Happy Birthday to Ivan!!

OK, how does time go by so stinkin' fast?! I swear I was just in the hospital having this kid!

...and now he is nine. NINE!

So per birthday tradition, here are 9 reasons why I LOVE my nine year old!!

1.He sleeps next to a window, and no matter what the temperature outside, the window is ALWAYS open. And he sleeps cocooned under a good 10-12 blankets.

2. Whatever he loves, he loves it with his whole heart. From Legos, to M & M's, to the American Revolution. He goes all in.

3. He wants to work at LEGOLAND when he grows up.

4. His sweet smiles.

5. When I go pick him up at school, he runs to me like he hasn't seen me for a year and practically knocks me over with a hug! I literally have to brace myself for impact.

6. He only wants to sit by me. At church. During movie night. At the table. That is dedication!

7. He has an awesome sense of humor.

8. He doesn't worry about things like being popular or doing the "cool" thing. He is who he is.

9. He is a good big brother to Mason, even though he struggles with it sometimes!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY IVAN! I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK!

traditions vs. frugality

Missing a couple of kids...

Ahhh Christmas traditions. That is why we do what we do right?  That is why we get up at the crack of dawn, or stay up until the late hours. Baking, shopping, wrapping...whatever it takes to make the holidays special, right?!

When I was growing up, every year in our stockings, we would find amongst the other items, an orange, a pack of hot chocolate and an individual sized box of cereal. Basically we were given our breakfast, so my Mom didn't have to worry about it. Basically it was a two-fer...stocking stuffer and breakfast in one.

I decided to continue this tradition with my kids. So every year, my kiddos look for their own box of cereal.

On the 23rd, my oldest son, who is a cereal aholic, said, "Oooh I can't wait to get my mini cereal!" Guess who hadn't bought any yet?

Christmas Eve morning, I got up at the crack of dawn. After staying up late wrapping gifts of course. Kohls was opening at 6:00 and World Market at 7:00. I just needed to get a few last minute items and with Kohls cash, and amazing coupons for World Market, I had a plan to be home by 10:00.

Of course, things don't always work out the way we plan, right? I ended up going to Kohls, Walgreens, 2 different Michaels, World Market and then hit up  Ralphs for a few last minute food needs. I went to the cereal aisle for the coveted cereal...and about DIED!!

Do you know how much those are? The 8 pack was $4.49!! Of course you have to get two because in amongst the kid friendly ones are the healthier ones. The ones the kids complain about of course. I was about to grab it anyway, in the name of tradition.

But.I.just.couldn't.do.it. Instead I got a different brand of cereal that was on sale used my coupons and got 6 boxes of full sized cereal (most had double box tops as well) for less than $10.

Well guess what, my kids were so excited to get a full box instead of a mini one. They got to put their name on it and no one else can eat out of anybody elses box.

They were happy. I was happy. My wallet was happy. And...I think I started a new tradition!

traditions

Why yes, yes it has been a long time. But we will just skip over all that and go straight to... our family trip to the pumpkin patch!

My sweet kids at the top of the hill!

Every year, we head to a local pumpkin patch called Petes.

It has a huge hill that is insanely steep. The first time I went all the way up I thought I was going to die. Literally. I was so out of breath, shakey...the whole works. It was awful.



Yeah seriously! Totally not easy!

However, every year, my husband and kids have been to the very top. Our first year, Mason was too little and there was no way I was hauling him in a wagon. Everyone who went to the top was treated to an ice cream cone. It was hot, and the hill was steep.

hanging out at Applebees

This year we took everyone out to Applebees. Not our most frugal decision but...it is what it is, right?

My love bugs

We had a great time and I love spending time with my family. I know it sounds corny, but I do.

This Saturday we will be attending a trunk or treat through our church, another family tradition.

What are your favorite traditions? Any fun Halloween traditions? I would love to hear about it!

Easter traditions

Ivan with the EB...and my shadow (:

Like Christmas, the true meaning of Easter often gets overlooked.

Filling those baskets & hunting for eggs seems to be a main priority for a lot of people.

I am not saying these are bad things. They aren't. We participate in quite a few of them.

I admit that it is really hard for me to not get caught up in it also.

But I really, really want to make sure that my kids know the true meaning of Easter.

Since my kids were little there has been one thing that has really helped our family keep our focus.

We celebrate the Easter bunny on the Saturday before. Then it is OVER. They get a basket filled with goodies and little toys. We don't talk about it. The EB is just not a priority.

Sunday morning, we go to church, eat a nice, big traditional dinner and talk about Christ and His resurrection.

However, we can all use good ideas for our kids baskets, right?

Besides candy, I like to put in inexpensive movies (or maybe something I just got a good deal on). Outdoor toys like balls, jump ropes, sidewalk chalk, bubbles...

I also like to look in the dollar section/ $1 stores for stickers, notepads, glow sticks (one of my kids favorite things!) playing cards, crazy straws, crayons, markers...

Things like lip gloss, hair things, fun socks and little items like that usually make it into my daughters basket.

So what about you, what do you do for Easter?