So far behind yet so much still to do...

When I last posted I was a 8 thousand million months pregnant with our last child... I am happy to report that not only did the little sprout arrive whole and healthy on June 28 but I have finally recovered my feet! YAY!! I believe that may be one of the worst things about pregnancy - not only don't clothes fit but neither do your shoes. Such a tragedy, at least by my standards, since shoes are a very favorite thing of mine!

something like this is always fabulous :)

It seems that even on maternity leave I just couldn't find the time to finish much of anything. I mean why is it that I was home nearly every day for 10 weeks yet I did not get my bathroom repainted, the boys valances hung, that baby's curtains or valances hung, or anything else? Well technically that isn't true- I did have a yard sale that was moderately successful though I still have oodles of crap sitting in my living room left over from it.

However, since returning to work last Tuesday I have sorted all that junk, caught up laundry, cleaned the house, and still found time to nap with 2 of my 4 favorite kids... Unfortunately, I still have not accomplished any of the a fore mentioned tasks that desperately need my attention! Add to this to the fact that my family is pretty sure grocery stores no longer exist because I haven't set foot in one in like a year  month. It has even gotten to the point that my husband has been going occasionally. This is a scary thing since when he goes he doesn't just buy what we need but typically comes home with what I requested plus multiple boxes of cookies, bags of chips, donuts, sugary juice, and cokes. All of which are strictly off limits on my new get back in shape diet! Of course the rest of the scrawny people in the house couldn't care if that's all there was to eat... And besides I truly am in shape- round is a shape? Right?

So it looks like perhaps this week I will have to brave the wild untamed wilderness and take myself to the store- otherwise we wont even get to have clean laundry since we are out of soap!

Budgeting for five soon to be six!

We all know the economy is crappy at best right now... This is not news to anyone. However, regardless of your political affiliations I think it is time for us materialistic instant gratification seeking Americans to step up and take responsibility for our own actions! We have enabled our children to be slackers with no regard for consequences monetarily or otherwise. Don't get me wrong I am as bad as the next person about trying to give my kids everything they think they want or don't know they do whenever possible- but is this a good choice for them or us as a family? No it probably isn't. Keeping up with the "Jones'" is a losing battle that will put us all into financial ruin.

While we strive to live in a budget friendly manner reality is providing for five and soon to be six people it tough. Plus I love shoes.. and purses- not just any purses of course but COACH purses.

The dream baby bag! :) Coach of course.

Now my husband has been known to indulge my addiction by purchasing a bag or two here and there for random holidays. He knows they make me smile and with the exception of currently being pregnant your feet are never fat and you can always find a flattering style for them- Your body as all women know is not always as forgiving. Luckily my two loves have yet to cross paths in my closet and I have not bought Coach shoes...

Although these are awfully cute!

Cute though they are none have really grabbed me, they are terribly expensive and with shoes in many instances I am a realist- quantity usually will win over quality!



 But none of this is really pertinent to my post. What is important is that I have found a helpful way to cut real expenses. Of course we do simple things like turn of lights when we leave a room and keep the thermostat set at a reasonable level. But my new trick is I have started couponing...

Yep, that's right I strive to be the crazy coupon lady at the store. My kids just wander buy as I sit in the chair and snip away and ask if I am "touponing adin?" which makes me smile and simply say yes.

While this is all very new to me I have found a ton of websites that are user friendly ways to get started- such as classycouponclippers.com which is a very nice lady in a nearby community who knows the area and is very helpful, classes (also provided by Rebecca of Classy Coupon Clippers), and trial and error. Truthfully I don't have the space to go crazy with this. I won't buy something just because it is on sale, I don't dumpster dive for inserts and I don't buy dozens of papers. I will probably never save 90+% on the things I buy.

I did however set up a gmail acct for just my couponing stuff to go to, I ordered a - as in ONE- Sunday paper, and I started signing up for promotions on product websites. I watch the match-ups done by Rebecca and a few others via Facebook and when I have the chance I gather my mother in laws inserts. This along with the printable and electronic coupons online allow me to get several items without spending tons of time or money. I don't spend days and days doing this stuff. I spend some time Sunday afternoons clipping and organizing while the boys nap and then search inserts for deals when they come in. Then at some point during the week I will work on my list and Saturdays I try to go to the store. Living in a rural area makes it harder since many of the deals are at stores that are not convenient and I am lazy about going all over for  $0.10 savings.

Now I have only just begun this journey but so far I am happy with my return on the time I spend doing this.  For instance last week I saved 30% off of my bill at the grocery buying items we needed and will use in the next little while. I am not concerned with getting everything for free but saving any money is always a help in a family this size and I think that over time I will get better at knowing when is best time to buy! As it is an $80 savings for the week on the bill made me smile- almost as much as a new pair of shoes- almost!

May and beyond...

Well it is now June! Wow- what a month May was...
Squirt had the most adorable Mother's Day program at preschool- It brought me to tears it was soo stinking cute!
Squeak had a birthday and turned 3 going on 33.
I went missing for a week only to return and find that thank goodness the house was still intact and my children alive. Whew, what a relief.
My missing week is a blur of foreign accents, over my head science and company drama... It was exciting and interesting but also exhausting. All the excitement caused my blood pressure to spike- of course, my feet to swell- imagine that, and little actual sleep to ensue- not far fetched. However, I also got to re connect with old friends, meet new people and as important- have a guilt free pedicure. :-)
Now school is winding down and the birth of the little sugar is on its way fast and furious. Frankly this can't happen soon enough! I am very glad this pregnancy is winding down and it will be the last.

As usual it has been forever since I managed to put up a new post. This is for a variety of reasons- not the least is that I am growing obscenely large while growing yet another life in my womb... Yep, there it is in black and white, err pink and gray, I am pregnant once again. Much to my chagrin in November that fateful stick turned up with 2 lines on it...

While this "miracle" of birth stuff is complete and utter insanity I am now firmly entrenched in the knowledge that the minute this child is delivered from my loins I am taking back at least a small portion of my life and getting myself neutered spayed fixed (?) or what ever you want to call tying tiny knots in your feminine plumbing.
The sad fact is that I am as naturally fertile as a damn rabbit and since we now have enough children that they could be considered a herd or even a gaggle it is time for my years of procreation to stop...

I love each and everyone of my darling little heathens monsters boys I am ready to be done... I want them grown and gone before JR decides he needs to have children and we have grandchildren underfoot. While this seems a misnomer the fact is when there will be 14 years between oldest and youngest, factor in 18 years till graduation for the little dear and that makes JR 32, nearly the age I am now and assuredly old enough to consider if not already have children and a family of his own.
So while this was a bit unexpected and we were thoroughly unprepared for the event personally I am happy this is the end of the road and the light at the end of this particular tunnel is that the doctor has given my strong reason (99%) to believe it is a...

GIRL!!! Yes, that's right after 3 boys my prolific husband has finally managed to scare up a Y-chromosome and give me a girl...
Amen our house will become awash in something besides tractors, trucks, and blue little boy things and will at least have a moderate amount of pink within.

Actual bedding I love!

 

 

 

Unfortunately due to the date I am to deliver I will sadly miss my sisters wedding and my boys are thoroughly pissed that we will not be returning to the beach this summer! Well, hey some things must be sacrificed when bringing forth life...