3 1/2 years!

Ethan is officially 3 1/2 now! Sometimes I wonder if he's 3 1/2 going on 35 with the things that come out of his mouth sometimes! Right now he's into doing a lot of things. We just had our first pool day at Nanny's the other day and he's already trying to swim on his own so we're starting this summer off right. You'll be finding us at the pool all the time!

E's still loves golf! He took a golf class through the local parks and rec and he goes out with his dad here and there. Ry even took him to the Byron Nelson golf tournament last weekend and I think he really enjoyed watching the pros. I think he even had one of the guys throw a ball to him!

He's loving having friends over or going over to friends' houses these days. One of my friends in the ward watches him for me when I have activity days and I switch with her on the days I don't so he gets very excited for Wednesdays for his buddy to come over or to go to his buddy's house. I came in the other day from boot camp and he was dressed and ready to go with his shoes on at 6:30 am and told me, "I'm ready to go play." It was a very long time until 3:30 rolled around. Geez! He still loves to ask people if he can come play at their house. I'm trying to teach him that it's not polite to invite yourself over, but it's not quite getting through to him.


E's working on "earning" things these days. We've started doing chores around the house everyday and he gets pennies in his jar for doing them. He's learned how to make his bed, put his clothes away, clean his toy room, help mom bring in groceries, put away things, and help mom with whatever she needs. It's been a slow process and he's really tried my patience but he's started to actually be REALLY helpful these days. He loves putting pennies in his jar and he loves to "earn" all sorts of fun prizes. Right now he's also working on sitting in Primary. He's all over the place in opening exercises so we're really trying to get him to sit with his class and listen to his teacher. It's funny because he tells everyone in Primary that he's trying to "earn" pennies, but somehow he forgets when he wants to get up and walk around.

I can't believe the difference when I think back to what we were doing last summer. It seems like he was grown and matured so much in the past few months! To think that last summer we were phasing out of diapers and working on potty training just boggles my mind! I feel like that was ages ago, not last summer! Time flies when you're having fun!

8 Months!

During my blogging hiatus Max turned 8 months and there have been lots of fun things going on with him. We've entered into the world of mobility! Max has started army crawling last week and he can also rock back and forth on his hands and knees. He also does this funny thing that we like to call the "penguin" where he gets up on his hands and knees and then attempts to crawl and just ends up on his tummy with his arms at his side and kicks his legs. He looks like one of those penguins that is trying to slide across the ice. I'll have to get it on tape, it cracks me up all the time.

Max also has started cutting his first set of chompers! The first one has already broken through and the second one his creeping up there, but not quite in yet. He's been a little bit more tempermental these days, but that's to be expected.

We're also branching out in the food arena. He's trying all sorts of new foods like mango, eggs, watermelon, teething biscuits, and cheerios. I have to pick up some baby yogurt for him sometime so he'll be trying that soon. He's also learned how to drink though a straw so anytime he sees someone with a straw he usually begs for a sip so watch out!

Struggle

I'm still struggling over this blog thing. I'm debating whether or not to go private. Until then, no posts.

Blogging Blues, I Need Advice

I've been thinking a lot about my blog and my blogging style...or lack thereof. I just haven't been blogging like I used to. Well, I came across a post on one of the blogs that I read and I could totally relate to her post. She talked about how lately she feels like she's lost her voice on her blog because she knows that everyone reads her blog. I know you're probably like, duh, your blog is posted on the Internet...every one's going to read it. It makes total sense in my head, but it's hard to explain. When a lot of people read your blog, it leads to some major problems...People get offended if they're not invited to an outing, people get offended if you don't include your outing with them on your blog, people pass judgements about what you're doing/not doing as a mom, people think you're braggin if you write about something you're celebrating or accomplished, they think you're negetive if you write about "true life" occurences, and quite frankly people are just nosy. I feel like I don't write blog posts or omit things in my posts because I know certain people are reading my blog and I don't want to offend them, come across as bragging or negative and then be judged unfairly. I have seen a lot of negative anonymous comments lately on other people's blogs and I'm can't believe how mean people can be. I have to admit that I do roll my eyes at some things people say on their blogs, but obviously everyone has a right to their own opinion and I appreciate their blogs and I enjoy reading them.

I've considered going private so I can regulate who I want to read my blog, but I really think private blogs are annoying. I never read them (sorry if you have a private blog). It takes too much effort to look up the blog, log in, and just find out that it hasn't been updated. I enjoy my bloglines account and its instant updates. Plus, I've come across some amazing moms and friends through blogs and had they been private or my blog been private then we would have never connected. So I guess that's where I'm at right now. I just wish I felt the same way about my blog like I used to. I used to post pretty much whatever was on my mind or whatever was in my heart at the time. I just feel like I'm writing my blog for other people and not myself.

It's such a catch 22. I love connecting with friends, family and new people and I also love that people take the time to stop by and catch a glimpse of our life. And what blogger doesn't love comments?! But I don't love certain people reading my blog, or people taking things the wrong way, or being judgemental. I have no way to regulate that. What's a girl to do? Any advice?

I Can't Even Think of a Title...

I put E's bike helmet and Ry's raquetball goggles on Max the other day when we were playing in the playroom the other day. I was laughing hysterically and Max thought it was pretty funny too.

Jungle Gym

I feel like Max's personal jungle gym these days. He always wants "mama" but he's also so wiggly. He basically just wants me to sit in the middle of the floor, surrounded by toys and then crawl all over me all day long. He's starting to crawl, but he can only crawl backwards. He gets frustrated about that so he mostly just cries until I carry him where he needs to go or hand him what he wants. I remember E being a very very wiggly boy and Max is definitely following the same amount of "activity" as E did. No rest for the weary.

The Stockpile and Monthly Results

I keep joking around that someone is going to have to post my picture at CVS and Walgreens and tell the clerks to not sell anything to me. I've been couponing for a couple months now and I'm definitely getting better and better at it and it's now taking less time. We're pretty much packed to the max with anything and everything. I've run out of room on all my shelves in the laundry room, my "drug store" under the bathroom sink is completely stocked, and we have "diaper depot" under Max's crib. Mind you that this is only the shelves in the back laundry room, this isn't even my pantry!




So yesterday I pulled out ALL of my receipts from the month of April to truly see how I'm doing on this coupon thing and if it really makes a difference. Well, to tell you the truth, I got a pit in my stomach when I saw how many receipts that I had. I was already trying to justify in my head why I had spent so much. "It's for food storage"..."I'm getting extra stuff, but saving at the same time"...yada yada yada. How am I going to explain this to Ry? Well, I had a huge relief when the tally was complete. I was $15 under our grocery budget, but had bought formula, diapers, and all personal care items with that grocery budget! And here's the kicker...I have saved $593.64 this month!!!! Holy cow! Basically I've tripled the amount of groceries, baby care, and personal items that we buy with my grocery budget alone! Now that I'm totally stocked we're going to be able to save even more since we don't have to buy pretty much anything and when I do get something it's only when it's a super deal or free. I was totally relieved and didn't have to justify anything at all. This past month has been a lot of fun since we get to try a lot of different and new products for a fraction of the price or for free. I've even been able to make free baby food for Max since apples are free this week at Target! I think I love this way too much!

Some Side Bar Love

I realized how far behind I am in updating my side bar. Ashley isn't even up yet. So if you're not on my side bar, please don't be offended. I'm just behind. Leave a comment and let me know.

Weekend in San Diego

I still can't believe that I was able to head out to San Diego this past weekend. My husband is awesome! He took the kids to do lots of fun things like the children's museum and to play ball at the church. They loved it and Ry did so well in keeping the house in order. I do think he got a small taste of what motherhood was like though.

I got into San Diego on Friday afternoon and Ash picked me up from the airport. I haven't seen her in at least 4 years and the minute I got in the car it was like no time had passed. I love that! I finally got to meet little Miss Lila too. She is so cute and by the end of the trip we were great buddies.

I also know Ash's husband, Byron, since he was in our ward freshman year and I was their third wheel every now and then. I have to post this picture since it's the only one that I have of all of us. Byron and Ashley are on the far left and I'm the one in the blue.

Byron works in the evenings so he came home so he could watch Lila so we could go out. Thanks Byron! The first night we went out for Thai food. Ash's first time having Thai food was with my family during our freshman year so we decided to go to a highly recommended restaurant there in San Diego. It was delicious! They had all my favorites!

The next morning we had quite a funny experience. You know how I mentioned in my previous post that Ash and I would unintentionally dress alike. Well, that is exactly what happened. I walk out of the bathroom and Byron tells me that Ash and I will be twins today. I didn't think much of it until Ash came out of her room! We both had on the same colored shirt, same colored jeans, and black flip flops. Who does this?!
We headed out to the San Diego temple since I've always wanted to go there. I swear I took this picture with my own camera! Doesn't it look like a postcard? The weather was beautiful that day!

Then we headed down to La Jolla so I could go see the beach and the seals that hang out there. I guess the tide was really low so there were only a few seals out that day, but we still got to see some. It was so refreshing to stick my toes in the sand and feel the ocean breeze, sounds corny...but it's so true!
The lumps out on that rock are seals.

After La Jolla, we picked up Byron and Lila so we could go get some lunch. Byron saw a restaurant on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on Food Network that was in the area so we headed over there. You could tell there was something good there since the line was out the door and down the street.
We got ours to go and ate it out by the beach. Hodads makes the best burgers ever! I can see why they featured it on TV. If you're ever in San Diego, go there! And just so you know Hodads is slang for a surfing "poser"...I'm sure you were wondering. After Hodads we went home to put Lila down for a nap and Byron had to go to work. It was so nice to be able to relax, I think we were all a little tired. Byron came back from work again that night so we could take a trip to the mall. A must! I was very excited to find out that they had an H&M there! Heaven! So we did a little shopping and grabbed some dessert and called it a night.

Sunday we went to church. Can I say flashback?! Their ward building was set up exactly like Santa Clara's! It really made me miss SC! Such great times! Church was great and I even figured out how to get Lila to sleep so I got to hold her during Relief Society. She is so cute! I kept telling her that I would be the best mother-in-law ever so she needs to marry one of my boys. Maybe she could meet Max during her freshman year of college and they could get married when he got home from his mission, just like her parents did. Haha!


This trip was so much fun! I wish I could have stayed longer, but I missed my kids so bad and I'm sure they were missing me. I wish I could have just brought Ash and Lila home with me! It was so great to getaway to a new place, but to be with old friends. Thank you so much for having me Bryon and Ashley! Come to Texas soon!

Howdy Partner!

E loves playing cowboy these days. He is always wearing his cowboy hat and riding his stick horse. It cracks me up. The other day we decided to dress Max up like a cowboy so they could play together. I don't think Max quite enjoyed being a cowboy as much as E does. Oh well. Look at E's face...so typical for him. I find him making all these hilarious faces all the time.

As for a little update on what we've been up to...Max is currently teething. It's not too bad, but he is pretty sad. We're trying all the normal comfort measures and just waiting for them to pop through. He really loves having cold watermelon in his little "munch bag" after dinner so that gives a little relief.

E hasn't been into too much mischief lately. His new thing is telling every single person he meets that he wants to go over to their house. It happens at church, the store, friends' houses, all the time. One day we were at the store and this elderly gentleman came up to us to say that my children were really good mannered and then E pops out with..."Next time I'm coming over to your house!" It usually makes people laugh, but we've had to start talking about "stranger" stuff and what's appropriate. Not so easy with a kid like E since he loves to talk to anything that moves. He definitely did NOT get that gene from me!

As for me, I'm enjoying my week off of boot camp. I found out last Friday that I won the biggest loser again so I get to take $25 off my next camp. I figured I'll keep going to boot camp as long as the biggest loser coupons are coming. Something must be working which is kind of interesting considering some results that I got back from some blood work that I had done. I found out that I have an under active thyroid which can be very common after pregnancy. So that explains the some of my tireness and the reason why I don't lose baby weight very quickly. So my doctor put me on some thyroid medication and I'll have my levels drawn again in 6-8 weeks. So we'll see how that goes. Well, I'm headed to San Diego today and I'm very very excited! I'll be back Sunday night, pictures to come!

Spontaneous

...is not a word that I really have in my daily vocabulary. Actually, I kind of cringe when I hear it. I work better with a plan. That's just my personality. Even though I'm a stickler for a plan/routine, there are times when being spontaneous can be a good thing. Yesterday Ry called me up and surprised me with a free airline ticket that HAD to be used by Monday. I was like, "Say WHAT?!" What in the world am I going to do? After a few phone calls...I can now say I'm headed to San Diego (by myself) for the weekend to visit Ashley!!!


(She's the O, I'm the Y)
Ash and I met our freshman year at BYU. We lived on the same floor and quickly became inseparable. We were like two peas in a pod. I swear there were so many times that I would walk into Chem 101 and we'd be wearing the same exact outfit just by chance. We had so much fun and were always up to something. During our freshman year, BYU gave us a week off for the Winter Olympics so we high tailed it to LA (where she's from) to hang out in the sun. We even ended up going with a bunch of friends to Price is Right while we were down there.



We haven't seen each other since Ry and I moved to Santa Clara back in 2004. It's been so long! I'm so excited to go! I don't even know what to do with myself! I haven't traveled by myself in over 4 years! What am I going to do?! My husband is so awesome! Thanks for making this happen, Ry!

Engaged!

As I was writing my last post, I was able to look through all my old wedding photos and came across this little cutie, my younger brother (I can't say little because he is a lot taller than me). Well, he gave me a call last night to tell me that he got engaged! Hooray! I'm so excited! I just love his fiancee, Crystal! I'm so happy that she's going to be my sister-in-law! Can't wait until August 15th! Congrats you guys!

6 Years Ago

I'm a day late, but I really wanted these pictures on here so there was a slight delay. This is where I was 6 years ago...





You never know what life will be like after that day. I just find myself constantly thinking that I am so glad that we found each other. Our personalities compliment each other so well and we do so much for each other. I couldn't imagaine making it through life with anyone else, I don't know what I'd do without him! Happy Anniversary!

7 Months!

 

I can't even believe that Max is already 7 months this week! It's crazy! We are now heading into the life of mobility! Max rolls just about everywhere and is starting to crawl a tiny bit. He only crawls backwards or in circles, but I have a feeling that he'll be moving on to bigger and better things soon. For a moment I thought that Max wouldn't be super active like E, but all those thoughts are out the window now. He's just as vocal, loud, wiggly, busy, and active as his older brother! The minute you put him in the exersaucer he is riding it like a horse AND he talks VERY loud to his other baby friends in Sunday School.

 

He is so happy all the time and is pretty good about just going with the flow. He hasn't gotten any teeth yet, but I think he might have something brewing soon. Most people say he looks just like his brother and I'd have to agree. E loves it when people say it too...and if they don't, then he tells them.

 

He's got more dark hair coming in so I think he might be a brunette, but who knows once summer rolls around. Max loves riding in the front part of the grocery cart now that he can sit up so well. He's an angel at the store since he can look around at all the things going on around him (especially E running around doing something). Max is such a cute baby! I know I'm partial because I'm his mother, but he seriously looks like a little Gerber baby. He has this perfect milky skin, big blue eyes, chubby little cheeks, and a little swoop of hair. Another Elmer heart breaker!

Deals of the Week

We bought a vehicle (pictures to come)!!! I can get around town without bumming rides off people! Hooray! So obviously the couponing continues! Saturday I hit up Target and then today I went to CVS and Walgreens and this is what I got:

Target:

Tips for Target: Go to the Target website and check out their printable coupons. You can use the Target coupons on top of manufacturer's coupons so you can save tons if you find the right deals. My total for this transaction was $5.43.

Kashi Waffles: 1.99 I paid 0.50
I got 2 1.50 coupons from the Vocalpoint website

Easy Mac: 0.77 I paid 0.27
Target had $1 off 2 coupons

Colgate Wisp: 1.99 I paid 1.00
Target 0.50 Q
Manufacturer 0.50 Q

Dove Body Wash: 2.99 I paid .49
Target 1.00 Q
Manufacturer 1.50 Q

Oreo Sticks: 2.99 I paid 1.50
2 Manufacturer $1 off
Target $1 off 2

Johnson Baby Q tips: 1.29 I made 0.46 off each one
$3 off 3 Johnson products Q
3 0.75 off Johnson Target Q

Fruit snacks: 0.89 I made 0.11 off each one
$1 off Target fruit snacks

CVS:
Tips for CVS: There is a scanner at the front of the store where you can scan your Extra Care card and it spits out all kinds of fun coupons. I got $3.50 if Extra Care Bucks just for swiping it the other day! Last week I walked out of there paying only $4 and earned $6.99 Extra Care Bucks to spend later. I ended up using those to get the deal I got today. My total today was 0.19 and I earned $5 Extra Care Bucks for later.
My first transaction was the Crest toothpaste. It was on sale for $2.88. I had a 0.75 Q from the Sunday paper and then used $2 of my Extra Care Bucks. I paid 0.18 and received $2 Extra Care Bucks back.

Second Transaction was the Tresemme. They were on sale 3 for $10. I had 3 $1 Q's that I printed from online bringing the total to $7. I used the $6.99 I had in Extra Care Bucks and had to only pay 0.01! Then I received $5 in Extra Care Bucks to use for later!

Last, but not least, Walgreens:
My total was $5.38.
Post Cereal was on sale for 2/$5. I paid 0.50 each
2 $2 Manufacturer's Q's from the Post website

Dental Floss 1.79 I paid 0.25 each
Walgreens Sale 0.99
Manufacturer's Q $1.50 off 2

Physician's Formula Make up: I paid $2.19 each
Tinted Moisturizer 10.99
Eyeshadow 9.99
On sale for 40% off
2 $1 off Q's
$10 mail in rebate

Great Deals!

As you know, I have been living without a car for almost 2 weeks now so the couponing has been a little slow. Lucky for me I have great friends so I hitched a ride with my friend when she went to Target this morning. Great stuff today! I went to Walgreens, Target, and Albertson's and for everything pictured I paid a totally of $8.36! And here's the receipt to prove it. I circled my totals and my savings.


So here is the breakdown...

Walgreens:
2 packages of hair elastics- $2/package + receive $2 register reward= free

Albertsons:
1 gallon of milk- 2.69- used free milk coupon from previous cereal purchase
3 packages of muffin mix- $1/package used 2 .$45 coupons and 1 .40 coupon, both doubled
total......0.08!!! I walked out of Albertsons and only paid in change!

Target:
2 bottles Johnson's lotion- 2.19
Target $1 off coupon
Johnson's $1 off coupon.....0.19/bottle

1 bottle desitin cream- 3.49
Target $1 off
Desitin $1 off.....1.49/bottle

1 buddies soap-0.97
$1 off.........0.03 overage

Hershey's Bliss- 1/2 off from Easter 1.64
Target $1 Q
Bliss $1 Q............0.36 overage

2 bottles V8 fusion- 2.99
$2 Q.....0.99/bottle

Dove body wash-2.99
Target $1 Q
Dove $1.50 Q......0.49/bottle

2 Dry Idea Deodorant- $2
$2 Q.....free

2 Betty Crocker Warm Delights- 1.62/package
Target 1.00 off 2
.55 coupon
.50 coupon...........0.60/package

2 cans Pringles-1.59/can
Target 0.75 off 2
$1 off 2..............0.70/can

1 box Rice cereal-3.19
$3 off Gerber.......0.19/box

So my total for everything today should have been 49.20 so I saved a total of 40.74!

Happy Easter!

We've had some very fun Easter festivities this weekend! We started off with some car shopping...always a fun adventure. Then we headed down to Ry's parents for "Easter Eggstravaganza." G'ma prepared a fun filled evening of dinner and lots and lots of fun games and activities for the boys. They played golf, darts, ring toss, and bean bag toss to win little eggs.


G'pa did a little spiritual lesson about Christ and the Resurrection and while we were doing that everyone else hid eggs for the big Easter egg hunt. G'ma got these super cute eggs that when you hide them they say "Come find me" so the kids had to listen and try to find them.

The egg hunting didn't end there. Grammie put together some eggs that could float in the hot tub so we had a little hunt out there.
The boys had so much fun!


Today the boys had their cute little vests to wear to church. I was so looking forward to E singing for the first time with the Primary, but he got half way up there and then ended up running back and pouting. He did NOT want to go up there! He must have been really tired from last night's festivities AND was coming off his sugar high because he snuggled up with me and fell asleep during sacrament meeting. He even slept through the rest of church! We are the last ward in the building so I just sat with him while he slept and then Ry sat with him the last hour. Max, on the other hand, did not sleep at all during church. While we were at church, my parents came up and started getting Easter dinner ready. Can I tell you how nice it is to come home to home cooked meal?! E got to go on an Easter egg hunt throughout the house and especially loved the eggs with "a hundred thousand dollars" in them. He also got a really fun fire engine puzzle that he put together with Nanny and then played trains with Papa. It's always great to be able to spend time with family!

E has had so much fun this weekend! I feel bad that things won't be quite this fun tomorrow and I have to remember to hide the candy or else I'll be dealing with a monster.

Sticky Work

I am up to my eyeballs in freezer jam! I went to Wal Mart yesterday to pick up a few things for Easter dinner and came across strawberries at $1 a carton. So I decided to make my yearly batch of freezer jam. I like to make a lot so I can tuck a little jar in with the meals that I take to people. It's been a long, sticky day! But freezer jam lasts at least a year in the freezer so make it once and you're good for a full year. Not bad for a days work and a great way to save!

Last Week

 

I really need to blog better, I've gone off the deep end of updates. Other things have taken priority these days like trying to find a car, taking care of kids, and getting sweet deals. I've got to get more pictures uploaded and just sit down and update. But for now, this will have to do.

Last week I was out and about by at my mom's and E got to play on this fun playground while we were there. It was a gorgous day once the sun came out so we were able to enjoy a nice afternoon. I don't know if any of guys have gone through this or are going through this right now...but do your kids just like being in their underwear all the time? I swear the minute we set foot in the house, he is stripped down to his undies and will stay in them all day. I can't keep clothes on the kid! And if I make him get into clothes, he just ends up putting on his PJs! Any tips on how to keep clothes on my child? It's only going to get worse when the Texas heat comes rolling in!

Max is doing really well! He slept through the night once last Sunday. It only happened once, but it happened! Huge milestone for us! He is just such a sweet, little baby. He definitely chooses who he'll smile at and who makes him cry though. It's kind of funny to see him interact with certain people or meeting a new person. Sometimes he'll be all giggly and flirty with people and other times he just scrunches up and bawls. He especially cries while we're at activity days because the girls are a little bit too much for him. He cries the minute he gets there and doesn't really stop until the closing prayer when they're quiet.

I'm still doing the whole coupon game. I've been finding pretty great deals each week and I've enjoyed "talking shop" with a few of my friends to exchange deal tips. There have been a few requests about the whole coupon thing so I might post a few coupon posts for those of you that are interested. Just today I scored 7 big boxes of cereal, 3 gallons of milk, and a box of poptarts for $7! Luckily the free milk came in coupon form and they expire each week so I'll get my weekly gallon of milk for free for the next 3 weeks. This coupon thing has been amazing! I have been able to cut my grocery bill in half and get double the amount of groceries! I've gotten so good at it that we've had to purchase some extra shelves for it all. I really wanted to increase my food storage, but I didn't want to pay for it. Sounds bad...I know...and I felt so guilty for not having any food storage, but this has totally solved my problem! I'm increasing my food storage, saving money, and having fun doing it.

Now if only shopping for a car was this fun...

RIP Corolla 2005-2009

The insurance adjuster came and declared our car "totaled." I guess we're going to be car shopping this weekend.