Just a little something...

Not a big post, just had to write it down before I forgot! I was exploiting child labour laws today and making my children clean the house. Which usually works out fine and they are usually really good helpers. But today we did an overhaul cleaning of the bedrooms so it was taking a lot more time than normal. We were just about finished, and Gracie just had to make her bed. Yes I know, she's only six, but I don't use top sheets. Just blankets over a fitted sheet. So she just has to lay out her blankets and as long as they are laid out fairly nice, that's good enough for me. So she has 4 blankets to lay out. Most days takes her 10 minutes. Well, today Cooper was 'helping' her and he kept running out with her trying to 'get' him. So I kept getting mad at her saying "Please. Just get your bed made!" I just finished making lunch and went down to see if she was done. (Its been about 20 minutes) Gracie and Cooper are jumping on the bed. When she sees me walk in, she jumps off the bed and says:

"Mom, you have to help me! I can't control myself! I just keep playing!"

Now what do you say to that?!

You know you've gone overboard when...

I told you about my new hobby. Couponing. I am by nature cheap so it is great for me. But just today I wondered if I have gone overboard...

My husband is also very frugal. (Most call him a tight @%$#, but that's not nice !LOL!) And when we have gone grocery shopping in the past, he has taught the kids about the price tags and how some stuff in on sale etc. They can spot that green tag in Winco every time. He also is very picky about leaving lights on, with which I am terrible with, and with letting the water run. So this summer when we were at home in Canada, my sister in law was giving her boys a bath and forgot about the water and the tub was REALLY full. When Brody saw it he told her, "Aunty Kelsey, that is wasting water you know." So his Dad has taught him well in that department.

Well, I have to take my kids shopping with me. I take them every where, and they see me getting lists and coupons ready all the time. And printing them, and clipping them. Brody is very observant and when I ask him to get things off the shelves for me, he often asks, "Is it on sale? Do we have a coupon?"

So today the kids were talking about getting some new toy or something. Now it really bugs me when they do this, especially this time of year, because 1. they are getting something for Christmas, 2. they usually change their minds 80 times before the big day, and 3. that is not the point of the season I'm trying to install in them. So I told them that if they wanted something, that maybe we needed to start saving their allowance towards the things that they wanted. And when they had enough, we would go to the store and they could buy it. They thought that was a good idea and then Brody says to me "Ya! And Mom, you could maybe print out a coupon or something for the stuff we want to buy!"

Hello. My name is Jessica and I'm addicted to couponing.

For my Kids...

I have not written just about my kids and the crazy things they do everyday to keep me entertained. Here are just a few things going on at our house lately...

Gracie: is loving school, and her piano lessons. She is doing really well with the piano and I am glad I have hired someone to teach her instead of going on my first instinct to teach her myself. We fight enough about her practising somedays! I'll try and video her and post it so you can see the young Mozart in training. She is also VERY excited about Christmas. And all she wants is a Barbie house WITH and elevator...I told her that was a pretty big gift so she would have to be extra good this year she told me " I'm always extra good Mom!"

Brody: has an imaginary friend, which he actually calls his 'partner'. His name is Luker. He had another one a few months ago but he informed me that he got run over by a truck. (Nice) Anyways Luker has been coming around more and more frequently. The funny thing is, Brody doesn't play with Luker like a usual imaginary friend. If you ask him about it, he says that Luker is at school or at work. But he shows up or we talk about him alot. "Luker has a car like that one." Luker likes to read books like this." And last night I was informed that Luker had taken over Brody's body and that was why he said the bad word to Gracie. I told him Luker had to leave him alone or he had to go to bed early, especially if he was making him say bad things. Brody says to Luker "Luker, if you don't leave me alone, my Mom says you will have to go to bed early, and I don't want to do that." And amazing enough, he did.

And Brody likes to say Aportunately. (Unfortunately). Aportunately, it doesn't always work but it sure is funny...like when he tells me he can't finish his dinner because "Aportunately, I don't want to eat that."

Cooper: Well he is quite the character and he really thinks he is just as big as the other two. We keep telling them not to do certain things, like jump off the couch, climb things because their brother like to follow them. He has even learned to use stools and chairs to climb up things and today tried the wipe container as a boost. He also has just a wonderful attitude (hear my sarcasm!) Last week in Sacrament he actually laid on the floor in the back of the chapel and kicked and cried and threw himself a little fit because Mom wouldn't let him throw the crayons, or the hymn book. And we get this at home any time he is told NO. I am so looking forward to the TWOS!!(again hear my sarcasm!)

But thats whats new with us. Getting ready for Christmas and so excited to share the holiday season with my kids. I'm so glad my husband has Christmas off this year. We had such a nice lazy weekend the last couple of days, I 'm really looking forward to some R 'n R with my hubby and kids!

Again, MERRY CHRISTMAS! Only 11 days till Christmas Eve! Are you ready?!

I don't wanna brag, but...

I have a new hobby and the cheap person inside of me (and the one I live with) are sometimes pretty excited about this. I found out that you can clip these little pieces of paper out and hand them in at stores and its like giving them a little bit of cash...and they give me stuff! We have always used coupons for restaurants and things, those are pretty easy to find and also because in Canada, you can't coupon like you can down here. Manufacturers coupons are harder to come by, it at all. So I tried couponing a couple of times, but I never stuck with it. But now....

I'm addicted...

I started out with one of these little cases, then two, but that wasn't working when I couldn't do them up anymore and it was really hard to find things, so now one of these holds all my restaurant coupons and...

I upgraded to a binder. I had the zipper one lying around doing nothing, but soon found I was outgrowing that so I just bought that pink one (only $9 at Big Lots!) and I'm so excited because it has a handle and way bigger.

This is what my kitchen table, or coffee table, looks like a couple times a week...clipping sorting coupons and making lists, but it does pay off. Especially when I can go to Rite Aid...

...and score all this for $4.62!

So, I am feeling pretty good right now, I even impressed the cashier! I have only had a couple of these Crazy Coupon moments, but coupon by coupon I am saving money and I've got a stock pile in my closet that should count to a 3 months supply! Ya Me!

Getting Ready for Christmas...

So are You Ready For Christmas?!?

I'm not. I had this big goal this year to be done by December 1st..at least my shopping. Well, getting sick all Thanksgiving week kind of put a stop to that. So I'm not done. Almost, but not quite. I'm getting there. I have got my pics ordered, here are some samples of Picture day. Cooper was not impressed and really not co-operating, but the night before the ward party I finally got a good one!

These two cheese balls are usually pretty good for pics, and as you can see, the best of friends even if we fight once in a while!

We went to Dustin's work Christmas breakfast and got to stand in line....

...for a REALLY long time...

...but we finally got to see Santa! Cooper was not too impressed. Either that or he's scared he's gonna get dropped!

Here's my good pic of Coops! He even said "seees!"

My Four year old is too big. Quite a little man!

And my little girl, growing up way too fast!

Only a couple weeks left to get ready! I better get on the move. In case I forget:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!