Don't judge me!

I'm been a mom for 10 1/2 years and we've never hired a babysitter! Crazy, isn't it? This is partly because we have a lot of family around and partly because I'm a control-freak (no one else can do "it" exactly right). And, well, partly because we don't go out much.

The only times I've slept away from my kiddos is while in the hospital with another kid or the one anniversary Friday night we took this past October to stay in a nice hotel. For some reason, I want to be the one to kiss and tuck my kids into bed. They are growing too fast anyway, I might as well enjoy it while I can, right? If I was in the hospital having a baby and couldn't leave the hospital or even in the hospital with Mollee for the week after her tonsillectomy from hell and wouldn't leave the hospital, I made sure Jason would go tuck them in and then come right back to me. I'm sure that wasn't necessary, but it always made me feel better.

When Jason and I get family to stay with the kids, we usually just go out to eat and come right back - which definitely is a treat and I can still put my babies to bed. Plus, I'm not really a night person. That is Jason and I's biggest personality difference. He'd rather stay up late and he hates getting up in the morning and I'd rather go to bed by 10 and I cannot sleep-in in the morning. Even in high school, I'd go to bed by 9 or 10 and then get up at 5 to do my homework and laundry. Weird, I know!

So, tonight we had plans with friends - a double date!! We assumed it would be a late night, so we got a babysitter instead of dumping the kids at my Mom and Dad's and getting back for a late bedtime. We take a girl from church, Alyssa, to school each morning, so we asked her to babysit. Our friends had to cancel last minute, but since we already had a babysitter coming, we decided to just go out, take our time, and enjoy ourselves. Of course, Alyssa did a great job and the kids were so excited to have her come play with them.

It was weird for me to be on the other side of that transaction (the 'how much do you pay' and actually having to take someone home afterwards). I babysat from the time I turned 11 (for Millie and Jeff Henry - doesn't that make me feel old) until I started having my own babies (Jason and I still babysat for a few families after marriage - the Hobbs, the Griggs, and the Schreiners).

So, I survived. I didn't even worry about the kids - really, I didn't! I knew they were in good hands, I knew they were probably having a ball, and I knew my parents were right down the street in case of an emergency.....

and you better believe I kissed my babies goodnight as soon as I got home!

Oh, yeah, and we had a great date too!

Southern Savers

This is a post for those that have asked me about my coupon adventure, but aren't in my Mom's Group (those ladies already took Coupons 101). I don't have a lot of knowledge, but wanted to give you an example of savings. I use a website called Southern Savers to help me see the specials. It lists all the sales for local stores, along with coupons that have recently been in the Sunday paper or a link to print a coupon.

I know why I have never jumped into this before....because it takes a lot of work and time, but it is worth it and gets easier as you do it more and more.

The theory is that everything goes on sale in a 10 week period and you stock pile while things are on sale and then have them when you need them, instead of running out and paying full price. Also, something I learned is that you can use a store coupon and a manufacturers coupon on the same item. Some stores, like Publix, will take any store coupon (Target, BiLo, etc.).

So, today, this is what I got:

ALL laundry detergent was B1G1free, regular $5.99, sale $2.99. I had 2 $1 off coupons so I got 2 bottles of laundry detergent that should have cost $11.98 and it only cost me $3.99.

Lance Snack Crackers were also B1G1free, regular $2.89, sale $1.44. I had 6 $1 off coupons so I got 6 packs that should have cost $17.34 and it only cost me $2.67 (we eat a lot of these crackers since some of my kids prefer them instead of sandwiches so I did this deal twice - there are print limits to some things and I had to print some of my coupons at my moms).

Talking with some of my friends who are half-heartedly trying this, they seem to believe the family eats more with more in the house. This is probably true, but my husband has a strange sense of security when our cupboards are full, which isn't always true when work is slow.

I'm trying to come up with storage space for my extras, more on that another day.

Piano

Some friends of ours have moved (starting their journey yesterday) back to Papau New Guinea. They were home (in the states) for a year to raise money to be able to return as house parents for the children of missionaries. They rent their house out here while they are gone and needed to get rid of a piano for the current renters.

We took it! I'd love for the older kids to take lessons, but haven't priced that yet? I took lessons for about three years and wished I was a better player, maybe I should start up lessons too. :) I've always wanted a piano, but we don't really have room for one and I didn't want to buy one that I was worried about the kids destroying. Well, we still don't have room, but we've squeezed it into our den space and since it is already "well-loved" I won't worry about the kids messing it up.
The only unfortunate part of the whole deal (more for Jason than me) is that the kids like to make up songs and play them endlessly. Maybe I need to make that call about lessons........................

Caines Clan

Today we had a big family lunch at my mom and dad's. The youngest sibling of the Caines Clan, my little sister, Ruth, is going to Cape Town, Africa for a year. Her birthday is in May and today was the best day for all of us to gather, say goodbye and wish her a "Happy Birthday". We tried to get a family photo. One of the twenty-one grandkids was sleeping and got cropped in to the photo (I won't say who?). I haven't perfected the cropping yet, but wanted this to my entry today and figured the quality didn't have to be print perfect to be on my blog.
We had a good day (a little chaotic since it was raining and kids couldn't play outside) and a nice time of prayer for Ruth.

"Hoptycopter"

For the last month, Mac has done fairly well with his potty training. I still have to help him each time he goes because he insists on sitting instead of standing and he is too small to get up on the potty himself. But, he is doing well! He is also insulted if I suggest we put a pull-up on for running errands, so we just risk it and hope for the best.

Pooping on the potty has been another story. He usually just waits until bedtime when he has a diaper on. We've had Herald the Helicopter sitting in the bathroom windowsill ready and waiting when Mac decides to poop on the potty.

Today was the day and he'd tell you he finally got his "hoptycopter"!!
I am one step closer to being diaper-bag free, still needing extra clothes and a juice cup for the little guy. Not sure if that is a happy thing or a sad thing??

Wear Orange!

Did you know that Protestants are supposed to wear orange on St. Patrick's Day?

This is what I'm told: Orange is symbolic of Irish Protestants while green is symbolic of Irish Catholics. On the Irish flag, there is an orange stripe, a green stripe and a white stripe. The orange is for the Protestants, the green is for the Catholics and the white is for the hope of peace between the two.

So wear orange! (and maybe a little green because you will get pinched by someone)

Tavis, on the otherhand, went out of his way not to wear green today - he even wanted to make sure he didn't have speck of green on his underwear! What a nut!!

Aunt Heather

Today is my sister-in-laws birthday (yes, the kids have an Aunt Heather on both sides). I love her to death and I'm proud to call her my sister. And the kids think she is great, so I want my post today to say:

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y

H E A T H E R ! ! !

Here we are at her bridesmaids luncheon (I was pregnant with Mollee):And at the wedding (I was supposed to be a bridesmaids, but pregnant in an outdoor wedding in August didn't work out for me, but I was glad to be an honorary bridesmaid):Some pics with the kids:

Mollee's 3rd birthdayMollee benefitting from Aunt Heather being a professional ballerina

With Tavis at the beach (I love how she always jumps right in with the kids)

With Daegan

With Capps (Ok, I couldn't find a pic to scan with Capps - this happens to me everytime I'm doing a photo project - no picture with Capps, my loner is always hiding or something??)

Holding newborn Mac

I knew Uncle Daniel (Jason's brother) would whine if I didn't include him in any of the pictures - plus, this is one of my favorite pictures: I love you, Daniel! :)

Heather, We Love You!!! Happy Birthday!!!!