"I Love You Stinky Face"

That is the title of a book I used to read to Carson when he was a baby.  He found it this week in Aden's closet and crawled up in my lap and said "read to me, Mommy; so I read to him, with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.  This little boy who is too big for my lap, who doesn't like to cuddle, who never stops talking, this little boy sat in my lap and let me read "I Love You Stinky Face" to him.  Memories came flooding back while I was reading to him.  Where did the past 3 1/2 years ago? Just the other day, I looked at Carson and said, "when did you get so big?" and he said "yesterday."  To me "yesterday" he was a tiny little baby, just coming home from the hospital.

My little miracle, my perfect example of God's amazing faithfulness, my "stinky face" :)
So now I'd like to share a little photo tribute to my sweet boy, the one who keeps me on my toes, who is smart beyond his years, who is loving and sensitive, who makes me laugh, who is a wonderful little boy!

Bloggers Block

Similar to writer's block.....I'm having blogging block! I have ideas, I think of fun things to tell you about, I start blogs and then I delete them.  It's hopeless really!!  I am so disappointed in myself, I was determined that I would really keep up with blogging, that I wouldn't flake out after a few weeks of hard core blogging.  But here I sit, staring at the screen, thinking about how boring I really am and how my blog isn't nearly as awesome as some other's I know (ahem...justalittlehappy-laura.blogspot.com)  :)
I think my mind has been so wrapped up with a hundred different things, that its hard to just focus on one thing to write about.  I'll give you a recap of the past few weeks in my life....

*My birthday was last month...it was awesome! :) I had lots of fun, I was spoiled, I went tee-peeing, and I plan on writing a blog about it eventually.

*We've been sick around here a lot lately, Carson and Aden kept passing crud back and forth.  I get that it's nice to share and all, but seriously?  I am tired of passing out Tylenol and kleenex!! We all seem to be well now so lets up it stays that way.

Finally feeling better!

*We are looking at houses a lot and our house has been shown quite a few times.  I found a house I'm in love with that Brad is going to go look at tomorrow.  I'm really, really praying it works out!!

Come buy my house please!

*All Carson talks about lately is "When I'm four ______ " His birthday is still 5 months away but he has big plans for becoming a four year old.  One of which includes getting a dog....he's not getting a dog, unless they come out with a hypoallergenic one!

Getting way too big!!

*Aden is growing up WAY TOO FAST! He's 8 months old and as adorable as ever.  He isn't quite mobile yet which is fine with me but I can tell he's getting frustrated that he can't get where he wants to be.  He gets up on all fours and scoots backwards and then gets mad at himself. It's pretty cute.

He's not naked, I promise!

* Brad and I are looking forward to some new opportunities to minister and I can't wait to share with you about that.

I just like this picture of us! he he! :)

*I'm feeling very convicted lately about contentedness, and about looking more at laying up treasures for eternal life than focusing so much on material things.  I've been thinking a lot about the fruit of the Spirit and how much it is actually evident in my life and what I can do to bear more fruit.  I want God to be evident in my life and  I want my focus to be on bringing glory to Him.

*I miss Georgia....there is something about my birthday that makes me really miss my friends in Georgia.  Those two short years I lived there were some of the best times in my life and I wish those relationships were still as strong as they used to be.  On American Idol a few weeks ago, several of the contestants sang "Georgia On My Mind."  There is a good chance I teared up everytime!!

Lauren, Amanda, me and Sara

*I am totally loving being a "crazy coupon lady!"  I am saving big bucks and having a lot of fun doing it!!  (By the way, I bought two bottles of Pledge Multi-surface and two bottles of Fantastik for $1.48 at CVS but with the Extra Care Bucks I got back, they essentially paid me! )

One of my most recent shopping trips

*I'm old....it's 9:34 pm and I'm ready for bed....so this is your update for now.  Goodnight!!

Whew...I made it another month!!

February came and went with a picture-of-the-day for EVERY day!!! Go me!! :)  Here's a few of my favorites!!

Trying to get a good picture of the boys with the snow storm

Our second big snow storm

Carson's Hot Wheels parking lot 

Aden turned 7 months old this month

Getting better with my coupons

Rylee Foote's birthday party

My camera died

Coupons, Coupons, Coupons!

Gabe rode home from school with us

Playing in a tent together

Date Night!

AAOTH with Joyce

Valentine's Day

My Ladies Ministry decorating side kicks! 

Sleepover at Grandpa and Grandma's

Another date night

Baby Shower for Jessica and Baby Madilyn

We have spent a lot of time in the doctor's office lately

Carson's shirt on my birthday! he he! :)

Family pic on my birthday

tee-peeing at 29

dirt cake! yummy!

Carson and Rex

I won! I won!

Another trip to Dr. Reyes' office

Super Coupon Hero

Last night we had a coupon class at our church.   It was my second time to hear Carrie speak about saving money and using coupons.  Let me just say...she ROCKS!! She is a money saving, crazy lady and my hero!  She works so hard to help other woman be money savers too.  She has an amazing blog, couponcloset.net, and she makes it very easy for us novice couponers.  I can go straight to her blog, print off the best deals for Homeland, CVS, Target, etc, print my coupons, and be on my merry way.  She is such a blessing and an inspiration to me.  I have been cutting coupons and watching for sales for about 6 or 7 weeks now and I am seeing a slow decrease in the amount of money I am spending.  Woo hoo!! I love saving money; it is so exciting to see my total when I checkout with all my coupons.
I am so glad we were able to have her at Graceway, and I can't wait to hear about the way the people who came to the class are saving money.
Isn't it wonderful to be a good steward of what God gives us? Since I am a stay-at-home mom, I feel like it is my "job" to do the best I can with the money we have by saving, looking for sales, and honoring God with the purchases I make.  I want Brad to feel proud of me for the way I take care of our family and I want him to feel like the hard work he puts in to make money for our family is not wasted.  I am still a work in progress, and I am still learning and making mistakes but it is so wonderful to have a forgiving Father, and an understanding husband.
Well, it's time to work on my menu for the next week, make my grocery lists, and check my sale ads....right after I take Carson outside to play for a little while.