alright, here is where I stand to date on all of my goals...
1) Lose weight - 8 lbs. down / 67 lbs. to go - I feel like it is a pretty good start.

2) Exercise more - I am exercising approximately 30 minutes a day. A couple of other girls at work are exercising to, so we are doing workouts during our breaks and sometimes lunch also. These are either walking outside, jumping rope or using the resistance band in the warehouse.

3) Save, Save, Save - So far I have only been saving what is automatic with my Way2Save account at Wachovia. But I will have the budget reworked by next payday to increase that. I did use a little of the money I had saved for Christmas, but for the first time I can remember I did not use a single credit card for Christmas this year. Nor did I screw up the budget so bad that it will take until March or April (tax return) to straighten it back out.

4) Pay down debt - I am still working on the best way to go about setting this goal and coming up with a game plan.

5) Read the Bible all the way through - Here I am doing great. With the reading plan I came up with I should be on page 54 now. I am on page 67. That would be 13 pages ahead of schedule. I have found that if I get up before anyone else gets up and start reading I have a hard time stopping to get ready for work. I love it!!!

6) Do more with the kids, just to enjoy the time with them - We took Luke to the Monster Truck Jam in Greensboro Friday night. He had a blast. Right now I have plans to take Sarah to WinterJam 2009 in Greensboro in February. It will be smaller things after that.

So far, So good.

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - Oven Fried Chicken, Creamed Potatoes, Broccoli

Tuesday - (Hair appt and Cub Scouts-I won't have time to cook) Fend For Yourself

Wednesday - (Church @ 6:30) Baked Pasta, Salad, Garlic Bread

Thursday - (B-ball practice @ 5:30) Chicken Packets, Rice, Green Beans

Friday - Baked Ham, Mac & Cheese, Green Peas

Saturday - Sunday School Pot Luck - Don't know what I am taking yet

Sunday - ?????

For more great menu ideas check out orgjunkie.com

Andrea over at mommysnacks does "Fat Burnin Friday" every week and I think that may just be something else to help me be accountable. I have not really started "dieting' yet. I am trying to change 1 thing every week or so. So far I have started drinking at least 64oz of water a day and exercising almost every day. For my efforts I have lost 8 lbs since 12/29, 2 of them this week. Still a long way to go, but I saw a picture of myself from Christmas this morning and that was the motivation I needed to succeed in this New Year's Goal.

Pictures - just for you Laura ;-)

Sarah and her best friend Syliva on the way to the Jonas Brothers concert in Charlotte back in July-Sarah had just gotten home from Japan a few days before.

Self portrait by Sarah - I love this picture of her

Luke at the Warthogs game back in the summer with a group from church.

More from the Warthogs game

Luke with Santa at the Unifi Christmas party for the kids.

Max & Tinkerbell - my other babies

Freebies

1. WalMart
Serenity Overnight Pads
Glad Force Flex
Kotex Lightdays
Gold Bond Ultimate
Benefiber
Always Infinity

2. Free/cheap photo deals thanks to Freebies4Mom

3. Check out Freebies4Mom for a lot more

Menu Plan Monday

Monday - Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese

Tuesday - Baked Pasta w/Italian Sausage Sauce, Garlic Bread, Lettuce Wedge

Wednesday - Chicken Packets , Broccoli, Rice

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - We will be at the US Hot Rod Monster Truck Jam in Greensboro

Saturday - Chicken Tacos, Rice, Refried Beans

Sunday - 15 Bean Soup w/ Smoked Sausage

I made Bagel Sandwiches yesterday and put them in the freezer so the chitlins would have another breakfast choice this week. I used canadian bacon instead of regular bacon and I cooked the eggs in a muffin tin. I meant to make/freeze french toast again, but did not get it done, maybe next week.

Check out all the other menus at orgjunkie.com

New Years Goals

I hesitate to say "resolutions", because I know my history in sticking to them. So, I will be honest from the get go and just call them goals. Most of them are represented on my right side bar in the form of tickers so that I can track my progress. I am including them in my blog because even if no one else ever reads this, I still feel like it gives me some accountability.

1) Lose weight - I have a goal of 75 lbs. to get to what would still be considered overweight for my height, but I will feel good at that weight and I will go from there.

2) Exercise more - This should help with goal number 1, but will also help keep my blood pressure down, raise my good cholesterol and hopefully give me more energy.

3) Save, Save, Save - I have set a goal, but hope to increase that.

4) Pay down debt - I haven't really set the exact $ goal on this one, I need to crunch some numbers first to see what is a reasonable goal.

5) Read the Bible all the way through - I have taken the Bible that I will be using for this purpose and divided the number of pages by 365. I will need to read 4 pages a day to complete this in one year.

6) Do more with the kids, just to enjoy the time with them - I am working on a list of things that I want to do with the kids this year like Stone Mountain, DQ for ice cream, Mast General Store, etc.....

We'll see how I do.