A Frugal Friend

I follow this blog titled "A Frugal Friend". She is a savvy shopper and enjoys sharing her knowledge with everyone else. If you're interested in ways to save money, check her blog out! She got me started on saving and how to use coupons. I'm no where near as proficient as she and others are, but I'm slowly learning and slowly saving the family money. It's something I enjoy!

Right now, she has a great giveaway with wonderful items for your kids!! Check it out if you can! Go here to check it out. You, too, can have your chance at all these wonderful items, although, I certainly hope you don't check it out for the giveaway so I'll have a better chance at winning. ;)

QT

Not QT the gas station, but just a quick trip up to St. Louis to see my sister and her family. Todd heard of this museum up there called The Magic House made for kids that just has tons and tons of stuff in it. He wanted to take Kayden up before baby #2 came, so we decided to go up over the weekend. It was a lot of fun and the kids loved it! My camera battery died, so I only got a few pics. But it's a great place for kids to learn and get their hands in things. They have science, government, practical learning (grocery store, playhouse, bank, etc), math, slides, mystery solving, and tons of other things. We were so tired by the end of it. If you're ever up there and have young kids, it's definitely a place to look in to.

Kayden saying "Cheese!" as he takes a break from being a cobbler. He had fun with that hammer.

This is a pic of this huge "plant" where the kids can climb up and down it to get up/down to the different floors. It was really cool. Had they allowed adults to climb it, I would have been all over that! And parents, dont' fret. There is a huge wire mesh around the entire thing to ensure there are no accidents. And, everything looked to be secured really well. I mean, there were tons of kids all over this thing and it didn't move - at all. This picture doesn't do it justice.

This is my niece, Emma, and her dad. It was pretty cool to actually let the kids get in there to pull a bubble around them. Emma didn't really know what was going on until the bubble popped.

Kayden playing witht he bubbles. He loved it and even made some domes!

This was pretty cool - just a huge kaleidoscope. It faced an open window with tons of sunlight, so it worked really well. My sister and her other daughter, Maren, were on the other side spinning while Todd holds Kayden to take a peek. Really pretty and really cool.

Pitter Patter

This pic really has nothing to do with the post, but I just thought it was a good one - Kayden loves to say "Cheese!".

I'm working from home today and kept Kayden with me. I put him down for his nap, but all I hear is him running in his room upstairs. I'm sure he's playing with his radio or something.....but definitely not sleeping. Maybe all the running will wear him out enough that he'll decide to close his squinty little eyes and fall asleep.

As I write this, I can him talking. I don't know who he's talking to or what he's saying, but apparently, it's important and crucial to his running. Maybe it helps him run faster, who knows? He's a nut.......and I sure love him!

What's in a name?

Apparently, a lot goes in to a name because Todd and I are having the hardest time thinking of names! Only recently have we started thinking about this. The hardest thing though is that we need to be prepared with names for both a girl or a boy. So far....it's not going well. I keep forgetting we have to start thinking about this (it took us forever to finally get Kayden's name and then we didn't decide on it until 2 days after he was born) and do everything else to get ready. I'm not sure if it's because of my pregnancy brain or if it's just because I haven't been thinking too much period. Who knows. Whatever the case, we have alot to do - names being a priority. We'll see what we come to agree upon - hopefully not Bertha (no offense to any Bertha's out there!).

A Great Giveaway

I've read about this stroller on 2 different blogs and from what I can find, it has great reviews. Todd and I have been looking for a good double stroller - but haven't been able to find one we both like that's good quality within our price range. Well, this meets all our needs (and being free is the best part!).
When you have a chance, take a look at this for your chance to win (not unless I do). It's a cute color, sturdy, functional, and smaller than most double strollers but still providing all the necessary storage room, functionality, etc needed. Not half bad.

http://inevergrewup.net/giveaway-25-bumbleride-indie-stroller/

Good luck!

Turning over a new leaf

In an effort to eat at home more, I've been searching for new recipes and such online. In my search, I came across a woman who plans her meals for the entire month. Realizing that part of my problem was that I didn't know what to cook so I wasn't prepared to cook anything at all, I took on her approach and have planned a menu for the entire month. So far, I'm 2 weeks in to it and it's working great! I have the menu all planned out and on the fridge so it's a reminder that I need to pull the meat out or what not to prepare for the next day. Then also with church early on Sunday, I can get at least 1 meal done for that week and not have to worry about cooking for that one night. I'm hoping that I'll be able to keep this up because it's so great to get home and know that there will be a homecooked meal that night - instead of the proverbial Sonic run (I'm Sonic-ed out!).

Success!

With the new year came a present...from Kayden. We have been trying to get him to go to Nursery at church since he turned 18th months. He was not interested. Well, at the new year, he all of a sudden wants to go. The first Sunday of the year was his first time in Nursery all by himself, without a parent or a grandparent in there. He didn't cry and was in there the whole 2 hours! Last week was the same. It's so great! So, I can go to Primary and not worry about Kayden and Todd can go to Sunday School (anyone seen him in there??) and YM. Then Ma and Pa don't have to worry about taking him either. It's great! I'm so proud of him, and he's having a blast...so it's win-win! Plus, this gives him a chance to play with other kids...and hopefully not pick up any bad habits. We'll see. So far so good.