A year in Review 2009

I have been wanting to do this post for a while, so even thought 2009 has begun and 2008 is long gone, I still want to do a year in review.

January

Dad had major surgery just a few days into 2008. He came over and had a picnic with us the day before.

Jeremy was ordained as a deacon at our church

I had a super fun birthday. We went to a hockey game with a small group of friends, got into a powder sugar fight, at a late dinner and dessert at Applebees, and laughed so much my 6 months pregnant belly hurt. Also, my friend Ashley had her baby on my birthday:-)

Went to the zoo with my dad, Papa.

A favorite picture of mine.

February

Not many pictures this month. Nicole ate corn on the cob, that was pretty funny.

Finished tiling our kitchen and bathroom

March

Played a lot in water

Easter egg hunt in the yard and easter egg dying.

Western Murder Mystery party for my dad's 50th birthday.

This is taking longer than expected because I am having formatting issues. I'll complete the year later:-)

A quick update I suppose

Well, hello out there. Anyone miss me? ; -) I simply have not had time to post lately. I have been working hard at slowly (very slowly) getting my home back in order. As the week is halfway over, I'd have to say that I am pleased with the progress I've made. Each day I focus on a specific room or area of the house in my cleaning efforts. Of course, I still pick up all the rooms, but one room gets special attention. For example...
Mon: "Green" Room/desk
Tues: Master Bedroom
Wed: both bathrooms
Thurs: Girl's room
Fri: Living room/bar into the kitchen (the WORST pile of stuff in the whole house)
Sat/Sun: general pick up

Then, each day of the month I have a monthly task I try to accomplish. This week I have cleaned the inside of my car, totally organized the desk (didn't finish), shine my floors, clean the china cabinet and clean out the inside of the fridge/freezer.

So far, this is working for me. I'm pleased.

Yesterday was a beautiful day. The girls and I did not leave the house. We enjoyed spending time playing, cleaning their room (Nicole is very good if you get her at the right time), putting together puzzles, making homemade Whole Wheat bread, and other fun activities. I wish every day could be like yesterday. Attitudes (both the girls' and mine) were wonderful, Nicole was obedient, and when she disobeyed, a simple "look" did all the talking, Hannah was happy and life was great. We are reading the book of Romans every morning, which I have been enjoying. After reading a chapter, I try to explain it to Nicole, then I pick out a verse for her repeat with me. She really likes this time. Then we sing fun songs and make noise with her instruments. Hannah enjoys the "music", she is quite the little dancer.

Speaking of Hannah, she is full blown crawling now. Her arms get a bit tired and if she's going across a room, she'll start on hand and knees, but end up in military position. She has already learned to go both up and down the small step between rooms. She is growing up much to fast. I wish she would slow down, just a bit.

Nicole's vocabulary and sentence structure are getting stronger. She is in love with her doggie (now called puppy). She compares her love for Jeremy or I with her love for her doggie. She told me today that her love for me matches her dog (I can't remember her exact words, something like, "mommy...love...me...match...doggie". I have very much enjoyed Nicole's company this week. She is a funny little girl and I love talking with her.

I have a lot of pictures, however they aren't on the computer I'm using, so I'll try to post later:-)

The last thing I want to share is an important prayer request that some of you already know about. Erica, my brother's (Justin) girlfriend, just found out last week that her father has lung and brain cancer. Specifics are unclear to me because I'm getting info after being filtered through several people, but I will say that her dad is need of urgent prayer, as well as her mom. Her dad's name is Rick and her mom's name is Debbie. They are a sweet family, and the news of cancer was a complete shock to everyone and has been difficult to process. Please remember them in your prayers. I'm proud of Justin because he has really been a rock for both Erica and her mom to lean on. I can't believe how grown up he is:-)

Well...I hope to share more later. Until then....

hot, hot, hot

No time to write anything interesting or post cute pics (which I have!) but I just had to say...it's hot! We just came in from outside because we were sweating in January and needed som AC. Really...it would be nice to have a little cool weather...

Welcome....

baby Susannah Kate, born Dec. 31, 2008 at 9:33pm. She weighed 7lbs 11oz. She is our first niece, and second child to Tiffany and Chris.

We're happy your finally here Susannah:-)

Resolutions

Happy New Year!

Along with the closing of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 come a list of resolutions, ideas we have of how to do and be better in the next year. Topping most lists are items like working out, losing weight, managing debt, even volunteering more. I've never been a fan of New Year's Resolutions, mostly because I know they will be broken within days (however...most of you will be surprised to learn that I DID give up M&Ms one year and lasted well into February). In fact, Jeremy and I were talking the other day and we decided that we needed to go back to the gym "before Jan 1...so it wouldn't be a New Year's resolution". haha (we never made it in).

Strangely, this year I have a list, not in writing, but in my head. Most of it has to do with being a better mother or wife. Here are a few.

1. Use less chemicals to clean with and more natural products

2. Get and Stay organized

3. Keep up with my cleaning schedule, daily, weekly, and monthly

4. Spend less time on the Internet

5. Spend more time with the girls

6. Always have a plan for teaching Nicole new things

7. Spend more time reading the Bible (I'm not so bold as to say "read the Bible in a year" because I know I will fail, terrible, huh?)

8. Race in an in-line marathon

9. Exercise more regularly

10. Enjoy life more and worry less

While I was thinking of all the things I could be doing better, it made me think of some of the things I did well last year, or at least improved on.

1. Potty trained Nicole

2. Delivered a baby without any interventions

3. Exclusively nursed Hannah up to this point, 8 month

4. Took care of my family by cooking breakfast, lunch and dinner for them almost daily (the other days we went out...I didn't starve them:-)

5. Took cable/satellite out of our house and survived!! :-)

6. Used cloth diapers for nearly a year and saved lots of money.

7. Made it through the first 12 weeks with a newborn and 2 year old.

8. Learned to make gravy from scratch

9. Saved money using Coupons

10. Made an effort to be a better friend and have occasional "girls nights"


A few months ago, I found a list of resolutions written by Jonathan Edwards, the great Puritan preacher from the 1700s. Apparently he had a running list of resolutions. They are quite interesting. View them here.

I wanted to post a few that struck me (these are all from the link I provided above)

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.
5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.
6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

17. Resolved, that I will live so, as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,- what sin I have committed,-and wherein I have denied myself;-also at the end of every week, month and year

41. Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age, say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it

Any Resolutions for you?

Christmas

Christmas is over, but I'm still behind. Here are some pictures from our Christmas celebrations

Hannah loving on the blanket Grammy made for her

I love this picture of the two of them

Opening gifts

The "big" gift. My neighbor was getting rid of the kitchen set. She gave it to us! We bought her family a couple of gift cards because this kitchen looks brand new. I don' t think her boys played with it much at all. It came stocked with pots/pans, food, and serving dishes. The microwave makes noise, there is a light above the stove (which also makes noise) and a phone that rings and beeps. It's really neat, and she loves it:-)

Hannah loving her new little chair at Yaya and Papa's house

Nicole sitting in her big girl "soft" chair

This is a really cool elephant that they can sit on. Nicole really likes it, but she doesn't like sharing with Hannah (can you tell) Hannah thinks it's great.


Nicole and Papa looking at her new train.


We went to the pool last Sunday. I can't NOT post pool pics in the middle of December (sorry Kirsten:-)


Hannah had a blast in the water.

I finally got some goods pictures with the girls (I won't tell you how many we had to take to get this one).


Nicole looked at me yesterday and said (while pointing to me). "Mommy-me friend. Doggie-me friend". It was sweet...she told me I was her friend and compare our friendship to that of her doggie (which is a BIG deal. That doggie has become real to her I believe, she gets sad when he falls on the floor and laughs when he licks her. If she's crying, she wants her doggie to hug and and kiss her boo boos)

Well, that's all for today. I have news that my sister-in-law is probably in labor. Maybe she'll have the first baby of 09 (although I think they want her to come before the clock strikes twelve) Good luck Tiffy.

Is it really worth it?

I have many posts that need to be written, however I am pressed for time (Nicole has "made" me donuts and I must eat them soon). I had to share, yet another "Girl Talk" post that brought tears to my eyes...just what I needed to hear and be reminded of about Motherhood. Take a minute and read it too.
Year in Review

I'll do a fun update later, hopefully

Savings to date

I have been tracking my savings at CVS and Publix for just a short time, but it has been a useful tool to encourage me to continue clipping coupons and being diligent in the use of our money. Thankfully, Jeremy wants me to stay home, so I feel like I need to be careful with our finances to add financially to our family, not by making more money to bring home, but to be wise with the money we already have. I have seen a slight loosening in our accounts over the past couple of months and I credit much of it to smarter shopping. I want to share my savings with you (I was not extremely consistent with my tracking at first. I'm pretty sure I've missed a few receipts here and there).

CVS (since 10/9/08)
Value of Merchandise $669.61
Coupon Total $276.82
ECB used $353.14
Total oop $49.06
ECB earned$375.81

Publix (since 11/2/08)
Value of Merchandise $1,056.12
Total after coupons/sales $638.63
Total savings $417.64
% Saved 40%
*Just to encourage you that those $.40 coupons add up, I have used $168 in coupons in just 2 months! and my stores do NOT double coupons!!!

So....what are you still reading this for, get to your coupons clipping, I've found that it is well worth the time:-)

Money Saving Monday

I have so many things to share, however my time is very short so I will have upload photos of Christmas later. For right now, I had to share my store experiences this week.

CVS
Here's what I got
1 Tide 28-32 loads
1Quattro Tour razor for women
2 bottles of Nature's Bounty zinc (BOGO)
2 Dawn Ultra (BOGO)
3 Johnson's suddies soap for Nicole
3 bags of hershey's Christmas chocolate
2 Colgate Total
2 Natur's Bounty Vitamin D (BOGO)
4 mint listerines (raincheck)

Merchandise total $67.03
Coupons $46.45
ECB used $18.98
ECB earned $15
Total OOP $1.60

Yeah..I know...pretty cool, huh? I took my mom and she did a couple of transactions. She spent all of her ecb, but she got some laundry detergent, napkins and other items that didn't have ecb. So, she did pretty well.

Publix
Today was a big trip for me. We were out of so many staple items that haven't been onsale recently. Isn't it funny that I've been so spoiled that I am dissapointed now that I have hit my budget for this week instead of being $40 under? I spent about $100 after using close to $50 in coupons and sales.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

We didn't send out Christmas cards this year (so sorry) but enjoyed receiving them:-) So, here is our virtual Christmas Card picture

MERRY CHRISTMAS !

This was taken last night at our church's Christmas Eve service. The girls were getting sleepy and not up for taking photography demands such as "smile". hahaha. Originally, this was our Christmas picture, taken yesterday morning, but I thought in 10 years Nicole would have words with me over it:-)

I want to post the lyrics of an old Christmas Carol that I'm sure you've sung before, at least a portion of it. Read the whole thing, you may never have sung the last couple of verses, which is unfortunate, it's just as good as the first.

Hark The Herald Angels Sing
written by: Charles Wesley

Hark! the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King:Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!”Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies;With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Refrain:Hark! the herald angels sing,“Glory to the newborn King.

Christ, by highest heav’n adored; Christ, the Everlasting Lord!Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the Virgin’s womb:Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th’Incarnate Deity,Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hail, the heav’nborn Prince of Peace! Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings.Mild he lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die,Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.

Come, Desire of nations, come, Fix in us Thy humble home;Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed, Bruise in us the serpent’s head.Adam’s likeness now efface, Stamp Thine image in its place:Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love.