Grandma's here

Nicole woke up this morning saying "Mimi, airplane". Mimi is what most of the great-grandkids call my grandma. Hannah and I went to the airport this morning to pick grandma up. Hannah was thrilled to see her. She was jumping around, smiling and laughing for her. Yay! She knew grandma was someone special:-) We went back to my mom's and had lunch. Nicole was also very excited to see grandma Mimi. She ran to her with open arms. Nicole was also shocked to find out that Mimi is "Papa's mommy" (my dad's mom). Here are a few pictures from the morning.

Hannah has on a new outfit today, well...sort of. This is the famous Nicole dress. One of my all time favorite pictures of Nicole is her in this dress.

Here is Nicole (Jan 1, 2007...days under 7 months old)

And here is Hannah (will be 7 months old in aobut 2 1/2 weeks).

Adorable, BOTH of them! I'm excited because Jeremy just got down two boxes of clothes that Hannah can now fit into. It's rediculous how many clothes these girls have. Tiffy...here's hoping tomorrow you get pink news:-)

I was almost late to the airport because I had to swing by CVS. It should have been quick, but they didn't have something I was looking for, and the nice manager went to the back to see if they had anymore:-) Anyway, I bought one thing I went in for...mascara. Here's the deal (Teri...you'll be proud!)

Rimmel mascera $6.99

Manufactuer Q -$1.00

CVS Q -$1.00

CVS ECB -$3.49

Grand total OOP $0.59

ECB +$4.00!!! (for my next purchase)

Here's the cool thing. The manager was trying to find out for me if something (vitamin water) had ECB, because it wasn't in the flyer, however there was a tag on the shelf. So, she did a transaction just with my Vitamin water. Turn out it didn't have ECB, however all my coupons printed...which was where I got my CVS Q for any Rimmel product. I grabbed that coupon and used it on my next transaction for the mascera which greatly reduced my out of pocket price. I was pretty excited that happened. Oh...it also came with a free eye liner. Woohoo!!!

I just got a sneak peak of CVS's black friday add. Who's in? They don't open until 8, so I'll be able to hit other store first:-)

Well, it's about time

I know I know....I haven't posted in a while. I don't know why, but it has been very busy, in a non-busy sort of way. Make sense? no. For the past several days I've had all these ideas about things to write on here, and now that I have 5 minutes to do it, I can't remember anything:-)

Did I tell you that Nicole knows her ABCs? Well...she usually skips M and V...but she does know those letters separately. Here's a little video. She even sings "Now I sang my ABCs, next time won't you sing with me" at the end. Oh...I totally forgot to tell you what she's saying at the beginning. Hannah had been "spitting up". Nicole says it funny "spit up up up up". I don't know where she got that from, but it's funny.

She can also count to 10 now! Woohoo....way to go my little mathematician. In fact, this morning I was making Jeremy's breakfast and lunch. There were two plastic spoons, but I took one and put it in his oatmeal. She noticed and kept telling me one of her spoons was missing. She didn't know it, but she did subtraction. 2 spoons - 1 spoon = 1 spoon left in her hand.

Hannah and I had a photo shoot again the other day. She is a doll baby. I just can't get enough of her smiles and laughter. We are still struggling in the sleep department. She's waking at night again. I guess that's just her personality though and we'll work through it.

Jeremy golfing with Nicole on Sat. morning

My grandma is coming down to visit for a month tomorrow, so you'll be seeing lots of pictures with her. I'm excited because Nicole knows who she is now and is looking forward to seeing her, and Hannah's never met a stranger:-)

Air freshner

My Sister-in-law, Tiffany, sent me a recipe for a yummy air freshner for you home (yummy meaning it smells good...don't drink it!, hmm...well, maybe with some sugar it would taste good too:-) For my organic friends...this is all-natural so you should like it. I tried it today and it does smell good:-) Oh...I just realized I forgot the cin. sticks, I'll have to get those next time.

1 Orange
1 Lemon
3 Cin. sticks (she told me to get them in the craft section at walmart for the best price)
6 bay leaves
1/2 cup whole cloves

Cut lemon and orange into quarters, combine fruit, spices and 2 quarts of water in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer as long as desired. Add more water as needed. Cover any left over mix and refrigerate for several days and reuse.
She said that it lasts for about two weeks

Praise the Lord

Both girls are asleep, at the same time, without crying. In case I only have hour...I'm signing off. Have a super weekend!

I have to share

I have a few things to share...first I just want to thank my MOPS friends today. We had a meeting, and honestly...I didn't feel like going. I wasn't ready, we've been busy a lot and not home much, the girls obviously both wanted to stay home, however I am a table leader and I had to be there. For some reason, on the way there, all my emotions started welling up inside me, and by the time I got Nicole in the nursery, I had tears in my eyes. Why? Who knows??? I cry a lot. I think though it's just my way of getting feelings out of me. Most of the time when I cry it's something very small that brings it on. However, I feel better almost every time I cry. Anyway...sweet Jennifer was at the door and I walk up with huge tears in my eyes explaining that I didn't know why I wasn't crying...hahhaa. Anyway...the point was not that I cried today, but that I enjoyed being with other moms who are supportive and encouraging. I'm thankful I get to be a part of the group. I have no idea why I'm a table leader because I am always frazzled, and never put together, and I feel like I don't have much to offer anyone. I always walk away feeling blessed by everyone else and I just pray that somehow someone else walks away feeling blest my be in all my craziness! hahaha.

Hannah is spitting up like a champ....it's getting so bad that I am seriously considering taking major items out of my diet to see if it's the milk doing this to her. Those of you who know me know this is big and it must be bad, because I've never been willing to do this before. I think after I eat my brownies tonight I'm going to do some research and evaluate what I need to get rid of (or maybe add). She also has a rash were she got her vaccines. I'm pretty sure those are the last vaccines she's getting for a long long time.

Finally, I went to Publix today because I needed to pick up brownie mix and supplies because (I thought) I was going to be making a pie today. I used a few coupons and got some great deals I just had to share!

My total was $36.56. I used $9 in Q and about $12 in sales and BOGOs so I saved a little over $21. My total out of pocket was $14.89. Here were the great ones....

College Inn Chicken and Beef broth $2.79

BOGO and 2 $1/1Q made them $.79/2 or $.40each:-) (bought 4)

Nestle chocolate chips $2.50

BOGO and $1/2 Q made them $1.50/2 or $.75 each:-) (bought 4)

Glade whisp refill $3.50

Clearance $1.75 and $1/1 Q made it $.75

Organic Dark chocolate candy bar $2.99

$1/1 Publix Q and $1/1 Mfct Q made it $.99

I had to buy my brownie mix and pie crust full price :-( and an unexpected pear because nicole was hungry and took a bite out of it:-) I was pretty excited though about my beef broth and choc. chips. Woohoo:-) So...if I didn't buy the pie crust (which I don't need now) or the pear, which Nicole ate, then my total out of pocket would have been about $10...that would have been great.

OK...my brownies smell good, and I need to go. Have a super day!

Who for President?

Nicole has her own special endorsement:-)

I put the pack n play up in the kitchen and Hannah sat and played long enough for me to do the dishes. My dad has been telling me to do this since Nicole was born. Why didn't I listen to him sooner?

A silly daddy/daughter moment

I hate vaccines!!

ok...I guess that's not totally true because I am honestly glad small pox and polio aren't around much anymore...but I hate what they do to my kids! Poor Hannah has had a fever since early this morning....and been crying a good portion of her awake time. She's also (hopefully) cutting teeth very soon. I have not touched my house in two days because I've been so tired I've had to take a nap...or try to anyway when both were down at same (short )time. I thought I was done with waking in the middle of the night. As my dear mother in law always reminds me...this is such a short season in my life...so short in fact that probably in a few weeks I'll have forgotten about it:-) I just want my poor baby girl to feel better.

On a different note, I voted today, did not wait in line & nicole sang her abc's for everyone in the poll booths. I'll take a picture of her when she wakes up...she has a cute shirt on for today.

Hannah's 6 month check

Can you believe little Hannah is already 6 months old??? The time has went by much faster than it did with Nicole. Hannah went to the Dr. today for her check up and a couple of vaccines. First of all...Hannah is perfectly average, with height and weight anyway...she's hanging tight in the 50th percentile. (of course we all know in intelligence she is extremely advanced! haha). Hannah was 15lbs 8oz and 25 inches long The Dr. was happy with how she is sitting up, "flying" on her tummy and "talking". I told her that I was a bit concerned because Hannah doesn't bare her weight on her feet when I stand her up. She did this and commented that she CAN bear her weight, but she is to lazy too. Hannah wants me to do all the work :-) She gave me a few little exercise to help encourage her. Hannah also spits up ALL the time. She gave me a few things to try to help ease this, so we'll see. We could also see two teeth getting ready to cut through very soon. Perhaps this explains the fussiness and not sleeping much in the past few days.

Nicole went to the Dr. with me and she commented on how tall Nicole is. We measured her and she was about 37 inches and 33 lbs. Oh....Nicole went to the bathroom while at the Dr. office and took a cup and asked it to be filled with water because she was thirsty. A few minutes later we discovered it was actually a urine sample cup!!! Un-used of course, but still a bit gross anyway. It gave us a good little chuckle before Hannah's shots:-)

Then, we went to the mall and had pizza. I went to get shoes for Jeremy and my mom took Nicole to get ice cream. Nicole knew exactly what she wanted and pointed at the chocolate sundae (that's my girl!). I ate a double doozie...oh....I just love those things. It was much past nap time, so we came home and here I've been listening to Hannah, and at times Nicole, cry for the past hour and a half. Grandmas....please don't let me stay out past nap time. It simply isn't worth it. My poor mom kept trying to hurry me along and remind me of the time, but I was just having a good old time eating and shopping. I thought the girls would be fine...really, I should know better! So...I have to be home by 1 every day, no exceptions!!!!

Well, Hannah is finally asleep, Nicole I think is on her way, she's fighting it pretty hard though.

Don't forget to vote tomorrow if you haven't already!!!
Yes on Ammendment 2

Money Saving Monday

I had a much better week at the grocery story yesterday. First of all, I went ALL BY MYSELF!!!! You other moms of young children I'm sure appreciate that comment. It is so much easier to go grocery shopping alone. Most other things I can do with them without much of a problem, but for me....grocery shopping is much easier when no one else is with me and I can concentrate. Jeremy spent the morning with them (of course with a promise from me that I would make French Toast when I got home:-) I think he had fun with them. When I drove up, Nicole and Hannah were both in the little kiddie pool outside playing. Yay for fun daddy!

OK...on to my shopping. I was $10 under my budget which was GREAT! I've been way over my budget lately, so this gives me hope that a change is in the future. However, I must admit I didn't buy my meat at Publix...I went to Sams later, so that blew my budget a bit. Here were my savings at the big P.
Coupons..$21.45
Advertised /Advantage buys...$34.74
In store savings... $4.77
Total Savings...60.96!!!

Woohoo! Here were some of my best purchases. (Q means Coupon, BOGO means Buy One Get One free)
Green Giant Veggie steamers - 50% off, minus $1/1 Q= FREE (bought 3 packs)
4 Uncle Ben's Rice dinner/sides - BOGO $1.59 /2 minus $1/2 coupon = $.56/2 or .28/1
2 cans Muir Glen organic dice tomatoes $2.67/2 minus $1/2 mft Q and $1/1 Pub Q = $.67/2 or $.32/1
Stouffer frozen family size lasagna reg price $6.49, sale $5.00 minus $.75 Q = $4.25
Brailla pasta sauce BOGO $2.83 minus 2 Q $.60 = $1.63/2 or $.81 each (bought 2)
Clearance deals (wouldn't have been able to do this with kiddos in tow, to many distractions...)
Beachnut baby cereal. Reg. price $2.39, on clearance for $1.30...minus $1/1 = $.30 per box (bought 2)
Triamic Vicks Formula (cough and cold syrup) Reg. price $3.99, on clearance for $2.00 minus$1/1Q = $1.00

Those were my best deals...other BOGO items with no Q
Arnold Whole wheat bread
E.L. Fudge cookies (Jeremy doesn't know I have those yet....I was going to break them out for a special occasion....hmmm...he'll be reading this post soon oh well)
Lays potato chips
Olivio butter spread

Hallelujah Night

Our church has a big festival called "Hallelujah Night" as an alternative to Halloween. They had over 65 game booths, pony rides, hay rides, laser tag, bounce houses, food....just about everything you could think of (except I couldn't find the Kettle Corn this year:-( So...that's what we did last night. I have so many pictures....are you ready??? Hannah was about the silliest, cutest clown you have ever seen....and Nicole LOVED her braids and face paint for her Indian costume. Seriously....there is nothing cuter than this!

The girls with their little friends, Peyton (spider man) and Caulder (lion)

This would have been a great family picture if it wasn't a bit blury. Oh well....I still love it.

The end of the night. Nicole is almost asleep, and Yaya is trying to warm her under her sweater.