peelosophy

I didn’t get to two of my menus from last week because we had some impromtu dinner invitations – LOVE THOSE!  So you may be seeing some repeaters from last week.  The lesson I’m learning is that I need to save a day for  leftovers because of impromtu invites and for just left overs or the “All-Stars Dinner” is what we refer to at our house.  The new menu we tried last week, which was a hit, was the Beef and Cheese Manicotti, everyone loved it and I froze some for dinner later.  It’s definitely not a “30-minute meal”  though — stuffing all the insides of the noodles was a little frustrating at crunch time at 5pm.

For more yummy menu planning check out – orgjunkie.com.

MONDAY: Totinos Party Pizzas; I had Physical Therapy tonight and apparently John had been storing some of these babies in the basement freezer.

TUESDAY: Beer Brined Chicken (New!)

WEDNESDAY: Katy’s Chicken Enchiladas

THURSDAY:  Eggs to Serve, Bacon and Toast

FRIDAY:  Leftovers

SATURDAY:  Linguine and Clam Sauce

SUNDAY:  Pesto Chicken Pasta

It’s funny now to think back on all the things I wanted to be when I grew up.

My college graduation party invitation read something like this….
“7 years, 2 schools and 4 majors later…”

You would think I would have graduated with medical or law degree, but instead I ended up with a liberal arts degree with minors in business and early childhood education. I needed to get the heck out college and gave my adviser my credits and said “what can I graduate with this?” It was like a kid bringing a ton of random change to the counter, but she made it work and I am forever grateful.

I then took a little break from school and, upon the advice of my dear ol’dad, I went to grad school. For someone who still had very little clue what she wanted to do, this was not the greatest nor frugal advice, but I was yearning for direction of any kind so I started my Master’s in Procurement and Acquisition Management. Even writing that I giggle a little, because that is so not me.  About half way into the program, I got pregnant with JJ and had a choice to stay home. In a sense I was saved.

For the last 5 years, I’ve been raising my boys and watching other children out of my home.  Sometimes, especially when I pay my student loan, I get frustrated with the money lost and my education not being used, but I can justify just about anything. I decide that my business, early childhood, and procurement studies are part of my everyday “job” and I feel a little better.  And it is SO clear to me that this where God wants me and there isn’t a day I wake up and don’t want to do what I am doing.

I LOVE imagining what my boys will do when they grow up. Here are some thoughts I’ve had or what they’ve told me.

JJ wants to be a dentist on the weekdays and a race car driver on the weekends. I love this idea of work and play and how it makes so much sense to him. I could see him being a very good dentist. He is amazing with his hands and would do great with all those little instruments. I could see him doing anything creative with his hands. He would be a great carpenter, architect, engineer, something along those lines.


HENRY says that he wants to be a bread maker and “have his own shop where he will serve coffee for me and there will be lots of dancing”.  I’m all for it. Whatever he does,  I know he will do it with all his heart and soul because that’s the kind of guy he is – very passionate.  He’s a sensitive feelings guy.  I could see him being a great counselor or teacher or bread maker.  I can already tell he is going to get his heartbroken a bunch, and when he does find the right girl, he will love them very well. I’m his mom,  I know these things….Annie….Ruby….

George is only almost two.  The only things that come to mind is a baseball pitcher or a comedian.  He has an amazing arm, after he is done with dinner, you have to be fast to take his plate away or you better duck.  A comedian is because he is always trying to get us to laugh – he’s a total ham.  He’s even picked up a few knock knock jokes, although you may not think they are as funny as he does.  My sister, Lara is the third born too and she is a comedian, maybe it’s a birth order thing.


I wonder what percentage of people really know what they want to be at 18 years old and have that career and  love it for the rest of their lives.  I used to always be a little jealous of those people knowing, it must have been nice.  But I am beginning to see bits and pieces of my story, like wandering aimlessly for years,  that brought me to where I am today and I wouldn’t change that for the “knowing”.

No,  I didn’t forget that I am 20-something weeks pregnant with number #4.  I forgot to “announce” on my blog we found out we are having a GIRL!  We found out 4 weeks ago and texted and emailed the world, but  failed to mention our big news here.

Was I shocked? Yes, I didn’t understand why I didn’t see a penis right away.  Am I excited? Totally and a little scared.

When we were finding out with George, I thought if it were a girl, I would have to go shopping straight away.  Not so much now.  Girl clothes are a bit overwhelming.  With boys, you can either go preppy with smocking and polos or do jeans and t-shirts.  Basically with choices like stripes or dinosaurs.  Now with girls, I go into a store thinking I’ll make a couple purchases and there are so many styles, I feel like I can’t buy anything because I don’t know what her “style” is yet.  I know I sound nuts.

I am excited that tights and bows are in our future. Okay, definitely tights i won’t know about bows until she comes.

We also have had our girl name since we were pregnant with JJ, it’s Emma – we don’t have a middle yet.  We decided this pre-Rachel and Ross, so we have been trying not to be discouraged by it’s popularity.  Although it is a pop-culture name from Emma Peel in The Avengers.

I’ve been:

eating…too many Milk Duds and ice cream sandwiches.  I can’t help myself, I love me some Duds.  My stomach, on the other hand has had enough.

relieved...that JJ loves Kindergarten and we are slowly falling into our new routine.

looking forward to…a day off tomorrow with nothing the boys or I “have to” do

reading…The Book of Acts and Blue Like Jazz

watching...I Love You Man (hilarious), Bella (So great) and Shades of Ray (skip it)

plotting...how John and I are going to manage to stay on a budget

praying…for my Mamama who fell and broke her hip today

really loving… baking bread…walking JJ to school…time I’ve gotten lately throughout the day to be really present with the boys

really tired of…Buster’s dumb cone on his head that has to stay on for another week….medical bills….and George climbing/standing on the dining room table or breakfast counter every chance he can

Yea! -these posts are actually helping me stay accountable to menu planning and I’ve been actually getting excited about it.

The new recipes that were favorites from last week were the Crock Pot Chili and Karin’s Shrimp Creole.  In Karin’s recipe she gave me, she substituted the tomatoes with “fire roasted” tomatoes – which I LOVED.  And John really liked the chili, which is a huge compliment b/c he is the “chili-man” in our house and I seldom make it.  I didn’t get to the manicotti on Sunday, because we ate at Peggy’s where she served up Beef Tenderloin, Scalloped Potatoes, Steamed Broccoli and Pineapple Upside down cake.  SO good.

On the menu for this week, is mainly all tried and trued recipes except for the Beef and Tomato Manicotti and Katy’s Chicken Enchiladas.  Can’t wait – but holy pasta Batman – I’m on carb crazy lately.

For more yummy menu planning check out – orgjunkie.com.

Read more…

We have been in this place with Henry (almost 3yo) for 9 months now. He won’t nap but he still needs one every couple days. If he doesn’t nap, by 4pm he can be a terror. But if he does nap, he doesn’t go to sleep until 10pm. You see my catch-22?

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while – you may know already my love for sleeping kid pictures.  Here are a couple I have snapped in the last few months during this transition.  Poor guy, he so clearly needs a nap.

For a background about this series of posts on my Binder, click here.  If you want to see them all – you can search “binder” in the search bar.

The next piece of my Binder is my “market” section.  It is in one of those folders for a 3-ring binder. In my market section I keep these things:

1. Market List- where I keep a running list of things I need at the grocery store
2. Weekly grocery store sales fliers
3. Recipes that I have wanted to try
4. Grocery receipts that need to be put into my Price Book

JJ had his first day of Kindergarten today.  He was ready to go and did not want his picture taken – he was playing it “cool” all morning.   Surprisingly, with hormones raging, I did not shed a tear and neither did he.

Afterwards,  I asked how it went and he replied, “I only got to play a little and had to listen ALOT.”  And now it begins, the rest of his school career.  And the transition to more structured mornings and getting out the door.  I do not “get out the door” very well and do not do transitions well – especially when I am pregnant.  It will probably rock my world more than his.  I am relating a little to what Melinda said last year about Riley’s first day – “Today is the end of the rest of our lives.”

Here’s some pics…

We did go out of town last weekend so we may have some repeat menus for this week.  Home cooked meals sound so good right now, because we ate out a TON while were in Indiana.  Most of it was not so good for us and my stomach especially is still recovering. This is the week of NEW recipes (don’t tell John) – I’ve had a bunch I’ve wanted to try and decided this week was the week.  I’ll let you know the favorites!  Check out other menu planning ideas at orgjunkie.com.

MONDAY: PEGGY’S CHICKEN TETRAZZINI

Peggy’s Turkey Tetrazzini
1/4 butter or margarine
1/4-cup flour
1/2-teaspoon salt
1/4-teaspoon pepper
1-cup chicken broth
1-cup cream (or milk—if you use skim don’t use as much water)
2 tablespoons of sherry (Peggy doesn’t use this)
1 package (7oz) spaghetti, cooked and drained)
2 cups cooked, cubed chicken or turkey
1 can (3oz) sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

1. Make Noodles

2. Cook Chicken

3. Melt butter in a large saucepan over low heat. Blend in flour and seasoning.
Cook over low heat stirring until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Stir in broth and cream.

4. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir one minute.

5. Stir in wine, spaghetti, chicken and mushrooms.

6. Pour into 2-quart casserole. Sprinkle with cheese.

7. Bake uncovered 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Peggy’s Note- I usually make the white sauce and add broth or liquid until the right consistency- you don’t want it to thick, as it will thicken as it bakes and the spaghetti absorbs the liquid. I often add cream of mushroom soup and some more milk to make more sauce. Of course I probably use more spaghetti and chicken as I make a larger quantity.

TUESDAY: OUT TO EAT FOR JJ’S 1ST DAY OF SCHOOL…HIS CHOICE

WEDNESDAY: TACOS AND RICE

THURSDAY: CROCK-POT CHILI

1 pound ground beef

1 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1/4 cup dry red wine or water

1 tablespoon chili powder

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon  ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 garlic clove, minced

1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, undrained

1 (14.5-ounce) can Mexican-style stewed tomatoes with jalapenos, peppers and spices, undrained

6 tablespoons shredded reduced-fat extra sharp cheddar cheese

1. Cook beef in a large skillet, stirring to crumble.  Add onion and next 7 ingredients or until onion is tender.

2. Place meat mixture in the crock-pot and stir in beans and tomatoes.  Cover with the lid, and cook on low heat setting for 4 hours. Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with cheese.

FRIDAY: TANGY BBQ CHICKEN WITH CORN CASSAROLE

Tangy Barbecued Chicken

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup beer

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

2 tablespoons horseradish

1 teaspoon Bay Seasoning

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 (13- 1/2 ounce)bottle ketchup

cooking spray

8 (6-ounce) skinned chicken breast halves

1. Combine first 8 ingredients in a saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently.  Cover, reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

2. Prepare grill.

3. Place chicken on grill rack coated with cooking spray; grill, uncovered, 45 minutes or until chicken is done, turning and basting with ketchup mixture.

SATURDAY: KARIN’S SHRIMP CREOLE

SUNDAY: GROUND BEEF AND TOMATO MANICOTTI

…I could have to wear a cone on my head for 2 weeks.

This is Buster, one of our two geriatric dogs.  He has a infection on his leg which is scheduled to be removed next Tuesday.  Until then, he has to wear a cone on his head so he doesn’t lick it and then I’m sure the week after so he doesn’t bother the surgery efforts.

There is no black and white when it comes going to the vet.  I always thought my gage was “quality of life” as far as necessary vs. unnecessary procedures, medicines, etc.  It’s not that easy.  $245 yesterday, at the cheaper vet mind you, I don’t know which end up – but it’s expensive.  That doesn’t even include the surgery next week.

Enough venting, I do love my dog.  I guess the moral of the story is pregnant women should not go to the vet – we’re emotional and sometimes have a hard time discerning necessary expenses.