5 year old fun for everyone

My Austin turned 5 this past weekend! 

He had an awesome super hero/angry birds/sponge bob themed party!! 

We couldn't stick with one theme!

Skateboard!! 

I see injuries in our future.

Yummy angry bird cupcakes!

more presents

The BIG present!!

We rented a bouncy house for his party and the following two pictures are the only two bouncy house pictures I took. 

Jackson was hesitant to get in, but once he did he loved it!!

Jack Jack also loves riding in big brothers car!

Austin drove Jackson around the front yard for about 30 minutes straight.  They would have gone longer, but the battery died.

Austin bought a storm trooper mask with some of his birthday money!!

Brent and Kelsie spent a good amount of time making and coloring these super her comic bubbles for the kids to take pictures with! 

They turned out really cute.

However, we didn't even take one picture of any kids in front of them.  Us grown ups were having too much fun!

This picture CRACKS me up!!!!

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned countless times on my blog what a dork I am.  Now you can see that it runs in the family!!

no mess pumpkins

My mom bought the kids these kits that have a bunch of funny eyes, mouths, ears, and noses to stick into the pumpkin to decorate. 

It was a lot of fun and most importantly so much CLEANER and the kids could do it themselves!!

 

I'm planning on buying some more kits like these when the Halloween stuff goes on sale.  I think this is a great way for young kids to decorate pumpkins.  We will carve or paint again one day, but they really need to be older to actually participate in the carving. 

Happy Halloween Y'all!!

Randomness

          Abigail had a blast at cheer camp and they even got to cheer at a High School football game.

                                                                                 

Austin stayed busy during the football game by playing with Nana's phone.

                   Before                                                                             After

Brent gave Jackson a hair cut.  It was a little shorter than I wanted, but he really needed it.

Jackson is really into feeding himself with a fork or spoon right now.  He really isn't all that good at it, but he will scream and fuss until we give him a spoon.

Sweet little guy!

 Jackson came out of Abigail's room with her baby doll and a bottle.  It was soooo cute watching him feed the baby.

Playing on the trampoline!!

My sweet niece Audrie!

Hope you have a good day!!

dorks like me

I love that my kids are dorks like me!!



Who doesn't love getting an award???

I'd be lying my pants off if I told you I didn't enjoy getting awards! 

I'm super thrilled about being nominated for the Liebster Award by a lovely lady by the name of Marci over at Life With Joys. 

Check out her blog, it's a fun and encouraging read!

Facts of the Liebster Award:The Liebster Award's origins are pretty much a mystery. Bloggers nominate other bloggers that have 200 or less followers. It's basically a "Hey, that's a sweet little blog you've got there. Here's an award!" You can't just accept the award. You have to play by the (ever changing) rules and pay it forward. Then you can put the award on your blog for all to see.

The Rules:

1. List 11 facts about yourself. (Geeze Louise 11!!)
2. Answer the 11 questions given to you. (See below)
3. Create 11 new questions for the bloggers you nominate for the award.
4. Choose 11 bloggers with 200 or less followers to nominate.
5. Go to each bloggers page and let them know about the award.
6. Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog. (see the intro of this post!)

11 Facts about myself....

1.  I use way to many exclamation points in my blog!!!

2.  I really want to be a stay at home mom.

3.  I was a jock in High School.  I played Softball and Volleyball.  Sports were basically my life.

4.  I can't stand commercials on TV.  I have to mute them.

5.  I love to read, but haven't read a book in probably 6 months.  I hate that I don't have time for it.

6.  Here is a list of a few shows that I'm addicted to: Once Upon a Time, Bones, Vampire Diaries, Revolution, Arrow, and The Walking Dead. 

7.  I really like running, but I can't ever stick with it long enough to become good at it.

8.  Sometimes I can be too sarcastic.  Abigail made up a superhero name for me... Sarcastica!  Unfortunately she is taking after her dear old mom... Sarcastica Junior!

9.  I have a lot of trouble making new friends.  I always just figure that people have enough friends without me.

10.  I'm not sure what else to say....

11.  Oh, I enjoy watching some of the Disney Channel tv shows with Abigail.  Good Luck Charlie is my fav.




11 Questions from Marci.....

1.   What is your favorite season and why?

          Unfortunately I live in Louisiana where we don't really   have 4 seasons, but I do love fall.  We have fall like weather every couple of weeks and then it gets hot and humid again.

2.   Are you a morning person or a night person?
    Major night owl!  I usually stay up way too late and regret it in the morning.

3.   What did you want to be when you were a little girl?

I think I wanted to be a teacher or a nurse.

4.   What is your favorite movie?

Princess Bride

5.   If you could meet anyone, who would it be and why?

Yikes, I don't really like meeting new people, but I suppose I'd like to meet Kirk Kameron.  He seems like a genuinly nice Christian guy who would be easy to talk with.

6.   What is your favorite decoration you have in your home?

I'm not a very good decorator.

7.   What is your favorite color nail polish?
right now I'm wearing just your basic blue

8.   What is the craziest thing you have in your closet?
my husbands shot guns are in my closet, is that weird?


9.   Where is your favorite place to go for date night?

I just like the usual stuff, diner and movie.  We aren't very exciting I guess.

10. Do you prefer chocolate candy or gummy candy?

Both, but if I had to choose it would have to be chocolate.

11.  Do you prefer to be barefoot or do you prefer to be in shoes?

I've never thought about this before.  I guess I prefer shoes, because it seems like every time I take off my shoes a reason pops up for me to go outside.  I'd rather just be ready with my shoes on.

My questions for y'all...

1.  What is your favorite snack food?

2.  What was your favorite subject in school?

3.  What kind of phone do you have? 

4.  What is your favorite drink?

5.  Would you rather watch sports, play sports, or neither?

6.  Do you live near most of your family or far away from family?

7.  Did you go to college? if so where?

8.  Do you prefer polka dots or stripes?

9.  Do you like working out/exercising?  

10.  Morning person or night owl?

11.  Favorite TV show

My Nominees.....

Colleen @ So Much To Say



Lauren  @ Life and Breath and Everything Else

Ashley @ The Polluck Potluck

Ashlynn @ A Cushy Baby Blog

Casey @ Everyday Adventures

Kate @ Can I Get Another Bottle of Whine With My Morning Quiet Time

Whitney @ Polka Dotty Place

MSDeyle @ Living With Intention

Amy @ Let the Good Times Roll

Have Fun!!

  

I hate an accidental publish

Don't you hate it when you accidentally publish a blog post before you are ready. 

I HATE IT!!

So if you read my half finished, accidentally published post from late last night, please ignore. 

Sorry :(

lists, lists, I love lists

With Brent's new, much higher, income I've been inspired to get more disciplined with our money.  I know this sounds backwards, but it's true.  Instead of having the usual mindset of having more money means spending more money, we are doing the opposite. 

We have some financial goals we want to meet and for the first time I actually feel like they are in reach. 

If you know me at all you know that I love to make lists.  I love the feeling of checking things off my list as they are accomplished. 

I'm a nerd!

Today I am sharing my list of ways to save/get more out of your money!

1. Turn off all the lights

I'm horrible at this.  I will sometimes leave work in the morning and come home in the afternoon to house that has been very well lit for 8 hours.

2.  Drink water

This probably sounds silly, but that 20 bucks or so that I spend a month on soft drinks will add up.

3. cheap or free activities for the kids.

For example the park, beach, movie night at home, or picnic outside, rather than spending the money on movies, or eating out.

4.  Stop going to the mall for entertainment.

I do this a lot when it's just me and kids and we are bored.  We go walk the mall.  I tell myself it's cheap entertainment and that I won't buy anything, but that's a lie.  After we eat lunch, get cookies, buy toys/clothes that are on sale, I've easily spend 40-50 dollars. 


5.  Change jar.

Most people have one of these already, but we actually didn't have one.  I made a rule that whatever goes cannot come out.  When it fills to the top we will take it to the bank and put in the savings.  Again, I know this is not going to make a huge difference, but it's all about baby steps.



6.  Give it a day.

If there is something we really want to buy we will give it a day to think about it.  If we still really think we need/want it, then we'll go back and get it. 



7.  limit fast food

Fast food and I have a love hate relationship.  It's so easy and convenient, but at the same time it's so unhealthy and a waste of money.  We are trying to limit ourselves to 2 or 3 times a month. 



8.  keep it a tad warmer in the house

Another bad habit of mine is keeping the house freezing cold.  It's a lot of work on our air conditioner and really bumps up our electricity bill.  I'm trying to keep it a few degrees warmer in the house.  This one is proving to be one of the most difficult.



9.  Garage sales/Goodwill

I love going to garage sales, but I've always been hesitant to go shopping in goodwill. I think I could save a ton when it comes to kids clothes and shoes.  They are so young they won't know the difference.


That's it for now.

Nine things I'm hoping will help us be smarter with our money and save more. 

I have about 7 more things I would like to add to this list, but they all require so much time on my part. 

They will just have to wait until I have more free time on my hands. 

the park

I had to stay home again from school to be with Jackson.  It makes me long to be a SAHM!! 

I wanted to do something special for my kiddos that I don't feel like I normally have the chance to do with our hectic, crazy lives. 

It's pretty simple, but I packed them each a snack and a drink, picked them up from school and took them to the park. 

The weather was great! 

Abigail told me I was the best mom in the world.  It really made me stop and think about how such a simple fun thing can make such an impact on a child. 

Yes I realize he is too big for the baby swings, but he wanted to swing in it.

Jackson was cracking me up, because he was so somber the whole time.  I think he was enjoying himself, but you couldn't really tell by the look on his face.  He was so serious!!

Playing and making memories!!