MMMMMMMMM.....Homemade Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cookies....

GUESS WHAT WE ARE CELEBRATING?!!!??!!!!

Anyone want to guess????????

I went to the chiropractor yesterday.  I keep feeling like everyone around me thinks I am over reacting with my pain levels but I honestly am not.  My back is numb in places and constant pain in others.  I don't want anything out of this accident other than my medical bills paid and I'm only doing what the dr. suggest.  I go back today, yesterday was just xrays since it was my very first visit and my first time at a chiropractor so today they talk with me over the xrays and tell me their plan of action.  Pray for me that I will get some relief today...I struggle to even pick up James and he's only 23 pounds!

I love this one, Julie was a angel in the Christmas play and supposed to walk down the church aisle, she got halfway down and realized that mommy was not with her and took off running back to me!...lol....

Me and my love at his momma's

 James under my mom's tree

My Love and James asleep on my mom's couch.

My sister in love and Travis Christmas morning.

Travis and Lillie in my mom's kitchen.

Julie and Lillie in my MIL back yard.

All my babies are currently playing hide and go seek all over the house so I'm taking a moment to blog.  Then I am immediately getting up and sewing!  I bought myself some fabric today and a pattern for a new outfit.

Christmas LAST year was such a blessing!  Of course many already know my dear hubby had lost his job and finances were extremely tight for Christmas this year.  I was so upset and then the Lord just worked everything out according to his plan and this was the best Christmas ever.  We couldn't buy gifts for family members so I made fleece blankets for everyone and they were a huge hit with everyone!  Each of our children received 2 gifts from mommy and daddy and they were thrilled and played and played with their toys. 

Christmas Eve morning was spent with my husbands mom and family and it was alot of fun and fellowship with family. 

 Christmas Eve night as tradition in my family we all including my brother and Kim stayed the night at my parent's house.  We played catch phrase and ate snacks until 2 in the morning!  What fun!  Then everyone went to bed except Kim, myself, and my mom we (Kim and I) waited for David to go to sleep (my brother) once he was asleep we spraypainted his hair red and green and covered him in silly string.  It was hilarious!  He woke up and realized that we had covered him in silly string but never knew we sprayed his hair until he got up and looked in the mirror! 

Christmas morning was with my parents and we went home around 4pm in the afternoon for Christmas with our children.  Of course in between that my brother and sister in love gave me and my hubby a new couch and chair!  We were so surprised and blessed!  We needed it so badly and it's beautiful and so comfy. 

We had many other things that we did at christmas, Christmas at my grandmas, Christmas with hubby's grandma, Christmas at church, Christmas with his dad, and Christmas with my mom's family.  All was wonderful but yet very busy especially for a family of 7!

I leave you with pictures, until next time....

Oh yeah...for Christmas my sil got my brother a ninetendo wii~~now I'm not usually a big fan of video games but that thing is awesome!

Here's my dad playing tennis (on the wii)

My mom and James Christmas Morning

Julie, me, Lillie, and James playing peek a boo we are watching everyone play the wii...(you have to stay out of the way..lol)

Chelsie offering her advice on how to win at bowling on the wii!

And my very favorite...

My hubby of almost 13 years reading the Christmas Story at church.

I am taking another break from blogging.

Sad but true the computer can be addicting to a stay at home momma and household duties, children's needs and various other things can be put aside just to "read" another blog.  Thus I am taking some more time away from the computer.  I thought I had stayed gone long enough to be able to regulate my time and usage on the computer better but I haven't.  I won't even mention how long I've been up here today but it's a shame and I have to discipline myself better before I return.

In other notes:

My precious secret sister sent me some lovely gifts I would love to post a picture of but my camera batteries are dead....sniff..sniff...anyway she sent me a beautiful strawberry candle that I'm getting ready to light, and many wonderful smelling bath products!  Thank you SOOOO much whoever you are!

Many of you already know the story of the birth of our fifth blessing.

I found these pictures on my dad's computer and had to post them for memories sake.

In the last picture that was the first moment I realized that I actually had a baby and he was okay after I had awaken from anethesia.  Wow, he's beautiful! (in the first three pictures I hadn't even seen him yet..he was 1 hour old before I was awakened, one neat thing though...they brought me out of anethesia by placing him on my chest)

sniff...sniff...they grow so fast...he's almost 10 months old and standing up trying to walk!

Well I finally caved this morning and had to physically go to the Dr.  Bronchitis with a severe flair up of asthma that's not responding to the "traditional" albuterol.  But my wonderful Dr had the rememedy to that...and might I take just a moment to say.....

OUCH!

A steroid shot in the hip.........um.....ouch.....the nurse assured me the shot itself did not hurt but afterwards it would be quite painful.  Pain isn't the word for it as I limp around the house.  Okay I've given birth to 5 children this should be nothing to me...nope...wrong....IT HURTS!!!

Has anyone tried the link I posted?   Since no one left any comments I don't know...(hint, hint).

We've been using it this week for our unit study on Thanksgiving and I've learned quite a bit myself.  I was recently criticized for homeschooling and told I needed to put my children in public schools (since there is one 1/2 mile away from me).  LOL, I would like to quiz any of the students from that school Thursday about Thanksgiving and see how much knowledge they retained from their lessons.....quiz mine...they know it...they've learned it....because they had a mom sitting their teaching them, drilling them, and most of all loving them and making learning fun.

  Cost of this bow....under $1.00!

(you can make them as small or as big as you like...personally I just like big hairbows!)

There is nothing more adorable and feminine to me than a little girl with hairbows in her hair.  But goodness have you noticed how pricey bows are?  I've been making my girls bows since they were babies but I wanted some new patterns and cheaper ribbon.

Michaels craft store always has a ribbon bin where you can get 3 yards for $1.00 pair that up with the 40% coupon they have online or in there sales flyer the clips to put them on are $1.75 for 12 add a hot glue gun and glue sticks from the dollar store you are at $2.00.  Your price for supplies is now at $4.75 cheaper than you can buy 1 bow!  Let's divide it all out.....

2 bows out of 1 roll of ribbon/ 1 bow $.50

12 clips/ 1 bow $.15

hot glue gun infinitely used/ $.10 

Free instructions online

$.75 all under a dollar for one hair bow!!!

Here is the link for instructions

http://bowdesigns.50webs.com/

Happy Bow Making!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD!!!  39 YEARS AND COUNTING WHAT A BLESSING!!!!

Before my really long picture post I want to say the Lord is leading me to take this blog in a new direction that I may help others that are in or heading towards my situation. (notice alllllll the frugal links to the left!) "Budgeting" uggggg....that word is scary in itself without even having to do it...lol...seriously before my husband lost his job and the previous paychecks didn't well..pay...I didn't think about what I spent.  Sure I didn't go crazy with every paycheck and I'm on the CVS/Walgreens bandwagon but other than that...I didn't think about it.  BIG mistake so as I learn to budget and learn tips of the "trade" I'm going to share them up here.  Not only because I may actually help someone but because it will help me remember that I'm on a mission....saving money and being frugal...!

James playing in the bathtub....no it's not my tub but I sure would love to have it!

James and Mommy

James in daddy's hat

Chelsie, Mommy, and Julie on picture day

My Lillie 

~The Lord has answered our prayers~

On Monday morning my husband's employer closed their doors to business forever.  Sadly this put around 1000 people out of work one of them being my hubby.  Wow the emotions that come with knowing there is no income for the next payday.  We have cried and prayed and gone through so many emotions.  Finally we did what we should have done in the very beginning...we gave it all to the Lord and put our faith in him that he would take care of us no matter what.  The past three days I have truly seen what my precious husband is made of.  When the news came out Monday morning he refused to slow down.  I prompted him to take the day off and just relax but he went job hunting all day long....he's done that all day long everyday this week.  I am so proud of him.  I told him I would get a job somewhere and he told me ever so sweetly he was the provider for our home and he would take care of us.  Tears well up in my eyes everytime I think of him saying that to me.  What a wonderful man I have praise the Lord for him.  Anyway tonight we were at church and at 7pm his previous employer called him and offered him his old job back!!!!  WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE, he answered our prayers so quickly and in such a way that we couldn't even comprehend.  I thank the Lord that I'm a christian and I have him to lean on in the time of trouble.  I don't know how I could have gotten throught the past three days without the Lord and constant prayer.  I am just extremely thankful for a husband that refused to be knocked down and continued on when many would just quit.

I love you honey!