Rose is Six Weeks

Our baby is six weeks old already. Isn't she a doll grinning here!
She has grown to 24 inches and weigh 11 pounds 7 ounces!
Here she is snuggled in her sling sleeping. She loves being held and startles very easily. About the only times you will hear her cry is when she gets scared or startled and if we put her in her car seat awake.
What a "ham"! Don't you want to squeeze her cheeks?!

Super Saving Saturday

This is my 2 year old that asks "You goin' to CBS (that's CVS)? I wanna go wis you Mama" when she sees me putting on my shoes:)

At Kroger, we took advantage of sales and coupons that have printed out with our receipt recently and some manufacturers coupons that matched sale items. Thanks to Abby, my ten year old resident "Coupon Queen" for gathering what we needed:) We spent $30.74. Items that were free were...6 tubes of Aquafresh toothpaste, six pack of Yoplait yogurt, 2 jars of Peter Pan peanut butter, and Private Selection Coffee.
I felt like we had to really work at putting together a plan to make CVS work for us this week. The deals were few and far between. We did get the Revlon buy $20 and get $10 ECB's deal. I really debated this one because I just don't use very much make-up. Again, thanks goes to Abby because she searched for some light nail polishes and a mascara to total the $20 while I walked sleepy Rose around the store. Here's the break-down...

2 stayfree 2/$10, used one $3.50 cvs printable and 2 $2 mc

1 softsoap pump $1.79

1 J&J healing hand lotion, used 1 CVS $1 printable, and 1$1 mc

1 tresseme hair spray $1.99, used $2 CVS printable

3 revlon nail polishes $4.59 each

1 revlon mascara $6.99

Sambucol $12.99

1 dozen eggs $2.05

1 gallon milk $4.29

total before coupons $60.87

used $4/$20

used $10/$50

paid $27 in ECB's

paid $1.53 on cvs gift card

Got back $25 ECB's

Read Crystal's Super Saving Saturday!

Frugal Friday

It seems that between maintaining a home and two vehicles that there are always needed repairs. It's been one thing after another lately. This week it was the car.
The passenger window had been making a terrible "crunchy" sound for a while and it finally quit working completely and happened to be about four inches down! A couple of days later the fan on the heat would only blow on five, the highest setting. I guess this could be considered a good thing with the window being stuck open in winter;)
The car was due for an inspection and oil change, so we sent it in to be fixed and serviced. Well to get to the point of the story, we got a call from the mechanic that the repairs and maintenance work would total around $700. I didn't know what to say, but in my mind I was thinking they could replace the whole door plus some for that amount of money! I had my husband call him back from work. He asked if this issues were a common problem. The mechanic checked with his supervisor and told us that the repairs would be covered by GM.This was great news! We paid for the maintenance work only.
It's a good idea to develop a good relationship with the dealership or your local mechanic. Don't be afraid to ask questions. I think in this case since we were dealing with the service dept. of a Chevrolet dealership where we have our vehicles serviced regularly they were eager to please to keep our business. God is faithful in the ways he provides in big and small ways everyday.

Read Frugal Friday for more tips!
Photo from Freefoto.com

Making Your Home a Haven Monday

Crystal at Biblical Womanhood challenged her readers to pick a drawer to organize today. I had been wanting to do the kid's bathroom drawers for a couple of weeks. I would not have done this today without her encouragement.

Before..

After.....If anyone has any suggestions for organizing lots of toothbrushes please comment:)

Check out more at http://www.biblicalwomanhoodonline.com/labels/Making%20Your%20Home%20a%20Haven.html

Menu Plan Monday

The last week of the month can be a challenge to plan because of lack of money in the budget and enthusiasm to cook! I am already trying to plan for March. I am hoping to plan dinners that will include freezer meals. I will shop and cook the first week and freeze some of our favorites. We will be trying several new recipes also while trying to eat healthy, stay within our budget, and keep everyone satisfied. Wow, makes me tired just typing about it. Hopefully the planing will help make meals easier with our new routine with baby Rose!

Breakfasts: biscuits and gravy, cereal, oatmeal, toast, bananas

Lunch: homemade mac'n cheese, grilled cheese, pbj, crock pot beans and cornbread

Dinners:

Monday: breakfast casserole (with turkey sausage and cheddar cheese), orange slices

Tuesday: baked chicken, rice, green beans

Wednesday: whole wheat penne with white sauce, salad

Thursday: McD's (errand day and check-up for Rose)

Friday: pizza

Check out orgjunkie.com for more menus!

Happy Birthday Anna-Kate

In honor of your birthday, here are nine of our favorite things about you...
**your big smile
**your positive attitude
**the way you love everyone around you
**you make the sweetest cards
**your beautiful smiling eyes
**the way you play with your younger sisters
**the way you squeal over animals
**your laugh makes us all happy:)
**your eagerness to help
Anna-Kate, we love you very much and we are so thankful that God gave us such a sweet and happy girl. Happy 9th Birthday!!!!!

Our Granola Recipe

(with approximate cost)

1 cup honey (have used browm sugar) $1.00

1 stick of butter (have used canola oil) $0.50

6-7 cups old fashioned oatmeal $1.50

1/2 box Multi-grain flakes (great value brand from W-mart) $0.75

Cinnamon $0.05

Total $3.80

Melt the honey and butter together in a large stock pot over low to medium heat. Add in oats and flakes and toss to mix well. Spread onto cookie sheets. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake at 250 degrees for 20 to thirty minutes, until toasty and slightly browned. Let cool completely(try to keep your kids from eating half of it before you can get it put away:) Store in an airtight container.

Some great ideas for add-ins, after it is baked

raisins

nuts or seeds

coconut

banana chips (with walnuts makes a great banana bread flavor)

Another tip for larger families...Use a 1/2 cup measuring cup to help the kids practice portion control. This is such a hit around our house it rarely last more that a couple of days!
Visit The Natural Mommy for the recipe swap!