I am so done with scrapbooking & stamping!  I’ve been doing it for over ten years and have SO MUCH STUFF!  Over the last two years I’ve been paring down my collection and still have a lot.  I just gave some away to my mom and a friend, and will get more out on Ebay or Craigslist. 

My new hobby?? Sewing!  Last time I used a sewing machine was in 7th grade home ec, so I am looking forward to learning something new.  My mom has an old (80s) machine that she is going to give me this week.  I also signed up for some classes at Joann’s for next month.  Yesterday, while running errands, I stopped by there and spent two whole hours (I only had the baby with me, so I was virtually uninterrupted) just looking at the materials.  FUN!  My first class project will be a pillowcase.  I found some cute fabric and will make this for Katie.  I’ll post a picture when I complete the project. 

I’m looking forward to making things for the kids, and also for my husband’s magic endeavors.  I downloaded this darling pattern off of etsy to make dresses for the girls.  What do you think??

 

Yes, I’ve been a slacker… but for good reason… I have three kids now. 

Here is a photo from Easter… aren’t they cute?

Kids are doing great and I am finally getting into the swing of things. 

Speaking of swings – I borrowed swings for my last two kids (then gave them back), so I didn’t have one for Natalie.  This kid NEEDED a swing… she hates the vibrating chair, and was not too keen on the bouncer we were given.  I had a hookup that ended up not working out.   Yesterday I went on Craigslist and was able to find the exact one I was looking for.  They were going for about $80, but then I found someone the next city over who was selling hers for only $40!  We rushed up and got it, and let me tell you, it is a Godsend.  Baby is happy and quiet and I’m actually getting a few things done today.

I’ve been reading up on all of you with my Google Reader, but don’t always have a chance to comment.  Hopefully that will change.

Have a great day!

Natalie Lou
Born 3/31/09
6 pounds, 14 ounces
20.5 inches

More later…

Ok… tomorrow… FINALLY!!  I probably won’t post anything until I get home later in the week, so wish us all luck!

not that I’m counting down or anything.

My CVS trip today:

Dove shampoo $4.00 (-1.50 coupon)
Dove conditioner $4.00 (-1.50 coupon)
Dove Lotion $7.00 (-1.50 coupon)
Egg Dye Kit $2.99
Candy Bar $.89
Candy Bar $.89

SubTotal $19.77
Less $5.00 coupon (buy $15, get $5 off – printed on my receipt the other day)
Less $4.99 ECB from last purchase
Less $5.00 ECB from last purchase
Less the Dove coupons above ($4.50)

Subtotal $.28
Tax $.23
TOTAL = $.51 Yes, that’s all I spent out of pocket.
Not only that, I got $5.00 ECB’s back for next time for purchasing $15.00 worth of Dove products.

Just wanted to let you all know that it CAN work to your advantage!

Things I’m looking forward to after having the baby (besides having a new bundle of joy, of course):

• Sleeping on my stomach again
• Eating any kind of cheese I want without checking to see if it’s pasteurized
• Getting rid of all these maternity clothes (I got some secondhand for free, for which I can’t complain, BUT most of them were not my style or WAY too large for me) and getting back into my ‘old’ stuff.
• The strawberry daiquiri that has been calling my name
• No more heartburn (besides the kind that comes with the occasional Mexican food)
• Going on the rides at Knotts instead of sitting them out.  (Just once on the Log Ride would be nice!)
• Putting the steering wheel back to it’s normal place
• Seeing my feet

26 more days!!!

I’m down to 5 weeks left of this pregnancy. Thank God! I have to say it’s been the easiest of all three… I didn’t have all of the crazy side effects like last time, which I am VERY happy about.

I’ve already told you about the amazing deals we got in regards to baby stuff. I just have a few more things to get and we will have everything but the baby. My husband keeps telling me he’s going to laugh if it’s a boy. I keep telling him I’m going to punch him if he laughs. I went with that ‘70% chance’ that it’s a girl and ran with it. Everything I bought is pink & brown. All of the clothing I have is pink. (all secondhand)

We will be scheduling the c-section for the week of March 30th. While I thought it would be fun to go with April 1st, I’ve since vetoed it. Knowing my luck, it WOULD be a boy and the joke would be on me. LOL So there you go. I’ve been doing some nesting (if you call doing my regular chores nesting), have moved Grant into Katie’s room, and have all of the new baby’s things all set up.

So… if you don’t hear from me too much, it’s not for lack of love – I’m either running after these two rugrats (Grant RUNS now!), on Facebook, OR taking a nap.

“Mom, can I have a palm tree?”

Seriously… who asks for a palm tree?

Today at Stater Bros. I spent $41.84 and saved $39.88. Not bad. Even better was spending 39.96 at Ralphs and saving $55.42. Whoo hoo! I even got register coupons back for about $3.50 AND will get cash back from Ralphs for about $6.50 just on todays transactions. I’ll be off to Target later to get a few very cheap and/or free items.

A few of the sites helping me are:

• www.thegrocerygame.com
• www.hotcouponworld.com
• www.momsneedtoknow.com

Yeah, the couponing takes extra time, but since I’m a stay at home mom, I MAKE the time.  Cutting costs are part of my job.

Also, in these hard times many stores are accepting expired coupons.  My husband found a coupon for Harbor Freight that expired yesterday, and he called and spoke to the manager who said he would accept it as long as he brought it in.  (20% makes a difference!)  Also, many restaurants are doing the same (Pat & Oscars to name just one), so it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Anyone else want to share their ideas?

Katie was just dancing around the house. When she finished I said I was sad. Then she told me she had ‘runned out of power’.

Took the kids to Huntington Beach yesterday with a friend of mine and her kiddos. We had a great time! Grant LOVED the water and cried the entire way back to the car. Katie made sand angels! It was a good 80 degrees out and the beach was pretty much deserted on a Tuesday winter’s afternoon. Great for us!

What is better than going to Target and picking up a double stroller for $39.00 (regular price $139.99)? 

Getting THIS

for $5.04!  Brand new in box… clearance… normally $89.99!  Whoo hoooooooooooooooo!

We are definitely counting our blessings this evening!

We’re always trying to correct Katie so she says nice things instead of mean or bad things. She took to saying ’stupid’ after watching Spongebob, and we told her she can’t watch that show anymore because she says things she shouldn’t.

Well, I just said ‘damn’ while talking to Daddy. And from the next room I hear Katie saying, “Mommy can’t watch Spongebob anymore… she said damn instead of darn.”

Damn darn kid.

Here is my 2008 book list.  I favored Nicholas Sparks, Anne Tyler and the Left Behind series.  I’ve already started the 2009 list.  We’ll see how I do this year with three kids.

Kingsolver – The Poisonwood Bible – 1/08

Giordano – I Love You Like a Tomato – 1/08 (Apparently first in a series of three.)

Binchy – London Transports – 1/08

Tyler – Patchwork Planet – 2/08

Tyler – Back When We Were Grownups – 2/08

Pezzelli – Every Sunday – 2/08

Kay – Half Price Living – 2/08

Fowler – The Jane Austen Book Club – 3/08

Tyler – Breathing Lessons – 3/08

Rice – The Edge of Winter – 3/08

Hegi – Floating in My Mother’s Palm – 3/08

Hoffman – The Ice Queen – 3/08

Lockwood – Dixieland Sushi – 3/08 (SO funny!)

Oates – We Were the Mulvanneys – 4/08

Mason – In Country – 4/08

Kingsbury – A Time to Dance – 5/08 ( I loved this… Christian Lit is growing on me!)

Harris – Five Quarters of the Orange – 5/08

The Color Purple – 5/08

Dessen – This Lullaby – 5/08

Rubio – Icy Sparks – 6/08

Keyes – Sushi for Beginners – 6/08

Green – Babyville – 6/08

Binchy – This Year It Will Be Different – 6/08

Morrison – The Bluest Eye – 07/08

Frank – Sullivan’s Island -07/08

Patchett – Bel Canto – 08/08

Empire Falls – 08/08

Allison – Bastard Out of Carolina – 8/08

Wiggs – Snowfall at Willow Lake – 8/08

Karon – Mitford Series #5

Arnold – Pieces of my Sister’s Life – 9/08

Tyler – Ladder of Years – 9/08

Sparks – The Rescue – 9/08

Sleeping Arrangements – Started reading, but quit halfway through. Didn’t like it at all.

Sparks – The Guardian – 9/08

Sparks – Nights in Rodanthe – 09/08

Sparks – The Wedding – 09/08

Sparks – True Believer-09/08

LaHaye/Jenkins – Left Behind Series (1-9) – 10/08

Rice – What Matters Most – 10/08

Binchy – Firefly Summer – 11/08

HA… not many books in Nov/Dec… we got digital TV!

Just went grocery shopping… 

• Staters subtotal was $118.85, paid $64.31 (46%)
• Ralphs subtotal was $123.32, paid $51.19 (59%)

I even got a few freebies!

If you sign up, use my email as a referral:  jenefur at yahoo dot com

Also, another bloggy mom friend of mine has a lot of stores from back east on her blog, as well as CVS, Rite Aid & Walgreens where she breaks down the weekly savings & freebies.  Her site is http://www.momsneedtoknow.com/

That’s all – just trying to share the love when we all could use an extra few bucks in our checkbooks.

Updates on the kids…

#1 Katie: We’ve come into the new year with her finally potty trained!  Yay for all of us!

#2 Grant: Just got his first haircut and is a handsome devil.  Also thisclose to walking on his own.  He takes steps all over the place, but 5 is the most consecutively.  Great job!

#3: 28 weeks today, and according to babycenter.com: By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She’s also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

So there you go!  We’re off to Knotts Berry Farm today… Grandma got us tickets and boy are we using them!

Here are a few pix…

Katie & Snoopy

Grant's first haircut.

I’m seriously starting on this project now… my Great Aunt sent me tons of pictures and I began scanning them last night. 

When I originally was going to start this, I had scanned in some of the photos, but there was a problem and they weren’t right for the size I needed for the book.  Now I have a better software program, and after doing a few test scans, I have the method down pat.  Unfortunately, each scan takes over 3 minutes to do, and that doesn’t include any touch up time!

I have a deadline to scan them in by the end of January (so I can return them to my patient aunt), and from there, I can retouch, type in the actual story, and format the book. 

Very exciting!

What a year!  Goodbye to 2008… Hello 2009! I ripped this one from Jill at Live Laugh Blog.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Tried pupusas.  Yum.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions and will you make more for next year?  Well, I had intended on losing weight and eating better.  I did start to eat better, but since I got prego, my doctor frowned on trying to lose weight during the pregnancy.  Maybe next year.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My sister-in-law gave birth to my sweet little niece Kameron!

4. Did anyone close to you die? My Grandpa RC died back in April.  While he could be a mean stinker, he was also a neat guy and I miss him.

5. What countries did you visit? None, this year, but would love to do so.  Now all I need is a passport…

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More money would be nice.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?  September 6th… it is the first big anniversary for Andrew and I… number FIVE!  Looking forward to the next 50!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Mothering 2 kids and making it through the year with my hair intact and not gray.

9. What was your biggest failure?  I’m sure there are many, I just can’t think of any.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Just pregnancy related problems.  Luckily they weren’t as bad as the last two pregnancies.

11. What was the best thing you bought?  The matching mother/daughter aprons from Etsy.  They are darling and I love when Katie puts hers on and helps me in the kitchen.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Katie finally being potty-trained!

13. Whose behavior made you appalled?
A certain family member who is the biggest conniving liar/manipulator and continues to make other family members miserable.  But this is nothing new… this person has been like this their entire life, so no surprises there.

14. Where did most of your money go? Health insurance & bills.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?  Putting together a book about my Great Grandma (she lived to be 105 and wrote her life story)… my great Aunt sent me some ancient photos and I just need to focus over the next month on getting them scanned in and starting the book.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Any theme song from PBS.  LOL

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:  Last year I had just given birth, this year I will give birth in 3 months.  I’m not as overwhelmed as I was, thank goodness.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?  Finishing projects that I’ve started.  I have at least 5 sitting on my desk that I need to complete!

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?  Worrying about things I have no control of.

20. How did you spend Christmas? Day & eve at home with my immediate family.  Then on Saturday, we went to my mom’s for a big she-bang.  It was great.

21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Yes, with my son!  It’s been so exciting watching him grow this past year and to see his adorable personality shine through.

22. What was your favorite TV program?  I don’t really have a favorite, but it’s been fun watching all of the shows I’ve never seen before on our new digital tv.  (Dirty Jobs, Robot Chicken, Good Eats, etc.)

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Don’t hate anyone, but there are a few people I don’t care for.

24. What was the best book you read?  I really enjoyed Dixieland Sushi… it gave me flashbacks to when I was in Junior High/High School.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery of 2008? Well, mom & I saw Wicked, and I had no point of reference for that play before seeing it, so it was neat to hear the music for the first time.

26. What did you want and get? I bought myself a food processor online, but didn’t read that it was a chopper only!  I returned it to the store and they had a poor selection there, so I have yet to replace it with one that grates (which is the whole reason for getting one!)

27. What did you want and not get? See above.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?  Hard to say… I certainly didn’t venture out to the movies this year… maybe once or twice to the dollar theater with the kids, so that hardly counts.  I did enjoy seeing Indiana Jones because, hey, it was Indiana Jones.    There were plenty of funny flicks too, but honestly, offhand I can’t think of one!

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? We were on vacation and celebrated in San Francisco.  I turned 34!

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?  Being out of debt.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? What fashion concept?  I wear whatever fits!  LOL… the first half I was getting out of my maternity clothes, while the second half, I was getting back into them!

32. What kept you sane?  My crazy friend Jenn.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?  I fancy Mike Rowe.  A lot.

34. What political issue stirred you the most? You know, I really don’t like getting into politics… I have my views, but I really don’t like discussing them.

35. Who did you miss? Some of my friends that I don’t get a chance to see often enough.  I am a big hermit and don’t get out much with the kids on my own.  I need to work on that this coming year.

36. Who was the best new person you met? I’ve not actually met anyone new this year, but have made many new contacts through my blog!  I love reading all of your stuff and thanks for all of the fun comments you leave me.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008: Again… don’t worry about things you can’t control.  They’ll work themselves out.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Even though we ain’t got money… I’m so in love with you honey… everything is gonna be alright.

Trish & Lisa both posted about Festivus, which is kicked off with the Airing of Grievances.  Trish states that blog traffic is down, presumably due to the holidays, so she encourages anyone reading to freely say whatever you want- air those grievances, because no one is reading anyway!

So in the spirit of Festivus,  I am sharing mine.  

• Inconsiderate drivers.  Nothing gets me riled up more than idiot drivers.  When you see a pregnant person trying to cross the parking lot with a cart, please stop and let her go by.  For Pete’s sake, I had 7 cars go by before I finally just walked out in front of one.  It’s not like they didn’t see me standing there waiting to cross.  IN A CROSSWALK no less!  Bastards.
• Inconsiderate drivers (again… there are so many).  I actually saw someone zip the wrong way down a one way lane just to cut someone off and steal their parking spot. 
• Idiot parents… yeah, it’s a great idea to take your 3 year old to see Tropic Thunder (rated R) at the theater on a Saturday night.  Don’t mind me… or the nightmares your bratty kid is going to have after seeing such a bloody gory ‘comedy’.  Smart move.
• People who text while driving.  Hopefully they’ll bash their car into another texting driver and the world will be free of them all.
• Teenagers who walk around cursing when there are little kids around.  Even worse… adults who do it.
• The 5 year old walking around Target with the pacifier in it’s mouth.  Come on.
• The woman who still breastfeeds her 8 year old.  While extended breastfeeding can be beneficial, at some point it just gets creepy.
• Going to Disneyland and paying $4.00 for fries that are limp and cold.  I don’t think so.  I had hubby go back and get a newly made batch.  If I’m going to pay that for a small order, they better darn well be hot. (Have you noticed that their food is crap?  Just because you’re feeding the masses doesn’t mean it has to taste bad and be so expensive.)
• Ebay customers that win your auction and don’t pay for a month.
• The emails I get from an official in a foreign country who will pay me millions if I just send them my bank account info for them to transfer money to me.  I’d ask if anyone falls for this, but apparently people do.
• Government bailouts… I know plenty of small businesses that could use the help and have either closed or are about to. 
• When you tell your kid to go wash the frosting off her face and she uses her nightshirt instead. (This just happened, and yes, I gave my kid a frosted cookie for breakfast.  It’s the holidays!!)

I’m sure I could come up with more, but I’ll have to save some for next year.

What gripes do you have this year?  Tell me!