Little Things...

One week down, and 51 more to go...Hubby and I are trying to go the whole year without spending any money on extra things... we are going to try to stick to a budget...no shopping(the kids will still get birthday presents and clothes when needed) other than necessities.  We are putting money in a vacation fund, Christmas account, and regular savings, and extra will go to paying down bills. Because in reality, we really don't "need" anything, most things are just wants. I figure if we have the will power to lose weight, then we have the will power to do this.  So one week in and we are doing good.

And with this new year and new budget, I am going to reexamine things I already have in the house. Weed out the crap and showcase the things I really love.  

I've been cleaning the kitchen and mudroom all day and when I finally got to the point where I could adjust the decor, I started with the kitchen window area.  I was looking at this tiered wire basket stand and realized that I had two white porcelain chamber pots in it. One holding a plant and the other holding dish scrubbers. Then it hit me.... why wasn't my third chamber pot on the top?  I love these chamber pots(yes, my family thinks it is gross and weird to own these, but I like them) but I have never found the right spot to put them all... until now.  It took a bit of finagling to fit that top one in, but it's there now and is holding the dish cloths.

 Now my three white chamber pots are together and right in a spot where I can see them and enjoy them everyday.  All three were from goodwill btw.

I'm off to rid the kitchen of the red Christmas gingham... I'm enjoying light and airy at the moment. Thank goodness redecorating and rearranging doesn't cost anything!!

Have a lovely day,

Tiff

January Bulletin Board...

It's January 7th and I was finally able to get into school and do the January Bulletin board.  The kids were supposed to go back on January 2nd, but because of the weather(first snow and then ice) they had off Thursday, Friday, and Monday too!  We have used up 3 of our 5 built in snow days already and it's only the beginning of winter.  Oh well, the extra long break was nice.

So here is the board...

 The pond turned out more pink than I wanted, but it's fine for something so temporary.

 And the dog mascot became a snowman :)

 My little helper had to wear his batman winter hat that he got from his big sister for Christmas.  He loves it!

Thank you all for the warm wishes for Cameron.  We are looking forward to the wedding :)

Stay warm,

Tiff

Guess What?!?!?!?!!!

Cameron flew back to California on New Year's day. Before he came we learned that he had a pretty serious girlfriend out there. And it just so happened that she was from Maine(small world right?).  We knew things were going somewhere because he actually talked to us about her(he never talked about his social life with us as a teenager), he didn't go out with friends, and snap chatted her the whole time.  On the two hour drive to the airport, hubby and I talked about what his plans were for the future.  He and this girl remind us of hubby and I 21 years ago... they are almost the exact same ages, he's in the military, he will be transferred in the summer, and they are serious about each other.  We told him all about us back then and said we totally understand if he elopes(we did, we were far from family, just like he is), but if he can give us notice, we would really like to be there.  And I made sure I told him that he has to take some pictures of the day... I don't have any and that is my only regret.

Well, while hubby and I were at the gym this afternoon(did a 10k btw on the treadmill and I'm paying for it now in pain) I got a text from him...."Me and Kellsea are getting married". He also snap chatted me a pic of her ring...it's almost like the one above.
So my oldest baby is engaged!!!  Wow.  I'm really feeling old. Especially when hubby says to me that I could be a grandma in the near future.
Seriously though, I am over the moon happy for him. I'm so happy that he is happy. That is what I want most for my kids.

We may be taking a road trip to California soon. I'll keep you posted.

Tiff

2013 in Review...

Just like I did for 2012, I decided to do a bullet recap of this past year...the good and the bad, in no particular order.(all the pictures were taken yesterday morning after a beautiful snow that fell overnight)

1) Changed our lifestyle to healthier eating and more exercise

2) Lost 70lbs (still want to shed 35 more)

3) Ran my first 5k

4) Cameron came home for 2 weeks in the summer
5) Turned the big 40
6)  Had a wonderful birthday trip with hubby(first time away from the kids ever)

7) Suffered three miscarriages(that truly sucked)
8) Coached soccer for the first time
9) Started going to the gym with hubby

10) Went on a marvelous family vacation in the new camper for three weeks in the summer
11) Rode on the back of the motorcycle(a lot) and actually enjoyed it
12) Rearranged the house (a lot), but that is nothing new
13) Hosted my 2nd annual gingerbread house party

14) Took ballroom dance lessons(I'm not a dancer)
15) Went zip lining for the first time(loved it)
16) Cameron came home Christmas

17) Made a quilt and crocheted a lot
18) Found our church family again
19) Got a new car!(which I love!!)
20) Continued to be blessed by God with a wonderful husband, terrific kids, and lovely life.

May God bless all of you and your families in the new year.

Tiff

Family Picture Time...

I don't know about your family, but my family hates when I say that we are going to take some family pictures.  Well, today was that day... family picture day.  Cameron will only be home for a few mores days and hubby and Samantha have work, so it needed to be done today.

No matching outfits, just us, outside in front of the house... and I like black and white.

 Just the kids....

And a goofy one...

Have a lovely day,

Tiff

Ice Skating...

So let's just say that none of us are heading to the Olympics any time soon :)  But for our first ever family ice skating outing, I think we did pretty good.

You would think, that living in Maine, we know how to ice skate. But no, we just never do it.  Hubby went once as a kid, and I went twice(fell both times) as a kid... but that is it.

Here hubby and I are... we only held hands for the photo, is was too risky to go the whole rink like that.

 See, we already let go :)

 The kids had never been before.  They all did awesome...  Here is Becca, she picked it up right away.

 Zach struggled a bit, but he was a trooper and kept getting up from every fall.

 Mason only went around once with hubby and me. That was enough for him.

 Gavin helping Zach... Gavin actually was quite the natural at it and didn't fall once.

 Becca again... that guy in the background with his arms and legs out is hubby :)

 It wasn't quite Noah's thing, but he did well and continued to skate even after he got a blister.

 Becca and myself...

 me...

 Mason and me...

I think we need to get some of our own ice skates and head to some local outdoor rinks... great family fun and some exercise too.

Tiff

Sweet 16...

Yesterday my youngest daughter(my Christmas baby) turned sixteen years old!~  

She asked for a chocolate cake and gelato ice cream.

She is a bright, spunky, confident, and beautiful young woman and I couldn't be more proud of her.  Her talent and passion is performing...singing and acting in plays for now, but her heart is set on higher aspirations(Doctor Who perhaps).

I hope she has a wonderful year and that all her wishes comes true.  We love you Becca!

Tiff

Christmas!!!! Day 25....

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas.  Ours was about as perfect as it could be.  All our munchkins under our roof, safe and sound.

As tradition dictates... they all camped out in our room Christmas eve.  We got up early this year, about 8:30.  Headed downstairs. Took the kid photo on the stairs...

Presents awaited them....

But they weren't to be opened just yet...

 First we had to eat our big Christmas morning breakfast...

Thick french toast with real Maine maple syrup, sausage, two kinds of bacon, homemade hash, scrambled eggs, and fruit salad.

 After breakfast we did the dishes and cleaned up.  Then it was time to dig into the gifts...

 Mason was most thrilled with a screwdriver(he got a real tool kit) and his fur real monkey.

 I was most thrilled with a new car!!!!

A 2013 Chrysler 300c John Varvatos edition, #1312 of 2000.  Hubby surprised me with it last night. Now I don't have to drive the big 12 passenger van all around down when it is just usually Mason and me during the day.  He got an awesome deal on this car, it only had 4,000 miles on it, so it was practically brand new without the brand new price tag.  It's a dream car with all the bells and whistles plus some.  I actually feel a bit guilty to call it mine.

 Hubby spoils me rotten. I'm not trying to brag, I am just so surprised and happy. I haven't had a something that wasn't a big family car since I was 19.

  The whole gang... sorry for some fuzzy photos, I mess the settings up on my camera all the time and then end up with bad photos.

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year filled with many many Blessings.

Tiff

Christmas Countdown Day 24...

Merry Christmas Eve my dear friends!!

We woke up to beautifully iced trees and sunshine :)  Everything sparkled.

We prepared for the church Christmas pageant... I had to rebuild baby Jesus's bed, and make him some clothes.  Mary, Joseph, and the shepards needed some clothes  made too ;)

And here they are right before it started... They did a marvelous job.  My three littlest boys were in the pageant, Cameron read a passage, and Becca sang a solo(O Holy Night).

Mason was over the moon about getting to be an angel.  He held his hands like this the entire time and had the biggest smile on his face.

Hubby surprised me with an early present after church while we were out looking at Christmas lights... it was a biggy!!  I'll show you tomorrow, hard to photograph in the dark. Did I mention that I have the best husband in the world?!

Have a wonderful night everyone. Sweet dreams,

Tiff

Christmas Countdown Day 23... Trees of Yesteryears

I started this blog back in 2006, when we moved into this house. I thought it would be fun to reminisce about the past 7 years worth of Christmas we have celebrated here.  Here are the 7 trees that have been in the family room.

2006(apparently I did little baskets on the tree, and why did I take a picture with the tv on. Oh and the tv didn't last long over the fireplace, I hated it there and still do)

2007

2008  Back to the glass ornaments this year and a different spot in the family room

2009  I love this picture

2010 back to the front right corner of the room(no glass again)

 2011 Now on the front left corner of the room(back to the glass)

2012  glass again and back to the right corner.

Blessings to all!,

Tiff