Hannah-isms, the religion edition

Recently, Mark and I were watching a sermon online and Hannah sat down next to us. She pointed to Andy Stanley and asked: "Is that Jesus?"

Getting in the car early one morning last week: "Oh, look, there's condemnation on our car!" I didn't even know she knew that word (condensation, of course!).

Repeatedly over the last few weeks: "It's time for the Mormons!" or "Watch guys, I'm doing the Mormons!" I had NO IDEA what she was talking about until Dana broke the code:"performance".

In ballet class last week a piece of scab from where she had skinned her elbow came off. She brought the scabby piece to her teacher (pan to me: grossed out and embarrassed) and said, "Look at how God is healing me!!!"

Happy Halloween!

And Happy Reformation Day!

Couponing

A few different people have asked me about how I combine coupons and sales to keep our grocery budget low. Not nearly as low as some frugalistas and extreme-couponers, but a fair amount. We like to eat natural and organic foods, support local agriculture through our farmer's market, and like most of you, I don't have a lot of time for shopping. Even a little strategizing and planning can make a big difference in the wallet.

Who wouldn't want an extra $50 (or more) a week to put toward something more fun than groceries?

Here's part of a message I sent to a friend yesterday on this topic:

This is week at Publix to get started with couponing!

You may not have saved up coupons yet, but you can start by keeping the coupon inserts from the Sunday paper (or from the free one the AJC puts in non-subcribers' yards on Thursday) and writing the date on the front*.

Other ways to get coupon inserts:

:: buy the double paper on Sunday at the store: two sets of coupons!

:: ask around. Most people don't use coupons, or just cut a few and throw the rest away.

:: If you feel especially daring and resourceful, you can easily grab several inserts from your neighborhood paper-only recycling bins. I'm not admitting to dumpster diving. Just saying. It's an option.

Until you build up a nice stash of coupons or dated inserts you can save big by shopping the sales and using internet printables.

Two sites to get you started with planning your shopping trips:

Coupon Mom Click on "Grocery Deals by State" on the left side bar. Choose your grocery store (drug stores, Walmart and Target lists are also available) and then just click on the items you want, select deals and bam! you have a list! I print it out, plan out my meals and add to the list anything else I will need to complete the meals. Then I cut out the coupons, write how many of each items to get next to that item on my list, and put the list and coupons in an envelope. Super handy for shopping and checking out with three wiggly littles in tow. When I'm feeling especially Type A I will calculate the cost of each item and estimate my total bill before I go and adjust the list if needed to meet my budget goal. Nerd alert!

Southern Savers is another good source. She includes store flyers that are out and competitor coupons (my main store Publix accepts competitor and store coupons on top of manufacturer's coupons. That's called "coupon stacking")

If you see anything that is a great deal (at least 50% off for most non-perishables) that your family uses regularly, buy enough to last you about two months. Since you're getting these items at pennies on the dollar, it shouldn't add too much to your weekly budget. Slowly you will build up a stockpile of your basics so that you never have to pay full price for everyday items.

Avoid buying anything you wouldn't normally, unless it is free then you can give it to charity, because the time it takes to cut your coupons and do your shopping can be overwhelming. I recommend sticking with just one or two stores. Mine are Publix every week and Costco, Trader Joe's, and the farmer's market once or twice a month.

If you don't see a great special on meat or produce at the grocery store, it's probably cheaper at Costco. When I go I usually grab a 4.99 Rotisserie chickens for dinner that same night. Nuts, quinoa, and brown rice, which are household staples for us, are also always the cheapest at Costco. Trader Joe's is my source for inexpensive organic and natural items. We get our milk, eggs, meat, and soap from local farmers.

*I use the Coupon Mom method of saving and dating the whole insert. I find it saves a lot of time and clutter. Many people cut out every coupon they think they might use and have various methods of organizing them to have on the go. Choose the way that works best for you!

** I met Stephanie Nelson, the Coupon Mom herself, at Costco today just by chance. She was so nice and I totally froze and couldn't think of anything to say. Mary Katherine again, I KNOW! This is why I alway keep the camera with me. And why I really should take the time to do something with my hair before leaving the house.

Check out my friend Amanda's post on saving money on groceries. It is way more helpful than this.

Haps and Mishaps

I know the last time I was in, I promised pictures. Really they will come. I count it a miracle that I even have those pictures because last week my computer came very close to an untimely death, possibly taking with it a few weeks of pictures that hadn't been backed up. Mark, the miracle computer man, found a way to keep it working, so HALLELUJAH! And I learned a very good lesson about keeping the computer out of reach of certain toddlers and not using it so casually for showing Thomas videos. No more kid videos on the laptop.

Secondly, we've begun an interesting, exciting, and terrifying look into possibly, maybe, perhaps, Lord-willing, insha'Allah, buying a house. When you combine our desired location with our budget you end up with something small, weird, or generally in need of repair and renovations. But that kind of sounds like a description the Doulos, where we happily lived for over two years so... we might find something. Or not. We'll see.

Other general updates: Ethan got his second tooth. And he is adorable. He's been nursing well; no bottles or pumping recently, hooray! Also he is adorable. And his eyes are still blue. At 6.5 months, you think they will stay? For the last few weeks he's been sleeping 11-12 hours at night. That makes him even more adorable.

Adam is trying absorb language like a sponge. He points to things and says, "Dat-dat?" (what's that?), and will attempt to repeat almost any word. He plays constantly with his trains and cars except when he is cuddling with one of us or laughing and running after his sister in his funny toddler stomp-stomp-stomp way.

Hannah talks NON-STOP and that is proving to be a challenge for introspective me who requires quietness in order to organize my thoughts. She is expressive, dramatic, needy, curious, creative, energetic, stubborn, bossy, girly, prissy, and desirous of a very full schedule of activities and outings. All a challenge. But I miss her when she's away for even an hour.

Mark's doing great at work. A couple of local projects lately, no out of town travel so far as we expected for the fall, so yay!

I started to get sick but last night I ate a whole clove of fresh minced garlic and I woke up this morning 100% healthy. A coincidence? I don't think so. Garlic: try it. It also keeps others at a safe distance so as not to catch your germs.

Pictures forthcoming

We've had a very fun week, what with Adam's birthday and our usual toddler shenanigans. I'd pop some pictures up now, but I'm busy making Pioneer Woman's Chocolate Sheet Cake for Adam's party. If you aren't able to be there with us, you really should make this cake for yourself tomorrow. No one should have to go without it.

Promise I will be back later with photo-documentation!

Wrastlin'

Don't feel too bad for him - he's laughing! And one day, he will be bigger than her.

Doin' Dishes Music

Sometimes I feel like a full-time housekeeper ... know the feeling? Can I get a shout out from the mommies?! It's like Groundhog Day meets Mrs. Doubtfire at my place. Without the cross-dressing. Mostly. But you know what turns my lemons into lemonade? Putting on some loud, fun, music and having the kids come "party" with me. They can even be pretty helpful!

Here's a sampling of what we've been grooving to lately:

Forever :: Chris Brown

Somewhere over the Rainbow :: Iz Kamakawiwo'ole*

More Than You'll Ever Know :: Watermark

Afternoons and Coffeespoons :: Crash Test Dummies

I haven't bought a proper CD in a decade, so I need suggestions. What do you listen to when you need a pick-me-up?

*I just saw a picture of him on iTunes... that is not what I pictured him looking like! heh. Isn't it funny how that happens with voices/faces?

Adam's Birthday Party

Adam is turning 2!

You are invited to a birthday party

at the playground at

Peachtree Dekalb Airport

Sunday, October 18

4 p.m.

Snacks and cake will be served

RSVP and driving directions:

Leave a comment on this post or email me (Julie). Thanks!

The babies are conspiring against me

Adam: "Let's see how little sleep Mom can get. I'll wake up with the sun, ok? And then sleep precisely 60 minutes for my nap."

Hannah: "Cool. I'll toss and turn the first 60 minutes and fall asleep as soon as I hear you start to scream."

Ethan: "Dude, I don't know about the day, but I've got the night COVERED."

1st Day of School

Up to now, we've been doing a very unofficial sort of homeschooling, the kind I think almost all parents of young children are doing whether they think of it as "education" or not - explaining the world to your child as they encounter it, involving them in daily life at home, and providing material and activities that stimulate their senses such as books, play dates and time outside.

Now that Hannah is 3 and 1/2, I either wanted to put her in pre-school or begin more intentional lessons at home to make sure she was getting focused attention. Home education won out this year for many reasons, not the least of which is that I really enjoy this season while all my little birdies are still in the nest. I like the togetherness and simplicity of our lives right now.

So, dusting off my teaching hat and firing up the printer, I'm back in the saddle again. My wonderful friend Amanda found this great online resource, which will be my guide for the year.

Today's lesson was about sea creatures.

This was our verse:

And our activity, graham crackers covered in blue-frosting-ocean with goldfish-sea-life:

And now I am being reminded of last week's The Office wherein Andy suggests that the goldfish take a swim in the blue cheese dressing and am cracking myself up.

So far, the children really like homeschooling and I think if I can manage to creatively incorporate sugar and artificial coloring into every lesson they will continue to do so.

Today's Ballet Class

Now there are six girls in Hannah's ballet class! The first lesson, there was only one other. Three-year-old girls crack me up. One minute they ARE ballerinas, princesses, fairies. Totally absorbed in the fantasy. The very next second ... "hmm, look there's my tummy" and "Miss Cara, my mommy parked on the other side of the parking lot today!"

Miss Cara is not only a very good dancer but has the unique gift of capturing their attention and reining it in when they go astray. Again and again and again. She makes all their exercises into games. It's fun to watch - even Adam and Ethan are good sports on the sidelines.

5 Things about Ethan at 5 Months

1. Look who's SITTING!

2. He's also got all the signs of teething - white line on his gum, loads of drool, biting things that he, er, shouldn't. But no teeth yet.

3. Still very particular about his environment while he is nursing. If it is the least bit loud, or bright, or distracting (which I assure you, my home is never) then he will not nurse. So he gets many bottles and I pump for those feedings. Somehow I am still able to make enough milk, which surprises me since in the past the pump and I have had a rocky relationship. Apparently we are now BFF (or friends with benefits?). Still, I enjoy nursing more, so I hang on to what feedings I can and hope we can have a nice, long, run of it.

4. He is showing signs of being ready for solids - drinking more than 6 ounces in a feeding, waking up in the night after sleeping through for many weeks. But he's truly not very interested in receiving food from the spoon - he just makes a funny face and lets it slowly fall out of his mouth. I will keep at it, and hopefully he will develop the same love that the rest of his family members have for all things food.

5. He is a sweet baby. His whole face lights up when you smile or coo at him. He coos back - lots of babbling and cooing! He is not a smile-all-the-time baby though. He can be pretty serious. He likes his naps (in the crib, thankyouverymuch!) Which is also a blessing, I realize, because he is a great sleeper at home.

5.1 His rolls are the most heavenly thing ever!

Ruth and Crystal

We had a great evening with the aforementioned Ruth and Crystal.

Post-biscotti bliss. I had already retired to my pajama bottoms (yes, while guests were still in my home!) thus the blanket.

It never ceases to amaze me how you can cross paths with someone repeatedly and never discover how wonderful they are until you share an evening together. Such is the case with Ruth. (Crystal and I were fast friends from the beginning) I lived with Ruth and hundreds of other people while on the Doulos but knew only a few well. A lesson learned in taking time, even when life is SO BUSY, to invest in relationships and discover the treasure inside those around me!

Chocolate Almond Biscotti

Last week as we were shopping Costco at lunchtime, we of course stopped at the sample stations for "appetizers". The children adored a little biscotti they got to taste and though I wouldn't buy it for them, I promised we could try to make it.

Here's what I came up with and we enjoyed it over coffee with Crystal and Ruth from the ship. We gobbled up the leftovers too quickly the next day. I can't wait to make it again!

Chocolate Almond Biscotti

1/2 oil

1 cup sugar

3 eggs

1 teaspoon almond extract (or 1 tablespoon amaretto liqueur)

3 1/4 cup flour*

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 cup roughly chopped almonds

Semi-sweet or dark chocolate (about half a bag of chocolate chips)

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease cookie sheet.

2. In a medium bowl, beat together first four ingredients until well blended. In a separate bowl, combine flour and baking powder. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Add more flour if necessary until it is a dough that will hold its shape on the cookie pan. Fold in almonds. Form into the shape of a log the length of the cookie pan. Press down to 1 inch thickness.

3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Remove log carefully and cool on wire rack. When cool enough to handle, slice crosswise into 1/2 to 1 inch slices (you'll need to use a large sharp knife to cut through almond pieces without the cookie crumbling). Place the slices, sides down, on the baking sheet and toast in oven 6 to 10 minutes on each side. Biscotti should be toasty and crispy, not soft like other cookies.

4. Melt chocolate in a shallow bowl in microwave in 10-20 second increments, stirring each time, until completely melted. Dip biscotti in chocolate and place on cooling rack. Chill in freezer or fridge for a few minutes to harden chocolate.

*I used organic soft white wheat ground on pastry setting. I am unsure of the exact amount because I walked away from the table while Hannah was helping me count out flour cups to tend to the baby. When I returned, there was more flour in the bowl, but we are not sure how much :)

Don't you love the ample use of the word "log" in this post? And that I managed to avoid making inappropriate jokes while we were discussing food?

Signing Time with Adam and Hannah

Our favorite video series is Signing Time with Alex and Leah. OK, the kids would tell you their favorite video series is actually Thomas the Tank Engine, but deep down inside this is the one they really love. Because it's just so stinking amazing.

Early on with Hannah, around 12 months of age, I taught her a few very basic signs to help with communication and manners at the table. After watching the 10 or so Signing Time videos we have, I would estimate her sign vocabulary to be more than 200 words.

To those who wonder if teaching signs impedes language development, I say, have you met my daughter? Chatty McChatterbox! OK, I will stop with the fake Scottish nicknames now.

Here's Adam using putting his signing skills to good use: cookie acquisition.

And now using words, slightly muffled by cookies stuffed in his mouth:

Hannah wanted to show a sign too. Don't blame Alex and Leah; Daddy taught her this one!