Tuesday, March 6, 2012

It's Hard to Say Goodbye

Actually.........it wasn't that hard.

We knew this day was coming.

Last spring we got a bad diagnosis on our van and we knew it was just a matter of time. 

But last week she just wasn't running quite right. I brought her to the mechanic and we got the bad news that she needed a new transmission. Between that and the fact that the engine could blow at anytime, we figured it wasn't worth fixing.

Thankfully we were able to drive her over to the junkyard. 

This is the only vehicle that my kids have ever know. We bought it less than a week after Alex, Amanda, and Joshua were born. 

Now it is time to look for her replacement. Hopefully the next one will be as good to us as this one was.

Monday, March 5, 2012

1000 Gifts 598 ~ 610

Continuing to be thankful for the things around me:

chore charts
kids that like to do their chores
a day of service with a bunch of woman with hearts for the Lord and hearts for others
kids who find creative things to do

being called 'mommy'
wiping noses
boys that come snuggle with me at night when they don't feel good
fun night with our small group discussing generosity and playing games
Alex's giggle
a sunday afternoon lying on the couch
help with the dishes
big snowflakes
medicine for ear infections

Thursday, March 1, 2012

More Bits and Pieces......

Here are some of the things that have been going on the last couple weeks.

1. The 'i' on my keyboard keeps sticking. A little annoying to keep seeing words without the 'i' and then I have to go back and fix it.

2. In all of my organizing I found an old cassette tape. I had it sitting in the kitchen and Amanda asked me what it was. Our conversation went like this:
Amanda: "What's this?"
Me: "A cassette tape."
Amanda: "Can I watch it?"
Me: "No, it plays music like a CD."
Amanda gives me a puzzled look: "But can I watch it?"

3. Started exercising last week. I also started that same day with 2 donuts and ended it with 2 cupcakes.

4. The kids also started chore charts last week. They are definitely my children. Just being able to cross something off their list is motivation enough.

5. A couple weeks ago I was in the grocery store with all my kids and there was a table set up to enter to win a $100 gift card. I filled out the entry form and Isaac asked what I was doing. I told him that I was trying to win Free groceries. He says, "Or a DS."  To which I replied, "They don't sell them here." As we were walking away the kid (by kid I mean teenager) working there told me he had a DS in his car that he doesn't play anymore and we could have it if we wanted. It was pink. No one seemed to care. There wasn't a charger, so after spending $10 for a charger my kids now have a DS. Just so you know, my boys cry if they have to sit on a pink booster seat in the car but for some reason the color of the DS is not bothering them. They are happy to have it!

6. Do you ever have it that you hear one of your kids in bed coughing like crazy but as soon as you walk close to the bedroom to see who it is, it stops. Stand for a while waiting. Nope. All done. Walk away. Coughing starts again. Repeat.

7. My week has consisted of sick kids, my garage door breaking, and my van needing repairs beyond its worth. We will be bringing it to the junk yard this Saturday. She has been good to us for 7 1/2 years but it is time to say goodbye. We will be starting the search for a new vehicle. I'm not sure whether I'm happy or sad about this.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Spice Organization

As I told you last week, I've been organizing. And I left the worst cabinet for last!

That would be my corner cabinet that I keep my spices in. It. Was. A. Mess! I have a spice rack that I keep on my counter that held some spices but then I also had a ton of them in my cabinet. I tend to buy spices in bulk just because it is cheaper. I hated when I was baking or cooking and I had to dig through them to find what I needed. I knew there had to be an easier way!

I searched high and low for an idea to solve my problem........actually I just searched pinterest. But I wasn't really having any luck. 

I did find one idea to score a piece of cardboard and set it in your drawer and organize your spices on it. I know that didn't make much sense but not really sure how to explain it. I thought it was a great idea but it involved having your spices all in the same size jars. 

From that idea, it evolved into what you see below. I took all my spices that were currently in containers and sorted them in the drawer. I had some spices that were in bags, so I switched those to the jars from my old spice rack and labeled them. 


I absolutely love that I can just open my drawer, see exactly what I need and grab it. It really does make life a lot easier! No more spice rack on my counter and no more mess in my cabinet!

Last week I also read this post on Money Saving Mom with some great ideas of how to organize using things you already have in the house. It's not my brilliant idea of boxes, but still some great ideas!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Three times Two plus One

In January I received a message from a girl named Melissa. She has triplet boys that are 6 months old. 

Not only is her name Melissa but she also has the same maiden name as me.

Strange. Don't you think? 

We thought so too.

We also thought it would be fun to get together so we could meet and so could our triplets.

So we did just that a couple weeks ago.

As I looked into my past and she looked into her future, we exchanged stories. She then mentioned that she hadn't had her boys pictures taken in a while. Since I had my camera with I told her that I could snap some for her.

This is what I got.


Since that wasn't working out, I figured we could show her that someday it will be much easier to photograph your kids.


As you can see, that didn't work out so well either.

Then we added Isaac.

Whenever I tell the kids about another family that has triplets we usually have a little conversation that goes something like this:

Kids: "But they don't have an Isaac do they?"

Me: "Nope they don't have an Isaac."

Kids: "They need an Isaac."

My triplets are definitely a blessing but so glad we have our Isaac too!

We were only able to stay a short time but it was great to meet Melissa and her 3 little boys. Can't wait to go back and visit again. And next time we will have to get a picture of the two Melissa's as well!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Frugal Organizing

I believe that everything should have a place and that drawers should not look like this one does.

Of course, my family doesn't feel the same way that I do and that is why drawers end up looking like this!


Today I finally finished going through every drawer, cabinet, and the pantry in my kitchen.

In my effort to make things more organized I tried to make more little compartments for things in the hopes that maybe things won't get so out of place.

Of course, being the frugal person that I am I hate spending money on things that no one sees.

Enter...... my love of boxes.

Every time a new box comes into my house I see at as something special. I know, I'm a little weird.

Each different size box makes make think 'gift','storage', 'bring things to the thrift store', 'perfect for in a drawer.' So, yes, I have a huge section of boxes in one of my closets.

When I see little boxes I think of my junk drawers.

If you notice the large white one in this picture, I recently found it in my storage room holding a few things from our computer. It screamed to me "USE ME TO ORGANIZE!"


A few weeks ago I found some old checks from an account that was closed years ago. I knew the boxes would be perfect for this drawer.


Of course I have already found my dear husband taking something out of one of the boxes and putting it in another. I think he does it because he knows how crazy it makes me. But at least with all the different little boxes in the drawer it's easier for me to put it back where it belongs.

I can't wait to show you what I did with my spices!!!!

Monday, February 20, 2012

1000 Gifts

587. A Successful new recipe and a not so successful recipe

588. Frozen food

589. A husband who puts the sheets on the bed for me

590. A fun night out filled with lots of laughs

591. A tearful little boy that needs hugs

592. An encouraging email.

593. The kids joy that they get a week of seeing their daddy at night.

594. The whole family sitting down at the table for supper.

595. The smell of shampoo.

596. A fun girls overnight.

597. Sunday naps.