Archive for April, 2010
Tonight we were blessed to have Kelsey’s family over for dinner – her mom, dad, and bro Wesley. (and Tim.) Kelsey’s mom and dad played on the floor with the kids and helped Kennedy to keep these blocks underneath her shirt. Tom said for her to say, “I ate too much cake, and look what happened!”
Another funny was when Dana jumped on the trampoline with the kids and then said, “I’m pooped.” Kennedy gave her a funny look… to Kennedy, “pooped” means something different.
It was so hard to get pictures of all the happenings; my kids wouldn’t hold still long enough! We did take some really funny videos but I’m not sure how to get it on the blog yet….
April 16th, 2010
These eyes greeted me on the couch tonight.
Poor Cooper, our “first child”, has been demoted to the fourth child.
April 15th, 2010
April 14th, 2010
Water break time! And check out those clouds.
April 13th, 2010
I need someone to put a funny caption on this picture. The winner will get.. recognition. And the satisfaction of knowing you won something.
April 12th, 2010
I turned around after a ride in the car today and found this. And for just a moment, all was still and quiet.
Reminded me of that song from Hello Dolly, “It only took a moment, to be loved a whole life long.”
Sleep well, my girls. Love well, my children.
April 11th, 2010
Today Carlee is 17 months old. It has become harder and harder to get her to sit still for a picture these days! And, this week she started walking. I mean, really walking without help or squeezing my fingers off. Colby and Kennedy still love to hold on to her hands when she walks. She still loves this too.
I’ve always thought that the age of 10 months through 17 months is so hard, at least for my kiddos… They are gaining their independence and yet still very much dependent on mama. They are caught in between being a baby and being a big kid. I really can’t explain it other than to say that I can see the end of this stage and I’m hopeful. Very very hopeful for what is to come.
Toddlerhood = not for the faint of heart.
Brushing her beautiful red hair. Saying “yeez” [cheese] for the camera. Moving all the while.
April 10th, 2010
I realize I’m doing this twice in one week, but I couldn’t resist showing this -
I shopped at Walgreens today. There’s $43.44 worth of products in that pic. I spent $2.57. That’s 94.08% I saved. I don’t know about you, but that’s looking pretty close to 100% savings to me.
[My iPhone picture taking skills are getting worse as the year goes on, so here's what I bought:
2 bottles Purex laundry detergent
2 Starbucks frappucino drinks (ahem, 1 of them was already consumed and not pictured)
3 packs Pilot erasable gel pens
1 box Ester-C tablets
1 box U]
How did I do this? (Other than the rules I already gave you this week…)
1. Abandon product loyalty. This has been the toughest thing for me because we do have a lot of allergies in our family, especially for things we put on our skin, like laundry detergent. But I will gladly pay NOTHING for a product, just so we can try it out.
2. Send in product rebates. When all is said and done, I got paid $3.93 to take the pens out of the store. [With coupons, I paid 19 cents per package, and the company had a $4.50 rebate for buying 3 packages.]
3. Print out internet coupons that you will use and then wait to use them. I paid 25 cents for the Starbucks drink. [Walgreens had them on sale for $1.25 and I had a $1 off coupon.]
4. Don’t be afraid to stock up on things you need, if they really are a great deal. I paid 99 cents for the Ester-C because really, who doesn’t need more vitamin C?
5. But also, don’t buy too much more than you need. I had the opportunity to get toothpaste and some other items for free or very close to free, but right now we do NOT need any more toothpaste. Use your best judgment.
April 9th, 2010
Since I got my hair cut, I’ve realized how much Kelsey and I look alike. (Or, since my actual sister thought I Was Kelsey… she also said how much Kelsey and I look like sisters!) Tim & Kelsey came over tonight since we haven’t seen them in about 3 weeks – it felt more like 3 years… My kids and I [and Kevin!] are so going to miss them when they are gone for 3 months to work at Sky Ranch this summer.
Kelsey is one of those people with whom I automaticallyconnected. I am so glad we were brought together in a wonderful mentoring relationship. She teaches me in ways I never knew I needed. Sometimes I feel like I’m the one being mentored.
There are a few people in this world for whom I would trade my life. [You know who you are.] And Kelsey is one of them.
PS – Tim, this pic is blurry. You need more practice using an iPhone camera. 
April 8th, 2010
So, it’s April 7th. Birds are chirping. Plants and trees are getting greener because the rain is starting to fall. And what is this? Hail?
The white stuff on the ground = a little larger than pea-sized hail. I tried to collect some but the ground temp was too high and it melted immediately.
Total length of rain/hail storm = 4 minutes.
April 7th, 2010
Last week I had something very strange happen to me… I was without Internet for two whole days. Two. Whole Days. Let me tell you how ridiculously dependent on the Internet I am:
I couldn’t:
- read, check, or send email [I had to find out from Kevin if Colby had soccer practice or not - he had access at work.]
- use the phone (we have Internet Phone)
- use wireless on my iPhone
- read blogs on Google Reader
- write on our blog
- write on any blog!
- print out coupons or store lists
- check Facebook
- watch tv (we watch all our shows on Netflix or Hulu)
So, here are the things I did instead.
- I read books! Yes, the old adage is true – when there’s nothing to do, pick up a book. I read The Road and then started Stuff Christians Like. The differences in tone have made me bipolar. Just kidding. Sort of.
- I cleaned out closets and switched the kids’ clothes from winter to summer.
- I threw away papers in drawers that had been collecting dust for awhile.
- I compiled a large amount of items to put away in our attic.
- I organized Easter decorations and wrapped presents for Kennedy’s birthday.
- I did a lot of laundry, dishes, and otherwise cleaning.
- I “went ahead” with my Bible study – I’m doing 2 studies right now and usually I’m behind in one or both of them. [In Community Bible Study, we are studying Genesis, and in a Precepts/Inductive Bible Study we are studying James.]
- I cooked. A lot. And planned meals for the next month to 6 weeks. And froze some things to eat in that time period.
- If there was nothing else to do, I slept, although the kids try to prevent me from doing this during the day.
Did I mention that Colby was sick during one of these days? I got more accomplished at home that day than I have in any given week. He stayed on the couch and watched DVDs while his sisters went outside to jump on the trampoline. Or ride bikes down the patio stairs.
I didn’t actually make lemonade those days, but I did get to do some pretty fun and not drastically different things. Now I want to take a day out of each week and purposefully not turn on the Internet or the phone. Then it really would be drastically different.
I’m intrigued to know: Have you ever taken a break from technology before? What was it like?
April 6th, 2010
Get excited! It doesn’t happen very often, so it’s definitely worth a picture.
April 6th, 2010
Pictured is $111.05 worth of items from CVS. Spent $22.72. That’s 79.6% savings! [If you want a list of the items pictured, let me know and I'll add it.]
I’ve gotten a few “How you do dat?” questions from various people, and my knowledge is very limited, but I’ll share what I do know – and most of it will sound like Greek to a couponing novice.
1. Shop at multiple stores. “Pharmacy stores” like CVS & Walgreens want your grocery business. Their incentive programs [ECBs & RRs] save you lots of money in the long run on things you use every day. The stores I frequent (but not all every week) are – Target, Kroger’s, Walgreens, CVS. Every once in awhile I’ll go to Wal-Mart, but they don’t double coupons and they don’t really like internet coupons. One-stop-shopping has become a thing of the past for me.
2. Multiple transactions using the incentive programs. You get much more bang for your buck if you don’t have to spend as much up front.
3. Don’t break your bank for a good deal. It will come around again.
4. Sometimes store cashiers have no idea what is on sale from week to week. And, some of them don’t take the time to read the coupons correctly. Make sure you know which stores stack coupons and which stores double or triple coupons and you will walk away with free items more often than not.
5. Check your receipts and don’t be afraid to ask for your money back if you don’t get to use your coupons because you get distracted by your daughters jumping up and down in the shopping cart or screaming. [Wait, never mind about that tangent.]
Those are just a few rules of thumb. Here are blogs I read which provide the knowledge you really need -
Surviving the Stores - This is my friend Rachel H’s blog. (We served in the college ministry together at FBC during A&M days and now her husband is at seminary in Ft. Worth.) Rachel provides the best step-by-step explanations/instructions I have ever seen for getting the best deals at Walgreens especially.
Southern Savers – There are lots of readers here. She provides sales lists for all the stores I shop at. (A lot of sales, especially at grocery stores, are regional or vary by store…) She also has great “getting started” basics for beginners.
Adventures in Couponing – This is an almost brand-new blog written by our friend Melanie! I especially liked her suggestion to mail expired coupons to military bases – their commissaries take coupons up to 6 months past their expiration date. Who knew?
April 5th, 2010
Dear Kennedy,
I cannot believe 3 years have passed since you came into our arms and warmed our hearts and our lives with your presence. You are a spark of funny and witty and laughter and charm. My days are not complete without hearing just one more giggle from you. I love your sweet kisses and your sweet smile.
I love how much you are learning right now. I don’t need to formally teach you because you already know how to do things most 3 year-olds can do. [count, recognize letters, speak in paragraphs and carry on conversations...] It’s my opinion that forcing you to learn through workbooks right now would be overkill. Instead, you take cues from what Colby is learning at school and also from the world around you. You are a great helper when we get to go grocery shopping together and a kind friend when we play with other kiddos.
You are a great sister. Your big brother looks to you as a playmate, and your younger sister looks to you for guidance and reassurance. You always keep everyone in line and on track, even if you aren’t.
I think the best thing about your birthday this year though, is that you get to share it with the greatest day in our Christian lives. Easter! He is risen! All believers around the world unite to remember their faith. And I will always remember my Kennedy Faith’s 3rd birthday. I thank God every day for blessing me with you.
Love,
Mom.
April 4th, 2010
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April 3rd, 2010
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