Deals

I got a great deal at the store yesterday, I just have to brag a little. I try to work some "coupon magic" when I can to get really good deals from sales stacked with coupons. While I don't do it for all our shopping, I do when I can. I have some blogs/websites I use to help me find and track great deals, and then I buy as much as I can at a great price.

Yesterday I went to Meijer and bought 10 boxes of Kellogg's cereal and cracker sandwiches for $1.25 each, which is a great price. I also had several coupons though, so I only had to pay $6.50 for all 10 boxes. Even better though, I then got a "Catalina" which is a store coupon that prints at the register with your receipt. It was worth $10 on any future purchase! They basically paid me $3.50 to buy those cereals and crackers! I then had other great deals lined up in my next order, and used the catalina on it too.

I ended up with $56 with of groceries and only paid $17! Yay! :)

Remodeling

No, not the house, the fort! After two years of lots of playing and climbing and storms the boys' fort wasn't looking so great. Jeff, Trey & Roman spent quite a bit of time on it yesterday to get it in top shape again. They cleaned out big sticks and rocks (except the really big ones that are supposed to be in there) and raked the ground smooth again, then they re-built the wall and roof of the fort. Here are a couple of shots from last night. The first one has them with their friend Natalie. In the second picture you can see a couple of trees with no lower branches to the left of the fort, one of them the boys like to climb like you would climb a rope. There's also a big tree even further to the left that fell partially in a storm but is still alive. It's pointing diagonally down to the ground with the tops of the branches almost touching the ground, but yet it's still growing! They climb on that tree a lot too, since it's so accessible. Behind Roman in the first picture is a path leading down toward the creek in the woods. I am so glad we have lots of outdoors for them to play in!

When did he get so grown up?

My sweet little Trey is 6 1/2 now and getting ready to start first grade. I can't believe it. He is an amazing kid. Today we went swimming with friends for a couple of hours and he didn't wear any life vest the whole time. He's officially a swimmer now, and without any lessons! He also read our bedtime story to me and Roman tonight. I think he gets better every time I hear him read. It has been so exciting to me to have watched him learn to read. I love seeing him try new words and get them, and even when he doesn't get them, he tries and that's all I ask.

Lately I've noticed we've been sharing more and more "inside jokes" and he'll look at me, smile and shake his head when Roman is doing something silly.

He's also become so much more confident and independent over the past year. (Kindergarten was really good for him.) He tries new things - and succeeds! He is strong and fast and smart. He's so sweet too, this morning at church he waited around the coffee table while the coffee was brewing (we were there early) so that he could get the first cup of coffee for me! He even added sweetener and stirred it for me.

Sometimes I can't believe I was chosen to be his mom! I must be the luckiest woman on earth!

Life

There are so many things I've thought of posting or wanted to post, but life has been too crazy! I realized today while talking to a girlfriend that my life right now is probably the busiest it's been since Jeff and I were engaged (over 10 years ago) when I was finishing college, working full time and planning a wedding at the same time. It's a little overwhelming to think of all that we have going on right now, but instead I try to focus on the fun. (Some days I do better at that than others.) I am loving the ages/stages my kids are at, working at a cool job, participating in lots of summer activities, involved in a church plant, and trying to stay current with friends....

Roman cracks me up

Trey was sitting in a box at the top of the stairs contemplating "sledding" down. He was hesitating, afraid of getting hurt. Roman, completely seriously, said "Just do it. God will be with you. God is always with you."

You Can't Sneak Up on Me

A few years ago I was reading something that talked about how spring sneaks up on us. One day the trees are bare, then suddenly you wake up one morning and notice leaves and new growth every where. I realized the writer was right, that does happen! I love spring, and seeing things start to grow again and turn green makes me happy. It gives me hope and, combined with sunshine, energy and enthusiasm! I decided then that I'm not going to let spring sneak up on me even a little bit. I choose - almost daily - to notice the buds on the trees, the grass turning greener and all the new sprouts. Yesterday I noticed my lily-of-the-valley growing, hostas starting to sprout, and the wild plants that line the woods side of our driveway had come back again. I love seeing it happen a little each day!

Soccer!

Trey had his first ever soccer game today! He was adorable and did a great job! Jeff is the coach of Trey's team and he was great too. They didn't win, but they did a great job working together and keeping up their energy. They ended the game with high-fives and big smiles, proud of themselves and ready for snack!