We had a great, though short, trip to Kansas this weekend to attend a wedding reception. That was the real reason we went…but the really real reason we went is to meet my new baby nephew!! Mmmm-mmm! What a sweetie!

We arrived back late Saturday night (uh, early Sunday morning)…just in time to begin a new week which is absolutely FULL of soccer! Between Matt’s coaching schedule and the three older boys’ game schedules…we will be running to games Sunday afternoon, Monday night, Tuesday night, Thursday night and Saturday morning. Plus Asa has a practice right before church Wednesday night. 

This kind of soccer craziness only really lasts a few weeks…so I find that I have to be very prepared with meals and snacks for all these soccer players! It’s all super fun though. I love soccer season! It’s so much fun to watch Matt’s team play, and to watch our boys play! (Except for when it’s raining.) (And windy.)  (And cold.)  (But other than that…it’s really fun to watch all the soccer.)

Last week when we were out at the soccer field in the evening, another mom asked me, “So, do you feed your family before the games, or after the games?”

And I said, “Yes, definitely.” ;)

Apparently during soccer season, we must eat dinner twice. (And do dishes all day…)

Oh, how thankful I am for Menu Plan Monday!

Sunday, Sept. 14
Oatmeal with raisins
Whatever we can find in the fridge (Choices: 2 heels from a loaf of bread, a bottle of ketchup and an okra stuck to the bottom of the crisper drawer…scary.)
Black bean salsa dip with chips

Monday, Sept. 15
Whole wheat waffles
Cheese quesadillas, pears
Chicken noodle soup, carrots

Tuesday, Sept. 16
Scrambled eggs, oranges
Taco potatoes, strawberry peach slushies
Take to the soccer game – sandwiches, carrots, apples

Wednesday, Sept. 17
Zucchini muffins, bananas
Homemade mac and cheese, peas
Roast, carrots, potatoes, gravy

Thursday, Sept. 18
French toast
Sloppy joes, baked beans, grapes
Cheesy beef and rice, green beans

Friday, Sept. 19
Mini breakfast pizzas
BLTs, pineapple-orange slushies
Homemade chicken nuggets and french fries

Saturday, Sept. 20
Giant breakfast cookies
Homemade pizza pockets, apples
Whole wheat pancakes, turkey sausage, scrambled eggs

I’m sure you all wish you were here for our Sunday lunch…. ;)

This week I’ll share my easy tomato soup recipe with you, and write more about Getting Real with Food! I’m also going to try to share a little bit of my schedule with you…if I can fit it into my schedule…

———————————————–
***Be sure to come get your free downloadable menu planners for fall!!***
———————————————–

I survived the weekend without my family. It was very nice having all the quiet time to get things done (and boy did I get things done!)…but I like it much better when there’s loudness and craziness and….boys. 

Now they’re back…my boys (Daddy included)…along with the loudness and craziness. Ah, life is good.

Because of our trip last week and the Dads-n-Lads retreat over the weekend, we’re all excited and ready for home cookin’ again! Bring on the vegetables! (Because McDonalds french fries do NOT count.)

Sunday, Sept. 7
The guy’s arrived home in time for lunch!
Veggie soup, cornbread
Hearty bean casserole, peaches

Monday, Sept. 8
Whole wheat pancakes
Pizza casserole, corn on the cob
Grilled chicken, stir fried rice and veggies

Tuesday, Sept. 9
Scrambled eggs, oranges
Leftover roast beef, green bean casserole
Beef enchiladas, salad

Wednesday, Sept. 10
Blueberry coffeecake
Homemade chicken nuggets and fries
Potato soup, bread and butter, carrot sticks

Thursday, Sept. 11
Fruit and yogurt delight, granola
Grilled cheese sandwiches, tomato soup
Turkey ham, scalloped potatoes and carrots, peas

Friday, Sept. 12
Peanut butter honey toast, kefir-fruit smoothies
Homemade pizza
Tacos

Saturday, Sept. 13
We’re headed off to Kansas! It’ll be a super quick trip for a wedding reception…and to see my new baby nephew!!! I’ve already warned my sister-in-law that the only time she’ll be able to hold her son is to nurse him…other than that – he’s MINE! 

So that’s the menu! You’ll find many more menu ideas at Organizing Junkie!

Can you tell we’re having fall weather around here? Bring on the soup!! And with fall in the air…I created a few new free downloadable menu planners JUST FOR FALL!! 

Here’s a peak at one of them! 
There are five more new ones! 
Go help yourself!

We had a super productive weekend!!! We cleaned and cleaned and cleaned this house!! Whew did it need it!

And I made applesauce and salsa.

And a lady called and asked if I wanted some peaches. Well, of course I wanted some peaches! I told her I’d take whatever she wanted to give me. (She wouldn’t let me pay her either!)  Boy oh boy did she give us some peaches. 

This was only half of them! 

Sunday, August 31
Oatmeal with apples and cinnamon
Roast, gravy, corn on the cob, cherry tomatoes
Peanut butter and honey sandwiches, fruit

Monday, September 1
Whole wheat waffles with peach syrup (I’m going to experiment to make this!)
Beef and cheese burritoes, cantaloupe
Cookout with some friends!

Tuesday, September 2
Scrambled eggs, homemade turkey sausage
Grilled cheese sandwiches, cherry tomatoes, strawberry-peach slushies
Shepherd’s pie, salad

Wednesday, September 3 – Thursday, September 4
We’re going on a quick fun family trip!! I can’t wait to tell you about it on Gratituesday!!

Friday, September 5
Fruit-kefir smoothies, granola
Homemade pizza
Cheesy beef and rice, steamed carrots

Saturday, September 6
Giant breakfast cookies
Hamburgers (on homemade buns), onion rings
Lamb chops, baked potatoes, green beans

This week I’ll post about freezing and canning all those peaches. (If I ever finish freezing and canning all those peaches!)  And I’ll show you how to make applesauce!

With all this fruit in my kitchen…you can just imagine the party all the little fruit gnats are having! Anybody have a solution for those pesky little critters? (Aside from “hurry up and get your fruit canned and frozen”?!)

Find many other menu ideas at Organizing Junkie!

Would you believe…I actually think we have a fairly easy-going week this week? I can’t think of anything extra we have going on that would effect the way I plan my meals. When does this ever happen?

Huh. I don’t know what to do with myself. Could it be that we’ll actually have some evenings free to get extra work done in our yard? How about that?

Here’s the menu!

Sunday, August 24
Zucchini bread
Tuna casserole, peas
Potluck Picnic – Sandwiches, flourless peanut butter cookies

Monday, August 25
Whole wheat pancakes
Black bean salsa* with blue corn chips, watermelon
Deer steak, mashed potatoes, gravy, mixed veggies

Tuesday, August 26
Scrambled eggs, oranges
Summer veggies and fruits, whole wheat soft pretzels
Chicken tostadas, fresh tomatoes

Wednesday, August 27
Honey wheat muffins, pears
Meatballs, corn on the cob, green beans
Cream pasta with tomatoes, fried okra

Thursday, August 28
Granola, smoothies
Chicken salad, cucumber salad (cucumbers, mayo, vinegar, salt), carrot stix
Spaghetti, zucchini

Friday, August 29
Peanut butter honey toast, apples
Homemade pizza, peaches
Spaghetti squash with chicken cream sauce

Saturday, August 30
Breakfast cookies
Cheeseburger macaroni, peas
Steak, baked potatoes, corn on the cob

On the blogging menu for this week…I’ll share the recipe for my homemade graham crackers which I promised! You are SO gonna love ’em! And I’ll share how I make my *black bean salsa! And… don’t forget Gratituesday!

Check out more Menu Plan Monday over at Organizing Junkie! (Be sure to check out the giveaway of one of my ebooks while you’re there!)

Matt is assistant coach for our local Christian college women’s soccer team. Practices start Monday….three practices a day all week. (Oh how fun to wake up early to run…then run all afternoon in the heat…then go for a run at night before bed.) (I don’t like to run, can you tell?)

While soccer season is a busy one for us, it’s also tons of fun. We get to cook for the soccer team on Monday night, so that will be a fun way to get to know the girls on the team better…and a great time to treat them to some yummy home cooking! 

Here’s what our menu looks like this week:

Sunday, August 17
Banana bread, pears
BBQ chicken, cheesy mashed potatoes, green beans
Sandwiches, fruit

Monday, August 18
Whole wheat waffles
Homemade pizza pockets, fresh peaches (from our tree!)
Soccer team dinner:  Beef enchiladas, spanish rice, taco salad, chips and salsa, chocolate chip cookies

Tuesday, August 19
Scrambled eggs, oranges
BLT’s, cucumber salad, watermelon
Chicken and rice, carrots

Wednesday, August 20
Apricot breakfast bars
Beef and cheese burritos, nectarines
Chicken alfredo, steamed broccoli

Thursday, August 21
Homemade granola, kefir-fruit smoothies
Grilled chicken fingers, corn on the cob, tomatoes
Lamb chops, baked potatoes, mixed veggies

Friday, August 22
Peanut butter honey toast, pineapple
Cottage cheese and peaches, green beans
Homemade pizza

Saturday, August 23
Whole wheat cinnamon rolls
Clean out the fridge!
Grilled steak, corn on the cob, watermelon

This week on my blog I’ll be sharing what I feed my family for snacks…healthy snacks! See ya soon!

Check out more menu plans at Organizing Junkie.

Before I share my menu…I’ve just got a quick question that perhaps one of you will possibly know the answer to.

WHY….when Daddy is home and absolutely available…do the kids still come and wake up Mommy from her nap so that they can ask a very non-important question that certainly Daddy is very capable of handling? Does ANYBODY know? 

Okay, well…I just thought I’d ask. (And now you know how part of my weekend went…)  ;)

On to the menu…

Sunday, August 10
Oatmeal
BBQ beef, potato wedges, green beans
Boy’s cast party after final musical production- take apple pie

Monday, August 11
Whole wheat pancakes
BLTs (fresh tomatoes!!!!), carrots, watermelon
Fried chicken legs, new potatoes, gravy, peas

Tuesday, August 12
Scrabbled eggs, oranges
Tuna on tomatoes, strawberry-peach slushies
Meatballs, baked potatoes, corn on the cob

Wednesday, August 13
Applesauce bread, bananas
Turkey-cheese melts, fruit salad
Grilled chicken, tomatoes, green beans

Thursday, August 14
Fruit-kefir smoothies
Hamburger patties, tomatoes, homemade fries
Snacks for farmer’s market – cheese, apples, cashews, beef sticks, raisins

Friday, August 15
Chocolate swirl muffins, applesauce
Homemade pizza
Anniversary date!!!!! 

Saturday, August 16
Whole wheat donuts
Grilled cheese, raw fruits and veggies plate
Homeschool kick-off picnic – take hearty bean casserole, flourless peanut butter cookies

On the blogging menu for this week:  I’ll show you how I up green beans for winter…I’ll write about how I transitioned away from using so many coupons in the store so that we could eat healthier (even though it was painful)…I’ll share an awesome blessing about our upcoming anniversary date!!

Visit Organizing Junkie for more menu planning!!

Now…I don’t want to make a big deal of this….um…well…I’ll go ahead and tell you…

It’s my BIRTHDAY!!

Yes, I turned the big 35 today (Whoa that’s weird. I mean, I don’t think 35 is old. When other people turn 35. I just don’t feel 35…ya know?)  :)

Anyway…it’s my day to be spoiled by all the men in my life. 

Saturday night, Matt came to me with a notebook and pen in hand and said to me, “Okay, what would you like me to get done for you tomorrow?”

Seriously?  A “Honey Do List” for my birthday?! Who needs presents?!

So, we made a list (that I kept adding stuff to all day today) and Daddy and the boys spoiled me all afternoon and evening working on the list.

And they made me a chocolate cheesecake (using this recipe but with 1/2 cup cocoa added). A Honey Do List and a chocolate cheesecake? Ah, a very happy birthday!

Well, enough about that… Here’s our menu for this week!

Sunday, August 3 (My birthday menu!)
Awesome omelets made by Matt
Pizza Casserole (a group effort…following the recipe and Bible lesson from “Fill ‘Em Up!”)
Out to Applebees! (The boys had free kids meal certificates from the summer library reading program…woohoo!)

Monday, August 4
Whole wheat waffles
Hamburger patties, green beans, strawberry-peach slushies
Chicken stir-fry w/ squash, carrots, broccoli

Tuesday, August 5
Blueberry coffeecake
Tuna salad, fruit-kefir smoothies
Roast, carrots, potatoes, gravy

Wednesday, August 6
Orange muffins, fruit and yogurt delight
Homemade chicken nuggets and fries, carrots
Cheesy beef and rice, green beans

Thursday, August 7
Scrambled eggs with cheese, oranges
Quesadillas, apples
Pack snacks for Farmer’s market

Friday, August 8
Whole wheat soft pretzels, bananas
Turkey/cheese melts, fruit salad
Homemade pizza

Saturday, August 9
Breakfast cookies
Bean dip and chips, cantaloupe
Steak, baked potatoes, corn on the cob

We’re super excited to be starting school this week!! We’ve got our books and supplies all ready (pictures to come!)…and I wish I had a nickel for every time the boys have said, “I can’t wait for school to start!!” I LOVE it that they love learning!

We’re also busy this week with dress rehearsals and performances as Asa and Justus are in the musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”. They’ve been singing all the songs at home constantly and they are ready for the show!

And…stay tuned for more Getting Real With Food posts!

Here’s to a great week!

Check out more menu plans at Organizing Junkie!

To start off this week, I have nothing exciting to share. 

I have not been attacked by any roosters this week…and by all means, I am not at all thinking about putting scissors even close to my hair. We are still excitedly watching for the UPS man and eagerly preparing for our first day of school…but other than that…not one thing special or exciting is going on around here.

OH WAIT!

I’m hosting a GIVEAWAY for the new ebook I’m about to launch!  That’s kind of exciting! Go check it out and sign up for the giveaway!

And now for this week’s menu plan…

Sunday, July 27
Oatmeal, oranges
Take to potluck:  devilled eggs, fudgie brownies, burritoes
Quesadillas, fruit

Monday, July 28
Whole wheat pancakes
Lamb-burgers and onion rings, watermelon
Tuna casserole, peas

Tuesday, July 29
Scrambled eggs with cheese, kefir smoothies
Homemade pizza, strawberry-peach slushies
Shepherds pie, tossed salad

Wednesday, July 30
Apricot breakfast bars, bananas
Homemade chicken nuggets and fries, carrot sticks
Beef stroganoff (what with all that penne pasta I now have), zucchini

Thursday, July 31
Applesauce bread, pears
Pizza casserole , pineapple orange slushies
Pack snacks for Farmer’s Market

Friday, August 1
Fried eggs, oranges
Potato wedges, peaches and cottage cheese
Cheesy turkey stromboli, fruit salad

Saturday, August 2
Whole wheat donuts
Tostadas
Fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans

On the blogging menu for this week:  I’ll be snapping pictures of our Homeschool Hubbub as we get our school room and supplies ready…I’ll share a recipe for yummy and healthy lemonade and limeade…and don’t forget the GIVEAWAY!

Visit Organizing Junkie to check out other great menu plans!

Last week I told you how I was taking care of chickens for my friend who was out of town, remember? And remember how I told you that I was nervous that I would do something wrong and kill a chicken? I am so very happy to report that I started out with 50 chickens…and there are still…as far as I know…50 chickens.

And two roosters.

Two mean roosters.

Yeah, I’d forgotten to tell you that part. My friend Susan was walking me through all of the elements of chicken care: “Here’s the feed…here’s the hose for water…”

“Oh,”  she says, “And if the roosters try to attack you, just whack them over the head with the feed bucket.”

If the what? The roosters might attack me? I’m supposed to what? With the feed bucket? Uh…oh…okay… That doesn’t make me scared or nervous at all. <cough>

Each day last week, the boys and I would go over to do chicken chores. The boys would gather the eggs while I would courageously feed and water the chickens. 

Each day I would scope out where the roosters were and make sure I stayed out of their way. ‘Cause I really didn’t want to have to whack a rooster over the head. Not even a little bit.

So, everything went fine and I had no rooster attacks to tell you about. 

Until Saturday. I made it all the way to Saturday.

I had kindly filled the water…thingy. I had sweetly filled the chicken feeder with feed. I even smiled (albeit nervously) at the roosters in appreciation for leaving me alone all week.

And then it happened.

Not one, but both roosters simultaneously charged at me…at the same time…together. 

But don’t you worry. I bravely  jumped into the air in shock and fear…and screamed something that sounded kind of like, “Aaahhhhhhh….aaahhhhhhh. Aaahh. Aah.” (‘Cause that will stop a rooster from charging.)

And I sorta swung my bucket and hit one of the roosters barely, which made him look at me like, “Seriously? Is that all you’ve got, lady?”

In which I answered, “Yeah, pretty much. B-bye.” And I hightailed it out of that chicken coop. 

It is a GOOD thing I’d already given those chickens feed and water, because I still haven’t gotten my heart rate back to a normal pace….and there is NO WAY I was going back in there that day. 

Anyway…I returned home unscathed…and I’m sure the roosters are now completely intimidated by my presence, what with my strong muscled bucket swinging and high pitched shouting. 

Yeah, whatever.

Okay, now to the menu. (Which just might include Roasted Rooster on a platter…)

Sunday, July 20
Oatmeal, orange slices
Lamb chops, corn on the cob, grapes
Nachos

Monday, July 21
Whole wheat waffles
Tuna salad, strawberry-peach slushies
Chicken and rice, carrots

Tuesday, July 22
Fried eggs on toast, bananas
Homemade macaroni and cheese, peas
Swiss steak, new potatoes, green beans (hopefully fresh from the garden!)

Wednesday, July 23
Chocolate swirl muffins, applesauce
Chicken tostadas, pineapple
Spaghetti, tossed salad, corn

Thursday, July 24
Scrambled eggs, fruit smoothies
Meat and cheese burritoes, pineapple-orange slushies
Pack snacks to take to Farmer’s Market

Friday, July 25
French toast
Turkey and cheese melts, carrot sticks, milk shakes
Biscuits and gravy, eggs, potatoes

Saturday, July 26
Breakfast cookies
Cheesy turkey sausage stromboli, mixed veggies
Tacos…or Roasted Rooster…depending on how the next few days go… :)

I’m kidding of course..about roasting a rooster. 

(I might make rooster soup instead.)

Check out more menu plans at Organizing Junkie!

This week…we’ll be eating lots of eggs. 

Why, you ask? Because my friend with chickens is going out of town and she asked me to please feed and water their chickens while they are gone. And, I can keep all the eggs I collect each day. We’re talking about 50 chickens here. Which equals around 2 1/2 dozen eggs each day. Bring on the omelets!

Oh, and don’t think I’m not nervous about being in charge of 50 chickens for an entire week. (Remember how the guinea pig we were “guinea pig sitting” for a couple of weeks ago passed on while in our care?  Yikes! C’mon chickens…hang with me here…)

So here is our menu for the week….our eggstraordinary, eggsellent menu for the week. (I’m done cracking jokes now.)

Sunday, July 13
Oatmeal
Steak on the grill, steamed broccoli, watermelon
Sandwiches, southwest dip with blue corn chips, peaches

Monday, July 14
Pancakes
Sloppy Joes, cole slaw, devilled eggs
Spinach quiche, fruit salad

Tuesday, July 15
Scrambled eggs, oranges
Quesadillas, strawberry-peach slushies
Chicken alfredo, steamed carrots

Wednesday, July 16
Chocolate chip muffins, fried eggs
Bean dip with chips (sour cream and salsa), pears
BBQ meatballs, cheesy mashed potatoes, green beans

Thursday, July 17
Crepes with jelly, bananas
Tuna salad on lettuce and tomatoes, pineapple orange slushies
Grilled chicken breasts, broccoli, cantaloupe

Friday, July 18
Kefir-fruit smoothies
Homemade pizza, apple slices
Hamburgers on homemade buns, onion rings

Saturday, July 19
Breakfast cookies
Leftovers (if there are some)
Egg/veggie scramble, homemade turkey sausage, fruit

As for the blogging menu this week…I promised to start back up again with my Getting Real with Food series (perhaps I should share all of the wonderful attributes of eggs…). I’ll share some good starting places if you are trying to eat healthier. 

And…because we’ll be starting a new school year in just a few more weeks…which I’m  super excited about…I’ll begin sharing a bit about what all we’re gearing up for! 

See you soon! 

Get many more great menu ideas over at Organizing Junkie!