Busy Day!

I teach English to middle school and high school students each Tuesday, so Tuesdays are always busy. Today was even busier than usual. I really do enjoy teaching, though. This year I am teaching just English, not history also like I have been doing for the last few years, and I'm finding that I really enjoy focusing on one subject. English, especially grammar, is my favorite subject to teach.

After school I usually come home and crash. However, it was pouring down rain yesterday and is supposed to pour down rain tomorrow. So I decided that we should take advantage of the sunshine. First, we went to get the van washed. Dave took it camping this weekend, and it was covered in mud. The kids were fascinated by the car wash. Then we went to play at the park for a bit.

Tonight I went to drop off clothes at one last consignment sale for the season. The church that is holding the sale is very close to our house, and I was able to drop off the stuff and get home very quickly. Now the kids are in bed, and I am crashed on the couch where I plan to stay until bedtime.

Menu Plan Monday

With 8 weeks left until the baby comes, I decided it is time to start stocking the freezer. So anything that is starred, I will be doubling for the freezer. Also, Molly is coming over on Friday to make several freezer meals. I'll share details on those on Friday. Anyway, here is what we are eating this week.

Tonight - Chicken Parmesan, noodles, homemade focaccia bread*, green beans

Tuesday - Beef Lo Mein, leftover focaccia bread, corn

Wednesday - Waffles*, eggs, bacon

Thursday - Spicy baked chicken, rolls*, broccoli (I'm planning to boil and chop some extra chicken while dinner is cooking. Then I will freeze it in one cup portions for casseroles, pasta, etc.)

Friday - Out to eat before Dave's school's Homecoming game

Saturday - Pork BBQ*, macaroni and cheese, salad

Sunday - To Be Decided, maybe soup in the crockpot

Yes, We Are Still Alive

I didn't plan to take a break from blogging this week; it just happened. After being sick last week and then caring for sick kiddos last weekend, I had a lot of catching up to do.

Here's what I have been up to this week -
-LOTS of grading for my home school English classes
-Lesson planning for my English classes
-Lesson planning for Caleb's preschool
-Teaching home schoolers and preschoolers
-Napping :)
-Cleaning and laundry
-Organizing my coupons
-Switching out the kids summer and winter clothes
-Prepping for another consignment sale
-Eating lunch with Dave at school
-Meeting Molly at the mall
-Baking
-Having my parents over for dinner
-Holding down the fort while Dave is gone for the weekend
-Suffering from heartburn and achy hips (only 9 more weeks!)
-And most importantly, loving on my kiddos

Menu Plan Monday

You might notice a few meals bumped from last week. A sick Mommy followed by sick kiddos meant that not a whole lot got done around here last week.

Tonight - Chicken in gravy, rice, rolls, cinnamon apples

Tuesday - Eggs, bacon, biscuits, smoothies

Wednesday - Bacon cheeseburger roll up, oven fries, grapes

Thursday - Pork roast, rice, broccoli

Friday - Fish sticks, mac and cheese, peas (Dave gone)

Saturday - Hamburgers, hotdogs, leftover mac and cheese, carrots

80% Savings at Publix

We managed a trip to Publix this morning without getting too wet. It seems to have rained on Mondays an awful lot lately. Anyway, I spent $20.30 and saved $80.54. I've been averaging right around $60 for groceries each week, and I'm thrilled to have shaved our grocery budget down that low. I probably spent $100 - $125 a week before I started this crazy couponing. And we have WAY more food around the house now than we ever did before.

Here's what I got -
4 Publix reusable bags - FREE
1 head Romaine lettuce - $.89
1 lb grapes - $1.50
1 loaf Publix white bread - $.01
4 Bumble Bee tuna pouches - $.01 overage each
1 bag Chex Mix - $.33 overage
2 lbs bananas - $.44
2 boxes Cheezits - $.90 each
2 bags Kraft shredded cheese - $1.67 each
3 boxes Hamburger Helper - $.55 each
2 packages Nestle cookies - $.45 each
1 package Sorrento cheese sticks - $1.00
1 12 pack Mug root beer - $3.50
3 packages ground beef (all around 3/4 - 4/5 lb) - $.55, $.73, and $.77
3 packages Smithfield bacon - $1.00 overage each
2 bottles Juicy Juice - $1.33 each
2 boxes Green Giant frozen vegetables - FREE (enough with the free vegetables already)
2 bottles Sundown vitamins - $.78 for both
7 cans Pillsbury crescent rolls - FREE

Sick Kiddos

This is what it has looked like around my house today.
Both kids are running a fever. Alexa's has been higher than Caleb's (103.6 at the highest), and she seems to be feeling worse than him. At least she perks up a bit when she has some Advil.

Fortunately, I had a whole pantry and freezer full of food and was able to make a quick Crockpot soup this morning. Along with a box of corn muffins, it will be the perfect sick day dinner.

Look Familiar?

Here's what my Alexa picked out to wear today -

And here I am wearing the same outfit a few years (or perhaps decades) ago -
My mom made both the overalls and the matching stuffed lion.