Christmas Part 1

Christmas 2011


We kicked off the celebration of Christmas in Pasadena with my extended family. We ate great food, exchanged gifts for the kids and had a great time talking and catching up. I love our yearly tradition of celebrating Christmas together.

Then and Now, Christmas Edition

Days

Time is going by so quickly. The days blur right into one another. I have been struck each night this week that another day has passed. What have I done with it? Once a day is gone I can never get it back. I know some days, like many I have experienced over the past 2 weeks of being sick, will just be spent lying around on the couch, playing with Levi and not really doing much else. But I am not content with this existence because I was created for so much more. I am very thankful to be feeling better and have a little energy. I know I can be hard on myself, but I have been reminding myself that all I can do is be faithful with the day. Faithful in parenting moments that are trying. Faithful in my relationships. Faithful to following Him and reading His word. How I live my life is how I live my days. I am loving that I get to live my life as a wife and a mom, a daughter, sister, friend, and a follower of the King.

As I give Levi a bath each night, or get him from his crib each morning when he wakes up, I am amazed with how quickly he is growing, learning and developing. He is 14 months today and he is blossoming into a little person! Here are some things he has been doing lately that I don't want to forget:

He has been bringing me his shoes and walking to the door when he wants to go play outside.
He has been given the cookie part of an oreo, recognizes the box, and says "more, more" anytime he sees it.
He has taken off the bolts, nuts and washers from under the kitchen table. He concentrates for a few minutes while he twists them off. He loves to take things apart.
He is getting better at playing by himself throughout the day.
He loves to hold my hand. It is the sweetest thing. He holds my hand around the house, to bring me to his toys to play, to help him go up and down steps and when we walk into a group of people he doesn't know.
He is talking more and more. He babbles a ton. He points to things as he talks. He has so much to say!
He LOVES his blanket in his crib. It is actually the blanket I has in my crib as an infant. When he is tired, he will head into his room (the only open door in the house), find a pacifier and put it in his mouth, pull out his blanket through his crib slats as much as he can and he'll rest his head on it. He couldn't be more clear, "Mom, I'm ready for a nap!"
He sleeps with the teddy bear my sister Robin made me when I was little. It plays music when you wind it up. He gets so excited to hold the bear as it lulls him to sleep.
He is into absolutely everything. Nothing is safe. No home is baby proof enough. He is a rascal.
He loves his milk. His tummy had a difficult time with it at first, but now we can't give it to him quickly enough.
He is climbing on the furniture. I am fearful of injuries. I don't do well with boo boos.
He is going to have to wait until he is 2 to experience the joy of a Christmas tree. We have decided that it is not developmentally appropriate to put up a tree with shiny ornaments and bright lights and expect him to stay away. Tabletop trees will have to do this year.
He is such a joy!

I love my days. I love my life.

Now and Then- Halloween Edition

What a difference a year makes!

Current Inspiration

Photo:ETSY

Photos: Urban Outfitters

Photo: Target

Photo: Pottery Barn

Photo: ETSY

I've never been a super girly, girl, but I absolutely LOVE these frilly, beautiful things and they inspire me! I want to attempt projects like the ones above. We'll see what happens! :)

Ruby Jean

Would you please join me in praying for Cristin and John and their 2 boys today? She is 27 weeks pregnant and they just found out they lost their baby girl, Ruby Jean. They were expecting this since they learned Ruby has trisomy 18. My heart is so incredible heavy for them. I literally can not imagine having this be my reality. The ache and sting of death, expected or not, seems entirely too much to bare. I may not understand why; Why them? Why their baby girl? Why now? Why? BUT, it is not my place to understand. Isaiah 55:9 says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." I will never understand why, but I do know that God is faithful, loving and sovereign. He can be trusted with everything. He is a God of the mountain tops and the valleys. He is good. We can give Him our troubles and He will carry us. 1 Peter 5:7, "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." Psalm 55:22 "Cast all your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you. He will never let the righteous fall." Please be praying for this sweet family. They have been faithful to trust God and give Him the glory for their good times and bad. Their blog is called Rubies. Please visit and pray. Ruby Jean is in Heaven with our Savior. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Saving Money and Having Fun Couponing!

I am linking up to Kelly's Korner!

Couponing has saved our family a lot of money. Since we had Levi last year, I have had the awesome opportunity to stay home with him. Losing my income has impacted our family, but couponing has helped ease a bit of the burden when it comes to groceries and toiletries. Couponing has also become a hobby for me. I love looking at the blogs for upcoming deals, planning my shopping trips and best of all, saving money! My very favorite blogs for couponing are:

The Krazy Coupon Lady , Fabulessly Frugal , Money Saving Mom

The best piece of advice I have would be this:

DON'T CLIP COUPONS! There is an easier way! Here is what I do...

1) I ordered 4 copies of the Sunday newspaper. I get 3 LA times and 1 local paper. I went online and found an awesome coupon code for the LA times subscription. I paid $28 for 3 copies a week for the entire year

2) As the coupons come in, I write the date on the front of the insert with a sharpie.

3) I file the coupon insert according to date. I collate all the inserts (Smart Source, Red Plum, etc.) together so they are easy to find
4) I DO NOT CUT OUT ALL OF THE COUPONS
5) I label the file with the date

6) I check the blogs (mentioned above) for deals at my local stores. They do ALL the work for me. Seriously. It's awesome!

7) I decide what products I am going to get. The blogs will link up sales to coupons. They tell you which coupon to get out of which insert from a particular date. For example, I might want to buy toothpaste from Target that is on sale for $1.50. The blog might tell me to use the $1/1 ($1 off of 1) SS (Smart Source) coupon from 10/23. I will go to the 10/23 file and find the toothpaste coupon.

8)THEN I will cut out that one particular coupon since I know I will be be actually buying that item. I only cut coupons for items I know I will be buying for sure.

9) I go to the store, buy the item, save money and have fun!

10) I often give away items. For example, I got 36 boxes of FREE Hamburger Helper so I gave it to my mom for a food drive at her work.

I love couponing, but I don't think I would enjoy it as much if I were not doing it as simply as possible. I would hate to spend tedious hours cutting all the coupons and organizing them. Now I know a lot of people do that so they can catch a sale that might be unadvertised, but for our family, I am happy with just getting the items I know are on sale.

My favorite stores to use coupons at are CVS and Albertsons. Check out the blogs and they will teach you how to coupon using Extra Bucks from CVS and double coupons that come out occasionally from Albertsons.

Myth: All you can buy with coupons is junk.

I don't just buy junk. I get free or cheap cereal, peanut butter, pasta, pasta sauce, salad dressing, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, floss, mouthwash, cleaning supplies, cheese, yogurt, salad, razors and more!

I would love to help you with any questions you might have. Happy Couponing!

Sister Love

I love my sisters. They mean so much to me. When I was growing up, I wanted to be just like them. During the era of hair flipping and big bangs, I flipped my hair just like them and made my hair big like they did. I listened to the music they liked (Pearl Jam and Live come to mind) and wanted to watch MTV like they could. I cried when they left from visiting for the weekend. I couldn't wait for them to come over again. My sisters will always hold a special place in my heart. Now that we are adults, I enjoy their company and just like when I was a kid, I can't wait to see them again.

I was going through a box of old cards and school projects the other day. I came across letters and cards from my sisters and it brought back memories and made my heart happy. One in particular was so cute. It was a card with paper dolls I could complete. I could tell they were pretty young when they gave it to me. The card said:
On the front...
For the Birthday Girl, A Pretty Paper Doll for You

Robin wrote:
Lindsey,
I want this to be the best birthday you've ever had. Smuchims! I love you. Love, Robin

Amy wrote:
Lindsey,
I love you so much you little tough girl. You are the best little sister anyone could ever have. Everyone is always telling us that you are so adorable. Love, the other tough girl, Amy

So, so sweet! Here are some letters for you, sisters.

Amy,
You are beautiful and strong. You are a wonderful mom. You have a sense of humor that comes out of nowhere and gets me rolling! You are so special to me. You are one of my favorite people in the world. I love you!

Robin,
You are beautiful and open. You are great mom. You have such a wonderful heart. You live far but I never feel far from you. I have such fun with you when we are together! I love you!

I got to see Amy last weekend and I get to visit Robin later this week! Love you girls! :)

A Very Cowboy Birthday

My birthday party was so much fun! Who me? It's my birthday?I love my puppy!

Our baby boy is 1!



Uncle Ryan and Aunt JillGrammy and Grandpa
Thanks for the wagon! I love it!

Nana and Papa

The whole gang

Nice moustache, Papa!

Cousin Melissa

Auntie Amy, I don't recognize you with that thing on your face! :)

Uncle Tim looks like Luigi

GG!

I love my new toys!

Opening presents with mama.

He was so sweet! He was so happy to open gifts and touch and play with his new things. He sat so nicely to read the cards and take it all in. :)

Elmo is so fun!My handsome cowboy

I'm not so sure about this cake thing...

He didn't play with it or eat his cupcake at all. He was very confused!

Thank you to Alex for drawing such fun props for the party! This sheriff is mighty impressive, as were the cutouts and the cowboy town. Yee-haw!

Let's face it, we probably had more fun than the kiddos!

Me and Randy

Grandpa and Grammy Zach and Jen

Their little guy, Keanan

Brian

Our wonderful neighbors, Ed and AlmaMore wonderful neighbors, Ronnie and LynnUncle Danny

Uncle Tim and Aunt Amy

Cousin Katin
Cousin Mason
Melissa

Aunt Debbie and Uncle DougMarley the Moozle

Deepa and Jam Sarah and Tim

Cowpuppy Marley

Shanny

Megan and Steven

Me and Alex

Eli and Sarah
(Sorry my hat was attacking you, Sarah!)

Great Grandma and Aunt Becky

Grandpa and Grammy

Lily

Lily and Tim

Alex and Kelli

Baby Mac and Travis

The birthday boy

Eli and Lily

Levi and Nana

Lynn and AlmaMarley needed a moustache, too!
Eli, Alex, Megan and StevenThe backyard all set up for the party

I'm a cowboy!
Help! I'm in jail!

Check out my new wagon from Grammy and Grandpa!

The cowboy city, complete with a saloon, school house, jail and church of the wild west!Have I told you that I love my puppy? :)

The "Watering Hole"

My very own cupcake! Too bad I didn't eat any of it.

Can you believe this cake? My mom has some very talented friends. Thank you so much for designing and decorating this cake, Megan! You are the best!

Howdy, partners!

Thank you for helping me celebrate my first birthday! Thank you for the wonderful cards, gifts and for your love. I had so much fun!

Ya'll come back now, ya hear?