Thanks Grandpa

For Christmas I got this marble contraption for Spencer. He loves to build things and I thought the boys would have a fun time building and rebuilding it to make many different designs. Little did I know that this thing was VERY complicated. So since my dad loves to build things as well I enlisted his help. Last weekend Spencer had a sleepover at my Mom and Dads house where Spencer and Papa were going to build it. So they started it and didn't quite finish it so dad kept it and he was going to work on it during the week. It took my Dad about 4 days and he finally finished it so Spencer and Tyler went back out to their house to check it out. Of course they loved it. As dad was building it I told him to glue the pieces together I didn't want it falling apart. I had good intentions I just did not know how hard it was going to be having over 350 parts.

Good thing for Grandpa's because if I would have tried to build it I know I would have gotten frustrated and probably thrown it away. Now my only problem is Jake. He loves it and wont leave it alone. I am so paranoid of him messing it up. I am keeping a constant eye on it.

Thanks again Grandpa!

Saving Money

All right well most of you that know me no that I am always looking for the best deal and I never like to pay full price for anything. So lately I have been complaining about my grocery bill. I think every week prices are going up. I remember when a full shopping cart used to be under a $100. Now it's double that and I am tired of feeling like I don't have any control over it because we all still have to eat. So the other day I found this website called grocerygame.com and I decided to try it anything had to be better then what I was doing currently. The just of it is you choose the store you go to most frequently and every week between Sunday and Tuesday they post all of the sale items in that store. As well as every coupon available either in the newspaper or online to give you the final lowest price.

Now I hate the newspaper always have I think it's the texture or who knows why just one of those funny weird things about me, but most of the coupons are in the LA Times so I now have the Sunday paper being delivered to my house and it only cost $26 for the year. To get the list from the website every week they charge $10 for 8 weeks, but you can trial it for only $1 for the first 4 weeks that's what I did.

Well to make a long story short It works and I saved a lot of money. Today was my first attempt so I went to the store this morning and my total bill after my savings was $170 and I saved $ 130. Now that's worth it! To me I think the extra time it takes to find all the coupons and a little extra time in the grocery store was well worth it for me. So if I can do that every week I will end up saving about $500 a month.

Just thought I would share this if any of you out there are having the same frustrations as I have been having with rising food prices.

Jake's 1st day of preschool

I can't believe my little guy is growing up already. I have many mixed emotions this week as Jake is now in the sunbeam class at church and just had his first day of preschool on Monday. It makes me a little sad to think this is it. I won't have anymore toddlers in nursery and this will be the last first day of preschool for me and my kids. Jake is so independent and a little stubborn I know there will never be a dull moment with him. He has been so sad ever since school started in August when he was left home alone with just me and the other kids all went to school. He always wants to be with his brothers and sister always in the middle of everything. So obviously he was very excited to start school so he can be a big boy like Spencer and Tyler.

I was a concerned that when I dropped him off on Monday that he would get cold feet and not want me to leave. That was not the case he did great and was OK that I left as long as I put a small candy in his pocket for later. When I picked him up after school his teacher said he did very well for his first day. He had a hard time sitting for circle time and was kind of all over the place, but that was to be expected. All of the other kids had already been there since school began in Aug. and Jake was the youngest. I am sure he will get the hang of the new routine very quickly and have a ton of fun while learning all sorts of new things.

Time is moving along so quickly and I am trying to make a conscious effort to hang onto every memory and experience I can with my family. That is one of the main purposes of my blog is to capture all of these memories so they will not be lost to my horrible memory. I only wish I knew how to do this blog thing earlier, but better late then never.

Christmas with Family

We got together with my side of the family and had fun as all the kids got a present from Grandma and Grandpa which was very exciting for them. Spencer got his first pocket knife which makes me a little nervous I'm sure he will be very careful right? Jake and Tyler got this very cool magnetic gears electronic toy which fascinates them and keeps them very occupied great gift thanks to Papa's late night infomercials. Brookie got a cute scarf that matches her blue eyes and a cute sunflower snow globe. Thanks for the thoughtful gifts! We were also very excited when Esther made it after being really sick in the hospital. It would not have been the same without her.

We go to Mike's parents house after Christmas every year to celebrate with them. The kids always love going to see their grandparents and great grandparents. Mike's Mom Kay was very brave and hosted a delicious dinner for 52 people. We had a great time visiting and catching up with everyone. Spencer got a chess set and challenged Uncle Rick to a game they both say that they won so I guess a rematch is on the way. The kids loved their gifts. Brooke got a gift card to Macy's and a snowman snow globe. Spencer and Tyler got very cool RC cars, and Jake got some tools since he loves helping Mike around the house.

Thanks again to our wonderful families for all they do for us. We are truly blessed.

Christmas Time

What a great Christmas! It is one of my favorite holidays. There is nothing that I enjoy more than watching my kids come out from their room and see that Santa came. I know I usually go overboard for Christmas, but that is how I was raised and Mike is coming around "slowly" but surely. He definitely won this year with my gift. I was very excited to look in my stocking and see a picture of my new computer (WOW).

Some gift highlights this year were: Brooke got a bike, Spencer got a skateboard and wii games, Tyler got a scooter and a couple wii games, and of course my little Jake got his first Nintendo DS.

Santa Mike was very good to us all.

Snow Day

Once again my brother Scott and his wife Tera were totally awesome and invited us to share in their fun. This is now the seventh year that they have had snow delivered for tons of fun and excitement in Southern California. All the kids love to have a huge snowball fight and my brother Scott is usually in the middle of it. The kids love to get any and all of the adults. Mike had a lot of fun trying to get the kids, but I think the kids enjoyed the retaliation even better.

As you can see the memories are endless and for that I am very grateful for a great big brother and an awesome sister-in-law.

Ward Christmas Party

This year our ward had a wonderful Christmas party. One of our good friends Wendy Speakman was recently called as the ward activities director and she went all out it was amazing. We enjoyed a great sit down dinner, program, and at the end a special visit from Santa.

Brooke along with the YW and activity day girls all sung Let it Snow. It was fun to see Brooke step out of her comfort zone a little and have some fun. They even had a snow machine so as they were singing the snow began to fall. Spencer also had a small part in the program with many other boys the same age. They sung and danced to the song Toy Soldier. Spencer unlike his sister had no problem getting up and performing in front of everyone. He is such a ham.