looooong week...

This week seems to be dragging.  Usually when the schedule is cram packed it makes it fly, but not this week.   Work, school, wrestling practice, dance practice, school social night, doctors appointments, physical therapy.  It's like we've been playing "tag, your it" at our house.  I so dislike that feeling!

I did get slow down a moment on Sunday and found this adorable little bird up the street from our house.  I am by no means a bird expert, so I have no idea what kind of bird he or she is.  But it was so fluffy feathered looking I just had to snap it's picture.  So I'm going to put on my goal list this year to try to learn some of the local feathered creatures that live in are area.

Wish me luck.  If any of you know what type it is I'd love to hear from you.  Thanks!

Happy Thursday!!







hodge podge...

What a fun weekend we had.  The kids had off on Friday for their 91st day of school.  This day marks the end to the second marking period for them.  Wow, I can't believe this school year is half way over.  I swear when they start school their lives just start flashing before our eyes {sad face}.

To mark the half way point we took them snow tubing.  I of course had to sit at the bottom and not participate thanks to my stupid shoulder.  But on the bright side it always lets me get some great photos.

They almost had the place to themselves.  Going on a Friday morning was perfect.  And what made it even nicer was that there was no walking back up the hill.  After the trip down they got on the magic carpet and it delivered them back at the top of the hill.  We need something like that in our backyard {smile}.

My husband even had a great time with them.  Although he did say it was a little scary {lol}.

This is the youngest, he of course was the first to come down on his stomach.  No fear I tell ya!

Sunday morning we were up at the crack of dawn for a wrestling tournament.

We left the house before the sun was up.  Sadly I had to leave my nice cozy bed and slippers behind in exchange for hard, cold uncomfortable bleachers for the next five hours.  And in the end I would have traded my bed for those bleachers any day.  He finally got his first PIN!!!!  I would not have wanted to miss that for any pair of flannel pajamas.

Now don't get me wrong, the poor kid lost three of his four matches, but he gets up and goes right back out there.  This is so hard for me to watch, but his drive and let's give it another try attitude make me so proud of him!

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Happy Monday!!

sticker shock....

Sticker shock for us actually is more like receipt shock.  As the New Year begins my family is starting to work with a budget for the first time.  I know, where have we been, right?!  Honestly, I'm a little embarrassed to say I don't really know how to do a budget.  By no means am I passing the buck, but I don't ever remember being taught how to budget.  So add it to the list of trial and error.

Everything seems to be about the same every month except for one pretty big area...groceries.  My husband does the grocery shopping so I never really payed attention.  He goes because one he likes to and two having three shoulder surgeries in the last twelve months has prevented me from lifting anything over five pounds. Did I mention I don't really like the grocery store?

So after looking over about four months of grocery spending we decided on a number for weekly groceries.  One hundred twenty dollars for the week for our family of five.  To keep it under this number we are going to try a couple of things. 

1. We are going to plan the entire weeks meals. 

2. The meals will have to be planned around what's on sale for the week.  Our local grocery stores weekly flyer comes out in the mail on Tuesdays and we my husband shops on Fridays or Saturdays.  This will give us a couple of days to decide on meals and give the kids a chance to decide what they want.

3. We will be going to the store with the cold hard cash in are hands.  When you have cash it seems to keep you more in check than when you are using the debit card.

4. Coupons, coupons, coupons.  Now while you're not ever going to see us on the Extreme Coupon show we are going to try to use coupons on the things we actually use.  Some people get so caught up in coupons and buy things just because they have a coupon.  Ummm hello, where is the savings on buying something just because you have a coupon?

I'll keep you posted on how the progress goes.  We know there will be some weeks we'll go over but there will also be weeks we're under.  But when we look at the numbers on paper at least trying this method could save us over ONE THOUSAND dollars a year.  That number right there is a huge incentive.

Happy Tuesday!!

bunnies...

There are bunnies all over the place.  And no, we don't have rabbits.  They're dust bunnies and this litter seems to be huge.  Where on earth do these come from?

This rascally rabbit was living amongst the cord madness that goes on with all the computer cords.  So I thought I would tackle that job with a cool idea I found on Pinterest. 

I started saving the little tabs that come on rolls and breads.  I was going to order cord label and organizers online, but when I started pricing them found it was getting pretty expensive for the amount I was going to need.  So I started saving the little tabs that come on loaves of bread.  FREE.  Hello, doesn't get better than free.

Once I figured out which cord went to what I wrote it's name with a sharpie on the little tab and slipped it onto the cord it belonged to.  Now there will be no more unplugging the wrong thing.  Genius.  Thank you Pinterest for giving such creative people a place to share.

Wow!  Isn't that a huge improvement?  Can't wait to tackle all of the other cord madness going on.  I also plan to label all the the miscellaneous cords in the closet so I know exactly who and what they belong to.  Did I mention this was free?

Happy Thursday!!

wonder what he's thinking...

Snickerdoodle has been an official member our family for three months now.  I can't believe how quickly he has stole our hearts.  He is the sweetest little dog ever.  I know, everyone thinks that about their dog, but really he is so sweet. 

I went to get another cup of coffee, decaf, but coffee none the less and returned to find him occupying my spot.  Sometimes I wish I knew what he was thinking. 

For example does he like all the Keith Urban I sing or does he prefer it when I sing Lady Antebellum?  Does he think that Peppermint Twist lotion smells as good as I do? {I'm thinking yes, he always tries to lick my hands after I use it}  And does he really like watching cupcake wars like my daughter and I do?  The list could go on and on.

The one thing I do hope he thinks is that he loves us as much as we love him {smile}.

Happy Monday!!

what a way to end the week...

All week I felt out of sorts trying to get back into the routine after Christmas.  I hate seeing the Christmas tree come down, even if there were only three needles left on it {smile}.

But I'm thinking if this is how my morning started off, it's going to be a good day.

Do you see it?

How can you not help but smile when the syrup bottle is smiling at you?  And while I was processing this picture I noticed the little pat of butter near the top of my Eggo that looks like a little heart!  Are you smiling yet?

Happy Friday!!

breakfast...

They say breakfast is the most important meal. 

Monday morning I had this beautiful grapefruit for breakfast.

Tuesday morning I had peanut butter pie for breakfast.  Well not the whole pie, but this beautiful piece.

Wednesday morning I'm going to have...I have no idea.  That was the last piece of pie, rats!

Here's a link for the pie recipe.  It's delicious!
http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/peanut-butter-pie-4/


The thermometer read 10 degrees this morning. Brrrrr!

Happy Wednesday!!

Happy New Year...

2012.  Whew, we made it through 2011.  Overall looking back, it was a good year.  Really the worse part of it was having three shoulder surgeries.  All the other little things were nothing in comparison.
So, I'm hoping my shoulder will be getting back it's strength and continues moving in the right direction.

The school bus came this morning to pick up the kids.  I can't believe that their Christmas break is over already!  I miss them {sad face}. 

I had to drive my daughter to school to drop her and the french horn off.  We had to wait to pull out of the driveway until the Amish ladies made it passed.

Funny how often we don't photograph things in our everyday lives.  This year I'm going to try to capture the everyday things in my life.  You know the stuff that really makes it great!

So here's to photographing my everyday life with my new shiny camera {Nikon D7000}.  Off to enjoy breakfast.  Did I mention I miss my children?

Happy Monday!!