MY SANITY IS RESTORED!

Okay, I have three children. Two that are still home with me all day.
Could I have made my life more complicated, YES!
In a moment of insanity, we did get the cutest dog.
SAD to say she is now in her original home, awaiting another family.

I think that I had lost my mind. It is back!
It is possible to loose your mind under the spell of the cuteness of a puppy.
It wasn't about the training of a dog, but the attention that I couldn't ultimately give to my wonderful children. They would take a back seat to the puppy.
I cannot divide my attention that easily among it all.
I hoped to give it at least a week. BUT, my wise husband knew that it would not get easier so quickly. We could have adjusted but the stress level went from manageable to insane in one day.
WHY do something that is not required at this time?
Have a baby is one thing, but after 2 and a half days with a puppy. I thought I would go insane.

After caring for anything you grow to love it. Attachment happened quickly. She was a puppy that was eager to please and really wanted to be loved. So giving her back was a heartbreaking moment. One, that my Madi took hard at first. But I have been amazed at the level of maturity in which she has come to accept it.
"I am okay, mom, about the dog, we were happy before we got one, we didn't have her too long and we can be happy without one." Yes, a six year old said that to me this morning. WOW!

Alas, my sanity is restored to it's original state. Which isn't much to begin with. I have to hold onto what I have left.


Anyone out there who believes they can do it all. I advise that you cannot when it comes to a puppy and a young family. If you can do it, you have truly esteemed yourself my hero.
I think maybe if you want a dog, a potty trained one would be for the best.

If I loose my mind again, I think I would get an older pup, NO potty training needed.
That won't happen for years to come.

I am a dog lover with everything inside me. I may have to admire them from afar until my kids are old enough to not play with the puppy's bowl of food and water and become busier then even me, EVEN then I am little wiser.

IT IS ANOTHER GIRL!!!

MEET DAISY our newest addition.
A Basset Hound Puppy!

Well, I have been wanting a dog and so have the Girls.


Truthfully, though I didn't want the work of a dog. So I was on the fence about it.
I have always loved dogs. I think it was sort of a hobby of mine to study and learn the breeds.
I even spent hours watching dog shows on TV. I think it was weird, myself.
I even watched the Dog Whisperer, and not because I thought Cesar (The trainer was hot). I found it entertaining, though I had no need of the education it offered. I know strange. HUH?
We had dogs in my yard growing up. Not in my house, never in the house. SO they were never the kind of dogs you wanted to really cuddle with or sometimes even pet them. SAD I know!
I have always wanted one. I am however not unaware of the required work at hand. SO I would go back and forth. I didn't anticipate one now. I thought at least a few more years or even 10.
But alas, We ran across these Basset pups, which are the only one of two breeds Brian even wanted to consider.
Brian has been listening to us all ew and ah over puppies or dogs for a while . Having had a dog in his house growing up he knew it was a big undertaking and was against it.
Then he changed his mind. 24 hours later we had a Dog.
That is how Brian works and once he has his mind on something, move out of the way.
When he said he too wanted a dog. He also said it may take a while to find the right one.
NO, not really. It was done.

So now we have a little pup, I have my work cut out for me.
I already did. Now I have much more to do.
Potty Training a dog. I don't know what I am doing.
BUT once I am done I will then be training Owen.
Then I am done.
That is the plan.

She is a sweet dog who has really taken a liking to me. She wants to please me and hides from me if she thinks she has failed. I'd say that you want that in a dog.

Welcome to your new home Daisy!

MILESTONES

Is anyone starting to notice a trend in my blogs? I sure am. I don't do it when I need to and fall behind then I am busting with information.
I really need to be more consistent with my updates.
What can I say, I get busy. AS WE ALL ARE! Blogging starts to take a back seat.
So I am going to focus on MILESTONES!

MILESTONE ONE:

As mentioned in a previous blog.

At the end of December Brian and I went on a vacation alone! Not only our first non-family event planned vacation. BUT without kids for 7 days! FUN FUN FUN!!
San Diego was great! Sea world for two-days, Dinner/dance cruise, USS Midway,and Wild Animal park! We stayed at a very nice resort called the Catamaran.
It was located on Mission Bay and with a hop, skip, and a jump we were able to walk on the beaches and watch the waves. SO RELAXING!

MILESTONE TWO:

Eleanor cut her hair. (This was in January)
Not trim...NO, a cut.
10 Inches! We were able to donate her hair to locks of love but she just grew up before our eyes. I have to admit I shed a lot of tears while at she got it done and then a few the next day.
BUT she loved it she didn't stop smiling for days. It was a BIG deal to us all!

MILESTONE THREE:
Owen is Finally walking ( In December!)

He was incredibly fast when crawling and really

didn't want to take the next step! (Pun intended!) But once he started he didn't stop.
He was already so busy I wasn't in a hurry for it. But he can keep up with the girls and has so much fun now. It is amazing how fast he is growing!

MILESTONE FOUR:
Madi Looses another Tooth (In December)

It is amazing how grown up she feels every time she looses one.
She is so excited and just bubbles over!

MILESTONE FIVE:
I painted the Girls' room (In January)

I finally put to use the paint I had purchased about 6 months ago!

-To match their quilts.

Then I finally finished the quilts. (In February)

I had been working on them for almost two years-Off and On.

The bunk beds finally went up. (Two weeks ago)

Now that the painting is done.

MILESTONE SIX:

We have been talking about a tire swing.

Also up. (Two weeks ago)

MILESTONE SEVEN:

UPDATED MY BLOG! (TODAY)

*pat myself on the back!*

Brian and I just got back from San Diego this last week. It was so fun to spend some time together without kids.
Although,I did go through a few moments of guilt as I was watching all the shows at Sea World. UNTIL... I heard a child asking for food or whining for a toy. Or Complaining about how they where tired of walking. Or a mother rushing to the potty with her kids.
It was nice to not have to deal with that.
I have no pictures of the whole wonderful week. Due to the regrettable fact that my usb cable to my Camera has yet to be found. I have one in the mail-on it's way.
Then if anyone is interested I'll post some.
Although it is after all my blog... so you will see them soon.

I have added to my other blog a wonderful video...take a look at my blog Diaries of an at Home Mom. It is inspiring! To say the least.

Loving the snow for now!

Because I hadn't updated for so long, there are three posts to read in a row....None of which are too long. So, to have the maximum reading pleasure don't just stop here.

We have had a few really big snow storms and so our yard is a winter wonderland.

What we didn't realize is that we have a perfect hill to sled on right in our own front yard!

What a fun discovery...after building a snow man we went sledding in front of our house.

After all of that Owen got too cold after taking off his gloves and I had to bring him in.

Meanwhile, Brian and the girl's stayed outside to play in the snow. They built snow forts and had a snowball fight. It was so funny to watch the girls try to throw snow balls and end up dropping them above their heads. Once in a while one would fly and nail Brian in the head.
So for NOW I love the snow. After Christmas it can go! BRRRR!

Squeezing Pennies for Food.

READ THIS POSTING---IT IS WORTH IT!
A couple of note worthy things for all who live in Arizona, Idaho, Utah, and Washington State.
I have been a part of a couple of food co-ops that have really saved us money.
I was introduced to these by family and friends, I hope that these will do you some good in your area.
I have been getting a lot of food, mostly fruits and vegetables.
One is the Food Co-op and the other Bountiful Baskets.(Are in the above mentioned states.)
Each is a volunteer program that works with the public and local food markets to get the best deal on food. It is not something you have to do each month.
It is not just for poor people, though it can be.
It is not a sales job.....or anything trying to make money.
It is a service to the community.
I have really loved the amount of food I have gotten and it has been a real gift to us.
I hardly need to go the store anymore.
I have so many healthy choices of food that I have had to be creative and plan my meals around the healthy foods I already have, or will receive each time.

The Food Co-op https://www.foodco-op.net/ (For Utah)

This cost me $23 + The nutty guy nut packages were 10$.
Totaling $33.
This includes fruit, vegetables, 1 lb of rice, loaf of artisan bread, and 4 kinds of meat. There are options to add on all sorts of different things to your order. You can order as much or as little as you want, it is quite adjustable to your family size.
This is nearly 50 to 60 percent off of what it would cost in the grocery store.
This is once a month, order is due at the beginning of the month and picked up at the end of the month. Also, the more people that participate the cheaper it is.

Bountiful Baskets http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/

This cost me $15.
This is 50% Fruit and 50% Veggies.
This is twice a month and there are options to add a lot of different breads and other items to be added to your order. These orders are placed the week of.

I have found that almost each order takes us a week and a half to get through it.
With this said, I have been doing both of these in a month.
Some months I only get one Bountiful Basket and the Co-op, and other months I have been able to get it every weekend, save one.

You realize that this means on an average month if I do Bountiful Baskets twice a month and I do the co-op once a month I spend $53 on healthy food, and only really need a few things to supplement what I don't get. I think it is well worth it.
It saves us money, it gets expensive to buy produce so this is the way to go.
Plus, it is easy at home, on-line shopping---That part is nice.

**Check the above websites. You'll find it might be just what you were looking for to help you save money and eat right.

**If you do not live in these states there is a way to find out if you have one -(look for it --I am sure they have one)- and if you know that your area doesn't have one,there is a way to start one.

Let me know if this posting was helpful to you or if you have any questions by posting a comment.

Fall Fun!

I love the fall and I never really updated the events of the season.
So I added a few pictures from Halloween.
My kids had a fun time.
However, only a day later each child was sick.
MY FAMILY GOT H1N1...we are all better now.
It did take us all quite a while to get over the cough though.
I am glad that is behind us.