Winter Warmth

Case and I took advantage of some warmer January weather a couple weeks ago and took the kids down to his parents to snap some pictures. I was tired of the same old photo studio poses and wanted to get some more natural shots of them in the environment they all enjoy most. The kids had so much fun playing in the creek and climbing on the tractor and playing inside the barn, all the while we were trying to keep them from getting dirty. It didn't work of course, and so we just let them go. As each day passes, I grow deeper and deeper in love with these kids. I can't imagine my life without them. They each have their own crazy personalities and still so many similarities. They are truly my favorite part of my blessed life. (And Casey, or course) Carter is growing up so fast, faster than I ever imagined. He just turned four this month. Some, well, most of the things he says just totally crack us up. He plays so well with the twins and for the most part is so kind to them. They all are very affectionate and are always hugging and kissing one another. It just makes me smile to see them not just feel love for each other, but actually show it. I want them to feel like they can always show that affection, even when they are older. I'm definitely ready for spring to get here so we can spend some more time outside. Both the kids and I are getting tired of being indoors, though we've been staying really busy. I'm so very thankful for all the opportunities I have to serve and for being a mom to the greatest three kids I know.

Kids Video

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Fantastic Fall Savings

So I don't usually blog about my savings though I love to read how others save. I have just recently become addicted to saving money through coupons and store sales by following a few blogs. Though I have always clipped coupons here and there, I didn't know that much about how to really use them to maximize my savings. Tonight I had the absolute best experience so I just had to share. Let me preface this by saying, if you are going to do this, please leave your children at home (preferably not alone). I usually have all three of them with me and it is utterly chaotic and I usually end up missing some things I shouldn't have. Tonight Case volunteered to keep the kids at home and let me go alone. It was pure heaven! It's amazing the deals you can find when you aren't pulling one buggy, pushing another, keeping Sawyer from pulling everything off the shelves, trying to jump from the buggy and making sure all three have a dum-dum sucker to keep them happy! Exhausting!!!!

Anyway, I went to Rite Aid which is my new favorite place to shop. I've been shopping there for about a month now and have scored some really great deals. Tonight was definitely the best I've ever done and probably won't ever do this good again but here is what I got:

- 1 Pack of Huggies Supreme Diapers

- Dove Ultimate Smooth Cashmere deodorant

-20 count box of Electrasol dishwashing tablets

-Herbal Essences Shampoo and Spray Gel

- 2 boxes of Nexcare Pooh band-aids

- box of Clairol Root touch up (yes, I do color my hair, believe it or not)

- Kotex (sorry guys, if any of you are reading this)

Here is the breakdown: Total before coupons and sales-$49.71

Saved: $12.48 -store sales

$14.49-coupons

$20.00-gift certificate from last month savings

Total spent-$2.74 Also, 3 items I purchased qualify for single check rebates which means I will get it back at the end of the month in check form that I can just simply cash at my bank. I get $7.00 in rebates back so they really paid me $4.26 to take this merchandise home. Sweet!!!! I just love days like this. Too bad it isn't always this good but I will definitely take it. This just inspires me to work harder at saving. It really is so much fun! Case totally cracks up at me and refuses to shop with me but deep down, he really loves it and he definitely appreciates it. Hope this inspires you too!

Summer 2009

Okay, so it's been months since I've made my last post. Needless to say, things have been extremely busy this summer. It's been great though. It's hard to believe how fast time is passing. The twins are 18 months old today and Carter 3 1/2 and I don't know where the time has gone. I am so thoroughly enjoying my life with them right now. All three are in such great stages where they are so much fun and also more self-sufficient by the day.

We just returned from a great vacation at Destin with my little sister and her family. It was so much fun to see the kids at the beach. Carter loved it, of course, and the babies had their moments. They weren't too fond of the sand all over them so they didn't last long down at the beach. Thankfully, we had two large pools also and were just about the only ones staying at the resort. That's the nice thing about being able to go after everyone is back in school. We won't be able to do that much longer so we took advantage of it.

I am so excited about fall! I am way past ready for the cooler weather. I love the fall and winter holidays and the busyness that comes along with them. Things are really busy right now with things at church and especially youth group. We are going to a Braves game on Saturday with the teens and taking Carter with us. It will be so much fun! I'm so thankful for the opportunities I have to serve.

Mother's Day

I was so excited to be able to go to TN and be with my mom on Mother's Day. I was able to spend the entire day with her and Addyson on Saturday, though most of it was in the car. However, we were able to do a lot of "catching up" that we needed to do. I had a great time just being with her. I don't get to spend much time with her anymore so it was really needed. On Sunday, both of my brothers and their families came over for a big lunch and it was so much fun. All of my nieces and nephews are growing up so fast and absolutely crack me up. They are so much fun to be around, not to mention the table conversations at the adult table. We have so much fun when we are all together. I just love being from a big family! I forgto to get any pictures with my Mom but snapped this one of my sister in law, Joy and nephew Jake swinging with the babies right before we left to come home. Sweet memories.

Springtime

It's been forever since I made my last post. Things have been crazy busy lately. I've been taking on extra projects for work and it has left me with absolutely no "spare" time. As if I had any of that to begin with, right? Anyway, it's just been one of those weeks with the kids. Most of the time, I'm very layed back and not much bothers me, but on this particular day, I just had a lot going on and none of it was going as planned. Carter had gone into the bathroom, this i knew, but he always closes the door and wants to be alone until he's finished so I was just leaving him alone. Meanwhile, both of the babies were teething so they were screaming and pulling at my pants all morning, both wanting to be held and neither wanted to be out of my sight. Skip to about ten minutes later. I decide to check on Carter because he's being extremely quiet and that's just not Carter. I walk in the bathroom to find that he has taken an entire can of air freshener and sprayed down every wall, the cabinets, the tub, the toilet, and the floor. By that time, I had been pushed to my limit. Not just by this, but a combination of events that same morning. I just stared at him and at my destroyed bathroom and was afraid to say anything and even more afraid to touch him. I was afraid I would say something I would later regret and maybe even hurt him (not joking: okay, maybe a little). I decided just to sit down on the wet floor and have a good cry. Carter proceded to sit down beside me, put his arm around me and said, "It's okay Mommy. It's nothing to cry about." Easy for him to say. Anyway, it made me laugh and all I could do was hug him. He just kept telling me it was going to be okay. I just love that little guy!

Well, I survived that day, but skip to today when I found Sawyer covered in coffee grounds he had somehow managed to drag out of the tall trashcan and scattered all over my freshly mopped kitchen floor. I really wish I had a picture of it but I was in such a hurry to clean it up so Addyson didn't get in on the fun. This situation I handled a little better. I am sure there are going to be lots more of these situations in the future. Some days are just better than others, I guess. They are still just too much fun!

We had a great Easter and Carter thoroughly enjoyed his Easter egg hunt. Matter of fact, we've had several more since then with all of his eggs. He's obsessed with me hiding them and him finding them over and over and over again. Which wouldn't be so bad, but he wants me to fill them with candy or money like Sue-Sue did the first time she hid them. We were able to have a big lunch with Casey's family and it was a great day overall. Easter morning was a little hectic since Case had to leave very early to usher for the first service. I was left alone to dress and feed everyone and it did not go very well as you can see from the pictures. The babies were begging for a nap before we even left the house. It was kind of funny, but not too much at the time.

The weather here has been wonderful so we've spent a lot of time working and playing outside. We were finally able to get our garden planted a couple weeks ago and Carter absolutely loved that. Every day he wants to go down and see if there is some corn that is ready to be picked. Poor guy, he has no concept of time yet. It's so funny. He and I spend a lot of time watering and pulling weeds and checking on it everyday. The babies are content to sit in his gator and play or crawl around in the dirt. Last night, I found Addy with an entire mouth full of dirt and she screamed when I tried to get it out. She just wanted to sit there and chew on it. Gross, I know, but I don't guess it will hurt her. She must have some kind of deficiency she's trying to make up for. She's so funny. It amazes me that the twins have such different personalities. Sawyer is very high strung and is always laughing and talking to everybody he sees. Addyson just sits back and watches him and gives dirty looks to you. She can be so sweet though. She is content to just sit in my lap and do nothing. She would do it all day if I let her. She loves to be with her Mommy and I adore it too. I never imagined I would love having a little girl like I do.

So life is busy but it's a wonderful life and each day is something new to treasure and enjoy.

Leaving Them Behind

If a smile like this can't make your day, you're having a pretty bad day. I tell myself this several times a day. Every time I see one of the babies or Carter smile, I know that everything is going to be all right. Addyson now has two teeth on the top and two on the bottom and I love how they shine when she gives a big grin. Sawyer is still trying to get his two on the top. Poor guy has been incredibly grouchy the last two weeks. I know it will pass though. He is really becoming a Mommy's boy. Every time I pick him up, he lays his head on my chest and it just melts my heart.


We've had a busy week, and are preparing for an even busier weekend. The kids are all going to stay with Casey's parent's for a couple days while Casey and I go skiing with the teens at church. I'm incredibly torn. I am really excited about going. I love to ski, although I have a tendency to run people over (on accident of course). However, I am dreading leaving my kiddos behind. I know they will be well taken care of and I don't worry a bit, but just not having them to hold or see their smiles will be so hard. Carter is about to go crazy, he's so excited to be able to spend 2 nights with "Pops" and "Sue-Sue." We'll see if that all changes when it's time to go to bed. Hopefully, I will get some pictures while we're there and post next week. So bye for now.