From Orlando

I am posting this on our last night in Orlando. We have had a super time. We are headed out to Downtown Disney tonight. I have lots of pictures to share and can't wait until we get home. We will be traveling home tomorrow. Hopefully we will make it all the way but we will see how things go. Can't wait to share our Disney adventures and my beautiful pictures of the castle. I'll be home soon.

I'll Say Hi To Mickey For You

Tomorrow morning we are heading to Disney World. This has been a long awaited trip for the adults but I didn't tell my kids until about a month ago or less. I just didn't want to keep answering the question, "When are we going to Disney World?" So I just kept my mouth shut. I am excited. Anyway, I probably won't be posting for a whole week unless I can get access to a computer. (I am anxiously awaiting a laptop for Christmas.)
Maci Clare has been up since 4:30 this morning. She wanted to eat. So I gave her half a banana thinking we could go back to sleep. Oh no! It is now 6:59. Jim left for work a few minutes ago and Maci Clare is staring at The Wiggles. It is time for me to get the boys up and my day is about to get hopping.
Yesterday was Camo Day for Spirit Week at Jack's school. I thought he looked so cute that I couldn't resist sharing another picture. He even had on camo socks and belt. Maci Clare was trying to squeeze in but I wouldn't let her.
Today will be a busy day. I packed all the kids clothes last night so there is not too much left but I have a lot of little errands to run and little things to get ready. So I am off.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving and I will try to post while I'm gone. But I'm not promising.

Another Recipe (This one is Easy and Delicious)

I found this recipe on the back of a generic brand bag of mini marshmallows and it is awesome. It is called Rocky Road Bars. All you do is bake a pan of boxed brownies. (I used Pillsbury but you could use any brand.) Bake them for 25 minutes. Pull them out and pour marshmallows over the top and then sprinkle chocolate chips and walnuts over the top. Put them back in the oven for 3 or 4 minutes. They are awesome. This is what Maci Clare thought of them.

Patriotic Day and Collard Greens

This week at Jack's school, the are having Spirit Week. The mascot is the tornado and yesterday they all had to wear their school shirts. Today was Patriotic day. This is what we decided on.

What's more patriotic than red, white, and blue and baseball? (There are baseball players all over his shirt.) He hated the shirt but wore it anyway for the day. But don't you love the hair? When Ms. Lori put Jack in the car, she said, "Everybody loved Jack's hair." The class with the most participation wins a pizza party.
Anyway, I have been cooking collard greens today. I know, I know. It's a Southern thing. But just in case you want to try them (because once you try them you will crave them), here is the recipe.

1 large bunch of collards (I use the prewashed, precut kind that comes in the bag)
3 quarts of water
1 tablespoon of Frank's Red Hot (or whatever hot sauce you like)
2 Tablespoons of Paula Deen's House Seasoning (this can be bought from her store or made. I make mine and the recipe follows.)
Put all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil then reduce and boil on medium heat for 60-90 minutes. And that's it.
I don't season mine with meat because I think it makes them a little to greasy but if you had some ham bones or something you could add these for a little more flavor.

No one in my house will eat them. So they are all mine. And I'll be glad to take them all.

Ladybug Tea Party and Free Stuff at Walgreen's

My mom bought Maci Clare a ladybug tea set last year for Christmas. Jack found it this afternoon so we had a tea party.
This set came in a picnic basket with all the normal tea set stuff plus silverware, napkins, and a tablecloth. We just spread it all out in the living room floor.
We made little peanut butter and jelly sandwiches using a medicine cup. We had cheetos and what better to serve at a ladybug tea party than...

We had fun and he even saved some for Zane and Jim.

I made a quick trip to Walgreen's and bought this:
4 Clabber Girl Baking Powders .99 cents each
2 Scotch Magic Tape Rolls $1.29each
Walgreens had coupons for Clabber girl that were 2/$1 and the tape was B1G1
So my total OOP was $1.38 and I used my gift certificate to pay for it. So it was all free to me.
I am headed to Publix and we'll see what kind of deals I can score there.

Rainy Day With Nothing To Do (Yeah Right!)

I am sitting here wasting my time. Maci Clare is engrossed in the TV. (I know, I know, I'm a bad mama but sometimes you just need a little peace.) And yes, we watch TV. I think we have a good balance but that is another post. It is pouring rain today. I love these days because that is when I feel the need to stay home.
This week has been kinda slow (which is a good thing around here.). I got all my house cleaning done yesterday. (If you look around right now, you really can't tell.) I am still reading the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I am on the third book, Eclipse. They are slowing down a little for me but I am still enjoying them. I only have one more to read and then I'll move on to something else.
Gabe and I were standing in Walmart looking at all the potential reading material last weekend. His comment was "so many books" and I replied, "so little time." That is really how we both feel. Some days we both crawl in my bed and just read. I think that is what I will do most of the day today. (hopefully if all kids are otherwise occupied.)

Maci Clare fell asleep on our bed last night and this is the result. She sat up and flipped. I saw it coming but couldn't catch her fast enough. She hit the hope chest at the bottom of my bed and then hit the floor. She cried a long time and only wanted her daddy. I guess she blamed it on me for not catching her. But I tried. Oh well, a mom can't feel guilty over everything. They will get hurt. And she is fine today.
I have been working on several projects. I am taking a sewing class. This is my first completed project. (I couldn't get the picture to rotate, for some reason. Anyway, you get the idea.)I think it is just okay. I am keeping some sewing things in it right now. Hopefully, I will get better at this sewing thing.
But the project I am loving the most is this.
Unfortunately, Maci Clare hates them. Jack wants a camo one. I may try it and see what it looks like. A friend of mine has rented a table a craft fair and I am going to send several and try to sell a few. I am contemplating an Etsy shop but can't decide. If I do, I will list bow and tutus and maybe some other things. Just can't decide how profitable it will be for me. Or if it is worth the time.
I baked 38 muffins last night (with Jack's help) with hopes of putting some in the freezer and heating them for breakfast sometime. Turns out, they ate almost all of them. I think there are only 8 left. So if I am going to freeze things, I need to make double or triple what I really think. In the next few days, I am going to start a sourdough bread starter, make pancakes from a homemade mix to freeze, and try a new crockpot breakfast casserole. I would like to get ahead with some cooking and baking because Christmas is coming.
Jim and Zane will be cub scout camping the whole weekend. So Gabe and I might try to muddle through my list of projects. Some of them the two little ones can help with. I'll try to make pictures so you can see what we get done.

Another Winner!

I never heard from one of the winners of the scrapbook giveaway and she didn't leave an email so I randomly picked someone else (Jack did!). Anyway, the lucky girl is Tara over at The Skook Saver. Send me your info ASAP and I will mail them all out at the same time.

Good Deals For The Week

There are some really good deals floating around out there this week.
The first deal I scored was at Victoria's Secret. Thanks to Southern Seven. Her deal was actually much sweeter than mine. But I got 2 bras and a pair of panties for $22.46. That is pretty good for Victoria's Secret.

Next! Oh how I heart CVS! In our local paper this week, there was coupon for a $25 gift card for a new or transferred prescription. I just happen to have a prescription that I needed to fill. So off to CVS this morning.
1st Transaction: I paid $10 for the prescription and got the $25 card.

2nd Transaction: I then went back in and bought 2 Whitman's Samplers, which were on sale for $5.99 each and used 2 $2/1 coupons. My total came to $8.10OOP (which was paid with the gift card and I will use these for Christmas presents.)

3rd Transaction: I bought 10 Ice Cubes Sugar Free gum on sale $1 each. I had 5 $1/2 coupns so my total OOP $5.10 and recieved $5 ECBs.

4th Transaction: This one is a little messed up because the cashier screwed it up. I went in last night with the plan of buying 2 packs of Pampers which are on sale 2/$20. When I walked in, they had what was left of Halloween for 75% off. So I grabbed 2 plastic pumpkin buckets with hopes of this next year. My total was $30 and I paid $5.22 OOP and received $5 ECBs. I used 2 $1.50/1 Pampers coupons and I had $15 ECBs. Remember everything I am spending now is being paid for by the CVS gift card. Anyway, when I went to the car, I realized that I paid too much. She had charged me for 6 pumpkins instead of 2. So I went back in and told her and I just decided to get 4 more pumpkins instead of waiting on a refund which would only amount to $1.90 anyway. So that's why it was messed up.

But my best deal by far was filling my car with gas for $45. That is half of what I have been paying for gas. 2 weeks ago it took $85 to fill up. Now at $1.97 a gallon, we are feeling a little relief in our budget.

Now give me some ideas for the pumpkins. I could just store them until next year. I also thought about taking the handles off and spray painting them gold and using them for a table centerpiece or I could spray paint them totally orange (to cover up the jack o lantern face) and use them to give away Thanksgiving goodies to teachers. Do you have any brilliant ideas? Let me know.

Winners

The winners of the scrapbook packages are:

billiegirl (Couponing Queen)
chadandchrissy (Piglet's Fan Club)
anonymous (isaacmail@)

Congratulations! I have sent all of you an email. Send me your address and I will mail those out to you.

About Jim

I saw this meme at several blogs and just decided when I went to Julie's blog that I needed to participate. So this blog is about my husband. I'll try to leave me out of it even though it will be hard. Here we go:

1. He's sitting in front of the TV; what is on the screen? Football or Fox News
2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Ranch
3. What's one food he doesn't like? Turnips
4. You go to a bar. What does he order? ??? Yeungling
5. Where did he go to high school? Mt. Ayr High
6. What size shoe does he wear? 9
7. If he was to collect anything what would it be? Coins and Arrowheads
8. What is his favorite kind of sandwich? Grilled Cheese
   
9. What would this person eat every day if he could? Pizza
10. What is his favorite cereal? He has lots of favorites. He loves cereal.
11. What would he never wear? plaid shorts
    
12. What is his favorite sports team? Carolina Panthers
    
13. Who will he vote for? McCain Palin
14. Who is his best friend? I hope he would say Me but besides me it would be a tie between Brad and Todd
    
15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn't do? Spend money
    
16. How many states has he lived in? 5
17. What is his heritage? German and English
18. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake? Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate
    
19. Did he play sports in high school? Football and Baseball.
20. What could he spend hours doing? Watching movies (really just one, Spiderman)
    

Free epattern from Sense and Sensibility

Jennie over at Sense and Sensibility patterns is offering a new epatterns These patterns are great and she is offering a free epattern to readers of Money Saving Mom. I looked at all the patterns she offers and I am in love with the dresses. Now if I just had a reason to own a dress like that. Well, maybe one of these days. Anyway, I thought the most useful pattern for me would be one for Maci Clare. So I am going to choose the Girls' Pinafore and Pantaloons epattern. And maybe one day get around to making it. So go here and read what you need to do to get your very own epattern.

Toys Worth Investing In and Scrapbook Giveaway

Shannon over at Rocks In My Dryer is hosting another Works for Me Wednesday. This one is a themed WFMW. It is the toys worth buying for Christmas this year. I have several toys that my kids keep coming back to play with time and again. So here is the list:

1. Fisher Price Geo Tracks
2. Fisher Price Castle
3. Fisher Price Barn
4. Fisher Price car track
5. Footballs
6. Plastic Dinosaurs and animals

I have to say that you just can't beat Fisher Price. Fisher Price lasts forever and I am holding on to them to pass along to my grandchildren. When we go to my MIL's house, the Fisher Price jungle set she has is the most played with. The kids love it. So there it is. For more toy suggestions, go to Rocks in My Dryer.

And don't forget my scrapbook giveaway below. Go to the giveaway post and leave me a comment for a chance to win.

What Better Day for a Giveaway!

I am giving away three scrapbook packages that I received from Canon House Party. I had three left over and decided to share them with you. The package includes one Board Book type scrapbook for baby's first year. And 5 sheets of scrapbooking paper. So all you have to do is leave a comment and I will pick three winners on Sunday, November 9. Make sure you leave me an email so I can get in touch with you. Good luck!

On this most important election day, let me encourage you to vote too. We have an awesome responsiblity this election year so please pray about who you will elect as our president.

I've Been Tagged! Twice!

So Windy from A Peek At Us tagged me with this one. It is called Have You Ever? So here it goes.

1. Been on a blind date? Yes and it was not fun!
2. Skipped school? Yes, almost everyday of high school and a lot of college days and my grades will prove it.

3. Watched someone die? No
4. Been to Canada? Yes
Mexico? Yes
DC ? No
Florida? Yes and going again Thanksgiving break
Africa? No
Lost? Yes, many times
On a Plane? Yes but I hate it.

5. Swam in the Ocean? Yes, but I like to walk on the beach much better.

6. Lettered in a High School sport? Yes - Track and Chorus

7. Cried yourself to sleep? Yes

8. Played dolls? yes

9. Recently colored with Crayons? Yes, with Jack and Maci Clare. I love to color. It is very relaxing.

10. Paid for a meal with coins? Yes - all the time

And the other tag was by The Ice House and Windy at A Peek At Us. This one is list 7 facts about yourself. So here are my 7 facts:

1. I read anywhere I can. I have set books on fire by propping them on the stove and dropped books in the bathtub.
2. When my husband and I got married we ate lots of Ramen noodles and Macaroni and Cheese because I didn't know how to cook. Now I get lots of compliments on my cooking.
3. My house is very chaotic in the morning but we always seem to pull it together and make it to school on time.
4. I secretly wish that I could do various crafts all day every day.
5. I am taking a sewing class right now. I have just finished a bag and am starting on a jumper for Maci Clare.
6. I hate football (and all the boys and man do in this house is watch it.)
7. I still look at my husband and get tingly even after almost 15 years of marriage.

Now I hate to break the tagging thing but I don't think I'm going to tag anyone. If you want to play, feel free. Leave me a comment and let me know if you do.

Another Award And A Great Night

Update: Windy from A Peek At Us also awarded me this.
I lost all my awards when I changed my blog to the new fall design so I am so happy to start over again. I will post this one on my sidebar. This award was given to my by Baseballs and Tutus and I can't thank her enough. I will post this in my sidebar and I am passing this along to Huse Blog Is It Anyway? She is hilarious and I have just started reading her blog but already love it. She also has a Etsy shop which you really need to check out. So thanks again for the award.

To change the subject, we had so much fun last night. Jack put on his costume 2 hours before we were supposed to leave and this is the way I found him. He fell asleep before we even started. After getting everyone ready, we went to my mom and dad's house to take a few pictures. Maci Clare and Jack weren't being very cooperative so this was the best shot I got of all 4 of all 4 of them together.
Jim even let me paint his bald head for the occasion. It was a hit. Several people took pictures of it.

We headed to the church first and I snapped this picture of my mom's friend, Audrey. She was just too hilarious. The kids got lots of candy there and we know everyone so that makes it better.
Then we headed to a neighboring church where they were having another trick or treat party with games and supper. We ate soup there and it was excellent. And they did it all for free. So we all got to eat supper for free. Usually on Halloween we are rushing home at 9pm to try to eat a pizza from Little Caesar's so it was really nice to be able to eat a good meal. Thanks to everyone at Midway for providing that to our community. What a great ministry.
Then we headed downtown. The EMS always gives away bags of candy to the kids and funnel cakes for the adults. So we ate our funnel cake and walked down the street a little ways. Most everyone had stopped giving out candy so Zane, Jack, and Jim went in to a haunted yard. (There is a couple that always sets up a haunted yard in their front yard and people wait in line to go in.) Then we headed for home.
I watched the kids dump all their candy in the floor and observed 3 different approaches to the candy.

Of course, Maci Clare was sound asleep so she never even looked at all her candy.

Gabe sorted his candy in little piles according to what kind it was.

Zane immediately started eating his.

Jack just started digging through and opening all of his. He would taste it and most of the time this is what his face looked like.

So finally, about 10:30 they were all sound asleep and I crashed too. I'm so glad Halloween fell on a Friday this year. It was a late night but well worth it for the fun we had.