I'm Still A Kid!

Well, actually my hubby is! 5 Minutes For Mom is hosting a Nestles Crunch Kid In You Photo contest. The prize is a Wii, which would be wonderful for us! We are moving to the midwest in about 41 days. (yes I am counting down!) Yesterday hubby mentioned that someone had brought one onto his ship the other day, and it was a lot of fun. We have chosen for the time to be game system free because I just didn't want to get it started. I know how it can suck people in. But since we are moving somewhere that actually gets a LOT of snow, and will probably housebound quite often, I thought we should start looking into getting a Wii so the boys could be active in the too cold to go outside times. So winning this would be perfect!






This is hubby with The Princess, and I think it definitely shows his inner kid, since he gets to be with his baby girl!



But then I think this a pretty good example of hubby being INCREDIBLY silly! He sent me this photo when he was deployed, he had found the shirt and thought it would make a great photo! I laughed myself silly over that one!

The Bird

This morning was TJ's Mothers Day Fiesta. And of course, I had my camera case, which was devoid of camera. Go figure. Otherwise I would have captured it on film. It was adorable though. All the moms, grandmas, and aunts sat while our darling children filed in to sing songs to us.

We were entertained by the song stylings of 2-3 yr olds (a lot of 4 yr olds too) doing re-mixes of Jesus Loves Me. Instead they sang Mommy Loves Me, and I Love My Mommy. The Grand Finale was 5 Little Monkeys.

There were of course hand gestures that had been taught. TJ has always had a bad habit of pointing with everything except his pointer finger. This morning, he was FLIPPING off the entire room of Preschool parents!

Busy Busy Busy!

You ever have one of those weeks where it seems like you have way too much to do and not enough time to do it in? Well, every week from now until the beginning of July is going to be like that for our family.
This week is crazy because hubby and his SILLY (stupid really, but I'm not supposed to use that word and when I do, TJ gets on my case...) ship are out until Friday. That's right, the ship, the same one that was out for 6 months is out again. It will come back Friday in the late afternoon, be home for the weekend and go out AGAIN for 8 days. *update* I just got an email from the Ships liason saying the ships email is down and their return date is uncertain. Prayer would be appreciated!

TJ's Mothers Day Party for his class is Wednesday. I had been counting on hubby being home so he could be with Little Guy and The Princess so I could go and just enjoy being with him. Now all THREE of us will be going, which should make for an interesting morning.

Here is a list of things I just need to get done today:

*Clean Kitchen, dishes, counters, floors
*Vacuum downstairs
*Laundry: wash, fold, put away
*clip coupons
*Clean the bathrooms
*straighten boys room

Which doesn't seem like a lot until you throw 3 kids and our newest addition into the mix!

Hubby gave me my Mothers Day gift a week early, I got a Teacup Chihuahua! He is 4 yrs old, which is GREAT. That means I don't have to housebreak him. Its already done! He is about 7 inches tall, and probably weighs 3-4 lbs. SO SWEET! And docile. No incessant barking, yipping or whining. His name is Bandit, or as I like to call him El Bandito!

The pressure is on us because we are going to be moving to the great Mid-West in 2 months. We have a TON of stuff to pack between now and then. I am trying to weed through stuff we haven't used in a while and either sell it, or "GASP" throw stuff away! Its a little hard to get everything done with hubby in and out, but after this next time he is going to try and use his 10 day house hunting leave while the ship goes out in June.

I think TJ is hitting a growth spurt, he is eating everything in sight!
We had just eaten breakfast this morning about 15 minutes earlier when he started in again about it, "I am SO hungry Mommy!"
"You just ate!"
"Well, I only have a LITTLE party in my tummy, I need a BIG party in my tummy now!"

Mother Nature Can Be Mean

My motivation for today has gone down the tubes. And I mean that quite literally. When I went to bed last night, I had my whole Wednesday mapped out. Get up, take TJ to school, come home and put The Princess down for her morning nap, vacuum, clean up the kitchen and then make out my grocery list and clip my coupons. Go pick TJ back up and head to the base for lunch at the park while we wait for hubby to get done at work. Then to the commissary to grocery shop and home for the evening.

The Princess tossed and turned all night, fussing off and on. And promptly threw up in her bed this morning. Afterwards she seemed quite perky and cheerful. So I haven't decided yet if it is a bug with her, or perhaps a bad cup of milk. I, on the other hand, seem to have a standing date with the bathroom this morning. TJ managed to get to school and I vacuumed when we got home. As for the rest, the only motivation I have is to sit here and hope I can make it to the bathroom when nature call again.

Late Is My Middle Name....

Last week went by so quickly, we barely noticed it around here. And now here I am, and it hit me, I missed Menu Plan Monday! Now in my defense I have been UBER busy around here what with hubby home and all! And I would rather be be busy with hubby home then trying to fill up the days waiting.
Grocery shopping last week went ok, but coupons at the grocery store only got me $2 under shopping at the Commissary without coupons!
Now on to the Menu for the week. I hadn't put a lot of thought into it, until this morning. Since this weekend there is a Cinco De Mayo celebration at the Town Center here, mexican food will DEFINITELY be on the list!



Monday: Fettucine and Chicken strips, green beans
Tuesday: Breakfast for dinner
Wednesday: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup
Thursday: Bacon and Cheddar Stuffed Chicken Breast, Salad, mashed potatoes
Friday: Wing it, hubby has duty
Saturday: Enchiritos (enchilada and burrito in one!)
Sunday: leftovers

Hubby and I might actually get to go out together Saturday night if we can find a sitter. That seems to be a tough thing to do here. Short of calling an agency. Which I think would be last resort for us.
Things are settling into a two parent routine around here. TJ and Little guy LOVE having Daddy home. And The Princess is starting to really want to spend time with him.




As for the whole wanting to win First Kiss, it didn't really seem to matter this time around. Everything moved fairly quickly without a lot of hoopla! Before we knew it, hubby was off the boat and back where he belongs...

She Does It So Much Better!

I am sure by now most of you out there are familiar with a certain television Talk Show Host by the name of Oprah Winfrey. She is kind of big in case you haven't heard.
Anyway, the past month my impression of Oprah has changed quite a bit. I used to think she was a successful, but generous woman. Whose roots were based in the Baptist Church. I also rather blindly thought of her as a Christian.
Honestly, her show was not watched on a regular basis in our home. I think I watched occasionally, mostly her Favorite Things show each Christmas.
Then I caught a show that was about "Making Dreams Happen" or something like that. I thought it was going to be about persevering in your goals, tips to succeed, things like that. I was so surprised when the guests were 2 women talking about making a "Vision Board" where you put your wants and things you desired and then in essence, the Universe would bring it to you. Oprah quoted the scripture that states "Ask and it shall be given" It just did not set well with me, it sounded New Age-y. The scripture was taken out of context and felt like a way to justify being selfish.
At the end of the episode Oprah introduced the new book and her first online classroom. The book? A New Earth by Eckhard Tolle. Never having been one to take part in the Oprah Book Club, I didn't even give it a second thought.
Until my email in-box began filling up with well meaning e-mails about Oprah. Some I read, others I didn't. UNTIL I received one from my best friend in Oregon. It had a link to You Tube and some video clips from her show.







Needless to say, my jaw dropped. I had no idea.
I really wanted to immediately post something thought provoking and Biblically sound to hopefully help anyone who might be confused or is searching for answers. However, I stumbled across THIS website and well, its everything I wanted to say, only much better!
Lysa has several posts about this subject, so please check her out, she speaks the truth!

MPM Trying To Get Back On Track!

So, I know it has been stinking forever since I have posted my menu plan here. My excuse? Hubby deployed and 3 little ones to take care of. I just didn't have a lot of time and well, you all didn't need to see how much cereal and sandwiches we ate!
But in a renewed effort to really save on groceries and pay down our debt, I am BACK! I shopped at our commissary last week, minus coupons (I hate when that happens!) and I will be shopping the sales this week at the local grocery store to see where we do better. I hope to post my findings after I do a real shopping trip at the commissary armed with my coupons. I am also determined to give the whole CVS ECB a shot again. And will share how I do with that as well.
I used the Grocery Game in the past, which was a wonderful tool, but the commissary doesn't participate with this site.
Ok here is my menu for the week!



Sunday: Ravioli with Sausage and peppers
Monday: Soft Tacos
Tuesday: Crockpot Beef Stew
Wednesday: Wing it since hubby has duty
Thursday: Grilled Cheese and Tomato soup
Friday: The Infamous Chicken Sandwich and fruit
Saturday: leftovers or sandwiches
Sunday: Italian Meatball Quesadillas
Monday: Roasted Chicken and Veggies

So there you have it! Fairly simple and kid friendly. The Princess wants nothing to do with baby food anymore so I have to think of things she can eat too.