Starting School

Today was our first day of school. I awoke at 3:30 am to a horrible thunderstorm with crazy bad lightning and horrid hip pain. Great I thought - this is just how our year is gonna be. But, by the time I fell back asleep and got another hour of sleep I was refreshed and ready to go - until we actually started.

Pear acted as if she didn't even know what a pencil was for, or that she could write words with it. Strike one for mom.

Pepper wanted nothing more than to please me and tried her best to stay on task today.

Peach tried to start her math on the computer, to which the program would not work. Stupid technology I thought. I called my dad, our computer tech guy, who was in a meeting. Strike two for mom.

An hour later, I kid you not, the thing started working.

Then, back to Pear, who took an another hour to write her spelling words out three times each. Strike three for mom. What makes me think I can do this again I said to God. He must have known my frustration, because after a break we all felt much better. Mostly me I think.

Then Pear joyfully announced that she could read after her first day of school when she got through her language assignment without any help. We all laughed and laughed then.

We put together the beginning of a science lap-book and Pepper started working on it with much enthusiasm. Again - thank God for His mercies!!

I am waiting for tomorrow with a cheerful heart!!

Pain!!

I went to the doctor today and I have Pubic Symphysis Dysfunction. Man, does that cause a lot of pain! She said it was pretty bad and wants me to get a massage to help relax my muscles. She used a little tool called an activator and I feel better, but not great.

When we returned home, I explained to my kids I needed FULL co-operation and gave them a list of things to do while I tried to lay still with no sudden movements on the couch.

UGH - I could have said please act as wild as you can because I think they would have been calmer if I had said that! Between the new puppy wanting attention and not understanding why we were gone so long, and Piglet deciding bouncing a racketball on the wall behind the couch I was laying on - and then the puppy trying to catch it, and my bigger girls arguing with each other - I wanted to cry. So, I yelled at them instead. Badly - I apologized later and they said it was okay they knew I was in a lot of pain, but man do I feel bad about it!

Tommorrow is another day, and I am praying my hips feel better soon and if they don't I have the patience not to lose it again!!

Tears and ponderings

We went to the pound on Sunday to look. We grabbed one sweet little dog up and took her to the play area. She was in the cage with another dog who tried despratly to get out. ALL the other dogs started barking and jumping trying to get out. It was like they were saying "pick me pick me" It was heart wrenching to say the least, and I had to almost run out of the corrider because I had tears already and was really about to lose it.

It made me wonder what it would be like to go to an orphanage. I am sure the little ones who are old enough to understand are saying the same thing - "Pick Me Please Pick Me" My friend who adopted from China told me that was the hardest part - having to leave the others behind, knowing some would never ever know the true love of a family. I honestly don't know if I could handle that - having to walk away from children in need.

I will say some extra prayers tonight for the lost puppies and orphans. I pray the orphans come to have a family and know the love of parents - and most importantly the love of God. My heart is broken tonight thinking of them going to sleep without love.

As I watched Piglet run into Mr Brown's arms tonight when he got home it crushed me to know there are little boys out there without daddies. As he talked to the girls this evening and they laughed and told jokes and were just having a normal night, it made me remember there are children whose normal nights don't include laughter or security or love. My tears started flowing and I had to leave so my kids wouldn't see me cry. Not that seeing me cry would be a bad thing, but I wanted them to enjoy this time. We pray on a regular basis for widows and orphans, and support ministries that help thesm, but my heart is heavier now for some reason, and I intend to pray harder for these children.

One more deal I got today

Now, I went to my least favorite store today to get a perfectly planned out deal. OF COURSE, this is why they are my least favorite store. they are always, and I mean always out of whatever is on sale. Don 't ask why I bothered, but I figured since the sale just started yesterday i would be able to get the deals. After 10 minutes with the manager and a trip to another sister store, I finally got my deal.

For $117.89 I got:

2 $50 Gas cards
2 frozen pizzas
8 10 packs Capri Suns
1 Salad Dressing
1 6 pack coke
1 frozen cobbler
1 frozen whipped topping
8 12 packs teddy Grahams / Mini Oreos
4 Breyers Ice Creams

So, when you factor in $100 was gas cards, that was $17.89 for the groceries. It was such a pain though, and if I knew what it was going to take, I would not have done that today. As Pepper said when we were leaving the store "There's an hour of my life I won't get back!"

More crazy grocery deals

I know you guys want to hear more about my money-saving deals right?

So, today I spent $10.48 for the following:

1 10 pack 100% juice Capri Sun
1 12 pack snack crackers teddy grahams
1 frozen pizza
1 bag rice
1 triple roll paper towels
12 rolls toilet paper
1 heat/ready to serve roast
5 lbs potatoes
1 bag charcoal
1 bag mixed nuts and granola

Isn't that crazy? I sure think so!

Crazy Back To School Grocery Deals

You know I love to save money on groceries, but this time of year the deals are crazy unbelievable.

I went to the grocery store and got the following:
3 Packs Pop-Tarts
9 Packs Assorted Eggo Waffles/French Toast
2 Family Size packs of Tea Bags
2 Packs Potato Chips
2 Containers Spreadable Butter
4 Packs Snack Pack Puddings

I spent $15.28 and will get a pre-paid Visa back in the mail of $10.00, so $5.28 out of pocket. Not Bad, even though these are treat things for us - but they will last us a while since we don't eat them very often.

Carbon Footprint?

As I was watching Glen Beck, he was reporting a story of how to reduce your carbon footprint. The reporters were saying not to have children, or at least have one less than you want because that is the best way to reduce your carbon footprint.

What nonsense. I blogged once before about how I do try to take care of my environment, but I am not a freak about it.

Craziness, craziness I swear!!