This blog is my attempt to document our busy but BLESSED lives raising and educating our children for His glory. A child of God, wife to one, and mom to 6 fabulous kids. We are in our 16th year of homeschooling using a Classical ~ Literature based approach.

Come along for the good, the bad & the ugly.



Monday, January 19, 2009

Weekly grocery shopping ~ Jan. wk3

It was a great trip to the WinCo as it only cost me $96.49 to feed (food items) the 16 of us this week. Check out this link to see what I am cooking this week.





deli salami $4.48
deli shaved honey ham $3.16
deli shaved turkey $3.16
kraft shredded cheese (2) $1.98 ea
texas toast $1.88
large dozen eggs $1.59
crescent rolls (3) $1.68 ea
frozen broccoli $2.32
butter sticks $1.98
buttermilk $0.41
vanilla yogurt $1.88
creame cheese $0.98
2% milk (2) $2.38 ea *not pictured*
pineapple-orange frozen juice $1.16
frozen chkn breast $4.97
fettucine alfredo (2) $0.88 ea
bisquick $2.78
0.90# pretzel twists $1.70
mandarin oranges (3) $0.48 ea
whole wheat tortilla $2.53
canned pink salmon (3) $1.64 ea
lemon juice $1.58
catalina dressing $2.67
ranch dressing $1.50
applesauce $2.20
green beans (2) $0.52 ea
cooking spray $1.68
fruit cocktail $1.37
spaghetti sauce $1.25
strawberry frosted poptarts $0.98
yogos bites $1.88
apple cinnamon oatmeal $1.48
0.48# granulated sugar $0.14
0.85# oats $0.36
iceberg salad mix $ 2.28
lemons (2) $0.44
celery hearts $ 1.98
green onions $0.68
cucumbers (3) $1.74
kiwi bag $1.48
1.81# tangelos $1.23
1.55# vine tomato $3.07
2# bag baby carrots $1.98
1.47# bananas $0.71
lasagna noodles $1.52
apple cinnamon cereal bars $1.98
tortilla chips (2) $1.18 ea


Non-food items:


Papertowels $7.98
neon straws (2) $0.85 ea
tax $0.82


Total food money left for the month =156.42

Total non-food money left for the month =$22.96

What have I done...

I found this posted on this blog and I lifted it.

This is a list of 99 possible things you've done in your life...bold the ones I've actually done. The items colored in blue are those I would like to do in the future. Enjoy!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/World-both
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo- middle school choir
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch-does scrapbooking count?
15. Adopted a child- on my heart
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill –I’m guilty
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise- Tiger cruise aboard a Navy ship when I was a girl
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community – yes in the summer of 1990 while staying with Grandpa Kemp
36. Taught yourself a new language- Steno-a whole language in itself
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted - a caricature at DisneyWorld
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business- Time 4 Tots Daycare, est. 2000
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check – as a very irresponsible young adult
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy-my first Cabbage Patch Doll
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car-2008 Honda Odyssey last summer while Hubby was deployed
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one-my mom
94. Had a baby- 4
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit-daycare related to get payment from parents, never did get the money owed
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

What have you done?

The Mom Song

Moms everywhere Enjoy!

Menu plan-Jan.18-23 wk3




Here is what we will be eating this week. I am trying out some new recipes, can't wait to see how they taste.

Click here to check out Org Junkie for many more menu plan ideas. You can even link in your own menu plan as well!

Breakfast:
M-cereal, orange juice,milk
T-hm whole wheat waffles, kiwi, milk
W-oatmeal, peaches, milk
TH-hm biscuits, fruit cocktail, milk
F-cold cereal, 100% juice, milk

Lunch:
M-pizza, applesauce, milk
T-lemon chkn breast, fettuccine alfredo, green beans, mandarin oranges, milk
W-lunch meat tortilla roll ups, carrots w/dip, bananas, milk
TH-salmon turnovers, green salad, pears, milk
F-lasagna, wheat roll, tomato/cucumber salad, applesauce, milk

PM Snacks:
M-peanut butter pretzels, milk
T-lemon yogurt muffin, milk
W-strawberry yogurt, honey bees
TH-saltines, cheese sticks
F-apple cinnamon cereal bar, milk

Dinners:
SU-date night(claim jumpers) Pizza & bread sticks for the girls and sitter
M-lemon chkn breast,bread, fettuccine alfredo, green beans
T-lunch meat roll ups, chips,bananas
W-salmon turnovers, steamed broccoli, green salad
TH-lasagna, garlic toast, tomato/cucumber salad, applesauce
F- FFY(fend for yourself) aka- leftovers
S-family night out

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Are you a Happy Mom?

Be sure to check out this free t-shirt giveaway for a fun "Happy Mom" shirt over at Lifeasmom. My personal favorite is the Sea Blue "Happy Mom" Cozy Thermal.
Check it out!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Grocery shopping

So I have been following a great blog by a lady named Gayle, from the Grocery Cart Challenge, who feeds her family of six on a $60.00 a week budget, Amazing! Since it is one of my New Year's goals to reduce our grocery bill drastically, down to $500.00 a month; I am feeding our family of six, plus my 9 daycare kids and my assistant, breakfast, lunch, and PM snack. I have decided to include a seperate amount of $60.00 a month for non-food supplies, i.e. papertowels, hand soap, personal items, etc. Last week I did great and spent $99.33 on food and $8.48 on non-food items (papertowels). I didn't take pictures last week so I have nothing to show for a picture but my receipt :-)

This week is a different story. I made the mistake and slept in this morning and then went to my local WinCo at 10am, BIG MISTAKE! It was so crowded and I somehow lost my list, but turns out I just left it in the van, thank goodness. I also spent way too much on ground beef, but I will just use it for next weeks meals too. So here is what I came away with:


italian bread $1.48
(2)multigran bread $2.58 ea
(4)gallons of 2% milk $2.38 ea
(2 gallons of whole milk $2.38 ea
32 oz strawberry yogurt $1.88
dozen eggs $1.59
(3) shredded cheese $1.79 ea
10 pounds ground beef $31.18
6 pounds chkn breast $6.43
fish sticks $3.98
trix yogurt $2.18 *Madison requested this, I need to stop giving in to the little items not on my list*
tater tots $1.43
frozen peas $1.02
butter sticks $2.16
clover sprouts $1.58
shrimp ring $3.98
cheese slices $1.34
(2) frozen 100% juice $1.86 ea
frozen apple juice $1.18
applesauce $2.20
spaghetti sauce $4.37
(2)canned peaches $1.35 ea
(2)canned pineapples $1.53 ea
canned pears $1.16
(3)tomato soup $0.58 ea
(2)peas&carrots $0.91 ea
(4)progressive chkn noodle soup $1.38 ea
(2)canned corn $0.55 ea
chili can $0.98
goldfish box $5.98
4# gala apples $2.98
3# granny smith apples $3.28
5# bag potatoes $1.78
green onion bunch $0.68
3.44# banana bunch (8) $1.65
2.59# red grapes $2.54
1.81# navel oranges (2) $1.05
0.97# pretzels (from bulk bin) $1.83
2.79# cantaloupe $2.18
0.52# baking powder $0.41
kiwi bag $1.48
cran-grape juice 64oz $1.98
salad dressing (salad dressing) $1.88
mustard $0.69
vinegar $0.94
(2)barilla spaghetti pasta $1.23 ea
tortilla chips $1.18

Total food items $147.76



bounty select-a-size $7.98
lysol cleaning wipes $5.22
sponge $1.78
kleenex 3 pack $3.08
Total non-food items $18.06

Total food money left for the month $252.91
Total non-food money left for the month $33.46

I had $3.50 worth of coupons



Thursday, January 8, 2009

Happy Birthday Mikayla!


Happy 6th Birthday Mikayla!!!
We met for the very first time six years ago today at 7:34am. It has been a great six years watching you grow and learn. You are an amazing little girl and I am glad you are mine!!! For your birthday you received a new American Girl, Chrissa and a new leo for gymnastics. The leo is special because Coach George gave it to me from her special collection just for you. It fits perfectly and looks so good on you.
Love always,
Mommy

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Are you a Smart Shopper?



Check out this fun giveaway hosted by Jane4girls. I love her blog because she challenges herself to live off of an $800 yearly budget, simply Amazing!!! Visit her blog to register for the giveaway today!!

Good luck!

Thursday, January 1, 2009

2009 New Year's Goals

Okay here are my goals. Let's hope that I can stick to them like glue.

My number 1 goal for 2009 is to: SLOW DOWN ~ LIVE SIMPLY

FAMILY GOALS:
-family devotions 3x's a week
-game time 1x a week
-movie day (Sunday afternoon)
-No chores/work on Sunday's
-date night 2x a month
-one on one time with each of the girls monthly
-eat out 1x month at a sit down restaurant (when M. is home)

FINANCIAL GOALS:
-cut grocery (food only)bill D-O-W-N (shooting for $120.00wk while doing daycare)
-make the most of Mike's pay raises, pay self first.
-save/make monthly contributions to the Christmas/Vacation Club account ($220.00)
-commission system for the girls

SCHOOL GOALS:
-relearn theory
-improve accuracy
-increase speed
-follow and complete daily lesson plans for Simply Steno, etc.
-be testing into 120/140 speed range by the end of '09
-to accomplish these goals for myself I will need to study at 400am-600am and again at 830pm-10pm (after girls go to bed)

PERSONAL GOALS:
-lose 15 pounds
-cook more from scratch
-make a quilt
-take vitamins daily
-read for 30 minutes a day

PLACES TO VISIT:
-colonial Williamsburg
-Denver, Colorado-YES, Lind Family I will be on my way!!!
-WA DC
-Mall of America

SPIRITUAL GOALS:
-increase time in prayer
-faithfully keep a faith journal
-find a church home
-join/become active in a small group

MIKE'S GOALS;
-no charges over $500. on CC
-enroll in Master's program

MARIE'S GOALS:
-make/create/sew 4 articles of clothing
-stay on Honor Roll

MADISON'S GOALS:
-hit round-off back-handspring, back-handspring on the floor (advance to to level 3/4 in gymnastics, make team)
-keep room clean :-)

MIKAYLA'S GOALS:
-learn to ride a two-wheeler
-learn to read proficiently

MONTANA'S GOALS:
-learn to use the big girl potty all the time
-number and color recognition

So, there you have it, the Caffey family goals. I will do my best to stick to them, yet if I stumble I will pick myself up and try, try again. What are some of your goals for this New Year?