Happy Mama's Day!!!

Here are a few of my favorite "Mom" moments.

Getting them all to cooperate for this picture.

Matthew chasing the ball at soccer instead of running away from it.
(I know it's blurry but he is the one in the white shirt in the middle.)

Leah roller skating for the first time.

Owen "reading".

My most recent "Mom" moment was watching Leah ride her bike for the first time with no training wheels. I haven't gotten the pictures from the camera yet which is why they are not posted yet.

Thank you Mom...
without you I would not be the Mom I am today!!!

Frustrating Times

There comes a time every so often when I get frustrated beyond belief with my kids...now is one of those times. No matter what I say or how I say I just cannot seem to get them to listen and cooperate.
My moment today was going trying to go to the store...now I know it's not fun for kids (especially when they don't get toys and treats), but I am all kinds of prepared and can make it quick and fairly painless if they cooperate. I couldn't even get them to cooperate enough to get ready to go, which makes very worried about the behavior I will actually get at the store. Now I am stuck waiting for Jeff to get home from work so I can go by myself. Part of me feels like making them go to the store just to prove a point (you know, the one where they can't get what they want by throwing a fit) but the sane part thinks it is better to just let them have their way and have one less "battle" today...any thoughts???

Getting Something for Little or Nothing

My new favorite thing is clipping coupons and scoping out the weekly ads and checking blogs to compare and find the best deals. For example, getting 2-24 ct. Excedrin Migraine for .79 (total) when they are normally 4.79 a piece at Walgreen's or a box of fruit snacks from Target for .52 or my favorite, a refill pack of wipes that is normally 5.99 for .99!

I only just started this a few weeks ago and I am already finding myself stockpiling (which I never really saw myself doing) and feeling cheated if don't save 50% or more every time I go to the store. It definitely took some time getting a process when I first started but I am starting to find my way.

I am still learning and finding new ways to save...but I am having tons of fun through all of it.

Not Much of an Update

So I know it's been a while since I posted and other than a quick (and I do mean quick) trip to Montana for my cousin Rhianna's wedding and a bunch of sick kids and adults there hasn't been much else going on.

We drove over to Montana a couple of weeks ago on a Friday, stayed Saturday and then came home on Sunday. My cousin Clay came back with us to visit for a week...we mostly hung out at my house since it rained or snowed almost the whole time he was here. We did manage to go into Seattle one afternoon and walk through Pike Market Place and have lunch at the restaurant where Tom Hanks had lunch with I'm not sure who in the movie Sleepless in Seattle. We met my other cousin (Clay's sister) in Spokane the next weekend so he could go home and we didn't have to drive all the way to Missoula and back.

We all started getting sick after we got home from that and one by one it hit us all and then we recovered. It took some (like Owen ending up with double ear infections) longer to recover than others but we are all either completely over it or at least almost completely over it.

We are heading south to California in about 2 weeks to visit Grammy and Mickey Mouse. The kids are super excited and Owen is practically 40 inches so he can go on a few new rides this time (hopefully...as long as he passes their height checks).

We are still waiting to hear if Jeff got the job he interviewed for a few weeks back...not sure what the hold up is, but we are all super anxious to find out.

Anyway, I gotta go check on dinner.

Leah's School Fundraiser

Just a little note for anyone who is interested...Leah's school is having a fundraiser and you can help her out by ordering online. They have candies, jewelry, magazines and some other neat stuff. If you are interested in checking it out...let me know and I can send you an email with the link.

No Excuses...

I know it's been a while since I have posted, and I have no excuses, I just haven't done it.

So going back just a little ways...Christmas was good. Everyone was spoiled just enough. We had dinner at Martin's. I was little behind when it came to getting Christmas cards out...but I finally got most of them out.

On to New Year's...we went over to Martin's to hang out and have dinner. Jeff had to work until 8:30pm or so and Chellie had to work until 9:30pm. We managed to make it until midnight and the kids celebrated with some confetti poppers and then Jeff and I packed up the kids and headed home.

Since the first of the year Leah has started back to school after her winter break. She enjoyed her break but got a little bored towards the end. Jeff has been busy working and helping around the house. He just applied for a new position in the Sales department and we'd appreciate your prayers and best wishes that he gets it. We have also been busy making a few resolutions and plans for the new year.

That's about all the creativity I have for now...I will post some more later. I will also put up some pics from Matthew's birthday and from Christmas later.

Fun in the Snow!

Here is their 20 minutes in the snow....
Leah

Leah's friend Emily

This is the best I got of Matthew

Owen's 1 minute in the snow...

Their finished product.

It's Been So Long...

Wow! So, it's been a while. We have had quite a bit happening around here. Going back to the beginning...


A week after Thanksgiving we celebrated Matthew's 4th birthday at Chuck E Cheese. He loves Indiana Jones and Batman and Star Wars and the list goes on and on, but I digress. For this particular moment he chose Indiana Jones...we got balloons and cake and such and headed off to Chuck E Cheese around 11am on Saturday the 6th hoping to miss the large crowds (and because Aunt Chellie had to work at 1:30pm and we did not want her to miss out on celebrating with us). They played, we watched, they picked out prizes and we helped. We all enjoyed pizza and cake and then headed home. (((Pictures will be added in a bit.)))


The next week after that we celebrated David's 8th birthday. We had a good old fashioned taffy pull (well sort of). We were so excited to start pulling that we didn't let the taffy cool off enough before we started, so we wound up with really great taffy goo!

After David's birthday party, Jeff and I "hired" a babysitter (Thanks Mom!!) and headed out to Jeff's work party for food, poker and a small chance at prizes (we did not win). After that we went over to a local casino with friends and Jeff played some cards and I hung out at the penny slots (won a little, woohoo!).

Of course around all that we have worked, taken care of home, volunteered at Leah's school, shopped for Christmas, decorated for Christmas and generally been running around doing this, that and the other thing.

Now I will gripe about the weather...let's see starting last Saturday we have had snow, snow, snow, snow and wait for it...now were are getting more snow. Now you are probably thinking who cares...but since snow in Washington is somewhat unusual (as this is called the rainy season) most people don't know how to drive in snow. Not to mention that they don't have the equipment to clear the roads or salt/sand them, so we wind up with sheets (I kid you not) of ice on the roads. Doesn't that sound fun??

"I am thankful for..."

We did something a little different this year and went around the table and had everyone say something they are thankful for. Starting at the beginning...

Matthew is thankful for Grandma.
Grandma is thankful for her family.
David is thankful for Toby, Nick and Penny.
Chellie is thankful for her family and that everyone is healthy and happy.
Leah is thankful for turkey and Pumpkin (her cat).
I am thankful for my family.
Owen is thankful for 'dan (Indiana) Jones and Star Wars. (We think!)
Jeff is thankful for everything.
Martin is thankful for family, a job, and that he finally met someone great.

Thanksgiving here was nice and somewhat relaxing...other than the cooking of course, but we kept it simple. Good food + good company = great Thanksgiving.

Next year we look forward to seeing all of my brothers and sisters in Illinois.

And Finally...Halloween Pictures!

This Halloween, we had Matthew as our very own Buzz Lightyear

and Leah as a cheetah.

Don't forget our little "Rebel", Owen.

And of course, for their protection, a soldier. AKA David.


(All costumes, courtesy of Alana or Mom or Gamma depending on who needs her.)
Thanks Mom!!!