Oops! Already off track

So I did NOT get the meal plan done as I should have Sunday. I have tossed one together in my head, something like this:

Monday: pan-fried cod, potatoes (it was delish. thanks, hubs!)
Tuesday: Last of the roasted chicken (great deal at Sam's), mashed potatoes, something green
Wednesday: Spaghetti, garlic bread, possibly corn.
Thursday: Pot roast, potatoes, carrots
Friday: either pizza night or leftovers.

I know. None of this is too exciting. I am on a mission to beef up my recipe box and find a few more things that my picky boys will enjoy, something to keep me from having to fix several dinners per night.

Breakfast has been bagels or cereal, and lunch has been sandwiches for the boys and leftovers for hubs. i keep forgetting my lunch. Clearly, I need some help. Think I'll slide over to lifeasmom for some inspiration ...

Time to keep the budget

With family life so fantastically chaotic and work life a little on the shaky side, hubs and I have been talking more and actually keeping to a budget. I know; most adults do this already, right?

With that in mind, I started saving my grocery receipts (today) so I can stay honest in my challenge to keep our grocery bill for a family of 5 to 400 per month. That's what the budget has said for a while but I am sure I haven't come close.

Today was a Sam's Club day, to stock up a bit on things I don't usually find good deals on in my couponing double life. I got baby food for J, chips and yogurt for the boys, some clearance outfits for the little guy and even found some great all-natural whole chickens marked to 60 cents a pound. All told, I spent $69.

My plan is to spend $100 or less per month at Sam's/Costco and $75 per week on the essentials through my couponing. We'll see how it goes.

Target usually leads me astray, with all those great clearance and couponing deals. But I must be strong! At least just to say I can actually do it ...

One of the biggest things I've learned from lifeasmom.com (a fabulous blog all around) is the necessity of meal planning. I am terrible at this and it really makes for a grumpy and hungry bunch. So, I will be pondering the plan tonight and posting tomorrow about that baby step to a happier family.

And then there were three

We have a new Gonzo boy! Well not really new. Julian's almost 9 months old. With the oldest being 10, middle boy 7 and the new addition, I am a busy woman. Which is why it has been 2 and a half years since I've posted.

No more of that! I have been craving a place to organize my thoughts on family, frugality and keeping my head above water. Then I remembered I already had that place here.

So, I'll be using this to keep myself honest about budgeting, sharing personal and retail triumphs and who knows what else?

We're back!

It's been YEARS since I've posted, but it's time to get back to the boys.
Michael's about to turn 8, with a big Blazer Tag party planned soon. He's in second grade and doing fantastic. All A's so far!

Matthew is almost 5 and is in PreK at St. Mary's. He'll go to school with Michael next year. He's also doing great, already reading and writing. He's just as funny as his brother!

We are now a household of 6, with the addition of 2 daschunds, Lady and Scruffy. They are just a mess but they bring us so much joy — especially to the boys. They each have their "own" dog and they love playing with them and having them around the house.

Back to work!

Busy, busy but the funny never stops

Whew! This month has been a blur. The boys have been acting crazy, though, with a few Michael-isms I need to record:

First, from a conversation about why he needs to stay in his room all night:

Me: Sleep helps you grow properly.
MT: Will I grow crooked if I wake up?
Me: No. But sleep gives you what you need to get big and strong.
MT: I don't want to get big. I want to stay 4.
Me: (SIGH) No, you want to grow up. Trust me.
MT: But how does sleep help you grow, mommy?
Me: Well, (struggling) um, you know how a little time in the sun gives you vitamins? Well, getting enough sleep gives you vitamins, too.
MT: Oh. Cool!
(a few minutes pass)
MT: Mom, guess what? You know when I wake up too early and watch the clock until 6 and come in your room? That's when I get WAKE-UP vitamins! And those are better than sleep vitamins.

where does he get this stuff?

Also, he has termed the list of how to play his board games "destructions." sounds more like what he does to the living room with little brother as his trusty, supercrawling sidekick!

Today is Matty's 11-month birthday. Can't believe he's almost 1!! I just love these guys.

A holiday milestone

Our baby, 10 months old today, started crawling over the Christmas weekend! It's not a full crawl, and not the typical commando crawl. It's more of a snake/crab crawl, sideways, with his cheek on the floor. But he can really move! And he popped out a top front tooth as well. He is just getting so big! Pictures later.

Matty's first Christmas

We all had a wonderful holiday! Matthew loved the wrapping paper best of all, though he eventually warmed to the gifts. He was super smiley and happy all day and just was a delight. Michael had so much fun playing with his cousin! They both got lots of Star Wars stuff so they played with that and with Eric's Teen Titans playsets. We had a great enchilada dinner and watched "Elf.” It was the first holiday in a while where we all were together for a good length of time, and it was very nice.
Christopher and Lisa gave everyone a beautiful mosaic of the Virgen de Guadalupe made up of photos from our family. It was stunning, and made everyone very teary-eyed. What a wonderful way to commemorate Jesus' birth! We all felt very blessed. I've always loved Christmas, but there were a lot of years when it just didn't feel the way I thought it should. This year, I felt full of the Christmas spirit and felt surrounded by the love of my beautiful family.

He's really 4!

My first baby turned 4 today, and spent his day with Dad, eating at Gatti's and playing with all his new toys. His funny of the day: When he was playing with the castle, Dad overheard this: ‘You're a knight! Just like the United States of America!"

On Sunday, his first time with the castle, Dad got all ready to do battle with Michael's knights and instead, the chief negotiator said "Let's just be friends. You can have a sleepover! But only stay 5 days, then you have to go home to your house!”

Ah, yes: Just another day with the funniest kid I know.


Matty was with grandma today, showing off his new top tooth (or teeth? don't know yet) and getting spoiled. He's really doing well trying to stand up and move around. I swear he'll walk before he crawls!