The Best Things in Life...

really are free (or close to it!) Like many of you, we have been watching our finances more carefully over the past year. Until Mark's practice is running at full capacity (we're getting closer every month!) we're trying to be very picky about what we decide to spend our money on. Now, as most of you know, I've always been a pretty frugal girl. Since I have the privilege of staying home with our kids I consider it part of my job to make what money we have go as far as possible. But since moving into our new house I've seen a bit of a shift in my attitude. I find myself with a fair amount of free time now that all the kids are in school. A few years ago I would have spent almost all of that time out shopping. I love to shop and I love to look for bargains. But I've realized that we have enough stuff. Even if it's a great deal on the clearance racks at Target, it's probably not something I really need. I find myself enjoying my time at home so much more (and true, that is probably because I have peace and quiet for 4 hours a day!) and I don't always need to be out spending money to enjoy my life. The following are a few free (or close to it) things that make me happy:

1. I am in love with our local library. I am there at least once a week. The system is so easy to use up here and I can find almost any book or DVD (including most TV series) and put it on hold from my home computer. As you know I'm a pretty avid reader but I can never really justify paying for a book that I'll probably only read once.

2. The exception to that rule has been thrift stores. I have found such great deals there lately, it really is fun! When I found a brand new copy of Austenland at the DI I almost let out a little scream of joy (the wait list at the library was quite long for it). I've found almost all of Dallin's summer shorts there, as well as like-new Sunday shirts from Land's End and Polo (some for only a dollar!). If you haven't shopped your local thrift stores lately I encourage you to do it. Once you get over the initial smell and a few weird shoppers the bargains are everywhere!

3. We are spending so much more time outdoors now that the weather is beautiful. We all love to go on bike rides or walks around the neighborhood. Our garden is starting to come up and that has been a really fun family project:

Look at that row of corn!

4. Our two free kitties have brought so much joy to us this past week! We named the orange one Ginger (because as soon as Mallory saw her she said ,"Can we name her Ginger?" and Mallory's such a good kid she usually gets what she wants) and the more mottled one is Hazel (a name Kenzie came up with out of the blue but it really fits her and it's cool since our kids go to Lake Hazel Elementary and Lake Hazel Middle School.)Is that the cutest face you've ever seen? I have to admit that Hazel is my favorite because she loves to snuggle in my arms and she looks me right in the eye with that face and I can hardly stand it.

5. I swore I'd never post one of these pictures after reading this hilarious post, but I just couldn't resist:

Yep, got all that for free at Albertson's this week. The couponing hasn't been as good up here as it was in Phoenix, but after 3 or 4 years I'm still really enjoying it (although it is becoming more of challenge now that everyone I see is using coupons. Empty store shelves=grrrr!) I was really touched this week by a complete stranger in town that was offering some extra Albie's double coupons. When I went to pick them up she had left a huge stack of coupons inserts (like 20-30 of them!) for me. What a sweet gesture.

6. I spend way too much time on the computer, but reading blogs and Facebook has brought me a lot of happiness this past year. It's never easy to move away from friends and family, but thanks to the internet I still feel connected to everyone.

7. And last, but not least, our McDonald's has 99 cent drinks all through the summer, which means I can get my Diet Dr. Pepper fix without having to leave my car. Gotta love that bargain!
So what free things are making you happy these days? I'm always looking for new ideas!

Memorial Day Memories

Fun, fun weekend with family in town. Chelsea, Nathan, Trevor and Brynne came up for a few days. On Saturday we went to the Greenbelt downtown where we rode bikes, played football and frisbee , and rode on the paddle boats. The funniest part was when Nathan and Trevor were playing soccer and they kicked it too far and it fell in the river. They went running after it and Trevor was actually able to get it back after jumping in fully clothed. Our hero!

Monday we had the traditional Memorial Day BBQ. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. The kids had fun jumping on the trampoline with the hose on it and we all just enjoyed being outside.

The weekend ended with dinner at Cheesecake Factory and hanging out by the fire pit. Thanks for coming, guys!

Parents of the Year

Written by Dallin: "My mom and dad love me. And they clean."

I guess that pretty much says it all...

Tuscany's Got Talent

So does your ward have:

A Bishopric that can sing, play the accordion and the trombone?

Mama Mia Maids that are "Dancing Queens"?

A Laurel class president that can sing like she should be on American Idol?

Laurels who can move just like Beyonce's "Single Ladies"?

And a deacon's quorum with dads brave enough to perform an interpretive ballet to "Titanic"?

No? Too bad.

Great job Tuscany YM & YW, you've definitely got talent!

Introducing...

The two newest members of our family (names still to be determined....in the running: Ginger, Hazel, Autumn, Pumpkin, Cinnamon, Butterscotch. Any other suggestions?)

Living so close to empty fields we are starting to have a little mouse problem, so before I freak out at the first one that makes it into the house we thought we would be proactive. Friends in the ward had a few kitties to give away and I fell in love immediately. They're going to just stay in the garage and be outside considering most of us have allergies.

Mark and I brought them home and completely surprised the kids. Mallory is especially smitten since she's our total animal lover. I originally thought we'd only take one, but how could you separate these two sweet sisters? You should see the way they snuggle down together, too cute for words. (Reminds me of how I found the boys asleep the other night: both huddled on the floor, sharing Brady's small baby blanket. Wish I would have snapped a picture!) In our family everybody needs a buddy.

White Shirts

Getting ready for church this morning...

Ready to Ride

Brady and I have been enjoying going on bike rides around the neighborhood. The other day I noticed that his training wheels were hardly even touching the ground and when I told him that he said, "I don't know why, but all of a sudden I can balance." I suggested he have Dad take off the wheels when he got home.

About a half hour later Brady comes in and says he wants to show me something. I go outside and he takes off across the driveway on his bike...without training wheels! He had gone in the garage, found his little tool kit and taken them off by himself with his wrench.

I couldn't believe it! No parent running behind trying to balance the seat, no wobbly tries, he can now completely ride his bike by himself.

He was so proud of himself and had to surprise each member of the family as they came home. I'm not sure how Dallin felt about it since he just learned to ride a few months ago!

Good job buddy!

I have a crush and I don't care who knows it...

I have loved this guy since the very first and yes, I let out a huge cheer when he made it to the finals last night. I'm not sure how Mark feels about it, but considering his infatuation with Carrie Underwood I think it's only fair. Yes, Kris is cute, but I really love his voice and his guitar/ piano/ viola!?! (according to my internet research) playing and his song writing. And he's married and a Christian. Am I crazy to think Kris has a chance of beating freaky Adam? My thoughts are that all the Danny Gokey voters will now vote for Kris instead of Adam. Right? Let's hope. I'll definitely be hitting redial a lot next Tuesday night (and we haven't voted in the finals since, you know, Mark's girlfriend Carrie Underwood was in them.)

Irresistable

Can you guess Brady's new favorite word?

Conversation from yesterday:
"Mom, there are ladybugs all over one of the trees at school. I just couldn't RESIST them, they were so AWE-SOME!"

Conversation from today:
"Brady, why did you let the bus driver drive away this morning when Dallin wasn't on the bus yet?"
"It was just too HI-LAR-I-OUS, I couldn't RESIST!"

Yeah, we can't resist you either, even when you are being a stinker.

Recipe For a Great Mother's Day Weekend

1. Have fun sister visit, give daughters cute haircuts, go out to eat, go shopping (buy most comfortable lounge pants ever for only $5 with sister's Gap discount)

2. Enjoy sons' soccer games with sunny, warm weather (a first this season!). Dallin made his first goal (actually the first time one of our kids has made a goal in a game...after over probably 50 games among our 4 kids...I know, they get their athleticism from me...) Lindsay and I were so excited, unfortunately Mark was on call and missed the momentous occasion!

3. Spend Sunday doing anything you want, including taking a three hour nap, wearing previously mentioned lounge pants, catching up on blogs, talking to BFF on phone, reading romance novel ("Austenland" by Shannon Hale, fun quick read), eating dinner made by hubby and kids, listening to everyone else clean the house, and hopefully watching chick flick ("Bride Wars") with husband if he's not at the hospital all night.

Not a bad day to be a mom. Happy Mother's Day to all moms and future moms, and especially my wonderful mom (who doesn't read this since she's not very computer savvy, but I love her anyway!)