Christmas

I was totally psyched for this Christmas...not only was it Christmas...yay gifts, but I got to spend it with my sister and her beautiful babies, oh yeah, and it's our FIRST MARRIED CHRISTMAS! I loved it. FIL & SMIL got us the 2009 Annual Lenox Ornament of the bride and groom: I love it!

This year, not only did I get the ornament, and my husband :) I received a net book from my hubby: A handwoven African basket from one of my clients, which I have been eyeing for MONTHS! And, my Kitchen Aid MIXER! Super psyched about that one...can't wait to make cookies, brownies, cakes, mashed potatoes, the list goes on and on and on!

Apparently...the mixer was the gift to get me this year. Both my MIL and my SMIL got one for me! Unfortunately, we only need one, so I don't know what I'll find tomorrow when we meet up with his mom/step dad to do our after-Christmas Christmas.

Some other highlights from this Christmas:

The "Cuppies" meeting for the first time (Cuppies = cousins + puppies)Opening Gifts with my niece and nephew...Look at M in her pretty dress...I made stuffed roasted Chicken...which took 5 hours to cook...no bueno, and TAPIOCA! Aaron only eats his mom's so it was important that I do it JUST RIGHT! Turns out he liked it...so that's good. My tapioca cooking: My poor honey...this year he got pretty much diddley. He was so bummed. Of course we know it's not about the presents, but he's really feeling it this year, being married and all, he got "US" gifts not "HIM" gifts. Next year, I'm going to request things for him. Of course, I wanted to get him the PS3 but he had a fit, that it cost too much and refused to let me! Now, I think he knows better!

Menu Planning Friday

Menu Planning For week 12/20/09-12/27/09

Sunday
B: pancakes & sausage, apples, milk
L: leftovers/clean out fridge day
D: Skillet tostadas, rice, corn, avacado
Snack: AM: protein shake, PM: rice cakes w/nutella & PB

Monday
B: Cinnamon rolls, banans, milk
L: skillet tostadas, rice, corn, avacado
D: beef & broccoli stroganoff, salad
Snack: AM: protein shake, PM: veggie sticks & hummus

Tuesday
B: poached eggs on toast, oranges, milk
L: beef & broccoli stroganoff, peas, banana, milk
D: shredded potatoes, w/sausage & apples
Snack: AM: protein shake, PM: cottage cheese & peaches

Wednesday
B: oatmeal w/apricots & raisins, milk
L: shredded potatoes, w/sausage & apples, milk
D: spaghetti w/meat sauce, garlic bread, salad
Snack: AM: yogurt w/berries, PM: cookies & hot cocoa/Daycare Christmas Party

Thursday/Christmas Eve
B: French Toast
L: spahgetti w/meat sauce, green beans, pears, milk
D: roady sandwiches
Snack: AM: protein shake, PM: fruit slices

Friday/Christmas Day
B: pancakes eggs, bacon, toast, OJ, milk
L: Christmas
D: Dinner
Snack: AM: protein shake, PM: cookies & milk

Saturday:
B: Becky's
L: Leftovers
D: Roasted Chicken, potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce, rolls
Snack: AM: protein shake, PM: Cookies & Milk

Sunday:
B: Becky's
L: roady sandwiches
D: Andy's/take out
Snack: protein shake PM: milkshake

Tuesday Morning Weekend Round Up

So, I have been thinking I will become some sort of domestic goddess....able to keep a clean home, that's stylish contemporary, and fun. However, somewhere along the line I forgot I HATE to clean, DH loves to micromanage, and I work 11 hours a day caring for three to four 1-3 year olds. So, my envisioning a different life for myself is still a major work in progress...or more like a work at standstill.

This weekend we did do a bunch.

Friday:
Went Christmas shopping -- only got like 2 1/2 people done and spent way more than we expected :-(

Saturday:
Ran around like chickens with our heads cut off, Farmer's Market, grocery store, making stuffed mushrooms for DH's family Christmas party, and driving 1 hour only to arrive 2 1/2 hours early (yes DH took the message and did write it on the calendar! but neither of us looked at that, of course.)

Sunday:
Attached the gate to the daycare room...yay! And I deep cleaned our master bedroom. DH's clothes are still all over the room, but at least it isn't a pit of despair anymore!

Monday:
Deep cleaned the bathroom and the daycare room
Dusted the desk and Tv area.
Swept and swiffered the floors
Had friends over for dinner (**and a daycare meeting**)

Tonight is my last class of English 101 and I am super excited!

Menu Planning Monday...

Sunday:
Breakfast: oatmeal w/raisins
Lunch: whatever I find :)
Dinner:Chicken with cranberry sauce, broccoli, quinoa, baked pears
Snack: Granola bars & apple juice

Monday:
Breakfast: yogurt w/berries, OJ
Lunch: chicken w/cranberry sauce, broccoli, quinoa, pears
Dinner: tuna noodle casserole, peas & corn, apples
Snack: fruit bars w/milk

Tuesday
Breakfast: cherrios w/milk, bananas
Lunch: tuna noodle casserole, peas & corn, apples
Dinner: Lasagna, spinach, oranges
Snack: veggie sticks w/hummus, juice

Wednesday:
Breakfast: waffles w/pears, milk
Lunch: lasagna, spinach, oranges, milk
Dinner: pork chops, parsley potatoes, green beans, pearsauce
Snack: apples w/pb & water

Thursday:
Breakfast: poached eggs on toast, oranges, milk
Lunch: Pork, potatoes, green beans, pearsauce
Dinner: beef fajitas, tortillas, rice, peppers, avacado
Snack: trail mix, juice

Friday:
Breakfast: cinnamon buns w/peaches, milk
Lunch: beef fajitas, tortillas, rice, peppers, avocado
Dinner: chicken barely soup, squash, carrots, apples
Snack: ham & cheese on crackers w/pepper slices, juice

Saturday:
Breakfast: Cinnamon buns w/peaches, milk
Snack: yogurt & pear
L&D: Carries (making Stuffed Mushrooms)
Snack: Veggies & ranch dip

Christmas is coming...

Christmas is coming, and I am not ready AT ALL!

I had hoped to be better prepared, but once again I am procrastinating. I am also bummed because I can't decorate like I'd like 1) because the hubs has some weird phobia against decorations, and 2) the basement is NOT even started yet, therefore no holiday decorations for me!

I can not wait until this thing starts and is finished! I want my daycare room back and rid of the desk/computer, tv and giant chair that fill the space.

I did rearrange Sunday, cleaned the fish tank (finally). I needed to get rid of those pads that were on the floor. They were nice and cushiony, but sucked up dirt and water like no bodies business. So now it's just hardwoods (eek!) and I'm looking for carpets to lay down.

I have narrowed down my list of items to ask hubby for:
Kitchen Aid Mixer
Netbook
Hoover Floormate

Yep, I don't expect much at all...

I know he wants an immersion blender and a bread machine. But really, aren't both of those things for me to use??

This weekend, I hope to knock a good portion of our list out of the way. I have to get my dnc something extra special since I forgot to get her a birthday gift :(

Here is the menu plan for this week...we are again behind due to the holiday last week.

Wednesday:
Breakfast: breakfast burritos, peaches, milk
Lunch: Spaghetti & MBs; broccoli, oranges, milk
Dinner: Hamburgers on bun, roasted potatoes, corn, peaches
Snack: PB rice cake

Thursday:
Breakfast: poached eggs, toast, pears, milk
Lunch: hamburgers, roasted potatoes, corn, peaches, milk
Dinner: Baked Chicken Thighs, butter noodles, brussel sprouts, apples, milk
Snack: cheese & crackers

Friday:
Breakfast: oatmeal w/ raisins, milk
Lunch: baked chicken, noodles, brussel sprouts, apples, milk
Dinner: Haddock, brown rice, asparagus, salad, fruit.
Snack: yogurt & peaches

Saturday:
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs, maple sausage, toast, milk
Lunch: sandwiches, leftovers
Dinner: DATE NIGHT!
Snack: Nachos