Money Saving Tips

Because who doesn't like to save money.

I've just added a new gadget to my side bar called "Sites to Save Money" where I have 3 sites (and hopefully will soon add more) that help me save money. Most of them are dedicated to couponing and shopping deals but I hope to add other things soon. "Pinching your Pennies" is my new find that has an Idaho forum that lists deals for Albertsons, Walmart, Kmart, and Broulims. Soooo great because I want to know about the sales here in little ole Idaho. FYI - Albertsons has a great deal on Progresso soups and Betty Crocker products through Wednesday where if you buy 10 items you get $10 toward your next purchase. Divide up your finds and roll over the $10 to get nearly free products. "Being Frugal is Fabulous" has lists of deals for stores like Walgreen's and Rite Aid as well as links for freebies and the Monday Redbox Free Rental Code. "The Coupon Mom" has a great coupon data base and system for organizing and finding coupons. However it is a little frustrating because the inserts in our paper don't have all of the coupons other larger papers do. If you have a favorite site you like to visit please send me a comment with the URL and I will add it to my sidebar. Happy Shopping!!!

Talmage turns Six !!!

It is so hard to believe that my "Little Handsome" turned six. Tonight for FHE we watched the home video of clips from his 1st year of life. He was sooo busy. He loved to splash all of the water out of the tub, he growled and babbled at us, he crawled all over and got into everything and was so much fun.

This year he asked for a "Lego Star Wars" cake. Tal is totally into Lego Star Wars for the Wii and plays it every day after school. He has earned enough coins to buy almost all of the characters. He tells me all about his battles and which guys he thinks are the coolest. A BIG thanks to Q.N. for lending me the Lego figurines to decorate the cake. Tal absolutely loved it.

We had a little party with our extended family: grandparents, aunts and uncles and cousins. A Meek birthday always has a pinata; Tal loved picking out this puppy (for the 3rd year in a row)and stuffing it full of candy. All of the cousins took turns whacking it until the head finally came off and Kris dumped out the treats.

Tal was super excited to get this big boy bike. It is an 18" Mongoose Wild Card. It has pegs and everything ( Kris told Tal how cool you are if you have pegs on the back of your bike.) He took it outside today and was riding up and down the short strip of clear sidewalk between our house and the neighbors. He could really race along and I'm sure that many hours and miles will be put on this bike come springtime.

Leah at 8 months

Our little Lulu is growing up so big and so fast. She is such a delight in our family. She has been standing with help for months now but she is getting steady enough to stand by herself holding onto furniture. She has NO interest in crawling or on being on her tummy. I make her tough it out though by having tummy time every day where we try to play for a few minutes hoping that she will be encouraged. But so far she is content to sit and play with her toys and "Uh, Uh "at me when they get out of reach so that I can bring them back for her.

Leah did master picking up bites of food and bringing them to her mouth this month. It is absolutely adorable to watch her feed herself banana puffs, crackers, or bits of bread or pancakes. She is so dainty using just her thumb and forefinger. But then she smears is all over her face. She also tried nibbles of ice cream and cookies and thought they were wonderful. She would open her mouth like a little baby bird and go "Uh, Uh" until I gave her another taste. We have been trying baby sign with her for a few words. Last night Kris and I both swore she was signing "cookie" at dinner. (Cookies are arrowroot biscuits, above.)

Leah is such a good baby. She can be content for 20 minutes playing with her toys or watching a Baby Einstein movie. She likes to play in this little saucer by me in the kitchen while I make dinner. Like I said, I only have about 20 minutes but I can get a lot done in 20 minutes. She has been pretty stingy with hugs and kisses in the past but she is getting more cuddly again. When Kris comes home at night she is absolutely ecstatic. She will wave her arms around excitedly and grin at him until her picks her up and loves her. She loves to play games with us like Peek a Boo and this falling backwards game she plays with her dad. Leah takes 2 regular naps now, a morning one for about 1 to 1-1/2 hours, and then again an afternoon nap for about the same time. (That's when I try to exercise, shower, and get all of my stuff done.) I wish I could say we are sleeping through the night but we have good nights and not so good nights. One night she slept clear through until 6 AM to nurse and then back to sleep until 8 AM. She goes to bed about 8:30 PM just after Abi and Tal but then will wake up 2-3 times during the night just because. I try to just pop her binky in and wrap her back up until about 4 or later when I will nurse her. We may have to have another "Cry it out" weekend this weekend to work on the sleeping.