The summer's end... or did it ever begin?

Mommy and Ethan Seaside, OR July 2010

Pebble Beach California July 2010

It doesnt quite seem fair, for the summer to be nearly over. I am pretty sure i could only count the number of hot days on one hand...

I really shouldnt complain, some days it gets so hot, and many people dont have air conditioners. But i can tell you, camping in the rain with a 14 mth old is not ideal. And so, we will plan ahead next year! Yurts are definetly the way to go!

Well, despite the lack of sunshine, things have been very busy around the Holmes household. Seth and I went on our first vacation without Ethan. My parents and In-law's took turns watching Ethan for us, and we had such an amazing trip! We flew down to sacramento and drove to Monterey (I grew up in this area and had always wanted to take Seth there) continued on towards Valencia, and stayed there 2 nights. We spent a whole day at 6 flags magic mountain and had a BLAST! It was wonderful to be able to spend some one on one time with my hubby. We love our son dearly but have learned that time away can be necessary for sanity's sake. And you know by the 3rd day, i was wanting to be home! :) I kept catching myself looking in the back seat to check on that little munchkin that wasnt there!!!

Anyways, Seth and I have started listening to the Dave Ramsey series and are inspired and excited to become debt free...A venture that we "coulda, shoulda, woulda" started a long time ago, but better late then never... (wow could i put any more cliche' phrases in there??)

We are excited to be working together on this new project in our home, and in the process i have become quite the coupon-queen. Those that know me well, are already sick of hearing "what i got for free at rite-aid this week" or how many samples i got in the mail today... But its just so exciting to me, to be able to save money and get things for such low prices, when all our lives weve been paying retail. Never again my friends. :)

God has truly inspired me to become more frugal in my home (thanks dad for the genes to go along) and it makes me feel so accomplished as a wife, and a mom when i can bring home $100 worth of groceries for $40. It makes me feel blessed to be able to use the money that we work so hard for, and make it stretch. It has become a game almost. "Just how far can i make this $20 bill go?" I even started a blog, to consolidate all my findings and ideas. Click Here to visit my blog Coupons Into Cash!

Also in our venture to save money, I have been getting more into photography. Friends have been nice enough to refer me to THEIR friends, for wedding photography. I did one wedding in April, and I have 2 coming up at the end of this month. I took one couple up to the Portland Rose Gardens for some Engagement shots, and they turned out really great! For more on how that is going visit my Photography blog by clicking here. (Finally created one)

Some of my goals, are to someday have a home where I can have a GARDEN. At the moment we only have a porch and driveway. So we arent there yet. I want to someday have a pantry where i can purchase bulk baking goods and cook using bulk. Make my own "bisquick". Bake bread from scratch. Learn how to can. Freeze. Cook in bulk so that we can have healthy freezer dinners ready in minutes. I want to raise my own hens, and have my own eggs. These are the things i aspire to do...One goal, one day, at a time.

We hope that this summer finds you as busy and blessed as we are!

Seaside, Oregon July 2010

New blog for coupons, freebies, and other randomness...

I got tired of posting pictures of body wash and toothbrushes on my facebook.. i think people were starting to questions my sanity. but when you get such a great bargain, its hard to keep it a secret.... so.

i started a new blog just for fun things like that.

www.couponsintocash.blogspot.com

follow me if youd like. :)

the dark side

sorry i havent posted in a while. we have crossed over to the dark side and are now using facebook to stay in touch.. find us! :)

Happy may day..

10 days from now is 1 year anniversary of the date i was due to have Ethan.. was he born on that day? no.. but ill always remember may 10th.. when your pregnant people ask you your due date a couple thousand times.. so that date will forever be engraved into my mind as significant. it was also mother's day last year..

We are getting ready for Ethan's first birthday. Im still a little blown away at how quickly 1 year went by. And by how much he's changed.. from a little snuggly swaddled bunting, to a toothless-crawling-mini-monster, to a walking-babbling-2-toothed-mini-man with a ton of personality. The way he dances and laughs and falls down in his excitement when i get home from work, or the way he gives me slobbery kisses, or how sweet he looks when he sleeps on his tummy with his butt in the air..man, i love that kid. God has totally blessed us with a happy healthy handsome little boy.

On another note. Work has been changing a lot in the Holmes family. Seth accepted a new job as the accounting supervisor at a local family owned company. He is really excited to start on this new adventure and excited for new oppurtunities and to learn new skills to add to his resume. My employer was finally able to hire me on as a relief worker, so im not considered a temp anymore and im hoping to get going on that soon. Its been a real answer to prayer for us. We are hoping to purchase a home in the next year, but in order to get approved for a loan, my income wasnt even considered, being at a temp status. So hopefully we can get the ball rolling on that soon. :)

thats all for now. if your reading this, hope to see you at Ethan's birthday celebration! if you havent received an evite, and would like to stop by, will you please leave a comment with your correct email address?? :) thank you!

Here are a few misc pics of the family. The first is Ethan when i didnt feed him his oatmeal fast enough...i figured considering how angry he already was, i might as well snap a photo..the next one is his polar opposite, my happy son Ethan. with a diaper on his head. the 2 with the green shirt were taken at worship practice. he was having fun "dancing" to the music. and the last one is Seth and Ethan walking around the mall. that kid is ALWAYS on the move now. :)

Easter

So, Ethan actually slept through a majority of easter. so i dont have any photos of him. But there's photos of some of the other family.. Josh and Jason dumping their loot. Jason and Addison (a little girl that my mom watches also) posing together. We had an awesome dinner. I ate way to much. we went to church and this year our church combined the early and later service into one and had it at the high school auditorium. the place was packed. the worship was awesome. Josh played the drums which was awesome. Pastor John had some really awesome words about our efforts here on earth and the promises we have to look forward to.

On another note. Seth and I have started searching for our first "home"... we have actually moved 7 times in our almost 4 years of marriage but this would be the first time we actually buy. we are tentativly searching. luckily for us the market is a very devastated market, many houses for sale, and not really anyone buying. we have so many to choose from but need to have some financial issues with work tied up before we can really move to the next step (putting in an offer)... anyways, our prayers is that God would provide the perfect place for us, and in His perfect timing.


litttle addison searching for eggs

i threw in this random pic of Ethan because it makes me laugh.

travel size

so... ive recently discovered the power of the coupon.. but yesterday i had an epiphane(sp?).. perhaps if i cant spell something i shouldnt use the word.. i digress.... so... some coupons have the little tiny disclaimer "not valid on travel size" however some coupons dont. thus my example. $1 off coupon for any clean and clear product used toward a $.99 bottle.. well you know the rest.. for the 6 travle size items (except full size sure deodorant) total retail : $7.16 .. total after coupons $1.36. woohoo!

April showers.. bah humbug..

I know they are supposed to bring may flowers and all.. but really? rain 7 days in a row?... i hate how much it affects how i feel physically and mentally. If summer were just a little sooner...

I gave the blog a facelift, as youve probably already noticed. i love how it turned out. i was looking at some blogs of DIY home makeover ideas, not that i have a home yet, but it inspired me to makeover my blog, since i needed SOMETHING to utilize my artisitic inspiration.

Seth and I are hoping and praying to buy a house soon. there are a lot of things hanging in the balance that affect whether or not we will get into one this spring/summer or not... mostly work and finance-related on both our parts, but we feel very at peace and happy where we are in this season of our lives and are excitedly expectant of what God has in store for us this year.

Here are some recent photos of our little trouble maker. Ethan is officially walking, and hopefully i can post a video soon.. he amazes us everyday with his developing changes and personality. he also has quite the sense of humor..btw he gives the sweetest kisses... makes me smile everytime i think about it. We are excited to celebrate our first easter as a family.

i couldnt help but to post this one... he's just so funny! sorry for anyone thats offended by this photo... is this illegal?... anyways, he was fresh outta the bath and loves being in his birthday suit!

wish i knew what was on his mind.

..

"oh.. you know you want to feed me more french toast!!..."

"thats more like it.."

cheeeeeese!!!

this is what ive been up to in my spare minutes... for those of you who ARENT avid twilighters, this is the 4th book of the series.. im just getting prepped for the next movie to come out is all.. p.s. if youve never watched the commentary version of the first twilight movie, i highly recommend.. very interesting, little hints and secrets about the filiming of the movie, the sets, the cast, the locations. very cool.. ok. so im obsessed. at least i dont have a bag that says "team edward" on it......

so granted, you might find it a little strange that i posted a picture of the contents of my last trip to safeway, however, im too excited about the deals that i got to not share (brag) about them...

2- 24 roll packs of t.p.

2- boxes of cheerios

2- boxes kashi brand cereal

2- healthy choice frozen dinners

3- boxes rice-a-roni

6 boxes instant pudding

1 packet crystal light

1 loaf whole wheat bread

1 softsoap body wash

1 pam spray oil

1 4 pack yo-plus yogurt

1 4 pack yopait delights (yum for the record)

3- bags frozen corn

1 lb smoked turkey breast

1 bag honey graham gold fish

1 can mighty dog dog food

1 cucumber...

total retail value: $91.00

after coupons,sales,clubcard,freebie vouchers, total spent $41.00

(p.s. the toilet paper was $10 a peice making my total GROCERY bill $$$21.00!!!!!)

i still cant belieive it...