Budgeting and Menu Planning

I recently had a friend who asked me how I planned our menu and what I did to prepare our food.  I had some time over my break from school to think about it and I decided to blog about it.  It goes much farther than our menu to embrace our whole lives and what we do each week.

1. I look at our calendar and plan our menu around our weekly activities.  In this season of life we have wrestling two nights a week, gymnastics one night a week, and at least one other night when we are busy!  So I plan to cook at least 4-5 nights a week.  I adjust leftovers and pizza night around our lives.
   
2. I stick to at least 2 things I already know how to cook and don't make plans to learn new things until I'm ready... so weekends are times I try new dishes!  I adjust my schedule so the EASIEST things to cook (crock pot meals) are on my busiest days or the days when I know I will be tired... Mondays and Thursdays usually win!
   
3. I plan the meals.  I examine our pantry, fridge, and freezer to see what we have on hand.  After I have taken stock at home I make my grocery list.  Sometimes I plan my menu around what we already have on hand.  I am trying to develop the habit of using the foods we have instead of trashing them...   Sometimes I notice that I already have a whole meal on hand (spaghetti noodles, sauce, and venison in the freezer) so I only have to buy a salad and bread.
   
4. I make my grocery list for meals and recipes.  I also take stock of the kids' lunch stash and their breakfast items.  I like to make breakfast on the weekends, so I look at that too.
   
5. I know this all sounds like a LOT of steps, but I think I probably spend 20 minutes doing this whole process.  I bring my laptop into the kitchen, pull up my Google calendar, and compare it to the wall calendar.  I begin my Walmart grocery pickup list while I'm in the kitchen!
   
6. Once the menu is made and my meals are planned, I begin the process of prepping for them.  Sometimes I make freezer meals ahead of time, but mostly I prep the day before or the day of.  If I have a lot of leftovers I make a freezer meal... or have it for lunch that week too!  :)
   
7. I put away the groceries after the pick up day and then write our dinners for the week.  I adjust the menu as needed once the week starts.  Sometimes what I planned for Tuesday actually works better for us on Wednesday, etc.  Either way, I have all the ingredients on hand to make the meals for the week.
   
8. Sometimes I have to adjust plans as the week unfolds and we have to move a meal to the next week.  I try to be flexible.  I also try to keep my grocery budget to $100 a week or less.. that includes the household goods and the cleaning supplies...
   
9. "Shopping" in my pantry, fridge, freezer before going to the grocery store or even making a list helps me save money AND time!

Elizabeth turns 4.

This sassy girl turned 4 today!  She is stubborn and has a vocabulary that most grown folks strive to use.  She is vibrant and funny and she keeps us laughing.  She is a wonderful child and an absolute challenge to raise.  Proud to be her momma. 

Hayesface goes to Kindergarten

I only cried a little bit.

I only cried a little bit about 5 times during the day.

He was anxious and excited for his first day of Kindergarten.  He couldn't get out of his carseat fast enough.  He was SO excited to be a Winston Wildcat and be a part of a BIG school.  He is the best example of an eager learner and the best 'first day of school' kid ever.  He jumped out of the van and I had to remind him not to run across the parking lot.  He was thrilled to walk into the building and embrace his new journey.  

Thumbs up in the car before we left the house.

Me:  Hayes, what is your bus number?

Hayes:  315.

Being the good seatbelt mom, I fixed his strap after the photo.  I'm aware that it was not correct and not safe for travel.  Thanks for your concern about my kiddo... but I promise, I worry more about him than you do.  Ever. 

Me:  Hayes, what is your bus number?

Hayes:  315.

5 minutes later...

Me:  Hayes, what is your bus number?

Hayes:  315.

10 minutes later...

Me:  Hayes, what is your bus number?

Hayes:  Mommy, we have talked about this 3 times already.  Don't ask me again.

Me:  Okay, well... what is your bus number just in case I forget?

Hayes:  Mommy.  315.

So... we were on time for school and I was THRILLED at that.  Time management:  not my strongest suit.  Working on that.  I made him go back up there in the evening after dinner and take photos with this sign.  I wanted to document it and make sure we had no rush and no photo bombers.  Also, I didn't cry any after school.

Hayes managed to drink his drink, eat apples, and socialize at lunch.  He inhaled his snack after school.  I packed a sandwich, chips, and apples for lunch.  Kid is going to have to eat more than that!  Right?!

I think I'll take a photo with the school sign each year so we can document start to finish!

All smiles.  Day 1, done.  179 to go!

Family Weekend

I went out of town for a conference for work.  I got the following pictures while I was gone.

Dinner Friday night.... with Kendall, their BFF cousin.

Shopping on Saturday with Grandma at Walmart.  I cringed at this photo as I would need meds to shop at Walmart.  On a Saturday.  With my children.  Yikes.

But it looks like they had fun and were sweet.

Thief.

Anybody else have an almost 3 year old who wants to share/steal all their food?  I'm hoping it is not just me.  This little girl is all into the foods that everyone else is eating and she wants to steal it.  I've just learned that I must share with her.  I figure that I'm sharing with her and she likes to eat good food.  She actually likes to eat all the foods...unlike her brother who eats 5 things.  

Fries for dinner...

...marshmallows for dessert...

Cochran's Dinner Theatre

The scene:  a weeknight at the Cochran's house.

Characters:  A Minnie Mouse and a Bumble Bee (who needs a new costume)

The action is too much for words, but just enough for laughs.

I'm so thankful my parents didn't have the internet for my obnoxious childhood moments.

Just a bunch of pictures in a book or an envelope....

Not that I print photos... so my kids are all stuck in the computer.

Totally dinner approved, yes?

This is an appropriate dinner, right?  I mean, it has a couple of food groups... most of them sugar... but it totally counts as dinner.  I had this a few nights last week because I was too lazy/pregnant/tired to cook anything.  My children didn't mind one bit.  

Artic Atlanta

Well, we wrapped up 3 full days of snow and ice today.  The temps have finally gotten above freezing long enough to make a difference and we have seen the snow melting.  Praise Jesus for melting snow, and no, I'm not kidding or exaggerating or whatever you will.  I'm glad the snow was here.  I am thrilled my little ones got to play in it, but I'm just as elated to see it GONE.  It is pretty for about 12 hours, after that... I want it gone.  And it is not pretty after someone drives in it.  Then it turns into icy slushy mess that is brown.  Yuck.

Snow days for me have been about organizing clothes in the kids' rooms, planning menus for the month of February, and gathering coupons for grocery shopping.  I was supposed to go to a work conference this weekend, but that obviously didn't happen since I just retrieved my vehicle today.  Thankfully it was still parked at the McDonalds where I left it and it hadn't been damaged or towed.  The roads were actually manageable and I did some grocery shopping before I returned home to the manic children.  I also went to Hobby Lobby and got some ribbon for my stash!

Hayes and Elizabeth are troopers and have been great considering we are all tired of being stuck at home, inside the house.  We did go outside Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, but yesterday we stayed inside all day.  It takes so long to put on all the gear and then they only stay outside for maybe 20-30 minutes.  They don't even like the snow.  They have tossed all the cushions in the floor every day, had a trampoline via couch to floor, and ran multiple laps around the middle of the house.  They have watched numerous Disney movies and sang along to most of them.  We also clap when appropriate during movies.  Every dress up outfit has seen action during Artic Atlanta week.

We made Snow Cream yesterday.  The can of sweetened condensed milk I had said it expired in 2012.  Oops.  Nobody is dead yet and we all ate it, so it must be okay?  Snow Cream was delicious and I'd never made it or had it before, that I can remember... It went along well with the brownies Caroline delivered!

I'm busily preparing dinners for next week while the children are napping.

Sunday is Chicken Tortilla Soup.

Source

Monday is Loaded Potato & Chicken Bake

Source

Tuesday is Vegetable Soup.  

I don't have a link or a source.  I just add a bunch of veggies to the crock pot and some ground meat and add some seasoning.  I also make cornbread, which is my most favorite food ever.  

Wednesday is Queso Chicken Pasta Bake

Source

I've been craving cheese dip like no other with this pregnancy, so I'm hoping this queso bake will be a delicious substitute!  

Thursday we have gymnastics and we go out to dinner after that.  Friday & Saturday Daryk will be coaching at Sectionals, so the kids and I will either have pizza, cereal, leftovers, or sandwiches.  I try to plan my meals around our lives and busy schedules.  I also plan a whole month at a time and adjust depending on grocery store sales, activities, etc.  I go shopping once a week for our meals and try my best to stick within a $100 a week budget for everything.  Maybe I'll post about how I budget that, coupon for savings, and plan meals one day.  I truly enjoy being organized.  Makes my life easier.  

Pizza Painting

I'm typically a 'one thing at a time' kinda mom.  Last weekend the kids were really into their artwork right about the time I was ready to serve the dinner that Papa Johns just delivered. I mean, isn't pizza better when its hot!?  My children do not share that same thought and would prefer that everything be lukewarm or cold.  Ewwww.  I felt bad interrupting their painting session for pizza, so I just let them eat while being little artists.

Hayes was a little more concerned with keeping his artwork and pizza separated so that his pizza didn't mess up his artwork.  Elizabeth could not get enough pizza while painting and could not have cared any less about the two messing each other up.  She dives right into both with little regard to what might happen.  

I love it when I get her hair up in this little bun thingy.  It is so cute and makes her look so grown up!  She typically spends most of her meal time wiping her face with a napkin and pushing her hair out of her eyes.  I try to keep it off her face, but sometimes that fight isn't worth the fight.  I remember on this particular night I traded the painting for the hair fixing. It was one for the other and I got the better end of the deal!  

Notice, he's completely moved the paper AWAY from his pizza, as in... you cannot see it... while he's eating.  After he was finished with that bite and put the pizza back down, wiped his hands, and mouth... he would pick up the artwork from the chair located on the left.  Smart kid.  Sometimes too smart... for his own good.

Cousin Playdate

Last week I got to play with my littles and Kendall.  She came to our house while her Daddy was coaching wrestling with our Daddy.  I go to experience the '3 baby' deal with her for a few hours.  She was the most well behaved of the 3 while they played together.  My two, on the other hand, were making me crazy.  I try to make sure that I spend time with them as soon as I get home, so they will be able to play independently without needing to crawl in my butt.

On this particular day I was NOT successful with the 'play independently part' of the plan.  They pretty much acted like they wanted to play in the middle of the kitchen floor while I tried to cook dinner.  Cooking dinner while trying to hurdle two preschoolers is like cleaning the house while they are playing.  Either way, we had  great visit with Kendall and everyone eventually ate dinner.  

Favorites

Sooooooooooooooo, these girls happen to be our favorites.  They rescue me when I'm having a bad day.  They pick up my kids when I can't or don't want to.  They come over and help me fix dinner or fold laundry or play with the kids so I can take a nap.  Jordan and Hope are two girls that I'm going to call my friends for a long time.  I see them at family parties and vacations and eventually at the weddings of my 3 little people.  They will be welcome at my house anytime and I'll always love them as my own.  

Jordan (on the right) happens to be one of the first baby sitters that Hayes ever had.  She came to my rescue several times in that first year and she's always the first one we call when she's home.  She left us to go to college (lame) and we miss her terribly.  I am proud of her and what she's doing with her life, but I'm also selfish enough to say that I MISS her and want her home all the time.  

Hope (on the left) is still technically our student at school.  She is a cheerleader and wrestling manager and she keeps me in line.  She's my lunch buddy and a one of a kind girl who could never be replaced.  Her honesty and level headed thinking is just something you don't find in a child, who's almost a grown up.  Sorta.  She has a fantastic sense of humor and I cannot wait to see what happens with her once she leaves us in the fall.  

Princess soup

Apparently it is no longer necessary to heat the soup.

Or use a bowl.

So she just rolls with cold soup and the can.

We are stellar parents.

Noodles for dinner?

So, I have one child who doesn't like to eat anything.

He literally doesn't choose to eat much at all.

We have limited solutions for dining out options and meals at home.

Granted, I'm aware that I created that beast because I was afraid he would choke to death.

Kid had no teeth until he was almost 14-15 months old!

So, I created a picky eater who's afraid of textures.

And I know he's my child because I'm also a texture phobic eater....

if such a thing exists...

This girl, well, she's not.

She eats anything and everything we give her.

Occasionally she tells us that she doesn't like it.

But mostly we get this response. 

Recently on facebook, instagram, or twitter I saw the hashtag #rehearsaldinnerpics.

I died laughing and almost snorted.

I'm putting those in that file for this girl.

I love her.

A Day in the Life...

My days are pretty routine once school is back in session.

I do not know how people who work faaaaar from home function.

I hate to drive in my car and I hate getting up early.

Those are the top two reasons why I work 3 miles from my home.

A.M.

6-6:45 a.m. fight with alarm and try not to get up.

6:30-7 Hayes usually yells from his room for us to 'open his dooowah.'

7:00 I get Hayes milk and a pop tart to eat while he plays.

7-7:20 I get ready for school, make up, hair, etc.

7:20-7:30 I get Libby up and dressed for the day.

7:30-7:45 I load the kids up, drive to the designated grandparent for the day.

7:45-8 I drive to school.  Sometimes I get Chick fil A or Martins.

I like biscuits, ok?

8-4:00 I teach, plan, grade, laugh, eat, giggle, and shake my head a lot.

P.M.

4-4:30 I drive to pick up the kids, sometimes get groceries and then head home.

Sometimes I have cheer practice.

Sometimes Daryk gets the kids and I go exercise.

Sometimes I go have Target Therapy.

Sometimes I take a nap or have club meetings after school.

4:30-6 I make/prepare dinner and we eat.  

We are old people and eat an early dinner.

Judge me.

6-7:30 I clean up dinner, play with children, referee boxing matches, chase children, etc.

7:30-8 We run a bath for the kids and Daryk bathes them. 

I pick out their clothes for the next day and load bags for transit.

I put my clothes out, their clothes out, and pack my lunch.

I load every single thing I possibly can into the car and get my coffee ready for the next day.

8-8:30 I bathe (most nights) and get myself ready for bed.

8:30-9 I go to bed and usually fall asleep by 9:30-10 p.m.

My 'days' vary from season to season depending on the sport season.

We have all sorts of things we do after school as sponsors and coaches, so nothing is the same!

Friday Follies

Last Friday I came home from running errands and walked in the house to my kids and wrestlers.

Hayes looks at me and says, "Momma, we got boys!"

I laughed out loud.

He said it like they were a present or something we went to the store and bought.

We were taking a family field trip to the Kennesaw area and dropping the 'boys' off.

We had planned to go eat dinner and shop some in the area.

We wanted to go to the jumping place up there, but we were too late!

Hayes was so disappointed, but he survived.

Just a little snack on the way to Kennesaw.

He was laughing at Elizabeth while she was eating her toes...

then he decided he would try his toes.

**side note--his feet stink like a grown man and he's only 3**

We.  Had.  The.  Varsity.

I don't think the kids ate any of the nuggets OR fries we gave them.

But they liked the hats and the icecream.

And here's what you missed...

This is her standard look. 

Paci.

Cup.

Blanket.

Or two... two blankets.

Game.

This is his standard look.

Big smiles.

And the dimples.

It is usually accompanied by the belly laugh.

I love the belly laugh.

It is my favorite thing in the world.

I never ever want to forget how that sounds.

Then there is this look.

I don't know what in the world could be better than this...

Her tiny little body just exudes joy.

She radiates happy, except for when she's being defiant or disobedient.

And she only does that at least 5 times a day...

Otherwise, pure joy.

Patience is not her virtue.

She got irritated with the ice cream cone and slammed it down.

Juusssssssssssssst like her momma.

This.

These moments.

He is so sweet.

He loves her.

He is so sweet to everyone.

Remind me to write a post about what his teachers wrote about him in his evaluation.

Worth a whole entry for that information...

Oh, and this.

These moments.

I wouldn't trade the dirty laundry, the never ending questions, and the sibling fights for the world.

They argue like crazy.

They spit and kick and hit and push and shove and yell at each other...

But in the end of it all... its lovely to be together.

They are my world.

The crazy, nonsense, picky eater, big brother...

The silly, loving, defiant, 'I'll eat anything' baby sister....

And the daddy who helps with housework.

And yardwork.

And laundry and bathtime every night.

They rock and I love them. 

I love free stuff.

A few weeks back I got an email from Fandango asking if I'd like to go to a **free** movie.

Uh, yeah.  Duh.

We love free.

So I filled out the info and a few hours later got confirmation of our tickets!

Two FREE tickets to see Olympus Has Fallen. 

Did I already mention I love free?

Plus it had some amazing humans in it.

Gerard Butler (he's in my top 5) and Morgan Freeman (who I love dearly).

And Ashley Judd, who's politics are crazy, but I still love her.

Last night we waited for the babysitter to arrive (thanks Hope) and then headed out.

We drove across town, yes I'm from the sticks, and had dinner with my baby sister.

We ate at this cute little corner cafe La Madeleine.

I was a teensy bit worried that husband wouldn't find anything to eat there.

Thankfully he chose the ham and cheese sandwich...

ohmygoshdeliciousfood.

I had a chicken salad sandwich on croissant, which is my most favorite bread ever.

And I really love bread.

Like, a lot.

A lot a lot.

More than any other food.

Daryk got ham and cheese and it was amazing!

Leigh Anne had a salad.

I'm sure it was good, but I was too busy shoving my face with my sandwich to notice salad.

After dinner we did a little casual shopping at the local Goodwill.

We all had pre buyer's remorse and didn't even buy any of the things we had in our hands to purchase!

Oh well.

We headed across the street to the theatre for the screening after our shopping trip.

The movie screening mafia was out front taking tickets.

We had to power down our cell phones and get passes to go use the potty.

No joke.

I felt like my students.

No phone and a potty pass.

High school all over again, except I didn't have a phone, instead a pager.

Y'all remember those!? 

Mine was green and it was awesome.

It survived not one, but TWO wash cycles in its lifetime.

My iPhone barely car survive a little splash of water.

I'm easily distracted.

Geez.

So the movie passes said to be early, and we were.

But we were late-early and had to sit in the front row of the theatre.

I'm pretty sure my forehead wrinkles grew exponentially while we watched that movie last night.

The movie itself was amazing!

Action packed, and lots of American pride present in the film.

Action from start to finish and a few predictable things, but it was very well played.

I don't want to give away too many details, so y'all go see it.

Or rent it on Netflix in a few months.

Or Redbox it later on.

It was well worth the free trip we took and I'd pay money to see it again!

The actors were great in their roles.

It was really neat to be able to see a movie a week before the release as well!

I felt kinda important, but not really.

I was just pleased to finally have all that Fandango spam mail pay off!

I'll never complain about the excessive emails again.

Wonder if I can continue to get free tickets....

Disney Day 2.

 We started our day very early and headed to Magic Kingdom.

This very curious girl explored every aspect of the line waiting to see Pooh.

You will see her wet bottom in just a few....

I love them.

Cooperative pictures with toddlers=impossible task.

 My little miss patiently waiting to see Pooh and Tigger too!

 See, wet bottom?  

Just water from the ground at the park, nothing more.

Sneaky little booger face.

Hayes was so excited to see ALL of the characters.

He chatted with all of them and told them some story about his life, I'm sure.

Possibly our only family pic from the entire trip.

Or at least one of the only ones.

And WHAT is Hayes doing with his shirt!?

DUMBO!

Hayes was wearing his pass in line.

He loved getting a pass while waiting in line!

It was a bit like a little baby jail.

They were fascinated with Dumbo.

I'm glad I obsessed with prepared them for Disney World with movies for months before we traveled.

They knew who most everyone was!

Over by Dumbo there were all of the 'circus' trailers that were full of various animals squirting water!

These children loved playing over there and running around in the water!

Note to self:  purchase a water sprinkler this summer.

We met Mickey.

Hayes squealed.

We also met Apunzel (as Hayes says)...

Elizabeth was fascinated with her long hair.

Aurora, our Sleeping Beauty.

And Hayes knows that Cinderella is my favorite, so he told her that when he met her.

He hugged all over her!

We love the princess's shiny, fluffy dresses and their satin gloves.

I love Cinderella.

And I realize these girls get paid to be peppy princesses, but they are amazing humans.

I love that they loved on my babies!

After we left Magic Kingdom and took a nap we headed over to Downtown Disney for the evening.

We shopped for a bit and then went to watch our AHS kids perform!

 Giant Lego Hulk.

Enough said.

Anddddddddd giant Buzz and Woody lego people!

Hayes wanted Buzz ears.

Hayes got them.

He's awesome.

Sissy continued with her Dumbo obsession and got Dumbo ears.

Ears have come a long way since I remember Disney ears as a kid...

They are complicated and fancy!

AHS Show Choir on stage at Disney!

It was so great to watch them sing and dance.

Hayes loved it and watched every single song.

Elizabeth also loved it!

Hayes shhhhhhushed me every time I tried to sing along.

After their show we had dinner and headed back to our 'room' as Hayes would say.

Bedtime couldn't come soon enough....