The Return

Hey!! Did ya'll miss me??
Sorry for the super long hiatus, it wasn't a purposeful thing! Life just kind of got in the way of computer time. Hmmm, let's see....what has gone on since my last post. Had my birthday on the 12th, didn't do anything in particular. We went for a meeting for Habitat for Humanity. More about that at a later time. Then that weekend we had a birthday celebration for Kayla. (the pics are in the Flickr already) Matthew took sick the entire time from my last post. I ended up taking him to the drs on the 18th. Turned out that he had a double ear infection, a sinus infection, a chest infection and his one eye was infected from all the mucous from his sinuses. Poor little guy! Amazingly, he was still eating really good and still a happy little guy. The only reason I took him in was because he'd had the cold longer than 10days and the mucous from his nose had changed color.(yup, a nice fluorescent green!). Thank goodness I listened to my Mama intuition! He's just about done his antibiotics now and doing much better. He's working on his top front teeth, so I am pretty certain we'll have some new teeth in the next week or so!

Had the Used Toy and Clothing sale on Saturday. It was an awesome turn out! I was looking for some snowpants for Mariah and Kayla and a snowsuit for both Matthew and Alyssa. Can you believe there wasn't any! I did find both Alex and Robbie snowpants, as well as some miscellaneous jammies for the girls. I also found Matthew some clothes. I had a tremendous blssing from a lady that my mom works with! She has two children, a boy and a girl. The boy is 2.5yrs and the girl is in ECS. She handed down to us some clothing that they had outgrown, I will be able to use a lot of it. So, now thanks to her and my sweet cyber sister Misty, Matthew is doing much better in the clothing department for the fall and winter season! I can't imagine what would happen without the generosity of friends/family and Freecycle! I am so blessed to have everyone in my life. I personally LOVE hand-me-downs for both myself and the kids! I also found a winter jacket for myself as well as some t-shirts at the sale! I did get 3 pairs of pants for myself too, but two of the pants are too big. One pair should fit..at least they only cost me a dollar each!!LOL

So to finish off my fall/winter clothing inventory, I need to get Alyssa some pants, a snowsuit, and some boots. Mariah needs some snowpants and boots. Matthew needs a snowsuit and some socks. Everyone needs hats and mitts. I think that's it, although I am sure I've missed something!!LOL

We also started our school year on the 17th!! So far so good, I have been taking it slow to start off with them, seems to work the best. I'll post about what we're learning soon, as well s finish up my 'Making Mornings Easier' post (it is still sitting in my drafts!!LOl)

This week....grocery shopping on Friday. Hoping for a girls night with Kerri this week too. Saturday I am planning on going to the Breastfeeding challenge in our city!! I'm really, really hoping to make it. I have wanted to be a part of one for some time now. So we'll see. I want to make sure everyone is feeling good first!

Well, time to finish getting everyone tucked into bed!
Have a blessed Sunday evening!
~Penny

Prayer For Beverly

Please go over and let her know you are praying for her:
Beverly's Site

Also, any of you graphic making Mama's out there....would someone be willing to make her a graphic to add to our blogs? Or if you know there is one already somewhere, please let me know!! She is a wonderful MOMYS and a wonderful testament to the Lord's faith!

We believe in Miracles too!!

The time has arrived for my yearly stock-up on.....

Triaminic, Vicks Vapo Rub, Tylenol (caplets,dissolving tabs and liquid), Otrivin (for me), and of course a vast array of vitamins.

Yup, it's that time of year. Personally, I would rather walk around spraying everyone in Lysol and donning a surgeons mask and sterile gloves. Unfortunately, that is not really possible. So, I walk around spraying my house in Lysol, washing with bleach and keeping the medicine cupboard filled with the essentials.

The downside, this year the germs got to us before I had a chance to stock up! It started last night, Mariah, Kayla and Matthew are first on the list. (I have a headache and a scratchy throat, but I am ignoring it right now...call it denial)
So Bill will have to do a quickie stop after work. Just so as I don't receive any hate mail about filling my children with unnecessary medication, rest assured, I use it for two reasons 1. so they can sleep and 2.so I can sleep. I figure I don't like to lie there in pain, why should my kids? Nuff said!

Onto other things! Nothing on the go for us this weekend...errr should I say me!!LOL I will most likely be snuggling children and drinking vodka Nyquil and trying to keep everyone happy or at least happy as one can be while coughing up vital organs. Where was I going with that?!?! oh yeah! Bill has plans this weekend, nothing fun mind you, but he'll be busy!!LOL

I'm going to attempt to write up a brief little somethin', somethin' in the homeschool blog all about making mornings easier!! Not just for homeschooling either!! Of course this will happen in between nosewiping, water giving, "You're going to be ok, it's just a cold" line giving!!

One final note, a funny! I was taking Mariah's temperature this morning (at the insane hour of 4:40am, which once upon a time was bedtime in a previous life!!LOL) and it beeped indicating she had a fever (my thermometer takes the temperature on the forehead, some sort of infared technology. I'm just happy I don't have to launch no mercury filled tube up my kids butt!) I said "Yup, sweetie you've got a fever." while saying this I motheringly pressed the palm of my hand on her forehead and she then placed her hand on top of mine. She looks at me with sheer worry in her eyes "I go look in da mirror?", thinking she had some sort of something branded on her forehead!!!LOL
well, time to hit replay on the Dora DVD!!
Have a blessed Friday! Penny

Works For Me Wednesday

Rocks in My Dryer

This week we are sharing our Brandname Items that we feel are worth spending the extra pennies on! Here's my list!!

*Kraft Peanut Butter* We go through a lot of peanut butter (2kgs every 2 weeks to be exact) and while it typically costs me a good $2-$4 more than the generic, it's worth it. too many times I've 'cheaped' out and bought the generic only to have my family moan and complain because it's all separated and tastes like wood. I figured the amount that would get wasted was costing just as much as my spending it on the real deal!!

*Smuckers Seedless Jam* well, you got to have jam with the peanut butter!! Other brands have either been too sweet or just chunks of gunk. We do not like chunks of fruit in our jam and so far, Smuckers is the only brand I have found here that sells a seedless kind. The kicker? For a 500ml jar it costs $2.37. Now that may not seem to bad, however I go through about two jars a week!!!oi!!!

*Kraft Macaroni and Cheese* Nothing can beat the fluorescent noodles and cheese that comes in that Blue box!! I buy a case of 12 for around $10.00 every two weeks. The generic brand would cost me $5.00. I've tried to sneak it by the tastebuds of my family, but alas, they always figure me out!!

*Heinz Ketchup* Another one I can't get past my scrupulous family's tastebuds is generic ketchup (or catsup for some of you!!) and really, I have to agree! The other taste like vinegar!!Blech!!

*Charmin or Purex Toilet Paper* Nuff said!! Anything else, you may as well use the tissue paper from the craft box! One little exception here, I do buy el cheapo for our main bathroom for two reasons: 1. the kids don't notice and 2.that toilet cannot handle anything other than tissue paper thin toilet paper with the amount it gets flushed per day!

*Gain Laundry Soap* I do love Tide, however my family is allergic to it. Once upon a time I thought that it may have all been in my husbands 'head' and washed all his clothes in it. Uh-huh, yeah, he really is allergic to it and broke out in a rash!! Whoops!!Gain works good and smells divine...only the original though. I've never been one for the Tango anyways!!
I have an uncontrollable obsession with laundry products and I have a collection of my favourites that I use at any given time, so I'll just list them here in this category!!LOL
*Fleecy Extra Fresh Fabric Softener
*Downey Lavander Scent fabric softener
*Good ol fashioned Javex lemon fresh fabric guard bleach
*Dual action stain remover by, Spray 'n' Wash
*Fleecy fabric softener Vanilla scent sheets
*Purex Baby Soft laundry soap (for Matthew's stuff and his diapers)
*Gain original scent fabric softener
I warned you!! I switch it around to whatever smells good at the time!

*Smart Bread* the 'white' whole wheat bread! This kills me to buy at almost $3.99 per loaf. But when I can, it's worth it. Everyone here (except for Alyssa and Alex) LOVES white bread. If I can't buy it, I will but whole wheat Wonder Bread.

So, there ya have it! I'm sure there are a few more. When I shop at Real Canadian Superstore I can usually buy brand name products at pretty close to generic prices. If not, their store brand is pretty good quality, with the exception of the above mentioned of course!!

God Bless, Penny

There are surprises everywhere....sometimes

Yesterday I was downstairs doing laundry (now there is something new!!) and I had brought Matthew downstairs with me. A few times I glanced over at him, it appeared that he was chewing something. I would go over to wherever he had crawled to and ever so carefully launch my finger in his mouth to feel around for something. Nothing. Granted, I do have to preform this search very quickly, otherwise he will clamp down on my finger and baby teeth are razor sharp!

This morning I walked into his room and was instantly slammed in the face with an overwhelming smell of poo (oh yeah you know where this going, don't you?!?!) Ahhhh, top o' the mornin' to ya. I now know what my first duty of the day will entail, disposing of something that really should have some sort of Toxic Waste symbol on it. As I am changing him and trying very hard not to breathe, I noticed that there are lot's of colors mixed in with the mess. Not normal, "Oh I had corn to eat" colors. These are bright fluorescent colors and odd shapes. So, I do what any mother would do and began to search through the poo. In between gasping for air, of course. I discover that mixed with his toxic spill, is this:
1 Bratz earring, 1 barbie bright pink high heeled shoe, 13 multicolored beads in the shapes of hearts and cylinders, and one very large ball of carpet fuzz.

Matthew apparently found a feast whilst we were in the basement! I am so thankful that he, um, swallowed everything without incident. He takes the 'cake' with things swallowed at our house. Previous standings had Robbie at the bottom from swallowing a dime, next was Alyssa for swallowing a Quarter, then we had Mariah in at the top for swallowing a nut/bolt combination. Matthew is now the leader, having swallowed the contents of Barbie's suitcase!
Then of course the inevitable question, "Can we wash them and have them back?"
Ummmm, "NO!!!!!" ewwww! "awww, but Mom they went through his digestive system...cool!!" Ummmm. "NOOOOOOO!!!!!"

Just another day, folks. Just another day.

God bless, Penny

I'm so glad I'm not the only one....

First of all, before you read this:
-put down and do not drink ANYTHING
-go to the bathroom...just DO IT!
Now, go and read: Ebay Auction

Ok, how was that? Love it!!

if you would like to visit her blog:
mom2my6pack

Have a blessed evening!!
Penny