Good Bye Diapers! Hello Big Boy Underwear!

Yes, my friends you read that right! Goodbye Diapers! I can't even believe it myself, I wasn't even planning on it happening this soon. But obviously Colin is ready so I might as well roll with it. I think they have really been pushing the issue at Baby School and I told them point blank that I wasn't pushing it at all. That I would be home with him all summer and I could work on it then. They must not have liked that! Haha!

Over the past couple of days, Colin has been pooping in the potty because he wants too. This morning he ripped off his diaper and yelled "PEE-PEE in POTTY, NOW"! I went running only to find he had already pee-peed in his diaper. I asked him if wanted to wear big boy underwear and of course he did. What 2.5 year old wouldn't want too, right? He has been going to the potty every single hour that I have taken him. No accidents at all! I just can't even believe it! I am so excited for him, but let me be honest and tell you...

On the inside, I am SAD! Really SAD! My baby is growing up, sometimes way faster than I want him too. What's next kindergarten? College? It's all coming so fast! But on the positive side, NO MORE DIAPERS! YAY!!!

Christmas Shopping in January

Yes, I have already started Christmas shopping for next year. I can't even believe it myself, but with some of the deals I have found I just can't pass them up!

I had to take this picture outside with the toys set up in my truck because I can't bring it in the house since the boys will see it and most of this is going to be Santa presents for Colin. I am planning on using one or two things for Easter Baskets too! Yes, Cade will be getting things for Christmas as well, but he isn't a toy kind of guy. He is very much a techie so I am not buying any toys for him when I know he won't play with them. It is just a waste of money and space!

I spent a total of $55.60 today and I saved $170.38. Everything in the back of my truck would have been $225.98 if I wouldn't have bought it on clearance. Just amazing to me!
My two best deals were probably the Take & Play Thomas The Train Set which I purchased for $4.00. It is selling on Amazon right for $60.00 and the Lego Set which I purchased for $2.50. That Lego Set was originally $30.00.

Meal Planning

Do you Meal Plan? Do you make your Weekly Menu? Monthly Menu? What is your strategy?
We Meal Plan around here! I normally plan for at least two weeks at a time. It just depends on how motivated I feel. And sometimes, if I am feeling lazy, I will just do a week at a time. I normally write down my menu in one of these fabulous little notebooks.

I have about 15 of them floating around that I keep everything listed in, which is why I want to make a Home Management Binder! One place for everything except recipes, which I am thinking I will make a binder for those as well. Anyway, in one notebook I have a list of everything I cook. Then I have each dinner listed in it under a category like Crockpot, Grill, Oven, Soups/Sandwiches/Salads, Desserts, etc. When I sit down each week to plan out my menu it makes it easy because I know on Tuesday night I want something quick and easy, so I normally go for a Crockpot dinner or Soup/Sandwich dinner for that night.

As I was sitting down to make my menu for next week and the following week on Sunday I came across Misty's post! I was so excited to find this because she linked the meals up with recipes!
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
I am already planning to borrow a few ideas from her menu. I am hoping to be better about cooking more so that at least one night a week we can have LEFTOVERS!

Anyway, I would love to hear some of your favorite go to dinner recipes. Please feel free to leave those for me because I promise I will use them if they are easy enough for me! I am also interested in incorporating a dessert for each night. I don't do that too much right now - normally just on the weekends. I need easy things, that might last more than one night. Again any ideas are welcome! I can't wait to see what you guys have for me.

Project Life, Organizing, & Home Mangement Binders... OH MY!

Who does Project Life?
I follow a wonderful blog, Sunny Side Up, who uses Project Life. She has convinced me that Project Life is for me! I LOVE to scrapbook! I have thousands of dollars in scrapbooking supplies that I recently cleaned out because I NEVER have time to actually do it anymore. Plus I don't have the space to store everything I actually use and of course it isn't cheap. After reading about Project Life from the above listed blog for over a year and looking at the website I decided I want it and will actually be able to use it.

I am thinking it would be smart for me to start slow so I am thinking I should just start with one family binder instead of three binders (one for each child). Anyone else agree? Now, my question is which set to order? It has be neutral enough for two boys and a girl!
So I am looking at these options:

Turquoise Edition
OR

Cobalt Edition

Help me choose which one I should get for my Family Binder! Please! Also, if you have suggestions on which pages you prefer for your binders please let me know before I order. I would love to order some that I love! As you can tell I am really excited to start this new journey using Project Life!

I am also pretty excited to start a new organizing journey in hopefully a NEW HOUSE!

This is one of the FIRST things I would like to add as we enter from the garage. It seems just perfect especially for backpacks that never seem to have the perfect home and for homework that isn't due until the end of the week. I, of course, found this awesome idea on Pinterest so this isn't my picture - just a picture of the idea I am planning to do! I will be ordering my set from this Etsy Store. No reason for me to try and reinvent the wheel, so to speak!
Then of course in my brand new laundry room I would love to add something like this:
But I am wondering if I should add something like this in the boys bathroom so that I get their laundry organized before bringing it to the laundry room!

We will also have a new playroom! YAY! I need to find some ideas on how to set that up. But for now, I found this idea!
Since each boy will have their own bedrooms this is something I would like to incorporate into their rooms! I love the shelves and the buckets! So very, very cute!

And LAST but not least... Home Management Binder!
I have been reading so much about these binders in so many different blogs. I decided to look on Pinterest (of course) to see what I could find! I found the above picture but I have also found other ideas and printables! The below are pictures of the printables I have found and I will probably use some of them. I also think I am going to look around and see if I can find a cutesy binder or if can't find anything I like then I always have the option to buy a clear binder so I can add my own decor! I am already counting on Avie doing this project with me and I can't wait!

Let me know if you have any other ideas that I can implement! I am thinking of starting a New House Binder also. I was thinking I could put all my organizing and decorating ideas in there. Then everything for the new house would be in one place!

I am open to all suggestions so if you have ideas please feel free to let me know!

Lazy, Fun Day!

It's Monday! It's a holiday - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday!
Today has been productive! So productive, so so so productive! We cleaned and cleaned and we organized. The BEST part it was done early during the day so we had the whole afternoon to enjoy each other.

Colin and Cade played Angry Birds the Board Game. Okay, who am I kidding... we ALL played it and it was FUN! Then Colin did some Lego building and playing. Cade did some Trio building and playing. Of course Mommy and Daddy joined in on that as well. When Colin took a nap, Cade and I played Table Tennis! It is so funny to watch him play!

I did get out and about today as well. I was able to make my returns to Belk. Of course I made some purchases while I was there. I will have to take pictures! I am pretty excited about my deals. Especially since it was the start of Easter Baskets! I was with my mother so on the way she wanted to stop by CVS, which was perfectly fine! I think I am now a CVS Fan for life. They amazing, amazing clearance sales. I thought Target was my go to place for Toy Clearance but CVS is another go to spot for sure! I was able to get the boys Valentine's Day gifts done - both the Wuggle Pets Starter Kit for a whopping $4.99 each! My boys will be THRILLED! I got Cade a Power Ranger for $1.75, this is for his Easter Basket. I got Colin a large Hot Wheels car that makes noise and moves for $4.99 and that will be going in his Christmas stash! I also got Colin a Thomas The Train Trackmaster Set for $4.99 which will be going in his Easter Basket. I am beyond excited with myself!

Happy 80th Birthday, Dickie!

My grandfather turned 80 on January 5th! We celebrated this major milestone on Saturday, January 7th with lots of family and friends in Lyons. My grandfather has always been a very important part of my life. After my parents divorced we moved to Lyons and lived with my grandparents. For five years of my life my family lived with them and it was amazing. I truly believe that things happen for a reason and living with them was one of those things.

Anyway, the party was fabulous! Lots of people came and everyone had a fabulous time! Dickie LOVES playing cards so that was the theme of his party!
The Cake Table
Up-close of the Cakes
These cakes were AMAZING!
Balloons
These balloons lived in my van for a week after the party!

Granny and Dickie
Colin enjoying the dice on the tables
Granny, Dickie, and their three kidsMy Boys
And my husband who likes to play with the camera... He thought he looked like a Private Detective taking pictures out of the van.
Happy Birthday, Dickie! We love you and we will be celebrating many more!

Girl Time

I know I am late posting these blogs, but better late than never!

Anyway, on January 6th, Avie and I decided to have a little Girl Time! Ashton, Avie's son, was spending the night with his cousins and my boys were going to be Larry. We decided Avie's house would be the perfect place since it would be Kid Free and we could talk, craft, etc.
Avie had great plans to create a set of Family Rules in her home. The rules were going to be laid out very similar to the ones I posted above, which of course was found on the one and only Pinterest!

She had all the supplies ready for us to get started!
We were ready to start...
But we talked and we organized and we talked and we made changes to how the rules would be laid out and we talked some more. Are you getting the picture here? We got NOTHING accomplished in the craft department! NOTHING! We decided together that she could this and that to make it look oh so cute, but of course since we have not crafted in a long while we didn't have anything on hand so we just had to go with the ideas and bascially the finished project looked like this...
Which is exactly what we started with - minus the chair!However, I wouldn't have changed this Friday Night for anything in the world! It was probably one of the best times I have had in a while. It was relaxing, it was fun, we talked about crafts, projects, houses, decorating, moving, and school. I really enjoyed it and I wish we could make this a monthly a thing! What do you think, Avie? Should we try to plan it at least once a month?

We also discussed the boys because what mother doesn't, right? We talked about their favorite Christmas presents and I once again said how next year would be different at our house because Cade is just not a toy kid where Colin is. I don't know if you remember me posting though about our boys doing their Christmas Eve present exchange... Well, the boys got Ashton some Tech Decks and a box of Knex. Ashton was a little disappointed in the Knex because he was really hoping for Legos. With that said, when I went to their house Avie showed me some AMAZING things he made with his Knex and then told me how much he enjoys them now. By the way, Ashton did get Legos from Santa and a huge Lego organizer from for his Grammy Jerry! But just look what he did on his own - no directions, no pictures, nothing!

T-Rex with a moving head
A camera with a flash and everything - this thing is AMAZING!
I was totally impressed and super proud of Ashton! What amazing skills to have and to be so creative! This boy would love some Snap Circuits!!

Howdy Partner

This sweet face loves anything and everything Toy Story!

His favorite characters are Buzz and Woody! I bet you would have never guessed that! When he opened his Woody PJ's for Christmas he had to put them on immediately! He could not and would not wait!

Then his fabulous Grammy found him these absolutely amazing boots! Yes, my friends he has even slept in them in a few times!

Tooth Fairy

When you lose your tooth the Tooth Fairy must come!

Since, I didn't want to miss any of the excitement I woke Cade up myself to see his reaction!
His buddy Tuphy keeping guard!
Waking up a little more...
Getting his Tooth Fairy treat...
Excited yawn
Now according to some of my friends, I am a cheap Tooth Fairy for the first tooth! I didn't have any more cash on me and he is only in kindergarten so I thought he would be super excited! He was excited about and talked about it ALL day! Apparently, the Tooth Fairy isn't too cheap after all.

First Tooth

If you know me, you know how much I hate wiggly teeth! They make me sick to my stomach. They give me the chills - like fingernails on a chalkboard! They make me want to scream! I detest them! Seriously, why do children need to leave them hanging in their mouthes by one single root. YUCK!

The actual thought that my own personal children would get "wiggly" teeth never really crossed my mind. I mean, really why would it! I guess my mind thought we would just skip through that part of life and wake up one morning with all our baby teeth gone and our adult teeth in their places. Well, it doesn't work like that at all... DARN! One December morning while I was brushing Cade's teeth before school I noticed that his adult tooth was coming in behind his baby tooth. How I missed this the night before is behind me? BUT that morning I had a small freak out until I came the realization that it was actually pretty normal for this happen. After my small freak out, something happened to my hand. I believe it got a mind of its own for a few minutes. Because it reached inside Cade's mouth and wiggled the baby tooth in front and GUESS WHAT... That tooth was "wiggly"! Oh my goodness - I had NO CLUE what I was going to do! What was I supposed to do about this tooth? Then I got the perfect answer - I would have my friend at work, Kathy, pull Cade's tooth when it was ready. We wiggled Cade's tooth and we wiggled and finally it was loose enough to come out! I let Kathy try to pull it and Cade refused to let her. I didn't know what I was going to do now. I only had two options - Larry and Marissa. Those two options quickly faded when he refused to let them do it. But guess who could pull it... That's right ME! Good Ole' Mommy! I didn't know how I was going to do it... I was even sure I could!

But obviously I did! Sorry for the quality these were taken with my cell phone! So we have our first little baby tooth GONE!