Budget beware!

Ah, budgeting. I hate this word. I hate thinking about money and I hate talking about it. But, I think a larger majority of people are turning into couponing and evelope systems.  I take a certain amount each paycheck for groceries,  Ray takes a certain amount out for eating out during the week, and we take out a certain amount and use it for "family fun". I love this, but I hate it so much. I started using the envelope system and it was great, for a minute. Until I went to Target and bought groceries and personal items like shampoo, razors, etc. Then I had to figure out how to seperate my money at the cash register and it turned into a nightmare. So, I gave up. BUT, I just found something that's going to change my life! This wallet is what I've been missing! It's stylish, it zips, it has dividers, and it's completely budget friendly! I just ordered one and I can't wait to get it and try it out. I'm hoping this is the answer to my budget issues and we can start the new year off with a bang!

Giving Thanks

This year, we had A LOT to be thankful for. My brother's girlfriend of 5 years went into cardiac arrest on Nov 9 and was in a medically induced coma. We weren't exactly sure what her outcome would be, but I can tell you now, that we are amazed. She has a difibulator and is restricted, but she's alive! She came out of all of this and is doing so well. She is back home now and getting stronger everyday!

I found a picture in a magazine that put cranberries in a vase with flowers and I LOVE the way it turned out!

My aunt Priscilla with her granddaughter Margaret

SANTA came!!! Who knew he made house calls?!

A really cool puzzle from Santa!

Family picture with Santa

Ah, the clean up process seems to go on forever!

This is what happens when the Cowboys play football these days. :(

Fall Decorations

This is the decoration on our front door. $5 from Dollar General!

I just love these little scarecrows. Please ignore the fact that they are sitting in pots with dead plants.

My very lonely Scarecrow in my flower garden.

Here is the entry table right by our front door.

Connor picked these little pumpkins and he loves seeing them when he comes home from school.

I think this says it all! :)

I'm pretty happy with how our fireplace decorations turned out. I just bought the 2 standing decorations at Sams last week! Love them!

More pumpkins from Connor!

Our table decorations. Connor LOVES his calendar on the table.

I have had the potted topiary trees forever. I'm going to have to start glueing the stuff back on.

This is on a side table to the left of our fireplace. My hubby and I bought a few of these things the other day and I'm pleased with how it all turned out.

I LOVE buying specific holiday ribbon and tying it to things like this. I think it makes things more festive and it allows you to incorporate more of your belongings into the holidays.

I am so thrilled that we will be spending the holidays at my parents house. What excites me even more, is that everyone on my dads side will all be here for turkey day. This is unheard of almost. We are spread all over the place these day from Texas, to Louisiana, Colorado, New York and Atlanta. So this is going to be so much fun. I can't wait to see everyone!!!

Veterans Day



Here are my boys headed off to Connors school for a Veterans Day program.

All I can say today, is I am proud. Proud of my husband for taking that oath almost 8 years ago to protect this country. To make it a better place for our friends and family. I don't think we expected to be on such a wild ride, but it's what was given to us and I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm proud to be on this journey with him, but most of all, I'm proud to be an Army wife.

Halloween

Halloween has come and gone and I still can't say no to candy. I get sucked in every year. The good news is that 99% of it is sitting in the Austin Landfill somewhere never to be seen again. The rest? Connor was allowed to pick 10 of his favorite pieces and then is just dissapeared. :)  We ended up at our friends Mark and Julie's house and boy was it fun! Our other friends Mark and Sally and their 3 kids were there along with my friend Kristen  and 2 of 4 of her kids. The adults ate white chicken chili (OMG it was good! Recipe to follow) with cornbread in the shape of skulls. The kids has mummy dogs and they loved them! Big hit! We finally had all of the professional pictures taken (thanks Julie!) and off they went to trick or treat. Well, about 25 minutes into it, they were all exhausted and sweaty and wanted to go home. So we hit a few more houses and then went home. After all, it was a school night.

Right before the professional photographer took over!



Kate and Savannah eating dinner



Maggie, the Princess and Grace eating their mummy dogs



So, after many weeks of convincing Connor that the mustache to his Mario costume was not permanate, he finally gave in and allowed Julie, to take some pictures of him in full gear. It's hard to tell, but he really is smiling. Probably wondering why I was "making" him do this. Well, I'm here to tell ya, it wasnt forced. He (we) bought this costume literally right after the fine people at Target put them out on diaplay. You know, back in June. (wink wink) So it had been sitting in his closet for at least a month when one day he appeared in the hallway no longer looking like my blonde hair, blue eyed kid. "Look mom, it FITS!!!" Awesome, now PLEASE go put it back in your room so we will have it for Halloween. Wouldn't you know it, went into his room a week before the big day, and the mustache is gone. That's right, missing. How could he be Mario and not have a mustache?? Well, I googled "mario mustaches" and it was like $14.99 with shipping to get me a new one. Um, no thanks. So back to Target we go and lucky for me, they were on sale. So now we have 2 Mario costumes, 2 Mario hats, and 1 lonely mustache. But it was so worth it!

Connor, Grace (Jessie) and Kate (Woody)

Menu Plan Monday

I have decided that I am going to start taking part in menu planning starting today. I think this will help with my grocery budget, the nagging question of what's for dinner and it will help me use up stuff that's already in my pantry. So, here it goes!

Monday- Sandwiches and veggies
Tuesday- Creamy Chicken Enchiladas with rice
Wednesday- Three meat Stromboli with salad
Thursday- Veterans Day- Hubby gets a free meal at the resturant of his choice. FUN!
Friday-Pot Roast
Saturday- Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Sunday- Spaghetti with garlic bread

Race for the Cure- Shannon's Sassy Sisters!

Today, my friend Kristin and I walked a 5k for a beautiful woman named Shannon. She is a mommy of 2 little kiddos and is 6 months into her diagnosis. We had team shirts made, a banner made and off to The Domain we went. We had a team of 10 ladies and it was the most fun I have had at 7am in a long time. This year the organizers got smart. They decided to have a rolling start time from 8-10. The traffic last year was so bad that it took away all the excitement. So, we started our walk at about 8:15 and it was so uplifting. We saw many survivors walking, many people walking in memory of someone. It got emotional from time to time, but we made it! As we were coming up to the finish line, they announced Shannon's name and the name of our team. We hung around for a little bit after we finished our walk. Yoplit yogurt was out there, Skinny Cow was there, some cereal companies, water companies, etc. So we got our free yogurt and ice cream and watched more people cross the finish line. As tradition for this team, we left the Race and headed to Fuddruckers! Man let me tell you, it totally hit the spot! It was so nice to sit down and be able to talk to everyone at the table. I'm leaving you with some pictures and the video of Shannon and our team crossing the finish line! Can't wait until next year!!!

Ready to start our walk!

Free at last!

Connor is at grandma and grandpas house this weekend which inevitably means date night for the hubs and myself. No more kid menus, no more trying to figure out the crossword puzzles on the back that were clearly made for adults. No more going to the bathroom in packs. So the hubs and I sit and have an adult conversation. About what you ask? Well Connor of course!

Heres proof he's still alive AND having fun with the grandparents!


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Let's try this again!

Here we are, about a year and a half later, and I get a wild hair to start my blog again. I really am a busy person, but as I see Connor getting older, I want to have some memories of all kinds for him to remember.  So as the holidays approach, I am more determined than ever to keep this going. So I will leave you now with a couple of pictures of Connor with the promise of more coming in the next couple days!