Cameron's 16th birthday party

It is official. His license arrived in the mail yesterday. He was not real happy about having to take a picture of it.

He had his 16th birthday party at The Basement at our church. It is a really cool place for the kids. They have these colorful booths in the wall.

There is a kitchen with a fountain drink dispenser. A lounge area.

A stage on one end. And room off the sides with pool table and areas for small groups.

We set up Guitar Hero in one of the rooms.

Who said Alabama and Auburn can't get along?

The kids played some music for us.

Mostly they sat around and talked.

My husband playing guitar.

Lots of food. We brought home a lot of pizza and food. I figured it would all be gone.

I hope he had a good birthday. We got to meet some of his school friends that we had not met. As much as we have been around the kids friends there is still a voice in my head that says that kids do not want to be around us old people. I ignore it and talk to the "expressively dressed" among them and they always seem to be glad you talked to them and they don't seem as "different" than I imagine.

Are You a Dave Fan?

I have seen a lot of posts about New Years resolutions to try to get their spending under control by following Dave Ramsey. I just want to stand as a prior Dave listener and follower to tell that because of his teaching we are where we are. We never took out credit card debt but we were charging everything and paying the balance each month. Because we did not make a lot of money we were just living paycheck to paycheck. It was not bad spending, I have always lived by a budget and spent less than whatever we made. But, we did not have an emergency fund and I always felt the pressure of that. Darryl could care less about worrying about finances. If we had just enough he was okay with that. Me, being a planner, would see that at the smallest medical bill or car repair we would be thrown into a negative state. One thing I have learned from Darryl is that we take each day as it comes and not to worry about tomorrow. I have learned more how to trust in God for our future. We have gone through many tough times, but always been given what we need- even if sometimes that giving required wearing our bodies to the bone in hard work.

We were living 20 miles from anyone in the country trying to change our life. We could not afford any home in Niceville so we bought 10 acres in the country. I am talking country like- the neighbors had no teeth. The saving grace was that church friends bought the land next to us and our kids played all day in the woods. We lived there for a year and finally decided that this life was not for us. We wanted to be back in town, but knew we couldn't move yet. We stayed four years total because our expenses were low and we were able to save for a different life. We took on a paper route- the biggest in Niceville. It paid really well but the hours getting up at 3:30 were awful. We used the income from the paper route to move into town. Without that extra income we could not afford the life. Stupid tax was paid and we were stuck having to work that job to afford our life. We weren't living extravogantly- we had a 2100 square foot house built in 1986. It was in a nice neighborhood, but nothing "fancy." We would alternate doing the papers except on Sunday- we had to both deliver the Sunday paper since it was so big.

Then, stupid tax was paid again. We had a paid for van. It was side swiped while parked at a garage sale and repaired. We went to Disney and backed into someone (a small car that was up on our bumper so you could not see them) and it was repaired, then I was sitting at a stop light and a guy rear ended me. Well, my husband saw that the frame did not look right and felt we needed to get rid of it. We bought our 2001 YukonXL (In 2003) and financed $23000 after a trade in and down payment. It was over $32000 for it. I love my Yukon but we were stupid to go into a car payment. We listened to Dave every morning while delivering papers and just totally ignored him. We thought we were working hard and we deserved it. We had to have a reliable car. We had the money for the payment (after the $450 payment we had $800 left each month) Whew, stupid , stupid, stupid.

We decided to get really serious and follow Dave. What did we do? Added more work to our schedule. My husband got his handyman license and worked for a lady at his real job that had about 20 rental houses. When she bought a new one or someone moved out he would paint, replaced plumbing and drywall, and did remodeling type work. Another guy that was flipping houses also used him to remodel for the flips. He also got with another guy and they boarded up the windows on the luxury beach houses in Destin when hurricanes were coming. I took over three homes that a friend cleaned when she moved away. One I did every week. One was once a month. And one was every two weeks. We were making a lot of money. The paper job brought in $2300 a month. He was paid $30 an hour for handyman stuff. And I made $25-$30 an hour cleaning the houses. We totally wore ourselves out. We went gazelle and got stuck running at gazelle intensity for a long time. We had money, but at what cost?

We finally got to the point that we had to find a way to stop the ride. Dave says that he suffered from thinking he could out earn his spending. Well, we were like that. We weren't spending crazily but we were able to find ways to earn more and work to live a life that really we couldn't afford- it doesn't matter that it was not a luxury lifestyle. We were not a slave to debt- we were a slave to work.

The solution is to either make more or spend less. We couldn't spend less- I really was still frugal and not overspending in any way ;other than the car payment or house payment was $1300 a month so it was not too big in most worlds. The housing market had gone crazy in Okaloosa county in Florida. Houses on our street were selling for $389K (we paid $152K) The good was that we had a lot of equity in our home and could change our lives if we sold. The bad was that we could not afford another home there. A 3000 square foot home was over $600K. We had lived in Huntsville for 5 years and talking to friends found that the market was still very reasonably priced. Jobs are really good in Huntsville with all the technical and defence jobs supporting the Arsenol. So, we began to seek moving here. We had hoped to make almost $200K and almost pay cash for our house, but that was not God's plan. I guess He had some other lessons for us to learn.

We moved and got a rental for the cheapest we could find without worrying about the area- $1000 a month. We needed to be in the city limits for our daughter to attend the high school. (Our high school is in the top 3% in the nation.) Our house in Florida took 15 months to sell. During that time our Florida house payment went to $1600 because taxes went up. We were paying $7300 a year for taxes and insurance alone. We lowered the price $114K total to get it sold. For whatever reason we weren't financially where we had hoped but God had a purpose for our waiting. We have a nice 3000 square foot home and were able to put money into an emergency fund and live off of Darryl's ONE income. We have three cars- all paid for. No, we no longer have over $800 a month left over after paying our bills, but we are not a slave to working either. I have to be more careful to watch our budget but not to a point of worrying. We have what we need.

It is because of Dave and our continuing to work and have hope and a dream for a better life. We had $10K in savings when we moved. Man, did Murphy ever come. We had to put in a new lawn pump and then our air conditioner went out. That was almost $4500. Then, we had to pay to have our home cleaned and yard done while it was on the market. We did everything that we could to survive that 15 months- cut out contributing to 401-K, I spent $300 on groceries a month, no clothes, no cable, no eating out, no activities that cost money-the boys did baseball but did not do basketball or football. My husband changed jobs after we moved and went from having to wear jeans and polos to pants and ties. I went to the thrift store and found expensive name brand shirts and pants for him then we supplemented with JCPenney sales (fabulous sales) when we got birthday or Christmas money. If we had not had the original $10 K saved we would have gone under. My MIL kept asking if we needed money, and we did accept $3000 at the end - then paid it back when we sold our home. She could not believe we were paying $2600 a month for house payments and making it. Man, did it kill me to have to accept that money! It just got to the point where we had $10 in our account and just could not go any further. Our house payment was going up another $300 the month after we sold for the increase in insurance. When we sold in Florida you are required to do any repairs for anything found on the inspection. Guess what they found? Termites. We had to repair and treat for termites. Then, we had to pay $1000 to take down a hundred year old oak that was next to the house because the insurance company would not insure them with it that close to the house. I handled the waiting during the 15 months pretty well. I think the last month of repairs and all really about made me go coo-coo. God really allowed us to be pushed really far so I am anxious to know for WHAT REASON!

There are a lot of things that can become slaves- living in a home, working, continuing to buy things you don't really have the money for. You may see the money,but is it there because you have made working for it a requirement? I would rather have less with time with our family over all the things and a big beautiful house. I look around and feel blessed beyond imagination because I do have a beautiful home and all we need. I, at times, can see bigger and better and forget that, then sometimes I feel embarrassed that we have so much more than others. It is weird to have that feeling of being embarrassed for having things. I guess there are times when you don't want people to think you think you are better than them or for them to feel like what they have is not good enough. Believe me when I say I have lived there. We started out in a 1000 square foot home and just tried to make each one the best we could. Don't let things take any priority- make whatever you have clean and neat. Find things at garage sales to make it a beautiful homey place. Take care of what you do have, no matter how ugly it really is. You are creating a home and that is not what it is furnished with but who it is furnished with.

How Stores Handle Coupons

There is an interesting post with a lot of information that I did not know about how coupons are profitable for the stores. A lot of cashiers act like we are stealing from them When I get stuff free or am paid to buy something I sometimes feel like that. But, it is nice to know that they are not losing a cent. Check it out here.

Kroger 1/29/09

Here's my Mega sale prep for a 16th birthday party trip to Kroger.

2- gallon milk $3.18 each
4 naval oranges $2
4 packaged boneless chicken $1.99 lb
BC frosting $1.50- $.50 doubled = $.50
2 Suave shampoo $1 ea- $1/2= $.50 ea
2 Johnsons Buddies Soap $1.09 ea- $2/2= $.09 ea
Crest toothpaste $2.50- $1.50 shortcuts e-coupon&$1.50 Q= made $.50
2 bread $.89 ea
2 bags pretzels $1 ea

Mega Deal items: Buy 10 Get $5 back (each total has taken the $.50 off
5 Green Giant steamers $1.50- $1= all free
Frenches mustard $1.69- $.50 doubled = $.19
Kraft 32 oz mayonaisse $2.99- $.75= $1.74
2 40 ct Tostinos Pizza rolls $2.99- $1= $1.50 ea
2 16 slice Kraft cheese slices $1.99- $.75 = $.74 ea
2 boxes Orville popcorn $1.99- $.50 doubled = $.49 ea
2 Hungry man meals $2.50 ea- $.50 doubled= $1 ea
6 bags goldfish $1.09 ea

Total $46.95
I heard that Alabama is working on repealing tax on food items. Over $5 of my total was tax. Coming from Florida that has no tax on food it was hard to begin paying it. I hope it all goes through and we can save that much more.

My Monthly grocery, health and beauty, and cleaning spending for the month is $313.92 so far. That is with our good friends here for about 4 days and the weekend feeding 6 girls. I am about to go to Walmart to buy some more party food for Friday night (my son is having his 16th birthday party) but I have $180.00 to hit budget of $500.00 a month. How are you all doing? I hope that you are learning to get deals with coupons and feed your family for less.

My Pendants arrived!

One is missing because my daughter grabbed it and ran. I ordered my daughter's, the red one above for my step- mother's birthday, and the pink one for me- all mine. It even has my initials on it, thank you. Well, sweet Kerrie threw in the other three! I absolutely love them. They look even better in real life. My only problem? Which to wear. Decision, decisions.

Gardening

I just ordered my seeds for the year. Last year I just bought seeds at Lowes, Walmart and other places. I have since learned that you cannot save seeds from those plants to replant because they are hybrid seeds. So, this year I am investing in non-hybrid seeds so that I can save the seeds and replant them each year. I ordered basic seeds this time and will add different varieties. I ordered a bush and pole bean, bush and pole lima bean, lettuce mix, broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, pok choy, bulbing onion, collards, okra, pink eye purple hull peas, sweet corn, cucumber, eggplant, green pepper, jalapeno, chili pepper, watermelon, canteloupe, spinach, yellow and zucchini squash, spaghetti squash, 4 different tomatoes, and snow peas.

We have two 4X8 raised beds to the side of the house. I want to add two beds there plus just dig up a large area north of those beds to plant corn, beans and watermelon. I am going to companion plant all three of those and see how it does. The corn is supposed to be a good stake for the peas and the peas are good for the soil. Then, the watermelon grows along the ground. It will need watering. I plan to add some rain barrels to the rear spouts to water my gardens. I also want to add about 7-8 beds right behind the deck area.

I also would like to get some fruit trees to plant. They are really expensive to buy them a couple of years old, but it you start them early it takes so long to start producing fruit. I may have to add one or two a year for a few years.

With 7 people to feed I don't think I could produce enough on our lot for us to have both in growing season and to can for out of season. I am just going to grow as much as I can and can what I have when I have extra and hope to cut down our budget a lot. Nothing beats the fresh taste. I also really enjoyed watching the little baby plants emerge and grow. I felt like a mama all over again.

My husband's grandfather was a very frugal person. I am so glad to have gotten to really know his granddaddy and two grandmothers. All of mine died when I was younger or early married. Granny Evans could talk your ear off. Grandaddy was from a large family - I think it was 13 kids. Then, he went through the depression. He never had a credit card or even a house payment. He was really tight with his money. He bought gold and silver and collectible stuff and had huge safes for it all. Granny said they had meat once a week, on Sunday. The other days they ate vegetables they grew and cornbread. They had meals like collards, peas, corn and cornbread. She once told me that she burnt a roast one time and dug a hole in the yard and buried it because if Grandaddy found out she had wasted all that money they would have either had to eat that burnt roast or hear him talk about it forever. She was in her 70's when she told me the story and she still did it hushed behind his back.

I wish I had asked more questions about what they ate and things they did. For us to have a meal without meat is rare. I remember his other grandmother asking if getting vegetables helped our budget. I didn't know how to answer. We would get corn(cut off the cob and milked to make skillet corn) and okra and pink eyed peas. At the time I just bought Walmart brand can veggies and we are corn and green beans so I did not see a huge help to our budget. Now, I would love to have them given to us in baggies already put up. I will say that a few times when we reached the end of our money and still needed to eat we pulled out the pink eye peas, made some rice, and cooked some cornbread and ate well. The peas make a juice that mixes with the rice and is really good.

McDonalds Booklets

Money Saving Mom has alerted us to coupon booklets at McDonalds. They have Valentine's coupon booklets for $1. Each coupon booklet contains 12 coupons for free items:

3 free hamburgers

3 free small cones

3 free apple dippers or small fry

3 free apple juice or milk jug

These are redeemable at any participating McDonald's from February 14 to May 15, 2009. Please note that they are redeemable only by children ages 12 and under with a limit of one coupon per customer per visit.

Publix 1/27/09

4- Honey Comb cereal $1.95- $1/2 Q= $1.44 ea
12 rotel tomatoes $.99/2-$1/2= FREE
6 Chunky soup $1.91/2- $.40/2 doubled and (2) free WYB two= $.37 ea
2 boxes Orville Red Popcorn $4.89/2- $1/2 store Q& $1/2 Q= $1.44 ea
3 Halls cough drops $1.65/2- $1/2= $.32 ea
2 Ronzoni pasta $1.39/2
2 Egg Beaters $2- $1/2 store Q & (2) 1 Q= $.50 ea
chops $1.99 lb= $6.43
2 Loreal Vive shampoo $2.99 ea- $4 Walgreen easy saver Q& (2)1 Q= FREE
2 Red Baron Pizzas $5.79/2- $1/2Q= $4.79/2= $2.39 ea
Total $29.65


Show us all your deals at Money Saving Moms.

Walgreen 1/27/09

Oragel $8.49 - $8.49 walgreen rebate-$1 Q- $8 manufacturer Q= profit $9
Colgate $2.99-$.75 Q- $2 Reg Reward= $.24

This is one example of buying an item I do not use. I don't get cold sores but can sell it in a garage sale to further profit from this. This item is a monthly free after rebate item, then there is a rebate in the Sunday paper for an $8 rebate. It also had the coupon.

CVS 1/27/09

Free

$4.99- $2 Q- $3 ECB=free

Plate Hanger Problem Solved

Well, Rhoda at Southern Hospitality came up with the solution to my plate hanger problem in the last post. She suggested that I bend the wire out and it works. I bent it to where it goes past the ridge of the plate. Thank you, Rhoda, you rock! My next solution was to attach a wire to the two spring pieces and hang it that way. Now, my husband has some work to do.

Help me hang my plates

I have a bunch of plates (over 10) that I want to hang and feel like a real dufus because the only plate hangers that I can find are the ones above. They are for the size that the plates are and when you put them on see how the part where you need to hang it is below the ridge of the back of the plate? Well, that prevents you from being able to hang the plate. Are we missing something? Is there another type hanger? Please help me hang my plates. I see the Nester hangs bowls and other things. I want to, too. My naked walls are crying for some jewelry.

Laugh at me time

Because I love y'all so much the beer story of the last post reminded me of a high school event.

Background info:

• My 9th grade boyfriend was named Shawn
• Everyone used to hunt down the green M&Ms because they were supposed to make you in love
• My friend Kelly and I tried beer at a party after a football game and both thought it was the grossest stuff ever invented.
• We always went to Taco Bell -always!

Okay, for Valentines Day one of the clubs let people buy Valentine-Grams. They would go and read the Valentine in front of the person's class and deliver it. Some were songs, some were poems, boys could buy girls a rose to be delivered with it. My friend Kelly sent me one and I still remember what it said:

Through football and tacos and terrible beer. We've been friends throughout the year. And with Shawn and all those green M&Ms- well, we all know what happens then! But my favorite memory of you in my collection - is the time you tried to fly and yelled, "Fuel injection!"

(In my Paul Harvey voice) Now, for the rest of the story.....Kelly and I were practicing cheer lifts and stuff and she laid down and I was flying on her feet (you know, how you hold your feet up and the other person lays their stomach on you feet and you fly) Both her parents had come to see some of our moves and we were just acting silly and did that at the end. Well, her feet hit my stomach in the wrong place and I had a very embarrassing moment that was heard by all. I didn't miss a beat, though, and yelled, "FUEL INJECTION!" and everyone laughed.

In the woods with the boys

The rear of our property connects into some woods and continues on to the right for a ways. My boys have a lot of fun playing war with their air soft guns and building forts. We have teepees, one fort is made with a carpet piece nailed to a few trees, one is a hole in the ground with a kiddie picnic table to one side weighting down a few cardboard pieces that are laid across the top of the dug out hole. It is really cool and I wish I had my camera with me when I went exploring with the kids today. Why was I out in the woods? I was talking to the kids about moving to Germany. No, we are not moving but I continuously tell my husband to apply because I would go TOMORROW. Well, I was telling them they put beer in the baby bottles in Germany and how everyone drinks. My 9 year old said, "Oh, we found a whole trunk of beer in the woods." Thanks for running to Mommy when you found it instead of me having to tell the really out of normal beer story! So, I started questioning him, trying not to show him that I was freaking out that he has been with beer in the woods. How to you question him in a casual tone so you don't scare him into going silent? I asked him if they were opened- No. I asked him to show me and so I had to go on a beer hunt (bear hunt- beer hunt, get it?) That is where I got to see their little fantasy world. We found the trunk and the boys had taken the beers and thrown them in all directions. So, we gathered all the ones that were not leaking or empty. I brought them back so that the teens that put them there or the kids that play there do not drink them.
I asked my nine year old if he tried any. His reply, "No, Maam." with an ear to ear grin. I continue to question him and continue to get a no but he can not wipe that silly grin off his face. I would like to believe him but that big grin and history with lying until death has me wondering. I am caught: whether to push for any truth or let him see that I am not going to overreact. I hope all my kids know there is nothing they can do to make me turn my back on them. I will probably overreact many times. But, at the end of the day I will stick by them and fight for them. I will let them receive consequenses but be there to walk with them through them. I guess I will just pray for him to feel quilty if he is and other than that show him my confidence in him. It would be easier if he would just quit grinning!

Fabuloso Skirts!

I found each of these skirts here. They are on sale for $21.00. That is a great price and I love each of them!

How men can avoid shopping

Southerner is still sick so I've hijacked her blog.
For your entertainment, I like this we received from a friend today.
Enjoy,
Darryl

Banned from Wal-mart
This is why women should not take men shopping against their will. After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Wal-mart. Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out. Equally unfortunately, my wife is like most women - - she loved to browse. Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Wal-Mart.

Dear Mrs. Samsel,
In the past six months, your husband has been causing quite a commotion in our store. We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against Mr.Samsel are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras.

1. June 15: Took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts when they weren't looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.

3. July 7: Made a trail of tomato Juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom.

4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, 'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away.'

5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&M's on layaway.

6. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.

7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told other shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department.

8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?'

9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.

10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.

11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the ' Mission Impossible' theme.

12. October 6: In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonna look' by using different sizes of funnels.

13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'

14. October 21: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!'


And last, but not least.

15. October 23: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, then yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here!'

What are YOU doing today?

This is me today. All sick and feeling bad. It happens everytime I start exercising. I think my body rebels and tells me that all the cookies are stayin. So, today I have searched for things to do, later, when breathing is coming from my nose. Here is some of what I found that is so good!
Use up all your scraps and make scrappy bias tape for all your projects. They are from I heart Linen. Go to her last post and see her photos of her little kids. They are so cute.

Oh my goodness! Look at this time party. How funny!

I am definitely going to tell the kids their Scrabble game ran away so I can make these! Make and Takes shows you how. I just ordered three pendants today from Kissisng Kumquats Etsy store. She has a sale because she has to sell these before the new law goes into effect where you have to have items tested for lead. If you buy two of her pendants for $18.00 you get one free- so 3 for $18.00. I bought the brown one for my daughter, the pink one for me, and the red one for my step mother's birthday in February.

How about a nursing cover for a gift idea. It is from Made by the Mama Monster and she shows you how here.

How about this fabric covered wash tub from Joys Hope! You could do this on the smaller pails. I love the papers used here. A tutorial is here.

Check out this scarf tutorial from Thirty Handmade Days. My niece has baby blankets made like this out of flannel and LOVES them. The more you wash them the softer and more the edges fray. They are so in love with them that this is a definite Christmas gift for next year.

You can make this doll sling using this tutorial from The Wooden Spoon.

Free Three Year subscription

Go here and use offer code INAUG09 to get a free 3-year subscription to Today's Diet and Nutrition magazine.

I am not giving up!

I am on day 9 of my weight loss journey at my other blog and just wanted to update here. I have not been on the computer the last couple of days but did weigh in Monday. I am down 2-1/2 lbs. Yipee! That is without really pushing hard and, you know, actually eating right and exercising.

It's my blogiversary!

Today, I have been blogging for one year. Hoppy Versry to me, Hoppy Versry to me, Hoppy Versry to Southernseven (kissy kissy), Hoppy Versry to meeeeee! That is how the cruise staff sang to my husband and me on our anniversary cruise. Our waitress would put a towel in front of us between the Hoppy Versrys and say, "Kissy Kissy."

This was my first post. We moved into our home Thanksgiving weekend of 2007 so we had only been here two months. Coming from Florida we were really excited for the cold and a little snow.

I have learned so much in this past year. I have learned how to really score good deals with CVS and use coupons to get free toiletries and cleaning products. I have learned how to post photos and link to my bloggy friends. I have made many new friends that really encourage me and brighten my day. It has been a great year because of all of you continuing to come back for more of my life. I love you all!

I have a twin!

It was hard to find a photo where we had a similar expression. I also had to flip the photo so my hair actually parts on the other side and all. The one on the bottom is me. The one on the top is Miss Bobbie's daughter's friend. When I was a week and a half old I was adopted. My birth mother is from Batesville, Mississippi. The girl on the right was also adopted and is from Water Valley, MS. I looked on Mapquest and they are 30 miles apart! Is this not too wierd? I met my birth mother so I know that she is not a sister but she has to be related somehow. What do y'all think- do you see the resemblance?

Canisters

I saw these at Ross last week and started to buy them but didn't. They were really cheap - around $4 each, so I don't know why I didn't. You know how there are some items that you get home and all week you think that you should have bought them? Well, I went back and bought the "flour" canister to use in the laundry room to put my homemade laundry detergent in. I put it on the kitchen counter and decided I wanted it for the kitchen. So, we went back and I bought the sugar and coffee canisters plus a red cup with a handle for bacon grease. I love them so much! I cannot wait until we get countertops.

It was funny because I kept overhearing the girls talking about how much they loved the open cabinets in my kitchen. They thought it was cool that all the things in the cabinets were of the same colors. I have a lot of white with yellow, green and red accents. It drives me insane and I am always embarrassed so it was really nice that the girls were going on and on about how cool it was.

Our weekend guests and Chocolate Quad recipe

We got lucky with this group of girls. They are the 8th grade girls and they have been a real joy to have in our home. They are so well behaved and fun to be around. Tonight they straightened the girl on the left's hair. It is naturally curly so they spent 20 minutes straightening it to see what it looked like then they put make up on her. She is adorable.

I made lasagna and a chocolate dessert for supper tonight. Everyone loved the dessert so I thought I would share the recipe. Sorry, I don't have a photo.

Chocolate Quad

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed and divided
3 (1.5-ounce) packages instant chocolate pudding mix
3 cups milk

• Layer one:
  Cut butter into flour with a pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in pecans. Press mixture onto bottom of a 13- x 9-inch pan.
  Bake at 350° until lightly browned. Cool.
• Layer two:
  Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1 cup whipped topping at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Spread mixture over prepared crust.
• Layer three:
  Whisk together pudding mix and milk 2 minutes or until smooth. Spread over cream cheese mixture.
• Layer four: Spread remaining whipped topping over pudding mixture.

Cover and chill at least 1 hour. Cut into squares (We just spoon out portions)

Target toys are 75% off

I heard that on the 15th they would mark down the toys to 75% off so I made a trip yesterday to see if I could get my Christmas shopping done. It is already the 15th of January and I had not even begun:) I AM JUST JOKING. But, I did start on my Christmas shopping. Good thing that we have a very big attic. This was $49.99 marked down to $12.48. These all are HUGE boxes of toys, although it is hard to tell in the photos.

For our 6 year old 2nd cousin- this was $29.99 marked down to $7.48.

For same kid- we will give one on his birthday and one at Christmas. This was $39.99 marked down to $9.98.

This is for our gift box. I like to find things for the birthday parties we are invited to throughout the year. It was $15.97 marked down to $3.94.

I got three of these. I may give them to our now 18 month old girl and boy 2nd cousins or may put them in our Operation Christmas Child boxes. They were $5 marked to $1.25. It has a mat to play on.

This is how I try to buy our gifts throughout the year. I budget $75 a month and if I don't use it I put it into an account that builds until I need it. I really spend more than $75 a month with all 5 kids but cannot make our real budget on paper work if I increase that amount. I would never charge anything ,but throughout the year we get overtime or gift money and I have that to use and honestly spend a little more than $100 a month when you divide my last years spending by 12. I hope to do better this year and make most gifts. I am really ready to sew and craft again. Last year we did a lot of gift cards for ease of going insane.