NYE

Isn't it a true sign you are getting to old for the New Year festivities when you have your kids in bed before 10:00pm and you are shortly following. Well then count me an old fart because I'm sure I'll be in bed before the clock strikes midnight. 

Afterall today has been like any other day besides waking up in a New Year. Kept laundry going, lounged around with the kids, baked funfetti cupcakes that we had since Christmas, and in bed before 10. Sounds like a normal well almost normal chaotic day. Except the only chaos we encountered was the fact that no matter what I cleaned up my kids were soon to destroy again. It's amazing how life changes over the years. 

With all the clutter in my house the next event I can't wait to partake in is income taxes. I'm taking some of the money and buying storage bins for this house. We are a four person family that has a lot of stuff. Still don't figure out how my parents house stayed clean with 4 people mainly just 3 since my sister was out on her own at 16. 

Well quess Im gonna curl up in bed and remind myself in a few hours I'll have to write 2015 on my checks. 

Do you still go out and party? 

Has your New Years Eve plans changed since having kids? 

New Years

Do you make a new years resolution every year like most people? Do you stick to it? (Considering the last nine years I've vowed to quit smoking, I'd agree I'm horrible at sticking to them myself.)

I'm necessarily don't want to make one this year after many failed attempts, but I  have.

Mine this year.....*drum roll please*  is budgeting and save money.

We do good paying our bills but we both like to spend. Therefore paycheck to paycheck is how we live.  Giving a fresh start to organize better is the best way to go.

We have gotten a head start....some of our Christmas money has been put up. We have three things this year we'd like to accomplish.

1. My hair show in March
2. Go on a small vacation in July.
3. Disneyland in November.

Not sure if Disneyland will be accomplished but not this year definitely next year.

None of this will be possible without dedication of budgeting and saving money.

Have any tips on budgeting money?

Christmas Festivities & More

Christmas Eve was on Wednesday and three days later we are still celebrating.  Christmas Eve we opened tons of presents at the grandparents (my parents), had Christmas dinner there, then we went home and watched them open their gifts from us. Needless to say they are two happy kids. Ry was extremely pleased with all of her gifts along with her new cell phone and her other big gift was her compound bow!!! Brayden was a new big boy bike and his other big gift was skylander trap team.  Once we opened our gifts here, Ryleigh and I went and trimmed my sisters hair which ended up being a cut because she got almost three and half inches off. 

Opening presents at Nana and Papa!!

One of their big gifts was $50 a piece. Thats what my sister and I got as well. I as far as I know didn't get a picture of ry opening her phone just a video. 

After we finish Christmas eve off, we went to bed at decent hour. 

Christmas Day

After three hours of picking up and packing. We were on our way to grandparents # 2. Who lives 6 hours away, in a small town outside of Chicago.  We arrived there shortly after five pm.  We weren't here very long before we began opening presents.  We drew names this year since everyone is on a limited budget.  I will explain what everyone got that I can remember. 

Not quite sure all that Aliya got since I we didn't have her name. Then Nona and Papa bought all the grandkids extra presents from them. 

Brayden got a ninja turtle from one of Edsons daughters then a bunch of tous from Nona and Papa. 

Not sure why I remember a lot of Rys mainly because she was right in front of me. One of Sandys and Edsons daughter had Ry and they got her a monster high art set. From Nona and papa she got a picture collage thing, bag of goodies, and Daddies favorite Hair Chalk.  

Ken's mom had my name and she got me a shirt that says pretty in pink dangerous in camo. Along with an owl necklace.  We had Jason and his mom, Jason got a razor kit and his mom got a picture collage thing. Edson had Ken and ken never put what he liked so Edson gave him $20 bucks. Brayden had Andy and Andy got a knife. 

Friday following Christmas Day

That's when a lot of after Christmas sales are. The kids both got $50 each to spend. Needless to say Brayden bought like $20 bucks worth of crystals for his game. A book, he got Marshal and Rubel plush toys from paw patrol. And a ninja turtle shirt. Ryleigh got a purse (so she can be a big girl and carry her wallet and phone) a lanyard, and a duck tape kit. She had $20 left and on our way home Sunday wanted to buy her own lunch. 

I was extremely excited that the Wal-Mart in Morris had my owl sheets I've been wanting for two months now. They had them in our bed size. 

Can you tell I love owls? 

Then we went to a few other places and took his mom and sister out to eat.  After that we spent the afternoon with his family again. We went home really early well back to the hotel about 8. Got kids showered and ready for bed. 

Saturday After Christmas

We had his big family get together. I still don't know everyone but I always talk to his cousin Nicks wife. So found her on Facebook and added her. We seem to have a lot in common.  We passed out Christmas cards and received some as well. His grandpa gave us money for Christmas. Which is nice and we are investing in a great way. 

Since we only had the hotel for two nights and decided to stay three. We ended up staying our last night at his moms. Mainly so we didn't have to get up from his sisters pack everything to head to his moms. 

Sunday After Christmas 

We spent the morning with family. Then we headed home. Seemed liked the longest drive ever this time.  We got home cleaned up a bit then went to bed. 

Aftermath 

Hehe, it's now the Monday after Christmas and I'm still not fully unpacked. Nor am I any wear near having Christmas organized and put away.  Good thing I am off from school until Thursday. 

Operation get my house back in order has begun. Along with studying over Chapter 3, which is Anatomy. 

Anyways, that was our Family Christmas activities, do you have anything special you did? 

My 9 Year Old Got What....

Before everyone flips their lid, yes Ken and I know our daughter is 9.  She has begged and pleaded for a cell phone for a year now. She has worked hard at maintaining her grades to continue to be on Honor Roll.  This was bought not only for her enjoyment but to teach her to respect things and along with people.  Ryleigh has never been a horrible child but like most she is a pre-teen little girl who on top of raging hormones that sync up with mine every month is red headed and has a mouth.  This phone we feel as parents will teach her to respect things and us as her parents. Ryleigh has alwaysbeen given   everything she wants by not only me but a lot from her grandparents especially her papa.  When it broke papa had the money to go get a new one. But over the past two years has learned mommy and daddy do not have the money Papa and Nana have.  She understands she has  this phone for two years and once its broke its broke. There is also grounds for getting it taken away. 

1. Respect my authority! (No back sas)

2. No hitting my parents out of reflex when I'mgetting spanked. (Spanking a child is normal, beating a child is abnormal. There is a huge difference between the two.)

3 LISTEN to my authority. When your told to do something there will be mo fit thrown over doing it.

4. Continue bringing home good grades.

I wanna say there is a few more but Ken daddy is sleeping. Therefore I can't ask. 

But these rules are grounds of getting her  phone taken away. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas Eve. Goodnight to All. 

The photo above is a screen shot of a message I got from my babygirl. This shows me I'm doing everything right along with her Ken Daddy. 

Six AM comes early....

I really should be in bed right now....considering 6 am comes extremely early.  It never fails my insomnia acts out on the night I need to get into bed early. I am lucky the kids are break and I have to get them awake just long enough to run them to their aunts.  However, my middle name should have been..........*drum roll please* ....PROCRASTINATION!!!!!

That is right 101 things to do in the morning and I am just now getting ready for bed.

1. Gotta pack kids clothes in case the go somewhere.
2. Gotta packs food.
3 gotta get ready
4. Gotta ice cupcakes and break the candy I made into pieces

Ugh maybe I should set my alarm for 5:30!!!!!

Who out here suffers with insomnia?

Along with being a procrastinator?

now am ready for bed, as long as I can get Ken on his side of the bed.

Hunting Elves

Looks like Anna and Harper are ready to go hunting. We found them white handed on dad's guns. 

Family Traditions

From as far back as I can remember we have always been allowed to open one present early. Also as far back as I can remember I have always opened presents on Christmas Eve. When my kids And I moved out we made it our tradition to open them on Christmas morning at no given time just as soon as we got up. Needless to say my kids were up at the crack off dawn. Duh!?! Who would not be up that early? 

Tonight they opened their gift 

Excuse the order of the pictures for some reason they are backwards.

Brayden got the Mr. Potato head that he wanted. 

Ry got pink Camo shoes. 

Do you have any family traditions? 

We have a few.