No matter how old he tries to act during the day, at the end of the day he is still my baby boy! I love you Danny!
Friday, April 29, 2011
My baby boy
No matter how old he tries to act during the day, at the end of the day he is still my baby boy! I love you Danny!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
So it has been forever since I blogged. I can come up with a lot of excuses like
my husband is on the computer every night doing his second job, I am not feeling witty enough to blog, Pictures take FOREVER to load on blogger and it annoys me, I don’t think that anything interesting has happened. Honestly though if I was to tell the truth it would be just plain brain deadness. I am not sure if that is a real phrase or not but I like it, so I am going to use it. After a long day dealing with life and kid issues I am just too tired to sit down and tell the world what happened that day. Of course then the question could be asked “why do I have a blog them?” Sometimes I ask myself that same question. In theory I have a blog for two reasons. First, to keep a record of what is going on in our day to day lives and second to give our close friends and family a glimpse into our lives since they are not here. So my apologies to all those who faithfully check day after day and never give up on me even when there is nothing new for weeks on end. So here is a quick summary of my life over the past few weeks.
1) I continue coupon and am wondering why I did not start doing this earlier. All of the things below I paid $10.04.
2) I went on a ladies retreat with NRBC. It was a good weekend and I had fun being with just ladies for 2 straight days. I only took one picture the whole weekend, which is why this picture of my friend Elizabeth holding up a "trophy lamp" is the picture of choice to talk about the retreat.
3)Olivia is fearless. She loves going down the slide and she always goes head first!
4)Daniel learned how to cross the monkey bars.
5) Daniel continues to play soccer every Thursday and Saturday. He is loving it, and I have to brag, he is pretty good. His coaches (pictured with him here) are really great.
6) Daniel had spirit week at school. This was his outfit for "rock star day"
7) Olivia found a new hobby. She is in LOVE with Mrs. Frisby, our guinea pig. She has learned how to be gentle with her, and honestly believes that Mrs. Frisby is ALL hers. I guess this would be the place to mention that Olivia is in a possessive phase, you know the what is mine is mine and what is yours is mine attitude. Fun fun fun!
8) I very very rarely post pictures of myself on my blog, so I thought I would tonight. This was taken after Easter Sunday services.
9) It has become harder and harder to get a good picture of all 5 of us. This is our best attempt.
my husband is on the computer every night doing his second job, I am not feeling witty enough to blog, Pictures take FOREVER to load on blogger and it annoys me, I don’t think that anything interesting has happened. Honestly though if I was to tell the truth it would be just plain brain deadness. I am not sure if that is a real phrase or not but I like it, so I am going to use it. After a long day dealing with life and kid issues I am just too tired to sit down and tell the world what happened that day. Of course then the question could be asked “why do I have a blog them?” Sometimes I ask myself that same question. In theory I have a blog for two reasons. First, to keep a record of what is going on in our day to day lives and second to give our close friends and family a glimpse into our lives since they are not here. So my apologies to all those who faithfully check day after day and never give up on me even when there is nothing new for weeks on end. So here is a quick summary of my life over the past few weeks.
1) I continue coupon and am wondering why I did not start doing this earlier. All of the things below I paid $10.04.
2) I went on a ladies retreat with NRBC. It was a good weekend and I had fun being with just ladies for 2 straight days. I only took one picture the whole weekend, which is why this picture of my friend Elizabeth holding up a "trophy lamp" is the picture of choice to talk about the retreat.
3)Olivia is fearless. She loves going down the slide and she always goes head first!
4)Daniel learned how to cross the monkey bars.
5) Daniel continues to play soccer every Thursday and Saturday. He is loving it, and I have to brag, he is pretty good. His coaches (pictured with him here) are really great.
6) Daniel had spirit week at school. This was his outfit for "rock star day"
7) Olivia found a new hobby. She is in LOVE with Mrs. Frisby, our guinea pig. She has learned how to be gentle with her, and honestly believes that Mrs. Frisby is ALL hers. I guess this would be the place to mention that Olivia is in a possessive phase, you know the what is mine is mine and what is yours is mine attitude. Fun fun fun!
8) I very very rarely post pictures of myself on my blog, so I thought I would tonight. This was taken after Easter Sunday services.
9) It has become harder and harder to get a good picture of all 5 of us. This is our best attempt.
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Couponing
A couple of years ago we had friends over to the house and for the first time I heard the word "couponing" I asked "what is that?" The concept of going to the store and getting things for little to nothing was foreign to me and I have to admit I did not really believe it was possible. Over the past few years I have become friends with several couponer and each of them tell me with a little bit of research and organization you can be getting products for a fraction of their retail costs. After moving here a friend of mine explained in details what it meant to be couponer. I decided to start looking for opportunities to use coupons. My first try out of the gate I went and bought 6 boxes of cereal retailed at around $4.00/piece. I found the cereal on sale for $1.99/box and I had a coupon for $1.00/off 2 so I was able to get the cereal for $1.49/box. I also found Lysol products on sale buy one get one free. I had $1 any 2 Lysol product and I was told even though the second product is free it still counts toward the coupon requirements, so really it was like getting $1 off 1 and getting the second one free. So instead of paying $4.30 per cleaner I was paying $1.65 a piece. Also I found toothpaste on sale for .99 cents and I had a coupon for $1 off one toothpaste so I really made a penny on each one of my toothpastes.
Since that first trip I have found more good tooth paste sales and have gotten these tubes either free or for 50 cents a piece.
My greatest couponing effort came when I had a couple of buy one get one free coupons. CVS does this thing where you get extra bucks back on certain products that you buys. What that means is that they say if you buy a product for $4 they will give you $2 in extra bucks. You pay the $4 up front but then you get a coupon at the bottom of your receipt that is worth $2 on your next shopping trip. So with my extra bucks and my coupons I walked out of the store will all the following product with $4 in my pocket. That's right, I got it all free and ended up with $4 left over. What a high that was! These are all product my family uses on a daily basis, so I am thrilled that instead of paying $25 for all of these I walked away with the store giving me $4 to take them out. Since then I have bought 2 bottles of tums with a coupons $5 off 2, and my extra bucks making it where I bought 2 bottles of tums retailed at around $12 for $1.28. I am heading to the store tonight and I am planning on getting some dish soap and toothbrushes and other products I have see in the ad. I have not extended my couponing into groceries but I am working on it. I am so thankful that I have found a way to save my family money!
Since that first trip I have found more good tooth paste sales and have gotten these tubes either free or for 50 cents a piece.
My greatest couponing effort came when I had a couple of buy one get one free coupons. CVS does this thing where you get extra bucks back on certain products that you buys. What that means is that they say if you buy a product for $4 they will give you $2 in extra bucks. You pay the $4 up front but then you get a coupon at the bottom of your receipt that is worth $2 on your next shopping trip. So with my extra bucks and my coupons I walked out of the store will all the following product with $4 in my pocket. That's right, I got it all free and ended up with $4 left over. What a high that was! These are all product my family uses on a daily basis, so I am thrilled that instead of paying $25 for all of these I walked away with the store giving me $4 to take them out. Since then I have bought 2 bottles of tums with a coupons $5 off 2, and my extra bucks making it where I bought 2 bottles of tums retailed at around $12 for $1.28. I am heading to the store tonight and I am planning on getting some dish soap and toothbrushes and other products I have see in the ad. I have not extended my couponing into groceries but I am working on it. I am so thankful that I have found a way to save my family money!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Trying my hand at photography
Photography has always been a hobby that I love. I have wanted at digital SLR for awhile and my dear loving husband bought me one for Christmas. I have a lot to learn when it comes to taking/editing photos but I have had a lot of fun messing around and trying it out. Here are a few of my photos.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Making my blog private
Hello Faithful Readers
I wanted to let you all know that I am making my blog a private blog so that only those who are invited can access my blog. I dont like the idea of someone stumbling across my blog through google searches and such. Please either email me, or comment on my blog your email address so I can add you to the list of those who are approved to see my blog. Thanks for following our family!
I wanted to let you all know that I am making my blog a private blog so that only those who are invited can access my blog. I dont like the idea of someone stumbling across my blog through google searches and such. Please either email me, or comment on my blog your email address so I can add you to the list of those who are approved to see my blog. Thanks for following our family!
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Daniel's First soccer game
This Spring we fulfilled Daniel's dream by signing him up for soccer. He LOVES to play soccer and has begged us for the past 2 years to let him play. After moving here we thought he was at a good age to start, so we looked into fall leagues. The fall really snuck up on us and we did not get him signed up in time. We told him that we would look at Spring soccer. So when spring rolled around we signed him up!
Today was the first game of the season and it was an away game. We drove about 15 minutes from our house to the fields and Daniel had a nervous look on his face the whole time. The last few days have had beautiful weather but today was SOOOO COLD. I did not even think of the fact that Daniel is going to be taking off his jacket and running around in the cold in a t-shirt. Thankfully a seasoned soccer mom told me her trick and I put Daniel's jacket under his jersey.
Daniel mostly played forward and he did a great job. He even had 3 pretty good shots on goal. One of his shots I was sure was a goal but their goalie got to it just in time. I was so proud of him and loved watching him. As Brandon and I stood on the sidelines each holding one of our two freezing grumpy girls we smiled as each other realizing that we have entered another stage of parenthood, organized sports. We were so proud of him. His team ended up losing 3-1. I look forward to the rest of the season. GOOOOO RAPTORS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Daniel practicing before the game.
Stretching with his team.
GO DANIEL!!!!!!
Of course at this age there is always a little bit of swarm ball.
The whole team on the bench after the game.
Today was the first game of the season and it was an away game. We drove about 15 minutes from our house to the fields and Daniel had a nervous look on his face the whole time. The last few days have had beautiful weather but today was SOOOO COLD. I did not even think of the fact that Daniel is going to be taking off his jacket and running around in the cold in a t-shirt. Thankfully a seasoned soccer mom told me her trick and I put Daniel's jacket under his jersey.
Daniel mostly played forward and he did a great job. He even had 3 pretty good shots on goal. One of his shots I was sure was a goal but their goalie got to it just in time. I was so proud of him and loved watching him. As Brandon and I stood on the sidelines each holding one of our two freezing grumpy girls we smiled as each other realizing that we have entered another stage of parenthood, organized sports. We were so proud of him. His team ended up losing 3-1. I look forward to the rest of the season. GOOOOO RAPTORS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Daniel practicing before the game.
Stretching with his team.
GO DANIEL!!!!!!
Of course at this age there is always a little bit of swarm ball.
The whole team on the bench after the game.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Little house on Ash Street
It is easy to forget how fallen the world is in while in seminary. Of course the concepts are always there as we talk about it, but the reality is, when I was in seminary I was surrounded by people who had been saved by grace. I told myself how much I was going to miss seminary life. A life where everyone helped each other out, we were there for each other. I had friends who would watch your kids, come over for afternoon tea, and just be around. I remember many warm afternoons, just like the one today, where my kids played safely in the court yard between buildings while I laughed and talked to their parents. Even though we complained about busy lives, and financial hardship, we were for the most part happy and safe.
I knew that I would miss it, but I did not realize how much. I moved from a safe world full of people I can trust, into a world of brokenness and chaos. Instead of laughing and playing outside with other kids, I currently have my children in a fenced backyard as I watch drama unfold. To my right a mom yelling and cussing at her child as she literally drags him by the arm back into the house and slams the door. My heart breaks for that little 4 year old as we all know what happens next. To my left two women having a fight in the street, yelling and calling each other names. As one tries to leave the other chases her down and punches her in the face. As I watch out my living room window I find myself not knowing what to do. Do I step out and talk to them? If I do will they just hit me? How do I help people who want nothing to do with me? I can hear them say "Who you do think you are?" That is a very good question. I try to be the light of the world in my neighborhood. Most of my neighbors who know me know I am a Christian. I try to reach out, but also find myself wanting to stay away. I have one neighbor who is constantly accusing people of breaking her things, or saying mean things to her daughter (who I think is a brat). I don't want my children to be accused of such things, so my first instinct is to have them stay away. Is that a good attitude? Probably not, but it scares me. Every week I hear "so in so called the cops on me" or "a different so in so's kids called mine "insert mean name here" and so I called DHS." DHS is very familiar with the families on my block as I am pretty sure they come out here every week.
Seminary life has it's ups and downs, but I really had no idea how much I would miss it. I struggle between being the light, and hiding it. I struggle between being friendly and protecting my family. I struggle between being hospitable and opening my doors to all or locking them for fear that someone might tell lies about us and the cops will one day show up on my door step. This is the broken world that we were all told about. This is the reality of a world without Christ... now what do I do?
I knew that I would miss it, but I did not realize how much. I moved from a safe world full of people I can trust, into a world of brokenness and chaos. Instead of laughing and playing outside with other kids, I currently have my children in a fenced backyard as I watch drama unfold. To my right a mom yelling and cussing at her child as she literally drags him by the arm back into the house and slams the door. My heart breaks for that little 4 year old as we all know what happens next. To my left two women having a fight in the street, yelling and calling each other names. As one tries to leave the other chases her down and punches her in the face. As I watch out my living room window I find myself not knowing what to do. Do I step out and talk to them? If I do will they just hit me? How do I help people who want nothing to do with me? I can hear them say "Who you do think you are?" That is a very good question. I try to be the light of the world in my neighborhood. Most of my neighbors who know me know I am a Christian. I try to reach out, but also find myself wanting to stay away. I have one neighbor who is constantly accusing people of breaking her things, or saying mean things to her daughter (who I think is a brat). I don't want my children to be accused of such things, so my first instinct is to have them stay away. Is that a good attitude? Probably not, but it scares me. Every week I hear "so in so called the cops on me" or "a different so in so's kids called mine "insert mean name here" and so I called DHS." DHS is very familiar with the families on my block as I am pretty sure they come out here every week.
Seminary life has it's ups and downs, but I really had no idea how much I would miss it. I struggle between being the light, and hiding it. I struggle between being friendly and protecting my family. I struggle between being hospitable and opening my doors to all or locking them for fear that someone might tell lies about us and the cops will one day show up on my door step. This is the broken world that we were all told about. This is the reality of a world without Christ... now what do I do?
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Daniel's Shooting Experience
Today Daniel got to do something I never thought I would allow him to do, he got to shoot guns. Daniel's Papa has a passion for guns and knows a lot them. Brandon and I thought that it would be good for Daniel to be able to share in this passion with his papa. So today Brandon, Daniel and Papa went to a place called "The Bullet Hole" where they stood in a stall shooting at targets for 2 hours. Daniel had a blast and loved being able to shoot a gun by himself. Thankfully daddy and papa did a good job of taking pictures, so we have record of his first trip to "the bullet hole".
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Daniel Christopher
1)...is my handsome brown eyed boy.
2)... is nicknamed Professor Jr. (although lately he has corrected us and told us he us just "Professor". Looks like he is trying to move up in rank. :)
3)...is a thinker and asks very good deep questions.
4)...is a great big brother and very helpful around the house.
5)...loves to play soccer, and gets to play in his first soccer league this spring.
6)...is great in school. I have never had one complaint from any teacher about him acting up.
7)...is adventurous, always willing to try new things, and acts like nothing scares him.
8)...loves to read. He reads to himself, and he loves to be read to.
9)...unlike his sister he LOVES the snow.
10)...was the cutest mouse ever in his recent school musical.
11)...loves to play with legos and has a list of about 15 sets he wants for his birthday.
12)...is a good friend. He is kind and caring to the kids who he plays with.
13)...is all boy, hates showers, loves dirt, loves to wrestle, loves super heros etc.
14)...has given his life to the Lord and strives daily to do the right thing.
Daniel giving me a silly smile at a restaurant.
Daniel showing off his skills at the playground.
Dressed up like a mouse for the school musical.
Daniel and Monica as "Mario and Luigi"
Daniel playing in the snow.
Handsome!
2)... is nicknamed Professor Jr. (although lately he has corrected us and told us he us just "Professor". Looks like he is trying to move up in rank. :)
3)...is a thinker and asks very good deep questions.
4)...is a great big brother and very helpful around the house.
5)...loves to play soccer, and gets to play in his first soccer league this spring.
6)...is great in school. I have never had one complaint from any teacher about him acting up.
7)...is adventurous, always willing to try new things, and acts like nothing scares him.
8)...loves to read. He reads to himself, and he loves to be read to.
9)...unlike his sister he LOVES the snow.
10)...was the cutest mouse ever in his recent school musical.
11)...loves to play with legos and has a list of about 15 sets he wants for his birthday.
12)...is a good friend. He is kind and caring to the kids who he plays with.
13)...is all boy, hates showers, loves dirt, loves to wrestle, loves super heros etc.
14)...has given his life to the Lord and strives daily to do the right thing.
Daniel giving me a silly smile at a restaurant.
Daniel showing off his skills at the playground.
Dressed up like a mouse for the school musical.
Daniel and Monica as "Mario and Luigi"
Daniel playing in the snow.
Handsome!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monica Marie
1)..is beautiful
2)...loves to dance
3)...is artistic and puts a lot of time and thought into her art work.
4)...loves to play with her brother and looks up to him.
5)...is a good helper and loves to be praised.
6)...is super shy outside of the house and hardly ever shows her true personality to others.
7)...loves to sing.
8)...pouts with the best of them, I should know :).
9)...is stubborn and when she gets mad she will fight you with all her strength.
10)...is a skinny little thing who often comes out wearing her sister's 18 month clothes.
11)... prides herself in being able to do things "all by herself".
12)...her giggles could put a smile on the face of the grumpiest person.
13)...often toots when you tickle her. I think that it is a defense mechanism.
14)...is loving, and has a tender heart.
Monica being silly for the camera.
Monica being the big helper that she is, helping daddy shovel the drive way.
Monica pouting under pillows. This is her pouty side and her stubborn side. She stayed under there for 45 minutes!!!!
Her beautiful smile.
Monica taking great care coloring her Lorax just right.
2)...loves to dance
3)...is artistic and puts a lot of time and thought into her art work.
4)...loves to play with her brother and looks up to him.
5)...is a good helper and loves to be praised.
6)...is super shy outside of the house and hardly ever shows her true personality to others.
7)...loves to sing.
8)...pouts with the best of them, I should know :).
9)...is stubborn and when she gets mad she will fight you with all her strength.
10)...is a skinny little thing who often comes out wearing her sister's 18 month clothes.
11)... prides herself in being able to do things "all by herself".
12)...her giggles could put a smile on the face of the grumpiest person.
13)...often toots when you tickle her. I think that it is a defense mechanism.
14)...is loving, and has a tender heart.
Monica being silly for the camera.
Monica being the big helper that she is, helping daddy shovel the drive way.
Monica pouting under pillows. This is her pouty side and her stubborn side. She stayed under there for 45 minutes!!!!
Her beautiful smile.
Monica taking great care coloring her Lorax just right.
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