A New Year

Well we ended 2008 with a bang. We were all sick! Jack ended the year with a final puke and Collins rang in the new year by waking up multiple times! Whew, but we did survive. I have been meaning on making some new year's resolutions, but I just can't find the time. Maybe that should be my resolution... make more time for myself. Another resolution I plan on making - go on a stellar vacation! I could really use one of those, maybe I'l finance it with my coupon savings. Speaking of savings the last 2 weeks I have gotten 90 bucks worth of groceries for around $30!!! Have I mentioned I love coupons!!! Can I tell you someone who doesn't... my cashier last week. She had the biggest attitude about EVERY coupon - She even went and got the manager 3 times!! I was so mad. The bagging lady must have been her friend because she had an attitude too. I wanted to tell her, " Your publix paycheck would go a heck of a lot further if you took the time to clip coupons, and with that savings you could buy an attitude adjustment"!!! Anyways, I still love PUBLIX ( on a side note I HATE Walmart ). Everybody keeps asking my for tips on savings and my first tip is shop Publix. My second tip is Stock-up when things go on sale and match the store deals with coupons. Internet coupons are the best and easy to find. Example... Totinos pizza rolls are BOGO. I have a coupon for $1 off 2. Tartget has a coupon for a $1 off 1 ( publix takes competitor coupons ). So the starting price was $4 I ended up paying $.50 for a jumbo bag ( so I got multiples ). Another example Some post cereals are BOGO, there website has $2 off 1 Box.... Final price..Free!!! So you see... deals like this go on all day long. Making it realitively easy to save at least 60% on your grocery bills. It really works once you have stock ( A bunch of your daily needs already on hand ), then your shopping trip should really be just filling in holes with items on sale. By the way, do the same with meats. When they go on sale buy a bunch, divided it up into freezer bags and stuff the freezer.
By the way, I am thinking about leading a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Small Group that would also incorporate these principles. It would more than likely be geared torwards moms during the day. Let me know if you guys have any interest.

Here is a few pics from the last couple of weeks
Thanks for reading, Courtney
The boys in their Christmas Jams, thanks Aunt Holly!



Clean Boy

Jack refused to get off his new tractor, he almost fell alseep on it!

The most perfectly round head I have ever seen!

Christmas

I wanted to post one last time before Christmas. We went and saw Santa this year and I must say it went over a lot better that last year! Collins had no idea what was going on and Jack was preoccupied with the candy cane, although he was sure to mention he wanted a tractor and truck for Christmas (although he has 10 thousand!). Unfortunetly, we have spent the majority of this Christmas Season by ourselves. Turns out the busiest time of the year for an ABC person is Christmas. So Brendan working every evening leaves us alone - which really stinks this time of year. I mostly hate that the boys have to miss out on fun things like the Polar Express and Zoo Light Safari (which I am not brave enough to take a 2 year old and newborn by myself) . Thankful my Brother and Dad are going to spend Christmas eve day with us and go the candle light service with us. Since being alone for the holidays will be a yearly thing, I am determined next year I am going to be better prepared and take on all of these fun traditions even if its just us! I am a big family person so this has been especially hard, please pray that my lonliness is lifted and the joy of Christmas is restored for me. Really, I have so much to be thankful for. I can relate to how Mary must have felt having a new baby and all the happiness that brings.
On a side note... If you didn't get a Christmas Card its because I didn't send them. Like I said earlier, next year I will be better prepared and will get them out. I must say though, I have so enjoyed getting yours and seeing how all the sweet babies are growing!!

Courtney

This year...

Last year.

Jacks new dunp truck, and a fun toy to go inside!

Coupons!!!

OK, so this is a random blog but I just had to let everyone know about my exciting savings!! Ok, so I have become addicted to saving money - especially at the grocery store. Each week for the last 3 weeks I have gotten around $60 of grocerys for $25! Isn't that great?!!? Well today I went in with my stash of coupons and got $125 of groceries for $40.51!!!!! I was so excited, like when a crack addict finally gets a hit!!! The poor boy who rung me up was on his first day of the job and first time to do coupons. Seriously, it took him 30 min to check me out ( all while Collins was at home screaming because he was hungry ). I started to appologize to the LONG line behind me and they were just amazed at all my savings - I thought I was going to get a standing ovation!!! They were asking for tips and nuggets of knowledge. I felt like I was giving an acceptance speech at the Oscars... ok, but really it was exciting! Saving $85 is pretty exciting!!! Brendan is enjoying not only the money, but the FULL meals we are eating 7 days a week. We have triple the food and spend way less. All of this means I can cook pretty elaborate meals for next to nothing! Saving money makes me feel like I am making a financal contribution to the family without having to leave the kiddos!
I am so excited to be a good stewart of the money God is blessing us with. It has opened my eyes to how much I wasn't that in the past and makes me embarresed to even talk about it.

YIPPEE FOR COUPONS!!! AND YIPPEE FOR THE WAY GOD IS BLESSINGS US THROUGH COUPONS!

Two Months

Yesterday Love Nugget turned 2 months old. So off to the Dr. we went. He is 23 3/4 inches long ( 75th percentile ) - it looks like once again we have been spared by the the Fuller short gene!! Brendan is so excited! He weighs 10lbs 4oz ( 30th percentile ) and that is after no poops for 3 days... but that is a whole different issue. So it looks like he is going to be long and lean, but only time will tell. I am so excited that so far he hasn't had a drop of formula! My goal was to exclusively nurse him and I am so happy that I have stuck to my goal. It hasn't been easy and I would give anything if I could have a little help in the feeding and sleeping arena, but I know that it is the best thing for him. So whats good for him is good for me.
Oh by the way.. can I just tell you how much I love my pediatrician!!!! Dr.Anderson is so wonderful and I just cannot speak enough good things about him. I consider him a friend as much as a pediatrician. He was so awesome about letting me decide Collins' vaccine schedule and not forcing anything on me - and for that I am grateful.
Have a good day.

Pictures...Finally

We have been so busy, and busy means lots of pictures!! I feel like this December is flying by. We have dedicated Collins, attended Jack's Christmas program, gone to the Christmas parade, cut down the christmas tree, and watched a lot of football... all in the span of 2 weeks.
Here you go... pictures as promised!

Decorating a gingerbread house.

Worn out!!


First time in thr Bumbo

At the Christmas Tree Farm





Brotherly Love


Baby Dedication

Collins Dedication

We will be dedicating Collins this Sunday at the 9:30 service- Church of the Highlands

Although I dedicated Collins to the Lord a long time ago when I was 7 weeks pregnant and told he only had a 50/50 chance of survival, it is important to both of us to make a public affirmation of that. We are both so grateful to have the privledge of being his parents. We realize that he is not ours and we are given the task of molding a heart that Christ gave. That is the driving force behind every decision we make, we do not take our task lightly.
It is especially sweet to be able to dedicate him in front of our church family who have been such an amazing support system for us, I truely believe that many of you prayed Collins into existence!

Courtney

So much to blog about..

OK, well I noticed that I haven't blogged in a while. We have been SOOOO busy! We had a fabulous Thanksgiving and stayed super busy all weekend eating and visiting with folks. On Friday Me, Brendan, and Collins went black friday shopping and got lots of good deals. Brendan got his Birthday-Christmas present, we got most of Jacks presents, and I hit the 25% off Janie and Jack sale - as most of you know it is my favorite store - the good thing is I didn't buy to much, the bad thing is... the reason I didn't buy too much is because we all ready have it! We watched the heart-wrenching game on Saturday and we cut our tree down on Sunday. I have so many great pics of the christmas tree farm, but I haven't loaded my pics yet ( I will work on that tonight ). Collins is growing like a weed and is sleeping 7 hour stretches now!!! Praise the Lord!!!
Other than that I am obsessed with coupons these days and staying on the computer! When I get a free moment ( which is rare ) that is certainly what I do. I also just got my pictures back from Collins' newborn photography shoot, so I am about to figure out where in the heck I am going to put them all. I hate to take down the ones we have because I love them so... and they are all so expensive it would be like boxing up hundred dollar bills! Anyways its a good problem to have! The pictures turned out so good and I could stare at them all day - I am SO blessed to have two beautiful boys!

...going to upload some photos.