Newest member of the Family

Introducing Willie B. - the B is short for Bandit (as in our softball team name) - He came with Willie as his first name, which fits rather well with all the e sounds we have going on in our family.  I think I should start going by Cari, I tried in high school but it didn't last long.  haha!

He's 17 months old, the same age as Good Time.  He is very good with the kids as you can see.  We have had him since Saturday and he has not even barked once, which I kind of wish he would so I could hear is voice.  He does snore and make a cute noise when he's being scratched and pet.  

Surgery for my Sassy girl

Please keep us in your prayers as we get prepared for Sassy's surgery.  It was decided yesterday at the ENT that she will need to have her tonsils and adenoids removed and possibly have another set of tubes in her ears.  One of her ear drums is retracted and has fluid so he is going to review her records from the pediatrician.    Her tonsils are so big that as the doctor put it "almost kissing".  They are very large.  We are thankful that Copehagen man is employed with the school district and has insurance.  But the co-pays for surgery and the deductible are still not pleasant, especially here at Christmas time.  It will be on the 16th in Arlington.  She will have to be out of school for the rest of that week and lots of other things she cannot do for 3 weeks.  I still have my tonsils and do not personally know of anyone in my family that has had them out.  

Please also pray for my friend Stef's pregnancy and childbirth.  She is due next week and will find out more about the birth of her first child on Monday.  

Thank you!

Ranch quick trip

Our quick trip to the Ranch on Saturday.  We took the boys to fill up the feeders with corn for the deer.  We are going back this weekend with Sassy and Goodtime while Fireball is with his Grandmother.  Sassy and Copenhagen Man are waking up earlier on Saturday morning to see if they can see some Deer and shoot one if they are lucky.   It would be great to have meat for the winter stocked.    This was our Frugal Fun Saturday day, all it cost us was gas.  

This is the view we see when we open the gate, these Llama's live on the property to the left of the ranch.

Here I am driving on the Ranch.  Woo Hoo! 

Rock Me Momma and Her Boys waiting for Copenhagen Man

Copenhagen Man and Fireball looking at the Oats He planted for the Deer.

Going to fill up the feeders...... 

Tired Fireball

Rock Me Mama and GoodTime

Family Portraits - Some of my Favorites

CVS trip

Well I had 10 ECB's that were going to expire today if I didn't use them.  I couldn't let that happen, that's like 10 free dollars.  

I bought

 Zantrex-3 energy shot 4.99 = get 4.99 ECB back = free

Mega Pack Huggies baby wipes = 7.99 = get 2 ECB back 

Total 12.98 plus tax

Minus 10 ECBs 

equals 2.98 plus tax out of pocket

Recieved 4.99+2 ECBs back = 6.99 to spend later

A loss of 3.01 but I purchased baby wipes which we always need.....

This weekend

I am going to be very busy this weekend..... and the only person to blame is myself...... haha

Friday night thru Saturday afternoon - Ladies Retreat with Oak Grove Baptist Church - my mom is going with me too.

Saturday night - My Birthday dinner with Family

Sunday Morning - Church

Sunday afternoon - Naps 

Sunday late afternoon - Pictures at Sears with the Stinson 5,  It has been over a year since we had a family portrait taken.

So I might not be on too much.  But hopefully will be refreshed!  

Christmas tips

Christmas is just around the corner.  I thought I would share some tips from this year and some I tried last year to save us some cash.  

This year I had been working on saving up our Disney Movie Rewards so that come Christmas I could get something big with reward points.  I bought some points on ebay because they are cheaper than buying the movie.  You can only use one code per movie per account.  But now that they have Blu-Ray out you can use those codes too for the same movie.  Copenhagen man and I decided we would get the boys a Cars Dvd/Tv with our points.  It was 3500 points.  I did it a little at a time thru the year so when it came time, I redeemed the points.  They shipped it straight to our house, no shipping cost, and it was here with in a week or so.  They are about 140 at walmart.  

Tip 1. Use Rewards Programs

Movies-   Last year I bought DVD's on ebay that were brand new in package.  It worked out well and I didn't have to pay full price even with shipping.  I'd sell some of our stuff on ebay and then use that money to buy new stuff for Christmas.   I'd better get started back on selling stuff on ebay.  

Tip 2 - Sell stuff on ebay and check out prices for things you want

Purchases - As your budget allows, buy toys or items when you see them on sell or first thing when they come out.  We bought Fireball some iron man toys when they came out in October with were around 10 dollars a piece - but now we can't find them.  WALLE is the new toy and we will probably grab some of those.  We also saw the new ELMO in October and decided not to buy it then---- wish we had.  We saw it for 49.99 at Wal Mart that day - and yesterday it was 99.99 -------Oh My!  So unless we find it around 49.99 Goodtime won't be getting the NEWEST elmo for Christmas.  But hey he's only 16 months, he won't know.  ; )  The cute thing about the new Elmo is he blows kisses just like Goodtime does.  

Tip 3 - Accumulate Purchases during the year 

Personalize -  I have an account with Artscow.com  

It is an online Digital Photo Prints, Photo Books and Custom Gifts store.  When you sign up they give you free stuff - alot of free stuff - and you can earn more free stuff by referring your friends and purchasing items.  Right now I have 25 items in my cart (which have been there for about two weeks, I'm glad they don't empty your cart).   My subtotal before my discount for my free stuff it $156.28 with my discount it will be ZERO.  Plus shipping - 73.75.  The other day I had like 15 items and it was 40 something for shipping.  Still 73.75 for 25 personalized items sounds like a great deal to me!

If you would like to sign up, it's free, please use this link ......   Artscow.com

Tip 4 - Look for discounts on websites 

I hope you enjoyed my post ---- if you did --- leave me some comments!  Thanks!

Menu Planning Monday

This is my second time doing Menu Planning Monday - Hosted by orgjunkie.com ----I find it's so much easier to already know what is going on for dinner!

Okay so last week - instead of Tex Mex Chicken - I made hamburgers and home made fries that night.  So we are having Tex Mex Chicken tonight -and it's so wonderful to already have it in the crock pot and the counters clean.  : )

Monday - Tex Mex Chicken

Tuesday - Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

Wednesday -Creamy Pasta Primavera

Thursday - Glazed Pineapple Chops along with Roasted Red Potatoes with Bacon and Cheese

Friday - Chicken and Biscuits

Saturday - MY BIRTHDAY - Go out to The Railhead Steak House --- : ) 

Sunday - Chicken Lo Mein 

Big Daddy's not sure about the menu this week - he said where is the chicken fried steak and Meatloaf -----  this week it's chicken - it was on sale at Kroger  and Pork - I'm sure he'll survive, or find extra work to keep him busy during dinner then fix a sandwich or nachos later.... haha!  

Thanks again to Kraftfoods.com -

Menu Planning Monday

Monday - Double Cheese Chili with Cornbread 

Tuesday - Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken with Broccoli 

Wednesday - Easy Italian Meat Loaf  with Mashpotatoes

Thursday -  Slow Cooker Tex Mex Chicken with Rice 

Friday - Steak and Potatoes

Thanks to KraftFoods.com for having such a wide array of recipes!

What's your menu for the week?

A few favorites

A few of my favorite pictures.........  I'll write more later.............  

Wordless Wednesday

A morning at the park

Not too sure about this Momma!

I think I can I think I can!

Look at me!

The boys shirts say "My Parents are exhausted"  Fireball looks exhausted here!

A morning at the park with friends.  Our church is starting to have a stay at home mom's play date!  How fun!  The Lord has made this day beautiful in so many ways.  Thank you for my beautiful children.  

FIREPROOF

I can't wait until Saturday night.  Friends of ours from softball have invited us to go with them to see Fireproof.  Their church is hosting baby-sitting to encourage them to see this movie.  If you go and see, comment and let me know what you think.  

The Ranch Labor Day Weekend

We went to the ranch for Labor Day weekend.  It was so much fun.  All of our kids got to be there this time.  Along with Aunt Gigi, Uncle Chris, Ty and E.   Grammy and Papa stay at the ranch most of the time when they are here from Africa.  Here are some pictures from our fun filled weekend.  We stayed in a travel trailer, the kids had bunk beds and Larry and I slept on a full size bed.   It was cool, hopefully one day we will own one ourselves.  

Julie is quite the little fisher woman, she caught 15 that weekend. 

Ronnie of course wants to be a "tractor man" when he grows up so he was just happy playing right off the front porch in the dirt.  We didn't have to worry to much about where he was.  If he wasn't playing with tractors he wanted to be on one. 

Daddy, Julie, Ronnie and Ty on the tractor, fixin' to go plow the field. 

   Blowing Bubbles was a favorite too.  Thanks Aunt Gigi!
Cody's first bath in a sink.  He's over a year old.  My very first bath was in a sink!

My Love of my life

Oh words cannot express my love and admiration for the Daddy to my children and the lover of all things me, my strong arms, rough hands, broad shoulders, teddy bear at times, grizzly bear at others, Husband.  School and softball starting at the same time as been a little rough on me.  Admittedly I've been a little more than short with the people I hold close to my heart.  But yesterday my husband brought me out of that crazy phase.  He took the afternoon of at lunch yesterday came home and said he would take care of the kids, and to go to the salon and get my hair done.    Thank you so much sweetheart for making me feel like a million bucks, I know it was almost that much to get it done.  He loves it, I have blonde highlights again and it's shorter, medium length.  Kind of like Nicole Richey's with the swoop bangs.  Then he took the kids and I out to dinner at the Olive Garden.  I love you babe, you're the best.  

Live Vote by NBC on “In God We Trust”

NBC is having a live vote on their site right now on "Should 'In God We Trust' be removed from U>S> currency?" This is our chance to let them know what us Christians think!  I don't know how long the voting will be open so please go here.    

10 boxes Pop Tarts for 1.80

If you haven't grabbed a Sunday paper for 08/10/2008 but sure to do it if you buy Kellogg's brand items.  They have a promotion giving a 10 dollar rebate for buying 10 items, but on top of that, they give you a ton of coupons to do it with.  My children and hubby love them some pop tarts and with school coming up this is a good way to get some fuel in them before the day begins.  BTW they came out with whole grain pop tarts for the same price. At Wal-mart they are a 1.68 a box, I bought 10, used 5 $1/2 coupons, so my total out of pocket at the store was 11.80 - which I used a gift card I have - so now I just send off for my rebate with my original receipt and the UPCs from the pop tarts and wait for my check for 10 bucks.    WOO HOO!  

Dinner Last Night

Last night I made, "The Best Lasagna Ever", and according to my family it truly was.    Thank you very much, ThePioneerWoman.com, I'm very happy to have stumbled across her blog.  

She gives you step by step instructions and pictures too.  I'd encourage you to check it out.  We still have some left overs believe it or not.  The Gram and my copenhagen man agreed it was better than Olive Gardens, and that's saying a lot seeing as how my husband always orders lasagna when we go there.  

In my husband's shoes

On Monday I helped Larry after work with his other full time job, our company.  We had a sprinkler system problem call.  I went with him this time while Gram and Gramp watch Cody man.  Let me just say my husband works hard, very hard.  Plumbers should get paid more than they do.  We dug holes and crapped the dirt out with our hands around the sprinkler controller, of course there is another name for it but I'll call it that for now.    Three and a half hours later we were done after one trip to Home Depot and digging holes, fixing the problems and getting wet from the sprinklers.  It was hard work but a great time to step into my husbands shoes and understand just how hard he works.  

Wednesday night Gramp bought a new weed eater for our house.  I requested one along with protective glasses and a mask.  I wanted to weed-eat the yard.  My allergies won't allow me to mow it so if I wear a mask I should be able to go around the edges.  I did it for a little bit on Wednesday night and Larry did most.  I got to use the Blower and blow all the grass down the road.  Thursday morning, I started it all by myself and it worked for just a bit, then I ran out of line put more line in, and it tangled up.  Blah - so close.  So Larry finished it up Thursday night and mowed the yard.  I must say our house is looking better, with the new solar screens and a yard trimmed up.  

I am so blessed to have a husband that knows so much about everything mechanical.  From fixing cars, mowing yards, repairing plumbing to fixing hearts and boo boos.  : )  I love you, Larry, my copenhagen man.   Thank you for being the provider of our family, the head of our household.  

Happy Day!

We won the Burleson Mike Brand Benefit Tournament, Shetland Division.  Our girls played there hearts out and it paid off.  First game we won 27 to 21, second lost 15-14, third lost 15-14, second won 20-14.  Our girls did awesome and our Coaching staff is amazing!  We will miss playing with these girls as Julie has to move up to Coach Pitch but hopefully we will see some of the next year.  Fall softball sign ups are in 3 weeks!  

My friends, Stef & Jarrod,  found out they are expecting a boy!!!!!  Boys boys everywhere!  Congratulations to them.  

Summer time is here!

It's hard to believe Julie have been out of school for two weeks now.    It's been quite a time around here.  She is staying the summer with us, instead of going to her Dad's for 30 days.  He is taking her on the weekends, which we play All Star Softball most weekends anyway, so I still get to see her.  Ronnie is staying with us this summer to, I guess.  I have not heard anything from his Dad, no phone call or anything.  According to the "papers", he should get him from June 15th to July 27th.  But, that day has come and gone, and no phone call or anything.  I thought it was just going to be Cody and I this summer but we have  a house full, and that's a GREAT thing, though a little crazy at times.  

Our business has been steady but we have been praying that He will lead us down the right path.  He has answered our prayers yesterday.   Back at the end of April a position for a plumber came up on Burleson ISD website.  Larry had me apply for him, he made one or two follow up calls with no answer, only a voicemail left each time.  We let go and let God.  Continuing to work hard and build the company.   Early last week, two months later, the supervisor of maintenance called to ask if Larry was still interested in the job.  He interviewed that day but he couldn't find his D.L., so he was told that he needed to find that so they could do the background check.  And that the supervisor would make a decision early this week.  He dropped off a thank you card the following day.   He found it over the weekend.   Then took it back up there and they said to come the next day for the job offer meeting.  We decided it was the best thing for our family and felt the Lord was bring us to this place.  The man he interviewed with and Larry have so much in common.   He started there in the 80's and owned his own HVAC company but times were hard, like now, and he started out there as a HVAC guy, now he's the director.  Gas prices and traveling from job to job are part of what is hurting everyone these days.  We will still continue to do our business on the weekends and on Fridays and during weeknights, if needed.  And we will have health insurance for all of us again and he will actually get sick and vacation days and get holiday's off.  No on call for this job.  This is definitely a blessing from above.  Now we can really get down to Dave Ramsey style, especially since we will only get paid once a month.   Thank you Lord for having us in your hands, I pray that we stay in your will.  

Julie turned 7 last Friday and Cody will be 1 on July 11th.  Time flies so fast.  It seems like just a couple of years ago I was graduating high school.  But now my little sister graduated on June 4th.  And it truly has been 8 years since I graduated high school.    

Father's Day was pretty cool this year.  Julie was at her dad's until 8 p.m.  When she got home she hadn't eaten dinner yet so I fixed her up a plate of Daddy's hamburgers.  She started eating and then asked where Dadddy was?  So I called for him in the backyard or somewhere.  He came and Julie said "Happy Father's Day, Daddy".  I didn't even remind her what day it was.  I think that made his day!  We made him a softball with all the kids hand-prints on it.   He loved it.  I wish I could have done more, he bought me an ipod on Mother's Day.  But I think he loves our presents more than any "thing".   We are so blessed as a family to have him as the Head of our Household.  He does so much for us, I never dreamed of.  Loves us with all his heart and is strong, yet tenderhearted.  Thank you Lord for bringing Larry into our lives, You are amazing!  

Mother and Daughter relationship

Tonight was very special to me.  Julie and I are becoming closer and closer.  It's so awesome to have the blessing of a daughter.  She is the only other female in our house.  I understand when she is emotional, and she understand when I am emotional.  She always gives me a hug just at the right time of the day.  We had our first meeting and practice with our All Star team tonight.  We are coaching the B team this year and have some great girls.  The other parents came up with the name Diamond Bratz.  I don't really care too much for the Bratz part but it'll work.  We will be doing fundraising because this whole thing is self funded.  Things from garage sales to Rangers ticket sales to beef jerk sales and of course the standing in front of walmart.  Family and Friend donations are also accepted.  : ) Love you guys you read this!   Julie's nickname is Sassy.  So I get to have a shirt that says Sassy's Momma!  I asked Larry if he was going to get one that said Dad #2, lol.  He said no I think Richard and I will get Coach Richard and Coach Larry.  LOL.  I told him I could get on my shirt Sassys Momma, followed by Coach #1 wife, and Coach #2 ex wife.  Just kidding.  PWT.    Anyway back to tonight.  Larry went to help a friend of ours from church with his remodeling and move some Plumbing.  So it was just me and the kids after softball practice.  We took baths and did our normal bedtime routine.  Julie was the last to go to bed.  She is so silly.   She read part of a book to me.  Now that she has a queen size bed I can hang out with her on it.  We just talked about softball and the fun tournaments coming up, talked about how you can still be a Christian even if you have tattoos ( a boy at school told her it's in the bible, if you have a tattoo then you do not believe in God).  We laughed so hard.  Reminded me of elementary school with Stef.  She would laugh then I would laugh even harder, until I cried or snorted.  We prayed and I sung "the songs" to her.  Then about 20 minutes later she came back out, her throat hurt and evidently we needed to share some cookies and milk ; )   She's a sleep now.  My goodness she's growing up so much.  God has truly blessed me with her in my life.  She amazes me every single day.  Thank you Lord Jesus for being in control of my life and blessing everyone for knowing Julie Ann. 

Baby Fever

My little boy is growing up, he will be 10 months on Mothers Day.  He's starting on his path to walking and has such  a loving personality.  Any time music comes on, country of course * we tried rap last night, it doesn't have the same affect on him, but anyway he shakes his hips back and forth.  We still need to capture it on video.  

My friend Stephanie just found out that she is pregnant!  She's prayed and longed for this time to come for her whole life.

At her Wedding November 2004 

(mind you I was 7 mo pregnant)

  My sister in law's both just had babies, Conner and Alexis.  And unfortunately I cannot be there to hold either one of them.

Conner Matthew

Alexis Kate

I need another baby........... lol!  No not yet, but Larry and I have a plan to start in January so the kids will be the same amount in age apart and it will be in the fall/winter, we don't have one in the fall yet.  Bailey Grace Stinson - Larry wants me to start researching what I need to be eating to have a girl, he read that it matters somewhere online.  ; )  

CVS - Let's try this again!

Well May seems like a good time to start out at CVS again.  This time with no money, hopefully, out of pocket.  My plan is to go in with 3 adidas coupons, which are free adidas deodorant, from the all you magazine, and this month when you buy one you get 4.99 back in EBC's.  SO, basically CVS will be giving me 14.97 EBC's to take away 3 adidas deodorants.  Now I can plan on how to use my 14.97 EBC's to gain more EBC's and free stuff.  Now let's just hope my CVS has the deodorants left.  I bought three all you magazines so I could do this deal, the limit is 3 for your EBC's.  

Turning it over to the Lord

Giving it all to God.  That is the only way I can even being to handle all the things that come along in life.    But why is that so hard for me as a human being to do?  I mean I can't just hand them to him and then walk around like everything is going to be alright.  What do I do after I give it to him?  Listen.  Wow, if we all would just listen.  I guess my children haven't been listening to me very well.  Maybe that's how God feels about me, that I haven't been listening to him very well.  I need to make time to spend with him.  I feel like my day just happens to me and it's 11 p.m. before I realize it and time to go to sleep.   I've been working hard on getting things done around the house before the children wake up and while Cody takes a nap.  But there are so many things to get done, so many things I have on my mind to do that didn't get done that day.  Work and home are one in the same.    It's hard to explain the emotions I'm going through right now.  Things are very good with my marriage, the relationship between my husband and I.  But it's all those other things that aren't working so well.  Which is a problem I haven't had too much before, before it was always a problem with the people in the marriage and all the other stuff was fine- well tolerable anyway.    I have a wonderful husband and Jesus on my side - now how to make the other stuff work?  

The economy is slowing and that means business is slow and hard to find.  We put an ad in the newspaper but that hasn't gotten one call in the month we have had it in there.  We list on craigslist and that has worked the best but calls are all over the place.  Adverting in the newspaper is EXPENSIVE.  

A prayer from my mom in an email this morning " Father, I thank you that you are concerned about everything that concerns us - Lord I ask for an extra measure of blessing for Carissa and Larry - Lord, they are good parents, and love you so much - Father you are the "Way Maker" and right now we ask you to make a way where there seems to be no way please - we need the mortgage by thursday so we put it in your hands! 

NEW NEPHEW!

Good Morning!!!!!

Especially to my little brother and his wonderful wife.  They labored all night, and now have a beautiful, I'm sure, baby boy!  Conner Matthew!  7 lbs 15oz and 21 inches long!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Prayers please and update

The kids and I went to see Lillie at her house the day before yesterday.  The kids did really well with her.  Ronnie always says I love my Lillie.  It's very hard to see such a beautiful little girl not be able to be mobile like my 9 month old little boy.  God is working a miracle with her though, she held her head up really well when her Mommy holds her.  And she was looking at my Julie and I think Lillie even smiled at her.   My heart hurts for them.  There will be a bake sale for them on Sunday at 11 am.  If you can come by and need more information please let me know.   Lillie's Mommy is going to have to stay at home with her to take care of her.  And it's always hard to go from two incomes to one, plus more medical bills and possibly a van for her wheel chair.   Please keep them in your prayers.   Seeing this situation from the side lines and sometimes in the middle of it, has made Larry and I both cherish each moment we have with our children.  I know I've learned to pick my battles with them but also try to teach them something while letting them have their way every once in a while.  Children are so precious and a beautiful gift from Him.  

Softball is going ......... we have won 2 games out of 9 so far.  But we just found out tonight that our pitcher will not be with us the last two games..........  soooooo I guess we had better practice someone else at pitcher.  Right now Julie is at 1st base which is a good combo with our current pitcher.  We will probably be happy when this is over, but wonder what we did will all our time before softball.  

More later........ I'm tired.  : ) 

Kroger Deals!

Kroger Deals:

10 items for .50 cents

1 French's mustard - 40 cent coupon doubled

3 packages of Goldfish

2 Manwich Sauce

2 Hormel Turkey w/ Beans Chili

2 Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls

10 items for .50 cents

5 gatorades

5 sobe Lifes

10 items for 1.00

3 Pillsbury Pizza Crust - .50/2 coupon and .40/1

1 Clorox Bleach

1 Progresso Light Soup

1 Philadelphia Cream Cheese

1 Keebler Fudge Cookies

1 Peter Pan peanut Butter

1 Fritos

1 Cheetos

10 items for 1.50

1 Clorox Disinfecting Wipes

2 Windex Multi Purpose Cleaners $1/2

2 Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwich boxes

1 New York Garlic Toast  .40/1 double

2 Eggo healthy waffles

2 Kraft Cheese Shredded

10 items for 2.00

2 Welch' Grape Juice

2 Hunts Snack Pack - Family SIZE! 

2 Buitoni Pasta

2 Butitoni Sauce

2 Tombstone Pizza

FREE WITH COUPONS

Nestle Coffee Mate - big cont.

Yoplait Kids Yogurt Drinks

Extra deals

2/6 Springdale Milk

Total 61.00

Pretty good for being a newbie at this!  It would have been alot better if I'd had more coupons!

Spoiled

MY BABY LOVES ME JUST THE WAY THAT I AM

My husband shows me his love whenever he can.  I love to soak it all in.   Like the way it looks at me from across the softball field or smacks me on the butt in the kitchen when no one is looking.   He definitely loves me when he changes my oldest sons poopiness, especially when we are out at a restaurant.  He loves me even when I am moody, at that happens at least once a month for a week.  He loves me more than anyone else because I gave birth to our children.   He loves me despite my best efforts, our house is a messy 95% of the time.   He loves that I can only keep one room clean at a time.  He shows his love for me always because he is the head of our house hold, and gets his guidance from Jesus Christ, his personal Lord and Savior.  He shows his love for me by getting up everyday to provide a wonderful, beautiful, crazy life for our family, trusting in Him that He will provide.  

And he spoils me when he buys me things like boots, though I haven't had a new pair in a couple of years.

I LOVE LARRY TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!