Technical Difficulties

I may be the only person on the planet that doesn't know what "the blue screen of death" is when it pops up on your computer. Well, I do now. Thankfully, I did not lose any treasured pictures. Yes, I am one of "those" that have not backed up the last year or so of digital pictures. Well, I am in the process of doing so now. I am very "computer challenged" and hope to get better organized with the whole picture thing. Until then, I am not doing much else on the computer.
Maybe by the first of next week I will have all photos copied to discs and will feel safer using the computer. I am looking forward to posting about baby Rose (it has been a while since doing an update on her) and a great recipe I want to share. I also want to post on Wendy's 4th birthday and our trip to Maryland to see my new nephew!
'Be back soon.....

Frugal Friday

I love the frugal Friday posts at Crystal's blog. I have learned so many neat things from all the creative women that participate each week.

I have a simple tip that helped me this week. I made two pans of lasagna one evening and the directions say to bake them covered with aluminum foil. I have not had any foil for a while now. I normally pick this up at the dollar store. It's one of those things that I would rather not spend money on. Instead of foil I covered the two 9x13 glass pans with two cookie sheets and it worked great! The lasagna baked up perfectly. Like I said, simple, but I was happy not to have dry lasagna! I will share this recipe soon too, because one of the ingredients is one of my new favorite things!

The Beauty of Spring

I love the change of seasons. This is the time of year to open the windows and enjoy the crisp air and birds singing. The grass is getting greener and the buds on the trees will soon give way to new life. And I love going barefoot and just needing sandals to go out! We can pack away mittens and hats and gloves! Did I mention that I love this time of year?

I came across this website for kids today. There are poems with printable coloring pages and craft ideas for children. I copied this poem and coloring sheet for Wendy and Lily today.

These verses came to mind today also. I am thankful for the beauty of the season and God's promises in these passages.

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; and they toil not, neither do they spin:

And yet I say unto you, and even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, oh ye of little faith?

Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(For all of these things do the Gentiles seek) For your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God , and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:28-33

Making Your Home A Haven

I thought about letting the kids have a break from school this week, but I think now is not the time. We have just recently got into a pretty good routine since having Rose. We will attempt to fit in some Spring Cleaning this week though. Nothing too major just some basic stuff. I am going to make a list of just a few things to accomplish this week. If I think too much about all the cleaning that really needs to be done I will just get grouchy. No one needs a grouchy mama:0)!! So keeping it simple, here's my list...

1. Monday-Laundry- tommy's clothes, clean out refrigerator and freezer, make a grocery list and menu for this week ( attempt to stay within budget for the rest of March), go to grocery store.



2. Tuesday-Laundry-Wendy, Lily, and Rose, deep clean bathrooms, we have four so this is more than enough for one day!



3. Wednesday-Laundry-Abby and Anna, sweep/vacuum and mop all floors



4. Thursday-Laundry- Jacob and Samuel, wash windows so we can see more of all this pretty spring sunshine! Start packing for a trip to Nana and Papa's house next weekend, we are excited!



5. Friday-Laundry-whatever needs washing! Pack and prepare for our trip!

I will update with some progress, hopefully! Have a great Monday and visit here for some cleaning inspiration!

Monday Update:

Monday's list is done! I am so glad I made this list. It gives more of a sense of accountability and I usually lose a paper list or just forget about it in the business of the day! Here are a few pictures: Before:


Lots of help wiping out the refrigerator:

Doing inventory:

After:

Now the fridge would not pass a strict white glove test, but it is a huge improvement and we know what we have. We made the menu, a list, and got groceries! One more load of clothes is in the dyer that we will finish this evening. I hope the rest of the week is as good! I will continue to update!

Happy Easter

All dressed up for church!
Our bunny cake!

He Lives!

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

And they remembered his words.

Luke 24:1-8

He Lives

Lyrics and Composer Alfred H. Ackley, 1933

Super Saving Saturday

I'm joining the ladies at Cystal's site, sharing my Saturday cvs deals!
I did two transaction's:
the dove deal went like this:
2 dove body washes 3.99 ea.
1 dove deodorant 3.49
2 dove shampoos B1G1 4.99
1 cvs spray hand sanitizer 1.79
total-18.25
-8.00 dove coupons from the paper
-1.79 (coupon from cvs in my email for the hand sanitizer, yay!)
-3.00 off beauty products online printable
-5 off 15 cvs purchase
=.88 out of pocket!
earned 5 ecb's

second transaction:
2 bags peanut m&m's 2/6.00
2 glade sprays .99 ea.
1 glade wisp flameless candle 7.99
1kid's listerine smart rinse 2.99
1 maybeline lip stick 8.99
1 glade candle 2.99
1 cvs hand sanitizer 1.79
1 gallon milk 4.09
total-37.32
-11.38 manufac. coupons
-5 off 30 from a previous receipt
-5 off 15 online printable
-14.95 ecb's
=1.16 paid out of pocket!
earned 17.98 ecb's

Rose, our newest cvs shopper.