Look at me...being frugal!

Oh yeah, baby! I went to Walgreens today and after coupons and rebates I spent a total of $11.07. Most of you reading this are probably in shock for the fact that I usually spend money like it's growing on trees:) If you look on the side of my blog on my link that says "Being Frugal is Fabulous" you can get a low down of how this all works. I do have to say it is a little bit complicated and part of me was thinking..."Is this even worth my time?, and I'm going to look like a weirdo going in there w/all of my coupons!" After I did it I felt like yee-haw I am awesome!LOL. Anyway, I think everyone should try it to do it at least once.

Tagged 8's...

Michelle tagged me, so here we go...

8 TV shows I love to watch:
48 hours Mystery
Dateline
Nancy Grace
LOST
The Office
Desperate Housewives (shame on me:)
John and Kate plus Eight
Oprah

8 Favorite Restaurants:
Claim Jumper
P.F. Changs
Cafe Rio
Don Antonios
Chevy's
Olive Garden
Montessano's
Osaka

8 things that happened yesterday:
Woke up early for RC Willey to deliver our new fridge
Went and got lunch
Heidi and her kids came over
Went to the grocery store to finally get some milk for my deprived little Luke.
My activity days girls came over
Went and got dinner w/Mike and the kids
Worked out on my elliptical...it's a miracle!
Attempted to put the kids in bed(Madi's not cooperative these days), took a shower, went to bed.

8 things I look forward to:
Renting out our condo (we have completely outgrown it)
Buying a house
Paying off student loans
Seeing my kids grow up
Eventually having another baby
Luke being potty trained
Being better about working out
Becoming more business savvy like Mike

8 things I love about fall:
Change of weather
Going to the pumpkin patch (Madi's favorite)
Trick or Treating
Fall candles
Thanksgiving Dinner
After Thanksgiving sales
Having lots of family time
Christmas (my favorite)

8 things on my wish list:
Student loans to disappear
To have no debt at all
To go to Hawaii
Have a maid
My kids to grow up to be respectful, great people
Have a cabin somewhere
Have a scrapbook room in our house
To become more organized

8 people I'm tagging:
Tara
Mandy
Heidi
Katie
Carly
Natalie L.
Kenna
Nikki

Five less know facts about me...

Here we go...

1. This might come as a shock to some of you, but if my house is a mess and in shambles it totally reflects my mood...maybe that's why I'm so pissy lately:) I try to have my crap together, but most days I just have to remind myself that I have a 4 yr. old, and a 2 yr. old. and I need to let them enjoy life! (even when they dump out a whole bin of toys I just put away or Luke getting in the pantry and dumping out a brand new box of Lucky Charms:)

2. That being said, I really, really want to be more organized. I think for the most part I'm semi-organized, but semi doesn't cut it these days:)

3. Some of my favorite TV shows are Nancy Grace, 48 hours mysteries (love this one), Dateline, Court TV or any grandma shows like that...I know weird! But, I can't get enough of them, I even DVR the 48 hour mysteries:)

4. I love, love (did I say LOVE), cola slurpees from 7-11. I used to blame it on a pregnancy craving, but not the case these days...and let me tell you I looked up the calorie count on one of those bad boys, and YIZER...now I know why I'm not losing any more weight! LOL.

5. I have to have my toenails painted all the time...my fingernails too sometimes, but mostly my toenails. Even in the winter time. I just don't feel complete if they're not painted...I know that is really dumb:) So if you ever see me w/out them painted, don't point it out...it's probably a rough day....hehe.

I want to hear 5 things about everyone else that I don't know. I tag everyone.

Bye, Bye Binky....Or not!

So, when Madi turned 2 she threw her pacifier in the garbage and she was done with it...Not the case w/little Lukey! He is so attached to his pacifier (his NaNa as he calls it)! So I thought I may need to get a little more creative. When I took the kids to the library I found this cute little book. It's about this little cat that has a pacifier and by the end of the book he realizes he doesn't need it anymore so he attaches it to a balloon and says Bye, Bye to his Binky...Cute, huh? We'll I thought I had Luke all set up to get rid of it, so here's how it went....

Luke w/ his NaNa for the last time(?)

Luke enjoying the last moments w/his NaNa(balloons attached and all)...

Luke saying "Bye-Bye" to his NaNa! (if you notice the pacifier isn't attached to the balloon...it was too heavy and wouldn't fly, I know I'm so smart, duh...anyway at the last minute I took it off and pretended it went bye-bye!)
And this was the final result... I always tell my kids that we're sending their balloons to Grandma Slack (my grandma who passed away a couple of years ago) so in this video, that's what I'm saying to Luke...Here's what happened...(pause the music at the bottom of my blog before you play it!)

Yeah, so needless to say I'm a sucker and gave it back to him after dealing w/that for a little while! It probably wasn't the smartest attempting it at night either...another "duh" moment! Poor kid...he is going to look so cute when he's in Kindergarten sucking on a pacifier...hehe..J/K...I'll make another "real" attempt in a couple of months!

Luke & Madi's Photo Shoot...

My good friend Krista took Luke's 2 year pictures for me...and we included Madison in some of them, too. She did an awesome job! All of the pictures turned out great....even though my kids were both little grumps that morning:) Thanks Krista. To check out more pictures of my kiddos and Krista's Photography click here.

Dancing Queen....

Madison started her dance class yesterday with her little friend Ashlyn. She loved it! I was glad because I never know how she's going to act...she's my little unpredictable diva! She kept asking all day long if it was time for dance class yet...She even had to dance around the house all day long wearing her dress up leotard(sp?) I could tell she was a little nervous, but it went really well. I'm so glad she liked it, and she looked so cute dancing. I think the worst part was dealing w/Luke screaming his head off because he wanted to go in the dance room and get sissy...Oh, that little stinker has mind of his own! Heidi, I think next class you might have to pull babysitting duty...hehe:)

Our Anniversary!

Well this coming Monday (August 4th) is going to be our 8th anniversary. Wow, how time has flown by...there has been so much that has happenend in 8 years. There are many things I could say about Mike but I decided since it's our 8th anniversary I'd just list 8 things I love about him...(thanks Natalie C. for the idea...she did this a couple months back!)

1. He has many, many goals and dreams and I have no doubt that he will conquer them all:)

2. He is an awesome father who adores his kiddos and they love their daddy just as much!

3. He is a wonderful husband who puts up w/me!

4. He works so hard for our family, so that I can stay home w/the kids! (and as he says,"I work to support Sara's shopping habits.") hehe.

5. He is very, very, very outgoing and anyone that meets him, loves him...He can make anyone have a good day!!

6. He is a very good helper around the house....whether it be cleaning, cooking(he's a great cook), getting the kids ready, or just playing w/the kids so I can have a little "mommy alone time."

7. He is tall, dark and handsome!

8. He makes me feel like I'm the greatest woman on earth every single day:)

And, now for a timeline of the past 8 years...

*August 4, 2000- Married in the Las Vegas, Nevada Temple.

*August 2000-Both of us were in School...I was going full time and substitute teaching on the side. Mike was going part time and Valeting at the Orleans.

*May 2002- I graduated w/a BS in Elementary Education.

*August 2002- I started teaching 2nd grade at Fay Herron E.S. and loved it...Mike quit work and started being a full time student.

*November 2002- We bought our condo and were so excited to own it.

*August 2003-I was starting my second year of teaching 2nd grade and loving it...I was a couple of months pregnant w/Madison. Mike had one year left of school for undergraduate.

*February 22, 2004-Madison Rose Russell was born via C-section. She came 3 1/2 weeks early, but was healthy as can be.

*April 2004-I went back to work to finish out the school year.

*May 2004- Mike graduated w/his BS in Kinesiology. After applying and getting accepted to many PT schools, we decided it would be best to stay in Vegas and attend UNLV's Physical Therapy program.

*August 2004- I was done w/the school year and done w/teaching school to stay home w/Madison. Mike started in UNLV's Physical Therapy program.

*September 2005-found out I was pregnant w/baby #2.

*June 8, 2006- Luke Michael Russell was born.

*April 20, 2007- Mike graduated with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Woo Hoo... He was finally done...It seemed as if he would never be done:)

*May 2007- Started working at Jack Close and Assoc. Physical Therapy. (and is currently still there)

*May 2008-Mike turns "30."

*August 4, 2008- 8 year anniversary! Holy Cow!

Happy 8 years, Mike! I love every minute we spend together and I'm so grateful for everything you do for me. I love you!