AWESOME Day

Yesterday, I got off work early - mainly because I worked 2 hrs over on Monday, and those 2 hrs were going to burn a whole until I used them.  And it was Friday, and the end to a very long week at work.  So - I go to walmart on the way home, but I'm still home around 2ish.  We blow up Peyton's pool, start refilling it, and work in the yard.  Meanwhile, Eric had gone to put in an application at a local heating and air place that my friend works at.  She called me to see if  he might be interested - and the pay was pretty good, so yes, we were interested!! 

He gets a call around 4:30 or so, and he got the job!  YIPPIEEEE.  And it is for real this time as he has to report to work on Monday at 8am.

Then we took Peyton over to play with Grandpa and Grandma while we went to church to decorate my room for VBS.  I'll have to take some pictures, but it is pretty sad.  We are having a door decorating contest, and lets just say that my idea sounded really good - until we actually started doing it, then it didn't seem so great.  It is too close to being done to start over, but it is pretty embarrassing!  Eric helped put everything on the walls, and I'm so glad he helped b/c i think he got more done than I did.

Got to go back today to finish up...

Quick Post

Ok, I can't believe my first June post is on the 11th - how bad is that.  Wonder if I can do 10 more posts before the end of the month...

- Eric is still looking for a job, nothing on the horizon right now...

- Peyton is talking really good, and is totally obsessed with Popsicles right now

- Tonight is the church softballs last game.  Not sure when the championship tourney is

- I'm teaching 2nd grade in VBS next week.  Looking forward to it, but it is going to be a very long and draining week

- Started a new Beth Moore study at church - 'Believing God', it is much deeper than the last course, much harder to do the homework, I'm having to think much deeper and mediate longer - and some of the time I have to take a break and ponder b/c I just don't get it yet.  I'm hoping I'll get alot out of this course though

- My garden is growing so good!  We finally have something besides Zucchini ready.  did discover that i planted the wrong type of cucumbers for pickling, but i'm still going to try.  bought the canning stuff today - and my friends mom is giving me 7 boxes (12 jars in a box) of Ball canning jars.  I'm excited to learn...

- So far, Zucchini, squash, cucumbers and green beans have come out of the garden, can't wait for the rest of the goodies!

- I'm really getting tired of the Thomas DVDs

- I've lost 5 lbs, too bad I had to lose 3 of them twice...trying so hard to stay on track...

- I haven't ovulated (or had my period) in over 2 months.  Had to go to the doctor to get some medicine (progesterone) to make my period start, and it is giving me really bad headaches everyday.  4 days down, 6 days to go!  I'll have to do another post on this whole 'issue'...

My boy can TALK

Peyton has been saying words for over a year, and even a few two - three word phrases, but he would never repeat the words we were trying to teach him.  Until about a week ago - now he is just amazing us daily with everything that he learns and repeats...

He knows all his basic colors now - and can say them - Red, Bloo, Ellow, Geen

He can count to ten - and the only word he really has trouble with is Seven.

He can say things in sentences like - 'Watch the new Thomas mama' .  And the way he says Thomas is so cute!  Tontas

He knows many of the letters in the alphabet, and caught me off guard in Publix the other day spelling out Publix that was written really big on the wall.  He got the P B L  and I correct. 

He is constantly wanting to go bye-bye.  Asking for his Paw-Paw all the time.  Wanting to play with one of us NON-STOP...

He helps me clean up his area.

He wants 'mok' - Milk, with strawberry or chocolate flavoring...

Loves going outside.

He has grown about 2 inches since Nov when I last marked his height on the laundry room wall...

He is constantly amazing us every single day............

JUST NOT RIGHT

Yesterday, Eric gets a call where the lady clearly told him he had the job.  So we preceded to tell quite a few people.  Then he goes in today to meet the managers and fill out the paperwork - and apparently they are STILL interviewing.  Eric said his interview/meeting went very well - but here it is the end of the day on Friday, and we know nothing.  We have to go the whole weekend wondering what is going on.  Just NOT FAIR!  I'm really hoping that she was right and that he did in fact get the job - but that they are just following some stupid procedure.  So that is what is going on in our world today. 

Not fair...

Ok, so we are officially not not trying to get pregnant.  We aren't trying, but we aren't preventing either.  I really wanted to not get stressed about this whole process like before, and maybe if we don't get pregnant in 6 months or so - I'll start to take things more seriously...

Now, saying that, I realized today that it had been 31-32 days since my last period - so I start getting excited.  Tried (and somewhat succeeded) at not getting to excited, because really, that would honestly be too good to be true.  To get pregnant by chance this time when it took almost a year last time (and surgery remember)...

Of course, the test was negative, and I really have NO CLUE as to what my body is doing...

But this just isn't fair.  Even without trying, I still was 'down' after a day of wondering the 'what ifs'...

And honestly, now really wouldn't be a good time - with E out of work and with me really needing to lose another 20 or so lbs so I wouldn't stress gaining weight during pregnancy so much, but still.  UGHH.

How does your garden grow???

Week 0 - this was the day I planted everything - I think anyway...

Week 2 -

Week 3

 

It is amazing how fast my garden is growing - each day it seems that the plants are getting bigger and bigger (and the weeds too).  I'm out in the yard almost every night after dinner - and we still can't keep up with all the weeds...

I sure hope about this time next month - that i have lots and lots of fresh veggies...

I'm a gardener

I can not believe how fast my garden is growing.  Peyton and I are out working in the garden almost every night after dinner - so not only will I hopefully have lots and lots of great fruits/vegetables to eat soon, we are also getting lots of exercise.  Then of course, bath is immediately following - as we both get quite hot and dirty.  Peyton is so cute saying 'Mommy's Garden' and 'wateeemeon' (watermelon) and 'vegabuls' (vegetables). 

Man, I hope this weekend hurry up and gets here - because it is a 3 day weekend...

I'm thinking about going leading a Beth Moore bible study at church - trying to see how many people are interested.  The one I'm currently taking is almost over - and I really want to take the next one, but they are only offering it during the AM SS time, and I really want to get back to my Adult SS class.  So, I decided to try to see who all is interested and lead it myself or with someone else. 

And on a completely other topic - Eric's unemployment ran out last week, so we have had to majorly adjust the budget, and starting next week he will be keeping Peyton at home to save on Daycare costs.  I'm going to try to create a schedule of stuff for them to do, and find some fun stuff online as well.  I know he is probably going to have a rough time - as I know I would if it were me...at least at first.  We are praying for a job to come open soon - but if not, Peyton will still be going to preschool at a local church starting in the fall - so at least he will get some breaks.

Getting even thriftier

*Ok, I started this post LAST MAY*.  Don't think I'm going to finish it at this point, so I'm going to go ahead and publish it.   Should I backdate it?  Hum, lets see if I can figure out how to do that.  Yep, ok, Publishing for 5/16/2009*

 

Cut back? Oh yes, unfortunately I didn’t have much choice. My husband lost his job in Nov - then unemployment ran out.

So we have cut back on almost everything - cell phone bill is down $50, cable - down $40, grocery budget - just about cut in half - and no eating out except for a few times a month as cheaply as possible.

So - I’ve not only started coupon clipping (i’ve always meal planned) - but I also started specifically planning meals around my coupons and what is on sale at my 2 favorite grocery stores (and buying a lot more at walmart since it is cheaper as well)

we are keeping the temperature higher in the house to save on electricity - and I’ve started a garden that i’m hoping will keep us nicely fed for a few months this summer.

Oh, and my husband is having to watch our son instead of paying for daycare.

You know, I think that this is going to have a longer affect on us than just until he gets a job. We have some savings, but no near enough to make me comfortable - so first thing when he gets another job (or he is called back to his current job). I want to be confident that we can make it with just one income for a while - if we must…

Oh, and I have always shopped at consignment sales - and i’m a seller in a few too. I have gotten almost all of peyton’s clothes the last two years at consignment sales (we have them spring and fall) - and almost all of his ’santa’ presents too. And since i sell stuff (just some stuff as i’m saving a lot incase we have another boy - whenever we have #2) - but i sell stuff and make money - but then spend the money in the sale, so it is like a great tradeoff!!!

Oh, and I’ve started reading a lot of blogs about saving money and ideas on how to do stuff as a family w/o costing money, etc.

My favorite so far is:
http://www.thesimpledollar.com.

i even got a recipe for homemade laundry detergent on that site…i tried it and it works!!! of course, i still buy my laundry detergent when it goes on sale!!! but if i’m out, i have enough ingredients to make my own detergent for about a year!!!

How many pictures does it take to get a decent shot???

Obviously more than the 12 or so Eric took of me and Peyton...

these are the 4 best...which is actually pretty sad!

The one below - with Peyton's finger in his nose - actually would have been the best of the bunch - if it wasn't for the finger in the nose part!!!  I might try to take his head off of one of the other pictures and put it on him in this picture...although, that might take more Photoshop skills than I currently have.  Maybe.

 

Happy 8th Anniversary.

(Our Anniversary was May 5th)

One year ago today, I broke my arm while helping plant the tree we bought for our anniversary.  That is when my 3 month nightmare began - from finding the tumor in my arm, to the surgery, to the very very painful recovery.  Our 7th year of marriage wasn't the easiest, definitely not 'lucky number 7', but this year has had its many blessings as well.  I'm still very much in love with my sweetheart - and we are both trying our very best to be the best parents and spouses we can be.  One of the best things that happened to us during the last year was finding the perfect church for our family and getting involved again.  We love our church and the friends we have made.  Eric even rededicated his life to Christ a few months ago and will be re-baptized soon.

It really is hard to put everything into words.  We had probably the biggest trials of our adult lives this year - my tumor, E's job situation, some financial issues we had to get worked out, Eric's mom's cancer, and one huge breakthrough for Eric (a very good thing).  Of course, those are just the majors - we have many things that come up on weekly basis that we have to depend on each other for - and the Lord for guidance.  And everything has just made us stronger. 

This year was the hardest that we have had to face so far in our marriage, and we were there - each by the other's side - through all the good and the bad.  That is the best part I think...