Whose behind?

Mine. Ha ha, that is my favorite line in Toy Story 2. If you don't know what I am talking about...you're missing out. That movie has some of the funniest lines.

How is it possible for one persons life to get as crazy as mine has the past few weeks?

I have been so far behind and I haven't been able to catch up! I am behind on:
*dishes
*laundry
*basically all housework
*blogging
*product reviews
*family blog
*homeschool blog
*coupons

Seriously, do I need to go on? I am choosing to blame it on two big changes...

1. My hubby's deployment
2. Taking my kids out of public school and into homeschool

Those are good reasons for being such a slacker right?!

Happy Homemaker Monday (late, obviously)

I had planned to post yesterday but got sidetracked...it was our first day of homeschool! We had a great day but I know that I need to get more organized (in my home & school work) if I am going to survive!

homeschoolers work rrrreally hard! lol

I have started a homeschool blog, to help me keep track of what we have been doing, and so if you would like to check it out, you can find it here

Ok, lets get going...

The weather today: it was grey, rainy and cool all day! The perfect weather to curl up with a quilt & a good book.

On my reading pile: The women's group at my church are starting a book club. So I am reading the first book, which is The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom.

On my tv: freeing up some space on my dvr, by watching Castle

On the menu this week: I really haven't planned anything. Just flying by the seat of my pants...not my favorite way to do things!

On my to do list: Seriously, what isn't?! My to do list is taller than I am!

What I am creating: nothing :( I hope once we are settled into a routine that I can do a bit more scrapbooking. It has been a loooong time!

In homeschooling: We are only on our 2nd day! But we started a unit study on Flight. We are also learning about famous black Americans for history. My daughter is reading about Harriet Tubman, and my son is learning about the Tuskegee Airmen, this also helps with the flight unit!

Looking around the house: books are everywhere! I love that homeschooling involves so much reading! I see a Capital Mystery book, dictionary, Benjamin Franklin A-Z, my daughter's favorite series of books, pencils, scissors...

From my camera: saying goodbye to my hubby :(

Something fun to share: While helping my 7 yr old with his homework, he said to me, "Mom, did you know that the 50's were in all black and white?" I laughed so hard I cried!

On my prayer list: friends & family, my husband & other military serving overseas and for their families at home

Devotional or scripture: With starting homeschool, my children are on my mind more than ever. So right now, "Children are an heritage of the Lord" Psalm 127:3

Ralphs love

I am not the *biggest* Ralphs fan. It has a lot of great deals to be had, but on the whole....not so much.

The one thing that has me showin' them some love is the fact that, they don't limit the amount of like coupons that can be doubled. For example, if I have two coupons for fruit snacks, that are good for .50/2. If I buy 4 boxes and use 2 coupons, they only take $1.50 off, not the whole 2 dollars.

However, Ralphs doesn't place limits (unless the coupon states it).

Thanks to some high value coupons, I got these cakes for .99 each and the appetizers free!

They have a promotion (which is actually still going on) where if you buy 10 of a huge list of items, you get an automatic $5 off your order. This also isn't limited, as long as you have the first 10, you can get as many as you want.

So, before coupons my total was $127.xx and afterwards? $37! Not too shabby!

I finally feel like a real couponer, with a nice stockpile of mustard!

Not everything fit in the picture. But I got:

2 pineapple upside down cakes .99 each

1 chicken tornado appetizers = free

2 Digiorno pizzas = .99each after coupons

6 regular French's mustards = .40 each

6 French's honey mustards = .50 each

2 Spicy French's mustards = .50 each

2 Dijion mustards = .50 each

4 Skintimate shave gels = ?? I can't remember but they were between .50-$1

4 Edge shave gels = same deal as the Skintimate

4 bags of Goldfish = .50 each (had a coupon from a cereal box! (:

a clearanced 6 pack of applesauce = .75

a pkg of clearanced kettle corn= $1 ( I was so happy to find this because I love kettle corn and my husband &  kids love butter. So I normally buy butter.

Did you get any great deals this week? I would love to see/hear about them!

Happy Homemaker Monday

I have been such a slacker blogger lately. So I decided to jump right back in (:

Weather: Southern CA has had some crazy weather lately! Santa Ana winds, rain, 80* + temps...and now it is grey and chilly. I love the cooler weather (:

Reading list: I am currently reading the biography of Abraham Lincoln. I started it at my daughters orthodontist appt. and it is a very interesting read!

On my tv: the first season of Haven

On my menu for this week: I am not sure! This is going to be a long & hard week for me...so we will see.

On my to do list: spend as much time with my hubby as possible...he deploys on Friday for 6 months :(...oh and get my son some glasses!

What I am creating: Nothing...wow I am lame!

In Homeschooling: Ok this is a new one since the last time I participated! However...it now applies to me. This week I am planning and preparing for homeschool that is starting next week!

Looking around the house: Kids are running in and out of the house, afterschool snacks, organized coupon binders...

From the camera:

a beautiful sunrise over Camarillo

Something fun to share: Hmmm, uhm I am not sure. This is another new one since the last time I participated. I guess it would be my son teaching my other son to ride his bike (:

On my prayer list: friends and family, our military

Scriptures/Devotionals:
Uhm...

Oops

It's been a long time since I blogged! I hadn't realized because life has been a touch crazy around here.

There is a LOT going on. Big changes. Big, HUGE changes.

 My husband is leaving for deployment next week. 6 months on my own. So.not.ready!! You would think I would get used to this but I haven't. Since he joined 10 years ago, he has been gone quite a bit. From being gone for a month all the way up to 8.5 months. And what is sad, is that a lot of people have it worse off than me!

Because one big change isn't enough, we decided to throw in another! (:

I am nervous & excited. So here it is, the big news... As of next week, I will be HOMESCHOOLING two of my children!! What the heck! Me a homeschooler? I know, I know. I have always said I couldn't handle it and now I find myself being pulled in this direction.

I have actually been thinking/talking/praying about homeschooling for around 2 years now. I have talked myself in and out of it a lot! But there are a lot of reasons, why I have been feeling now is the right time.

The two kids who are starting this year are Harmony & Connor. We have found a charter school, Bridges, that offers a home school/independent study program. We are given a teacher who helps me set up a curriculum, helps me with lesson plans and basically is just there to help me. Two days a week, they will attend "enrichment classes". They are problem solving, music, language arts, pe, yoga & Connor's favorite: LEGO'S!! Yes there is a Lego class! They are also allowed to go on all field trips, participate in science fairs and anything else that they have going on at the school.

Ethan "hero worships" his current teacher. It is also his last year at the school. Because of that, we have decided to leave him where he is. Ivan was another concern because of his therapies & IEP through his current school. But they can give him the exact same services there. However, changing his routine & schedule is not easy on him. So we have also decided to leave him where he is. Next year, Ethan & Ivan will join us at home.

Am I crazy? Probably. But you know what? I know it is right for our family right now. Maybe it won't always be. Or maybe it will. Only time will tell. We meet with the teacher tomorrow to figure out our curriculum!

Super Mom/Super Hero

Are Mom's super hero's? I think so. While we may not be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, we are capable of a lot. We bake, cook, clean, chauffer, shop, budet,plan, feed...Yeah the list goes on for miles. When I found this on Pintrest, I printed off two!

When my Mom was pregnant with me, she looked to my older siblings for name ideas. At the time, their two favorite tv shows were Donny & Marie and Wonder Woman.

So the two options were Marie...or Wonder Woman. No Lynda (as in Lynda Carter) or Diana Prince (WW's alter ego), just Wonder Woman.

While my mom ultimatley decided to go with Marie, she has been known to call me Wonder Woman.

I found this cup at Ross and knew I had to grab it (: I keep it on the counter right under this...

I am not sure who put the label on there, but I love it!

A New Year re-do

I spent a lot of time over my vacation writing lists and goals, plans and schedules. I had so many good intentions when it came to my resolutions.

view near my parents house the day that we left

I was happy and was excited for the new year and some changes/goals I really wanted to achieve.

So here it is, starting the 2nd week of January, and what happened? Why should I get a re-do? Here are my reasons...

view from the Hood River bridge

1.) We were on vacation for over a week. The drive is 16 hours...each way. So we spent a lot of time in the car. A lot.

2)We arrived home on Sunday the 1st and not only did we have to unpack all the luggage,do all the laundry, find a home for all the new gifts but we had to take all of the Christmas decorations down!

3.) My kids went back to school that Tuesday and I was still not caught up.

4.) One of my resolutions was being more organized with my coupons. I decided I would not set foot in the store until everything was organized. It took forever but it is done. I will not be getting that behind again.

5.) My husband had M-W off from work. He totally throws my schedule off! I love having him around (and going on lunch dates) but...

We also had appointments, church, Cub Scouts, and all those other things that make up our life.

So if I don't deserve a re-do then I don't know who does! I am "pretending" that tomorrow is the first of the month and I will start implementing all those plans and ideas that I spent so much time working on (: Here is too a Happy New Year!