Call off the rescue team!

There was a chance that Trav would be going to Japan for over 2 months, for work, but we found out a few days ago, he would be staying here! I was really excited for him to go because of the experince, the possible job advancments for him, the free "vacation", the culture/history he would be exposed to and all that, but I was DREADING the LONG 9 weeks without him. I would have endured, but I'm SO happy he is staying home too! So, I'm calling off the
"Save Emily rescue team" There is a reason for everything!

She CAN smile after all...

Here's the picture that makes up for all the family ones she DIDN'T smile in. How much bigger can that smile get? SO cute! I had just finished putting her hair up into a ponytail and thought she looked so adorable, I just never imagined I'd get her looking so happy too! Look out Julia Roberts, Grace might have you beat on this one!

A Wonderful Birthday Dinner...

I have a few favorite things that happen on my birthday (or a few days later!) # 1- Our noodle bath (& time with my family)# 2- My Mom singing Happy Birthday to me over the phone & # 3- My birthday dinner with friends! Last night we went to Red Robin because I was dying for my Crispy chicken sandwich, and yes, it was to die for! It was a wonderful night as always, I love seeing all my friends and we all love getting out without the kids! It was a perfect night! Thank you for coming: (Top Row) Tammy Chelsea, Amber, Jen, Shelly, Michelle & Christine
(Bottom Row) Christy, Andrea, Me & Angie.
Thank you for my wonderful gifts, too!

I started a new blog! Beware, it's contents might make you fall in love with coupons!

For years I've wanted to write a book on all my incredible deals, because honestly, it's been amazing to see how our family has been blessed by my willingness to run around the universe in search of a good deal!! My life has consisted of it from the time I can remember. I've always LOVED yard sales, thrift stores, E bay, coupons, Target's after holiday trips ect.. And you know me, going to yard sales the day after the kids were born because I couldn't miss a good deal! In honor of my thriftyness, a new blog was born on Jan. 1. 2009 and I have been tracking all my deals with pictures, how much I've spent, but most importantly, how much I have saved! These past 2 weeks have been incredible as I have now saved over $ 2, 200 dollars! In 2 WEEKS!! It has been so fun and it's all due to my crazy coupon obsession, shopping sales, using rebates ect... If you want to watch as one of my biggest addictions unfolds, go to www.cravingagooddeal.blogspot.com and watch as I save at least a kabillion dollars this year! Wish me luck!
(I'm finally keeping track of my deals after all these years, and plan to make the blog into a book after 2009!)

Happy Birthday to me... our 2nd family noodle bath!!

Every year on my birthday, all I want to do is take a "noodle bath" with the kids! All year long they talk about it and ask when we'll do it again, and evey time I reply, "On my birthday!" So about 2 weeks before the blessed event, I go to Costco and buy a ginormous case of Top Ramen and smile all the way to the check out line because the silly people think I'm actually buying it to eat it! HA! Oh no, not in our crazy family. Once a year, all 5 of us jump into a bath full of noodles and think it's the coolest thing on the planet! And actually, for those 5 minutes that I'm in it, it is! It is the weirdest, most bizarre feeling ever, but it's so awesome I can't even explain it. If you didn't see/read last years post of our noodle bath- it all started way back in 1999 when I was in college. The night before the semister ended, my wild roomates & I took a noodle bath. (That was the year Patch Adams came out and the old lady in the movie wanted a swimming pool full of noodles, remember??) So that's where we came up with the idea. Who knew, though, that 10 years later, I'd still be doing it! It's actually only our 2nd year, but it's tradition now, so, when I'm 90, I hope the kids still think it's cool to swim around in a tiny tub with their insain mother!

(And yes, as you can imagine, 50 packs of noodles makes a GINORMOUS mess, but it's worth it when I see the smiles on my beautiful babies!)

My wonderful family...

Thank you Eli for taking so many pictures while you were here!!! It is so wonderful to have some with my babies and with Trav! They turned out really great. I'll get some enlargments after I fianlly decide which ones and narrow them down to a few... you are the best, thank you for the wonderful visit!

Tristin & Mommy...

Yeah, there were not supposed to be any full body shots, I have flour & dough on my shirt from making cinnimon rolls a few minutes earlier, and Im pretty sure I was wiping my hands all over it by the look of the crumpeled mess. Oh well...

My little guy is growing up so fast, how do I slow it down? He is doing great in school this year and is reading so well. He's starting to think about what is "cool" these days and it's funny to watch him sometimes. I love this little guy, especially when he lets me kiss his cheek!

Daisy & Mommy...

Me and my little princess...

having a little fun on the hammock...

Daisy loves to share her kisses!

Just acting silly...

Oh, how I love this little girl. She brings a million smiles to my face and can melt my heart in an instant with her big brown eyes. She's growing up so fast, she'll be 4 next month!

Grace & Mommy...

I don't think we got one picture of Grace smiling. She was grumpy and cold that photo shoot.

I can always get a hug out of my little Gracie...

This would have been cute with a different background...

The sun was pretty bright and Grace's mouth was shivering...

Gracie is such a darling little girl, I couldn't love her more. I love her kisses at bed time through the crib, singing songs with her and of course, watching her clean! She's the greatest!

Pictures with Grace...

When my brother was here, he took a bunch of pictures of the kids and I. I was so thankful because I never have any with them!

My children have inherited my obsession!

I think I have a picture of all the kids vacuuming naked! Grace was so funny the other day just cleaning naked. Could she be my child???

A party for Uncle Eli...

Uncle Eli & Aunt Cindy looking adorable together!

Daisy loved her Aunt Cindy!

Grace gets an airplane ride from Uncle Eli!

Eli turned 27 while he was visiting, so we had to have a little party for him. And hey, what would a party be without a little pin -the -pirate- on- the- treasure -chest!

Here is Uncle Eli almost burning down the house with all his candels!

More skating pictures...

Here we are having fun at the skating rink!

Eli & Cindy- can they get any cutier???

Grace had SO much fun skating...

There she is going all by herself!

Uncle Eli & Tristin looking pretty cool!

Roller Skating...

Okay, it's been about a zillion years since I put roller skates on, and let me tell you, I felt pretty silly wabbling around out there, but we had SO much fun! it was great to watch the kids struggle/ and have fun. Grace had Fisher Price skates, and we was out there walking like she owned the place! Daisy REALLY struggled, but after we got the Fisher Price ones for her (It's really like walking because they aren't "slippery") she did SUPER! Tristin did really awesome for his first time with a few falls, but regaurdless, they had a great time!

More with Uncle Eli & Aunt Cindy...

We had such a great time when my brother and his girlfriend/almost finance came for a visit! Eli even shaved his "homeless man looking bierd when he was here!!! He looked SO handsome afterwards! Grace was pretty scared of him with his "wiskers", but warmed right up after he shaved. Aunt Cindy is an angel straight from Heaven, and now I know why he loves her so much! She was so easy to be with, AMAZING with the kids, so patient and helpful, funny and absoultly adorable. The kids were glued to both of them practicly every waking second. Poor Cindy couldn't even go to the bathroom without them knocking on the door a hundred times!

Christmas pictures...

Here's a few pictures from Christmas morning. It was a wonderful day- very relaxing. We went to trav's parents for dinner and spent the afternoon there. We were home by 5:30, and relaxed some more. It was a perfect day...