Kiddo Moment

This is soooooo funny! Well, I think it is....Remember a month or so ago when I shared a few of the letters that Faith had written me and her dad? Well, guess what? I got another one today. ☺ This little girl can get me soooooo frustrated at times, but dang she is soooooo CUTE!!! I JUST LOVE HER TO PIECES!!! ☺ When I do get upset with her I feel guilty because she IS so sweet. Anyway, we had ANOTHER tiff this morning. The weather is rainy and a little on the not-so-warm side today. Well, for her anyway. She is really thin and very petite, and she gets cold REALLY easy. Anyway, since it was rainy and whatnot I figured she could wear shorts today and some shoes with socks. Well, if Faith could have her way, she would wear a skirt or dress EVERYDAY. She is really really girlie and that is what she LOVES. Well, I suggested that she wear shorts today. Well, let me tell you.......my bad. How dare I suggest that she wear shorts?!!! She WANTS to wear a dress!!!! I told her my reasoning and she had a cow. So, she asked me if she could wear a dress that looks like a tennis-type, sporty dress thingy. So, I said yes and then I told her the shoes that she should wear with it. Well, she comes back down to me and says the dress is too big. I say, we can put a T-shirt underneath it and that would be fine. Well, now she doesn't want to wear the stinkin' dress. Apparently, I am irritating her at this point. So, then I tell her that I am not talking about it anymore with her and that she is to find some shorts and wear those. We keep going back and forth. I tell her that now I am irritated, so to just leave me be for a little bit. (I'm trying to work too). She decides to wear the blue dress after all now. Then, I tell her what shoes to put on. Well, the shoes at AT SCHOOL! WHAT?!! So, I let her know that I am still frustrated with her and that she needs to quit leaving her stuff at school (school is only in session one more week). So, after a little time passes by.....Oh, so anyway I am still frustrated and she leaves me be. I have to add that there was NO crying in this tiff, but here is the letter that I got.....


You can click on the picture to make it bigger.

I will translate again.....(THIS IS SOOOOO CUTE, SWEET, AND FUNNY)

I am so so so so sorry for what I did. I will bring my PE shoes home today. I just want to say I am so sorry. Can I have a Crunch bar? I am crying so hard I just want to say I love you with all my heart and even in my soul.

She is sooooo dramatic, which I think is a girl thing, but she just cracks me up. So, she is so sorry and she's going to bring her PE shoes home today, oh, but while she's thinking about it she'd better ask if she can have a Nestle Crunch bar. REALLY? Oh, that REALLY makes me laugh!! This one (letter) REALLY is a keeper.

I love all my letters that she gives me. I can't wait to share them with her when she gets older.

Just thought I would share.....

Cheryl

A Day In The Life of a Frugal Mom

So, I had taken and dropped my daughter off at school this morning. Then, came home and we had an "incident."

Well, she and Blakey LOVE to make a mess of the house first thing in the morning. I REALLY don't think it is in them to be clean little people. They love living in a mess (maybe they take after momma). ;) Anyway EVERY morning, while I am putting myself together, I usually give them a heads up and say "okay.....it's time to clean up." Well, Faithy, the little stinker that she can be will sometimes leave Blake with a HUGE mess to clean up. I always tell him you need to help make sure that she does her part when it's time to clean up or YOU are the one that is going to be stuck cleaning up, 'cause we are not leaving the house like this all day. Well......today was one of those days where he chose to play instead of clean up. So, the very first thing he has to do when we get back from dropping her off is to clean up. Well, I am in the restroom finishing up putting myself "together," and....well....this is what I come out to see.....

Seriously, you call this taking care of the trash buddy?! ☺Not to mention all the water that is on the floor as we caught our doggie "red pawed" (get it.....red-handed ☺) licking a plate clean from an end table. So, she has also dripped water all over the floor in the photo (you can't see it real well, but it's there), 'cause...well...she needed something to wash it down with and what's better than dripping water all over the floor in the midst of getting "busted." ☺

This just struck me as really funny, because the trash is full up to the brim and rather than change the trash (which he knows how to do), he just puts this big piece of cardboard in it the best that he can. I just find it hilarious. Needless to say, he did what he set out to do, and that was to clean up and put trash in the trash can. ;) Oh, Blakey what's a mom to do with you.........LOL

Just thought I would share. This just cracked me up this morning.

Cheryl

Why I LOVE Being a Mom......

I haven't shared anything too personal lately, especially about my kiddos. I have been so eager to share my new letters with you though...You know, kids are just plain AHMAZING!!! As they tend to get older, all the way from infancy, you think to yourself (well...I did)....oh this is such a great stage in their lives. My oldest (Trent) is now 12, Faith is 6, and Blakey is 5. EVERY stage they have hit has been their BEST stage. I LOVE IT!! Right now, Faith is changing soooo much. Her and I seem to get along better now and she just has soooooo much to say. She is really turning into quite a young lady. Anyway, with her GREAT personality we do tend to hit a few speed bumps here and there. Recently, we had a "tiff." I can't remember what it was, but I was pretty frustrated with her and had sent her to her room. Well........this is what she came back with.......

I am going to translate a couple of the words I circled.
1-Sory=sorry
2-caird=caring
3-If you wodent be a cuponr we wod not have any mony. If you dident have any cupens we wode be foodlis.=If you wouldn't be a couponer we would not have any money. If you didn't have any coupons we would be foodless.  I LOVE IT!!! THIS IS TRULY PRICELESS!! I think my kids are starting to grasp the "coupon" lifestyle and learning that it is good to be frugal. ☺ Isn't this just the sweetest?

Here's another letter she wrote. She was just so darn proud of this. This is a letter that accompanied by mother's day gift, from her.....

Another translation....
1-beoodeful=BEAUTIFUL (I LOVE THIS ONE!!!) ☺
2-slurpis=slurpees (we have just recently introduced our kids to Slurpees and they are now madly in love).

She just melts my heart with all of her new letters and what not....

Now for the last one... A little explanation before I let you see it....Part of her big brother's (Trent/TJ for short) chores is to fold and put laundry away. Well, "TJ" has taken it upon himself to enlist the help of his little brother and sister, which is just fine with us. So, he takes the clothes and gets them together and then when they need hanging it is up to the little ones to get them hung in their closet. Well, Faith doesn't much like that idea very well.....

Translation

Dear dad:

Can you ask TJ to hang up my clothes?

Thank you.

This is sooooo funny! I only wish we could do stuff like this to get out of stuff we don't want to do. Wouldn't it be nice? Yes, this was hanging on her closet door, so it would NOT be missed. ☺

Anyway, I just love all of these hand-written notes she is supplying us with lately. And, YES, I am saving these. These are PRICELESS!!! ☺

By the way, I did ask her before posting these and she said it was okay. ;)

Have your kids done anything lately that "AHMAZES" you? I would love to hear. I LOVE kiddo stories even animal stories too. ;)

Have a great weekend guys!

Cheryl

100 Days of School Have Passed!

Look at my proud girl! She is now 100 more school days smarter! :)

She was soooo proud!

Way to go Faithy!

I love you!!

Mama

Dark angel or "good" angel?

So, amongst not feeling well this past week, the kiddos decided they were going to play "angels." Now, I hear that and I think...."oh no..." So, they are being REALLY good and nice and quiet. I know I should be checking, but.....I have ABSOLUTELY no energy to get up off of my bootae and see what is going on. Yes, I'm talking about Faith and Blake. This of course, was before he made her mad and she came out crying to me telling me that he is being mean to her.  I tell her to not play with him if he is going to be mean. Then, in the far distance in the wonderful world of the WORLDS MESSIEST BEDROOM, he yells......"I MAY BE A JERK, BUT I'M NOT STUPID!!!!" LOL!! What?! I shared this with some family and friends earlier this weekend, but they have not heard to seen what I am about to show you.....So.....dark angel or "good" angel?....

Oh, AND a black eye! HE RAN INTO THE CUTTING BOARD!! :(

Cheryl

Monday Weigh-In Report

Well, this.........

can lead to SEVERE chocolate eating. Yep, Saturday, I was shampooing my carpet and getting things ready around here for the big Christmas gathering. Well, he was playing (running, jumping, hopping, you name it, he was doing it) around in the front room on wet carpet. I didn't see what happened as I had my back turned, but he fell and broke his little collar bone. I thought that maybe he just hurt himself pretty good and that he would get over it, but he kept complaining of pain for about the next 45 minutes to an hour. So, I had him take his shirt off, which was quite painful for him as he broke out in a cry and said how much it hurt him. I was comparing each side of the collar bone and noticed there was a lump on the right side. My husband and I talked and since I was in the middle of shampooing and the roads were bad, he was going to run Blakey to urgent care and see what the deal was.

Well, needless to say, he came back with this handy dandy little brace and the diagnosis of a broken collar bone. Okay, I know he is the one in pain and worse things could happen, but I CAN'T HANDLE THIS!!! I'm trying to be strong for his sake and the rest of the family, but I'M FREAKIN' OUT HERE! I know there is absolutely NOTHING I can do about this, but I am STILL worried (I'm sure many of you moms out there can relate). So, I don't normally turn to food when I'm stressed (I usually turn to food for FUN), but I got into the candy cane kisses. Ohhhh, they were sooooo good. Needless to say, they didn't take any of my worry away. Actually, it made me worry (after the eating event) about my weigh-in on Sunday. So, I went from one worry to another. Crazy!

So, now we go into see his doc this week. I'm not sure what they can do about this, I'm thinking nothing really, but I'm not a doctor so I don't know........

Anyway, the scale was nice to me AGAIN! I'm tellin' you, I'm just waitin' for the day that it breaks my heart again. Well, I lost 1 pound!!! Yay! I know it is less than the weeks prior, but I'll take it! ANY loss is a good loss in my book. They ALL add up. That's almost 12 pounds in three weeks!

If you remember, I was quite worried about last week because lately that seems to be when I "fall off of the wagon," but even with the slight derailment I still succeeded and I didn't derail too much. I still had my weeklies, but I have not used them on this new plan. So, I WAS within my point limits, but probably not a good decision the day before weigh-in.

So, as of today, I'm still on track and I think we have a pretty good menu planned out for Christmas that shouldn't derail me too much. I'm saving ALL of my weeklies for Saturday just in case. I know, I know, again the day before weigh-in, but they say that is what they are there for. So, we'll see........

Sooooo.......

I have been having a hard time getting back into the groove of things. It is the end of the month and I need to make my budget work-wise, so I have been putting in a little "extra" time working too. So, it has been hard for me to get back in the groove of things.

Well, if you are from here (Spokane), then you know that it is snowing LIKE MAD! Well, I DON'T LIKE SNOW. I panic a bit. I don't like driving, so guess what? I have a really hard time dealing with all of this snow and trying to venture out and getting some deals. So? Guess what else? I haven't been out and I'M GOING CRAZY!!! I WANNA GO SHOPPING!!!! I have +UP Rewards that are expiring at the end of the week, so I HAVE to get out there sometime. I'm hoping that the snow will slow down towards the end of the week and Blakey and I can head out.

Okay, so on another note.....I have been feeling kind of down and sad today. I wasn't sure why. I thought that maybe it was 'cause it was snowing (really) or maybe it has to do with work, OR maybe it has to do with my kids. Yep, I was just thinking about it and my daughter and I got off on a bad foot this morning. I really really don't like that, because what happens in the morning can really really affect someone's day (mine and/or hers).

Well, many of you have met my daughter, Faith or Faithy as we like to call her.

Well, quite honestly (if you ask me), she is such a sweet sweet kiddo. No, really, I have gotten many many compliments on how well-mannered and sweet she is. I know, I know, we all think our kids are the best and I am not trying to brag. I'm just trying to paint you a picture of how I am feeling right now.  She is so very gentle, kind, caring, loving, and then some. Really, when she cries it just breaks my heart. She plays by the rules and is VERY VERY literal. You tell her to do something step-by-step and by golly she is going to do what you told her step-by-step, JUST like you told her. This girl follows rules!

Well, anyway, I'm feeling like a bad mommy right now. So, a few weeks ago her first tooth came loose and we pulled that. It was one of her bottom teeth. Okay, when I was pulling that one I noticed that the tooth next to it was loose as well as the two top ones. I told her that she was going to have to work on it and make it more loose. So, I have been on her lately to try to work on it, but she doesn't want to "get hurt." Okay, so this morning it was REALLY REALLY loose, but as she told me she "didn't want it out." I said to just let me look at it and see if I could get  it out, "but I don't want it out. It hurts." I told her that I knew that it hurt and was uncomfortable, but that I felt it was time for it to come out. I told her that if we didn't pull it then her other teeth would come in and they would not come in right. They would come in "lookin' funny." Well, she told me that she didn't care. So, she was crying like mad and NOT happy with me at all. Finally, after about 30 minutes of trying to pull this thing. It was ready, I was just too chicken because I didn't want to hurt her and she was crying that I was having a hard time getting that thing to come out (I was shaking). So, by the end she was crying and I was frustrated (not how I like to be with her). Now, she is happy because "the tooth fairy" is coming tonight and she lost another tooth, but I'm still sad and feel guilty about being frustrated this morning and making her cry.

I know they say this "job" of being a parent doesn't get any easier, but realy does it have to be this hard? My heart is REALLY broken right now......

Cheryl

Seriously?

Who gave these two paint rollers?

and......

So, I spent all day Saturday finishing up the painting job in my front room and thought that I would allow for some help from these two. All I have to say is NEVER AGAIN!:) As you can probably tell by the picture, they had WAY MORE FUN than I did. Trying to keep them from spilling paint on the floor, trying to keep them from getting paint on unintended surfaces. Yep, that lightswitch in Blakey's picture got a coat of paint. :) The door in Faithy's picture got a little coat of paint. I guess the object, when you are that little, is to try and see how far you can get the roller to go up on the wall while jumping is of GREAT fun! Nevermind the messes you make when you come (fall) back down.

Anyway, I just thought these pictures were soooo very cute. The kiddos did have fun, until I had to say no more. They really do just crack me up.

Thanks!

Cheryl

Albertson's shop

This is a different kind of posting, but I just had to share with you. The deals are no longer, but I really really wanted to share the picture with you. I did get to Albertson's earlier this week and bought.....

8 cans of Progresso Light Clam Chowder 10 for $10
-$1/4 X2
-2 Twice the Value coupons
=$4, making them $0.50 a can!

2 bottles of Darigold Milk $1 X2
-$1/2 from recent insert
-1 Twice the Value Coupon
=FREE!

Here is a picture of my shop.......

Isn't that just too cute? Now, there IS a little story here. Sometimes when I shop, my assistant, as I like to call him (Blakey), will take stuff to entertain himself. So, on this day, he took his pad of paper and pen and "drew" everything that was in the cart. He later told me that "mommy, now you don't have to take a picture of your shop 'cause I drew one for you already." Now, isn't that just the sweetest thing. He had fun doing it, but tried to save me an extra step. If you look really close, you might be able to see the soup and the milk getting ready to be placed on the belt. ;)

Anyway, I just really couldn't wait to share this with you all. I thought it was really sweet.

Thanks!

Cheryl

Have You Ever Just Had One of Those Days?

Okay, so before I show you the picture I JUST have to say a few words. Many of you, who have been following me for a while, have met/seen my "assistant" Blakey. Well, I have to tell you, he is such a card. Every time we turn around he is making us laugh for some reason or another. He REALLY is the family clown. Of course ALL of my kids are great and have their unique personalities. I could go on an on about my kids (as I'm sure many of you could too about your own children). Well, since most of you have met Blakey via in person or through my blogs, I just HAVE to share this picture with you.

Okay, so yesterday (Monday) evening we decided to go out to dinner (yes, with a coupon) and we were REAL hungry. We sent each of the kids to go in and go potty "AND wash your hands too." Okay, now you are done with that, "go and get your shoes on, so we get be ready to walk out the door." Blakey comes out of his "filthy" bedroom, where he can't find a single thing (yes, he has managed to turn his room upside down in a matter of days), and says "I cannot find my other shoe." I say, "you need to go back in there and find it, because you just had it a couple of hours ago." This is what happens when you ask him to pick his stuff up and he just takes it and chucks it in his room. Things just kind of land wherever. "We are going to leave in a few minutes and you'd better have your shoes on." I am trying to work with him in getting things done the first time I tell him. It is still a work in progress I tell ya'.

Okay, so we are off and running. Get to the restaurant, park the van, my husband goes to open the back door and he is presented with this...........

Look at his shoes!!! So, we ask him why he has two different shoes on, and he comes back with "well, I couldn't find my other flip-flop." Well, to his credit, he has them on the right feet and he DID get his shoes on so we could leave. :)

I don't think I have EVER laughed so hard. So, we came home and I took this picture. As you can see, he is a bit messy and not too happy with me.

Anyway, I just wanted to share with you all. Maybe you won't think it is as funny as I did, but I wanted to share.

Ever have anything like this happen with your kiddos?

Thanks!

Cheryl