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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Where to begin..

internet photo


we all want to save money but sometimes where and how to begin is the biggest challenge..

One thing I recommend to everyone is to make a list. Over the next week write down what your household uses.. If you are stuck on a name brand write that down as well. Remember, its going to be a long list.. also add about how much you use

an example for us would be

milk 3 gallons a week
Palmolive dish soap 4 bottles a month
rice 25 lbs 2-3 months
toilet paper 3 rolls a week
cereal 6 boxes week
etc....

Once you have this then you know what items you need to purchase and how much of it you need. For example, if you use 1 box of cereal a week and you can buy cereal at a great price you know that 52 boxes will last one year.. shelf life on cereal is about a year.. ( longer if you are me LOL). If you only eat Frosted Flakes then you can work on collecting 52 frosted flakes coupons..

How does this help.. well if you spend $3.59 a week on Frosted Flakes that's $186.68 for a years worth.. if you spend about $5 on 52 coupons and get the Frosted Flakes for $1 a box then you have spent $57.. you just saved $129.68.. that was pretty easy too!

It also lays your shopping and eating habits out on the table.. You may realize that the 3 bags of chips you eat each week at $3.50 a bag might not be such a necessity.. you may decide that buying 3 bags of pretzels at the dollar tree for $1 each is worth more than the $7.50 you just saved.. you also have healthier eating habits.

..... more to come......

Where to begin..

internet photo


we all want to save money but sometimes where and how to begin is the biggest challenge..

One thing I recommend to everyone is to make a list. Over the next week write down what your household uses.. If you are stuck on a name brand write that down as well. Remember, its going to be a long list.. also add about how much you use

an example for us would be

milk 3 gallons a week
Palmolive dish soap 4 bottles a month
rice 25 lbs 2-3 months
toilet paper 3 rolls a week
cereal 6 boxes week
etc....

Once you have this then you know what items you need to purchase and how much of it you need. For example, if you use 1 box of cereal a week and you can buy cereal at a great price you know that 52 boxes will last one year.. shelf life on cereal is about a year.. ( longer if you are me LOL). If you only eat Frosted Flakes then you can work on collecting 52 frosted flakes coupons..

How does this help.. well if you spend $3.59 a week on Frosted Flakes that's $186.68 for a years worth.. if you spend about $5 on 52 coupons and get the Frosted Flakes for $1 a box then you have spent $57.. you just saved $129.68.. that was pretty easy too!

It also lays your shopping and eating habits out on the table.. You may realize that the 3 bags of chips you eat each week at $3.50 a bag might not be such a necessity.. you may decide that buying 3 bags of pretzels at the dollar tree for $1 each is worth more than the $7.50 you just saved.. you also have healthier eating habits.

..... more to come......

its been fun around here..

our second sunflower bloomed





fun at a friends house


lightening bug
Abigail & Lucy


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Tuesday, July 28, 2009

School Supply Deals 7/26/09-8/1/09

internet photo


Target

papermate pens 12 ct .50¢
Rose Art 8 ct watercolor .50¢
Pencil Box .50¢
Elmers Glue Stick 6 pk $1
1 subject notebook $1
Pro Spirit Athletic Shoes adults and kids $9
Hanes Socks (kids) 7 pk $3.79

Staples
$5/$30 coupon
elmers glue .25¢
pencil sharpeners .25¢
cap erasers .25¢
3x5 index cards .25¢
2 gb mp3 player $29.99- $5 savings -$15 rebate = $9

Kmart
Free colored pencils with a $15 purchase
24 ct Crayaola crayson .20¢
wood pencils 10 ct .33¢

Office Depot
gluestick 4 pk .20¢
Comapss .5¢

School Supply Deals 7/26/09-8/1/09

internet photo


Target

papermate pens 12 ct .50¢
Rose Art 8 ct watercolor .50¢
Pencil Box .50¢
Elmers Glue Stick 6 pk $1
1 subject notebook $1
Pro Spirit Athletic Shoes adults and kids $9
Hanes Socks (kids) 7 pk $3.79

Staples
$5/$30 coupon
elmers glue .25¢
pencil sharpeners .25¢
cap erasers .25¢
3x5 index cards .25¢
2 gb mp3 player $29.99- $5 savings -$15 rebate = $9

Kmart
Free colored pencils with a $15 purchase
24 ct Crayaola crayson .20¢
wood pencils 10 ct .33¢

Office Depot
gluestick 4 pk .20¢
Comapss .5¢

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Our School Day today


Quinten studying volcanoesAbigail working on phonics

Isaac working on phonics

Jacob sleeping.. he was camping with scouts last night
Olivia loving her babies



Zachary got to play video games for being good

Urijah reading with Mommy


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Cloth snack bags

I thought this was a great idea

so today I tried my hand at it.. I think the material may be too thin, and again I cant find the foot to my sewing machine so my lines are not perfect, but its a test.. I will let the baby use it for a week and see how it holds up. I used a rubber stamp and paint to decorate


Cloth snack bags

I thought this was a great idea

so today I tried my hand at it.. I think the material may be too thin, and again I cant find the foot to my sewing machine so my lines are not perfect, but its a test.. I will let the baby use it for a week and see how it holds up. I used a rubber stamp and paint to decorate


Walgreens 7/26-8/1

Wrigleys/Extra Gum BOGO 6/28SS 7/12SS
Smucker /Jif
Arm and Hammer Laundry soap BOGO $6.99 IPC
Tuf Trash bags 36 pack $2.99
Misc School Supplies B1G2F
Goody ouchless Hair products $3.99 get $3.99 rebate IPC

Walgreens 7/26-8/1

Wrigleys/Extra Gum BOGO 6/28SS 7/12SS
Smucker /Jif
Arm and Hammer Laundry soap BOGO $6.99 IPC
Tuf Trash bags 36 pack $2.99
Misc School Supplies B1G2F
Goody ouchless Hair products $3.99 get $3.99 rebate IPC

Alot can happen in 10 years....

1998-2008. That was a busy 10 years for me.. In that time I spent 157 hours in labor.. that's the equivalent of nearly 4~ 40 hour work weeks. I have spent 282 weeks pregnant. That's over 5 years. I could also add in the 3 years and 7 mos I spent breast feeding.. I wish that had been longer...

Outside of those 10 years I had 3 miscarriages.. all around 9 weeks.. While it is hard to suffer thru that, I am grateful for the 7 blessings I do have.

My kids are so awesome.. I am so blessed with the spirits the Lord has given me.. I guess you could say I am flattered that he would give them to me.. I am so thankful for a wonderful husband who has been there right along side me.. My life is awesome


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Friday, July 24, 2009

School Work Shelf

This is the main area we store our school work.. and its a bit of a job to keep organized..
Today I went thru it all, reorganized, sorted and purged.. the old stuff goes into the file cabinet

I labeled the photo to make it easier. I may post this pic on the shelf itself to remind everyone what its supposed to look like.. LOL it is a busy area

we have boxes of books still in storage.. ran out of shelves to put them on..

School Work Shelf

This is the main area we store our school work.. and its a bit of a job to keep organized..
Today I went thru it all, reorganized, sorted and purged.. the old stuff goes into the file cabinet

I labeled the photo to make it easier. I may post this pic on the shelf itself to remind everyone what its supposed to look like.. LOL it is a busy area

we have boxes of books still in storage.. ran out of shelves to put them on..

Olivia Celeste









written Jan 2007

I woke up Jan 4th around 1:30 am with contractions about 10 min apart...at about 4 am... contractions were 5 min apart.. I got in the hot shower again and I felt so much better..I was so sore from days of warm ups..

It was about 5:30 when it really got intense.. I dont remember times but my water broke and everything stopped.. cold... I went a while ( what felt a while) with out a contraction... then they were real mild... I think I strained myself becasue of it...I was just ready to get her out...

All went well..Joe made sure she came out all right , I cleaned her airways and he tied and cut the umbillical cord.. We offered it for Quinten , but he tried and couldnt. Joe was so excited she was a girl he was just laughing like a schoolgirl and jumping around :)

Except for Zachary who was in the playpen all the kids were there... I was thrilled... I am pretty sure this is the last one so they all got too see a birth.. It was also Isaacs Birthday....he doesnt seem to mind his day being shared.. He watched the baby be born and is so excited about the baby girl...

We still dont have a name and we havent weighed her yet... maybe tomorrow.. I would guess about 8 1/2 #.. not as big as one would think :)


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Urijah Patrick

I wrote this on February 17, 2008

On Feb 15th I woke up with contractions, mild about 15 min apart.. they continued like that all day until about 7 pm.. the contractions, still 15 min apart,got stronger..at about 11:30 I took a shower and got some rest.. they continued thru the night waking me up a bit..by morning they were a bit stronger, still 15 min apart..I was getting worn out.. sleeping when I could between them..at about 12:30 they got faster and I took a HOT shower..about 1pm they were 5 min apart.. they stayed that way for about an hour and then about 2 really picked up.. 20 or so min later, the part I was waiting for came.. the urge to push.. the cord was wrapped once around the neck, and when one shoulder was out and Joe pushed my skin out of the way and out he came..at 2:35 pm...I quickly cleaned airways and rubbed him.. he let out a good cry and then I wrapped him...I laid down..started to nurse, and close my eyes..

Abigail and Jacob were in the room.. Jacob got very concerned and kept looking at my face and then at the baby..he had the camera and once the baby was out he was snapping away..Abigail eyes were wide and amazed..she was just in awe I guess... Everyone else had been taking a nap. but woke up just as he was born and were in the door way. Isaac was ready to come running in, untill he heard boy....then he took off crying.. he really wanted a girl..He is ok now LOL.. He told me last night we have 5 tough boys and 2 princesses LOL.........Olivia hasnt really seen him.. I showed him to her last night and she was like .. um yeah, what do you want me to do with it.. she poked his face and that was about it.. later on I will sit down with just the two of them..

I feel fine.. typical soreness from the after contractions..Urijah is doing great.. He was 21 in long..his head was 14 1/2 I would guess his weight at about the same as the last two 9 - 9 1/2 #.. He only cried once.. when I had to change his poopy diaper..


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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Laundry ... nuff said.

I think this is everyone's biggest battle.. no matter your family size

I have always liked and have at times implemented a family closet system..

Recently I did this

the kids clothes are hung, paired in outfits, on color coded hangers. the white bins are boys socks, undies and pajamas. Pink are the girls. The kids have a set number of outfits at any given time.. I try to keep at 7 each but there are exceptions. for example Jacob and Quinten have 2 sets of church clothes and a scout shirt.. in addition to their daily outfits.
the brown desk is where I put the clothes fresh from the dryer. I sort here and the kids put away their own clothes. Outfits without mathches hang out on tha table till thier partner shows up. My husband and I take out clothes to our room to put away and the 2 year old puts away the wrags and pot holders and the towels are folded an put on the red shelf. The grey bucket under that black table is crafts, the one under the wood table is sheets

I dont recall where I got the idea but a few years ago I started folding sheets like so. I fold the top and bottom sheet and second pillowcase if needed and store them inside the pillowcase.. They stay neat and tidy and I always have the set handy.

With this system laundry has been a breeze to keep up with.. Its only been a few days but thats all it takes to find out in a house like this!

Laundry ... nuff said.

I think this is everyone's biggest battle.. no matter your family size

I have always liked and have at times implemented a family closet system..

Recently I did this

the kids clothes are hung, paired in outfits, on color coded hangers. the white bins are boys socks, undies and pajamas. Pink are the girls. The kids have a set number of outfits at any given time.. I try to keep at 7 each but there are exceptions. for example Jacob and Quinten have 2 sets of church clothes and a scout shirt.. in addition to their daily outfits.
the brown desk is where I put the clothes fresh from the dryer. I sort here and the kids put away their own clothes. Outfits without mathches hang out on tha table till thier partner shows up. My husband and I take out clothes to our room to put away and the 2 year old puts away the wrags and pot holders and the towels are folded an put on the red shelf. The grey bucket under that black table is crafts, the one under the wood table is sheets

I dont recall where I got the idea but a few years ago I started folding sheets like so. I fold the top and bottom sheet and second pillowcase if needed and store them inside the pillowcase.. They stay neat and tidy and I always have the set handy.

With this system laundry has been a breeze to keep up with.. Its only been a few days but thats all it takes to find out in a house like this!

A groomer in training and a very mean mommy

Jacob has been helping groom dogs since he was a few days old.. At 10 years old he has done everything. bathe, brush, even ring up customers... everything, except haircuts..

So I decided to let him try his hand with Taylor.. she is his dog..Olivia helped. He did a good job but still needs to finish her out..

And Urijah tried sneaking the camera to take a few shots himself.. This is what "NO!" looks like...


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Savings Logs

Beginning Jan. 1, 2009
Total Price of Items Purchased:
$11493.86
Total Savings:
$4583.86
Total Spent:
$6911.65
****************
Beginning Jan. 1, 2010
Total Price of Items Purchased:
$1700.04
Total Savings:
$617.23
Total Spent:
$1082.81 * stopped Spring 2010*
****************
Beginning Jan. 1, 2011
Total Price of Items Purchased:
$
Total Savings:
$
Total Spent:
$

Click HERE to see monthly logs

They Call Me Mom