I took the big plunge!

Ok, I got so many responses for my little couponing write up in my last blog, that I had a thought about starting a whole new blog to concentrate just on that kind of thing. So after checking with a few people, who assured me it wasn't too crazy of an idea, I took the big plunge and did it!

I'm really excited about this new blog. I'm figuring it will be a lot easier to post all of the shopping, food storage, and emergency preparedness stuff on there instead of fighting for space with this family blog. I have all of the details over on the new blog as to how I'm thinking of doing things. And of course I want input from everyone who's interested - I want the blog to be more of a place all of us contribute to so that everyone can get excited and learn new ideas and techniques.

So you're asking, what is the web address to this new blog right? Well, here it is:

http://www.allprepared.blogspot.com

Nothing too fancy, so it should be easy to remember. Thanks to all of you who encouraged me to do it (especially my patient husband who is very supportive of my new hobby!), I don't think I would have had the guts to do it without all of the support. I really think this is going to be a lot of fun for all of us!

Am I Still Alive???

Yes, I'm still alive.

Hard to tell since I haven't posted in forever. Seems like Januaries and Februaries are always slow and boring months for me. I always hate these months, at least until Valentine's Day. But this year has been a bit different. I'm not so sure on the change, other than the fact that I seem to be keeping myself out of the "winter blah" mode somehow and find that I'm being more productive as a result.

Something that I know that has contributed to my upbeat attitude is something that might make you laugh - couponing. I've really been into couponing lately and anyone that talks to me knows that is all I talk about. But the truth is that I really am saving a ton of money, building our storage, and it's even become somewhat of a hobby for me. Now when was the last time you heard of a hobby that saved money???

Now I know that some of you are saying, oh man, I don't have time for that. And it's true, it does take time. But I've found that by putting in a little bit of time, you can save a whole lot of money. Since time is money, I guess it's a fair trade - you can't get something for nothing, so if want to save the money, you have to put in a bit of time. Luckily, there are suggestions and methods out there that help reduce time spent and endless clipping of coupons.

For those of you contemplating the big jump into the world of bargain shopping, I'll just share with you a couple of my recent experiences as encouragement:

- Just 3 weeks ago, Albertson's had a huge sale.
Items purchased = I won't list them all, but it was over 100 items
Total Spent Out of Pocket = $50
Total Saved = $260

- This week at Walgreen's
Items purchased = 5 12-pks of pepsi products, 2 bags of Tostito's chips
Total Spent Out of Pocket = $10.30
Total Saved = $18.63

- Today at Smith's
Items purchased = 10 cans of Hormel chili, 3 bags of Quaker Quakes Snacks
Total Spent Out of Pocket = $2.64
Total Saved = $11.87


So if you're doubting whether this really works, then let me tell you - IT DOES! I've kept my grocery budget as is for the past few months and have really been "stocking up" on things to get our family's year supply completed. Now that I'm completely stocked, I will just be in "refill mode" and need only buy the items as needed when they go on sale. This will be exciting because I'm interested to see how much I save in purchasing groceries each month.

If you are embarking on this whole thing and are interested in any information, let me know. I typed up a little instruction sheet on how I do things for someone who recently asked and I'd be happy to share it with you too! Just email me or post a comment and I'll get it to you.

So this is pretty much what has kept me from keeping up on my blogging. I'm having way too much fun saving money! I promise to take more pictures and share more about the family and kids better in the next little while.

Basketball and Pigtails

So you're wondering what basketball and pigtails have in common right? Well, my two children of course!

The basketball part comes from Zach. He started Jr Jazz basketball on Thursday. It was his first game and he did excellent! The first 20 minutes of the hour they have practice and the next 40 minutes they have their game. He was so excited, he could hardly wait until they got going! This is our little #22 - isn't he cute?



We got there early so we could get good seats, so Jeremiah went out and helped him shoot a bit. He was making quite a few baskets!



When his coach got there, they had a quick practice of passing, dribbling, and shooting. After the practice, they huddled up and got ready to start the game.



They do a lot of really great things for the little kids, one of the things they do that I love is that they give them wristbands to wear (5 different colors, 1 set for each team) so that they know which person they are supposed to be guarding (they both will be wearing the same color wristband) all the time. Zach just loved his and couldn't get over how neat it was to be wearing it.



Watching the game was so much fun! Zach was really a little runner - he was back and forth on that court so fast! He did great guarding his guy and passing the ball.



He also shot quite a few baskets.



Unfortunately, I didn't have the camera ready when he actually made it, but he did make at least 3 or 4 baskets. He did so great and we all can't wait until next Thursday to watch him play again!

Now the pigtails part of this post obviously has to do with Hailey. She got a Dora doll from her Nana and Papa in California and this morning she decided that we needed to do Dora's hair. She has pigtails, so we just fixed them up a bit and changed her outfit. Later, it was time to do Hailey's hair, so we decided to do pigtails just like Dora.




I can't believe how long her hair is getting. She's so cute and the pigtails really fit her personality! We of course had to take a picture of the two twinners together.




Are they cute or what???

Our Little Princess Turns 3!

I have always hated the days right after Christmas for as long as I can remember, it seems so hard to realize that Christmas is over and that a new year is upon us. I hate taking down the Christmas Tree and decorations and packing them up in storage for another 11 months. But all of those feelings changed 3 years ago, when our little angel was born on December 29th. And although I still hate taking down Christmas, I get all excited about celebrating a fun little girl's birthday.

This year our little Princess turned 3 and boy was it a party! After dinner, we all sat down to open a whole bunch of presents. Does she look excited or what?



She got so much that it's hard to even remember all of them. She got a backpack, towel, and outfit from Nana, Papa, and Uncle Taylor. She got a fun little doll and lipgloss watch from Uncle Jon, Aunt Holli, and her cousins. She got a fun Barbie doll with baby set from Uncle Bubby and Aunt Afton. And she also got a fun pink jewelry box from Aunt Kylie and Uncle Jedd.




Then she was on to the presents from us. Zachary gave her a Princess pretend makeup set. And she got a bunch of dress-up stuff from Jeremiah and I. I have been buying all of this throughout the year, so I was able to get it all for a really good deal, but when I finally put it all together, it sure was quite a bit. We gave her a Princess Vanity, a trunk full of Princess dress-up outfits, 3 or 4 fairy dress up outfits, about 5 pairs of shoes, a bunch of hats, scarves, boas, tiaras, purses, and wands and of course a whole ton of play jewelry!




We had to have her model a few outfits for us so we could see how cute she was. Isn't she darling???





After presents we headed into the kitchen for birthday cake and ice cream. She was so excited about her princess cupcakes that she helped make and decorate. And of course she had to have princess plates to put them on.




Needless to say, Hailey has been playing dress-up every spare second she's had. She loves all of her presents and doesn't even want to stop playing to eat or sleep. Even her brother has gotten into the "dress-up spirit" with her. The other day they both came down to show us their outfits. I didn't have the heart to tell Zach that he was in a "girls" outfit, so I guess this will just be a picture to use for blackmail when he gets older! :) Too cute!



So it was a pretty fun day. Thanks to all of you who were able to come down for her party, it really meant the world to her. I can't believe my little girl is 3, she's really getting to be a big girl. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAILEY-BUG!

A Very Hawks Christmas

Christmas came to our house with lots of laughter and lots and lost of presents. The kids had an absolute blast and really got into the whole Santa thing this year. They rushed down the stairs with so much excitement, I thought they would both burst. They wanted to open every present and play with it immediately!



By far, the favorites were the scooters that Santa left them. They rode those scooters all day Christmas Day and the day after until Mom had enough of them running into things and had to banish them to the garage for use when the driveway and sidewalks get clear enough to ride them outside.



Too many other pictures to include, but here's just a few more of some of the other presents they received.



We had so much fun with them this year and can't wait until next year when they are even more excited. Christmas is so much more fun when you have little children around. In fact, I was so much more excited than I remember being in a long time, maybe even more than when I was a child. Seeing the excitement and anticipation on the faces of your children is something you almost can't beat! Hope you all had a wonderful and Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve Cookie Decorating

What would Christmas Eve be without some cookie decorating? In the letter that Santa wrote back to both of the kids, he specifically asked for sugar cookies with green frosting. So we had to make him some special cookies with not only green frosting, but a bunch of other stuff on top just because he is special.


Don't forget the sprinkles ...


Or the M&M's and Marshmallows!


Don't they look yummy???


We had to test them out just to make sure they were good and THEY WERE!


After our cookie decorating, we decided to sit down and watch a movie. Home Alone was on and Zach loved it. They were so cute laughing that I couldn't help but put on a little clip of them. I think my kids have the most unique laughs, Jeremiah and I were laughing more at them than the movie!



They are just too much sometimes - what a fun Christmas Eve we had!

Pretty Toes

How do you say pretty? Why, toenail polish of course! On the 23rd, right before our Family Christmas Party, Hailey's Aunt Holli painted both Hailey's and her cousin Jocelyn's toes. Hailey has been fascinated with toenail polish since the last time I painted my toes. I don't do it often (maybe once or twice a year), but she hasn't forgotten in all the time since. Aunt Holli promised a pedicure for both girls the next time they came down and she was true to her promise!


Do these girls look happy and excited or what?


Letting them dry was the most difficult part for out little busybody, but she did great! She held so still, I was so proud of her.


And a pedicure wouldn't be complete without a little bit of jewelry to go with it. Hailey was so excited to finally have a pair of earrings to wear, even if they were stickers. She couldn't wait to show everyone that came to the party that night.


The earrings fell off later that night, but the toenail polish is still going strong. In fact, Hailey has refused to wear socks since because she always wants to see her pretty toes. Thanks so much Aunt Holli for making her day!