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. 

Helping????

I was very stressed yesterday about all the things I had to accomplish that have deadlines.  Deadlines that are coming up very fast...things I am totally responsible for accomplishing.  I voiced my stress to Steve.  He said he would stay home and do the laundry and pick up the house.  Great!!!  That helps soooo much to take some of the stress away.  I love him so much but sometimes I don't know if I should laugh or cry ... He did the laundry....I think he may have left out a few steps.

                                                                     They are all clean.  uuuuggggghhhhh!

My exciting day.

Today I treated myself to all sorts of fun and wonderful things.  Let me just say that your attitude dictates how you feel about things.  Here is two stories of how my day went...

Version 1:
In the morning I had an appointment at the tooth spa.  It was lovely.  I read magazines and got to relax in a chair while people attended to me.  They thought I was so pretty they took pictures of me.  They loved my winning smile. Then I decided to treat myself to an elegant lunch.  I had fun chatting with a friend on the phone and making plans.  Then I decided to go shopping.  I was looking for something specific.  I couldn't find what I was looking for so I visited a few stores.  I enjoyed walking around and getting some exercise.  Then I got in the car for a nice ride home.  It was peaceful and lovely.

Version 2:
Had to go to the dentist.  Blah.  I hate waiting in the waiting room...so what if I was 1/2 hour early.  I read horrible magazines about marriage problems and how to lose 10 pounds in 10 days.  They are nice at my dentist, but they always bring up my wisdom teeth and how "they might need to come out"  Stressful!  They asked me if I was pregnant and then gave me xrays.  I hate those little wing things you have to bite down on. 
I took myself to McDonald's.  I usually eat in the car but decided to go in to eat.  The only place to sit was by someone who looked like a scary homeless man.  The other half of the McDonald's was full of 1st graders on a field trip.  I had to call my doctor's office to change my appointment.  Call,  busy. call, busy, call, busy, call, we are on lunch break until 1:00, call, busy, call...get through and change appointment.  They are sweet there too.  Then I went shopping and couldn't find anything I was looking for.  Annoying and time consuming.  Got in the car to drive home and got behind someone going 10 mph below the speed limit.  I am not a lead foot but I do like going the speed limit.  Made it home a half hour before the kids.

Attitude is everything...

Halloween Pictures

Doug as a skeleton...not too far of a stretch!

Curt wanted to be a mime.

Jacob...rock star

Maggie the witch!

Curt again.  I think I did pretty well with the makeup!

I wasn't jumping on the bed....

If you are going to fib...don't have photographical evidence...documented by another sibling.

On my way to the chicken coop...

These are some views on my way to the chicken coop.  The lovely crab apple tree in the front yard.

Beautiful trees with the leaves changing.

Eggs in the nesting boxes.

My favorite "girl"  She is always sitting in the window.  I think she really really wants to hatch something.

She is always puffed up and laying on the thermometer.  Maybe she thinks it is a big egg?

She is the sweetest and you can pick her up and pet her and love her and she doesn't care.

Here is how warm it is under her.  She always sits on the thermometer.  It is about 55 outside.  It is a warm 89 degrees under there.

Collecting eggs for the walk back.

Picture of the back door.  I love pumpkins in the fall.

Have a great day!

The Frugal Christmas

I am going to renew my efforts for the frugal Christmas.  Things have been getting tighter and tighter around here.  Car repairs, unexpected financial boo boo's, just plain ol ignoring things.  Steve and I both had surgery in the past 12 months.  We do have insurance but when the one bread winner isn't working it is tough.  So here we are again with Christmas approaching and a meager budget to work with this year. 

I am going to try and get over the guilt of the impending sighing of the children.  It will be ok.  It really really will.  The older boys lists are crazy anyway and even if I had all the money in the world I wouldn't get them smart phones, or $300 ipods or hand held ps3's (I don't even really know what that is?)  So who cares what they think.  I won't be able ever to get them their dream Christmas.  Sorry. (PS. they know I won't get them things like that anyway...but every kid can try right.  They aren't the bratty types but boy if we won the lotto they would totally love to have those things)

The smaller kids I will have more of a chance pleasing.  After all Curtis asked for an apple peeler for Christmas.  The kind that hooks to the counter top.  That is a frugal and practical 6 year old if I do say so myself.  Maggie would be pleased with books and little trinkets/stuffed animals.  ( I hope )

I am going to be doing thrift store searching for cool and unique gifts.  I also plan on some homemade gifts this year.  I have been searching the internet for ideas and the only criteria is so soo soooo simple, and cheap.  I am not a crafty person and I have very little patience for details.  Sorry but it is true.

Some ideas I might try:
Journal's covered in material with cool pen
Tea cups for Maggie's dolls
Stationary
Craft supplies (for future fun)
Nail polish kit (obivously for the girl)
Pretty / cool boxes for keepsakes
Soaps with little toys in them.
Lip balm
Sewing simple jammie bottoms or a few skirts for Maggie...

Oh by the way, I have to remember not to let them read this post.  Shhhhh don't tell.


I also want to plan more family time.  I AM NOT RUSHING THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS LIKE A CHICKEN WITH MY HEAD CUT OFF.

I hope to have some quiet bonding time with the kids and invite the Spirit into our home.

I know the Spirit of the Lord will fill in the gaps of the home made gifts, practical gifts and my frugal Christmas.  It always does.

Wishes...

I wish I had something exciting to write about.  I wish I had a funny story to tell.  I don't.  Tonight was fun, we went to the library for some books, and to the taco bell for dinner.  Maggie met a new friend at the library.  They talked like they have been friends for years.  Avid readers unite!  The girls went back and forth suggesting books they had read.  They ended up exchanging addresses so they could be pen pals and maybe make some library dates.  Where it goes from here nobody knows.

The boys are more anti social.  Oh well.  I didn't get the chance to get any books since I was trying to keep people together...and keep an eye on everyone.  Not that the library is a scary place or anything...I just like keeping track of my kids. 

Parent/teacher conferences are coming up soon.  I love going to Maggie's...straight A's!  I however get scared going to Curt's...I just never know...

The primary program is next Sunday.  I am a bit nervous about the whole thing.  I think it will be fine.  The kids are great and they have no fear about singing or speaking.  I love that about our church...everyone is so used to being in front of a large group. 

For some reason there is no school on Friday.  I haven't figured that one out yet. 

The older boys came home and said they watched some news show that they have on at school for school kids and they were talking about Christopher Columbus as being a terrible person because he brought plagues and slavery to America...uh ok...revising history is one of my biggest pet peeves, even if it is truth...that doesn't negate everything else he has done.  It makes me really hate public school.


What else? Hmmm. Let's see...we picked squash today to put away for winter.  We saw a bunch of moles living in the garden.  We need to put the garden to bed so to speak before it gets cold outside.  Steve saw a wooly bear with a big brown stripe in the middle...read on someones blog what that meant...I can't remember...now I have to go looking for that post.

Some wishes expressed at dinner...I wish we could go to Disney World.  I wish we could go to Cedar Point.  I wish we could go to Antartica.  I wish you named me Mark. 

Warm and Cozy at Home

Tonight is a warm and cozy night.  Well not real "warm" because I refuse to turn on the heat...but warm in my heart.  I love when the kids settle in and relax...fighting is at a minimum and we are all getting along.  Today we had soccer games.  The kids did well, but it was cold.  I was chilled to the bone.  Got home took a hot shower and the kids cuddled up with blankets to watch movies.  It gave me some time to clean up and take some pictures of some goodwill finds from this week.  My camera is giving me fits.  I have always loved the way it took pictures but now the little setting wheel has gone berzerk...it keeps changing settings in the middle of picture taking...so sometimes it does weird things...like take video when I have it on candlelight setting.  Maybe santa will bring me a new camera...oh and a toaster oven, and a new food processor...if any of you know santa will you pass that along?

Well here is some of the pictures from around the  house. 

I love to burn the oil lamps in the evening.

My cute chickens that I got at the good will.

I just love signs.

Love to have lots of library books  to look at and curl up with at night.

New lampshades from my mom.  Love them!!!!

Reminders of good friends...love this little statue.

cozy and warm evenings.

Coupon Report

This week we only bought a few things...since it isn't pay week.

Total savings: $56.38.  Saved $31.50 in coupons, $22.81 in weekly specials.


 We purchased...Quaker oats...free after discount and coupon.  Love that!  We got 8 boxes.
Good night.

My radical rebellious day....

Hello everyone.  Today I did something radical!  Well radical for me...I am not much of a risk taker...so I know you will laugh when I tell you the radical thing I did.  Believe me it is going to not go over well with the hubby...I am being rebellious I guess...

Without further ado....

Yes...I did my nails!  I am sick of narly short nails.  I got myself some pretty ones.  They are short and I can still type and everything.  Oh yeah and I rounded off the straight corners...which my husband really dislikes.  Oh well.  I think they look nice. 

Repeating myself...Repeating myself...Repeating

Sometimes I think I could parent via tape recorder...geez does tape recorder date me???  Ok how about this CD on repeat.

I mean really do I need to be here for this mind numbing part???????????? 

Alarm rings...Good morning everyone...time to get up...

Are you up?

Time to get up.

I know you are tired...time to get up.

Maggie are you alive?

Time to get dressed.

Time to get dressed.

Are you dressed?

Where are your socks?

Socks?

Socks that match?

Hurry up or you won't have time to eat.

What do you want to eat?

There is stuff to eat.

What do you want?

You want eggs. Ok.

Why don't you want eggs?  I made them.

Just have a yogurt then.

Hurry.

Where is your papers?

Where is your bookbag? 

How can you not know?

Is it on the book bag hook?

Why not?

Where are your shoes?

Can't wear those you have gym today.

Where are your shoes?

How can you lose one shoe?

Look for Curt's shoes.

That is his old shoe from last year.

How did one shoe end up in the basement and one under your bed?

Time to Brush teeth.

Brush teeth.

Go brush your teeth.

It is getting late.  Go brush your teeth.

Hurry.

Let me smell your breath. 

I know you said you brushed your teeth.

Go use toothpaste.

Time to go out to the bus.

Where are your glasses?

Where did you take them off?

Why aren't they by your bed?

Don't put your glasses in your pants pocket!!!

Do you have everything?

Are you sure?

Ok Love you.

Have a great day, see you tonight.

The End.  (until tomorrow)

Couponing...my new passion...

I have tried to cut coupons in the past.  I would end up with a wad of little papers and go to the store.  I would say nine times out of ten it was still cheaper to buy the store brand.  So I would leave the little coupon by the product and sigh.  I was cutting coupons for other people.  It seemed like a huge waste of time...plus it made grocery shopping so much longer!  I really do not like to grocery shop.  Buying food is just as boring as cooking dinner.  I hate them both.  Side note...the best invention ever is the "Super Store" I leave my husband (who loves to grocery shop) and I go look at other things, anything other than canned goods.

Back to couponing.  I attended a basic couponing class.  Did you know that you can buy coupons?  They already come clipped and ready to go.  It seems to defeat the purpose of saving money but stay with me...When I feel I had a really good deal going (when paired up with store sales) I go and buy coupons and then go and stock up on the product.  Soups seem to be big this month around here.

I never though of couponing as working on food storage...Light bulb moment.

I am not fantastic at it (yet)...made some mistakes so far...(learning) but it has been fun.  I am not so grumpy about grocery shopping. Steve is happy cause I am not so grumpy about grocery shopping and he loves to get things cheap.  Yes I said cheap and not "inexpensive"...If you are cheap...embrace it!!!

Some things we got completely free...Toothpaste and toothbrushes. (laugh but we have run out of both before)  we stocked up as much as we could.  Still need more for a year supply, but we have only "couponed" for 2 weeks.

Mostly shopping at one store which does double coupons we have saved...

In one week we saved...$86.83

Weekly Special Savings...(you know using that store card before checkout)

$121.42

So all said and done...$188.25 saved.

Yippee!  

Just so you know our "grocery budget" is to try and stay under $150 for 2 weeks. (feeding 6 people)  I would dare say usually we go a bit over.  So saving or getting almost $87 is huge for us.

Some things we stocked up on:

Soups, cereals, toothpaste, toothbrushes, bleach, string cheese, frozen veggies,clorox wipes, yogurt, Boxed potatoes, Cocoa, Cheese slices and chocolate.

Oh and by the way still canning too.  Grape juice for the year...

and last but not least...Curtis...who is so excited cause he got a free batman toothbrush! 

I have tons more to learn...like how to navigate those drug store sales...that apparently you can actually make money on buying products there.  I haven't wrapped my brain around that one yet.  I'll get there though.

If you have tried couponing before, maybe you should give it another try.

One of these things is not like the other...

Remember that song from Sesame Street?  Come along with me and play the game....One of these things is not like the other....Can you tell which one?

We have an over achieving chicken.  All I can say is OUCH! 

Library Book Sale...

The kids participated in the library program this summer.  The kids got tons of little prizes along the way, but they also got "book bucks" for each 30 minutes they read.   Well they started to add up.  We saved them for the book sale in the fall.

Books were 4 hardbacks for a dollar, or 5 softcover books for a dollar. Then assorted stuffed animals and whatnot.  CD's and DVD's and lots of vhs tapes (we don't even have a vhs player anymore)  It was so much fun picking out books.  Maggie had 12 book bucks and Curt had 5 book bucks.  We got tons of books and some stuffed animals.

We didn't have to pay anything extra...just used the book bucks.  Each kid still has a dollar left for the next sale.  The people at the sale were so impressed.  Maggie and Curt were beaming from their accomplishment of doing so much reading this summer.  We left with armfuls of books and the kids were so excited to do the reading program next year.  They plan on earning more book bucks than this year! 

Not even one lesson!

Tid Bits and whatnot...

Entries for the fair...

Maggie's Doll collection

Curt's shell collection

tomatoes yum

green beans

My Birthday Flowers!!!

First Day of school picture.