Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Girls Night Out

Have you discovered how truly fabulous it is to be frugal? Maria and I had a girls night out and made coupon purchases. Aren't we just wild and crazy? Not only did we have fun but look at everything we got! What are you waiting for? Get on over here and let Nicole help you get things for cheap and free! Woohoo!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Let's Go to the Movies!

Inspired by one I saw a ward in Las Vegas do, I made a little flyer of fun summer things for families to do in our area. (E-mail me if you want a copy.) I've made it a personal quest to try to do all the things on the list, which is impossible, but we've had fun trying!

For the first of our summer adventures, we went to the drive-in movies! (Can you guess which flick we saw?)Being at the drive-in made me feel like I had been sent back in time. I loved it! Here's the big screen where we would be viewing Wall-E. The boys were THRILLED and had a hard time containing themselves.Josh and Nathan all set in their p.j.'s and saving a spot for our friends that were going to join us. No one would dare ask these two darlings to move! Our plan worked and our friends were able to park right next to us.
I don't know if Jake was more excited about seeing the movie or eating all the "junk candy" we had brought to snack on during the show.
They were VERY excited!
Especially once Kai came. They all had fun playing around in the truck while waiting for the movie to start. Silly little boys!Notice the glazed-over look on Jake's face? The previews have begun. He's in official viewing mode.Nathan wasn't too interested in watching anything. He liked exploring and being loud and I was scared he'd fall out of the truck. I took care of him the whole time so I can't give you a review of the movie or anything. It had something to do with robots, fat humans, and a plant.By the end of the movie, Jake and Josh were asleep in the back of the truck. Nathan was trying to hold out but he too was asleep by the time we left the parking lot. Hooray for summer time!

Friday, July 18, 2008

Tagged - Me As I Really Am

I liked reading this tag on Katie's blog...until I got to the end and saw that she tagged me. (I wasn't so hot on it after that.) This tag was like a freeze tag. I had to take pictures of how things really were at that moment. A dangerous thing indeed.


THE SINK as it really is. You don't know how tempted I was to wash the soaking pan from dinner before I took this picture...but I didn't. I followed the rules.THE FRIDGE as it really is. I've got to clean out some of those leftovers!THE LAUNDRY ROOM as it really is...complete with a mountain of towels to wash.THE TOILET as it really is. The lid is up and I'd bet money the rest of the toilets in this house are in the up position as well. I was just grateful it was flushed.THE CLOSET as it really is. All the empty hangers = I have lots of laundry to do. MY FAVORITE ROOM as it really is. I love my bedroom. Love the windows, love the view, love napping on my bed.MY FAVORITE SHOES as they really are. I'm not into shoes. If I could get away with it, I'd rather just go barefoot. Here are my lovely flip-flops (or "slippers" as Willie calls them) and they're pretty close to being shoeless. I have several assorted colors because I'm into high fashion as much as I'm into shoes.MY HUSBAND as he really is. Will's lifting weights out in the garage while listening to "November Rain." What a stud!MY BOYS as they really are. They fell asleep in the afternoon and weren't tired tonight, so they are reading books in bed instead of sleeping. Jake likes a ton of blankets and pillows.Josh is a minimalist when it comes to bedding. (And was a bit surprised when I busted in taking pictures...)Nathan was starting to stir when this picture was quickly snapped. I can't believe I risked waking a sleeping baby!ME and it doesn't get more real than this. I taught a swim class for some girls from church today so here we've got no makeup, wet hair in a ponytail, still got the swimsuit on underneath, and I'm supposed to be working (hence the earphones)...but instead I'm blogging.
And that's the REAL me. I tag Cynthia B., Kelly M., JoAnna A., Danielle L., and anyone else who's up for a REAL challenge.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Pay Day

Pay up buddy, you owe me big. I prefer small bills and no, I don't take coupons. O ye of little faith...

For those of you completely lost go HERE and be sure to read the comments. How much do you think he owes me? Thanks for teaching me to flip, Josh! You made a great movie too!!

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Good Blog Reading

Since I've been using Google Reader (ah, blessed blessed Google Reader!) I haven't updated the links of the blogs I read. There are a couple of blogs I've been LOVING lately that I thought I'd share. Since we all know I'm a blog stalker, that's already been established here, these are not people I know, I just like their blogs.

  • Being Frugal is Fabulous: I'm a sucker for a deal and Nicole has got it DOWN. She makes it all too easy by letting us all in on how to use coupons to get the best prices...sometimes even free! (I just registered with RiteAid and got $50.00 in coupons!) Do be sure to check her blog out and start saving some money!
  • A Daily Scoop: Warning - Prepare yourself with some tissues before you go to this blog. You will cry. This family has lost their young daughter and I am truly inspired by this mother's courage and faith. In reading about her trials, I am strengthened to get through the pettiness of mine. When I read her blog I want to hug and kiss my children and never let go, and who doesn't need a reminder like that every now and then? (All of her posts are great and these are two of my favorites: Inside the Heart and Perspective.)

Got any other good reads for me to add to my Google Reader? Fill me in!

Friday, July 11, 2008

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my mother's birthday and I'm hoping she has a great day full of free slurpees and lots of rest and relaxation. I'm also keeping my fingers crossed that my package gets there today!Happy Birthday, Mom/Grandma! We love you!!!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Travel Tips Needed

Exactly one month from today we'll be on a CRUISE! It will be grandma's big 75th (you don't mind me sharing that, right grandma?) and she's celebrating big. She is taking the ENTIRE family on a Disney Cruise. Woo Hoo!!! We are all extremely excited and ready to go (except for the fact that our passports still haven't come) BUT this is something I've never done before!I need some tips from all you cruise experts! Any pearls of wisdom to share with me? I'm worried about getting seasick and I'm having mini flashbacks of the movie "Titanic." I don't want to get there and think, "Oh, I wish I would have brought..." or "Man, I wish we would have..." Fill me in now so I can get it together!

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Ice Cream!

One of my favorite July 4th traditions is homemade ice cream. Strawberry. Sure, I am the ONLY member of this household that enjoys strawberry ice cream but we made it anyway. I like it a lot, so I'm sure I can handle all six quarts by myself...Anyone want some ice cream?

Let's do it the old fashioned way! The boys were such good helpers..They loved using the crank to turn the ice cream so much that they argued over it. We actually had to take turns hand cranking the ice cream maker!
Even Nathan wanted in on the action.
They were a little miffed when I put the electric motor on to finish the job.
They were REALLY surprised when we used this ice cream maker for the batch of chocolate ice cream. It was all too easy!
And boy was it YUMMY!!!
Long live traditions of homemade ice cream!!!

Monday, July 7, 2008

July 4th Breakfast and Parade

Hope everyone had a super fourth of July! We started ours off bright and early (I had to wake the kids) with a ward breakfast and parade at the park. The boys loved being in a "parade."Actually our whole family was in the parade because Nathan rode in the wagon and needed a puller. That took up one parent.Jake is uncontrollable on his bike and needed some guidance. That took up the other parent. (I could just picture him taking out the entire parade...) He wasn't very happy that we wouldn't let him loose.Thank heavens Josh is still content with training wheels and was completely and totally independent. Goooo, Joshua!Here's the whole parade crew.The boys enjoyed playing volleyball. I use the term volleyball loosely...there was a net.Jake and Josh want nothing more than to be big and these big boys are so nice to include them and treat them like they're big. Jake was in ready position! Jake and Josh were both in heaven...UNTIL...Out of nowhere Josh just took off running. He didn't say a word, he just had this intense look in his eye and he was off. I was a little confused. Then I saw that someone was on his bike. He was ticked and I was scared. I grabbed Nathan and I started running. I was hoping and praying Josh didn't reach the kid and throw him to the ground before I could get there. Willie saw what was going on and he started running too. (Poor kid testing out the bike thought the whole family was after him!)

We were yelling, "No, Josh, no!" By the time we caught up to the pair, Josh was in tears and yelling (luckily no physical violence occurred) and the little boy on the bike jumped off and ran away. Whew! That was a close one.

Josh hopped on his bike and rode it back over to the volleyball game. He parked it on the grass right by the net so he could keep a closer eye on it. Don't mess with Josh (or his extremely long tongue) he's not one to just take things lying down.I also caught some action over at the sack races. Go girls, go!While everyone had their fun, Nathan and I kept busy. Boy-oh-boy is he busy. We tried a bit of everything.It was a great way to start off our Independence Day!