Grouchy

Everyone in my house is grouchy today. Ava doesn't like math so she's taking a looooong time doing her test. Maddie actually broke down in tears twice, one in math and another because Lauren beat her to the shower. Ellie slammed Graedon's fingers in the closet door this morning and they have been alternately fighting and playing. Ellie just screamed because Grae just took a cracker from her plate.

Molly is sleeping. Yesterday she was awake practically the whole day, which didn't make for a very happy momma. I felt so defeated by this. How quickly we go from feeling happy and content to feeling sorry for ourselves. How quickly we forget to thank God for everything He brings.

So today I declare comfort day. We will finish up our Friday chores and veg out in front of a movie or make cookies or do some sewing. Oh and eat lots of licorice that I bought. Thank you God for making sugar.

Bye Harry...

Last night Brian and I finished the Deathly Hallows. Wow.

I'm sad there will be no more books to read, but wow, what a way to end it.

My first born, my guinea pig

Yesterday Lauren celebrated her 12th birthday. She requested tater tot casserole, lemon bars and Tillamook mud slide ice cream. Molly Kate was an angel yesterday so I actually made all of it (and did some sewing too!).

Lauren - you are our guinea pig. When you were first born I had never held a newborn let alone changed a diaper. Your dad changed the very first one and then changed them all week as I had lost a lot of blood giving birth to you and could hardly get up off the couch. How happy our first days were with you! What a miracle you were, did we really have a baby? I was only 21 but now I was a mother.

We experienced firsts as you experienced them. First smile, first foods, first words (dada of course). You went to work with me for 3 months until I had to make a choice. I chose to stay home with you even though it meant a slight loss of income. You were worth it.

We made so many mistakes with you but by the grace of God, you have turned into a beautiful young lady. You are growing up so fast. Where is our little Lor-lor?

I couldn't take a shower when I need to without you holding Molly or keeping an eye on Graedon. I thank you and everyone who has to smell me thanks you.

I realize that I need to teach you so much. So now when I make dinner, you are in there learning how. You keep your room clean (and actually care if it is messy). You see messes around the house and instead of stepping over them (ahem -Maddie & Ava), you pick them up.

Thank you for all you do around the house and thank you for loving your brother and sisters. Happy Birthday.

Savin' dough

I'm tired of our big van payment and student loan payment. The student loan isn't very big but we just make slightly more than the minimum payment each month. I'm ahead several months on the van payments and always put all of our extra money toward it. We aren't in any credit card debt so once we retire those debts we will only have the house payment.

I've been reading the Dave Ramsey books and we are going to follow his plan for getting out of debt and building a 6 month emergency fund. Then we will work on retirement saving. We already have a Roth IRA and some stocks going toward retirement but I would love to put lots more money toward it.

So in an effort to reduce our grocery bill, I finally went to the Orowheat Bread outlet store. I used to go all the time. We can go through 1 loaf of bread in one lunch meal so bread was an expense I wanted to reduce. We do make our own bread for evening meals but it doesn't make very much and fresh baked bread doesn't last long in our house!

Here is what I got. I HAD to buy donuts for Graedon but still ended up with $45.00 worth of bread for $11.61.

Four loaves of buttermilk bread, two loaves of Orowheat wheat bread, two loaves of Orowheat light wheat bread (for me as it's lower carb than the rest), 3 big packages of hamburger buns including the ultra gourmet onion buns, a huge package of hot dog buns, a package of sandwhich rolls and a box of assorted donuts.

We love going down to farmer's market on Saturday and buying berries and veggies. We are growing our own veggies this year and the blueberries we wanted to buy are terribly expensive. So we hopped into the van on Saturday and went to pick our own. $1.00 a pound! We spent $20.00 and our freezer is full of fresh berries.

Now I'm looking for more ways to save money in our budget and get out of debt in 1 year. Fortunately I'm a frugal person (or I used to be when we had NO money) so I just need to get back into the swing of things. I need to get to the sewing machine and sew again as it saves us money on our kids clothes and I also sell my clothing on eBay.

Picture day

Molly Kate - 6 weeks




Ellie - 4 years


Grae - 2 years




Maddie - 10 yrs


Have a great weekend!

Love Thursday

I love the way you nurse.

I love that your little feet kick in anticipation of getting something to eat and your little clenched hands wave around in the air.

I love the little sounds you make while you wait for the first taste of warm milk.

And if I dare take too long, I love the way you keep telling me of your annoyance even while you are eating.

I love stroking your hair and gently tucking it behind your ear.

Sometimes you will look up at me with those big blue eyes and we just stare at each other.

I love the way you look slightly drunk after you're done and I burp you and wipe up your milk face.

Thank you God for my little Molly Kate.

Thanks Toots...

I found this painting at Goodwill for $3.99 shortly before Molly Kate was born. I LOVE it! It is hanging in our living room and I need to find an old robin painting to hang above it.



I especially love the signature.