Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Birthday Dear Me!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Spring Sports

It's hard to believe, but it is time to be thinking about spring sports, even though it is only mid-January! My boys are extremely athletic (which they got from their Father, not me! I spent my youth buried in a book!) so I'm happy they are interested in playing different sports.

Spring registration is open for soccer until the first of February and my Youngest wants to play (and has since last spring). I signed him up this week, practices begin in early February and the games begin in late February. So hard to believe!
Baseball is a yearly spring sport in our house and has been for years. Our hometown has their own baseball league and we've really enjoyed playing in this league since it is not competitive. It never really mattered who won or lost, the goal was to play baseball. My Oldest has played for the last 7 yrs and 10 seasons (including 3 fall ball leagues) with this league, unfortunately, the league in only for kids up to 12 yrs old, and my son is 13...and school ball doesn't begin until 9th grade (another 2 years away!) We will have to find a league for him to play in for the next couple of years until he can try out for the high school team.

My Youngest played his first season of T-ball this last year...he wasn't impressed. He wanted to play soccer this year, which I've already signed him up for. I'm not sure if he'll play t-ball, too or just soccer.

Track will be open for my Oldest this year. It is a sport played at his school beginning in the 7th grade and he's shown some interest in it. It will also help with baseball and possibly football (which he wants to play in the fall!) I hope he likes it.

So although it is only mid-January, decisions have to be made. It's going to be a busy Spring!

A sick child!

I woke up to a sick child this morning. Poor baby. Unfortunately I had to work this morning (didn't want to cancel because I was subbing for a friend with her own health problems), but my Husband was able to take the day off and stay at home with him. It's probably the flu or a bad cold...the flu is visiting his classroom right now. I hate when my children are sick! He's okay when he has ibuprofen in his system (it really knocks out the fever) so we will just keep him dosed on that, pour the fluids down his throat and let him sleep...a lot!

He will be back at school on Monday!

Menu Plan: Jan. 16-Feb. 1

I follow several blogs that post recipes and menu plans regularly. They didn't get me started on menu planning, but I like going to their blogs to get ideas. After I made up this menu plan, I was cruising through some of these blogs and found that several of them were doing menu plans based on the concept of cleaning out their pantries and fridges. ME TOO! I had come up with the same idea...all on my own!

On my grocery shopping trips the last 2 months, I've been picking up meat when it was on clearance, shoving it into my freezer and forgetting about it. When I made up this menu plan, I was able to plan for 17 days and it will cost me the same amount that I would have spent on a 10 day menu plan! I'm so happy, and I will still have meat in the freezer for my next menu plan in February.

Menu Plan: January 16 thru February 1, 2011

Jan. 16: Fried Chicken w/Chicken, Mushroom and Pea Couscous & Stove-top Stuffing

Jan. 17: Steak w/Loaded Mashed Potato & Salad

Jan. 18: Beef Stew w/3-cheese Biscuits

Jan. 19: McGilly's Pub for $3 Burger Night

Jan. 20: Szechuan Chicken w/Stir-fried Veggies & Rice

Jan. 21: Ham & Beans w/Garlic Biscuits

Jan. 22: BBQ Beef Ribs w/Potato Salad & Baked Beans

Jan. 23: Shake-n-Bake Pork Chops w/ Chicken and Broccoli Pasta and Broccoli

Jan. 24: Chili w/Cornbread

Jan. 25: Honey-Mustard Chicken Hoagies w/Pasta Salad

Jan. 26: Speedy Sausage Squares w/Hashbrowns

Jan. 27: Bratwurst w/Onions & Onion Rings

Jan. 28: Clam Chowder w/Bacon & Breadsticks

Jan. 29: (My Birthday) Pork Burgers w/Maple-Honey Mustard Sauce, Mushroom Rice & Peas

Jan. 30: Beef Fajitas w/Onion, Refried Beans & Spanish Rice

Jan. 31: Beefy Rice w/Peas

Feb. 1: Fried Chicken Thighs, Pesto Pasta & Butter Corn

Trapper's Rendezvous

TRAPPER'S RENDEZVOUS

My Husband and Oldest son were off camping in Kansas this weekend. Always a fun and cold experience in January, but this also happens to be one of their favorite campouts. Trapper's Rendezvous is held every January and my son's Scout Troop makes the journey every year. Due to the huge number of snow storms criss-crossing the country this year, they got to camp in the snow. The above picture is not their campout or the amount of snow they had, it's just to emphasize the fact that they got to camp on the snow!
The sole purpose of Trapper's Rendezvous is for the boys to take stuff and trade for other people's stuff...just like the Trapper's used to a hundred years ago.

Obviously some people really get into the spirit of the Rendezvous.

A Fun, but Cold Campout!

BSA First Class Badge earned!

My Oldest Son has been in Cub Scouts/Boy Scouts for along time now, and I'm always proud of him when he earns another Rank Advancement or Merit Badge (that is probably due to the fact that I'm a Cub Scout leader and the Advancement Chair for the Pack and therefore know how hard the boys work to earn these achievements!)

Well, my Oldest has earned his next rank: First Class

There are 6 rank badges to be earned as a Boy Scout, and they are usually divided into 2 groups. The 1st 3 badges are Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class: These 3 badges are earned by learning Scout skills such as knot tying, camping skills, first aid, hiking skills, swimming skills, etc. My son has now earned these 3 badges. His next goal is to earn the next 3 rank badges: Star Scout, Life Scout, and EAGLE. These badges concentrate on leadership skills, merit badges (each badge concentrates on an interest such as law, boating, or space exploration to name 3 out of 120 possible), service projects, and preparing the boys to take on their Eagle Projects. This is called the Road to Eagle!

Congratulations Son!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

My first post of the New Year! It's been a quiet week in our family. Chilly weather outside, but fortunately no snow, no ice...no missed days of school to make up. Please continue...Thank you.

Family is healthy and happy. We're all ready to get back out into the world. We hope everyone else is doing well.

And last, but not least...my New Year's Resolution for 2011: To bring joy and happiness into my life and the lives of those around me.

Happy 2011!