way behind

OK...I am not doing the right thing right now. I should be cleaning and cooking for our big dinner tonight with the college ministry leaders to plan the next few months, but instead I'm on the computer. doh! OK...I just have to post a few pictures since I haven't for a long long time.

The girls dressed up alike (last week) Aren't they cute?

Mrs. P was down in December because her daughter Kathee was having a baby. Nicole became good friends with Mrs. P. When she left, she left a sweet note for Nicole and special purse and matching headband. Here is Nicole sporting it with her cute outfit.

We went to the zoo (way back in 2008!!! No wait, it was Jan 2, so it was this year, I'm not that far behind!). Here are some fun zoo pictures.

Other than that, I haven't taken many pictures lately. I'm loving how clean my kitchen and bedroom is, so I've been working so hard at keeping up my cleaning schedule:-) So, I've been busy during naps. I blew my budget this week for groceries (BIG TIME) so nothing to brag about there, haha. But, I knew of you were missing me (right Mama Pat...)

Shopping for Time

Yet again, I have to send you to my new friends (whom I've never met) over at Girl Talk. Really...you should read them every day, short little posts that really speak to me almost daily. Today they were talking about how as women, we are great at shopping (grocery, shoes, car, clothes...whatever). Almost without thinking we make lists, we plan, we compare. We know where to find the best produce, the best deals on diapers, the best prices on the Internet. But, do we schedule our time the way we schedule our shopping trips. Of course, this related to me because of my obsession with coupon shopping as of late.

We wouldn’t dream of going to the grocery store without a shopping list, or buying a car without haggling over the sticker price, or purchasing new shoes without checking the price tag, but we throw away our time as if we had an endless supply.
As a result, we often miss out on the best deals life has to offer and end up paying big time in guilt, anxiety, and a lack of confidence that we’re really doing the will of God. More often than not, we’re overwhelmed by life’s choices and demands. Perhaps, most unfortunately, we lack fruitfulness in Christ’s kingdom.

This is me...or has been anyway. I have not posted much recently for several reasons. One is that I don't want to miss out on one of my best deals in life...my two little girls. I have been working really hard at being with them both physically and mentally when they are awake. I don't want Nicole to think back on her childhood and see me sitting at the computer...that's not where I should be. Our days have been more peaceful, fun, silly and loving. I am loving being with them...both Nicole and Hannah. I don't want to be on the computer at night if Jeremy is home and during naps, I have been working hard at keeping my home in order. This has left me little time right now for my blog, e-mails and whatever else. I'm trying to learn to sneak them in every now and then...but for now, a quick update every once in a while will have to do. I know some of you enjoy the blog and enjoy seeing the girls, so I PROMISE that we will still post. It just may not be daily as it often times was...maybe just a few times a week.

I don't want to miss out on any moment the Lord gives me with my two daughters and my wonderful husband. I am thankful to have them all.

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:-)