This week should be a less stressful week. Work and school are normal but the afterschool activities are slowing down. The upcoming weekend will be very busy due to Claire's 4 performances at church. (If you are in the Albany, NY area this weekend come check out "Miracle on Main Street" at Grace Fellowship church!) My inlaws are coming in on Friday and my own parents will be here Sunday. I need to finish wrapping the gifts as we will be exchanging our gifts to the grandparents while they are here. Basically, the whole week will be spent cleaning the house, preparing special xmas cookies for dessert nites and finishing up my shopping for my hubby! I need to fit all that in during the afternoons after work (thank God I get out at 11:30 a.m.!). I would like our evenings to be less hectic this week so Claire can feel relaxed and Courtney can get some sleep a bit earlier! (why do teens like to stay up so late??) Most of my dinner plans for the week are super easy to fix.
Here is my menu plan for the week:

• Sun: Sweet & Sour Popcorn Chicken, Herbed Rice, Steamed Mix Veggies
• Mon: Sloppy Joes (ground turkey), Maple Squash, Steamed Green Beans, Dessert Nite! (Spritz xmas cookies)
  
• Tues: Chicken and Rice Casserole, Steamed Broccoli/Cauliflower Mix, Fruit Cup (Courtney, pop in oven while Claire and I are at ballet class!)
  
• Wed: Pasta and Marinara Sauce, Garlic Bread, Tossed Salad
• Thurs: French Dip London Broil, Potato Casserole, Raw Veggies with Ranch Dressing Dip, Fresh Fruit Platter, Dessert Nite! (Candy Cane Cookies)
  
• Fri: Dinner at Ruby Tuesdays after Opening Nite Show (hors oeuvres at 4: 30 pm)
• Sat: late lunch/early dinner: Tomato-Basil Orzo Soup, Ham/Cheddar Club Sandwiches, Fresh Fruit Platter, Cookies