Christmas 2010

This post is REALLY late, but it's better late then Never!

We had a great Christmas spending time with both families. It truly is a blessing living so close to both of our families. On Christmas Eve we spent some time with my family since my brother and his family were going to Havasu for Christmas day. We had a great time exchanging gifts and eating (of course!)

 

Then we went to John's parents house and had a blast playing some Minute to Win It games. It was so much fun to both play and watch. Everyone had a great time. 

 

 

John's Mom was Hilarious to watch!!! She is so funny! And I love that she gets in there and does these crazy things with the rest of us.

 

 

Then we ate dinner and hung out

then the kids acted out the Nativity

 

and then we did our gift exchange. We all opened our Christmas Eve gift from Grandma and Papa Garthe. Can you guess what we got.....

 This was our first Christmas in our own place since Charles was about 18 months. So it is Wonderful to be home Christmas morning with just our family. The kids had a great Christmas and loved everything they got. In our house Santa brings you one gift and leaves it unwrapped under the Christmas Tree and he fills your stocking. This year Santa brought Charles and Madison kites. Madison's is a Tinker Bell and Charles' is a pirate ship. They are huge, about 6 feet. We have yet to fly them, but hopefully soon! Claudia got a cute outfit and some treats for when she is big enough to eat baby food. Madison was so cute and dramatic with each gift. It was a great morning!!!

 

 This is Charles "Super Excited" because he just found the Wii that mommy and daddy bought for Christmas! (Yes yes, those of you that know me know that I have succumbed, I have give in and allowed a gaming system in my home. I hope it doesn't come back to bite me in the bum.)

After our wonderful morning at home we went to my parents for more presents and dinner.

 

We had a VERY MERRY Christmas!!!!

Sports Chalet...really!!!

A couple of weeks ago I took all 3 kids out to run some errands. We went to the sports store to get me some new running shoes. I had gone a few days before to the running store to be fitted for some new running shoes. I did not buy them at the running store because we had a gift certificate to Sports Authority, and I knew they would not help me find the perfect shoe for my foot. So I took the kids into the sports store the minute we walked through the door Claudia started getting fussy. I knew exactly what shoe I needed so I thought we would be in and out. I quickly tried the shoes on to make sure I loved them as much as I did at the running store. While trying them on Madison told me she had to go potty. Great! She can not hold it very long so I quickly finished trying out the shoes and then took her to the bathroom. By then I had to take Claudia out of the stroller because she was just not happy. So Madison went to the bathroom and then we headed for the check out. Both kids were kind of wandering around not really coming with me. Finally we ALL made it to the check out. I had two coupons that I thought may work. One was for $10 off any purchase over $100, the shoes were on sale for $95, so it was not really worth buying something for a couple of bucks only to get $10 off. My second coupon was for 10% off any shoe purchase of $50 or more, excluding sale items ( I really HATE those ones.) What do you know the shoes were on sale for $5 off, so I could NOT use any of the coupons, big BUMMER!!! It's gets better...so after realizing I can't use any coupons I finally hand over my gift card excited that I was not paying full price out of pocket. The lady looks at the card then looks at me and says "this is for Sports Authority" I looked back at her and said "yes" (not knowing why she said that) then she looks back at me and says "this is SPORTS CHALET." What!!!!!

No WAY!!!!! 

I totally thought I was at Sports Authority!!! I could not believe that after all the craziness in the store I was at the WRONG store!!!! I apologized to the lady, because I was defiantly not going to be buying the shoes from there. As I walked the kids to the car I realized that Sports Authority (where I wanted to go) was just a few blocks down. But after the errands and being at the wrong store I just decided to GO HOME!!!!! 

That was the day I realized why so many people only have 1 child!!!! Having 3 is NOT easy!!!!

Couponers PLEASE Help!!!

I've been doing this couponing thing for about 2 months now and love the GREAT deals I am getting but I feel about overwhelmed with all the coupons. I'd like to know how you organize/store your coupons and what blogs/websites you use to find the best deals??? Also, do you go out once a week and hit up ALL the stores or go on different days. What works for you to make couponing not so overwhelming????
Can't wait to hear your feedback!!! Thanks!!!

AWARD!!!!

Charles got 3 PAW (Progress Achievement Winners) awards at school this last week. He was very excited to get these awards. They were in Reading, Writing, and Math! Way to go Buddy!!!!

You may notice his spikes are gone, I was trimming them because they were too long and I used the wrong size. Oops!!! At least they will grow back quickly.

St. Patty's day

 

I am not so good at making Holiday's a big thing with my kids. So this year I decided I'd try a little for St. Patrick's day. I turned our Orange Crystal lite green and made our pizza crust green. The kids thought it was "SO COOL." I made sure that they helped me put the food coloring in the dough so that they didn't freak out when they saw it come out of the oven. They thought it was great! Then while Charles was at school Madison and I made green sugar cookies with green sugar. I didn't realize how easy it was to make colored sugar. It was actually fun and the kids really enjoyed the cookies. We met some friends at the park and shared our St. Patty's day cookies with them. 

It was a nice simple St. Patty's day, I think I may just continue this green day tradition.

6 MONTHS

Claudia turned 6 months old a week ago. I took her in for her 6 month check up and she is doing GREAT!!! 

She is 15 lbs (30%)

25.5 inches long (50%)

and her head circumference is 43.5 cm (80-90%)

She dropped a bit in weight percentage but she is doing good and we have no concerns.

I started giving her rice cereal around 5 months and she took to it very well. I've been giving her fruits and vegetables with her rice and she is already picky. I don't remember my other kids not liking certain things, but she definitely does NOT like green beans. She at least tries what I give her and I'm sure her likes will change and she gets introduced to more foods.

Last week, just before she turned 6 months she started sitting up with out assistance. It is great! She will sit there and play with toys and watch the other kids. (Finally some independence! I love it!)

About a month ago she started getting really vocal. She will yell out or grunt or make noises like a goose. I guess with all the commotion of older siblings around she needs to make sure we are all aware she is here. Luckily it hasn't been too much of a problem at church.
She is also settling into more of a schedule. She is napping a TON better than she used to an puts herself to sleep most of the time.

We LOVE our Claudia so much and are so glad she is a part of our family!!!!

We have Spikes

Charles asked me a few weeks ago to cut his hair. He didn't want the normal shave, he wanted the sides only cut. So here it is. Not perfect but he LOVES it! The first day he wore it that way to school he was beaming! His smile was so big. And at the end of the day the gel was all gone. I think because he kept touching it.