Me and My Sweet Husband

We were visiting my Mother-in-law this weekend for my nephew's 8th birthday and I found this picture of me and Dave. (I had to scan it..that's why the quality is pretty bad) You know how you find pictures that just makes you smile!! This is one of those for me!

Menu Plan Monday

We have a great week ahead of us this week!!  My brother, sister-in-law and niece are coming to visit from NC from Wednesday - Monday and we are SO excited.  We have lots to look forward to.   Including blowing the budget!!!   They have come every Fall for 3 years to enjoy some New England fun.  We do have our standard 3 football games...tonight, Wednesday and Friday's big rival game.   We have a started a tradition of apple picking, pumpkin picking and corn mazing that is the best!!   We are planning on going into Boston on Sunday to the Aquarium and the North End for dinner.  So.... I should have plenty to post about this week :)  Yay!!!



Monday ~ Spaghetti   (was planned for last night but we got home late from Grammy's house and decided to have homemade soup instead from the freezer

Tuesday ~  Tuna Noodle Bake

Wednesday ~Crockpot Chicken and Mushrooms in Red wine sauce served over Penne pasta (ready to eat when we get home with company and football game!

Thursday ~ Grilled Italian Marinated Chicken, Roasted Potatoes and grilled zuccini

Friday ~ Pizza before the big game at 7 pm.

Saturday ~ My brother is a great cook and will want to cook for us one night.  I'm picking this night for him :)

Sunday - Into Boston and dinner in the North End (Little Italy...my fav!!!)

Our Masterpiece!

It finished!!!! Our Masterpiece!!!!  Well....Almost complete.  But we could resist no longer in sharing it with you.  The only thing we have left to do is paint the staircase white.  (and decorate inside the fort of course..little white lights, etc. )  Sophie slept in it last night and LOVES it so much.

It took me exactly a week to complete it.  And I actually didn't work on it on Friday and only about an hour on Saturday painting. It was a blast, exhausting, wonderful, frustrating and I am SO proud of taking it on!!

There were only a couple of issues along the way.  Screwing things together wrong, re-cutting pieces of wood,  running up and down the stairs forgetting things (I lost count at 157, 942) .   The biggest  was the back side NOT wanting to fit up our staircase.  And that was a big one!   I was almost brought to tears.  But scratched the head for a bit, grabbed the saw and cut.   Yes...it was very scary to have to do that.  I didn't want to compromise safety.   But, luckily, it was easy to screw that section where the stairs went back on safe and sound.

For my little princess.....may you have sweet dreams in your castle for many, many nights.

If anyone is interested in getting adventurous, here is where I got the plans.  I actually adjusted to make it fit a full size bed.  (which added 15 inches to the width)  A  little extra calculating of wood, etc.

Ana-White is a very inspiring! There is just no telling what else I may take on.   I'm thinking the farmhouse bed for me and hubby! What do ya think?

http://ana-white.com/2010/09/easy-playhouse-loft-bed-with-storage-stairs.html

Menu Plan Monday

This week is going to be easy cooking week. We have 3 football games. It gets kind of crazy.   My son plays on the Sophomore and JV team (and has to dress for the Varsity game on Friday nights too)  Soooo....today and Thursday we won't get home until around 6:30.  I cook everything after lunch and then just have to warm it when we get in after the game :) 

Monday ~ Whole Roasted Chicken, Rice Pilaf and carrot sticks (early prep)

Tuesday ~ Grilled Chicken, Roasted Potatoes and peas.  (a weekly favorite)

Wednesday ~Asian Night - Chicken and Broccoli, Potstickers and rice

Thursday ~ Beef Stroganoff (early prep)

Friday ~ Homemade Pizza

Saturday ~  Going to Grandma's for a family picnic:)

Sunday - Spaghetti

Woodworking for Girls is the Rave

Just thought I would give you a quick update (and a few more pics) of the progress we are making on our masterpiece.  Any guesses?  

We are having such a fun time. (I can't say that enough.)  We have learned SO much.  Planning, reading plans, measuring, what a pocket hole is, sawing (mom of course),  and oh yea, sore muscles. 

So, we are headed back to our favorite place Home Depot for more screws, trim wood and paint today. We are getting so close!!!

My Daybook

 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2010

Outside my window...cloudy and gray right now. We are having a lot cooler weather this week. Yay for Fall and crisp cool days! I don't think it's going to get over 70 until Friday.:)

I am thinking...how much fun I am having starting a "huge" new project with Sophie.  I'm calling it "Woodworking Class for Girls".  Just me and her!  No man help (except to move it into the house when ready). Power tools and all!!  More pictures to come....

I am thankful for....for having a happy, healthy family.

From the learning rooms....We have had several "Ah-Ha" moments this past week and I can't tell you how special it feels to witness it. This is what I pictured it being like. Math and Reading have especially been amazing!

From the kitchen.... Not too much going on here this week. Since we started our new project, I want to spend as little time in hear as possible this week.

I am wearing.... Black yoga pants and a gray t-shirt. Usually my attire in the Fall.

I am creating.... A masterpiece for Sophie's room. We can't wait to see it completed. She is thrilled beyond belief.

I am going... to Home Depot again today probably. I think they are getting to know us by name there :) Thank goodness it is only 3 miles away.

I am reading... "7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens" (with my teenage son)....still.  Does all my blog reading count for this too? :)

I am hoping... that my neighbor's mother is well soon. They are extremely close and I hate to see her sad.

I am hearing....My daughter watching TV.

Around the house....The house is scrapped and powerwashed and all of the paint is purchased. Hubby was very busy this weekend. Now we just have to wait 3 days for it to dry. Of course it's supposed to rain on the 3rd day. This will be the fun part..waiting for the weather to cooperate. I have a feeling I might still be talking about painting for a while.

One of my favorite things.... Getting into my cozy bed at night, taking a deep breathe and reminding myself how blessed I am.

A few plans for the rest of the week....After we finish our schoolwork each day, Sophie and I will continue working on our BIG project.  We have football games Wed. and Friday.  And a very big birthday this weekend that I will be getting ready for as well.  My baby is turning 15!!  I simply can not believe it.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing

My "Daybook" is part of The Simple Woman's Daybook"

Menu Plan Monday

Monday ~ BBQ Chicken, Perogies, Peas

Tuesday ~ Ravoli with Turkey Italian sausage and salad (from last week that didn't get made. It was leftovers that night. I sometimes forget how nice it is to have those. :)

Wednesday ~ Homemade Chicken Vegatable soup with alphabet pasta (made a new batch yesterday!)

Thursday ~ Chicken in Pesto Sauce

Friday ~ Grilled Marinate Italian Chicken, Roasted Potatoes, Broccoli

Saturday ~ Homemade Pizza

Sunday ~ Country Style Steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, butter beans (one of my favorite southern meals) Maybe I'll just make sweet tea to go with it :)