We Moved

Well, I guess it is time for an update.  every so often I get a bump form a friend to update this.  so I am updating it!  This will be short and sweet.  We moved to Fullerton CA about 2 months ago.  Matthew is attending Law school so we moved here for him to start school.  It has been an adventure, but it has also been a lot of firsts.  Iw ill save most of them for a later post, but I wanted to be sure you get something up with a few updated pics of the sweet babies in my house.

I have struggled with finding joy in all of this, but I am starting to find silver linings here and there that have made all the difference.  I hope I can learn to love it here.  That despite all the crazy southern Californians I will be able to find the small things to make me happy!

A small thing that happened not to long ago is that I got to meet bob from Biggest loser.  Nice guy!  Wish I could have worked out with him!

Ok, Ok, I'll update it!

I got a rare moment this morning to sit down and type for a few minutes.  I am taking a small break from The Sassy Saver to get my life back under control.  A lot has happened to make life crash down and I had to pull way back to basics to get it back to where it needs to be.

First off, I am pregnant with #3!!!  I am just over 10 weeks and already starting to show a bit.  That kind of scares me because Matthew was 10 lb when he was born and if I am showing it may mean big baby!  But we will see.  We are so excited and I should have the baby sometime the end of September, beginning of October.  I have been really sick with this one.  Worse of any kid.  so I have spent a lot of time not taking care of the house and just taking care of the kids and myself.  Matthew has done as much as he could while working 2 jobs and studying for the LSAT.  I am grateful for what he has done as it has kept the house functioning.

Braxton is now 3 1/2 and a super smart little guy.  He is starting to work on his writing and spelling.  He loves it.  He is also great at playing with Reagan.  They love each other and are best friends.  I am so grateful for that as sometimes when kids are as close in age they don't like to play with each other.  you kind of have a 50/50 chance when you have them that close, especially when they are boy and girl.

Reagan is almost 2...I can't believe that.  where did the last year go?  I am beginning to think I blinked and missed it, life got so busy.   She is a crazy one.  She loves to sing and dance and is great at both already.  She is a climber and climbs on everything including the table.  She loves bubble baths and everything girl.  She is the total opposite of me, so I've had to work hard to learn about girly things.

This last week both kids have come down with bronchitis and we have been shut inside until we could get the anti-biotics working.  It has been nice, but so boring at times.  I am so tired of TV and movies, but the kids have both had high fevers and coughing and choking fits that it is all we can do at the moment to keep them still.  They are loving it, but I think getting tired of not going outside.  It was raining when they both got sick but now the sun is out and it has been rather pretty so I know they are longing for it.  Can't wait until it done and we can go back to real life!

Here is an updated picture of each of them so you can see how much they have grown.

Matthew and I took a trip to DC the end of last year without kids.  It was nice, but we got so tired of walking around DC by the end of the trip.  So I told Matthew next kidless trip we take ( which will be in like 5 or 6 years at least) must be a cruise or something where we just sit and enjoy life and have everything done for us.  A relaxing trip.  Can't wait!

So that is kind of where we are at the moment with life.  Sorry for not updating this more for those who read it.  I hope to do it more, but am not promising anything!  That way I can't break my promises and let you all down.  Hope your all well!

Braxton's New Bike

Braxtons beloved tricycle finally bit the dust.  He was so sad and we were too.  we were hoping to keep it for Reagan to ride when she gets  bit bigger.  But we had to get soethng to replace it because B is obsessed with bikes!
So we got him THIS

His very own "real Bike!"  We got it while he was napping so he would wake up to it and he was so excited!  He loves to ride bikes and is so good at it for a 2 year old.  I never thought a 2 year old could ride a bike like that!

We went out right away and we now ride a couple days a week!

Juice Box Jungle

I am not sure if you have noticed or not but I now have a really neat video player on the right hand side bar.  This is to a site named Juice Box Jungle.  I LOVE that site.  It is a parenting site that is real.  It has topics that are sometimes controversial, but really need to be talked about with parents.  Parents, I think, sometimes see everyone else as a perfect parent, but really I think we all have the same concerns and dreams for our kids.

Take a look at the video on there and tell me what your thinking about.  When I saw it I thought of myself and how I think of my kids.  I wondered how if I was sometimes one of those moms that brags about her kids.  They are just so smart (right??).

I am so blessed to have very alert little kids who love to learn.  As part of my thrifty life style I think we have tried to take advantage of all the learning opportunities we can because more of those are free.  I think this has made me a bit biased when it comes to my children being smart.  I just hope to give them the best life they can have and teach them to live within their means and be happy there, Because that is what we are all searching for in this life, a little happiness as we struggle to make ends meet.

If you are interested in having this put on your blog, please send me an email.  They have an ad network so you can get paid for running them.  It is a great way to make a little extra cash on the side.  The network is by invitation only so if you are interested let me know the address to your site so I can forward it on to them.

Happy Anniversary!!!

Today is 4 years I have been married to a wonderful man!  He still treats me like gold.  We were so clueless what life had in store for us when we were married, but now 4 years later, I couldn't ask for a better husband or dad.  He is just my perfect match.  I can't wait to spend eternity with him.

We have had ups and downs in the last 4 years and lots and lots of fun moments.  He is the hardest working man I know and does all he can so I can stay home with the kids. He went to school full time during the day and worked in the evenings.  We have been blessed to have 2 kids and stay completely out of debt through his whole college career so far!  He is such a blessing for working so hard.

He is now graduated with his Bachelors and is getting ready to take the LSAT. Through it all he supports my thriftiness and sassiness!

Thanks for 4 wonderful years Babe!!!!!

Who Wants a Hair Cut

We decided it was time to cut Braxton's hair.  He gets so hot every summer and he is getting older.  So Matthew made me take the plunge and let him cut it.  Here is what happened.

Before

Sitting in the chair

Trying to run but he is strapped in the chair

"I No Like IT!!!!!!"

After

With Reagan after getting dressed and feeling better.

The Damage.  you could make a wig out of all that hair.

Making Bread

Braxton and I have started making bread together, thanks to my mom for letting us borrow her bread machine! He loves it and so do I. I had to share some pictures of him watching the bread and a video of him while it is cooking. He does this every time and could just spend hours watching the bread as it cooks on the counter!

She's a mommy!!

or so she thinks!

Great Sunny Days!

We went on a family bike ride with my mom and brother and Matthew captured some great pictures. When we got there we ate some lunch and got out and Braxton had leaked all over his pants!!! So much for pull ups being absorbent! so we changed him into Reagans diaper which was all we had and let him run around without pants on!

Good thing it was warm outside.

We had so much fun playing soccer,

playing on the playground

and walking around. Hopefully we can do many more of these days in the future!

Baby It's Cold Outside!

Braxton has never been one to sit under blankets! one morning right after he got up he asked me for a blanket. so I gave him one and he proceded to sit in his chair and put the blanket over him and get all cuddled up and warm...it was so cute!

Picture Overload!!!!

ok, so I downloaded all my pictures today off the camera. so here are a few highlights of the last little while!

Braxton loves PB and J, What kid doesn't?? he decided that his sandwich was a train oneday and did this for about 10 min as he said "choooo chooooo..."

Why Do kids Love Boxes so much???

So, I've been thinking....

I know dangerous right?  but I think I have found a love for blogging.  I never realized how much fun it is to type to who knows is reading and tell them of all the fun things that interest you.  I have also been thinking about the world now.  We have been trying to get more of a savings and trying to be more accountable for our purchases.  We have also been trying to be sure our home is always clean and organized.  It has made the biggest difference in the stress level and happiness in our home.  We don't worry as much about how much money do we have and if we will have enough ( which we always some how did... Thanks to Heavenly Father for that one.  Sometimes that was the only explanation we had) and we are finding time to be a family and to laugh more together.  I can't think of a better end of the year and beginning of the year.  I feel liberated and like my life is finally falling into place.  I hope to keep this up this whole year.  I want to be able to find more fun in life and to explore things with my kids and see them discover the world.  I want to take advantage of every moment and live my life to the fullest.  Enjoy the journey, not just find the joy but feel it too!

Tallying up the savings!

I just though I would share this here.  I just want you all to know what you can do with your money.  it really is amazing to see this.  I never realized how cool it was until I wrote it all down. This is posted on my other blog too and I will continue to post thngs on there in the future instead of here.

Thanks to Allysa, I was able to get some really good deals this week.  I spent more then I wished but got so much free stuff that it made it all worth it.  

here is what I did.

Walgreens

2-Quaker oatmeals $4.49 each

-$2.50 off each with a walgreens coupon

-$1.00 off each with a man. coupon

=$.99 each

Glade Candle $2.50 ( sale)

-1.00 man coupon

=$1.50

rebate of $1.00 coming back to me

Glade melts holder $4.49

-$2.50 man. coupon

=$2.00

Rebate of $1.00 coming

8-Garnier Fructis $2.99 each (sale)

-$2.00 off each Walgreens Coupon

=.99 each---or $9.82 with tax

Grand total:

$6.03 on gift card

After Rebate--- $4.03 on gift card

$9.82 Out Of Pocket

total Savings at walgreens-$26.50

Target

8-Johnson's Buddies $.99 Each

- 4 $2.00 off 2 coupon

= Free!!!

Baby Wash $2.99 (Sale)

-$1.00 off

=$1.99 OOP

Grand Total

$2.78 including tax

Total Savings

$9.00

Right Aid

SoyJoy 10 for $5.00

-$5.00 Rebate

=FREE!!!!

Grand total OOP

$12.60  

Total Savings

$43.50  

How cool is that?????  I am so excited at all the money I saved.  I spent about 1/3 of what I saved.  I probably wont post this every week on here.  I may on my other blog, but I am just so proud of myself.  We were able to get things we really needed and save a bunch!  

If you have any questions on how I did this let me know and I will either pass you on to alyssa, or answer them if I can.

My newest goal is to figure out what foods we buy the most so that we can get coupons for those things to use regularly so we can save even more money.  It is hard to save a lot at the grocery store.  you can only do so much there, but anything helps.  If anyone has any coupons they don't use and would like to donate them to me, I will gladly take them off your hands!!!!!!  hope you enjoyed seeing this as much as I did! ;)

I am doing new blog!!!!

I am trying to get thrifty and save lots of money. so I started a new blog to help me to be accountable and to share some of the great deals and things I find out about. I think it is going to be fund for me. I am trying to get more organized and do what is needed to save money so the family can go on a trip and not have to worry so much about where our money is going. I will be doing couponing and rebate deals and shopping at places like Walgreens, right aid, longs... some people have a CVS but we don't yet, so I wont be including those to much unless they are SUPER good deals.

so hope you all can join me and get a few pointers and such as I embark on this journey!

http://niftythriftymamma.blogspot.com/

SWAGBUCKS!!!!!

So I just had to add this because I did a little entry a little bit ago about it and I just wanted to update you all with my status. I am so excited. I've been doing it for about 2 weeks now and I am 10 swagbucks away from a $5.00 gift card to amazon. I can also save for other things. I am trying to decide what to do. I am up to 34 swagbucks now. so for those wondering what this is, it is a search engine that is powered by google. it is just like doing google searches but you get swagbucks for your searches and then can redeem them for free things. it is totally free!!! you can download a toolbar for the top of your page and use it like you would a google search or a yahoo search. you don't win every time, but most people win an average of 2-3 times a day.

I just can't get enough of the free stuff!!! so I wanted to spread the wealth around a little bit and be sure you all knew about it and that my post didn't get missed. And to brag that I am almost winning!!!!! ;) o if you havn't already done it, go here and sign up and start searching!!! you will win a few bucks right away! all you have to do is search!!!

Flying Leap!

Braxton took his firt of now many flying leaps into things. he was running down the hall tripped and crashed right into the table leg. Matthew and I looked at eachother shocked of course because we had no idea how it happened and still don't, but he is ok just had the biggest goose egg I have ever seen in my life. the pictures don't do it justice.

Helping Daddy!

Matthew FINALLY put our surround sound up after a year of living here! Braxton wanted to help so badly that he got his stool from the bathroom and put it next to the wall to help daddy put the wires up. It was so cute!

My Mischievous Little Girl!!!!

I was in the kitchen cooking with Braxton at my feet and Reagan disappeared. Matthew found her in the bedroom chewing on the chain for his bike!!!! She had grease everywhere! Needless to say we have to watch her very closely now that se crawls. She is so fast and gets into everything now! Here is what she looked like from enjoying her little treat!