Ticks are sick!

Elliot said my head hurts. I took a look and saw a nice big tick sucking his brain! Imani had a big dead on on her when we got her and I found another one a week later and started her on antibiotics.
I took Imani to get Frontline and vacinatons. I hope that will keep those nasty bugs out of this house and off the family!

Budgeting?!?!

I hate writing down a budget. We spend more then my husband make. He works so hard I hate to tell him no because we don't have the money.
Well we really don't have the money right now. We are no longer using our credit card. Now when my husband wants to eat out I have to say no we CAN'T.
I need to start seeing how much money is coming into our house and how much is going out. We have dreams of vacations and a new washer and dryer. I would love to pay for Dr. visits when the bill comes not when we get a few notices!
I have no idea how much we spend on food each week or month. The Target, Wal-Mart, Freddies receipts have clothes or diapers and such on them too. I am sure I can do this. I am very inspired by reading others blogs and considering a full disclosure blog with all our finances posted. I think I will be more careful if I have an audience.

I sat down and started planning a menu. I think we could get away with only spending $50 dollars in groceries this week. We do receive WIC for the boys and I have a bit of food stashed. Wish me luck.

Park Day

Cody doesn't work till one a.m. so we all went to the park today. We first went to the dog park and let Imani get some exercise. Then we took the kids to the park near by. Felix loved the baby swing and slide. I am looking forward to the summer he will be the perfect age for playing at the park. There is a big new one being built near our home should be ready spring 2010. There will also be a dog park. The air was crisp, the sun was out, and we had a great time. The Beanery has a display of photographs by Amanda Reed. We stopped in for some hot chocolate and to see her work. Amanda has a amazing talent for photographing babies, children, and families in natural light.
We drove home past all the newly erected tree stand. My brother in law has a tree stand this year so we will be going over there on one of Cody's coming days off. We have got them much later in the season. I am happy to get to do it sooner and enjoy it longer!

Happy Black Friday!

So Alisa (older sister) talked me into going out on Black Friday a few years back. I continued to do it for the next few years. I have to say the best way to do it is to go with a fiend or two. I have tried to devide and conquer but I did not like standing in long lines at Best Buy and Toys R Us alone.
I usually try to do shopping through out the year. Cody's job stars to slow a tad through the winter. So buying items earlier in the year is a must.
Black Friday has lots of things on my list too! Last year I bought high thread count sheets for my bed. Also I only buy DVDs on Black Friday and never pay more then $5.

Well this year after the dishes were washed I sat down and looked through the ads.
Nothing realy grabbed me. I tried to think of the people I was still shopping for. I was kind of happy to not feel the pull to get out of bed at 3 am. I showed up to Walgreens around 7 for a few things then over to Bi-Mart just to look but ended up with a few thngs. I then went to Jo-ann Fabric and Rite Aid, I got wrapping paper, bows and dog halloween costumes for "the puppies". Butch and Lani adopte puppies a brother sister and let Alliya and Elliot name them Sunshine & Baxter. At .80 cents each (reg. 9.99) I thought it would be fun to get them for next year. I am happy that I choose to avoid the craziness of the big stores. Just adding to the great start to the holidays!!!

Thanksgiving Dinner

I was so excited when we offered to have Thanksgiving at our house this year. We moved into our first house this March. We thought it would be fun to have the dinner in our new home. Lani (my mother in-law) made the turkey stuffing and gravy. Cody and I had all the side dishes cooked up and ready when they arrived.
The menu:
Lani's perfect Turkey
Homemade Stuffing
Gravy

Deviled eggs
Asparagus rollups
Pan fried sweet potatoes
Sweet potato suprize
Garlic bacon green beans
Mashed potatoes
Canned corn
Rolls
Frozen pumpkin & dutch apple pies
Bread pudding

The kids got to pick which dish they wanted to help with.
Alliya picked Deviled eggs and did a wonderful job.
Elliot helped with the mashed potatoes, addding butter and milk and mashing.

Maybe next year we will make pies and rolls. I just didn't want to bite off to much this time.

I printed printed napkin rings and place cards off http://papercake.blogspot.com

I had a church dinner a few weeks back where I signed up to bring my place settings and "host" a table. That is where I tried the aparagus roll up too! I got to practice the tablescaping for our dinner.

Everything was so perfect and nice. I am so greatful to start the holiday season off with such a lovely peaceful evening.

Beautiful day for a birth

I love being a birth doula! I love having the opportunity to support moms during such an amazing time in their lives, when their family is growing! Today was a day like that. It was a beautiful fall morning the sun was shining and a beautiful healthy baby was born.