The move to Ohio

When we moved to Ohio we knew it would be a big change. We were moving from a postage stamp lot in the burbs to 6 acres and a 100 year old farm house. The land has a barn, garages, fruit trees, berry bushes and gardens. The kitchen needed updating and that is the first project we took on. We have been doing projects ever since. (although this isn't much of a change in life, we have been remodeling since we were married)

We love the old floor boards. We love the openess of the rooms, which is unusual for an old farm house.

What I did not know, or could truly understand when we moved here is that these would become part of all our wardrobes.

I can't believe we have these.

I can't believe I can make this.

I can't believe we help with all this.

I can't believe I learned how to do this.

I can't believe the kids aren't upset by finding this.

I can't believe I am not freaked out by this.

or this

I can't believe this is starting to feel like home. Finally. (sometimes)

Coupon Time

Here is my new coupon binder.

CVS shopping: Spent: $16.18 Saved $60.29

Giant Eagle shopping: spent: $25.42 Saved: $17.70 on specials $28.50 Coupons

Walgreens Shopping: spent: $ 27.04 saved: $50.59

Total spent: $68.64 Total Saved : $153.18

Tons of Fun...You should try it!!!

Pillow Update

I made some adjustments to the pillows. Mainly added more yo yo's. Steve said the first ones looked like eyeballs staring at him...Whatever!!!! I am sure he will come up with something for this design...but they no longer look like eyeballs. Good grief.

Rant about a 14 year old...

Let me just preface to say I was probably extremely frustrating to my mother at the age of 14. I do remember clearing out my closet on a regular basis because I had NOTHING to wear. I remember not being very nice about being woke up in the morning, and I am sure I was rude and abnoxious sometimes.

Jacob can make me crazy!!! We went to the store to buy him some shirts because his were getting too short. He is growing like a weed. He really like the one polo type shirt. for $25. I bought one...he however needed more than one shirt. I found some nice hensley shirts on sale of $9 each. He hesitated but tried them on. They looked very nice on him. They aren't weird. They aren't a weird color, or bad fit. They just aren't a polo type shirt (heaven forbid) Another side note: (2 years ago I couldn't get him in a polo type shirt...it was too nerdy then)

They look awesome on him. Make him look tall and lean and they are long enough to cover his long body. The colors HE picked were gray and dark green.

Now he doesn't want to wear them...because in his words.

"He doesn't think it will go well."

What the H double hockey sticks does that mean? He thinks he is going to get picked on because he dared wear a different type of shirt to school that he doesn't normally wear. Are you kidding me?

Yesterday he did break down and wear the shirt, (under protest) but wore his hoodie all day over it. Today I noticed he was wearing a shirt that is too short under his hoodie.

Did I mention that it is 19 degrees and he refuses to wear a winter coat...he only wears his hoodie. Apparently coats aren't "cool"...

I give up. I am taking the shirts back to the store and get my $18 dollars back...He can wear the one shirt he likes all year and wear the ones that don't fit. I am sure no one will mention THAT at school. (sarcasm)

Did I also mention that we HAD to go out in a blizzard to the store that night to get new shirts because he would DIE if he had to wear those short shirts anymore?

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel better.

Is there anyone out there that can relate...NO COMMENTS FROM MY MOTHER!

I did it...I think.

I learned how to create a signature...

New Pillows

I thought I would spruce up some old pillows that matched the loveseat.  They were pretty flat and stained.  I made new covers for them and wrapped them with some batting to puff them up a bit. 

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010. 

Curtism

The kids are playing hide and seek.  Curtis can't find Doug.  I told him to go and yell...
Ollie Ollie In Free.
 He said ... " I don't think that will work, he doesn't know Spanish."

Curtism

"Bacon fixes everything."

Look to the Light

Tree redecorating...

Does anyone else see all the little elves in a clump in the center front of the tree?..I think the tree has been redecorated.

Coupon Update

Went shopping last night.  Here are some results.

Spent $124.98
Saved $89.15 on in store specials
Saved $81.70  with coupons

Total Saved this year so far...
weekly specials $412.51
Coupons $270.02

Total 12 month savings $834.28

This is the total and basically I started couponing in Sept. of this year.  Not too shabby.
I can't wait to see totals for next year.

Stay at home mom poem.

I found this while looking at blogs.  Thought I would  share...

At seven A.M., I don't envy the mob

Who rise, shine and shower and go to the job.

In rain, sleet or storm, whether snowing or blowing,

I stay home and savor the joys of not going.

Cheers to you dears out fulfilling yourselves.

I'll bake me a cake, and I'll straighten my shelves,

I'll write some light verse and I'll practice some Bach.

If my neighbor drops in, I'll take time for a talk.

I'd rather have a family than fortune or fame;

I don't think my apron's a Red Badge of Shame.

You're welcome to banking, computers and math,

Guns, plumbing and business. I'll take a hot bath.

Art, music, letters—the good things of life

Are no less my own, since I'm mother and wife.

If I scrub, mop or dig in the garden, I'm free...

Remember, the choices were all made by me.

Helene Lewis Coffer

Food Storage on my mind...

I have been thinking about food storage lately.  I really need to start working harder at it, there is something about the cold of winter that makes me want to stay home and hibernate.  If I have everything I need, food wise, then I don't have to run to the store when it is  cold outside.

 We have been clipping coupons and really stocking up when we find good deals.  We even canned some this year.  We probably could have done a lot more.  I think I just need to stay more focused...I also need to clean out the food storage room...which has become a catch all.  We are working on storing both the basics, and the things we eat. ( and trying to combine the two categories)

I'll keep you updated with what we are storing...I will try and get the room cleaned out so I can take some more pictures.  Right now it is a mess   organized chaos.  Steve plans on making me a nifty rack that will rotate cans and always make sure we are using the oldest cans first.

Images of Winter...

Birthday's Galore!

Curtis had his 7th birthday! 

 

He got a snuggie, books and a magnet game. 

Maggie had her 9th birthday!

She absolutely loves her doll house.

We are now officially done with kids birthdays before Christmas.  Now with 15 days left we can concentrate on Christmas completely.  I really need to get shopping so we can have a few things under the tree.  I don't feel as stressed, although I probably should be.  Oh well I am glad I feel fine.  I basically know what I am going to get everyone so it is just a matter of "getting it"

Well that is all for now.  Probably won't write again until Christmas...I will however still be following along with everyone else's blogs.  I love to see what and how other people are celebrating the season. 

Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Stuff that has been happening around here.

Jacob turned 14 this year.  I can't believe it!  That is a lot of candles on that cake.  He is looking so much older and truly isn't a little kid anymore.  Amazing.

It was also Maggie's 9th birthday this year.  Oh my.  This is her all dressed up for a family wedding.  She had a great time dancing the night away!

Doug being Doug...

Miss Lucy the dog.  This is the face everytime I am eating anything.  She is there looking at me...waiting for a bite to eat too.  You would think I would lose weight always having to share.

This last few weeks we traveled to Virginia for Thanksgiving and for early Christmas.  That was fun.  We got to see everyone and eat too much.  We have been celebrating birthdays.  Curt's is coming up soon.  We are still working on Christmas shopping.  The tree is up, the nativity is up and I am really not feeling like doing to much more decorating.  The kids seem satisfied and so why make myself crazy.  I am trying to clean out stuff...making donations to Goodwill...coats and things that we have grown out of.  Curt has his first talk at church on Sunday.  We still have to write that.  He will have to practice a lot.  He tends to mumble and get really quiet when he is nervous.  I hope he does fine.  Steve had me go to the store and buy primer for the basement walls.  I hope we can finish the basement soon.  That would be a great Christmas gift.