baby k

at four months...

I weigh 15 pounds, am 25 1/2 inches long, laugh out loud, pull my sisters hair, kick the play gym, chew on my hands, smile(moms favorite), have found my voice and have LOTS to say, love to be talked to and played with and make my family happy!!

Our little baby is growing so fast! He unfortunately has another ear infection which makes three in his four short months of life. Poor little guy - for a sick baby he is still so easy and I don't mind the extra cuddling time I get. He is already starting to get his little buns in the air during tummy time so I have no doubt crawling won't be too far behind. He is laughing and talking and N is so funny with him. He talks to him all the time and gets so excited when he smiles and laughs, I love that baby K laughs at just the right time when N is telling him a joke - he gets a kick out of that!! A on the other hand has decided that baby K just wants to pull her hair. Anytime she gets close he goes right for it and is getting really good at getting a hold of it! We're loving having him in our family and are looking forward to what's in store!

addicted....

Hello. My name is Brandi and I'm a couponaholic.
I started really couponing in March of this year and have quickly become addicted. All I can say is if you don't coupon - START. TODAY. It has completely amazed me what we have been able to accomplish in the few short months I have been doing this. Thanks to a lot of help from my sister and a few really resourceful websites - I've been able to complete our year supply of toiletries and household items and have been able to make a pretty good dent in our year supply of food. The best part is I've been able to this with very little output and in a short amount of time. A year ago I didn't think I'd ever be able to keep a months supply around. It took a few weeks, a bit of frustration and some trial and error but it's really starting to pay off....this past week I was able to pick up everything in this picture for a whopping $2.36!! This doesn't happen all the time but when it does it sure makes it worth it!!!

I was lucky enough to have help when I was getting started and feel very blessed so I am thrilled to pay it forward. If you want to start and have questions just ask or if you already coupon and have tips please share!!

Lemonade for Sale

The kids (mine and their cousins) opened up a lemonade and snack stand at grandmas. They actually had a few people stop and made a decent 6+ dollars. Not bad for a few hours work. The older kids planned the stand and the little ones joined in to "help when they could." It was fun to watch them get excited when people stopped. I think I'll make a point to stop at the lemonade stands I see from now on. But my favorite part of the whole thing was the sign....

If you can't read it - the lemonade costs .10 but it also states that they don't accept dimes(which they corrected).....oh and no smoking! Too funny!!!

how does your garden grow

I was determined to plant a garden this spring. But with the baby and everything I didn't get things actually planted till late May but I am so excited that things are growing - those are actual flowers on my tomato and pepper plants!!! The garden is a different story. I am almost positive that the giant leaves are my squash plants and I am pleased that they are growing so well. It remains to be seen if anything will actually grow but they sure look good. The other plants I am not so sure of - that's one for you Laurie...A insisted on helping with the planting but her idea was to just throw the seeds wherever. I'm sure I have onions in the carrots and am positive there are cucumbers scattered throughout!! The kids really enjoyed helping. N especially. Anything involving dirt and water he is all about. They have really liked going out to check the progress each day. It started slow but once the plants pushed through the dirt things really took off. I am looking forward to fresh vegetables hopefully soon!

hooked

We found this series on Netflix and we LOVE it!! Season 3 starts in September - wonder how long I'll have to wait to get my hands on it!!

visitors....

These are a few of our visitors that came to N's creepy crawly birthday party!! The kids had so much fun! The "snake guy" showed up at our house set up his gear and gave a fantastic presentation about the reptiles he brought - then - he put all the snakes, lizard and turtle on the ground to roam around so the kids could hold, touch and interact with each of them...talk about a good time!! N loved it because he got to do the show with the host. He told me after that "being on stage with him was the best!" My little A even held a snake and the turtle. It couldn't have turned out better - so glad this is what we decided on!

looking forward to tomorrow....

six and toothless

WOW!! He is six??? Really??? He lost one front tooth about 2 1/2 weeks ago and walked around looking like a pirate till the other one finally fell out - I think he looks adorable with no teeth! He still loves cars and the wii and is getting too big. He has always been "older" than he is and he still amazes me with the things he says. He told me the other night he was just wondering about what his kids names would be...what 5 year old thinks about that? He told me after he lost his second tooth that without them "he just didn't feel like himself anymore. I'm just growing up mom." He stills loves to learn and can read a bit when we work. He is always wanting to write and asks me to spell things for him. It seems like every stage has something new to look forward to and something you know you will miss when it passes - I just hope he keeps his spirit of compassion and easy nature when he goes to school. I am hesitant but excited for the growth. I just don't know where the time goes...

It seems as I look back that I only post 4 times between N's birthday - I am going to try better now that things have slowed down a bit....It seems like we just things into a routine when something happens that sends us right out of that routine and back to square one. Baby K has had a few bouts with a mystery fever which landed him in the hospital for two days and after a gazillion tests they are still unsure what exactly it was. It was horrible seeing my newborn with an IV in his head - that's right in his head - thank goodness I wasn't there when they put it in. He is not a crier so to listen to my poor little bug cry so much for two days was almost unbearable. On a brighter note just hours before they sent us home he was obviously feeling much better.

He seriously is the happiest baby alive! I love that he smiles ALL the time. He has been such a joy and I can't believe that we were so lucky to have him join our family. A loves her little brother so much - she is the biggest helper and usually refers to him as her baby. She has amazed me with her attitude with him. I was so afraid she would be jealous but she has not shown any sign that his being here bothers her. It certainly doesn't bother the other four girl cousins he has either - he gets lots of attention and he loves it!! Speaking of the big sister I can't leave her out so here she is in true A fashion pretending to be the "holy ghost"... yeah - between the three of them - we laugh all day.... goodnight....

freedom.....

39 days new.....

I find it amazing that each time we have added a new baby to our family it feels like they have been here forever. It has been no different this time. From the moment he arrived (earlier than planned) it was like he was never gone. He has been the easiest baby and is already smiling...he is perfect from head to toe and we are loving having him here. He was 8 pounds even and 19 1/2 inches long. He has his dad's eyes, his mom's toes and we love every bit of him. Everyone has adjusted really well and all in all seem happy with our new addition....looking forward to being a mother of three this mothers day!!!

she LOVES to sing....

A loves to sing. She is humming or singing or making up songs all the time. Usually it is some overture from the Nutcracker or another classical piece she has heard on Bugs Bunny or Tom and Jerry (she loves those too). But the other day she was singing something that sounded oddly familiar to me. I tried to listen closer to get a better understanding when it dawned on me she was singing the opening music from Glenn Becks radio show!! I was a proud mommy! Since we have opted to go without TV I listen to Beck on the radio-he comes on about 4 so I usually will listen while I cook dinner and I guess she is picking up more than I thought.

We're getting really close to the arrival of our little one and I am meeting it with mixed emotions. So very excited to meet my little one but a little sad to close the "pregnancy" chapter of my life - not that I want to have more kids just that this is the last experience I will have. It truly is one of life's most amazing times and I am finding as with my other two, it is bittersweet to end the time the two of us have had together - just us....so when we get a picture or two I'll be sure to post one....until then have a happy weekend!

So...................its been a bit since I posted anything but to my credit we have now moved twice and are getting ready to add a new member to our family. It has been crazy and busy and exciting and scary all at the same time. Actually, those 4 words seem to describe the last 18 months or so. Sometimes it seems like we get over one hurdle just to run into another one. I will say at the same time that I am grateful for ALL that we have gone through. The experiences we have had have truly provided growth for all of us. Not only in our faith but in our family and in each other. I look back and think of all the lessons and tender mercies that I would have missed had we not had the trials we've had. I am blessed beyond anything I can comprehend and I thank my Heavenly Father daily (several times) for all that He has given me. I could not imagine my life without the ways He has blessed us.

Like I said, its been busy. Little A who is not so little anymore turned 3 in December. She is outspoken to say the least. She is Miss Independent all the time and certainly has a one track mind. She is strong, beautiful and intelligent. She challenges me on a daily basis and I am grateful for her keeping me on my toes.....should be interesting adding a new brother to her world! Here she is at three being herself!

N is as busy as always. He LOVES being close to his cousins and being able to play with Ford. He adores him and looks up to him so much. It has been so fun to be close to family and have them grow up with cousins the way I did. I have so many memories with my cousins - I hope this is the start of many for them. He started pre-school in January and is loving every minute of it. He is my homebody so sometimes I have to remind him how much fun he has there. He is excited for kindergarten and for his new brother.....

Anyway that a little recap for us. Hoping to get my camera out and take some pictures now that the sun is back out. Only a few more weeks till our new arrival.....any suggestions on names??????