The State Fair and a crapy leg

We went to the state fair because Shay really wanted to see some 4-H pigs for some reason, I guess he was having a Charlottes Web moment, so off we went. Sadly after what seemed like hours in the hot baking sun we learned a valuable lesson about using a phone to ask if the pigs were at the fair before driving 2.5 hrs each way to see for yourself. They were not there, if you were wondering.

We walked FOREVER and found cows!

There of course was cow dung all over the place and some got on the stroller wheels. I kept telling the kids not to get in front of me but Skyler couldn't resist. Needless to say we laughed our heads off and made fun of poo poo leg and I had to bribe him to get this picture. It still makes me laugh.

We let all the kids pick a ride. This should help you understand how cheap I am, each kid picked 1 ride. Also some one noticed (well I think everyone noticed) our big family and gave us a ticket they had left over. So I showed it to the kids and told them to look on the ground for tickets. They found three! I was so excited. Anyway, Jane and Elly both picked the ferris wheel. I talked Skyler into riding my favorite ride from back in the day. It cost 1 more ticket than he had so I told him just ask the guy if you can ride anyway and he said yes. It was brutal. He was really shaken up and thought for sure he would die. Kaely got the raw deal, she took forever to pick and then went through the mirror house, totally lame. She cried, thats how bad it was.

Adam was just a sweet cute baby all day. I am sure when people saw him they knew why we had 5. By the end of the day we were beat, spent and happy. The fair is always fun, even with a cheapskate mom.

This ones dedicated to Jefferson

We went out to dinner with some good friends the other night, which was really fun. But I got stuck taking the three girls to the bathroom 4 times. The fourth time I made them all go because I didn't want to go again. There were three stalls and one was occupied so two went in one and one in the other. A minute later, a teenage girl walks in and says "is anyone in that one?" and I say "yes there is a midget in there." (talking about Elly who is in the stall she pointed to) And before I can say anything else, a midget walks out of the other once occupied stall. Yes you heard me, a midget. When I just referred to my 5 yr old daughter as a midget. How could I have known?

With shock on my face, I quickly look at the ground as I see a glimpse of a dirty look as she walks over to wash her hands. What? What just happened to me.

When we come home Shay and Skyler are on the stairs and I relate the story. Shay is laughing hard, real hard and saying how could that happen and Skyler is laughing and questioning if it really did. Then I tell them the truth, all of it was true until the part where the midget walked out. I thought of that happening when I had said that about Elly being a midget and how terribly awkward it would be.
It was sooo good to see Shay laughing so hard. Just thinking about it, I can't help but laugh. I hope you laughed a little too!

Where I have been.

After my mom passed away, I was given one of her journals. It was the one she wrote in when my brothers and I were born and small. Every time she had one of us, there was a gap of a year or so, with sparse if any entries. I learned a lot from seeing this. I learned that life is busy with a lot of little ones but not as busy as the first year or so after a baby is born. They need so much of you, to feed them, cuddle them, kiss them, nap them and so on. Adam is ten months old and I have been loving him like there is no tomorrow. Every time I see him I love him more. His crooked smile, snotty nose and teeth just half way grown in. He has already taken his first steps. I can't believe I can love something so much. I have paid more attention to the process of falling in love this time. And realizing this I see that the process is continual. I am still falling for and loving each of my children and Shay as well every day. When they triumph, I triumph, when they cry so do I, When they battle I am right with them. And this process of fighting, winning, falling and overcoming, smiles and tears, that is where love is developed. The process is so beautiful and completely encompassing that sometimes we don't see that we are involved.

So if you are wondering where I have been, I have been birthday planning, costume making, trick or treating, caramel popcorn eating, cookie baking and most of all falling in love with, and loving my family and this sweet baby.

Budget and temptations

I have been the worst in the world at budgeting. I just have other talents. Well I am trying to save and not spend, but whenever I do I am tempted. Tempted to upgrade to a laptop. Tempted by wanting a sewing machine to sew things for Christmas. Tempted to redo my living room. Tempted by Halloween and our 11th Anniversary. Oh so tempted. I just need to be happy with what I have and find something I already have to fill my time and wants. I know I can do it. Words of encouragement would be much appreciated.

Frugally Minded

I love to save money, buy things cheap, and now I am loving telling people about it. Check out my blog frugallyminded.blogspot.com We are having a contest on what you do to save money. Tell your friends and lets see how many ways you save.

Memoirs by a lady with a broken toe

When my toe wasn't broken I didn't think too much about it. I assume most parts of the body are that way. They do their job and stay in line everything works out great. But when a part of our body get bored and decides it wants some attention it sometimes throws a fit like a two year old who has already had two cookies but wants more. Okay so maybe not that bad. And maybe my toe wasn't the one throwing the fit. I will tell you the story, you decide.
I woke up at 6:45 and was trying to 1. Organize the pantry 2. Make breakfast 3. Make Lunches, when my two oldest contiued arguing, but this time over who was gonna get which cup in his/her lunch. I was sick of it and for the sixteenth time was telling them "Satan is the father of contention, cut it out!" When I pulled a can of cream of mushroom soup down from the top shelf of the pantry. I was too busy telling my kids to cool it to keep it from landing on my foot or toe I should say. The pain was tremendous and I was sure the can had worked as a Ginsu knife and chopped my toe right off. I couldn't look at it. I finally asked the kids to tell me if there was any blood. Nope, no blood. I still couldn't look at it for at least another five minutes. I was sure it was broken, but too cheap to go the doctor, taped that baby up and have only cried twice about it since. Not fun breaking a toe, if you are wondering, take advice from someone that knows, don't try this at home. Protect your feet and love them for doing what they do best, and not throwing any of those attention fits!

Sleeping what a beautiful thing

There is nothing like falling asleep. I love it, you probably love it and well babies love it too. At least for a little while. I love when you find your sweet little one conked out in the most random of places, like the toy box(Kaely), under their crib, or under their crib mattress for that matter (Skyler). So now our sweet Adam has begun falling asleep in funny positions.

With his head on his teddy.

In this one Shay was working on the computer and just let him fall asleep in the jumper. Poor baby, his legs must have been asleep as well. He was so out of it, I moved him to his bed and he didn't even make a peep. FYI this was all in one day.