Sew what?!

I need a hobby. That's what I've decided lately anyway. I find that my time when the girls are napping is the main time when I snack and since I'd like to lose weight, not snacking would be for the best. However, without something to keep my hands busy, snacks are calling! So lately I've been wanting to sew. I've never really been in to sewing. I did a few small projects along the way but I never really got in to it before but I want to now. I'm starting to think of things I can make for the girls and I'm getting excited! If I could make them fleece pants or pj's, etc... aprons, or whatever but I have to start somewhere. So, last summer at our downtown craft fair I saw crayon holders. You can design them to hold a set of 8, 16, 24 or whatever number you'd like. I went with 18... not sure why! So, last night I went ahead and did a trial run through and it took me about 30 minutes to do. I came up with several ways to change it for the better so today, during naps, I went ahead and made another one! And, here are the results... 





This is when you fold it up for travel. Cute right?

 




So what do you think? Be honest! Any ideas for improvement? I have all sorts of ideas.

Any suggestions on another fun, small project? I'd love to hear about it!

Here it is laid out, the flap keeps the crayons from falling out.

Pillbury Pizza Things.

THINGS.

I call them that because that was what they were. They were good. The girls ate them, we ate them too but they were tedious to prepare and not very filling....

Ingredients:
Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
Pizza sauce
Mozz. Shredded Cheese
Mini Pepperoni

Unwrap the crescent rolls and flatten with a rolling pin. On top of one of the triangles, add toppings as desired. Place another triangle over top of the toppings, and squish the sides all together so the toppings won't fall out. One package makes 4.

Bake in the oven on 375 for 11-13 minutes or until golden brown.

I would only make this again if I were using it as a snack for the girls. Not my favorite recipe... Gonna have to look for a better one next time... maybe this week!?! I'd like to try the Chicken Salsa Lettuce Wraps next!

Husbands.

Today I read a very sad post. A fellow adoptive first, then bio mom wrote about her long time friend who called her out of the blue. When returning her call, she heard the most terrible news, her friends husband of only 2.5 yrs had died. He was young. Heartattack.

About two months ago, another fellow blogger, Rebekah posted about her friend, Vee who also lost her very young husband. They had two young children and she was (still is) pregnant with their third. Heartattack.

Aaron and I are a good match. I used to think so more when we were dating then I do now. Mostly because we argue over really, really dumb little things. Things that honestly do not matter in life. Our biggest argument stems from money. Like I said, things that DO NOT matter. But, lately, after reading Vee's blog, and now hearing about yet another very young man dying. I cannot help but be thankful. I cannot help but take off my hypothetical glasses and rip out the rose colored ones. The past week Aaron has had a flu bug of sorts. He was out of commission, literally laying on our bedroom floor crying, for two days. I did not let him come out. I didn't want me or the girls to get sick. So I did it all alone. I had the girls during my normal daytime and then in the evenings I bathed, fed, dressed, read to, brushed teeth, said prayers and got them down all by myself. (Ok, mom helped me both nights so I could also take care of Aaron). But, after mom left, or I left her house, I came home and was virtually alone. It was sad. It was hard. The girls missed him. So did I.

So, even if Aaron and I argue, even if he drives me endlessly crazy about the budget, I love him. My girls love him. He is their daddy. He is my husband. And today I am thankful. Very greatful for his love. For his presence. For his committment to our family. In my heart I pray for those who's husbands have died and I remember why I married Aaron. And I tell myself that I will cherish the time I have with him. No matter.

For we never know how much time we have. Ever.

Budgets.

Do you have a household budget? How did you come up with it? Are you organized with it? Stick to it? What's the secret?

We have a budget. When we started into adoption and saw the high cost of it, we knew we needed to buckle down, so to speak. Then, once the girls came (surprise... you're gonna have TWO in diapers), and I decided to stay home, it only made sense. We started out by sitting down and really examining what we spend on things that are monthly expenses. Groceries, diapers, cable, phone, cells, gas, electric, etc. Then, whatever was left, we divided into other things like savings for the girls and finally, our montly "fun" money. I say fun in quotes because Aaron wants things like household cleaners and needed baby supplies to be in that same category. I guess that makes some sense because they were unaccounted for items. This also has to include any meals out, gifts for birthdays, anniversarys, holidays, mail, stamps, anything. Anything not already budgeted for.

So, we have this x amount that we have for those miscellaneous items. Most Every month since we started budgeting, we have gone over. We got a bit of a reprieve once when the girls went off formula to Vit D milk. But about that same time, they started eating more fruits and veggies so that money basically went there. Then, last November, YAY, Holly potty trained so the diaper budget cut drastically! However, for some reason, there doesn't seem to be any difference. I've even started using coupons. I'm not a psycho couponer (although I envy those who have the time and patience for that) but it saves on average $10-40 per shopping experience. I rarely buy anything large without a coupon. I love coupons. Anyway, even with all of the seemingly good movement toward extra cashflow, it doesn't seem to help.

I guess what I'm asking is, do you budget and if so, how do you do it? Any tricks to the trade? Any suggestions? This is our biggest fight in our home. If we didn't have a budget, I wouldn't peg Aaron as the enemy. I've heard lots of people have been blogging about Dave Ramsey but I have no idea who he is. Do you record your spendings? Do you sit down once, twice, three times a month to discuss it? Do you blame each other? Any help would be great.

I'd say we've tried lots...

• Writing it on a wipe board in the kitchen
• Documenting in Excel
• Transferring x money for extra items into a cash card each month so we can't go over
• Breaking down the x money into smaller categories

This is just for keeping track of it. Currently we have two envelopes on the fridge for receipts. One for the x money and one for the budgeted items. Then we go in at the end of the month to see where we are and sometimes earlier in the month. Right now, we are over budget by about $100. We are supposed to go on a date this weekend for dinner and a movie. Monday I have an appointment for Hannah's 18 month pictures (three weeks behind schedule). So, what do we do? Where do we go from here? Any ideas would be great!

When you thought I wasn't looking...

I stole this from another blog, it was too good to pass up!

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking,
I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,
and I wanted to paint another one.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking,
I saw you feed a stray cat,
and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking,
I saw you make my favorite cake for me,
and I knew that little things are special things.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking,
I heard you say a prayer,
and I believed there is a God I could always talk to.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking,
I felt you kiss me goodnight,
and I felt loved.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking,
I saw tears come from your eyes,
and I learned that sometimes things hurt,
but it's all right to cry.

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking,
I saw that you cared and I wanted to be
everything that I could be.
~author unknown


Tonight I am saying a prayer that my girls see the good things I do when I don't think they are looking. And, that they remember the good, and not always the bad.

JoJo Designs

I bought the girls some new bedding (check it out here) for Christmas and it's absolutely adorable. I wanted to share with you that the company who made it is awesome! Holly's pillow sham has a cute little lion face on it and the material was beginning (already) to pull away from the stitching. I emailed the company last night and already today I have an email letting me know that a replacement sham was being sent to me in the next 2-3 days!! Wonderful! If you are ever in need of some new kid bedding (infant, toddler, twin & up) then I highly recommend JoJoDesigns!! Very cute stuff!! Several different sites are selling this line now... I got mine at beyondbedding.com.

My job.

I'm a nurse.

For those of you who don't know me personally, I went to school to get my bachelors in nursing. I worked as a pediatric nurse for five years at Mo.tt Child.rens Hospital near us in A.nn Arb.or. I loved it. It was rewarding and fun and the group of women were great! I KNEW then that there was no way I would ever be a stay-at-home-mom. I couldn't imagine it. I loved my job. I loved the kids. I was a busy lady and no baby was ever going to stop me from doing my calling.

Was.

I'm a stay-at-home-mom.

As many of you know, or have guessed, I am staying home with my girls. When Holly was born, I used FMLA to take 10 weeks off. They didn't recognize (as many workplaces do not) ado.ption as a life changing, time off event without using FMLA. I have to argue that while I did not have surgery, it was a HUGE change and the 6 weeks off would have helped immensely! Anyway, I remember during that time going CRAZY. It was wintertime and I had a tiny baby. She was just 5lbs14oz at birth so I kept her home much of the time. I was so worried about germs. But what was frustrating was I had waited a long time to take my baby to Target with me. Or to walk her at the mall, or the library, or take her out to dinner a gazillion times! I wanted to do that all SO badly. I also knew that once the weather had thawed, I would have precious little time with just Holly before doing these things I'd waited for would prove more difficult. (Going anywhere with two infants is a challenge at best). So I wanted to work. And eventually, I went back. It was actually not hard for me because I worked evenings. My aunt would watch Holly for about 1-2 hours from when I left for work to when Aaron came home. It was good. Aaron would take care of the evening and although I missed that, I was glad he was able to have that time.

Then June came along and I was more swollen than a sponge so my midwife finally wrote me for time off. About a week later, Hannah entered the picture! I haven't gone back to work since. I thought I would miss it. I thought I would go stir crazy. I thought I wanted to be a working mom. And then, I had kids.

We are fortunate enough that right now, I do not have to work in order to supplement our income. That doesn't mean that we don't have the usual arguments about money because we do. So we talked, and talked. And talked about the pro's and con's of daycare. We decided that it was best I stay home with the girls. And, I am so glad that we did. I cannot imagine what life would be like. Funny to think that two years ago I couldn't wait to get to work and now I couldn't imagine going.

Regardless of it all, I am SO thankful to be where I am today. I get to see and experience so many things. I am seeing them through the most fun, beautiful two little sets of eyes! I know that I am fortunate. I know that my position at home is looked at in so many ways. I know what people think a stay-at-home-mom does. And I know the truth about what she does. She stays busy. She doesn't get paid overtime. She doesn't get new clothes. Doesn't eat out all the time. Doesn't spend her days reading her book, lazing around. A sahm gets used to the tear/snot/poo stained clothes and in the end....

It is ALL worth it.