Milestones

Today we had a new milestone at our house.  Can you guess what it was?

Today we let Maeve ride the bus for the first time!!  Declan was with her.  His first ride was just a week ago, but unfortunately, I forgot my camera!!  Not today.

Maeve jumped off the bus and was grinning from ear to ear.  They both LOVED it.  I am going to let them ride the bus, coming home from school, from now on.  We only live a few miles away, so I will still drive them in the mornings.   I just wish the bus dropped them off closer to our house in case I am running late meeting them at their stop.  It might only be a half mile away, but you can't see it from our house.  Maybe I will give the bus driver a bribe gift!  One can hope. 

Have a nice night everyone!!

My vanishing act

This is the time of year where I usually do my vanishing act.  At least where blogging is concerned.  However, this year I am going to try and stick around.  You are thrilled, I can tell. 

So let's see what's been going on, shall we? (I'm just going to pretend that we are having a real live conversation here.)   Oooh, guess what!!  I've started is an Etsy shop!!  It's called Ladybugs and Fireflies.   I've got a link of the side of my blog. I'm going to make some cute things for the home and sell them there. Or at least I hope to.  My favorite so far, is the Advent Calendar. Probably because I love Christmas. Anyhow, I've only put a few things on there to see what kind of response I get. Hopefully I can sell some things and make enough to help with Christmas. We shall see. My friend, Michelle, has an Etsy shop as well. She is uber talented and has a ton of things listed. Her shop is called 24 Olive Street. If you are in the market for anything made with fabric, I urge you to visit her shop. You won't be sorry!

What else?  Well, school has been in session for 3 weeks already!  How time flies.  The older kids are doing good with school.  Each of them have friends in class from last year.  The younger two, well that's a different story.   Maeve is liking Kindergarten, except for that little brat girl in her class who is telling the other girls not to play with her!  This is not making momma happy and I'm ready to go to the school and have some words with said child.  It's not going to be pretty.  Declan has class with many of his friends this year.  He loves that!  Of course, he also loves talking, which is why his desk has already been moved away from the other kids.  I've also been asked to call his teacher at home last weekend.  Apparently my son thought it would be a good idea to climb up on the urinal (YUCK!!) and check out some kind of bug that was climbing up the wall.  In his mind, it was not a big deal, he just wanted a better look.  The teacher was afraid he might fall in.  (I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.)    Also, there has been some playing on the playground which may or may not involve kids who are falling into broken glass and pieces of cement, resulting in lots of blood and stitches.  Not my son, just kids chasing him.  So naturally, it's his fault.  And he might be playing a made up game called "Tap Out" where boys try to knock each other down, then stand over them screaming "Tap Out!".  Again, while this play time involved 4 boys, the only one to get caught was....Declan!  And finally, another child came to school, so shaken he could not breathe, saying he was afraid of using the bathroom in case Declan was in there?!  Personally, if my child was that upset, I wouldn't just drop him off and leave, I would be in the office finding out what was going on.  But, who am I to judge another parent.  At any rate, he never even saw my son in the bathroom at all, so we are not sure where this came from.  And I was in the office for that as well.  *sigh*  It's going to be a long year for him, I'm afraid.

I am also teaching Maeve how to read.   I have this totally awesome book called "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons".  I love it and recommend it to everyone!  I even brought it in Declan's class last year to teach some of the kids in his class.  Anyhow, Maeve is up to lesson 15 and is doing great!

What else?  Oh yes.  Baseball has started up again.  Lord help me!  Fall ball is much more relaxed then when you play in the spring.  At least that's what I was told.  However, we have practices twice a week, which will stop when the games start.  They are also twice, possibly three times a week.  Thankfully it's a short season.  A little side note here:  I would like to shout out a HUGE congratulations to Columbus' Northern Little League.  Their team went all the way to the World Series playoffs!!  They did fantastic and should be very proud of themselves!

I've also gotten a few emails asking me how I plan on getting debt free.  First off, let me just say that it's not happening overnight.  There are little changes that we are making, which will hopefully make a big difference when added up.  One thing we decided to try this month was buying food from Angel Food ministries.  We have never done this before and thought we'd give it a try.   I'm not a name brand snob, so it wasn't going to bother me to try something new.  Some things I do like my name brands though.  Anyhow, we checked it out and found that you don't need to provide anything showing a need.  It's open to everyone!  How awesome is that?  Anyhow, we only bought one package to try.  On pick up day, we were surprised to see how much food was really there for only $29!!

We've already eaten most of the food, and I'm happy to report that it's really good!  I know that sounds like I expected it to be spoiled or something, but as I said, we have never done this and didn't know what to expect.  Next month, we are getting a couple of packages.  On their website is a menu for the following month, so you can decide if it's what you want.  Also, you can order as many packages as you like. 

Have a great night everyone!!  I hope to be back soon!

It's 5 Question Friday!

1. Do you have any nicknames and if so how did it come about?

I'd have to say that I do not have any nicknames.  Sure, my husband calls me the usual things like "honey" and whatnot, but other than that nothing comes to mind.  When I was a kid, though, I was very thin and called everything from stick to twig and string bean.  I'm also quite certain that, behind my back, my kids have probably called me something other than mom!

2. What is your birth order amongst your siblings?

My parents only had my brother and me.  I am the oldest.  I've often wanted a sister, especially when I was a young girl.  I like to pretend that my parents had me, and seeing that rainbows sprouted from my arse, decided to have another golden child.  They quickly realize, after my brother was born, that one cannot hit the lottery twice and immediately stopped having any more kids.

3. In a movie of your life, who would play your significant other?

Oh my.  There are so many actors that I really like.  I am always after my husband to shave his head, so maybe Bruce Willis.  However, because Joe is anything but a daredevil, I can't see that working.  If I were to play me in the movies, then I would want John Duhamel to play Joe.  That man is HOT!!

4. What is currently your favorite song?

Sorry, I was lost in thought after that last question!  Ahem.  Anyhow, currently my favorite song is probably California Gurls by Katy Perry and Snoop Dog.  Each summer has a song for that year and this year, that was it. 

5. Are you saving your money for anything right now? Big or small purchase?

If you've read my last post, you already know the answer to this.  I'm not really saving for any big purchases.  I am trying not to spend money on anything that I don't absolutely need.  This way I can pay off any debt.  Once that is done, and we only owe on the house, then I want to buy land someplace so I can build the home of my dreams. 

That's all of my answers this week.  Feel free to copy and paste them to your blog and fill in your own answers!  Let me know if you do.  I'd love to read them.  Then, head over to My Little Life and link up!!

Debt free living. It's a struggle.

Living debt free is my goal.  Although, when you first start out trying to become debt free, it's hard.  As a matter of fact, it downright sucks.  Especially when you have four kids and one is a preteen!  They don't understand why we won't go out to dinner like we used to, or buy new things whenever we want to.  Before you start to worry (hello, mom!) we are not broke.  My husband makes a nice living for us.  I'm just tired of looking around the house and wondering where his paycheck goes.  Can I get an AMEN!  And it's not like we blow money left and right.  For example, my television is years old.  Our goal is to only owe on our house.  In our effort to live debt free, we've cut out certain things like having a cell phone (I heard you gasp!) and even a second car.  Both of which we got rid of last year.  It's not easy having only one car, but certainly doable if you are willing to make the sacrifice.  Much to the horror of my kids, they will find out this afternoon when they get home from school, that I've cancelled cable!  No, I'm not trying to be cruel to them, they have other things to keep them entertained.  I just don't want them turning into zombies every afternoon.  I've been reading other blogs where families only spend $50 per person, per month, on groceries!  I'm not there yet.  Not even close.  I can't seem to get out of the store without spending way more than that.  However, that's the kind of habit I'm trying to break.  I'm trying to make a menu for the week and only buy the food that's needed.  I also painted the side of my pantry door so I can write down my menu plans, which will hopefully keep me from forgetting what the menu was in the first place!   Are you living debt free?  Do you have any suggestions or hints for me?  I'd love to hear them.  Not debt free, but want to be, then join me on this journey!

Back to School

Well, last week school started around these parts.  Against my wishes, all 4 of my kiddos started back.  I was really, really hoping to home school the 2 oldest this year.  However, it didn't work out.  It was a good thing that I requested teachers for them in the event that they went back to school.  They each got the teachers we wanted.  Maeve didn't want to go back to school, unless she could return to preschool and have her old teacher and friends with her.  Sweet, huh?  Once she realized that all the kids were moving on, she was better about it.  She has a super nice teacher this year.

Unfortunately, she was sick on the 2nd and 3rd day of school.  Poor baby woke with a high fever and spent the next few days in my bed with me.  Hopefully I won't come down with whatever she had!  In the end, she was able to return to class on Friday and much to her dismay, come home with a bunch of make up work to be completed and returned tomorrow!!  In typical Maeve fashion, she met a little girl in class named Olivia.  She asked her if she was a pig!  Oh my.  I hope the girl watches the cartoon with the pig bearing her name and doesn't think Maeve is just a brat!  This is going to be a fun year.  I can tell.  Declan has a teacher this year who is practically a saint!  (I say that now, at least)  He has not had the best school experience these last two years.  And that is putting it mildly.  This year, we are determined to make it better.

Seriously, how sweet does she look?  I hope she is ready for him!!  Aidan started grade six this year over at the Intermediate school he was in last year.  He has a fantastic teacher also.  However, he has already had one small project due!  So much for easing into things.  I know he's wishing he was home schooled also.  I couldn't get any pictures of him and his teacher, but did manage to get him to stand still with his younger siblings.

Can't you just feel the love?  Last but not least is Aislinn.  She started over at the middle school.  She did get the team she wanted, but has come home complaining that none of her friends are in any of her classes, the teachers give too much work, blah, blah, blah.  She certainly wishes she was home schooled!  Her school starts at 8am, but she has to be on the bus at 6:50!  Insane. 

Hopefully this will be a good year for her, too!

5 Question Friday

I gotta tell you, I just love 5 question Friday!


1. Are you a neat sleeper or a messy sleeper?


I am a neat sleeper.  I cannot stand it when the covers are messy and feel all wrinkly on my legs.  I know, anal.  I can't help it.  There are worse things in life to worry about though.


2. Fill in the blank. I wish I was more ________________.

Boy, there are so many things that come to mind here!  Maybe: nicer to my kids, health conscious, or financially stable.  This is a good question!


3. What is something that you wish you had been warned about?

Ooo!!  Maybe how much money I would be spending on scrapbooking and other craft supplies.  My husband would have probably put his foot down immediately!!  Although I can't say that it would have stopped me.


4. What was the best thing you ever found at a garage sale/flea market?

I must admit here that I've never been to a flea market!  And as for garage sales, well, I've HAD them, I just don't go to them.  I sound like a snob right?  My mom found a Longeberger basket for 25 cents though.  I don't have that kind of luck.

5. If you could have any meal brought to you right now, what would it be?

Since I've already eaten and am not the least bit hungry, I'd have to say ice cream!  Who can say no to ice cream?  Besides, it's around 100 degrees every single day here, so ice cream always hits the spot!

Happy Birthday, Maeve!!

Today my littlest peanut turned 5.  FIVE!  How in the world did that happen?  I swear, I just brought her home from the hospital.  Time sure does go by quickly.  Pretty soon, she will be wanting to wear makeup and drop me off a block before her destination so her friends won't see her in the company of her mother.  In the meantime, I am going to enjoy every minute of her. 

We went to the movies today and saw Shrek Ever After.  Really cute movie.  Certainly worth the dollar it cost.  Then we came home and had cake and presents!

She picked it out herself.  Lately, she is all about Strawberry Shortcake.  She likes playing with all of the dolls.  Plus, they smell good!!

                                              

She got all new bedding, including this adorable little owl pillow, from her grandparents. It's already on her bed!

I'm so glad you had a nice day.  I love you, baby!