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.

First Shot

Okay, so this is my first time ever doing this, but I have just started reading some blogs that my friends from high school and college are doing and thought it is something I need to do. If not for anybody else, for myself, just to vent.

My life is extremely chaotic right now. I have a three year old, Carter, who I might add is too adorable and smart. Then I have 11 month old twins, Sawyer and Addyson, who are the little loves of my life. I never imagined I could love two babies at the same time as much as I do them. How do we find that much love to give to each child? I'll never understand it, but I couldn't imagine my life without them.

Okay, so back to the day we found out we were having twins. When Carter was about 1 1/2, we decided we were ready to have a brother OR a sister for him. When we arrived at the doctor for our first sonogram, we were terribly excited. I was around 10 weeks I think. The nurse began by asking if we were on fertility drugs. We thought it weird that she would ask that, since we didn't remember this round of questions with Carter. Then she asked if multiples ran in our family. We began to get nervous. She then informed us that we were expecting two babies, not one and showed us on the sonogram. I totally lost it inside, but tried to keep my composure. Case almost fell off his stool and we just stared at each other, neither one sure what to make of this or if we should voice how we were feeling. They gave us some time to let the news sink in before we saw the doctor and we finally began sharing our concerns with each other. Needless to say, we were both shocked, excited, terrified, what other adjectives can I add? I was scared that my small frame wouldn't be able to carry two babies for very long. Case was afraid of the cost of adding two more babies to the family. The worries were endless, but what could we do?

After we broke the news to our friends and family, reality began to sink in. The months passed and I began to grow larger and larger. Every doctor visit was scary, but each time the babies looked great. We decided to find out the sex since there was two of them. We loved not knowing with Carter, but thought it better to be prepared this time. We were thrilled when we found out we were having a boy AND a girl. Case was finally going to get his little girl that he had secretly wanted all along.
Skip to 36 weeks along. I thought I was going to die. Case was working out of town a lot and so I was left to care for Carter alone. I was so big that I couldn't bend over which made a lot of things difficult, especially bath time. When I was able to sleep, it had to be in the recliner. I was begging my doctor to take these babies! Finally, at 37 1/2 weeks, my doctor said the babies seemed big enough to go ahead and take them, though there were several complications possible. I wholeheartedly agreed to the C-section and on Saturday morning, March 15, 2008, the Lord gave us two healthy babies, each weighing in at 5 lbs, 12. oz each. How crazy that they both weighed the same? They were beautiful and absolutely healthy. They never even had to go to the ICU unit to be checked out. They were both breathing beautifully on their own. We were thankful beyond words. It defintely took a while to sink in that I had two babies to care for. Two to nurse (quite a chore), two to diaper, two to bathe, two to get to sleep (and stay asleep), etc., all the things that a mother does for her baby. I had a little help in the beginning. Casey's mom took off work for a week and helped take care of Carter so I could adjust with the babies. My mom came down a couple times for a day at a time, when she could. Poor Carter didn't know what to think. All of his friends mom's were having one baby. Why did his mom have two? It was all very confusing, but he adjusted wonderfully. Other than the time I walked in to find him standing on the sofa and holding Sawyer upside down by his feet. He dropped him and I dove and caught him just before he landed. I've never been so scared, mad, so many emotions all at once. That is the closest call we have had up until now.

So it's been a crazy ride, these past 11 months. I wish I would have been blogging all this time, but better now than never. Sawyer and Addyson began sleeping through the night around 9 weeks and life became much easier after that. Before that, I dreaded going to bed each night, knowing I only had a couple of hours. Case was wonderful during this time though. He was back at home working and got up for each feeding. I would nurse one while he changed the other. Then we would switch out. We got it down to an art where we could do it all in 20 minutes. Wow, we thought we had really accomplished something!

They began crawling around 8 months and now they are all over the place. Both are trying to walk and love being outside. Since Carter practically lives outside, this works out great. They love to explore everything and adore the dogs, (who also live outside, I might add). I go to the grocery every week with all three of them and they love it. They all do great though it doesn't leave much room for groceries. On occasion, Case will go with me if it works out and we all love that. It really is so much easier with an extra person! My sister, Jana, lives nearby and helps with them when she is able. She keeps Carter for me every Monday and he just adores her and his four cousins.

So, that's what my last year has entailed. A lot of staying in and taking care of kiddos but I wouldn't change it for anything. I'm looking forward to this summer and being able to get out with them more and explore together. My life is changed forever and I couldn't imagine it any other way.