And all she wants to do is dance, dance, dance!

The kids were just messing around and dear sweet M shoved these game cubes in her pants!

"Mom can we use the camera?" This is what I found later! Oh they were laughing and saying, "Look! Be-donkey-donk butt! " The funniest part of this is when I handed my camera to a friend so she could look at some pics I had just taken and she got a screen full of this!

No clothing budget!

God is so gentle with me when He answers my prayers. With the rising costs of gas and food, I have been crying out to God to teach me how to wisely manage the funds He has given us. Early this year, He introduced me to Moneysavingmom.com where I learned how to maximize coupons to my advantage! This summer He has shown me through a friend how to not need a clothing budget! She has taught me about E-bay. How to take pictures and list items so they sell. As a result, all the clothes that we are done with are selling or have sold and I am able to use those proceeds to garage sale. Though not everything goes but I think I am at a 60-75% selling rate. Meaning 60-75% of what I list on ebay sales. What doesn't sell goes in my garage sale pile. Another dear friend educated us on which part of town to go to find the best garage sale deals. I was really wowed by this friend and that she garage sales. You see, they have 6 kids and the whole family is dressed to a beautiful T. Always look great. They live on a single income. I never could quite figure out how she manages it all. Well I know now! Boy, did I listen to her advice. As a result, I find it difficult to pay more than 25-50 cents an item when garage sale-ing. I will splurge and spend a $1 on jeans! All that I get is like new, in great condition and much of it is name brand. The best part the children are learning valueable life lessons regarding money!

A Lot Can Happen in a Month

It's been a difficult month. There have definitely been good memories made in the midst of tears. I pray and hope this next month brings more smiles and good memories than tears. My littlest princess is 7 now. Growing in wisdom, stature and inner beauty. This is a year of remembering she belongs to God and He is in control of her life. I am so grateful for her love for Him. She trusted Jesus as her Saviour this summer. She loves Him so much. She clings to Him in a mighty way.
S will be another year older in 2 weeks. He wants to go to Krispy Kreme for his birthday breakfast with Dad! Woohoo, I don't have to get up early. HAHA It is good to see my two men so close to one another.
Hockey season has yet to begin but we find ourselves in the pre-season practices and clinics. Who knew ice hockey could be a year round sport. I thought we would get the summer off, but there were weekly clinics and just to be on the ice for the fun of time. I am grateful for something for my oldest son to direct his energy. He is such a quiet guy, that it is amazing to watch the young man in him get in the game and not shrink back. He is growing in confidence and stature which thrills my heart. He also trusted Jesus this last year as His saviour. He made a wonderful and personal decision this summer. There is good chance travel hockey will coincide with Awana this year for him. There are different coaches for his age group than last year. We gave him the option of attending Awana elsewhere on Sundays. He thought about it for a week or so, I guess cause as I was the last to know ! He told his dad he would rather attend Awana with us and not do Travel hockey if that is what it came down to. We have been really impressed with his choices and maturity. He too has had a difficult month, but demonstrating maturity and strength beyond his years, so much so that it could only come from God our Father.
N and D are definitely the best of friends and worse of enemies. N is becoming more gentler but it is hard to recognize because of younger D. Little brothers like to antagonize and frustrate the olders. Part of which is just their age and trying to be big too. Hard to not laugh and constantly say "what goes around, comes around." All that D dishes out is what we have had to endure from N for the last 4 years. With 2 birthdays so close together N and D love to discuss their bdays.
A is growing up. Seventh grader now and in youth group. Babysitting jobs. So capable and yet my little girl. She is learning a tough lesson regarding forgiveness. The burden that falls on one's shoulders and discomfort as we sometimes struggle to release to God and forgive. My heart breaks for her to learn such a lesson at such a young age. We talked today about Joseph and how he managed to forgive his brothers in his heart long before they ever asked for forgiveness. How God blessed him and used his tragedy for the greater good. We don't know what the greater good will come out of this last month. But God uses all things for His good and His glory.
Another school year, more challenges, growing kids and God is good and God provides.

Mom had to join the fun!

I haven't been all too busy this week. Since having kids I have had experienced my share of excitement. Stitches, staples, broken noses, arms, surgeries, hospitalizations (kids and me) and eventful pregnancies. Not to mention all the scares they have given us with various head injuries. I still believe it all comes from their dad's side of the family. :) Could not be the mom's side, even if she was a tree climber. LOL So it is my turn. I am down and quiet this week with a concussion! Of course, I don't have any fabulous story to tell. I was cleaning house! I am trying to rest in God's manner of getting me to slow down. It has been hard to sit and do nothing. Reading even hurts! Focusing on children's voices hurt. Moving around too much causes the head to ache! For those of you who are reading. Pray for me, cause this momma doesn't like to just sit and do nothing. I did manage to do a few spelling assessments today before I had to rest. The kids are thrilled at the no school! We were suppose to start this week. Never have I seen children relish the do-nothing days that they have had this week. My husband too, since he has had to stay home and help with the kiddos. Movies, creative play and computer babbling they have done. We did watch a good movie together. Penelope. Very sweet movie. Even the guys enjoyed.

You're my favorite Old Man!

N just cracks me up! Mike came home today from doing yard work out at his parents and changing the oil in his car. Nathan walks into the room and says "There's my favorite old man!" Mike was not too sure how to take that. Four year olds can be so creative in their expressions. Moms just get to laugh so much as a result! As long as he never say "old lady" in reference to his momma!

N starring as HuMpTy DuMpTy who fell at the pool!

We were swimming at the Y! He came up to me. Blood running down, of course it looked like more than it was cause he was wet from swimming. I took him to the pool office wanting a towel. Lifeguard wanted to administer first aid. I had to convince him I knew what I was doing. They had to shut the pool down for the night. The lifeguard thanked us, he got to go home early. LOL The doctor's office closed just before this happened, so we couldn't get stitches there. I sooo did not want to go the the ER. So off to Walgreens! BandAid brand superglue. Then to Aunt Sharon's cause N said he could be brave for her. N wanted to see what it looked like so I took a picture. I think I did a pretty good job if I must say so. He'll have a matching scar with A. She has one on her chin just like this one. N heard all about who Humpty Dumpty was that night. He just got his staples out 4 days earlier. Sometimes I wonder what my grandchildren will be like. I definitely don't think I want to offer full disclosure to future spouses. They might get scared and run. Best part of all is, a friend and I got a good laugh at my frugality in the whole deal. I just couldn't bear another ER visit, so I went to Walgreens and used a $5 Register Rewards and my gift card and had to pay nothing out of pocket to fix my broken n-"egg".

Woohoo Walmart jackpot!

I am tickled to death about my trip to Wal-mart today! Grand total

for everything pictured is.... $0.44, I saved $16.97. My 4 yr. old has to use Head and Shoulders. Between his allergies and eczema he has really bad dandruff. H & S has caused it all to go away. I couldn't pass up the buy 2 and get $3 off deal in the sample section. Then we went off to Target to hit up the Pampers deal. I paid 8.53 out of pocket and then did 3 more transactions shifting between 2 gift cards I have, adding on one and using the other. Ended up with 4 packs of diapers and 4 packs of wipes and only paid $8.53 out of pocket. I still have over $7 on my gift cards! Thanks you Money Saving Mom and all you other ladies out there who chime in and share your deals!