One Roast and a Crockpot

Mary at Homegrown Learners has a Linkup called "What's for Dinner?" And this week she is looking for easy recipes. I have two. All you need is your crockpot, the roast of your choice and a few other ingredients.

Crockpot Beef Stroganoff

Slow cook a roast of your choice (about 4-5 pounds). I put three our four slits in my roast and stuff in a piece of fresh garlic, then add about 6 cups of water, 4-6 beef bouillon cubes, and some finely chopped onion.

About two hours before mealtime, remove the roast from the crockpot and cut it in half (or so). Cut into small pieces. (Reserve the other half for Recipe #2). Drain the majority of your broth off, except for about a cup or so. Add a can of cream of mushroom soup and a 16 oz. container of sour cream. Mix well. Add chopped roast and stir.

Cook a package of egg noodles according to package instructions. Add to mixture in crockpot. Cook on Warm until dinnertime.

BBQ Beef and Cheddar Wraps

Later in the week, pull out that reserved half of roast. Shred it into small pieces and put in crockpot. Cover with BBQ sauce. Slow cook on low/warm for a few hours.

At mealtime, warm a tortilla shell, add BBQ beef, sprinkle on some shredded cheddar cheese, roll and eat.

My husband loves to add fresh, sliced jalapenos from the garden for some extra kick.


Mary has other great meal ideas on her blog. Go check them out for some inspiration! I'm headed there now.

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... Well, just when we get teased with a couple of days in the cool mid-90's ... WHAM! 103 degrees today and 105 degrees tomorrow. Yippee.

I am thinking... about how badly I need a good sweating exercise session! I know I would feel better with more of that.

I am thankful ... for September coming up. I am dreaming of Fall.

I am wearing... my jammies and robe. I apparently forgot to turn on my alarm to get up to exercise this morning, so missed that part of my day.

I am planning... a geography study for the older kids at Co-op.

I am creating...  my Christmas list.

I am going... to Missouri this weekend to visit my parents. I am excited to see their new house completely re-done, to see my grandma, and to just chill.

I am reading...  A Need so Beautiful by Suzanne Young, Blood on the River by Elisa Carbone (Dawson's read-a-loud), lots of books each day with Eli and Brynne,  More Faith in My Day by Emilie Barnes (daily devotional).

I am hoping... to find a way to gain a little energy. I am working so hard, but am eating well, drinking lots of water, exercising (not as consistent as I would like), getting adequate sleep, but I am still a zombie by about 6:00 p.m. It feels worse than it has in the past.

From the learning rooms... We are just learning so much! Kyndal is in the full swing of cosmetology school now. She really likes it a lot! She is trying to find balance between her school classes, cosmetology, working and friends. It's tough. Dawson had his first guitar lesson yesterday. I think he is really going to enjoy it! He is finding that his weaker subjects, Biology and Algebra, are intense this year, and he's not liking it too much. Eli is doing some fun stuff at school, and doing lots of reading. I have seen so much improvement in his reading! He is reading a book each night, once to me and then again to Rick. At this rate he'll have 100 books read by Christmas break. THAT would be something! And Brynne, oh Brynne. I imagine she is why I am so tired. She accomplishes so much and wants to do so much more. We do so much math, reading, notebooking, art, crafts, science .. it's just constant! She is so smart.

Noticing that ... I have been sooooo tired this past week! It's going to take me a bit to get used to all of the daily activity.

From the kitchen... Here are some pizza muffins I made for Bunco the other night, at the suggestion of my friend, Amy. They were so good and so easy!

Just pinch off some refrigerated pizza dough (in the tube) and stuff into a mini-muffin pan. Spoon on a bit of pizza sauce. Finely chop pepperonis and sprinkle some on (I cut mine up in my electric mini-chopper) and sprinkle on some mozzarella cheese. Bake at 425 degrees for about 8-10 minutes.

Around the house... it's peaceful and quiet. Everyone is sleeping (except Rick and Kyndal who are already gone). I soak in these last moments before the day explodes into a hotbed of activity.

One of my favorite things... is this time, right now. So quiet. So peaceful. All I hear is the whir of the ceiling fan and the tick of the clock.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Today is our busy day! After school, Eli and Brynne have Boys' Club and Girls' Club in a nearby town. Then immediately after we are done, I will drop Eli off at the bowling alley to bowl with Rick. On Friday, me and three of the kids are going to Missouri for the weekend. Rick is staying home to dog sit and play golf. Dawson is staying home so he can go on a youth float trip. We've got Co-op that morning and then will head to the grocery store. And we get our first day off from school on Monday for Labor Day. Yea! We already need a break!

From my picture journal.

Our little cosmetology student.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Menu Plan Monday

This poor blog gets so neglected these days. Every day of my life is spent planning, teaching, shopping or cleaning. That's pretty much it for me. (No complaints here, by the way.) Rick has been the one spending fun time with the kids. (Which I love, by the way.) I promise I will start having him take pictures, at least with his phone, so I can post all they are doing. Bowling seems to be the majority of it, but he even took the older kids to the movies on Saturday night. He's a great dad!

Anyway, that doesn't have a whole lot to do with menu planning, but I thought I should explain where I have been. This coming weekend, me and three of the four kids are going to Missouri to visit my parents. One is staying behind so he can go on a float trip with his youth group, and Rick will be home taking care of the doggie children (and sneaking out for some significant golf playing).

Here is what we will be eating this week ...

Monday ~ Chicken fettucine and french bread

Tuesday ~ BBQ beef and cheddar wraps

Wednesday ~ FFY and Wine Wednesday

Thursday ~ Goulash (extras for leftovers for the weekend)

Friday ~ Turkey wraps and pasta salad (prepared and ready for the men since we'll be gone)

Saturday ~ Boys' choice (Ramen, pizza, leftovers, hoagies, whatever)

Sunday ~ Boys' choice

Monday ~ Boys' choice

Have a great week!

Eli

Today's post is about Eli. He's just had a couple of things happen this week that I wanted to share.

First, he lost "number 6". It was just dangling by one tiny piece and he didn't want anyone to pull it. He is usually able to get his teeth out by pushing with his tongue. Rick "plinked" it out without him even knowing he had done it.

Doesn't he look cute?? (Although I always seem to take a picture of him first thing in the morning, right after he has had his crazy hair wetted down and he insists on slicking it over. Once it dries it's a shaggy cute. And I couldn't get him to give me a regular smile. He was just jutting out his teeth.) He lost that tooth just in time for his 2nd grade school picture. I LOOOOOOVE the 2nd grade school pictures with no front teeth. All my kids have them!

It does make me sad, though, because once those big gangly teeth grow in it will completely change the entire look of his face. And my baby Eli will be gone. Although he is kind of already gone because all of a sudden this week he insists on calling his daddy, "Dad". It won't be long and I'll just be "Mom". And then he'll be driving.

On a happier note, Eli has also taken an extreme liking to bowling! In fact, we looked into putting him in a bowling league. Our local bowling alley was advertising a Tuesday evening league, and we thought it would be a great thing for Rick and him to do together. But then we found out they weren't going to have that league and the only one available was a Saturday morning league that was three games, with instructors, etc., PBA sanctioned (or something like that). I was tempted to sign him up because they were to get an authentic bowling shirt. But I was just afraid he would get overwhelmed with all that. Sooooo, we decided that Rick would take Eli bowling, just the two of them, on Tuesday evenings and teach him some things.

His first night was last night. Rick let him bowl however he wanted on the first game and he bowled about a 75, with bumpers. For the second game Rick gave him some instruction. He still had bumpers, but barely used them, and bowled a 126!!! Rick only beat him by 10 pins! He was so excited! He called me squealing and talking so fast I couldn't hardly understand him. It's going to be such a great thing for them to do together. (And "Dad" is just as excited as Eli.)

And Eli is loving 2nd grade. He loves it because there is NO HOMEWORK!! Mom loves it for that reason, too.

He is growing up too fast. I love him so much my heart hurts.

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... It's overcast and a tad cooler, yet still humid.

I am thinking... about Brynne's school day. I think (already) that it's too much work, not enough fun. She is a brain, no doubt. But she's SIX for goodness sake (just barely) and I need to remember that. I think I'm going to change a thing or two.

I am thankful ... for the excellent attitudes that are around here.

I am wearing... track shorts, a Grand Tetons t-shirt (oh, how I wish I was in the Tetons right now!) and tennis shoes. With our new school schedule, I don't get ready for the day until about 9:00 a.m.

I am planning... to change Brynne's history lessons and schedule. I think I'm going to go with a States study and have two days of that and two days of science, instead of one.

I am creating...  balance (hopefully).

I am going... to go to the library this afternoon and look through all of the books on the states and see what would be a good fit for Brynne. (I am also going to cut myself some slack about abandoning a curriculum that I spent ALL SUMMER creating, remembering that I have lots and lots of years left to school Brynne, and eventually Eli, and that curriculum will be just as good then as now. And, I'll be thankful that it's already prepared.)

I am reading...  Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner, Blood on the River by Elisa Carbone,  More Faith in My Day by Emilie Barnes (daily devotional).

I am hoping... that Kyndal has a better day today. Yesterday was very confusing for her and she missed the bus to Tech. She had to drive to Tulsa by herself, with me giving her directions over the phone. She was late. She's got everything figured out now, though, so she should be good to go today. (also, she is very happy with school right now!)

From the learning rooms... We are crazy busy! Kyndal told me last night that she is excited about Algebra II because she has a great teacher! She has not had good math teachers in the past. Dawson has had the best attitude when it comes to school. He's been a joy to be around! Eli was thrilled yesterday to learn that his best bud is still in his class after they added a new teacher and moved some students out. And I am just working poor Brynne to death and I need to scale it down and make it more fun. It's hard for me to remember that she is just a little girl, when she's so stinkin' smart and into school.

Noticing that ... my eye sight is getting worse and worse. I can't wait to get to the eye doctor and get some glasses.

From the kitchen... Last night I cut up boneless skinless chicken breasts into chunks, seasoned them with garlic salt and pepper (heavily), wrapped them with a half piece of turkey bacon, baked at 425 degrees for about 40 minutes, and served with ranch dressing. Oh my goodness ... Yummmmmmm!!!!!!!

Around the house... is grass that actually needs mowed! We've had a good deal of rain the past week or so. Oklahoma weather is so weird.

One of my favorite things... is seeing my kids excited about something: Eli about getting to go bowling with his daddy tonight; Dawson about something he read and about learning something on his guitar; Kyndal about her cosmetology program; Brynne about getting to "do" nature. I love that sparkle that lights up in their eyes.

A few plans for the rest of the week... We are sticking pretty close to home now because of school. Kyndal works a couple of nights this week, Rick and Eli are going bowling tonight (we opted for them doing this on Tuesday evenings together instead of Eli joining a league), and I'm going to play Bunco with our Homeschool Co-op moms on Thursday night. Rick's hoping to get in some golf this weekend. Otherwise, we're trying to concentrate on getting into our school schedule.

From my picture journal.

Nature study

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Menu Plan Monday

With the extremely busy and full days of homeschooling, it is more necessary than ever to have a plan for meals and to stick to it! That is at least one thing I can count on in my day.

Here's what we are having this week:

Monday~ Bacon wrapped chicken chunks, baked sweet potato fries

Tuesday ~ Hamburger patties with brown gravy, mashed potatoes and green beans

Wednesday ~ FFY and Wine Wednesday (that I am going to be totally ready for after this first full week of homeschooling. Yikes! I'm tired already!)

Thursday ~ Crock pot beef stroganoff

Friday~ Hot dogs and brats with chips

Saturday ~ Meatball subs

Sunday ~ Turkey wraps and pasta salad

What's for dinner at your house?

2nd Grade is going to be a Ball!

This is Eli's teacher, Mrs. Ball. I have heard all great things about her and he seems to just love her so far. On the first day of school there were two second grade classrooms with over 30 kids in each. You couldn't hardly move around the room! Thankfully the school has hired a third teacher which will bring each class size down to around 20. This will be a much-better environment for Eli. And, he gets to stay in Mrs. Ball's class, which is a huge blessing! It's going to be a great year!

Back 2 School

We started school yesterday, both public and home.

If I were being honest, I would say that the day was a little frazzled for all involved. Kyndal woke up in a rotten mood and was very nervous about going to the high school and was feeling overwhelmed about how hard her year is going to be. Eli settled in nicely in his class, although they have over 30 kids in there and you could hardly walk between the desks (but we did get word yesterday afternoon that they are adding another teacher this afternoon so the class sizes will decrease by 1/3.) At home we had a lot of introductions to our materials so felt a little behind all day. We did manage to get everything done we had planned and it went smoothly. All-in-all it was a good first day.

The pictures I took turned out great!

Hope your school days are going well!

Crock Pot Lasagna

I have had a couple of requests this week for my Crock Pot Lasagna recipe. It's so easy, it's a crime. Here it is:

1. Brown about 2 pounds of ground beef or ground turkey, mix in spaghetti sauce of your choice and heat through.
2. In a crock pot, start with a thin layer of the spaghetti sauce. Add two layers of lasagna noodles, broken to fit your pot. Add a layer of cottage or ricotta cheese. Add a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese. Continue the layers, finishing with the mozzarella cheese.
3. Put lid on the crock pot and cook on low for 5 hours.

And that's it.

Yum!

Bonus Recipe:  Chicken and noodles

This one can be done several ways. Here's my favorite:

1. Slow cook a whole chicken all day with 2 cups of water and a minced clove or two of garlic.
2. Withdraw chicken and set aside to cool after completely cooked.
3. Drain broth into a large pot, straining off the "yuck".
4. Pick apart chicken and place half back in the chicken broth in the pot. Save the other half for another recipe (chicken enchiladas or chicken casserole).
5. Add salt and pepper to taste.
6. Bring broth and chicken to a boil and add a package of egg noodles. Cook until tender.

Esse Quam Videri

This is a Latin phrase meaning, "To be, rather than to seem."

This is my personal mantra.

Why? Because for many, many years I worked real hard at seeming to be a lot of things. Those things usually changed depending on who I was spending my time around.

This year, though, I decided that enough was enough. Maybe it was because it was the year I was turning 40. Maybe it was because I was just tired of the facade.

I want to be a woman God is proud of, instead of seeming like I am to others.

I want to be a good wife to Rick, instead of seeming like I am to other women.

I want to be a good mother to my children, instead of seeming like I am to other mothers.

I want to be a good teacher, instead of seeming like I am to those who read my homeschooling blog.

That means being transparent and showing my faults and struggles. I don't want to seem, on the outside, that I have it all together and that I am perfect. I don't have it all together. I am far from perfect. Ask my God, my husband, and my children. I am certain it irritates them for others to comment on how much I have it all together, when they know differently.

This journey of Esse Quan Videri is exactly that, a journey, a daily walk.

This might sound so bizarre to some (well, most) but I am even going to get that phrase tatooed on my inner wrist over Christmas, with my family present. When you were in high school and you cheated on a test (yeah, I'm sure you did .. so did I), where did you write the answers? On your palm, your inner wrist, where you could just barely turn it over and see it. These words will be on my inner wrist as a constant reminder to not be fake, to not pretend, to be real, and to keep working at being better.

Nicole's Daybook

Outside my window... The grass is greener, and even had to be mowed, after three or four days in a row of much-needed rain!

I am thinking... about how giddy I am about school, and the routine it brings, and my favorite shows coming back on soon, and fall temps, and fall holidays, and jeans with jackets. Yeah, I'm ready for fall.

I am thankful ... for cooler temps!

I am wearing... Nike t-shirt and track shorts, tennis shoes.

I am planning... 1st Day of School breakfast.

I am creating...  Still on those last three units of our U.S. History curriculum, but I'm not stressed. I have the the whole year planned through Spring Break. I'll catch up those last three units soon.

I am going... to take Brynne to get a "big girl" haircut today. She doesn't want to wear bows anymore, and likes to wear it down, so I want it to have a cute style.

I am reading...  Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner,  More Faith in My Day by Emilie Barnes (daily devotional).

I am hoping... that Dawson is feeling better today. I finally broke down and took him to urgent care last night because he was still coughing and miserable. He doesn't have pneumonia, like we feared, but does have a sinus infection. The drugs and good cough medicine should have him back to normal soon.

From the learning rooms... Oh my gosh school starts in two days! I am so excited! Brynne and I are going to the library today so she can check out some books to read in her personal reading time. I am meeting with Eli's teacher and his IEP supervisor today to talk about his year.

Noticing that ... my husband is feeling neglected from all my busyness. Not allowing that to happen is a priority to me. It is wrong to allow my day to get so busy that when he calls me and needs help from me that I have to figure out how/if I can do it. It happens all too easily, doesn't it ladies? I am his helpmeet, first and foremost. I need to be constantly aware of that. Without him and his sacrifices and hard work, I wouldn't have the privilege to have all of this busyness that I enjoy.

From the kitchen... Back to a more strict meal plan. Used carrots from my garden last night to add to some chicken and noodles. I received my latest issue of Woman's Day magazine today. The cover has "34 Budget Friendly Family Dinners". I am think of doing an experiment and trying every one of those meals and writing reviews on them. Might help break up the monotany of my cooking!

Around the house... are new school supplies and school clothes. The kids that will be utilizing them are all soaking in their last couple of days of summer by sleeping in, laying around in their pj's, playing Wii and watching t.v.

One of my favorite things... is having good talks with my teenagers. Dawson and I got to spend some significant time together yesterday because of his trip to the doctor. We talked a lot. To connect with Kyndal, I am planning to do a "Titus 2sday" Starbucks night with her the first Tuesday of each month, just to chat and spend time together.

A few plans for the rest of the week... today is Brynne's haircut. Then I meet with Eli's teacher to discuss his year and his needs. Tomorrow Eli gets to take his school supplies to school and meet his teacher. On Thursday, WE START SCHOOL (both at home and public school)!! The teacher/mama is more excited than the students, I assure you! Brynne has her first Co-op activities for the new year on Friday, and then her and I will do our grocery shopping. Rick is headed to Reno, NV, this weekend to attend a party for his brother and his unit that recently got back from Afghanistan. The kids and I will be vegging ... definitely!!!

From my picture journal.

A happy little girl with her daddy at her birthday party. Yesterday she went to Build-a-Bear and adopted "Holly" the "Hot Dog" (weenie dog). She is in love.

Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Menu Plan Monday ~ It's Back!

It's time to start planning those menus again. I really have been all summer, but we've just been more apt to veer from the schedule based on activities, mood, mood, and mood.

Well, now I'm in the mood to stick to our plans. It's that time of year. Schedule, schedule, schedule.

Here's what we are having for dinner this week ...

Monday ~ Chicken and noodles with fresh carrots from the garden

Tuesday ~ Turkey tostados

Wednesday ~ Fend for Yourself (for the kids) and Wine Wednesday (for mom and dad)

Thursday ~ Crock pot lasagna and french bread (first day of school!!)

Friday ~ Mini meatloafs and homemade oven baked fries

Saturday ~ Pizza (daddy's gone)

Sunday ~ French toast (daddy's gone)

What's on your menu for this week? Have you started back to school? I saw the cutest idea for making a breakfast/dinner tablescape for your kids for the first day. I am thinking of doing it for my kids for breakfast on Thursday. I'll share next week!!

To Skate is Great!

Yesterday was Brynne's 6th birthday party at our favorite place ... Roller World!! We love to skate, so it was the perfect place for Brynne to have her party.

I spent the week making "SKATE" t-shirts for the girls, party favors of roller skate chocolate suckers and personalized pencil toppers.

And then there was the cake.

Brynne had so much fun with her friends ...

and her daddy ...

and her mommy ...

And she even convinced papa to skate!

The older kids had a great time, too!

Yep, Eli was there! He just skated around by himself, having the time of his life!

After skating we came back to our house for cake, gifts and playing.

It was a great day!!!

Happy, happy birthday, Brynne!!!