reality check

Some days I really need to do a check on myself. Here we are coming into Christmas. I am looking at all the shiny toys that would be so much fun to have wrapped under our tree. I see all the great deals online and I want to get them all. I mean if they are so deeply discounted it just makes good sense. Right?...

Then I look at my basement. We have so many toys. I try really hard to only allow and keep what my kids play with frequently and are beneficial (blocks, dress up, trains, etc.). I think if we didn't get another toy for Christmas my kids would not be any worse off. Asher plays with his trains everyday for hours. Isaac uses his imagination to build block houses for his beanie babies. Levi is loving to watch and learn from his brothers, and as long as he has his lovey bear nothing else matters. I need to keep my eyes on what is important this Christmas. It isn't how many presents I can get for how cheap I can get them. The real fun of Christmas is not just watching the joy when my kids see their gifts, but also the joy that comes from spending time together. Ultimately, my favorite part of Christmas is hearing my kids tell me in their words how Christmas is Jesus' birthday.

So, I guess in reality I need to back away from the sale ads and remember the greatest gift of all. I know it sounds redundant, but Christ came to earth to save me. I want to make sure that through the fun and gifts and cookies and decorations and stories and food and parties that we keep perspective of what it is really all for.

CVS this week

So a few highlights for this week at CVS are outlined over here. In case you are wondering here is my plan of attack.

Transaction #1
Complete contact solution $9.99
Free after ECB

Transaction #2
Pampers and Dawn deal outlined by Centsiblesavings.com

I really am in need of Diapers so this should work out well and free contact solution is always good. :)

Santa's got a message for you

Do you want to watch some magic. Well, the portable North Pole is a great place to stat. I just did one of these awesome videos for Isaac and he was so thrilled we kept watching over and over again. They do such a good job. Santa will do a personal message to each kid.  Check it out here.

Yay for vacations!

We have been having lots of fun on our trip to Florida. We are visiting some of our good friends and it has been so much fun watching our kids play together.

Asher found Elise's dress up clothes. 

 Here are all of our kids together. They are getting so big.

 Little man and Carter

 This is Eliza. Isn't she precious!

 All the babies are getting so big.

 Katie playing dolls.

 Dress up

 We went to the park to get a little fresh air.

My girl! I love her. I love watching all the kids playing. It is so fun to see them be such good friends.

Menu planning Monday

Monday- Tortilla soup

Tuesday- House church side Mixed veggies

Wednesday- Sandwiches

Thursday- Buffalo chicken, potatoes, and salad

Friday- Bravo!!!!!!!

Saturday- road tripping it

Low key week

Well, Kroger has been good to me the past two weeks. I will not run out of pasta, mac n cheese, or canned goods for quite some time now. I have saved $195.65 and spent $69.71 in my past two week shopping trips. I do love me a mega event.

We are getting ready for an exciting week though. We will be spending some time with friends and then heading out of town for a few days for Thanksgiving. So, it is a week I must let the good deals go. There are many out there, but this week I will say goodbye to the good buys so that i can get packed and eat down my mountain of food which I have accumulated.

I may have to make a quick run out for a few of the diaper sales going on this week. After all the amazon deals going around a few months back I thought I had diapers through potty training. I am sad to say that I have to buy more.

I hope every one else enjoys their deal hunting. There are many to be had out there. :)

better late...

So, I still haven't put up Halloween pictures of my cuties.  So, I thought I would show them off. They are just too cute!

Happy Halloween...better late than never.