So much to do....

So little time!!

Especially when you are as unorganized

as I am lately!

The sad thing is, 

I have all these great ideas

and ways to fix it!

Just the implementation,

that is the hard part.

I have finally decided on the 

books for our schooling next year.

Yes, I flip flopped

and 

second guessed

and 

considered returning ALL the books

I had to go with a different program.

But in the end, I chose to use what I have

and just "complete" my set.

We are mainly using Abeka,

with Catholic religion and crafts/art

thrown in.

I have a VERY ambitious list for this year

of things to accomplish.

I will post more later.

In the mean time, 

I have a TON of updates for you

because things have just been nuts

the past week.

(I know you have missed us)

We just got back from a quick

mini-vacay

to the Dallas area

(more on that in another post)

and rolled back in here at 11:15pm last night

(Tuesday).

Daddy was up at 5:15am

and off to work.

(Bless his heart!)

I am still thinking about trying to get up

before the baby forces me out of bed...

THINKING about it.

But, dern it, 

I desperately NEED to do it!

We had been using my husband's phone 

as our clock in our room, 

and he sets an alarm...

but it got really old not knowing

what time it was after he left and took his phone with him!

So I found an unused alarm clock in one of our 

still many boxes and hooked it up.

Then a few weeks ago, decided I would set the alarm for 6am.

Well, that was the plan anyways.

Apparently I set it to 6PM!

It didn't wake me up the following morning for some odd reason,

but I didn't care enough to do anything about it.

Then the kids were terrified to go upstairs 

because there was a beeping noise.

Hubby figured out it was my ill set alarm clock!

So since you guys helped me get on track with the budget

and reading that Dave Ramsey book...

I figured I would recruit you to help me 

get the kids school lesson plans into excel

and a daily family schedule & chore chart

going. 

I attempted it a few months ago and got a GREAT

little weekly chart put together, 

but don't keep up with it much.

I think I need something to write on...

or check off...

I have LOTS of plans and LOTS of ideas.

So keep me in check,

please!

Let's see how this goes.

1) Get boys lesson plans/schedules into excel

2) Create a daily schedule

3) Create chore chart

(or resurrect the one we have)

4) Get my butt out of bed!

(I want to do a devotional, work out and shower

before the kids get up - but I so love my sleep!)

5) Find a daily devotional that I will enjoy

(so I stick with it)

See, its daunting!

But something HAS to be done!!!

Accountability Check Up

Time for an accountability check up...

What have we been up to and how are my

"projects" going?

Well the budget is going...

QUICKLY!
Between purchasing next year's school books
(more on that later)
Paying Taxes (yes, paying - FIRST time ever - don't ask!)
Easter
An out of town family reunion
(also more on that later)

April's budget was blown before the month even started.

I am keeping up with my workouts

and enjoy them most days...

I manage to do it about 4-5 days a week

for 30 minutes each time
yet I am still

chasing those first 5 pounds!!!

Meanwhile, 

my darling husband is 

QUICKLY 

approaching 30 pounds
LOST!!

I don't get it!!

I am trying to stay motivated

and it definitely helps 

that I am not breathing as hard
during my workouts

and I feel better, 

but 

the weight is just NOT

melting off of me

like it is 

my sweet hubby!

UGH!!

We have all adjusted to the 

nap time/rest time each day.

If you remember, 

the boys have enjoyed sleeping in the

box that the elliptical came in...

I separate the kids at rest time

and one "gets" to sleep in the box.

I feel SO bad saying that...

but they literally 

take turns

"getting" 

to sleep in the box!

It is quite funny.

And they insist on the top being closed 

so its dark.

Whatever works

and

makes them happy

and

gives me a few minutes of
peace
and quiet.

But I promise...
I DO NOT
MAKE THEM
SLEEP IN A BOX!

This week we finally made some decisions
on school books for next year.
I am basically following this
curriculum 
with a few adjustments
that more suit me.

We might be joining a small
co-op for the fall
where each parent leads a different class.
Art, history, science, memory work.
But it is still getting organized.

I have mentioned before that J is
done with his math book.
R got so excited after looking through
the 3rd grade math book,
he came home that afternoon
and did 11 pages out of his math book.
And is so ready for 3rd grade!
Fine by me...
I will NOT squash his drive and desire!

I am thinking about testing him in a few weeks...
gonna look into it.

So besides blowing our budget,
buying school books for next year,
getting my car registration transferred down here,
(after waiting in line with 4 kids for an HOUR)
practices,
scouts
and every day life...

We managed to fit in a couple of fun things.

The Easter Bunny was able to fit some interesting things
into the kids baskets.

The older boys each got a
"paint your own ball"
kit.
J - soccer
R - football

First you have to pump them up,
then paint them,
then let it dry,
then paint again,
then dry,
then paint,
you get the picture.
They might be finished in another month,
when I finally feel like letting them leave them out
to dry between coats.



The littlest two got
some sand for the sandbox
I insisted we ship all the way from NC.
But I wasn't allowed to bring the sand with us!
So it sat empty on the back patio
til now.

And a bubble machine
(that I *just* got around to putting batteries in)

They also each got a chocolate bunny
and I let T eat part of one.
And, for whatever reason,
he doesn't like having his picture taken lately...
so this is what you get...

We were sent another craft from one of their sweet
crafty aunts...

I didn't snap a before picture,
but she sent bunny cutouts
that said
"No bunny loves you like Jesus"
and asked the kids to create a "home"
for the bunny.

So we got out the scissors,
construction paper,
glue,
markers
and
pom-poms

And they created these
masterpieces...

Finally,
we are getting geared up for our first
"official"
visit to daddy's office.
Since he is on base, and a civilian,
he is not authorized to
escort others onto the base.
So...tomorrow is a special event
that families can come to.
In order to get on base,
I had to have an updated registration...
which I didn't...
(blame it on the move)

Hence, the NEED to stand in line for an HOUR
with FOUR kids
to get my car registered here.

While I was swapping license tags...
I *finally*
got around to a few more vehicular updates.

Before
(SOOOOOOO sad to see this go - feel free to send me a new one!)







After
(how stinking cool is this thing??? and oh so true - thank you Mimi!!!)




And I will still be rocking the NC State Wolfpack tag on the front
until I am told otherwise
by those men in blue
that might insist that I put the front tag on my car
that I got when I received the back tag.
(atleast I am assuming that is why I got 2 tags - haha)

And I am sure I will have TONS to share from my first
family reunion with this side of the family.
I am so looking forward to it!!!
(seriously!)

Recommendation, Warning & Let the Games Begin!!!

Recommendation:

We have ALL seen the 

rotisserie chickens

that the local grocery stores 

have for sale every day.

And if you have ever tried them, 

you know that they are scrumptious!

BUT - unless you found somewhere 

that has them for $3.50 each...

its hard to pay $7/chicken.

(well for me anyways).

Back at my favorite grocery store chain in NC,

they would occasionally run these super specials

on chickens and you could get them for $0.59/lb.

So me being the frugal person I have always been,

I would buy as many as they would let me and

load my freezer.  I was known to have 12

chickens in my freezer at once.

(outside, garage freezer)

Then I had to come up with ways to cook all those

silly chickens!!

I decided to bite the bullet and buy a rotisserie.

We did NOT buy one new.

(remember the frugal statement above)

I wasn't convinced we would love it and use it,

so I wasn't forking out the dough for a new

kitchen toy.

So we found on on Craigslist for $40.

It had ALL the pieces and the lady

said she had only used it a handful of times.

That was the BEST $40 we have EVER spent.

I have learned how to truss the birds,

without those goofy strings they sell specifically 

for trussing.

(I just use cotton thread!)

And after some trial and error -

if you have never brined a bird...

oh good heavens,

you MUST!

There is NO other way to do a chicken!

You have to play with the seasonings in your brine.

But your loved ones,

will be asking for you to make

"one of your rotisserie chickens".

(oh and a little Lawry's seasoning on top is the kicker)

You gotta try it!!

Warning:

Along with the frugalness,

referred to above,

I do my best,

and always have,

to know where our money is going.

When we sign a contract to buy a house,

I want to know where all of those 

costs are coming from on that 

"good faith estimate" 

they present you with.

When we buy a car,

why aren't these numbers adding up?

I ask questions...

Tax documentation,

double check it!

Most of the time,

they are correct

and legit,

but occasionally,

by you asking questions

and double checking,

you can find errors

that could cost you 

literally 

HUNDREDS of dollars.

The past two days, 

I have spent crunching numbers

only to discover an error

significantly to our disadvantage.

So now we have to get it fixed...

let the fun begin!

It doesn't take long,

just give it a shot.

Trust me,

you will thank me one day!

The Usual:

Nothing too exciting this week.

I actually got ALL four of the kids

at the table and occupied this week

(once)

it was beautiful!

(albeit fleeting - I'll take it)

A few years ago,

I discovered dried beans

as a sensory item!

My kids have LOVED them.  

Its easier than rice and sand inside.

But give them: 

different color beans

funnels

bowls

measuring spoons

measuring cups

aluminum pie pans

and 

watch them go!

They will spend quite a while occupying themselves that way.

Just stay close, cause when the beans start flying...

or TOO many are hitting the ground...

they are DONE!  

haha!

Let the Games Begin!!!

Our new sports season is officially in full swing and

we had our first Saturday FULL of games today.

MERCY!!!

10am - A's soccer game

2pm - J's soccer game

4:15 - R's baseball game

This is about what our Saturday's look like

for the next 8 weeks.

OY!

And, of course, the field is too far from the house

to justify going home between games

(most of the time).

Which makes for a VERY long day

with an 18 mo old in tow!

Below are a few pics from our day...

Soccer Girl!!!

Home Sweet Home

(we had to get something but that thing had NO airflow and it was HOT!)

Camera man, videoing his brother's soccer game.

T's perch most of the day.

(poor thing)

Action shot, after a throw in.

J's is doing AMAZING this year in soccer!!

Luckily the camera snapped when it did - cause the ball went

right through his legs.

I would have HATED to get that on camera!

Haha!!

Team M!

Accountability Check In:

1) Getting up before the kids...

not every day.

2) Working out before the kids get up...

NOPE, not at all,

but I have been getting my workout in 

before they get up from their newly 

implemented rest time,

does that count?

3) Dave Ramsey/Budget - 

Done, let me just say, I have NEVER 

looked so forward to the first day of the month

in my LIFE!

Brand new squeaky clean budget to work with!!

Random-ness...

As usual -

we have had a very busy week in this house!

We kept up with school - 

but that kinda took a backseat to my newest project

(thanks to Dave Ramsey)...

a BUDGET!  

AACCKK!! 

This is almost more daunting than

homeschooling!

I did complete Dave Ramsey's

Total Money Makeover

on Tuesday.

Well, didn't "complete", 

but got far enough into it

(over 3/4 through)

that we could get started.

I plugged this "budget" into 

Quicken only to find out 

we have already blown

most of our "budget" for March.

Luckily, there are only a few days left in March...

then we start fresh.  

We will see how long this lasts.

I have been getting better about getting up before the kids

(if I am up before the baby, does that count?)

I have worked out - not necessarily

before the kids are up 

but at least I have stayed with that.

(Let me take a minute to complain about how much

it STINKS that the pounds are literally 

MELTING off of my husband,

meanwhile in the last two weeks of working 

out, I have:

gone down 3,

back up 2,

back down 3

WITHOUT eating craziness!

UGH!  

Makes it hard to stay committed,

but I think the weight is just 

redistributing...)

Now to our week in review:

Somehow I guess R knew that this past week

was a week of changes...

cause I came down Monday morning

(after getting my workout and shower in)

and found this...

 

Him, with his books spread out in front of him

(yes and the TV)

but at least he was doing it unprovoked!

We headed off to PE and they did a few activities,

then ended the class with a little friendly

Tug-o-War!

Too funny!!!

First he tried to evenly split the teams.

Then he did girls vs boys... 

Then cause the girls needed a little help against all those boys...
he got a few moms involved...

HILARIOUS!

We had some pretty wicked weather run through here

Monday night.

 R got pretty scared and decided to "hide" from it.

 

A and T were oblivious (of course)

and A is ALL about dancing lately.

She loves playing "her dance game" 

on Kinect.

So I thought she would enjoy watching 

Dancing with the Stars 

with me.

Oh was I right!

She got up and danced with them

then pulled her poor baby brother

out into the middle of the living room floor

"Come on T, let's dance"

(NO JOKE!)

He obliged,

I think he was a willing partner,

in the beginning...

But she is slightly bigger and older,

and his willingness faded quickly!

But it was 

A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!

We attempted to get 

some video,

didn't work out with my phone.

But hopefully they will try again on Monday.

Tuesday morning,

 I came down to BOTH

older boys doing their schoolwork 

in front of the TV. 

Whatever, at least they started...

(didn't finish there but effort means a lot in this house).

Then they made their own lunches!
(sniff, sniff, they don't need me anymore...)

Wednesday,

daddy took the older two to meet their new 

scout group.

Aren't they handsome!!!

(all 3 of them, wink, wink)

Thursday, we had co-op...

I got a kick out of the fact that the kids get

the option to play with all sorts of sports equipment,

a huge open field

and my two oldest...

sit and dig holes!

Really???

 

We recently discovered Nutella in this house...

J LOVES it as much as his momma!

I thought we had emptied the container...

apparently not...

if you look closely,

you can see 4 hands 

COVERED in Nutella

and a Nutella jar that has been 

LICKED clean!

J has told me NUMEROUS times

that I need to buy some more,

and daily asks, when are we going to the 

store so you can buy more of that

tella stuff.

 

(the jar was cleaner than this when they were done with it!)

J got some cool 

K'Nex Robo Battlers for his birthday

and has REALLY enjoyed 

building them,

when he is done with is school work,

he will whip those things out.

Its not a roller coaster,

but he did these all by himself

and I enjoyed the 

pride I saw in him as he completed each one.

 

One of my sisters is REALLY crafty!

Well they both are, 

more so than me,

but one is always doing crafts with my kids.

So when we moved,

I suggested that she send them little kits in the mail

to make stuff with.

She sent them a bunch of white circles in January 

and asked them to make her some

snowmen and then send her a picture.

We did...

Then for St. Patrick's Day,

we opened an envelope and saw this...

 

 

(yes last week)

Then every day this week, she has asked.
Did they make their Mr. Clover's yet?
No not yet.
No not today...
No we have been busy...
So finally, Friday,
I told the boys that we HAD
to make the great craft we were
sent or NeeNee would get mad at me.
J thought that was funny,
for some reason.
My sister and I couldn't decide if it
was because he couldn't picture NeeNee mad
or couldn't picture someone mad at mommy.
(probably the first option).

So we made them...
Finally!

They turned out SUPER cute!!!

A had to perform surgery on hers.

She informed me that one of its legs fell off and 

he couldn't dance

so she needed to get some "gwew".

So she disappeared into the pantry,

I heard rumblings, but was busy,

she came out with a tiny dab of "gwew"

on the "leg" 

then she proceeded to fix it herself.

(I traced her steps - and shockingly,

she had put the lid back on the gwew

AND put it back in its bin!)

Thank you NeeNee!

Then Saturday (today)

started off the busiest sports season yet.

We had:

2:15-3:15 -> Soccer practice for J

3:00-4:00 -> Baseball practice for R

3:30-4:40 -> Soccer practice for A

MERCY!

The only saving grace was the fact that they were all 

on the same general field.  

PHEW!

A did GREAT for her first practice,

she was a little shy though.

 

And the weather woes from earlier in the week were long gone...

My lily white skin is gonna have a problem down here in this 

TEXAS SUN!!

(When I say lily white, I mean it...when we purchased my first foundation

when I was a teenager...the color name was "cloud")

All I keep thinking is that I am going to burst into flames

or dust with this sun!

(yes, we have been watching too many vampire shows - 

well just one - Being Human - not

the other vampire movie things)

-AND-

Random picture of the week...

this is the second time I caught this,

T enjoys climbing up in J's lap

when he sits in their little recliner.

I am not sure if it is because T likes that chair

(which he does)

and thinks that J is taking his spot...

or if he just wants to sit with J

(in that chair)...

either way - it is still SUPER cute

 

and was worthy of a picture.

Thanks for hanging in there with this long post...

I gotta go find some aloe!

I have a 6 year old!!! (again)

Our second born, J, was VERY close

to being a St. Patty's day baby.

But I couldn't take it anymore...

so he didn't make it.

We celebrated his 6th birthday this week!

I teased him all day the previous day,

telling him his cake wasn't finished,

his presents weren't wrapped,

he couldn't turn 6, 

I wasn't ready!

We laughed and joked but

dern it, 

he still turned 6

on Thursday!

He is our easy going,

very docile child.

He is very easy to please

and 

very eager to please.

Daddy took the day off 

and we decided on a day full of fun!

We *were* going to 

hit a special breakfast at SeaWorld,

then spend the day there.

Then take him to

the Rainforest Cafe for dinner.

We discussed all of this with him at dinner

two nights before his birthday,

then he informed us,

nope, I don't think I want to do that.

Ok, then what do you want to do?

I want to go to Peter Piper Pizza

(kinda like Chuck E Cheese - see I do know how to spell it!)

Instead, we took him to a new place 

that had been recommended to us.

The problem was

its Spring Break down here!

So this place was PACKED!!!

But it was NEAT!

Its called Incredible Pizza

(or something like that) 

and

it had EVERYTHING.

Indoor go-karts,

R got to drive his own car


Here is my passenger


Haha - you can't even see R in the lead car!!
(Ghost driver)

indoor bumper cars,
(which we did but didn't get pictures of)

indoor glow-in-the-dark putt putt,

Our daughter has her sports mixed up, but she has great form!

BIRTHDAY BOY!!!

tons of video games

and kiddie rides for the babies,

Feeding peanuts to zoo animals.

Wishful thinking...

I let her climb up on the end of the skeeball machine - but it didn't help.

AND

duck pin bowling!!


 
Again - she has a good form.

We had to convince the baby that he

was NOT allowed to WALK 

down the lane and knock down the pins!

This was J's favorite - they played twice.

Then a pizza/salad/taco/dessert/spaghetti buffet bar.

And it wasn't outrageously priced.

So that is where we went...

we spent 5 HOURS

there.

My feet hurt when we were done!!

Then the birthday boy decided he wanted 

steak and mashed potatoes 

for dinner.

So we went home and did just that.

Like I said, 

easy to please.

I enjoy doing things for my kids

and 

for whatever reason

(I think I got it from my mom)

I make the kids birthday cakes every year.

I started off easy...

but have gotten more and more daring

and more creative.

I am not scared to try new things,

but do stress out over each cake.
(ask my husband)

I do realize at the end of the day,

as long as they like it,

that is all that matters.

When I asked J a few weeks ago

what kind of cake he wanted,

he said - 

"I don't care,surprise me,

but no pink!"

Then he later asked for a strawberry cake,
so I bought the ingredients,
then when I informed him it would be pink,

he QUICKLY changed his mind!

Turkey!

My boys are obsessed with Skylanders.

So I jumped on-line 

(where I get my inspiration)

and saw that someone made a 

portal of power cake.

So...I figured...

here goes nothin!

I decided to get creative with the inside too.

My ultimate goal was to make the cake

look like the "thing" on the left!

Using homemade marshmallow fondant!

I was pleased with how it turned out...

I think I succeeded, cause look at that child's face!

In our house, the birthday kid, gets to make the first cut.

This is a tradition that they ALL look forward to!

J had a hard time with the fondant though,

he said it was too hard

and later it was referred to as "plastic"

by my father-in-law.  

He asked if you were supposed to eat it.

He didn't...

And the innards.

Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!!!

I have decided I am going to use you

to help keep me accountable on my goals.

So here goes!

This Week's Goals:

1) Get up before kids - check

2) Get workout in before kids get up - check

(only if the kids have to stay in bed longer cause of talking to early - details)

3) Start reading Dave Ramsey's book - check

(first 45 pages read so far - 200 more to go)

So far so good!