a cozy afternoon

I worked this past weekend.  I'm sort of going through a working 'binge'-if you will-.  By Saturday I will have worked 9 out of 13 days.  Meaning work 3, off 2, work 3, off 2, work 3.  Taking into consideration that I have to flip between days and nights.  And the days I work really take up the whole 24-hr period....with the 12 hr shift + the commute.  Not much other than work gets done on work days.  I'm exhausted (aren't we all though!).

Anyhow- the point is not to complain....but that it will all be worth it because come Saturday....I will be off for 15 straight days!  One of the perks of being a nurse is that we can often times trade our schedules.  I only took 3 days off of work....then moved my schedule around....and voila!  Fifteen days off.  And I can't wait.  Thrilled is an understatement.

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So I woke up this afternoon and let Geoff rest his eyes for a bit.

Parker wanted to paint...and on the way to the office decided she didn't want to paint, but to play with the shaving cream instead.  Whatever is fine by me.

She said it was her snow.

Geoff wasn't down for long and got up and offered to make brownies with Parker.

Around 3:40 I went and opened Grace's door to let her kind of wake up on her own.  She's usually in a better mood this way.  If I actually go in there and stand over her crib while she wakes....she's usually on the whinier side.

Today- she was in a great mood!  (getting this genuine smile by holding Pot-a-hontus up over the camera)

We planned to have hamburgers for dinner tonight since Geoff would be home to grill.  It was a beautiful day and we had the windows open.  The girls and I played while Geoff cooked....

You see- I kind of like having a dessert on hand.  It's called lev-er-age.  ;)

I had planned to make PW's french fries, but took a short cut and just baked ours (I did cut fresh potatos and let them soak in water for a few hours before baking)....and then at the last minute decided to add cheese since we had bacon, chives, and jalapenos, too.  Oh- and the semi-homemade ranch dressing!

A variety for the kids.

Happy Monday all.

This week's menu:

So I've been trying to stick with a strict budget and menu planning.  This will be our 3rd week and I am so happy that we've stuck with it.  I know it's always easier when we first start doing things like this....and then over time...we become lazy or too busy.  But I really hope we stick with this because we have saved so much money....and eventhough we aren't eating the healthiest, I still think I have lost a few pounds.  Fattening foods at home just don't seem to be as fattening as fast food.  That- coupled with the fact that I usually don't place as much food on my plate as restaurants do....and I don't usually get seconds.

This week took me a little long to plan because I am working 6 out of 8 days.....so it had to be stratetigic in the difficulty and mess factor.  I also have to make sure it's something that I am at least half way looking forward to....otherwise, it's extra easy for me to just say, "ohhh....let's just pick something up."

This week is also good because several of these recipes are halved and frozen for another meal to have in a few weeks or next month.

So anyway- here is our menu for this week:

Cheese and chili enchiladas (made in 2- 8" aluminum square pans..one for eating and one to freeze for later) salsa, rice, beans, salad (we just got a tub of mixed greens already washed....made ranch dressing from the Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch dry seasoning pack....and the intention is to have a little side salad with most meals....the girls even eat the salad!)

Lasagna (also made in 2- 8inch aluminum square pans, one for now and one to freeze), salad, and olive cheese bread (I had all the ingredients except for the French bread which costs just a little over a dollar.....and I will cook half, and freeze half.

Monday night Geoff will grill hamburgers....and I am going to attempt to make PW's french fries.  Since he'll have the grill fired up....I am going to have him grill us some chicken to put on salads the next day.

Which brings us to the next meal....Grilled Chicken Salad.  We'll use the mixed greens, hard-boiled eggs, cucumber, tomato, and cheese.  The girls will probably eat some leftovers or some of our chicken and salad as well.

And a Taco Ring...served with this salsa, sour cream, and salad.


Notice: I didn't put days beside them here because it is ever evolving.  It never fails....I will have each day planned out....and I still sorta do....but sometimes, depending on what's going on...it is easier to make certain things on certain days.  Also keeping in mind if I need leftovers for lunch the next day or not.

And for breakfast throughout the week....I thought we'd try these egg muffins {another recipe that we already have all of the ingredients for}


If you're in a meal planning rut, I hope this helps!