I spent the morning clipping a million coupons.  I'm trying to be more frugal.  I'm also going to give Aldi's a shot today.  I came across their ad while I was busy rounding up all my coupons... I'd be stupid not to buy my produce there!  My Grandma shops there and she absolutely loves it. 

I am making Thanksgiving dinner for Trey's family next week.  I am excited to have them over here.  I figured I would give his parent's a holiday off.  They're always putting together huge meals and big parties for the family - so I thought it'd be nice if they could put their feet up on Thanksgiving and I will do all the work.  The only thing I am nervous about is the turkey.... I've never prepared a turkey.  I guess there is a first time for everything.... Wish me luck!

My grandma taught me how to crochet over the weekend.  I think I have been working on my chain stitching nonstop ever since.  I'm getting a lot better at it!  Presley wants me to make a blanket for her baby dolls.  I guess that's probably a good beginner project.
While Grandma and I were crocheting this weekend I told her that I wanted to look for DVD versions of the movies we ALWAYS watched when we went to Grandma's house.  "Stone Pillow" and "The Electric Grandmother."  So we did a little searching online and we were able to order both of them!  I thought it'd be cool to round up all of my siblings and have them come to Grandma's and we can watch the movies together like we used to do when we were little!  I know Courtney will be down for the idea... but the boys... not so much.  I know it would mean a lot to Grandma if we all got together and did that with her.

I got to babysit Kassie and Blake's 4 month old sweet baby yesterday.  Gabe sure got jealous when I would hold him, though.  Having a baby here and watching Presley and Gabe play with him gave me serious baby fever!  Trey and I have discussed having another one next year.  I think we might need to seriously consider it....

Well, as much as I'd love to sit on the couch for the rest of the day - I should probably get my kids up from their naps so we can go run our errands.

Being THANKFUL.

I am so thankful to have the opportunity to stay home with my kids.  I set my alarm for 7:30 every morning so I can get up, shower, and do my hair and makeup before the kids wake up.  Gabe is usually up at 8:30, and Presley will sleep until 10:00 if I let her (but I don't!)
The three of us sit in the dining room making faces, chatting, and giggling through breakfast.  There is seriously nothing better than listening to your kids laughing and seeing them smiling.  It completely melts my heart.  We have the happiest kids in the world.
After breakfast we play, and play, and play.  We have lunch - and continue the laughing, giggling, and chatting... but it's usually not as exciting as our breakfast table talk because both kids are starting to become restless and very crabby.  After lunch they go down for their naps.  That gives me two hours to cleaning the house, work on training the dogs, catch up on my TV shows if I missed any of them the night before, and relax.  The kids wake up and we play, play, and play some more.  I start making dinner, husband comes home, we eat, and then we play, play, and play again, take baths, and go to bed!  Trey usually goes to bed immediately after the kids are tucked in.  Sometimes I do too, sometimes I sit up and have some "me" time.

Typical day in our house.

The reason I am writing this post is because I need to remind myself of how good I have it.  How great my life is.  How awesome my kids and my husband are.  I am going back to the doctor today to have them tweak my anxiety medication... so while I sit here complaining to my doctor that I am feeling completely overwhelmed at times...  I need to sit back, take a deep breath, and just calm down.  We have a gorgeous new house, healthy kids, and husband who works his butt off so he can buy me and our kids nice things.  Other people would love to be in our shoes.  In reality... I really don't have anything to be so stressed out about.

Photo Update

November already?!

It's been a while since I have been able to update.  We've been busy, busy, busy!  I set my alarm every morning for 7am... it's now 8:19 and I am still laying in bed watching the news.

The kids had a GREAT Halloween.  Presley dressed up as an owl, and Gabriel was Yoda.  We went to church for trunk-or-treating last weekend, and then we went door to door in our neighborhood Halloween night.  Trey wanted to hand out candy so Jen (our next door neighbor that I have become great friends with) and I took the kids out.

Yesterday I went shopping!  Presley is going through a HUGE princess/dress phase.  All Halloween costumes were on clearance, so I went shopping for cheap dress-up for Presley!  She got 5 princess, fairy, and Minnie Mouse costumes.  The girl is in heaven!

I had my Thirty-One party last night.  I managed to keep the house extremely clean (even with a two year old, a one year old and two puppies...)  and I was able to make marinated chicken wings, pasta, rice, buffalo chicken dip, cilantro fiesta dip w/ french bread, and cranberry chutney in between my busy day of cleaning, shopping, etc... I'm becoming a pro at this housewife thing! ;) I have also decided to join Jen Click's team and become a Thirty-One consultant!  It'll give me something to do (and I'll get awesome bags and totes out of it!)

I finally had my doctor take me off zoloft for my anxiety and put me on something else.  Seriously... what a difference!  I feel human again.  Putting me on zoloft turned me into a zombie.  I was tired all the time, I was gaining weight, I still had anxiety and insane mood swings... I hated it.  I have 4 more pounds 'til I am at my goal weight of 120.  Let's hope this new medicine doesn't mess that up!

Well... I need to get a move on.  Time to go make my coffee, take a shower, and wake the kids up.  We got a season pass for Adventure Park in Ham Lake... maybe we'll go there to play today!