A Simple Life

I'm back... if only for a minute!

2010-04-09T06:31:00.000-07:00

Wow, I definitely have done a good job of avoiding my blogs over the last 2 months. So let me catch you up on what has been happening at our house:

Jeremiah has a room of his own (finally). The wall and closet have been built!
We have a new (brick-look) backsplash in the kitchen! It totally transofrmed it.
I currently have no dining table (ugh!) I have grand plans for a new one and am planning a garage sale in the near future.
The kids have a large wooden playset that we put together ourselves (I highly recommend paying the outrageous installation cost)
we have a black lab puppy who is very sweet and cute (yes we are crazy... i'm already tired of chewed up items everywhere)
abd the newest... Jeremiah can ride a bike without training wheels! It took him a whole Hour(maybe) to get the hang of it. Now if he was only taller so his takeoff was easier. Maybe he will grow enough this summer to make up the difference.

Well time to go! We are having our 1st camping trip of the year this weekend. Time to enjoy this beautiful spring weather. Now get off the computer and go enjoy it yourself!

My 1st NIECE!

2010-02-14T16:03:00.000-08:00

Here is a sneek peak at my new niece. She arrived on Tuesday (2/9/2010)morning. She weighed 7lbs 5oz and was 21 1/2 inches long. My sweet little nephew in this picture went from THE BABY to big brother overnight. It made my sister cry that night as she put him to bed. I think he looks like he is adjusting to little sis' just fine! I love this picture... it is so sweet.

What?

2010-01-29T13:26:00.000-08:00

I don't normally post or even pay attention to things like this, but this one drew me in. I can't believe it! Check it out for yourself here.
How ironic that 2 females, turned males, where attracted to yet a male. Just think this story would have never happened if things were left to God. Instead of a man having a baby- she/he would just be another pregnant woman (the way God created her in her own mothers womb). What I don't understand is how this happened... artificially? or dies she/he have all the working female parts? If so then this is not a man; it is a woman. Besides a man does not have a uterus.

PeeWee Basketball

2010-01-11T07:26:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday Caitlin played her 1st ever basketball game. It was so fun and she was so excited! She is playing through the Upward program- which is a church league. I think we might have found a good outlet for the aggressive side of her. She is one tough cookie! As the youngest one on her team she is holding her own quite well. We of course had the camera and camcorder going nonstop during the game. She played 4 of the 6 innings! Since this was our 1st experience with the program we were not sure what to expect, we were pleased. Before the kids come out they pray together in a room. Meanwhile the parents all pray together in the gym. Then the little Upward cheerleaders make a cheer line for them to run through. It was very cute! They would call their name and they were supposed to run through and go sit down. Caitlin was 1st but noone told her where to go so she ran through and just kinda stopped. Once the game got started she was all business. Even during her time on the bench she was encouraging her teammates. If you haven't noticed I am extremely proud of how well she did! Oh I almost forgot... she scored 2 baskets, got a couple of rebounds, saved the ball a few times, stole the ball a few times, and had several assists. She would never allow me to forget the points!

We Caved

2010-01-07T19:56:00.000-08:00

Well as of Wed. the girls completed their last day of homeschool for this year. Yes you heard me right. We are enrolling them in school. After much discussion and frustration; we caved. The girls originally were to test on Thursday, but snow/sleet cancelled school. So tomorrow morning we will be trudging off to the school to fill out paperwork, test to see what grade they fit best in, and take a tour of the school. So keep us in your prayers. I will admit that I am almost hoping for them to beg me to bring them back home, but the excitement they show tells me I'm in for a let down. This weekend I will be soaking up all of the innocence that I'm sure they will lose after months of being in school. I will also be planning outfits for next week, wake-up schedules, breakfast and suppers, and a whole slew of new things that Jeremiah and I will be able to do. Like I said before please pray for me... I have a feeling we are in for a big change around our house. Oh and pray for the girls they will need it more than they know.

A New Me

2010-01-07T19:47:00.000-08:00

As part of my goals to begin my 30's I want to simplify my life by reading more and getting more out of life. So how great it was when I saw this book club today. I think this just might help with both. I actually might enjoy it! So if you are looking for something a little different this year- please join us.

Taking on my 30's

2010-01-04T15:22:00.000-08:00

You read the heading right. I am planning to take on my 30's and I hope to do it well. Yesterday I went to bed still in my 20's and today I woke up to the realization that I am indeed a woman. I know I've been one for a while now, but the reality of it just had not set in until this morning. "30" ponder that for a minute... what feels like not all that long ago "30" was old. Yet now that I am 30 I wonder why I ever thought that. 30 is not old! Now I don't even believe that 50 is old. When did that change, I wonder? So since I am still young I am going to make the most of my 30's.
Here are a few things I will be able to experience in my 30's:
1) my husband will turn 40
2) the girls will cross major milestones... 13 and 16!
3) Jeremiah will start school
4) the girls will learn to drive
5) everyone in my house will reach an age to be at home alone
6) I will have a 20 year anniversary
7) Jeremiah will become a teen
I know it all sounds funny, but I am looking forward to all the things to come. And i am thankful to God for all the many things he has blessed me with.

6 TODAY!

2009-10-12T09:47:00.000-07:00

Can it really be October 12th already? Is it possible that Caitlin and Sierra are 6 today? As unbelievable as it is- the facts are that it is indeed that day. My sweet innocent girls are maturing right before my very eyes. I treasure these 2 with all my heart and am so proud of the young ladies that they are developing into. I am anxious to see the kind of women that they will be one day. Until then, I am trying to preserve their innocence as long as possible, teaching them things (new and old), and praying for them to have an everlasting relationship with the Lord. Happy Birthday girls- You are so loved by Daddy and I!

My Little Man is having a birthday!

2009-09-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

Wow I can hardly believe that Jeremiah just had his last day as a 3 year old. Tomorrow he will wake up in a 4 yr olds body. Ugh my babies are just growing up way too fast! So let's take a minute to look back on such a sweet little boy. hope you enjoy.
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38 and 10

2009-08-18T12:31:00.000-07:00

Sounds like I am calling out something from football... but those are not football numbers my friend. 38 is the number of years that Jason is welcoming this year and 10 is the number of years we have been married. That's right; it has been that long! In two days the kids and I will be celebrating Jason's 38th birthday. He is still a big kid at heart and loves to be made a fuss of on his birthday so we will be celebrating with the traditional cake, ice cream, and of course presents. My present to him is sadly not a surprise because he eyed this razorback jacket that he wouldn't put down for me to go back and get later. Therefore we bought it that day- happy birthday babe! As for the kids I am thinking of taking them tomorrow so as not to give to much time to ruin a surprise. Jason's mom will be here on his birthday so she will probably get to join in on the festivities before we leave for our little anniversary trip. On Thursday we will be heading to Hardy, AR. I know it's close and doesn't seem like much to do in celebration of 10 years, but we are looking forward to it! We originally talked about a big trip, but after a vacation to Florida and a new wedding ring (to replace the original that got lost) it seemed only sensible to stay close. So we will be enjoying new countryside that we have not seen, shopping mom and pop stores, and just enjoying each others company (uninterrupted). It has been a great 10 years and I am looking forward to many more!

The productive sitter

2009-07-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

Today I decided to take a sabatical from the house, laundry, errands, and everyday life. I needed a day to catch up on some much needed rest. So I sat and sat and sat a little more. I know pathetic, right? Sorry ladies but sometimes a girl has to do what a girl has to do. During my time of sitting I started thinking about my poor pathetic little blog. I have always wanted it to look and be better, but have never devoted the time to get it there. So while I sat I not only worked on this blog but created 2 more blogs as well. I recently had created another blog on a different site and it just didn't work well. SO my new blogs are here on blogger and they are... (drum roll please): a simply frugal home and from prek to college. The 1st one of course will be about all things home: thrifting, decorating, meal planning, child raising, etc. The latter will be about homeschooling and the adventures it will lead us into. This website I retain for family and friends. It will be used for birthday pics, random shots, and anything else family. The other 2 sites will not have names and will not link back to this site. I would like to keep my family private from the world. I hope you link over and check out my new sites. I will be adding more and more posts to them as the days go by.

Busy Day!

2009-07-09T05:46:00.000-07:00

I had the grand idea yesterday to wake up, get ready, and take my kids to Little Rock for a fun-filled day. First we were to go see Horton Hears a Who at The Rave, next we were going to the zoo, and then it was back home for a swim in the pool. Sounded like a great plan! We all got ready and headed out (w/o breakfast- oops!). On the way we found out that mom and T were meeting at Cracker Barrel for breakfast... so I gave the kids a choice: movie or cracker barrel. Seeing how they were starved at this point we did not see the movie. Next it was on to the zoo. Have I ever mentioned how much I dislike the Little Rock zoo. It is such a disappointment to me every time I go. The kids seem ok with it; so we continue to buy memberships each year. It's dirty, the animals are rarely all out, and it cost a ridiculous amount of $. Ok enough on that. We had a good time at the zoo (2hrs good). We ended it with a ride on the carousel. yay! So next it was on home for a swim, right. Oh wait... let's stop at Target since Searcy doesn't have one. the kids used this as a chance to eat again. They love the kids hotdog & icee meal. plus Target had their 4th of July stuff on sale for 75% off. So I scored shirts and shorts for the kids and I ranging in price from $1.24 to $1.75 each. I love an outfit for less than $4! Jeremiah came out the best because they had more left. Yay I was happy my trip to Target was not a total loss. So now it was home to swim. 1 hour later back at home we were all exhausted and not ready for a swim. The kids finally swam around 6, then we ate a most not healthy dinner (Frito pie), daddy came home, we rented a movie, and the kids went to bed. What a busy day! I forsee a much more relaxing one in store for today.

Girls Camping Trip

2009-06-29T06:13:00.000-07:00

Yay I'm finally home! After 7 days camping I am so glad to be home in my own bed and out of the heat. What a great experience for the kids. They all played so hard that bed time was a breeze. Jeremiah fell asleep half of the time before we could wrap everything up. They all got a chance to roast marshmallows and hotdogs. All in all everything went well. I would highly recommend it to those who like to camp!

Disney Pictures

2009-06-11T07:37:00.001-07:00

I have made several attempts at adding pictures but continue to have trouble. So I will include here the few I can load. Hope you enjoy!

homeschool's cool

2009-06-03T18:55:00.000-07:00

Yay! I am so excited last night I met with a group of about 15 other mom's that we will be doing a homeschool coop with this next school year. Our coop will meet every Wednesday from 8:30-2:30 (August- May). Each parent will be in charge of teaching one class for 1 trimester or team teaching for 2 trimesters. the other trimester each parent is to be a helper (making copies, working with the babies/preschoolers).
The kids will be divided into class groups. they will filter through 4 class periods then we will break for lunch. They will have 1 more class period before parting for the day. So far the classes we definitely have are: Art Class (team taught by yours truly), Story of the World Vol.III, p.e., lapbooks. All of the classes will be centered around God. We all strive to teach our children about God in our homes and it is vitally important that the coop do the same. We will also take field trips together. The kids are super excited! Jeremiah will even get to have his own class and will be learning as well. What an exciting and busy year we have ahead!
I must admit... as much as I am for the idea of homeschooling; it is not always easy. But a coop is supposed to be great for support and friendship. we all need that!

FUN IN THE SUN!

2009-05-30T13:32:00.000-07:00

Well our vacation to the Sunshine State has came to an end and we are now back at home (trying to adjust back to reality). The trip was incredible! The kids were able to do lots of 1st and I have plenty of pictures to prove it (like 700 I think... I'm trying to weed these down). Both grandma's had a good time too and I'm sure were thankful for the time away from life. Now however that we are back to reality and I have downloaded lots of fun pictures I would love to share a little sneak peek with you here. WARNING... this could get lengthy- bare with me though!
Ok... We started out trip out Friday May 23rd at approx. 6pm and drove all night straight through. Needless to say by the time we reached Florida we were all extremely tired..

Once getting to Florida we stopped at Fort Island Beach. It was not pretty by any means but it satisfied the kids need to see the Ocean. It also gave us a place to take a break and waste a little time before check in

Ok so now we head on to our fabulous room for the week- BAHAMA BAY RESORT. It was just what we needed. We had plenty of space for all 7 of us, the patios were screened so we wouldn't get eaten up by mosquitos, and there were pools in numerous places on site. The kids thought it was heaven. I thought they hired some very good landscapers... check it out for yourself.

We spent the remainder of Sat. relaxing and hanging out at the resort. Then on Sunday we decided to check out Downtown Disney. We were there for a few hours before the rain came in and we found ourselves making a mash dash to the van. I got tickled at my mom and Mother-in-law as we ran 4ever back to the parking lot. They held up well.

Monday we decided to go to Cocoa Beach. It was a bit of a drive, but we really wanted the kids to get the full experience of the busy beach scene. We swam, rode the waves on boogie boards, played in the sand, and all got sunburned. The kids got the worst of all... I felt like an awful parent when the next day they all ended up with water blisters. It was terrible... and they were in such agony. But we made it through and now all we have left is the great memories of the day at the beach.

Hang tight... I'm not quite done. Wait maybe I'll do another post later with the rest of our trip. That will be even better. So until then hope you enjoy the pics and I won't keep you in suspense to long!

baby teeth

2009-05-17T18:19:00.000-07:00

Well as of tonight Sierra lost her 2nd tooth. She is falling just behind Caitlin on losing her teeth... Caitlin lost her 2nd tooth about 2 weeks ago. They have now both lost their bottom teeth so I guess next we will see the top teeth go. Oh it seemed like so long to get to this point and now that we are here; all I wish is to go back to the days when they started cutting them. I am definitely missing my babies and regretting all the little things that I'm sure I missed. Why as parents are we so eager to teach our kids new things and rush them to grow bigger. If given a second chance I'm sure I would be doing the opposite (which is a problem in itself) and holding them back to stay little. I do love the way their eyes light up when they learn or experience something new. I remind myself daily that God intended for it to be this way. I pray for all of us moms (parents) that we may see all of the many blessings the Lord gives us when he gives us children. How rich our lives are...

YUMMY!

2009-05-15T15:38:00.000-07:00

They will be giving away free icecream at Wal-Mart on May 30th from 11am-4pm or until gone. looks like they will be at most stores so go check out your store and get your free icecream.

bike giveaway

2009-05-14T21:16:00.000-07:00

This bike is too cool... how fun would this be with the kids. Click on the link to help me win a bike. Thanks!

Gymboree Circle Of Friends Sale

2009-05-12T12:52:00.000-07:00

The Circle of Friends sale starts Thursday. You can take an extra 30% off everything in the store when you use the code GYMCIRCLE at checkout. The sale goes from 5/14-5/17... I'm hoping to snag a few good deals during this time and hope you do as well!

The new curriculum blues

2009-05-11T20:30:00.001-07:00

OK... so we have this new 1st grade curriculum that is supposed to be so great; right. Well, I'm not sold on it yet. We went with a DVD curriculum to free up some of my time for Jeremiah, but instead I am spending more time with the girls because the teachers rush through it too fast, say something completely foreign to them, or just don't get their instructions across well. FRUSTRATION set in today! After 3 hrs of school and only 2 (of 6) DVD's being completed the girls were drained and I was well... irritated! They teach at a good 1st grade level on most stuff, but on other stuff they want them to be reading the word planet and understanding punctuation. Which then I have to teach. So after all that complaining... I'm not sure this curriculum is going to cut it for our family. I am planning to call tomorrow to find out my options. Wish me luck!

$50 in KRAFT coupons

2009-05-11T17:37:00.000-07:00

Deal Seeking Mom has the scoop on where to print lots of those great KRAFT coupons. If you find you are needing more than 1 or 2 drop by her site and see what she has to say.

New Sites!

2009-05-11T06:32:00.000-07:00

Checkout my side bar... I have added some new blogs and sites to my lists. I even found some Arkansas mommy bloggers. None in my area yet, but I'm still looking. (Mel there are 2 NWA ones!). Enjoy!

All Alone...

2009-05-10T05:47:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official the kids and I are all alone... Jason left for Oklahoma this morning. He will be in Enid, OK all week attending GEFCO school. I guess his bosses decided he needed to be trained on some of the things they are always talking about. It's a great opportunity for him... it should give him an upper edge on knowledge for when he comes back to the office. However, the kids and I are not glad to see him go. 1 whole week- 7 days? that's like forever in kid time! We love him and will most definitely miss him this week!
On a nother note though since he will be gone I am taking this week to jump start my exercise routine. I thought... no better time than when I don't have to cook a large meal every evening. The kids will be thrilled to have grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, cereal, or whatever for dinner this week. And I am glad to be able to eat a salad or something simple (and low cal) all week. So yahoo I basicly get the week off from any major cooking.
We also will be attending the Homeschool Convention on Friday. so that will help give us something to do while he is away. The rest of the time we will be busy with 1st grade schoolwork.
So I'm sure time will pass quickly; before we know it Saturday will be here and he will be home. Until then pray for me to be able to be strong this week while he is away.

1st grade

2009-05-05T07:40:00.000-07:00

The girls new curriculum for 1st grade arrived last week. I have been going through it and trying to wrap my brain around all of the many things they will be learning over this next year. Who knew they through so much at you in 1st grade. wow! As much as I loved my Fathers World this year... we opted to go with Bob Jones for this next year. They will be learning from a teacher through dvd. I feel a little lazy doing it this way, but I felt I needed a little more one on one time with Jeremiah this next year to get him ready to begin kindergarten the following year. aahh... my babies are all getting so big!The girls classes will consists of: Math, Spelling, Reading, Handwriting, Phonics & English, Science, Heritage Studies, and Bible. Oh my goodness the amount of paperwork at our house now is insane. However, Bob Jones has a great reputation and the curriculum appears to be just what we need. It is much pricier than My Fathers World, but hopefully well worth it!

Freebies

2009-04-30T14:52:00.000-07:00

Free mentos gum at USA Drug. gum on sale for $1- coupon for $1 = free.I had 4 of these coupons. you better hurry though the coupon expires today!

great deal ends today!

2009-04-30T12:23:00.000-07:00

I am so excited... I just tried for the first time to buy a gift certificate at restaurant.com. I did like all the money saving sites recommend and found some codes to try. Here's a list of what I got...
$25 gc to America 13-50 in Conway
$25 gc to Osegueras in NWA
$25 gc to Coco's Fresh Mex cafe in Austin
(2) $25 gc's to Cafe Africa in the LR Zoo
So my GC's total= $125
each gc was $10 each at restaurant.com- this is a good deal in itself.
but I found a code (LUCKY) that made it much sweeter... So I only paid $10.00! HOORAY!
I love good deals like this! So hurry over and get you some because this 80% off code expires today (4/30/09). Good Luck!

2 week menu

2009-04-28T08:23:00.001-07:00

Ok for my family's sake I have been trying to do a better job at menu planning. So here is a sneak peek at our meals for the next 2 weeks...

Sunday
Roast w/ potatoes and carrots & cornbread
grilled burgers & hot dogs w/ chips or fries

Monday
calzone
spaghetti w/ garlic bread

Tuesday
mexican salad

Wednesday
leftovers from weekend

Thursday
meatloaf w/mashed potatoes & steamed corn
polska kielbasa w/ potatoes & carrots

Friday
smothered pork chops & potatoes
oven roasted veggies w/ ?

Saturday
FREE DAY : no plan

There will probably be a change here or there based on schedule and moods, but our week will consists of these basic meals. Sometimes If I am not in the mood for something, but already have the ingredients together I will search for a recipe for the same ingredients. I have found several recipes where I only had to add an item or replace an item to get something completely new. i try to be a little flexible.

all i need is a cow...

2009-04-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

Ok I have a garden now so my vegetable needs will be fulfilled soon. Some of my fruit needs too! Mom's chickens give us a full supply of eggs. My freezer is full of meat from a great sale I found at a local grocery store. My pantry is stocked from a recent trip to Aldi's. So if I had a cow for milk we would be set. How nice would it be to not have to make a trip to a grocery store for awhile. However since I do not have a cow or a place to put one I guess I am out of luck. So until my garden comes in and for milk needs I will be frequenting the grocery store. But I may have to consider buying some milk in bulk to freeze so that my trips are less. I don't know about all of you, but this excites me!

Don't judge a Book by its Cover...

2009-04-23T09:04:00.000-07:00

Ok I just finally watched the clip of Susan boyle from Britains Got Talent. Completely amazing! It was awesome to watch all of the people in the crowd as they were overcome with her voice. You have to watch it to appreciate it! She has a true talent.

Today is Earth Day!

2009-04-22T21:15:00.000-07:00

Well as an honor to Earth Day our family is planning to finally get the garden in this weekend. Better late than never; right. With all of the rain we have put it off until it just can't wait any longer. So before long we will have fresh corn, beans, cucumbers, watermelon, and many other exciting things to eat right out of our own yard. Why has the garden become so rare in families? It sounds so yummy and we all know it is much healthier. So if you can't plant a big garden this earth day... plant a lettuce garden in a pot on your patio. Who knows one day the garden just might catch on again; maybe!

shopping spree

2009-04-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

Our family has been on a bit of a spending spree lately...not something I'm exactly thrilled about, but I am glad to finally be caught up with technology again. Let's see we finally own a laptop (i'm using it now), we bought a small digital camera, and Jason thought we needed a tomtom for our trip to Florida next month. So now I can look up where we want to go, get directions on the way, and take pictures of the whole thing! lol!
We've been trying out the new camera and so I'm adding some pictures here... ENJOY!

updates

2009-04-16T14:34:00.001-07:00

Ok so I finally made it onto facebook. it's actually quite fun to read people's post and hear from long lost friends. With all of the hustle and bustle we live in any more I think it just might be a great way to stay in touch ( i still prefer face to face communication; but with 3 kids i don't get much of that these days).
Oh and we officially have internet at the house... I'm dancing right now! you have no idea how crazy it has been trying to find internet.
Guess what... we as a family are taking our 1st official vacation. yippee! I booked the villa (i like that word) on Tuesday. We will be spending 5 nights in Florida and of course will be seeing disney, universal, sea world, and the arabian nights dinner show! the kids know we are going, but have no idea that it will be in only a few short weeks. We decided to wait until we had to pack to tell them because they really have no concept of time. and honestly the last thing i want to hear every morning for the next few weeks is... are we going to disney today?

for those of you wondering... all of my family around the Mena area are fine. They were all missed during the tornado and none of them suffered a home loss or anything else. There are many others that did however and need lots of prayer and support if you feel led to do so.

Spring has sprung

2009-04-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

How exciting spring is here. Everything is beginning to green up and flowers are blooming all around. The girls are learning to enjoy the beauty of nature. and Jeremiah... well he is enjoying tormenting all the worms and bugs that are trying to come out. Oh to be a boy! The weather has been really sporadic which makes for some long days, but we are loving the nice 70 degree days where the kids can spend endless hours playing outdoors.
My kitchen updating project is almost over... I have several doors left to glaze before I finish and a few backplash tiles to hang. But all in all it will only take 1day to complete. I am taking a break from it all this week and coming weekend. Partly because my body has reminded me of how young it is not and partly because I am preparing for our 1st camping trip of the year this weekend. We are so looking forward to the break and getaway!
This is the 1st year that we will not be buying easter dresses, etc. We will be doing an egg hunt out at the lake, but I think camp clothes will be the attire for the day.
The kids have been on the first fishing trip for the year... Pappy took them to a local pond and they caught lots of brim (small) but the kids could have cared less. They have been talking about it for days now! They also got to celebrate aunt Mel's birthday this weekend and have talked lots about her cake too!
School is back in full swing at our house and the girls are spelling and reading most 2 & 3 letter words. It's an amazing thing to teach your kids to read. Their faces light up so much when it clicks in their head. They are so impressed with themselves and I am getting to witness it all. They are such quick learners and very independent workers. Sometimes I think they would get it with or without me there. This is a good problem to have when homeschooling. This will give them the motivation they need to keep learning as they get bigger and I am so proud of them.

Update

2009-03-27T09:39:00.000-07:00

Well I hadn't realized how long it had been since I posted anything on the blog... too long! We are all going strong and making slow but steady progress at the new home. I have a red bathroom now, I finally bought coordinating bedding and curtains for the kids room (yesterday), there are curtains hanging on most of the windows, and in a week I will have a freshly painted and updated kitchen. We are also the owners of a new zero turn John Deere mower. This was a must according to my hubby-- and the price of the zero turn was more in line with what he wanted to spend than the small farm tractor. So let's just say he is a happy camper right now. The kids are making lots of friends and so are Jason and I. We have found a church to get involved with and are adjusting to the new area quite well. We are extremely glad to see sunnier days moving in so that we can enjoy the lake that is only 30 min. away. The yard is making progress weekend by weekend. Last weekend we trimmmed hedges and mowed. This weekend we are planning to get started on the garden. Oh I almost forgot... we are also the new owners of a Great Pyrenese pup. we got him at 6 weeks (he's now 10 weeks) and he is going to be massive. let's see what else has happened... oh I know... the girls are riding their bikes without training wheels, Sierra has her 1st loose tooth and Caitlin has her 2nd loose tooth. Well like I said we are going strong.

All Moved In

2009-02-08T18:04:00.000-08:00

OK so we are in the house now... hooray! I would get more excited but see each new day is bringing another challenge for us to overcome. First it was the painting, then the move, then the plumber, and now it's the organizing. Will it ever end? I don't mean to sound as though I am complaining, I'm really not. I am truly grateful for our new home and we are settling in to the area quite well! However, my body reminds me daily of all that we have accomplished and the stacks still sitting around remind me of all that is still left to do.
We are discovering many new things in our house... we live in an area with obviously no trash pick-up, no high-speed internet, no cable, and those are just the things we have checked into. I guess it's a good thing that we made a resolution to try to get back to nature in the way we live; because this house is going to hold us to it. The cable I can deal with, but not being able to pick up one single local channel with our converter box is a little disturbing. It's movies or nothing! Not a lot of tv watching going on around here.
The kids have met many neighbor kids and are loving it our here. We have a community park about 2 miles away and have already had a family picnic there. I think it will do us all good to be back in the country.
Oh about that internet thing... I'm typing this on the hopes of not getting disconnected from the wireless connection. It only took about an hour to get to a point of being able to sit in a spot with service... rewelcome the days of slow dial-up type service. Enjoy your hi-speed and thank God for letting it come into your life. haha!
So until the next time I can get on... don't get caught up in all the mess of life!

Homeowner again

2009-01-29T20:24:00.000-08:00

Well I completed the process today and we are once again homeowners. I was nervous, yet excited leading up to the meeting this morning. After an hour of closing I met up with my mom and kids for some good brunch at McAllister's Deli. Then it was off to the house for painting and cleaning. About an hour into the whole process I had an epiphany of how absolutely insane we must be to take on a house that needs some TLC and that we are going to have about 3-4 days in which to get it done. However, I pulled myself together, picked up the roller again, and proceeded to paint until we ran out of Kilz. I had already decided that when it was gone I would be done for the day because I was moving at turtle pace instead of warp speed. So here I am at home writing list of the loads of things that we need to accomplish and being grateful that we have wonderful family and friends to help us out. It will get done and I can't wait! So until then... one day at a time. Goodnight!

In our news...

2009-01-27T12:57:00.000-08:00

Yippee... I want to shout it from the rooftops that we will be closing on our house Thursday. Finally, all of the paperwork is in and it looks as though nothing else may stand in the way! It really came down to the wire... all had to be in by noon today and well I think I received the call that evertything had been received at about 11:55.
ok enough on that... I have other news. There will be a new addition to our family around September. No we won't be adding the addition, but someone close to us will be. I'll spill my guts on the details of all this later.
ok enough news for now... have a great day!

Moving Again...

2009-01-25T08:57:00.000-08:00

One would think that since I have moved dozens of times in my life that another move would seem no big deal. However, this particular move is posing to be quite the challenge to me. The mounds of stuff we have accumulated over 9 1/2 years of marriage seem to taunt with a hahaha each day that they continue to hold their place in our current rental house. For whatever reason I'm having a hard time visualizing where the items will make their spot in our new home. See usually for me this comes fairly easy and almost carefree. Making our belongs a spot (place to collect dust) has always came so simply that I am overanalyzing why this time is different... are we purchasing the correct home, is it time to start over with different stuff, is it just me, or could this possibly be the last time I move for a very long time. i know overanalyzed, right?
With all of that said we have boxes piled all around the current house in anticipation of next weekend. Before we move in I will have the pleasure of cleaning (the house has been vacant for nearly a year), painting, and more painting. Jason is going to be laying carpet (with help), installing exterior lighting, and spraying the premises for critters that may have tried to make home there. Needless to say our next week is filled to the brim with a million things to do at our new home. It's a good thing we have God on our side! When we are done the house will be comfy and cozy... just like home!

Deals for week of Jan.18

2009-01-18T20:30:00.000-08:00

I have not been doing a great job of using my coupons to be more frugal in spending lately, but I am determined to get back on track this week. So after reviewing some websites and sales ads the following are items I will be attempting to snag for free or almost free this week:
WAL-MART>
FREE...
2 small boxes of Arm & Hammer baking soda (using printable coupon)
24 ct. guerrero corn tortillas (printable)
2 betty crocker boxed sweet potatoes(in ad coupon)
3 oz. suave hand lotion (ad coup)
16 ct. kotex pantiliners (ad coup)
3 Johnsons buddies soaps (printable)
gillete 8.75 oz. body wash (ad coup)
ALMOST FREE...
honey bunches of oats-.62 w/ printable
2 martha white cornbread mixes- .11 for both (ad coup)
muir glen fire roasted chopped tomatoes- .18 (printable)
cascadian farms organic purely steam veggies- .22 (printable)
kashi crackers- .50 (printable)
ludens throat drops- .12 (ad coup)
gillete fusion razor- .74 (ad coup)
WAL-MART'S TOTAL PRETAX FOR 19 ITEMS= $2.27 NOT BAD!KROGER>
cottonelle toliet paper 4pk- free with ad coup (i have 4 coups)= 16 free rolls
franks red hot sauce- .19 with ad coup
KROGERS TOTAL PRETAX FOR 5 ITEMS= .19 YIPPEE!
If you are interested in any of these but can't find the links to print coupons just let me know. I would be glad to help. have a great week!

sausage and cheese

2009-01-16T21:50:00.000-08:00

Jason and I cashed in on some of the good deals that Hickory Farms has to offer right now. Guess what we will be serving up for the Superbowl! We used source code: clipper to save 15% off of the sales prices as well. The shipping was still high but, in the end we purchased 6 various gift boxes for less than 1 box would have originally cost (taxes and all). We recommend if you like cheese/sausage plates for get-togethers and such that you consider buying some. Even Wal-Mart can't beat the cheese ball price right now. Enjoy!

Homeschool

2009-01-16T19:54:00.000-08:00

The girls seem to be fairing well in their homeschooling. We love the curriculum we have chosen for the year (My Fathers World). It is challenging the girls to learn yet it is laid out simply for me to teach. Each day takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours to complete and the girls never seem to tire before we finish. We are also doing a home economics study that is teaching the basics... peeling a carrot/potato, using a toaster, cracking an egg, etc. It is quite fun... it has lots of basic recipes and activities for them to follow... and it saves me from having to creatively come up with a way to get it across to them. They love knowing that when they are in the kitchen they are also doing school. Fun, Fun! So as for now all is going well. We haven't made a definite decision on next year just yet; either way school is looking promising for the girls. They are 2 very smart cookies!

Mamaw Anna

2009-01-11T20:44:00.000-08:00

We celebrated my grandma's 79th birthday today. It was a surprise party for her... she thought they were having a birthday party for me. She was shocked when she walked in and asked why everyone was there. When we said Happy Birthday she started to cry. It was heart wrenching... I think the rest of us cried in response. She never dreamed that anything like that would happen.
Sometimes I think older people feel like their lives devalue as they grow older. As if they some how mean less to those around them. I'm sure there are families that do treat their elders this way, but not where I come from. Older people are a blessing... a rare treasure that will never come again. You hold them and love them until they are gone. You soak everything they can offer up and pray that they will share more of their knowledge with you. All of the wonderful stories that grandparents offer will one day be a lost treasure. None of us have the memories of riding to the nearest town in a horse drawn buggy, wearing shoes only to church or on special occasions, or making everything from scratch. Those things are the past... they are long forgotten and moved on. We live in a technological age where we can talk constantly to someone, but not see them for years. Where kids play less outside and spend less time at home. Our stories will never compare to what they can offer; the love they have shared with so many is irreplaceable as well. So as my grandmother continues to get older I hope to continue to hear more and maybe one day my memory will serve me well enough to pass on her story to my grandchildren.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMAW ANNA-- WE LOVE YOU!

My new homemade cleaners :)

2009-01-07T21:04:00.000-08:00

I am so excited about my new homemade cleaners... The Dishwasher Detergent has my glassware looking great and sparkly & the laundry detergent seems to have my clothes just as clean as my CHEER was doing. The best part though... the cost is so far less!
My Dishwasher Detergent Recipe:
1 c. washing soda
1 c. Borax
vinegar in rinse cup
mix thoroughly; store in airtight container; use 2 Tbsp per full load.

my Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe:
1 c. washing soda
1 c. Borax
2 c. Fels Naptha Laundry Soap- finely grated = approx. 1 bar (took 30 min. to grate)
mix well; store in airtight container (2qt needed for this recipe); use 2 tsp per full load
use vinegar in the downy ball as a fabric softener

To get started making these I spent approx. $20
Borax- approx $4 (tons remaining)
Washing Soda- approx $3 (tons remaining)
Fels Naptha- $1.35/bar
4.5 qt airtight container- $4
measuring scoops- approx. $1
grater- $6.50 (mine did not have a fine grate side)

The next batch I make will only cost $1.35 for both because everything else will be reusable. hooray! What's nice is I would have spent $13 or more on just one box of CHEER that would have lasted the same amount of time and $5 or more dollars on dishwasher detergent. I have seen estimates that calculate the usage per load to be anywhere from .02 to .40 per load for laundry and detergent. I might get brave and try to figure this later. common sense tells me it costs less to make it! I will keep all posted on this and any changes I make if any.

Twenty-Nine Years

2009-01-04T12:52:00.000-08:00

ok so today I turn 29! I can hardly believe it! This will be my last year in my 20s. It seems strange to me; it only seems like yesterday that I was 18 and had few responsibilities. I am glad that at 29 I am blessed with a wonderful husband, a beautiful family, and the love of the Lord. I know that there are many things I have not done that I just knew I would accomplish by this point. However, I did not know then that God had much more in store for me. It's odd how things go differently in your life than you dream they will. Reality hits hard once kids come into your life. Everything that once seemed so important comes to a halt and priorities change. I am enjoying it and wouldn't want to be 29 and have it any other way.

New Years Day Sales

2009-01-02T17:09:00.000-08:00

Well this makes year 2 that Dillards has had an incredible sale on New Years Day. Last year we just happened to show up early and got great deals on coats for the kids. This year I got there late in the day so the store had been ransacked pretty hard already but there were still deals to be found. I carried various items around for awhile before deciding to not get them and decided on one item for myself... a Ralph Lauren red striped night gown. I had eyeballed it all season, but refused to pay the $60 on the tag. I was able to grab it yesterday for $18! I love a good deal! The best deals I'm sure were gone, but I also have lots of clutter I already have to move to the new house and wasn't looking for more work to add to myself. Maybe next year though I can prepare for some serious shopping. I hope your Dillards has the same sale... if so you should check it out in 2010. It will be worth your time I promise!

Happy New Year

2008-12-31T12:20:00.000-08:00

Wow 2008 came and went so quickly... tomorrow starts another year. Doesn't it seem like the whole Y2K thing happened not that long ago? 9 years seems impossible! Well despite the way it seems here we are. 2009 is appearing to be a promising year to come for our family. In a few weeks we will own a new home and Jason has a job that seems steady for now. Our family is making new years resolutions to better our health and our life in general. Here are just a few of the things that we are resolving to do:
1) get in shape (round is a shape, but not what we desire)
2) remove processed foods from our diet
- we will plant a garden this spring
- we hope to aquire a few chickens for eggs & such
- we would eventually like to own a cow or pig for meat
- eat out less; cook more from scratch at home
- shop organically
... yes we are returning to the land!
3) remove chemicals from our environment
- we have already purchased materials to make our own cleaners
- we intend to use low VOC paint in the house
4) reduce, reuse, recycle
- we already recycle and will continue to do so
- we hope to start composting
- we intend to use rain barrells for watering the garden, animals, and etc.
5) get more involved in our community
- we tend to keep to ourselves- don't get involved enough
We will be taking baby steps over the year to make a transition that we can keep. We want our kids to grasp it as well and not feel like we deprived them of things or were too weird. We are excited and hope other families are making some of the same commitments this year.
I do have a few personal resolutions for this year:
1) relearn how to crochet
- i would like to complete at least 1 afghan this year
2) organize my household a little more
- make having the kids a reason to organize; not an excuse to not
3) wake up earlier- go to bed sooner as well
4) enjoy the outdoors more!
I hope your new years resolutions are something you can uphold yourself to. Now break out your bubbly (be it champagne or sparkling cider) and have yourself a
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

'twas the day before Christmas

2008-12-24T10:51:00.000-08:00

The stockings are hung; no more presents to wrap.
The parents are ready; for a good long nap.
So late they stayed up; trying to get things just right.
In hopes that tomorrow; will be a great sight.
The children are happy; all giddy inside.
No longer will there presents have to sit and hide.
So be ready all parents; for tomorrow's the day.
Santa is coming to empty his sleigh.
Your home will explode with candy and toys.
for all the sweet little girls and little boys.
So say your prayers and thank God above;
for blessing you greatly and giving us all his love.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL!

Pre-Christmas presents

2008-12-22T11:18:00.000-08:00

This past weekend we made our trek to see all of Jason's family for our Christmas with all of them. The kids of course were super excited because the anticipation had been building for so long. Our turn around was quick because Jason and I had ended up with pink eye from the kids, but despite all of us being exhausted we had a wonderful time. THe kids scored all sorts of goodies from Grandma, Aunt Mel, Uncle David, baby Caleb, Pappy, Grammy, Aunt Jennie, and Uncle Yancey. The tea set acquired has not been able to take a rest yet, the pajamas required immediate wearing (they slipped into them at about 4pm yesterday), the candy has all but been devoured (lots of sneekin' going on), and they have had to show off all their goodies to everyone they see. Jason and I scored some goodies also... I am so super excited about my new Gooseberry Patch cookbook! What kind of new creations will I find? Jason has not said alot about his gifts but I think he was a little shocked not to be getting socks, underwear, and t-shirts like he has for the past several years (haha!) We have already been so blessed and the day isn't here yet. Thanks to all who contributed to this, we love you much!

nothings better than homemade!

2008-12-16T21:56:00.000-08:00

Do you remember all the wonderful smells that came from your grandma's kitchen, but haven't figured out why yours never smells to good (minus the time spent cooking)? Well it's easy... we don't make things from scratch as often as she did. So I am going to share a few simple scratch recipes that will make your kitchen smell more like Grandma's...
what do people love to drink when it's cold?hot chocolate well to make it like grandma did is easy. Take some chocolate and melt it in a double broiler. once melted add milk. stir until nice and creamy. top with garnish. voila you are done and your kitchen will thank you for it!
how about that fresh apple pie smell? try cinnamon-sugar apples combine 1/4 c. sugar and 2 tsp. cinnamon; set aside. core peel and slice 2 to 3 apples. sprinkle with mix. microwave on high until tender or bake in oven. these can be eaten as is. or place inside a pie shell and make individual pies. yummy!
maybe you want to smell grandma's soup? grab a big pot. pour in about 2 cans chicken or beef broth (veggie broth would be good to). as it warms add frozen mixed veggie. the soup would be good at this point or you can add some leftover meat (beef, chicken, turkey) or even some canned chicken. add pepper- not too much salt (broth is salty). let cook for awhile. smell the aroma & enjoy!
Whatever it is you loved about grandma's cooking you can learn to recreate in your kitchen... it might take a smidge more time than store bought but I promise and your crowd will agree that the taste and smell will make the experience that much better. Also it will give you peace of mind in knowing that your family is not being pumped full of chemicals/hormones from processed foods. The cooking your grandma did was done organically... so can you! And the best part is: done right you can cook organically without breaking the bank. Hope you enjoy!

keep some money in your pocket

2008-12-16T16:13:00.000-08:00

$120 P&G coupon booklet

If you buy $50 worth of any P&G products between now and January 31, 2009, you can qualify to receive a $120 coupon booklet from P&G. More details at moneysavingmom.com

last minute gifts

2008-12-14T14:36:00.000-08:00

Are you having a hard time thinking of a gift for someone... well I have an idea for you. My good friend and photographer (Maggie Hendrix Photography) is offering discounted portrait sessions. Here is the blog from her site:

For those of you who are still having a hard time coming up with a unique gift for someone special, consider giving them a gift certificate for a session with me! As a Happy 2009, I am offering a $50 “mini session” for the months of January and February. In addition to the discounted session fee, you will also be able to choose one 8×10 print from your session as a free gift from me! Visit my website and click on “Specials” for more details. Available session times will fill up fast, so call today to book yours! (501.388.3256)

She is located in Searcy, AR and her website is: maggiehendrix.com

We Believe In Santa...

2008-12-14T14:06:00.000-08:00

At our house Santa is alive and just as real as you and I. The kids are happily singing christmas carols (even through the stores) and asking a million questions about the great Santa Clause. Some of the questions have been a little hard to answer... like "if Santa lives at the North Pole in his workshop, why don't we go their to buy all of our toys?" courteous of Sierra or "how does Santa really know what each boy and girl wants, it's not like he's God or something?" this one is from Caitlin. Jeremiah doesn't have to many questions (yet) he just wants to know when his Spiderman Skateboard will be arriving. To help with all of the "is Christmas here yet" questions I decided to mark the calendar off each day for the kids. I have a smiley face drawn on the 25th so they know when the day is. They have been so excited each day to see us get closer and closer. Yesterday we decided to venture out into the crazy crowd of Christmas shoppers... hoping to finalize our present buying. We decided to start with Toys R Us hoping that Sierra would give us some insight to her hearts desire for Christmas, but were surprised to find that we would also get the treat of seeing Santa while we were there. The girls have always been very shy of santa, the easter bunny, etc. But our little Jeremiah was oh so brave as he walked over and jumped right in to Santa's lap. The Santa was so good... he read him the book 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. The photographer didn't rush us and Santa got up to try to interact with the girls as well. After some time we decided we were done, paid for our cd with our chosen picture on it, and then proceeded to enter the toy madness. After we were finished and left the store the girls looked back to see if the sleigh and reindeer were on top of the store. They could see nothing except a rope hanging on the side of the building. They proclaimed that the sleigh and reindeer were too far back, but Santa must have used the rope to climb down. I was loving it all! It was by far the best Santa experience and we will definitely try to catch him there next year.

growing too quick

2008-12-11T20:22:00.000-08:00

Is it me or do you blink and have a half grown child before your eyes? My sweet twin girls are just getting so big... It's so sad to me! I would like to keep my babies as long as possible. However, today I had another reality check that yes they are growing... and rapidly! We were searching the baby department at JcPenney for my littlest nephew a christmas gift when I overheard a very unchildlike conversation. They were standing over the newborn girl outfits and discussing how absolutely adorable they were... cross my heart they said those exact words. Ok so I know only a few 5 year olds but I've never seen or heard them have such a sentimental conversation. Oh well I guess I can be super thrilled that for this year they still believe in Santa and hope I will get a few more years of that. So mom's squeeze your babies tight tonight because tomorrow they will be too big!

am I sure I want stairs?

2008-12-08T13:45:00.000-08:00

Well it's official; I have done my 1st bit of cleaning at the new house. It went fairly smooth, but after about 5 times up and down the stairs I was beginning to wonder how much I really wanted them. The thought of all the kids STUFF being up there and not downstairs is nice, but I really question how many times I will go up and down the stairs to take care of things. Maybe I can just lock the kids up there and eat bon bons and watch soaps downstairs (wait I'm dreaming again)! The other worry I have is the exposed rafters (log home). They do add beauty and character to the home, but when I look at them all I can think of is the hours I will spend getting rid of cobwebs. They may have to go! The hardwood floors are exciting... they may show the dirt more easily, but at least I will know that it is gone when I clean. Carpet is nice don't get me wrong, but after cleaning the carpets yesterday I really wonder just how effective a vaccuum really is! With all of this said if you have any great tips for keeping hard floors clean or other quick cleaning tips I would love to hear them.

old people's stuff

2008-12-06T20:34:00.000-08:00

I wrote recently about how I admire older people and the things they have been through in their life. With all of the events that people encounter in life they gain more and more stuff. I have had the pleasure of helping deal with some of this stuff this week for my stepdad's mom. Boy do I mean stuff... it has gone on for days and their is still more there. We've taken 2-3 truck loads to the dump and have totes full of items that need to be gone through. I doubt little old men acquire the amount that we as women do. Why do we keep every card that is given to us, bows from gifts, bud vases, and oh the pictures. The lady I am speaking of is 80 now, only has 1 child, and her spouse died several years ago... yet even with his stuff gone she filled a 2 bedroom, 1 bath house. This is something my mother-in-law and her brothers are getting ready to deal with since granny passed away earlier this year. My mother-in-law herself has acquired quite the stash of stuff that one day her children will get the pleasure of dealing with. (Wanda if you are reading this I do still love you and am proud of the headway you are attempting to make with your stuff). I think we could all do ourselves and our children a favor by narrowing down the stuff to maybe a hope chest or two. Believe me all our children will love us more if we do that! haha! Better yet maybe anytime they say they like something; when they are out and married; we could send it home with them. I'm sure with lots of prayer God could help us all to let go of some of our stuff.

gifts? is that what i am supposed to be doing?

2008-12-04T21:34:00.001-08:00

I mentioned earlier that my easiest black friday shopping was done online at Kohls at like 2am. My wonderful purchase arrived yesterday! I am a little confused though... at 2 am I'm wondering how well my brain was actually functioning. It seems I ended up with lots of stuff for my new house, but only 1 gift. OOPS! Was I supposed to use blackfriday for gifts? It seems I had forgotten that little detail. The bathroom stuff I got for the kids new bathroom in our new house is going to be great though... Jason hasn't quite bought that idea yet. I do have to say so though I did much better later in the day so I feel that I redeemed myself. Hey how many people can say that they bought almost all their christmas gifts and outfitted a new bath for less than $200. Not many- right! So ok now I'm trying to convince even myself... I better stop while I'm ahead.
As for that gift that a year ago I knew I was going to have to make with my own 2 hands and well we have 15 days 'til the exchange... if you are reading my blog and you know what gift I am referring to you might choose someone else's bag(box). 'cause well just to be honest time is making it harder to believe a homemade gift will be reality. Stay tuned for details on this exchange after the 20th. I could surprise even myself! haha!

double coupons at kmart

2008-12-02T20:30:00.000-08:00

Thanks to my sis-in-law I was able to take advantage of the double coupon days at Kmart this week. Thanks Mel, I appreciate it much!
I have to admit I didn't really find any items that were FREE with coupons, but I did snag some items that were put into a price range I much prefer. Here are a list of my items... (sorry I'm not putting prices, I've been a little sick and am ready to hit the bed early tonight.)
Hunts snack pack pudding
lifesavers mints
cottonelle 12pk
oust surface & air
kleenex w/lotion
chinet dinnerware
ziplock steambags
ziplock containers
dove shampoo
gold bond lotion
suave cocoa butter w/shea lotion
revlon nail tools
revlon eyelash curler
sally hansen polish
glade spray
betty crocker choc. chip cookie mix (these ended up only being .20)
palmolive pure & clear dishsoap
barilla whole grain spaghetti noodles
lea & perrins worcestershire sauce
-there were a few other items as well.
My starting total was approx $110.00; after coupons it dropped 50% to approx. $54.00. I felt pretty good about the prices I got. Happy shopping I hope this helps you save a little on the things you may need this month as well.

welcome christmas time

2008-11-29T17:12:00.000-08:00

Christmas time is definitely here. I had my holiday shopping fun yesterday with my mom and sis as we jumped from store to store grabbing our black friday deals. I ended up with all but one of the items on my list. Kohls was by far the easiest... I did it on line at about 2am. we only had to swing by the store for my sis to run in for one item. It took about 10 min. Jcpenney was the same. I ran in, grabbed the one item I needed, and ran back out. We were at Wal-Mart for a little longer... but we shaved off tons of time by not waiting in the front lines. They allowed us to check out in Sporting Goods. No line, no waiting! Then it was off to Lowe's. We arrived about 1 to 1 1/2 hrs after opening... and all of the items we wanted were still there! Finally we slid over to Academy for a great buy on shoes for the girls. After that we hopped over to Cracker Barrell for some good brunch. We encountered quite a wait there... it seems everyone had the same idea. By this point (11:30am) I was exhausted... I spent the remainder of the day sleeping and laying around. It was definitely worth it. I have gotten all but 1 child and 1 adult gift. hooray I'm almost done!

2008-11-27T17:04:00.000-08:00

I hope this finds everyone at the end of a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and with a full belly. We gathered with my family today at lunch. Then my husband and kids ran off to have a dinner with his family. I am headed back home with my sis to prepare for our early morning shopping fun. We figure we will be done pouring over ads just in time to grab a short snooze, brush our teeth, and head out the door. This years sales seem to be surprisingly disappointing, but none the less I can't miss out on all the female adrenalin running rampant throughout the city. I hope Santa has found you all to be on the nice list list this year; I'm sure he has me (lol)! I can't wait to begin the holiday decorating and festivities. The smell of christmas cookies is torturing me from inside the totes sitting inside my dining room. Well seems that I have booked my schedule with all things Christmas for the week. Happy Holidays everyone!

Blackfriday Sales

2008-11-21T19:17:00.000-08:00

Are you itching to get out and grab some great deals on Black Friday? Well I have found a great site that has scanned viewings of the sales ads. They just posted the Wal-Mart ad. So cruise on over to black-friday.net to set your game plan for that morning. Hope to see you out there!

patience perseveres!

2008-11-20T20:55:00.001-08:00

Finally...accepted! offer #4 was accepted today! We have a tentative closing date of 12-17-08. What a great Christmas present. Now to only figure out how to sqeeze Christmas in for the kids. haha! Ok so now (after the holidays) I get to buy new flooring, paint, and maybe another handy man tool or two. We will need them for a few projects. I guess this would be a great time to let any family reading this know that a gift card to Lowe's or Home Depot would be perfect this year! haha! I've made comments to Jason that some of our home decor just wouldn't go in a log home. He didn't find it as humorous as I did! I'm sure he's glad I do it on the frugal side!ok so now that the offer has been accepted we need lots of prayers for everything to process smoothly from here on out. So please pray for us as we go into the Holidays with an anxious heart. We are also asking everyone to say a little prayer to ask God to bless our new home. It's kind of a long story, but we want to know that God is in control of everything in our lives. That includes having his blessing in the home we plan to raise our children in and further bring them to know him. Thank you all in advance!

offer #4

2008-11-19T19:50:00.000-08:00

ok so we've done it again... that is made an offer on a house! This one is on 1.5 acres, in the country, and a log home. The style is very much us. So we get to hope and pray until Friday (at the latest). So please be in prayer with us. One day someone is going to realize how serious we are about buying a house! This house needs a little TLC but just a few cosmetic things.

Just like Grandma

2008-11-16T14:41:00.000-08:00

Well, another fall has come and nearly gone! Today it is extremely cold, the leaves have almost all disappeared from the trees, and the smell of wood heat through the neighborhoods reminds me that we have almost come to meet old man winter again. Don't get me wrong I love winter time... it is absolutely beautiful when God shows how wonderful he is with a blanket of snow to cover the ground. Yet with each passing year my kids grow a little bigger and I grow older as well. I do believe that with age comes beauty... at least in one sense. Older people may not be in with the most recent fad, yet there is something beautiful about a group of old(er) ladies dressed in their knit pants and homemade style sweaters. They have such a sense of peace and wisdom about them. I came across a group of such ladies on my way home from my nephews party last night. I guess growing older each year isn't so bad, I just hope to be able to one day have a young(er) lady look at me with the same thought in her mind. With Thanksgiving just a short jog around the corner i wanted to talk about some of the things I am THANKFUL for:
1) GOD- for loving me
2) my parents- for giving me life
3) my husband- what would i do without you- i love you
4) my kids- for everything- i strive to be better for you
5) my extended family/friends- life would be much sadder without all of you to share it with
I will try to post more as the holiday grows closer.
what are you thankful for?
Are you aspiring to host a Thanksgiving feast at your house? DO memories of food baking at Grandma's house make you wish you were blessed with her ability to cook? Well you are not alone, I feel the same. So I decided over this past year to put the effort forth to make more(from scratch) in the kitchen because one day I will be the Grandma. So in asking for recipes and digging through some very old cook books I have came up with a couple of great recipes for things like Pie Crust, Homemade Rolls, etc. I even went as far as to aquire some aprons- yes I wear them! And I am loving every minute of it! You should try it some time. It's almost like putting on a superhero cape. I feel like I can bake anything! My grandma loves it!

great buys

2008-11-10T20:24:00.000-08:00

my first great buy today was at Victoria's Secret. I had a free panty gift card that also allowed $10 off any original priced item. so i found a great organic panty for $12 and then my free panty. after my coupon and taxes I paid less than $3. I was excited!
Then since I was already at the mall I decided to cash in my $10 off $30 purchase at bath & body works. So I bought 3 hand soaps (on sale 3/$10) and 4 body lotions (on sale for $5 each). it came to a total of just over $21. This is great since they make incredible birthday or christmas gifts.
Finally I went to Gymboree where I was hoping to find my nephew something for his birthday. Was I ever excited to see that they were having an extra 20% off there clearance section. So I dove in. They had great items that would work for winter. The outfit I scored is red, black, and white. So it would even make a great christmas outfit. It rang up for even less than priced. I was able to buy it after taxes for less than 50% of the original cost. woohoo!
I hope you have a great shopping experience yourself this season!

Pantry meals

2008-11-10T20:09:00.000-08:00

Needing some ideas for meals that come primarily from the pantry? Here are 2 that I like to use in our house...
cheesy chicken enchilada soup-
2 cans chicken (we use members mark)
1 can cream of chicken
1 can pinto beans or kidney beans
1 can evaporated milk
1 can enchilada sauce
1 can cheese soup
combine all of these in a large pan. add diced onions & bell peppers if desired. cook on stove top until heated through.serve with chips.

chicken enchiladas
1 can enchilada sauce
1-2 can(s) chicken
shredded cheese (we use colby/jack)
corn tortillas
dip tortillas in enchilada sauce and lay in casserole dish. top with chicken and cheese. add any other desired toppings. repeat layer as many times as desired. end with cheese on top. cook at 425 until melted and bubbly.
optional toppings: olives, peppers, beans, corn, etc.

my kids eat both of these dishes easily so long as i do not put to much hot sauce in them.

Caleb is the big 1 today!

2008-11-10T20:04:00.001-08:00

Our adorable little nephew turned 1 today. his birthday is this weekend and the kids are so excited because Caleb is "getting bigger". anyway happy birthday Caleb! See you Saturday.

Homeschooling Success

2008-11-05T20:12:00.000-08:00

Well I have finally done it... I ordered a curriculum for the girls to get started on Kindergarten. I don't believe in pushing children in to school before they are ready, but mine were not ok with waiting until next August for their learning to begin. So we have jumped right in! I ordered the MY FATHERS WORLD curriculum for kindergarten. So far it seems fabulous... easy for me because it is basically planned out; yet challenging and interesting for the girls. The first 10 days are spent learning the foundation of our fathers world: CREATION! What an awesome way to introduce learning to young curious minds. They have heard all of the information before in sunday school, but it hasn't been broken down by day so that they actually retain it. They are learning so many things just off of creation that I, as a parent, forgot that they don't just naturally know. They are very excited to be learning a new song (new to them): THIS IS MY FATHERS WORLD. My husband, who has the better singing voice of the 2 of us, has sang it for them several times and today I overheard them practicing while they were doing other things. The excitement to learn the song is so that they will be able to sing it with Grandma (maybe Aunt Mel too) when we go see them in a few weeks. Jason and I informed the girls that Grandma's church sings this song occassionally. There response was a little funny... they said," our church sings a different kind of music?" Yes we do! We attend a nondenominational church while Grandma goes to a Church of Christ and others we know go to a Baptist Church. "oh" they said. I'm so proud of the kids. They talk about their love for God and notice things already in others that are for or against what God intends. Oh if children could stay so innocent! That's a whole can of worms with me. I'm eager to explore God's wonderful creations with my girls this year. We'll keep all posted on how the homeschooling goes through the year.

birthday cake

2008-10-25T23:03:00.000-07:00

my sis-in-law has some great pics on her blog about the birthday cakes i made for the kids this year. sneak over there and take a peek. her blog is called snips and snails under family and friends on the left side of my screen.

coupon crazy!

2008-10-25T22:21:00.001-07:00

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since I made any real attempts at coupon shopping. So today my mom decided we needed to go. We started out at Walgreens. I grabbed some great buys there... yardley soap .69 (great for gift baskets), lysol neutra air .99 with mc, airwick freshmatic 1.99 (will have $3 mir too), free pert shampoo, almay mascara (free mir item), l'oreal moisturizer (free mir item), domino sugar 1.99 (had a raincheck), fusion razor .99 after mc and rr, and a few other items. I also bought maalox, theraflu, and triaminic... with mcs on all 3 plus the $8 rr i earned they ended up paying me about $2 to take these home. nothing like keeping the medicine cabinet stocked for free. I had $ on my walgreens gift card so I had no out of pocket for the purchases made. yippee!
next we had to grab lunch. well with no kids in tow Colton's sounded pretty good. Here's where I have to tell you if you haven't tried coltons loaded baked potato soup you have truly missed out. my mom described it best... it was like potatoes in gravy! it was so good! anyway stop by and try it some day.
then on to USA Drug. We got lots here. My original amount started at over $90 and when I paid it was only $47 and some change. the cashier was super impressed! Here are a few great buys i snagged... jergens lotion $1.09 after mc (we found this coupon on the aisle in the store)(they have great mc coupons located throughout), L'oreal toner $1.43 with mc, L'oreal facewash $1.37 after mc, secret deodorant .85 with mc, and many more. One of the best store wide sales is the Revlon cosmetics. They are 50% off! So I bought new everything... nail polish ended up being .24, lipstick 1.49, mineral blush 4.49, mascara/eye shadow combo 1.25, and single shadows were free with a .02 overage. I had $2 revlon coupons for 7 items that had accumulated over the months. i had nearly decided to chunk them a few weeks back. Now i have been reminded why i need to hang on to them.
A few hours later we ended up at another walgreens. there we got kellogs smart start for 1.50 after mc, weleda hand lotion .24, and some razorback koozies for .99 each. with rr earned earlier in the day and remainder of $ on gc I only had to pay .96 out of pocket. that's less than one of the koozies!
Today's shopping was not anything different than how we normally shop. we love to find a bargain and a coupon just makes it that much sweeter. we did hit some great items that were being clearanced out and had been marked way down. example: the weleda hand lotion i picked up at walgreens was marked down to 2.24 on clearance. walgreens has a weleda book with coupons at their cosmetic counter. it had a $2 coupon for the product inside (along with other coups). so i payed .24! So never overlook the clearance section. Actually it's best to dive right in it. You can even pick up medicine for cheap this way. i scored dimetapp, triaminic, tylen cold, nyquil, and several other winter weather meds this way today. The best part is they don't expire until next year or the year after. so instead of paying $4 or more I paid a few cents to no more than 1.50.
couponing is one of the things that help make life a little simpler for me because i am able to have the things on hand that we need (or others need). i hope it does the same for you. happy couponing!

shot down again!

2008-10-21T20:45:00.001-07:00

ok so maybe it wasn't the one. we were shot down yet again on another house. this time we aren't even sure what happened. it was like their realtor decided he didn't like it so maybe didn't even submit it. how frustrating! anyway i just keep telling myself god's timing, not mine. with that said please keep praying for us!

THE ONE?

2008-10-16T17:11:00.000-07:00

Well I think we just might have found the one... house that is! After looking and looking and a couple of failed offers we might have finally hit a taker! We loved the house when we saw it. The kids even commented on the BIG yard. So keep us in your prayers as we hope to find out in the next day or two whether the sellers are going to accept our offer.
I know there are all types of people out there when it comes to the housing market. Some people make an offer for exactly what the people are asking, others crazily offer more than the asking price (we actually had this happen to us on a house sale once), and then there are the great deal hunters. The latter is where we fall. Jason and I are the type who are willing to take the chance on low balling an offer in hopes that the people really aren't expecting to get anywhere near the list price. For example we have been known to offer 50 thousand under the asking price, but on this particular house our offer is only 30 thousand under the asking price. Guess what though... their realtor today said that they are considering it. Isn't that great! We know that if God intends for us to have a home that all will work out. Of course, we are human and so therefore have trouble being patient with his timing but oh how sweet it will be when he says, "here you go, thanks for waiting!"

TOBE (pronounced: tow bee)

2008-10-16T17:04:00.000-07:00

Well the new family member has settled in and has made his spot in the family known. The kids already count his as a member of the family. I got tickled at Caitlin the other day because she said that our family has 6 now! We decided to name him TOBE since he came to us in ocTOBEr. I haven't gotten any pictures yet, but I am sure we will soon have as many of him as we do the kids. Anyway, so far so good!

puppies from heaven...

2008-10-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

You know how the kids have been asking for a dog... well today Jason and I are wondering if God has decided to answer their prayers for us. Last night we were having yet another discussion about a dog and decided that for our sons sake we might get a small inside dog that he could sleep with. This all being in hopes that it would help him to be less afraid of the room at night. So since Caitlin and I both have allergies we decided that our only choice would most likely be a chihuahua or chihuahua mix. Well lo and behold this evening we had the strangest noise on our back patio. Upon looking Jason realized it was a small puppy (appears to be a chihuahua/jack russell mix). The kids got all excited and ran outside to play with it. After a few minutes of play Jason decided he had better check with the neighbors to see who owned him. Well it appears that none of them do! So we now have a dish and food, plus some doggy bones for our new family member. So now I guess we just need a name... and prayers that the owners don't show up looking for him. He loves the kids and seems to be good so far. So I guess Sierra got her birthday wish afterall! I will post pictures later.

birthday party!

2008-10-12T16:45:00.000-07:00

well the party was a hit and the girls had a blast. They got lots of neat toys like polly pockets, movies, craft stuff, clothes, etc. they got alot for 2 little girls. They have greatly enjoyed their gifts. the polly pockets have been by far the biggest hit. that is all they have played with today. i have to admit that all of the little pieces don't exactly thrill me as a parent.I do, however, understand that they are getting bigger and that mega blocks are a thing of the past! we so appreciate all of the people who took the time to come to the party and who helped us out in so many ways.

super grocery buys

2008-10-09T10:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I decided to venture over to our local grocery store to pick up a sales ad since I didn't get one in the mail for the week. I also had a few small items to get so the trip wasn't going to be a total waste. Upon pulling up I noticed an unusually large amount of cars in the parking lot. Well to my surprise it was the last day of a week long 25 year anniversary sale that they had been having. They had .25 items throughout the store along with some other great buys. Here are a few of the items I got for .25: crystal light to go, canned veggies, chicken leg quarts by the pound, vienna sausage, and spaghetti noodles. There were more items that I chose not to buy. Some of the other great buys were: Orville Redenbacher 3 pk popcorn was .49, general mills cereal was 2/$3, bananas were .25/lb, campbells chicken noodle and tomato soup was .69 each. plus many more! What made all of this even sweeter was that I had coupons (which this store doubles up to .70) on a large majority of the items I bought. So I walked out of the store with a buggy flowing over the top and ony spent $52! I was super excited and so was my husband. Afterall, getting great deals on health & beauty products is nice but they last much longer than food does! I hope you luck out and find some great deals like this in your area.

THE GIRLS!!!

2008-10-06T11:12:00.000-07:00

This weekend we are celebrating our twin girls turning 5! I think I overanalyzed what to do for their party and ran myself out of time. So we are having a costume party at our house... complete with a pumpkin cake, pinata, craft time, and pin the nose on the pumpkin! I'm sure the girls will love it. After all what kid doesn't love a birthday party where everyone brings presents for them. Oh speaking of presents they have big expectations for this party. Sierra says grandma is bringing her a dog and that someone is supposed to bring her a real pony. I hope she isn't too disappointed when the dog doesn't come until after the new house. Caitlin wants a guitar. not just any guitar though it has to be pink or purple! maybe we can convince her that presents like that are more likely to come with Santa Clause. As of this moment we still do not have gifts. We are just stumped by the whole thing! They have more toys than needed, clothes running out their ears (yes i am a little country), and craft stuff that has overflowed their closet into my space. what to do...what to do!
Despite all of that the girls are so precious to us. We are truly blessed to have them and to have shared 5 wonderful years. We hope that with each new year they grow stronger in their faith and become the beautiful women that God wants them to be.
HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY GIRLS!

coupon bargains

2008-09-23T10:49:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple of days I have hit a couple of good deals that I thought I would share...
KMART--
chinet 30ct classic white bowls are on clearance for $1.50. Use the .75 mc coupon and get them for just .75! This is great since soup and chili season are just around the corner.
FREDS--
*FREDS doubles coupons up to .70 every Saturday!
FREDS does not give money back on overage.
FREDS does not accept internet coupons in my area- check your area 1st.various Sunsilk hair products are on clearance for $1.60-$1.65. Use the $1.50 mc and get hair products for .10 to .15 each! I tried one of the products on my hair this morning. It seemed to work just fine!
Sunny D costs $1.00 use the .55 coupon out of the ALL YOU. Do this on a Saturday and you will have .10 toward another item! ...
they also carry the Johnson's Buddy bars for .99. use the $1.00 coupon and have a .01 overage.
reach toothbrushes are $1.00 use the $1.00 coupon which makes it FREE!
USA DRUG--
if your local Walgreens is out of the .99 Halls cough drops stop in at USA Drug. They have them for .99 also. use your .30 coupon to get them for .69!
Their are alot of items on sale for .88 this week. my favorite is the Mrs. Freshleys 6ct cereal bars!
AD MATCH AT WAL-MART...
don't forget you can ad match sales flyer items at Wal-Mart. If you do not have a store coupon where it is on sale at; this will save you gas and time! They will not ad match coupon items such as the comet at Walgreens this week.
HAPPY COUPONING!

LUV IT!

2008-09-16T14:45:00.000-07:00

I recently found a magazine that I love... MARY JANES FARM! I love the whole idea behind the magazine: There is a farmgirl inside every woman. She doesn't have to live on several acres in the country to be a farmgirl at heart! The magazine covers all the different areas in a woman't life. It's fabulous! If you haven't checked it out yet you need to find one... you just might find your inner farmgirl!

I'm BIG and 3!

2008-09-15T16:48:00.001-07:00

Well tomorrow our baby will be 3! I can not believe it... I have loved him being little, but despite mommy's plea's he has firmly declared he is getting BIGGER and BIGGER. So hesitantly I admit that yes he is getting BIGGER. Today he let me hold him in my arms for a rather long time. I ate it up! He has proclaimed that for his birthday he wants a BIG bike so that he can ride faster and faster. So come this weekend we will have no more tricycles riding in our drive. The no diapers, bottles, etc I handled just fine. But for some reason the whole no tricycle thing has me all mushed up! He even has began to sing his ABC's and count to 10 like he has been doing it for months. I do love listening to him and have yet to catch him on video. I guess I have taken all of his curent life so simply that he has grown up before I realized it. So I guess it is time to start being the video nazi mom and get some pictures before he really is BIGGER and BIGGER!

Expired Coupons

2008-09-04T17:17:00.000-07:00

Well it's been about 2 weeks since I have done any couponing. It has been partly because of a lack of interests in the items in the sales ads and the other has been utter irritation with the newspaper people in my town. My mom and I were both jipped out of coupons this past Sunday. This makes the 2nd sunday in a row for me! Needless to say I do not have some of the great new coupons that probably were in the paper. Oh Well... maybe all will go well with this sunday's.
On another note I read in my recent all you magazine that overseas manufacture coupons can be used for up to 6 months after the expiration. That is great for all of the military families stationed out there. The magazine recommends a website you can go to and donate coupons to all of these people. It is... ocpnet.org! I have only briefly viewed the site but it sounds pretty easy to me. So now instead of recycling (or even worse trashing) those coupons you can give them to someone who might be able to use them for their family.

9 years

2008-08-23T15:58:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how time passes so quickly... Jason and I just celebrated our 9 year anniversary! I have to admit that it does not feel like we were married yesterday, but it by no means seems like 9 years. We have had an incredible ride with ups and downs- and KIDS! I love him more now than I did when we married and can't wait for all of the years that we have to come.
I have been thinking alot lately about the couples that after 20 or 30 years of marriage suddenly find themselves divorced. It deeply saddens me to think about. So I hope to be able to help anyone who is struggling in their marriage to reconnect and find the lord so that they may be able to get their life back together. Everyone deserves to be able to look into the future with their spouse and know that they will share all the wonderful things life has to offer; together. I know we look forward to it and hope that there will be many others joining us.
So with that said... love your husbands/wives and check your love tanks to make sure that they are running over as God would have it!

NEW JOB

2008-08-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

Hooray! After several long months and many prayers Jason has been offered a position with a new company. Everything with the company sounded all well and good, but we wanted to completely leave it in God's hands. So with a long wait and even discussions with other companies; in our hearts we knew that the new position was the one that we have been waiting for. We ask for continued prayers as Jason will be quite busy as the store starts up. I am so proud of Jason for all he does for our family and how much he strives to make himself better so that our lives will be better. I Love you Babe!

Walgreens deals week of 8/10

2008-08-11T18:01:00.000-07:00

I haven't had a lot of time to look yet but i did pick up on a few good deals when glancing through the recent add:
1) BIC GRIP pens on sale 2/$1- use the $1/2 coupon in recent ad ... makes them FREE!
2)Soleil razor system or refills on sale for $5.99- Easy saver coupon for $2- man.fact. coupon for $3 in recent ad... makes the price .99!
3) band-aid ultra 20 pk on sale for $2.99- you will need to buy 2 for deal- use 2 $1instant value coupons out of coloring book- use 2 .50 man. fact. coupons- you will earn $3 in reg. rewards... making 2 boxes FREE!
4)Glade Wisp Flameless Candle on sale $5.99- use man. facgt. coupon for $3- send in for mail-in-rebate of $2... makes cost .99!
5)ALL laundry detergent on sale 2/$8- use 2 $1 man.fact. coupons- earn $2 in reg. rewards... makes 2 ALL only $4! 1/2 price!
6)Neosporin and Benadryl both on sale for $3.99- need to buy 2 for deal- use 2 $1 man. fact. coupons- earn $3 in reg. rew... makes 2 of either or one of each only $2.98! only $1.49 each!

2008-08-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

Wal-Mart coupon deals:
This week I used my coupons out of the All You magazine to get 5 free items. All I had to do was buy 15 kool-aid packets and I got kraft ranch dressing, Kraft 2% cheese slices, family size box of wheat thins, crystal light drink mix, and a package of Oscar Meyer bun-length franks all for free. Not bad for $3.00 before taxes. Another deal I cam across was for the glade plug-ins scented oil. The regular price at Wal-Mart is $4.12 with the $4.00 manufacturer coupon it was only .12! You could also do that same deal at Walgreens. They have a mail-in-rebate on the product so you would end up making money! I haven't looked at many other sales yet, but if I find any bargains I'll post them here!

Walgreens savings

2008-07-31T13:47:00.000-07:00

I went to Walgreens the other day to do a little coupon shopping. Most of the deals I bought were the same ones that are found on other sites such as: the centsible sawyer or money saving mom. However, I did come across a really good deal that I thought I would share. I found the great kids activity book that has coupons in it. One of the coupons was for $1 off a triaminic liquid or thin strip. There is also a coupon in the easy saver for $2. That added up to $3 off any one. So I hopped over to the kids med section. There on clearance was a box of liquid and a box of thin strips. Priced at $3.59 I was able to get them for .59 each! woohoo! There was only one box of each left at my store. I'm sure others would love to grab these to put back for the cold season that is just around the corner. Also if you need Lamisil for your husband or maybe even yourself. There was a $4 coupon awhile back if you combine it with the $3 easy saver coupon the .42 ounce size will be free. It is on sale for $5.99 so you need to make sure you have 2 items so that the coupons will go through. the system should also print you a coupon after purchase. crest toothpaste 6.4 ounce on sale for $2.39 with easy saver coupon $1.39. Then combine either .75 or .50 manufacturer coupon to get for .64 or .89. There is a great deal on Olay body wash... on sale 3/$10. use the mf coupons for $2 off botanicals, $2 off ribbons, and $1.50 off either to get a total of $4.50 before tax. These 3 items then give you a $3 register reward. It's like getting 3 body washes for $1.50 or .50 each. I have others that i am going to the store to check out today. I will post any more great deals I find. Until then happy saving!

Love to Swim

2008-07-31T10:36:00.000-07:00

Tuesday I took my kids to the Cossatot River. I used to go there alot as a kid and really feel like my kids are missing out on something by not living close enough to fully enjoy it. The river was down which for me was sad, but it was great for the kids... no current to carry them downstream. We had a great time! The biggest acomplishment for the day was that Sierra learned to swim. She didn't just learn to doggie paddle, she can now swim underwater. She kept getting water in her mouth and it would scare her so we told her to hold her breath and stick her head under to swim. With full confidence she took off. Before we knew she was swimming everywhere... even diving for rocks. She was so proud of herself! We worked with Caitlin and Jeremiah too, but both of them just weren't getting it. Jeremiah even tried to swim like sierra. That scared me because he would swim down and come up choking. we put his floaties back on against his insistence that he didn't need them. Caitlin would not put her head under and she wasn't paddling she was drowning all of those trying to teach her. so we stuck her up next to shore and told her to practice holding her breath to keep the water out of her mouth. by days end she could dunk herself under and stay there a bit. she also had worked on swimming all by herself. we should have known that's how she would be! All in all it was a great day and I can't wait to go back again. Maybe I'll make the drive once more before summer is over.

precious life

2008-07-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

We lost a loved one very near and dear to many peoples hearts early this morning. Opal Foster aka granny-great passed on to be with the Lord. Her family and all those who knew her will greatly miss her. Everyone is remembering all the things that made her so precious to them all. My husband this morning said that grandma's yard was the best baseball field he ever played on. He said that he always hit for the fence when playing at grandma's, but he didn't when he played on a team. I asked him why expecting him to say confidence or something of that sort. Instead he said it was because grandma's was more fun.
I have only been a part of Opal's family for 9 years and do not have some of the incredible stories to share, but i do consider myself truly blessed for having known her and had the chance to share the love that she has for all things.

it's a small world

2008-07-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

Your hear it all the time... it's a small world. Well I have recently come to know just how small. I have had 2 incidences in 2 weeks that will explain. First off at a July 4th party with some people my husband works with I met a lady(it's odd to call her that because she is my age, but she's not exactly a girl anymore)born the same year and in the same hospital that I was. I wouldn't think much of it had we been born in a large area, but instead we were born in Mena, AR. The population of Mena is currently around 5,000 so just imagine what it was 28 years ago. Her dad was a coach there- who knew!
Well then yesterday I stopped at Kroger to gas up before going to Hot Springs. To my surprise the lady who pulled up beside me was from Redwater, Tx. My sister graduated from Redwater High and I attended the school there for 4 years. I never imagined that I would run in to someone from there. Much less the younger sister of my sisters high school sweetheart. It was fun to chat. We traded phone #'s and promised to get together sometime. I just love stuff like this!!

Fun in Arkansas

2008-07-17T09:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I decided to take the kids to Magic Springs in Hot Springs, AR. It was an all day event... literally! We got home at a little after 11pm. The kids loved it! We swam, rode some kiddie rides, and drank way too much pepsi (pepsi is free all throughout the park). The sticker shock to get in was a little more than I imagined it would be, but for something we do once in a blue moon it was so worth it. If we lived closer I could have spent a little more and had season passes (the absolute best way to go). It costs us just under $200 for 2 adults and 3 kids. That was with 2/$10 off coupons on adult tickets. We actually had 3 adults and 5 kids in our group. 2 of the kids were under 2 so they were free. One of the adults(my sis) was a nursing mom to one of the under 2's... 7 weeks to be exact. I don't know if they normally get in free, but she did! Oh plus parking is $9. However, the only food we bought inside was a huge bag of popcorn. We ate a good lunch right before entering and then just held off until after we left for supper. The kids ate better than they have in a while. I guess there is something to be said about starving your kids...haha! All in all it was a great day and I would highly advise anyone with a child above 36" (they have to be 36" to ride any of the rides with an adult) to give it a try this summer.

granny-great

2008-07-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

Jason's grandma (Opal Foster) is in the hospital currently. She is 93 years old and has done more and lived more in her life than any of us could imagine. The family is bonding together and as they say giving her "payback" for all she has done for them. It is very special to see how much they all love her. I hope everyone remembers how much their family has done for them and for others. Please pray for Opal and the family now.

2008-07-12T21:21:00.000-07:00

We are finally out here in Blog world. it's kind of fun and exciting. i love looking at some friend and family blogspots so much that i thought maybe others would enjoy staying up to date with us on a blog as well. so here we are... Jason, Stephanie, Caitlin, Sierra, and Jeremiah. The Donaghe Family!