Happy Thanksgiving!

From my home to yours, I hope you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving!

And for those crazy day after Thanksgiving shoppers.....here's some shopping saving tips for you, by the one and only, Dave Ramsey!

1. Not prioritizing.Instead of getting stressed out with all the parties, baking and shopping, in addition to your normal daily life, set some priorities before you’re bombarded with a million requests. Think about which things are “must do” and which are “would be nice to do.” It’s all right to say no to keep yourself sane. Shopping for gifts is more fun when you’re not completely stressed out.

2. Not using a budget.Before you make a gift list and head to the mall, set aside a reasonable amount of money for gifts. Make a commitment that you won’t add $20 to the fund every week just because you saw something cute that your niece would love. Get budgeting advice here.

3. Using credit cards. Once you have your budget finalized, stay away from credit cards! You will still spend 12-18% more if you use plastic, and you’ll be paying it off come 2009! Doesn’t paying with cash sound more freeing than having a credit card balance looming over your head? You bet.

4. Buying for everyone.Do you really need to buy gifts for every family member and friend you have? That can get overwhelming and expensive for everyone. Talk with them and work toward an agreement to draw names for gifts or donate money to a common cause.

5. Not listening. Listen to the hints your loved ones drop about what they need or want this year. Maybe your Aunt Sally mentioned that she would love someone to help her in the garden, or Cousin Bob keeps losing guitar picks. A thoughtful gift like this will mean a lot.

6. Not having a thought-out list on paper. If you think you can spend time in “Christmas retail world” without getting distracted by all the shiny toys, you’re in for a big surprise! You’ll be more likely to buy impulsively if you do it that way. Write down what each person you’re buying for would like and stick to the list. Stay focused!

7. Not shopping around.“Shopping around” doesn’t mean you have to spend 24 extra hours running from store to store to save 10 cents. Take a look at your gift list and do some comparative price-checking online before you head out into the retail and traffic madness. This will save you money, time and stress!

8. Waiting until the last minute. Procrastination is not the most appealing gift out there. Don’t find yourself stressed out on Christmas Eve just because you didn’t invest a little bit of time to plan.

9. Forgetting to plan for next year.Throughout the next year, look for outrageous sales on things your loved ones will need. If you time the sales just right and clip some coupons, you could land a major discount on something you were going to buy in a few months for a birthday or wedding gift. Remember to have a list and budget for this, too.

10. Forgetting why we celebrate. If this season becomes all about shopping and gifts, you’ve missed the whole point. People—not things—matter. The miraculous birth of a baby who changed the world is what matters.

Tis the Season!

busy few days

It feel like I've been so scatter-brained lately. Can you tell by my blogs? Their just kind of random, out of thin air, blubberings. My kids are exhausting me. Ha, at least that's my excuse.....that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!

So we put up our Christmas tree last Friday night. We have a 9 foot tree, and have the lights strung through each branch, and keep the lights on it all year, packed away like that. So it takes us usually a good 3 hours at least to put up our tree--- not including decorations. So Friday night was spent putting UP the tree, with a Pizza Hut break in between. Then Saturday morning we decorated the tree, and put up our 2nd tree in the dining room. The kids LOVED helping decorate it.

Saturday, we went to my nephew Jonathan's, 4th birthday party. (who celebrates his actual birthday tomorrow, I might add!) The kids were pshyched all day and ready to go play with their cousins. The pinata is always fun at bday parties, and this was no exception. I thought this picture was a classic.........I actually caught a photo of it being broken. I didn't even realize it until going through my pictures just now.

Matthew was sure to inform us that HE was the one who broke it, because he's bigger and stronger than the other 'little kids'. lol

Before I go, wanted to share with you a frustrating moment for me today. Just what you wanted I'm sure. ;)

Whenever I leave the kids by themselves for any length of time, I'm taking a risk. (especially Isaiah). I was doing a few things upstairs, and came downstairs to this today.

Isaiah had helped himself to our tree in the dining room, and taken off several ornaments and scattered them around.....

....notice the bottom half of the tree is rather bare?

And then he proceeded to play ball with a few ornaments, and tossed them in to the entry way. Here is some "shrapnel" left over.

*sigh*

Enough about my woes, I had a great bible study this morning, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and definately needed. I had an MPact meeting tonight, which was fun, even to go to a meeting, just getting away is nice. My bro-in-law watched my kids, since Jer was working late. He worked late tonight, to compensate for taking off a half day tomorrow. The nicest day this week, so he is taking off early and going to put up our Christmas lights outside. :D I love this season.

Yes yes, I know, it's not even Thanskgiving yet. And no, Christmas did not "kill" Thanksgiving this year. I have no Thanksgiving decorations, so I put up my Christmas stuff early, so that we can enjoy them longer. I absolutely LOVE Thanksgiving (probably as much {or even more} than Christmas), so we are NOT skipping Thanksgiving this year. Just in case you were concerned or wondering. :)

A last shout out, to my adorable nephew Jonathan, who as I mentioned before, will be celebrating his 4th birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday, "Cha Cha"!!!! Love you!!

Monday Business

Hello again, blogging friends!

Here in KC, the weather has definately turned cool, and more "fall-like".

I started this morning off by getting me and the kids ready (yes, both kids, Lilly had no-school today-- honoring veterans day). I took the kids to my sister-in-laws house, who has graciously agreed to watch them for me while I go to my much despised OBGYN appt. Last time I was there was June '07, so I suppose I was due. I love my OB doctor though- she is the greatest, and of course asked about my kids (she delivered Isaiah) and gave me a hug before I left.

I had gotten Jen's permission to have a "play day" without the kids all day, so after my drs appt, I grabbed some lunch for my mom and I, and met her at her house. We ate real quick, grabbed what Christmas lists' we had, and headed out to the stores. yes. I have officially started my Christmas shopping. =) My mom got a good amount of stuff, and I didn't get a whole lot. But I didn't have very many peoples lists to work with. (note to family reading this: I'm ready for your guys' lists!)

In other newz:

• Other than Christmas, my other favorite holiday, Thanksgiving, is coming up quickly. A mere 16 days! Can you believe it?
• I have started to put up my decorations for Christmas! I think this is the earliest I have put Christmas things up, but I decided to get them up early this year, to be able to enjoy them longer. My BF Brandi made a comment, about you know, another holiday coming up before Christmas, but I just can't help it. I love Christmas! And it seems to take me forever to get everything out that I want. Just thought I'd get a head start. =)
• After the end of the year, I am no longer going to be selling Avon. I'm excited and sad at the same time. I think it will be a nice change though. Although now I need to find an avon rep for those products I still want!
• Jer just got home, and I have no dinner ready yet, so I'd better get off here and feed my hungry hubby. ;)

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Lilly turns FOUR

Has it allready been 4 years since I gave birth to my beautiful 8 lb 10 oz baby girl?! Does not seem possible. Seems like it's taken me forever to get to this point in my life, yet, at the same time, it seems to have snuck up on me rather quickly.

Lilly was such a baby. She slept 7 hours straight through the night at only 6 weeks old. Very good eater, slept well, not a whole lot of trouble at all really. Which was such a blessing, since I personally had such a hard time after pregnancy/labor and delivery. Having a difficult baby would have made it all that much worse. Jeremy and I fell head-over-heels in love with our precious baby girl the moment we laid eyes on her. (well, before we even saw her actually, but you get my point). Lilly was our 'Michigan-born' baby. She truly has lived up to her middle name- Joy.

I think it was around 1 and a half or 2 that some of her Daddy's genes and behaviors started to shine through a little more prominent. (yes, I have always said, and will always say, that these qualities are from daddy. ) :D

Lilly's ornery streak has continued to stay with her thru her 4th birthday. She has slowly begun to pass the "baton" over to her brother, but has not quite let go all the way yet.

Lillian is truly a joy and Jeremy and I are so blessed to have her as our daughter. I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for her life. I know it will be great.

On November 8, 2004 at 11:32 am Lillian joined our family. We love you sweetheart!

Happy Birthday sweet Lilly!!!

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I just got home from voting. Don't forget to go vote today.

Mc Cain/Palin 2008