Speaking of Frugal

I have been researching. A LOT! In addition to being cheap and easy (twss) I need to be prepped. The student teaching train is just about to leave the station, and I am feeling the pressure of suddenly being a full time working wife and mother. Yikes. Kudos to those of you who have this mastered. Please feel free to pass along your wisdom. By that I mean, since you have it all together, come over and help; don't be like some people who like to simply point out areas of my family or home that are not up to code. I don't need that sort of advice. In fact, I don't need ADVICE at all. Who doesn't know they are doing it wrong? honestly, that is hardly the issue.
Anyway, my challenge to all of you FlyLady fans, organizing nerds, and want to get aheaders:
What can you prep in your freezer for later this month? You may need to back up and make your menu first. Personally, I have been planning mine through May. This will get me through the school year, my student teaching, and almost the rest of my university classes. Once this is complete, I challenge you to take a day and prep. I have chosen tomorrow as my husband will be home, I am going to the grocery, and my kids will be around to help out a little if they want to. Here is what I will be doing:

• dice and saute 1 large pack of chicken breasts, separate, label, and freeze
• brown 2 packs of ground turkey for stroganoff and chili
• cook and shred one whole chicken, separate, label and freeze for soups and enchiladas
• brown 2 packs ground beef for tacos

That's it. That is all the meat I will need for a month because, going along with our frugal living, is many a night of meatless meals. I have scheduled meat 3 times a week. Tis all.

Let's Get it On...

No, I don't mean U&I. I mean it's time for me to get my frugal on. By that, I mean we have been Dave Ramsey followers for a few months now, starting with our own level of baby steps, then jumping in to follow Dave's baby steps. Our friend Mo is the biggest Dave nerd we have met, but his testimony is just as big. We want to be like Mo, only not dorky-or hairy-or with such supple hind parts. Those of you who know our Mo know what I mean. Supple. Anyhoo, Mo and Jo, our favorite friends, have patiently walked us through some of Dave's plan, and since, we have been able to watch God bless us unbelievably, stop using credit cards completely!! when we never thought we could, and we have enough money each month to make our bills. Or rather, we have enough faith to live like we are supposed to and watch God do the whole fishes and loaves thing miraculously each month with our oh so limited funds.
We are falling into a better routine, and though we haven't perfected our budget or even got the budget totally right yet, we have made progress each month. Each month, we have challenged ourselves to cut a little further out of our spending. Last month, we had $100 left in each of our gas fund and grocery fund. Unfortunately for our emergency fund, some unexpected bills showed up, but we can choose to look at this a couple different ways. A) we had money left over. awesome! 2) that sucks, we had money left over and had to spend it on another bill. or D) we had money leftover, and while it sucks that we had to put it toward a bill, we HAD it to put toward a bill! awesome. We are choosing door number three. Or is that D? I don't know, but one day, we are totally going to have the amazing stories to tell about our finances that our friends do. We want to be them when we grow up. For now, we will continue along our path of baby steps.
This month, I am challenging myself to lower my grocery bill. Currently, I am amazed when I get out of the store for less than $180 each week. That includes toiletries, stray school supplies, dog food, extra randomness (none of which I actually purchase at a grocery store). My new goal is to bring it down to $150 each week. That will cut our monthly bill down by $120. That's pretty decent for a family of seven and a dog and a family who rarely eats a meal elsewhere!

Why I Like Mike #26

I asked him out on a breakfast date and he said yes. He likes me...He really likes me!

This picture was taken the last time we went out of town together- just the two of us. Sadly, that was 3 years ago. Before that, 8 years had passed since we went out of town together-with a kid. Not at ALL the same. I love my children so much.

I truly love hanging out with my

children for many hours each day.

BUT I seriously need to go places with my husband, and as much as

I am looking forward to eating

at the local Squeeze In for the first time, I want to go someplace outside

of our usual 20 mile radius. Jayehs.

Homework. Sigh. Schmomework. Yawn.

I have been doing homework since 10am. It is now almost 4pm. I want this shirt. My eyes are closing.
Also my crockpot is cooking teriyaki chicken. Yum. I am going to do some more homework. Thanks for taking a break with me.

Prejudiced After All

Elbert Hubbard:
Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped.

Bill Cosby:
A word to the wise ain't necessary, it's the stupid ones who need the advice.

Muslih-ud-Din Saadi:
A stupid person should keep silent. But if he knew this, he would not be a stupid person.

Mark Twain:
First, God created idiots. That was just for practice. Then He created school boards.

In a recent discussion with family members, I realized I am prejudice after all.

It is a little uncomfortable to say it, but there are just some people that I don't

ever want to be around.

I call them stupid people.

I really cannot handle stupidity.

And for all of you who would say I am someone else's stupid person, they are

welcome not to want to be around me either.

There aren't many of them, but they are out there. The scary part is they have

no idea they are this way. How do I work with that? Sometimes I think God puts

them near me to challenge me. Which is why I say to God, "you knew I was going

to act this way when you made them get near me. Why do you keep doing this?"

sigh. Okay, I know why, but it doesn't make me any happier.

Right now the stupid people God is putting around me to toy with me are a little

group called the city council. Dorks, the lot of them, but I am working on my

rotten attitude. I trust that God is in charge of whether or not my husband gets

laid off, but is it necessary for me to have to hear them speak about it and be

disrespectful about a job my husband has literally risked his life for? Stupids.

This.Is.Me.

Does everyone feel like this at the end of college?
Is it really necessary for the devil to rear his ugliness
right now? Can anyone else see the evil trying to get through
my angels? Suck this satan. You can't get me down.
Though, apparently, you can help me keep
my priorities all sorts of wrong. DARN YOU. ratpoo.
Tomorrow is a new day. And God is forgiving




and patient

I came across a question today that startled me and got me thinking. Here it is:

If we are too busy to intentionally teach our children that absolute truths exist,
what might the consequences be?

Yikes. Then I began thinking, what happens when I look back and I forgot to
intentionally teach them about God in real, practical ways? I have done so
much with Izzy, Eli, and Layla Grace, but I know lately I have not been as frank
about things. Like beans. And what it means to love your neighbor. And what
God has planned for them...

Which one of these faces am I willing not to see in heaven? Stupid question,

I know, but that is basically what I am saying when I let day after day go by

without being in their face about how much God loves them. Tick-Tock. Time

is flying by.

Made Up Words

This morning, Layla Grace came into the kitchen and announced she had a pencil behind her ear. We all stopped what we were doing (insert cricket chirps) to turn to look at her.

Me: What? (while thinking, that's a strange thing to announce)

Layla Grace: That means I am a school-atician.

Me: lol. What's that?

Layla Grace: You know, like a mathematician, but for all of school.

The family: giggle.

I love made up words. Especially when they are used as correctly as a

made up word can possibly be used, AND when they come from my

seven-year-old. I also love that my kids are as weird as I am.

"It's just nice to find someone who shares my affinity for elf-culture."

Resolutions

So, I read a friend's blog today, and he mentioned he doesn't like to set New Year's resolutions. I am the opposite of that guy. This year, I set 14 of them. Dave Ramsey suggested we set and track goals; he also suggested that we add balance to our goals. There are seven areas, hence the 14 goals. It isn't the best system, what he has set up, but because I am smart, I am able to work it to fit my needs.

Normally, I set small, medium, and long term goals, but this time, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't think past this year. Next December, to be exact, was as far as my little brain would carry me. Probably due to the insane amount of things I am attempting even as we speak, but my goals are all significantly short term. Here is a glimpse:

I want to read to my kids at least three times each week,

I want to work out three times each week,

I want to finish my student teaching notebook,

I want to volunteer at least 4 hours each month,

I want to find a new bible study and learn something from it everyday,

I want to eat way less sugar,

I want to sell at least one thing on Craig's List at each month...

They pretty much continue like this, only they are all measurable,

realistic, and in balance with who I am called to be as a wife, mother,

teacher. Good stuff. What are your goals? I will keep you updated

on my goals.

Christmas

My favorite time of year because:

I get to wear my jammies a lot more often

My kids seem to want to snuggle more often

Family/Friends come over more often

Lights twinkle more often

We nibble on treats more often

We play games together more often

I get presents more often

We try new dishes more often

We love each other more often.

Advent Week Three
This week, The Man announced that we should bake some delicious treaties. So, we made a list, checked it twice, and headed to the store. Then, because there was suddenly a snowy downpour, we sat in traffic for an hour. Super fun unless like me, you have to pee often. We had to stop at IHOP, so we decided, since kids eat free, we should stay and eat pancakes rather than face the traffic headed home. I ate pumpkin pancakes, which, can I just say are LOVERLY!! Oh my.
So, because The Man was going to be gone for Christmas Eve, we celebrated it early with him by baking ALL day long. We listened to Christmas music and watched movies. Goodtimes. And, though I am not really a bakester, my baked goods turned out delicious if you know what I mean. You aren't going to be able to resist me. Just try.

Pure Sex Appeal, this guy.

Advent Week Two

These pictures make me happy for obvious reasons,
but mostly because it means we have made memories.
I loved this day.
I loved that we were freezing and huddled in my van while
The Man continued to trample the mountains for a tree.
I love that we only had to drive half an hour to find a
tree worth cutting. I love that my kids giggled most
of the day and didn't argue once.
I love that Sam wanted to "ice skate" even though he was clearly frozen.
I love that Izzy told her dad she would look at the tree later as she was
frozen from the waist down.

Sam I Am has the most beautiful eyes. Some girl is going to find herself swimming in them some day.


We had a lot of tree hunters. Kristopher and the boys found a great little stubby tree.

Nanie hung back with me and toddlers, which seemed fitting as Addison is certain Nanie IS a toddler because of her smallish stature.

Where's Waldo has got nuthin' on my husband. Seriously, these are just his everyday clothes.

My family is large. I don't know that I noticed before. Maybe it's because Eli is holding a saw and it scares me, so my eyes are opened wider than usual.


Beautiful. I can't believe my kids all turned out so cute. I am convinced God had us stop having kids when they were about to turn ugly.

Statistics

• I have two infected kidneys


• my kidneys are infected by some unknown, unusual organism


• I really miss my kids who are either at school all day or at home while I work


• I don't think I like working outside of my home


• My youngest daughter turned 5 yesterday


• I have mothered 4 five year olds and I am not finished


• I am hungry


• I do not like listening to people talk about throwing up


• I do not want the flu to enter my house


• Music really has been a constant in my life from the get go


• I am SERIOUSLY ready to be a graduate.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Advent Week One

The first week of December has come and gone.

In trying our hardest to be less self centered, make memories,

and give a little, our week was not a total failure.

We spent a vast amount of time with the fam and wishing other

family was here to be a part of it.

We drove to the mountains to cut down our tree. $10 for a tree

tag and an afternoon of funniness.

Decorated said tree with old and new ornaments. I was happy

to hear my husband tell my son we would not be putting the

ornament in the shape of a six pack of beer on our tree.

Not totally sure where that one came from, but we no longer own it,

so it doesn't matter.

Helped out at church where we could. Relaxed and enjoyed service

for the rest of the time.

Introduced my children to Hallmark Christmas movies. Happiness.

Let the kids decorate their own trees which decorate their room.

NOTHING. That's right. Today, the Reno valley was covered in a smooth

half foot of snow. We got about 8 inches in our neck of the woods, so I sat on

my couch, read some, watched some, studied some. The Man made it home

safely this morning and quickly took to shoveling snow and building an

ice slide in our front yard, which my children played on nearly all day. It made

me miss homeschooling. If I didn't work tomorrow, I would be keeping

them home for another snow day. Especially considering I can't see where my

sidewalk ends and the road begins. The Man was kind enough to put chains on

top of my snow tires. We should be set.

Layla Grace's Ode to Thanksgiving, and Her Dad, and Turkeys.. I think

How does your family cook a turkey? (the assignment)
(the parentheses are my add ins)

...and I quote:

Well, this year I'm going to grill it with my dad
(obviously not a true story as my husband has
never grilled a turkey). I would get to pick the
parsley and put it on the turkey. Do I know
how to cook a turkey? yes. I do know how to cook a turkey.
(use a dwight schrute voice for this.) Sometimes my dad
leaves me out there myself flipping it around so the other
side can cook. One time my dad went hunting for a turkey
he got one but when he brang it into the garage blood was
spilling everywhere. My dad and I went hunting one day
with my dad and we saw turkeys everywhere we shot like four turkeys.

We Do Things A LITTLE Differently At Our House

We get Thanksgiving presents at our house for a few reasons: A) I like to get my kids jammies and new coloring books, so why not let them look forward to unwrapping them? 2) We made a deal with them that if they get Thanksgiving presents, they get presents sooner, but not as many for Christmas; it helps the budget. And D) There is usually one really great present that I can't wait to give them. This year is was the Wii Fit. Awesome. We have been working out fools, which has come in handy when combating the number of sugar floating around here.






YES THAT IIIS SANTA!...and my coat.

Date Night

This guy on one side..

This guy on my other...

and these guys tucked snuggly in bed. It was a great date night. Happy sigh.

Floating in My Brain...This Could Be Scary

I regularly wake in the middle of the night because ideas suddenly pop into my brain. While I appreciate my brain's ability to help me remember things, couldn't my brain be a little more sensitive to the clock and remind me during the daylight hours? honestly. It's as if my own brain doesn't realize what a grump I become with broken or little sleep. Beastly, I tell you.

So here- here is what my brain decided was so important it had to wake me up last night:

I have to change my training date for Osh Kosh as I am already scheduled to work as a teacher.

I hope I don't have to have two years worth of experience before applying for K12 as a teacher.

Is Mike in bed? Wait, is he at work? Yes, he is at work.

Did I print out my registration paper? yes.

Am I going to fail my exam in the morning? What if I fail and I can't be a teacher when I grow up?

I can't believe my Osh Kosh hours are in the middle of the night. Idiot. Why didn't I tell them I couldn't work in the middle of the night? Stupid.

-rolling over- ow, wait, is this going to hurt. take it slooooow.

SERIOUSLY whoooo is starting their truck right now? grrr

ugh. I gotta pee. Can I hold it til morning? ...no.

I Have Always Been a Fan of Conspiracy Theories

I have been trying to think of ways to get my kids more involved with serving others. Any ideas?