A New Year

I'm not big on New Year's resolutions per say, but I do like to take this time to look back at the past year, and think about what the new year will bring.  This is a total mess of thoughts, so I apologize now if it's not the easiest thing to follow. :)

SCRAPPING-
I didn't set a page goal for scrapping in 2012, but I did set a goal to finish my 2011 album (big fat fail).  I scrapped 41 pages this year, two less than 2011.  I don't think setting a goal will change how I scrap, so I don't think I'm going to set a goal for that this year.  I love being on Britt's CT, it keeps me scrapping, and that's good enough for me.  I will keep working on 2010, 2011, and my Disneyland albums.  Someday I'll get them finished. 

P365-
I DID IT!! Yay!!  I'm so proud of myself for this one!  I will be getting a blurb book printed shortly, I just need to get the last two months worth of photos off my phone and into the book first. :)
I have to say, I have loved doing this!  Some days it was a pain to have to grab a picture that wasn't great, but I did it, and I have a whole year's worth of memories in photos now.  I love that the book will have the big moments (Disneyland, the Giants sweeping the World Series...) and the everyday stuff as well.
My plan for 2013 is to try a P52, using my real camera instead of my phone (my poor, neglected, really old, Nikon).  I think I'm still going to keep up with the P365 on my phone, but I won't be posting them on my blog.  We'll see, I may not end up doing both, but I'm going to use the phone as a little insurance since I know I can do it. 

FUN STUFF TO COME-
I'm really looking forward to 2013!
BIRTHDAYS- As my SIL just posted on FB, it's going to be a big year for our family!  My baby girl will be hitting double digits in just a few short months (where has time gone?!?).  We also have a 60th birthday (MIL), and 40th (SIL), two 21sts (our oldest niece and her fiancé, who are also getting married in 2013), an 18th (another niece), and two 13ths (niece and nephew). 
VACATIONS- I just found out that I will be able to go with Matthew on a little work trip to Napa next month.  I'm really looking forward to the break and time together, even though it will be a short one.  We also have our family reunion planned for July in Sunriver again.  We will be going for a whole week this year, and I'm so excited about that!!  That's all we have on the calendar so far, but I'm sure there will be lots more fun things added! 

That's about all I have planned so far, hopefully it will be a great year!

Monday Menu

The kids are still off from school, but other than that we're pretty much back to normal around here this week, which means I need to plan a menu and get to the grocery store.  Not much going on this week.  We have no plans for tonight, and I doubt either of us will still be up (willingly, anyway) at midnight.  I do plan to make another post with thoughts from the past year and goals for the next year, but I'll save that for later.  For now, I need to get this menu planned and get some errands done!

Monday- tacos
Tuesday- slow cooker ham & white beans with corn bread
Wednesday- homemade pizza
Thursday- Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos with Quick and Easy Black Beans
Friday- pasta with meat sauce
Saturday- honey lime tilapia with biscuits and roasted broccoli
Sunday-

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Leap year, one more day to go!

Took the tree down today, some of my favorite ornaments before they got put away.

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Helping Daddy put together a new toy BBQ from Uncle Troy.

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Christmas, round 4, and I think we're done!

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N getting ready to throw a snowball at Eskimo Hill.

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Spoons!

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It's snowing! At a rest stop on the way to Redding.

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The kids got to be part of the Christmas Eve nativity at church tonight. Mary, Joseph, and a Shepard.

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In our PJs and off to look at Christmas lights.

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Hard at work making sugar cookies.

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We saw Santa and Mrs. Clause tonight. 🎅

Scrap Stuff

Britt has us all stepping outside our comfort zone a little bit to try something new with these new Brave New Shape Templates!  I often feel like I'm totally in a rut with my scrapping and only do one kind of page, so it's nice to get the push to try something I wouldn't normally do sometimes.  I'm really happy with how this one came out, and I can't wait to try the others ones in this pack!

full credits here

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Christmas crafts while I made dinner. This makes me happy.

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This little guy climbed into my bed and took his PJs off before going to sleep tonight.

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Sleet outside today and snow inside tonight.

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M's running for student council secretary. Hanging up posters after school with her friend M.

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Christmas tonight with some of my side of the family.

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Gingerbread houses today!

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Doing our advent calendar.

Food for Thought

It's been almost two weeks sense I've been grocery shopping.  I'm trying to really plan my lists today so that I can (maybe) avoid another big trip until after Christmas (between Safeway today and Costco this weekend that is).  I'm sure I'll have to run back towards the end of next week for a few things that I will need fresh, but hopefully I can at least get it all figured out today and not have to sit down and plan it all out later. :)
I haven't done a menu all week, so I'm going to start with today and go through Christmas.

Friday- hot chocolate with fun stirrers, meatloaf and mashed potatoes
Saturday- out
Sunday- Christmas with my family, bring peppermint cheesecake
Monday- homemade pizza
Tuesday- (cookie baking day with mom, guitar), enchiladas (from freezer)
Wednesday- (make Christmas treat/snack with kids),
Thursday- tortellini sausage soup
Friday- honey lime tilapia with biscuits
Saturday- (sugar cookie baking), crock pot pineapple chicken sandwiches
Sunday- leftovers or Costco pizza
Monday- (Christmas Eve) alfredo with chicken and broccoli (Best Bites Guiltless Alfredo Sauce)
Tuesday- strata for breakfast (my own recipe, posted below)
Bring to family dinner: stuffing (2x), cranberries sauce, treat or desert




Christmas Breakfast Strata (my recipe that has evolved over the years)
8-10 slices french bread, cubed with no crust
1 lb sausage, browned
1 lb monterey jack cheese, grated
1/2 lb sharp cheddar, grated
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
8 eggs
salt and pepper to taste
spray large baking pan
cover bottom in bread cubes
layer sausage over bread
layer cheese over sausage
mix eggs, milk, ricotta cheese, salt, and pepper in small bowl
poor over cheese
cover and let sit in refrigerator overnight
bake at 350 for 1 hour
cool for 5-10 minutes before serving

*add 2 granny smith apples, 1 tsp vanilla, and 1 tsp cinnamon (kind of like this Sausage Apple version)

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Wrapping presents.

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Making gingerbread ornaments.

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I love the tree at night.

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The whole family before the final show.

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Final bow of the night. One more show to go!

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Waiting for the Truckers Parade to start.

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Sound check, opening night for The Grinch!

Scrap Stuff

Britt has a beautiful new kit out today that's prefect for all those winter pictures!  Here's what I scrapped with it.

 full credits here

And now it's off to do Grinch stuff for the rest of the weekend. :)

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Little cutie waiting for big brother to get out of school.

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Christmas cards going to the mailbox! They were such good helpers this year!

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R has the best job in the whole play!

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Day 3, a scavenger hunt for little presents.

Start of the Week Stuff

Here we go with the crazy Grinch week.  I'm excited, but I know it's going to get busy! 

To-Do's for the week:
Monday- kid-free morning, errands, small group
Tuesday- dress rehearsal
Wednesday- work in R's class, relax at home (only night this week!)
Thursday- clean house, bake dessert for Grinch, preview night
Friday- family coming into town, opening night (bring dessert)
Saturday- Grinch during the day, trucker's parade at night :)
Sunday- church, lunch with family, Grinch

It doesn't look like a lot when I write it down, but it's big chunks of time.  The kids have to be there 2 hours before showtime, meaning we'll have to leave the house an hour after we get home from school. My days might not be too scheduled, but I have plenty to do to get ready for it all. :) 

Menu for the week:
Monday- pasta with peppers and sausage
Tuesday- leftovers/eat at rehearsal
Wednesday- crock pot chicken quesadillas
Thursday- leftovers/eat at Grinch
Friday- ??/eat at Grinch
Saturday- pizza & hot chocolate parade side :)
Sunday- chicken enchiladas (made ahead and in the freezer already)

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How N watched Home Alone today, and this wasn't even at a scary part. ❤

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Day 1 of our Advent countdown calendar, write letters to Santa.