Small Successes - Nov. 12

Okay, these are few and far between, but fun to do! Gotta give myself props :-)

1 - Already have in hand our Advent/Christmas gifts to our godchildren! Just need to wrap and mail before the first Sunday of Advent!

2 - Created a meal schedule this week and stuck with it! Also made lots of spaghetti sauce, so we are stocked in the freezer for awhile.

3 - Had a fun Pampered Chef party on Sunday for my friend Laurie who is just starting out. Been trying to plan this since August. Got the house all clean for it, and it has stayed that way!! yea!

For more small successes - click here.

i won!

yea! all the freebies and contests have paid off - I won this week a free grooming for our dog Charlie. I'm super excited - it is the best thing I've won yet!

The company is Bow Wow Hair Salon and they come to your house to groom your pet! Charlie is going to look super cute this Christmas.

If you want to find more info on the freebies I get, check my post from last month!

the devil vs. us

Ryan and I have been talking lately on how the devil seems to be attacking our family. From stresses at work, our home broken into and the trials of stay-at-mom-dom, it seems that he is working extra hard. When this happens you seem to question everything - your vocation, your love, your security.

But the last couple days I think we are fighting back. Our home is now protected, and we've been able to discuss these difficult issues that seem to hide in the shadows. That's where he likes to lurk, you know.

So devil, I know you are out there. There must be something great in store for our family, since you are fighting soo hard. But you will not win!! We are fighting back and you better watch out!

15 months...

So, before Nate turns 16 months, I should get this done. For some reason, I didn't think we did much, and then I saw that we took tons of photos! enjoy!

One word for Month 15 - walking! First, the hesitant walk, then the comfortable walk and now almost running! We were counting his steps for a bit, but he walks too much now!

We also started sign language class this month with My Smart Hands. This uses American Sign Language (ASL) and gear it to kids with songs and all. It is a small class - only 4 kids - and the teacher brings her son. Nate is leaning a few words - like please, more and banana, and I'm learning lots too!

We went to Austin Children's Museum with the Nicholson's for their Baby Bloomers day (for those under 3) and Nate's expression when we walked in was "why have you been holding out on me mom!"

Football season has begun! We've enjoyed our fair share of Cowboys and Steelers games! And I think he really does enjoy 'em!

Some firsts:

• fell asleep in his high chair when I was cleaning up after lunch
• first race in a box car (thank to Tessa neni)
• playing with Ry at a playground (we've been several times but we've never taken Dad)
• actually playing with Thomas!

argh!

If y'all could keep us in your prayers - I came home yesterday to find my back door kicked in. Called the police from the neighbor's house and found out that they stole our brand new tv, blue ray player, wii and my sister's computer! They came through the fence behind our house (5 panels had been taken off) and kicked in the door with the dead bolt locked.

We are fine, just really shaken up. The good news is Charlie our dog didn't run away!

what a day! criminals suck!

if y'all have any recommendations on a good alarm system company, please share. That's the only advice the police gave me to ward this off in the future.

swine flu?

Tonight I had a little emotional breakdown. No, nothing to go see a professional about, but it did come to light how my life has really changed in 15 months.

I've had a little cough, been tired and just run down. I'm super afraid of getting the swine flu. I know that it can be cured and all, but all these stories of people dying from it scare me to death. I am scared to leave my son without a mother. I know, kinda morbid. But 2 years ago, I wouldn't have been this way. But here I am, someone's mother. Someone depends on me.

2 years ago this month my friend Dawn died. All of a sudden. Without any warning. And her daughter was about the same age Nate is now.

I guess that is the real reason. I'm not afraid of dying - God, heaven, all that good stuff. I'm afraid of leaving those behind. Missing out on it all. Leaving behind my wonderful huband, son, family and friends.

So maybe I'll be a little more paranoid about this h1n1. I'll wash my hands, watch my symptoms, warn my husband of my little outbursts. If it helps me stay around for the little man in my life, it is worth it.

let's just hope tomorrow is better.

Small Successes - Oct. 8

Yea! Did this again!

1 - Finally fit in my "skinny jeans" and already have a pile in my closet of the "safe" clothes to get rid of. Time to purge!

2 - Finished 3 meals last night to take to friends who have recently had babies (and froze 2 for us). Meals complete with pasta, bread, homemade sauce, salad and banana bread (courtesy of my sister). Now to deliver 'em all this afternoon.

3 - Continuing on my "going with the flow" from last week, I decided not to make a "to-do" list this week and see what happens. I actually feel I have been more productive - wrote a long overdue letter, did my home blessing, laundry, etc. Will I continue this next week? Hmmm....

I was pondering what to write...trying to see if I could think of 3. Guess I was more productive than I thought!

For more small successes - click here.

$47 in coupons...

is what I saved at the grocery store last week (and I didn't get the HEB meal deal or purchase items that were not on my list). I posted this on facebook and got lots of comments, so I'll share some secrets.

1 - save coupons and use all on the same day. I stocked up on a few items, and did my "big" shopping trip for the month on this trip. I still did spend about $140 (but that's about a (25% savings).

2 - lately I have been the freebie queen. I love getting things in the mail, being the first to sample items, etc. Sometimes they come with the item and a great coupon (like $2 off), or a coupon for a free item (we got 2 free boxes of tea). Here are some of my favorite sites:

• Freebies for Mom
• Free Sample Freak
• VocalPoint
• Kraft First Taste

3 - I've even won coupons in contests, like this one for Lean Cuisine (in which I won 7 free dinners).

4 - utilize the in-store coupons. I don't really care which toothpaste or deodorant we buy, so I'll just use whichever has a coupon.

5 - have family members save their coupons. My mom had a stack of 'em waiting for us when we came to visit.

6 - put a dot next to the items on your list that you have a coupon for in your stack.

Hope this helps! What suggestions do you have in saving money with coupons at the grocery store? Next week I'll try to post how to save money without coupons...

Small Successes - Oct. 1

Seems like I missed this in September, but can easily start again!

1 - Went to my first Zumba class last night! yea! Been meaning to go for ages, and finally found a class. This may just be where you can find me on Wednesday nights!

2 - Finally called the car insurance about 3 little cracks in the windshield. Seriously, this has been on my list for months! And they are coming to our house tomorrow to fix it! yea!

3 - I've decided this week to just "go with the flow" this week, and it has blessed me greatly. Nate and I had a spontaneous trip to storytime at the library (which we hadn't been to in ages), went on a little retreat at church, was surprised by a lunch out with my husband, went through the grocery story backwards (and saved $47 in coupons), had a great massage, and enjoyed a fun lunch with my sister. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

For more small successes - click here.

race day...

For Ry's dad's 60th birthday, we gave him racing lessons at the Texas Motor Speedway with Team Texas. We couldn't let Jim do it alone, so Ry got to go for his birthday/Christmas present. We finally got it scheduled and went up labor day weekend. Ry, his dad, his mom, my mom, Tessa, our friend Damien (visiting from NJ), Nate and I were there. There were also about 80 drivers, so we were there for several hours! Ry and his dad each got to go around the lap 10 times, and raced at almost 150 mph.

Funny, Ry has now been watching some NASCAR, and following his car (they drove retired cars!). Jim was in the in Cingular 31 and Ry was in the Old Spice/Home Depot 14 (Tony Stewart's car).

Here are some photos from the event.

Please pray...

for our friends the Whitaker's. They have had lots of complications with the pregnancy of their 5th child, and Kathryn was induced this morning. We are storming heaven for y'all!

Philip Gabriel, pray for them.

Mary Isabelle, pray for them.

Lucy Grace, pray for them.

Luke David, pray for them.

leading mommy...

A couple days ago Nate was getting agitated with me. He wanted me to hold him, then not. So, I decided to take him outside. We sat on the front porch, then we walked to the garage. He played with the door, then took my hand and kept walking - across the driveway, then the grass, across our neighbor's driveway and to their front door. I knocked on their door, and so did Nate.

Their son Eli answered and yelled "Calvin!" (their son who was due the same day as Nate) "Your best friend Nate is here!".

And that is exactly what Nate wanted. We stayed there a few minutes, played, then they had to leave. Nate was satisfied and I am trilled how he showed me what he wanted to do!

14 months!

Well, the teen months are proceeding with gusto! In one word - exploring! Nate is having lots of fun crawling (he's getting much faster), and then a week before turning 14 months, he started walking. I started counting steps, and I think in a week he was up to at least 20 steps. What a mover! And what stops him - he wants to start running and his feet don't move fast enough.

What else? He's figured out how to get off the couch and our bed (on his stomach), and easily maneuver up and down the stairs. The kitchen cabinets are still lots of fun, and he loves to pull things off - like blankets off the couch or towels off the rack. He also pushes everything - bar stools, laundry baskets, his car, toy garage, etc. He's also moved away from taking a bath in his baby tub to the big boy tub (although lately he doesn't like that either).

We're doing good on chores - unloading the washer and dryer (although we are a bit confused why mom loads them), unloading the dishwasher and sweeping with the swiffer. The vacuum is a cool, it can entertain him for awhile.

Other events - my birthday, Tessa neni's graduation, Lauren and Peter's wedding, swim lessons and lots of time playing with friends.

Some favorites:

snack - baby goldfish

appliance - vacuum and washer

tv show - veggie tales

teether - frozen popsicle

game - chase