A soft spot...

I'll admit it, I hate getting the kids down for bed time almost more than anything. By 8:00 PM I am so tired and worn out I can hardly think striaght. I am impatient and often turn into the "mean Mom" as I try to wrangle all the monkeys together to get Pj's on, teeth brushed, stories read, sippy cups with water filled, night lights plugged in, stuffed animals found, lotion provided, prayers said, kids tucked in, kisses given and I love you's said.
I am more tired after that than anything! But after they settle in- they are out like a light and sleep all night long- it's Heaven! They are truley the best sleepers and I thank God every night for that.

Last night I was getting stuff ready, so I told Grace to read a bed time story to Willow for me, so Willow climbed up and sat on the top bunk with her while she read. As I past by once, I looked in and watched the two of them together and my heart melted a little. It was darling to watch them. It was precious. I thought to myself, I hope they are friends when they are older. I hope they love each other more than anything in the world. And I hope they realize what they have.

I just thought about my Mom losing her only Sister to cancer in 1994 and the hole it has left in her heart. They always called each other "Sister" and it was so tender. They adored each other and were there for the other every second they could. They always lifted each other up, supported the other, and relyed on the other for everything. Their relationship was incredible and beautiful. It was the most awful thing for my Mom and for all of us. My Aunt Abby was an angel. I wish so often she was still here.

I just watched them together last night and thanked the Lord for the chance to have children and to give them one of the greatest gifts- a Sister.

Silly little cats...

The other day our neighbor girl painted the girls faces and they loved it! Although they look a little scary, they crawled around like kittys for the longest time!

Welcome last trimester...

Oh, the last trimester is so bitter sweet. I love it because it means the end is near, and the countdown is offically on- but it's dreadful because the real pain of pregnancy begins.
12 more weeks, I tell myself. 12 more long miserable weeks and then the pain will be over, my back can go back to it's normal painful state, my feet can stop swelling, I won't go through an unthinkable amount of toilet paper, people will look at my face and not my stomach, I can sleep for more than 1 hour at a time, eat for just 1 person again, put my shoes on without toppling over, walk normal and hopefully have the weight just melt right off! (Let me hold onto the dream, please!)

I know that there has been a lot of complaining, and guess what, it will continue because this is my personal journal where not too much is hidden.

Pregnancy is hard. And it's my least favorite thing on the planet. I miss Advil more than anyone can imagine, but I do it because I know it is worth every miserable second. Having children is a blessing and I am thrilled to hold this little man and love him to pieces inawhile. (Although the feet have got to stop kicking, this little guy is going to be a soccor player!)

I know it feels like forever, but really, the weeks are flying by and it feels like just yesterday I was welcoming month 6. Now I'm in month 7 and April is more than half way over! School will be out soon and then a little bit longer and he will be here- it's kinda crazy to think about!
There is a yard sale to have, sheds to organize, baby stuff to find at yard sales and sleep to be had! Just be kind last trimester, just be kind...

A sad realization...

Years ago, we were able to get these bath buddies for free with coupons. We got them all the time and I had TONS! They were awesome for the kids (my step Dad even liked them!), and over the years, we've shared and used every single bar, except for 1. I've been holding onto this bar of soap like it was the last bar of chocolate on the planet because I just couldn't bare to part with it. (The coupons these days exclude these .97 wonders, so sad).

A few days ago I saw a blog were the lady made their own, which I was grateful to see (I had thought to do something similar a long time ago, but it wasn't with terry cloth)

The lady made a reusable insert for her bars of soap, but because I am not talented enough or have enough energy, I just sewed mine up closed. I don't even care either because 1 bar cost me .11 to make (it would have only been .06 if I would have used all my free soap, but I wanted to use this stuff up since it's been on my shelf for years. (The 6 pack cost .33 years ago)I used a towel that cost me .50 and cut it into 8 pieces.

So for .88 I was able to make 8 of my own bath buddies for the kids, and now I'm not sad anymore! They were a breeze to whip up too!

Getting the garden ready...

I know nothing about gardening, but every year I try. The kids did the weeding today. All I want each year are carrots and tomatoes and maybe some lettuce. We shall see how it goes!

Not sure why she's naked...

Willow ran inside to go potty, but Im not sure why she took her dress off to do it! Here she is running outside to put her dress back on!

Jungle Gym- Yard sale treasure!

I found this cool jungle gym today while the kids and I were out yard saling. It was $ 5.00 and the kids love it. I'm trying to get the back yard Spring & Summer ready so they can play outside for hours! So far, so good!

Loving the deals lately!

I normally post all my deals on my deal blog, but I've been so blessed lately I had to remind everyone to shop AFTER the holidays and stock up when you find great deals. Some people look at me funny when I'm out- but I share the love and half the stuff in my cart is for other people anyway! I'm always making the calls, taking orders and dropping stuff off at friends home's, so I know the Lord continues to bless me because I help other people too!
Here's my Easter loot!

Yard sale treasures...

Today was finally a good day for yard sales! I found a bunch of little stuff, some boy clothes & shoes for .50 each, 50 Pull- Up's for Willow (she's doing great on the potty, but I need them for nap & night time!), and an awesome Comforter for $ 5.00!(I've had it in the dryer and it's all wrinkled now, but it's super cute!)

I love our Dollar store!!!

A few weeks ago I went to one of the dollar stores near our house and stumbled across gallon jugs of cran raspberry juice for $ 1.00 each. I almost wet my pants because that's my favorite juice in the whole world but I never get it because it's $ 5.99 (2 pack) at Costco, and there are never deals for it. (there was like 2 or 3 years ago, but not much since then) I grabbed a bunch, went out to the van, made a ton of calls to friends and RS president to get a e mail out to the sisters to spread the news of the great price.(we are all into food storage and have a bunch of kids!)
I went back in a grabbed a bunch more and then the calls started coming in of friends who couldn't get to the store- so I stood there taking orders and buying rounds of cart loads of juice for everyone I knew. I was so excited, and the manager was tickled to get rid of it all too!

Today was another story... I was driving by when I saw the "bread man" parked in front of the doors, so I swung around to see what yummy bread he was bring in. I scored on Costco's orowheat potato rolls for $ 1.00 each & some cinnimon bread that we devour in seconds! I also saw huge boxes of cereal for $ 1.00. (Malt o meal captain crunch with berries, cinnimon toast crunch and frosted mini wheats) I was so thankful because we needed cereal! Again, I started the calls to friends and before I knew it, Annikan & Lara were at the store loading up and we all had other orders for friends who couldn't make it in time. We walked out with a ton of cereal for $ 1.00. The deals just haven't been great the past year 1/2 for it- so we were all desprete for some!

Thank you dollar store, we love you!