Menu

We are serious about saving money around here.  One of the ways that we have saved a lot of money since I started staying home is by very carefully managing our grocery budget.  In fact, it's become somewhat of an obsession of mine to spend as little as possible on groceries and still feed my family decent food.  Over the last few months, I have gone from doing a weekly or bi-weekly shopping trip to a monthly one.  This has really made our grocery budgeting a lot easier, and we save money too.  Everything is planned for the month...sticking to a plan saves money.  Plus, fewer trips to the store, means fewer impulse buys, which means money saved.  So, I've started making a monthly menu and shopping for the whole month.  We still have to make small trips for bread, milk and produce, but Mark usually picks that stuff up for me, which means I'm only going to the grocery store once a month.  (Insert angels singing "Hallelujah" here).

The hardest part is planning a whole month of meals at one time.  Here's our menu for the month...we can get 2, sometimes even 3 meals out of many of the things I make because the girls aren't really eating huge portions yet.  Some nights we will just have sandwiches, and on rare occasions, we eat out.  So, I don't plan something for every night.

1. Cranberry Apple Pork chops
2. Mini Cheddar meat loaves--a friend gave me a recipe for this a couple of years ago...so good.  It's quick and easy, and I usually have all the ingredients on hand.  I'll have to post this recipe in a later post.
3. Beef enchiladas--I'm trying this recipe I found on Pinterest for the first time...hope it's good.
4. Crock Pot cashew chicken
5. Chicken Spaghetti--from Pioneer Woman
6. tacos
7. taco soup--this is one of our favorite soups, and it makes a ton, so you can freeze some for later
8. Crock Pot Red beans and rice--found this on Pinterest, I love how easy and yummy it is
9. Pulled pork sandwiches--Aldi sells pulled pork, already made, and it is really good.  It's nice to have on hand for those nights that you need something quick.
10. White Chicken Chili--this recipe makes a lot.  You can either half it, or make the whole batch and freeze some for later in the month.  It is quick and easy.
11. BBQ ribs
12. Baked Spaghetti--another recipe that I will post in a later post.  It's a good twist on traditional spaghetti, and it is one of Mark's favorite meals.
13. Salmon Patties
14. Pizza
15. Chili

So, what is your family eating this month?  I'm always looking for new ideas. :)

Ten

Aidan is ten.  He's been 10 since December, but I've just now taken the time to process it.

Aidan in Arkansas this fall

Aidan, the day I brought him home from the hospital  

I can hardly believe it.  I've been really emotional about ten.  This ten years has sped by at an unbelievable pace.  And if the next ten go by just as fast, well, he'll be a man before I know it.  And, that makes me get a little choked up. 





I remember when I was pregnant with Aidan, wondering what it would be like to be a mom...I had no idea how wonderful it would be.  And now, I've had ten years of wonderful.  I am so lucky.  Words escape me when I try to describe the ways he has blessed my life.  Like most things in life that are amazing, kids don't make sense on paper.  They cost a lot of money, they destroy all of your nice things, they never let you sleep, they take up all your time, but you love every minute of it. 


How do I describe Aidan?  He is my only son.  I've discovered, through him, that there is so much more to boys than I thought.  He is this sweet mix of rough and rowdy and loud and gentle and nurturing.  One minute he is running through the house with a cap gun, yelling and shooting everything in sight, and the very next minute, he is holding his baby sister and telling her how sweet she is, and that she is the cutest baby he's ever seen.  He finds potty and booty humor endlessly funny.  One minute he is driving Ella crazy and the next he is being unbelievably sweet to her.  Like, when he offers her his jacket when it's cold outside, or helps her clean up her toys, or tries to teach her to read.  He is developing this wonderful sense of humor that I just love.

He loves to play with Legos, and he is crazy about video games.  He loves to be outside.  He likes to shoot his bb gun, and he is a good shot.  He loves to throw a football or baseball, and to run...he's always running. He could play hide and go seek or tag all day, every day if we would let him.  He loves riding his bike, or scooter or his green machine...he's been fascinated by anything with wheels since he was little bitty.  He has this faith that catches me by surprise sometimes.  He doesn't talk about it much, but whenever he's worried he will grab Ella by the hand, kneel with her by the couch and pray.  I love that she sees him doing this...she looks up to him so much.  He's good at math and reading.  He loves science.  Even at 10, he still adores his mommy.  :)  He looks up to his daddy and his pawpaw; he says he wants to be a good man like they are.  I would say, he's well on his way.

Aidan at 15 mos. old

Even though 10 is hard on me, this year has been really rewarding.  Over this last year, I've seen a lot of the teaching and training that Mark and I have done really start to sink in.  I hate that he's not my baby anymore, but I am so excited to know the young man he is becoming.  He is compassionate, funny, a good friend, and so very smart.  God has blessed him in big ways.  I cannot wait to see what God has in store for his life.  Even if that means he has to grow up....

Aidan in Telluride