December Menu Plan

Yay!  I was able to sit down while Levi was napping, and I was able to get a menu plan together for December.  (Now, whether or not I stick to it is another story...)  I may change around the days, but I usually am able to conquer all of what I have planned in one way or another.  :)

This month is busy with birthdays, holidays, surgery (my mom's), shopping, baking, etc.!  January will be here before we know it!  So, hold on~

Here goes December:

1 - Fried Chicken Tenders, baked potato, broccoli, corn

2 - Tacos, rice and veggies

3 - Chicken and Noodles (Wish I could make them like my Mom!)

4 - Baked Sandwiches (maybe turkey and provolone ~ YUMMY!)

5 - Chicken Enchiladas

6 - Ham Macaroni and Cheese

7 - Sausage Gravy and Biscuits

8 - Bean Burritos (Meatless meal)

9 - Baked Chicken and Rice

10 - Spaghetti (From this day on for a couple weeks, I'm planning on cooking for us and Mom and Dad.  Mom will be coming home from the hospital on this day.)

11 - Pork Chops and Stuffing

12 - Donato's Pizza (I don't really care for this, but it's Rob's birthday and he wants Donato's.  So, I'm going to be a good wife and suffer...)

13 - Pulled Pork, Chips, and Fruit Salad (Hoping to get a cheap piece of pork and slow roast it.  We have to feed the college students lunch on this Sunday.)

14 - Chicken Manhattan

15 - Chicken Pot Pie

16 - Pancakes (I'm going to try Pumpkin Pancakes probably.  They sound so good!)

17 - Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup or Leftovers

18 - Planning on traveling to Tennessee, so probably eating on the road.

19 - 20 - Tennessee

21 - Spaghetti  (We love spaghetti at our house!)

22 - Fried Chicken Tenders

23 - Potato Crusted Chicken Casserole (Kind of like chicken pot pie in a crispy potato crust)

24 - Ham  (Would like to bake a ham with the works!)

25 - Dinner at my Aunt's house

26 - Ham Macaroni and Cheese (or something else with leftover ham)

27 - Taco Soup

28 - Chicken and Dumplings

29 - Chicken Beans and Rice

30 - Beef Burritos

31 - Chicken Parmesan

As you can see, we eat a lot of chicken.  I might (in my spare time) look for different recipes to try with chicken.  Of course, this may be the wrong month to attempt this!  Anyone want to share their favorites?

Random Pictures

It's been a while since I've blogged, and I'm always amazed how time flies so fast!  Time seems to always get away from me.  (I'm sure that NEVER happens to anyone else...)  I'm so far behind, I haven't done my December meal plan yet.  I have the next couple days done, but I need to finish it by Friday.  This is always a very busy time of year!  But, we are enjoying our time with family and friends.  Can't wait for some snow, too!  (I could live without the cold, though...)

I don't have much time right now, gotta get Levi in the bath tub, clean a little, do some laundry, work on my meal plan and grocery list, finish up Christmas gifts, tidy up around the house, and (if time permits) work on some crafts I've started.  See what I mean?  And all of this has to happen while entertaining a two-year-old!  And so goes our life...

I'll try to actually put together a "real" blog very soon.  Hope you are enjoying this time of year!  It is definitely our favorite time of year!  Merry Christmas (a little early)!!

(Explanation of the photos:  Two pictures are from our back yard, playing in the leaves.  Levi falls asleep with his hands folded like praying - So Cute!  Chris and Paula gave Levi a cute little apron with race cars on it, since he LOVES to help Mommy cook!  We took a picture of Levi with Mamaw and Papaw in front of our Christmas tree a couple weeks ago.  (Mom actually didn't blink in this one...)

NOEL SWAP

Two of the blogs that I follow had a Noel Swap, and it sounded like something that I would enjoy.  We used to have Secret Sisters at church, but, this year, it didn't work out.  So, when I saw "The Homespun Heart" and "With All That I've Been Given" were having a shoebox gift swap, I thought I'd give it a try.  My swap partner lives in Pennsylvania, and it was fun to meet a new friend and get to know her a little.  We plan on staying in touch, as well.  I really enjoyed putting together some gifts for Christmas, and I LOVE what she sent to me!!  So glad I was a part of this!  Here are pictures of the box I sent her and what she gave to me.  Thank you, ladies, for hosting this wonderful swap!

What I sent:  snowman dishtowel, Noel pot holders, snowman, memo book, 2 mini loaves of Pumpkin Bread, hand lotion, hand sanitizer, FAITH nativity ornament, snowflake ornament

What I received from Sarah:  snowman box, peach butter, Christmas apron, recipe cards with a couple recipes written on them, homemade gift tags, gold ribbon and silver ribbon, snowman dishtowel, Welcome snowman/sled, snowman ornaments, white snowflake pail

Such cute items and so much fun!  Looking forward to the next one...

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...

I know, it's only November 8th.  And we're actually having an INDIAN SUMMER this weekend.  (Yay!  70 degrees again!)  But, last week, my husband came home from work one evening and told me that he wanted to put up the CHRISTMAS tree.  Sure, why not?  So, we put up our CHRISTMAS tree and lights.  I'm waiting to put up the snowman decorations around the house.  Still too early for snow, so I'm going to wait a few weeks.  But, I love to turn off the lights in the house and watch the CHRISTMAS lights.  So relaxing and serene!  And, of course, like I mentioned a few weeks ago, we are listening to our CHRISTMAS cds.  We love this time of year!  You really should try it!  :)  (Of course, your neighbors might think you're a little weird...)

HaPpY bIrThDaY!!!

This is a special post for my friend who is having a BIRTHDAY!  I have known SHELLEE for 33 of her 34 birthdays...  (Sorry, Shellee, I just gave your age away.)  We spent several SUMMERS together, went to SCHOOL together, went to CHURCH together, CHEERed, SANG, etc.  Now, she is living on the other side of the world (Japan) faithfully SERVING the Lord in a foreign country.  Since pride is a sin, I won't say that I am proud of her.  But, I am very HaPpY to see her doing the Lord's work with her husband and eight boys.  Her mama, PAM, would be so HaPpY, too!  (She is, I'm sure!)  

So, as she celebrates her birthday, I am praying that Shellee is able to enjoy a special day.  She deserves it!!  Wish I could be with her to give her a hug!  For those of you who know her, if you have her email or phone number, let her know you are thinking about her.  She would LOVE to hear from you!

Thank you, Shellee, for all that you've done for me!  LOVE YOU!

HALLELUJAH!

"For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth" ~ HALLELUJAH!

"And He shall reign for ever and ever, King of kings, and Lord of lords" ~ HALLELUJAH!

He is still in control!  What a relief!  What a great and mighty God we serve!

Just Levi