busy busy

Left camera in Idaho. Mother offered to ship. Husband declined adamantly. No camera = no pictures. No pictures = lame updates. Short recap of our month or so since I've posted.
*Went to Idaho for Thanksgiving (+ a week or so)
*Scentsy booth - FROZE my hiney off.
*Wrestling has started - husband very busy
*It's freezing outside - lots of coloring inside
*Made some cute craftys
*Black Friday extravaganza. Aubrey was sick - not as fun. But scored some great deals. Went at 4:00 this year ... too early, tired.

**I'll have my camera back after Idaho/New Years** tons of pictures to come.

nice

At one of the houses we went trick-or-treating at, they had a motion activated girlish thing that crawled (or dragged) across the floor. It was pretty creepy, especially to the kids.

What does my husband say when he sees this?

"that's what you look like, begging me for money all the time."

nice.

Kennedy turns 5

Where has the time gone? Is my baby really 5 years OLD? I can't believe how fast this little girl has grown up. She is such a good kid, and I love being her mom. She has always been independent but very eager to please. She is the peace maker and almost never starts a fight. She shares so well with her younger siblings who follow her every move. She's a great helper with everything I ask of her.

She started preschool and is in love with this new adventure in her life. She's coming out of her shell more and more every day. She even volunteered to sing a solo in the upcoming primary program. GO KENNEDY!

She is learning so much every day and it's so fun to hear all the new things she learns at school.

She's goes to gymnastics every week and is the "best in her class." Her coaches said she listens to everything they say the first time and never has to be told twice. She always points her toes and is pretty much a natural (she gets that from her mama ... bragging)

I've loved Kennedy Joy since before she was born. I had the easiest pregnancy and her labor/delivery was one of the best expiriences of my life. She came into the world a sweet sweet baby and hasn't changed. As I watch her grow up I'm amazed at how grown up she's become. What a blessing to be a mom, a steward over these precious little ones. While having 3 little ones can be very trying at times, I'm so grateulf for the opportunity to spend my days with my children. Teaching, learning, growing.

Kennedy, I love you. You're such a spunky little lady and I am proud to be your mama.

We had a combined bday party with her little friend Ella, who has the same birthday! They had SO.MUCH.FUN! We made crowns, played "pin the lips on the frog" ate pizza, cake and ice cream, and played and played! She got some great presents and I'm so glad we've moved into a neighborhood with so many little girls, and such supportive moms! Thanks to everyone who came and those that helped!

princess cake ... love Costco cakes

game time

excited

The gang

Kierstin, Reagan, Belle, Kennedy, Ella, Sage, Sammy, Abbie, Ellie and my Kennedy

Costume party

Our friends daughter Leila had a costume party a few weeks before halloween. The kids were super excited to wear their costumes early. I 3-barrle curled Regan's hair and it was perfect. Pretty darn cute. They had a blast at the party and thank goodness the chocolate ice cream wiped out easily!

Super Girl, Daphne, Panda witch ... and Lincoln

Super Girl. Kennedy insisted I style her hair just like the girl on the cover of the costume. I even had to use black pony tail holders. It comes with boots too. This one is "super" cute.

HA HA HA!! I laugh every time I see this one. The wig is hilarious. She looks so stinkin cute. I love it. I wish this one came with the knee high white boots, but still so funny.
Panda. Random, but she loves it. She actually wore this one to her show and tell last friday at preschool. I had to pry, literally, the Guinness Book of World Records 2004 (which she got trick-or-treating of all places .. now that's random) out of her hands and let her pick any costume to wear. It was a hit at school, everyone loved it.

Not very spooky witch. That reminds me, you should hear this girl tell a spooky story. It's actually kinda spooky. I remember a creaking door, ghost and witch (all with sound effects) and something about 2 bad men who trap 3 girls then choke them. Really? What are they showing on the Disney channel these days. My kids don't watch t.v. hardly ever, and NEVER movies with Tyler and I. If they do watch t.v. it's the Disney channel or a Disney movie. Where do they learn these things?

The L man, putting in an appearance.

Genius!

Sometimes, (notice I said some and not all) Tyler says something and the light shines, angelic choruses sing and I'm amazed. This was one of those times. Target (my new favorite store .. okay, not new...but I have a serious obsession as of late.) had all their halloween on sale 75% off. Tyler had the bright idea to restock the girls dress up box with a bunch of new costumes. They are still little and the dress up clothes tend to get ruined after 6-9 months. Out with the old, in with the new. He approved a spending limit and I went to town! The most I paid was $7.50 per costume. Most were $2.50 each. The pricey ones (can you really call $7.50 pricey?!) were the totally decked out costumes. The girls were beyond excited and have been allowed to open a new one every morning. I also bought some decor stuff and paper towels/plates/cups even some cake mixes! I was pretty excited about how much I got for the money I spent. Pretty dang excited to be honest.

The 16 month old isn't really into dressing up ... yet. But he wants his picture taken anyway. Cheeser.
The Snow Princess

The unicorn

Halloween Night

Halloween this year was such FUN!!

The holidays are so much sweeter with children. Watching their utter and complete joy is my favorite part. Being a mom sure is great.

We met up with Wyatt, Tammy and 3 cute boys to trick-or-treat. Boy did they kids make a haul! Their pumpkins were FULL. Kennedy had to empty her full pumpkin into another empty bag and then filled hers up again. Between their hoards of candy, and the almost free candy (as in $.50 per HUGE bag) I got with coupons on clearance after Halloween, I think we're set until next halloween.

Meet our little garden gnome. Hilarious. You should see his pointy shoes.
Flapper girl Reagan. Or "dada" as she calls it for some reason.
Every time I would ask if she's being a flapper girl, she would say "I call it a dada." Nothing to do with her dad, (I think?!) just a weird little name she made up for it.

GENIE!! Kennedy was so excited for her costume. And majorly bummed that I made her wear a shirt and socks. It was a pretty big fight to get her jacket (not even coat) on when it was finally too cold. I remember being the same way, I was so mad every year my mom made me wear my dang coat UNDER my costume. My how the tables have turned.

Click on the picture to enlarge it, and check out this face. This was the first candy he got and was peeved when I wouldn't let him have it. You should have seen him when I took it away. WOW. Needless to say the sugar set in pretty quick and he was crazy hyper. The red stained beard, well .. we'll pretend his a zombie garden gnome.

My kind of trick or treating. What a good dad.

point taken

We had a combined b-day party today with Kennedy's little friend Ella. While I was gone Tyler was nice enough to clean the house up a bit. At least I thought he was nice ... that is, until I saw the "quarantine" area! I GET IT!!

Apparently he thinks my shoes are stinky. Apparently.

They are my absolute favorite shoes. And I've worn them forever without socks..blah blah blah. But in my defense, I do have the odor eater inserts ... I think I put them in too late.

Point taken

Aunties

My aunties came to visit! It was so good to see them. We missed Grammy (my mom) but the kids were excited for the prize Grammy sent. Lincoln especially loved the goldfish.

The aunties wore the kids out so much Lincoln fell asleep on the table after they left!

They love showing off for company, and were hamming it up the entire time. Thanks for coming Aunties!

don't judge ... I held preschool at my house just before they got there.

five five-year-olds and 2 nutty toddlers = one hot mess!
zonked. comfy?

Pantaloons

I love getting fun packages in the mail. I'm pretty sure this was the cutest one I've ever gotten! I ordered these cute little overalls after seeing them on C Jane's little boy. I have never been more in love with a pair of pants. It helps that the little man wearing them is adorable. Look at his little chubby rolls falling out of the overalls. They're a little big, but will fit perfect next spring.

cutest packaging ever ... and I didn't even ask for gift wrap!
the back

adorable

the front

Remember these?!

Remember my GIVE THANKS BLOCKS from last year?

I made a new set this year .. and LOVE them. I had so many requests last year, that I decided to try another set. I really like these colors, and am excited that I can put them up a little earlier and leave them out a little longer with this color scheme.

I will be including some cut out butterflies etc. for embellishments. I haven't gotten that far with my set yet. I don't like putting the embellishments on before I ship etc, because they usually get ruined in transport. Plus, some people like to add their own touch or leave them how they are!

Any takers? I have tons of paper/wood and would love to ship them to you, if you're not my next door neighbor. And, like last year, everyone is welcome! So don't be shy!

I'm an awardee

I must be pretty awesome, I won an award!! Not just any award, the Dragon's Loyalty Award. So stick that in your mouth and chew it! HOT DOG. I know, I know, you don't know what that is .. so how can I be THIS excited?! An award is an award ... is an award. And I'm accepting.
Cute CJ gave me the award for diligently and almost stalking-ly reading her blog and commenting often (way to often, I'm sure!) To finalize the awarding, I have to give the award out to those who I feel deserve it. And in a very particular order, here are my awardees
ASHLEY
MY MOM .. who doesn't even have a blog .. so she can't really accept it, but should totally feel honored (and appreciated) either way.
GINA
and
JANELL

While the cats away ...

As Reagan would say "you kidding me?!"

This is what happens when daddy babysits...for 2 hours.

Only 2 hours...if that.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

Kennedy claims he said it was okay to play in the mud.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!

My favorite part...they're smiling, like they aren't even in trouble.

I'm pretty sure there must have been football on, and daddy wasn't paying too

much attention, and therefore could not punish the infidels!

Cuttest muddies ever!!

wow cheezer Reagan ... calm it down

Somebody stop me!!

Seriously, I'm on fire!

This is my FREE picture.

That's right $0.

Retails for just over $25 total.

*gasp* ... I know!

The $ .34 picture. These retail for $4.50 and I paid $ .34 each.

I have crazy chapped lips .... always, so I'm excited to try these.

The blurry $1 picture.
I paid $1 each for these yummy candles.
After my $5 rebate, I'll have made money. wahoo.
And YES I sell Scentsy .. NO I don't use candles ... EVER.
But my visiting teachers will sure love these for Christmas!


And one cute boy, who is NOT throwing up anymore.
Pictures of Reagan hopefully to follow soon. As in, she IS throwing up.
Needs a haircut bad, but still the cutest little man I've ever met.

Monster Mash!

Click here to see our Monster Mash

Simple Pleasure

While playing at the park the other day, Lincoln found this bottle top. He was entertained the whole time by putting little rocks into the cap. He would fill it all the way up (which takes a while for his 14 month old little fingers) and then dump it out and start over.

It was so neat to watch him thinking and learning and being a boy. Such a simple thing, making him happy.

He held onto that cap full of rocks all the way home.

And now it sits on my counter, reminding me that simple pleasures are what life is about.

I'm a crazy couponer ... is that a word?

FREE @ Albertsons .. man I'm good.

(and some apple crisp in the background, and oh look, a dirty pair of work gloves. I really should clean my counter off)
Just under $18 for all this. CJ would have scored it all for free
$73 value though .... I'm getting better.

My friend from highschool ... I wish we were better friends, it was so great to talk to her! Oh, I remember why I don't have too many friends left from highschool, I think it involves a controlling ex-boyfriend .. but I can't be sure. Anyway ... this friend of mine CJ has been teaching me how to use coupons and get super deals. And I mean super. I am in now way as awesome as she is, but I aspire to be just like her and her coupon awesomeness.

I've been going to Walgreens and Target weekly, and have been getting stuff for SO cheap if not free. I can't even tell you the excitment involoved here. I feel like a kid on Christmas! Even the cashiers praise my name. If you would like to feel this same rush, let me know and I'll teach you what I've learned and direct you to some really good websites that have taught me how to only spend $40 a week on groceries for my family of 5. And no we don't eat ramen for every meal ;)

Thanks to Crystal and Sally for reminding me about Grocery Smarts too. There are such great tools online to help us save money and make meals plans based on the weekly sales etc. Can you tell I get excited?!

Scrapbook reTREAT

I just went on a 4 day scrapbook retreat and had the time of my life!!

Thanks to Brittianey for coming with me! And Tyler for handing over the moolah, and watching the kids. Oh and Wendy and Wyatt for watching the kids too. Oh and Tim for helping Tyler get the potaotes and driving back with Lincoln ALL BY HIMSELF. At the gas station, uncle Timmy even got the girls m&m's. Isn't that so cute?! Such a good uncle. Tyler never even gets the kids a treat, he usually just scarfs down a Mtn. Dew (which he has convinced the girls will give them a mustach if they drink ... they will NOT touch pop now, great thinking Tyler!) and some corn nuts. But anyway, back to the retreat.

4 days of heaven on earth. 1 million freebies and I got SO much done. Brittan took such good care of me. I only cried twice while I was gone. I missed my kids so much. Even though my life is a crazy circus every single day, those kids are my whole life.

Brittan gave me all her leftovers, and even let me peek at her albums to steal ideas. EVERYONE was raving about how cute her albums were, and how amazing she was and how she'd made so many. Literally, every person there stopped to tell her how good she was doing. She just might be the most creative person I know...really.

The scrapbook store that provided the getaway is my favorite store, and I'm now a forever customer. They even put ear plugs (which Brittianey used EVERY night ... uh, sorry) and little soap on our pillows, and mints every night. The flew in a lady from Oregon who cooked amazingly the whole time. We seriously ate like kings. It was such great fun. I hope I can go again sometime. Any takers? Brittianey, we should go again ... but maybe not for another year. They're already planning another on this April.

"spring" wood letters

and a dryer full of blankets that need folded .. yeah, yeaha few of the proects I worked on. Christmas album, not quite finnished

LOOK at all this free stuff!

And a cute free bag to keep it in!

more projects .. including my 1st boy scrapbook for Lincoln

and even more projects. Christmas album again, not quite done

The 1 page layout I did. I was making mini albums mostly. Those are my favorite!