Crafts for the kiddos.

You have no idea how entertained this keeps my children. Hours. Seriously.

Plastic canvas shapes. At Joannes, Maybe .30 cents a piece. They have all kinds of shapes, hearts, stars, rainbows, Or you can cut them into whatever shape you want.
Plastic needles I think it was $2 for a pack of 2.
Yarn.

She loves these. Um, Best church bag item ever.  I just tied the ends to the needle and the plastic canvas so that they are permanently attached. I made the yarn not too long, A bit shorter than their arm. That way they can thread it and un-thread it a million times.
 

This is not what I signed up for... And maybe a little TMI.

I was doing really good, Until this week. You know, Everything was caught up, Laundry, dishes, kids hair perfectly combed and bows in. Yeah, Until this week. I have about 6 loads of laundry sitting on my bed. They are clean, So that's a plus I suppose... However, They are definitely not getting folded anytime soon. Laundry for 6 people is a bear. Especially when one of them barfs and poops through several outfits a day, and another one still has accidents in their panties... UGH.
I did get a good majority of the hot pink nail polish out of the white carpet. So that was nice. $15 of acetone and 15 million less brain cells later... {That stuff smells SO bad.}
The kids decided to pull ALL of their clothes off the hangers and out of the drawers in their closet, So there's a good few hours to get that back in order... It's been that way for at least 2 weeks. No joke. I really need to go through and throw out the stained and hole-y clothes and donate what doesn't fit. Remind me, When do I have 3 hours to just sit and sort clothes? Yeah, never, The kids would destroy the rest of the house.
So, I thought that I was going to tackle that, Well, At least start on it today, That is until Blake decided to flood the downstairs toilet after he pooped in it. Yes, That's right, I went there. My 4 year old tried to wipe his own bum and used the entire roll of toilet paper. So that was fun to clean up...
This is not what I signed up for when I wanted to be a stay at home mom... I signed up for play dates at the park, And picnics, And afternoon tea parties, And cuddles on the couch, And baking goodies, And dress up parties, And building trains, and playing dinosaurs... Not cleaning up poop from over flowing toilets, and washing pee off of my porch... Yeah, We don't have a dog... And definitely not wasting several hours on washing sorting, folding, and putting away clothes...
Oh well, The good with the bad I suppose...
{If your wondering how that picture fits this... Mike calls me gypsy. It says "stay at home gypsy" instead of "stay at home mom," So it's really perfect... At least to me}

Apple Nachos

So, I needed a little treat... But I didn't want it to be too bad... You know, Because there wasn't any more room for error after my Twix fix.

So, Here come the Apple Nachos. I'm only slightly addicted to them :) I found the recipe here.

• 3 crispy and slightly tart apples (we ♥ honeycrisp! yum…)
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• 3 tbsp creamy natural peanut butter
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup pecans
• 1/4 cup flaked unsweetened coconut
• 1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips

The only thing I did differently than she did was melt the chocolate chips. For 2 reasons, I don't like hard chocolate. It has to be melty, Second, I didn't use as much chocolate. I put the peanut butter in a ziplock bag and cut a small hole in the corner and drizzled it that way. Same with the chocolate.

But If Its just me, I cut the recipe in half, Because let's be honest, I'd eat the whole thing myself.

So, As I was Black friday shopping I was at Target and saw this beaut!

The Dyson DC35 digital slim.

Oh you have no idea how BAD I want one of these. I've wanted one for so long. So when I was in Target at midnight and it was on sale $50 off, plus my extra 5% from my Target debit card... You can Imagine how happy I was! So, I threw that bad boy in the cart. I finished my shopping and then began wandering Target, {yes at midnight} Deciding on whether or not I needed it. Well, Yes, I do NEED a new handheld vacuum. The electrolux I bought sucks. {That's a whole nother blog post on doing without until you have enough to buy quality things. Instead of wasting money to keep replacing crappy items.} Anywho... So here I was in Target at midnight going over the pros and cons of buying this vacuum. Yes, I need a new one, Yes, I could afford it. And yes, It was a great deal on this particular vacuum. However, I couldn't get a hold of Mike to discuss it with him. Go figure he was asleep like a normal person at midnight. So after wandering the store for 30 min. debating on whether or not I should buy it, I put it back. I finally came to the conclusion that the entire reason we are in "No spending save as much as you can" mode, Is so that we can have those things later on down the road. And if I keep buying things I "need" We're never going to get to where we want to be financially. So, I came to a really important realization. {For me at least, Maybe you are already there}

Saving money and being able to eventually attain the goals that you set for yourself, Isn't just going without the wants for a little while. It's about going without the "needs" too. Does anyone really need a $300 hand held vacuum? NO. Would it make my life easier? Yes, But if I keep spending money on things I "need' It's going to take a lot longer than I want it to to get to where we really want to be. Would I rather have a huge retirement and a paid off house later on down the road? YES, Way more than I want that stupid vacuum.

Okay, I know that just because I didn't buy a $300 vacuum doesn't mean that all those things will come to be just because I have an extra $300 in the bank and no Dyson digital slim in the house. But it's the principle. It's learning to distinguish true needs and wants, And it's about the attitude I have towards money. Do I want this.... That will make me happy for the next day, Year, 5 years? Or do I want a better life for the next 50 years? Because I've learned to be in control of my "needs" and wants?
Which brings me to the next post... Next year {2012} Our goal is to live on 30% of Mikes income. And save the rest. And I'm going to show you how I'm going to do it.... After I go do some laundry and soothe some crying kids ;)

November

Here's a rundown of the last month.

Searched for leappads for my kiddos for Christmas... I started in OCTOBER!

It only took me an entire month to track them down. {Insert eye roll here} Like searching everyday. Stalking online and in the stores. Seriously the coolest toy I think I have ever seen. And they learn SO SO much with it. They love their leapser explorer and all the games we have for that will work with this! And now, I'm half tempted to put them on ebay....They are selling for close to $300! Insanity. No, Not really, I won't do that, It was a pain in the butt to track them down and I only paid $80 for each of them. I love target, And I love coupons, And my Target debit red card!

The kids were sick for about 2 weeks straight. We're finally all better. Well, We were. And then... My wisdom tooth became infected. Possibly because of all the drainage and gross stuff from my sinus and ear infections. AWESOME. I felt like I was going to die. And really still do. I'm doped up on some pretty awesome pain meds right now. Well, Good news and bad news on that. I can't have them taken out. Well, I guess I could, But here's the problem... Most people have 2 roots on each tooth... Not this kid... I have 3. And they all go in different directions, Think baby octopus and that's what the x ray looked like. And the roots wrap around the nerve. So, If I have them removed, It's going to be a horrible surgery and recovery. And I could end  up with permanent nerve damage. Basically, My cheek could be numb indefinitely. Bad. And since I have room in my mouth for my wisdom teeth, I'd have to deal with huge gaping holes in the back of my mouth if I have them removed. So, We're going to put that off as long as we can... Hopefully forever.

So, As I laying in pain on the couch, Thinking the girls are playing in the toyroom, I smell something, and run upstairs. Well, they were upstairs playing... However, LaLa was painting her and Kynzis nails. ON THE WHITE CARPET! With hot pink polish. 

Still can't get it out. We're just going to have to replace the carpet. Mike joked and said, Well, That's a small price to pay...They needed some bonding time. At least they were playing together. {They usually ignore one another, They were both meant to be only children I think....HA! Boy did they get stuck with the wrong family for that!}

Blake had school pictures. Boy he is a handsome little man! And such a ham. That kid has no lack of self confidence that's for sure.

Training for the Disney 1/2 is slow... I haven't been able to run as much as I'd like. I've been sick constantly. Asthma attacks, Ear infections, Sinus infections, And now this wisdom tooth situation... So, I can definitely give up hopes of a 8 minute mile... It's going to be more like 12 I'm sure. And If I have to walk a 16 minute mile so help me I'm doing this thing. {And as a side note can I say that Sarah Poor is a running rockstar. She's my running partner and I'm totally slowing her down. Sorry bout that Sarah... One of these days I won't be sick anymore.}   

I did hit my goal weight. Actually a pound under. So that's nice, But it wasn't everything I expected... I've learned that your body is so different after each kid. Not necessarily on the outside, Well, it is I guess, But definitely on the inside. It's going to take a long time to get back to where I was fitness wise before I was pregnant with Brent. I get tuckered out way easier than I used to. I used to think 2 hours in the gym was just a warm up, Now it takes all I've got in me to get 2 hours done.

Thanksgiving was awesome. My mom is the worlds greatest cook. However, I wish I would have worn sweat pants because my pants were way tight after dinner. Oh man, And I have a new found LOVE for coconut cream pie. Oh crap it's good.

Black Friday shopping... Why do these crazy nut jobs open the stores at midnight and 3 am? Yes, I did go out at midnight. I went to Kohls and Target. Kohls to get a Cars 2 geotrax thing... I'm not even really sure what it is, But Blake wanted it for his birthday. I really had a hard time finding something for him that he really wanted and I knew he'd play with. Mike thought that was funny because every commercial that comes on advertising anything he asks if he can get it for his birthday.
I went to Target because they had the leapster games for $18 instead of $25. And they had this little toy phone for Kynzi. Looking back on it, I almost would rather have spent the extra $100 I saved VS. being super duper sleep deprived. Then my mom and my aunt went out shopping. It's really just more tradition and to hang out than it is to buy anything. Actually, I think the only thing we really bought was some jewelry. But a good time was had by all. I love hanging out with those two.
 
So, That's what we've been up to. Can you believe it's already DECEMBER?!? Where did this year go? 

I'm not paying $10 for a roll of wrapping paper.

Seriously? Why have I never noticed how expensive wrapping paper is? Well, I'm not doing it...Not this year. I'm not spending the money on it. What A WASTE! They destroy it anyways. It's like flushing money down the toilet. So, Instead, I have been asking for paper bags instead of taking in my reusable grocery bags. Yep. That's what they are going to be wrapped in. Now, before you think how ugly that will be, Humor me for a minute...

I mean, I have LOADS of scrapbook paper, ribbon and wraffia in my craft stuff. And this last picture is just a toilet paper or paper towel roll, made into a flower. SO... Brown paper bags from the grocery store = Free. Craft crap from my garage = Free. So, Wrapping for Christmas this year... Yep, You guessed it... Free. That's at least $20 in my pocket. Because lets be honest, We never buy just one roll.

Thanksgiving

We've been a bit under the weather this past week. 3 sick kids, Plus a sick mommy plus some asthma attacks, and that about sums up the week. And of course we still had to make the rounds for Thanksgiving. It's nice having 2 of the 3 sets of grandparents in town, However, It makes for a lot of time in the car on Thanksgiving. Of course Mike played in the turkey bowl that morning. This was the first year we didn't take the whole family. Tired Mommy + chasing 4 kids.... Not something I was up for. Then of course there was more food than we could possibly eat. Oh it was GOOD! Well, I know that I'm late to getting this post up, But I just wanted to make a list of the things I'm thankful for.

The gospel of Jesus Christ. And my membership in his kingdom. The knowledge that I can be with my family not just til death do us part, but for eternity.
For the Temple, and the covenants it has allowed me to enter into with my father in Heaven, and the blessings that come from being true to those covenants.
For the scriptures, and for the peace and direction that they offer.
For my husband. I could never describe how much I love him. I'm thankful that he has a job, And grateful that he works so hard to provide for our family, And that he supports me in staying home with our sweet children. I really admire and adore him. For the man he is, and for the man he wants to be. For the worthy priesthood holder and patriarch of our home. I'm grateful for his example, And his devotion to our father in heaven. I think he's as close to perfect as they come.
For my children. I love the things they teach me. I love to laugh with them, and I am thankful that I have been allowed to be their mother. Yes, It was hard for me to get them here, But I am thankful for the times that God allowed me to suffer in those pregnancies and deliveries. In those times, I was blessed with the opportunity to gain a stronger testimony of the Atonement of our Savior. I'm so so thankful that Blake and Brent came out of the NICU healthy. I'm thankful that I was given those experiences. I learned things that could be learned no other way.
For a home.
For cars to drive.
For the gym. For the sweet women that take care of my babies everyday.
For our families. We have such a wonderful support group.
For righteous examples who I want to pattern my life after.
For the ability to feed our family. And the security of knowing that we have sufficient for our needs.
For Blake's teachers. He is learning and progressing so well thanks to teachers who care.
For the ability to pay our bills. I remember very vividly what it feels like to not have enough.
I'm grateful for the financial lessons that we have learned. Even if it was the hard way.
I'm grateful for the talents that I have been blessed with. And, Well, for the things that don't come so easily that I have to work at. It teaches me patience.
For the ability to serve those around us.
For our health. Yes, Everyone has some minor issues, But really, We are all healthy.

There are a lot more things that I can think of. But they are things that would have no significance to anyone else but me. Maybe all of this has no significance to anyone else, But this one was really more for me. I hope y'all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and took the time to thank God for all that he has given you. Everyone has something to be grateful for.