What I am thankful for Day 3!

Please note...these "thankfuls" are in no certain order. I just have to make them last for another 12 days! :)

What I am thinkful for on day 3 is...... my Mom and Dad! My Mom and Dad are a big part our lives. Though, I dont get to talk to my Mom as much as I would like, she is my biggest cheerleader and stands behind us no matter what. She is always there to help us, no matter how big or small the "help" may be. Her husband Dave, is also a great guy. We are really happy to have him as a part of the family. I know they love us very much.

My Dad, whom I do talk to very often, is also just a great, great person. He is also there to help us whenever we may need help. I refer to him as my second main man. He always steps in when Jared is away and takes good care of me and my boys. He is a wonderful grandpa and will drop anything he is doing to come to our aid.

We are so lucky to have such great, suppportive, loving parents. I just love them all so much!! We are also lucky, since my parents are divorced, that they have "chosen" to be friendly with each other. It makes planning things so easy.

* So, I was going to download pictures for this post, but apparently I have used my maximum allowed storage space for photos - unless I want to buy more space. I guess no more pics. :(

What I am thankful for - Day 2

I am thankful for....My Boys!! I am so thankful they are healthy, smart, mostly polite, funny, nice, cute and never back talk - hahahaha who am I kidding? Forget that last one.



They are sweethearts most of the time. They bring me MUCH joy. I love them so much! I couldnt imagine life without them.

What I am thankful for - Day One

There is some stuff going around Facebook where you should write what it is you are thankful for every day up to Thanksgiving - or something along those lines. I thought it sounded like fun, and wanted to participate because I am thankful for so many things. I have been blessed which such a great life.! I would rather do it on my blog than Facebook, so here goes!

I would have to start day one with..... My husband! I am so thankful and happy to have Jared in my life. Jared is sexy, smart, strong, funny, good cook, argumentive, and such, such, such a great husband and Dad! Our boys just idolize him.

When I think about him right now, I just laugh. We laugh at each other and the kids quite a bit. Jared puts up with a lot mess with the boys and me, and mostly takes it in stride. He isn't much of a romantic, but one thing I know for sure, he loves me and the boys with all his heart. He works hard for us and I am such a lucky girl to call him MINE. :)

Minty Fresh

Josh hollers from the bathroom last night:

"MOM! Instead of brushing my teeth can I chew a piece of gum!?"

Of course our answer was "no", but I have been laughing ever since.....

* Yesterday morning they did not brush their teeth before we headed on over to grandpa's for the day. Their breath was terrible, so I asked them if they wanted to chew some gum....

Too funny.

Tattletell

The following is a conversation between Josh and me:

J: Mommm, Jacobb called me a tattletell!

M: Well, are you tattling right now?

J: (thinks for a sec)....yes.

M: Okay, then.

CUTE HUH!!

(I should totally be blogging about Jake's birthday party(back in February) and Easter but I'm not....... Maybe next time! )

Check out our "new" landscaping! I love it - it is so cute! I cant wait to get LOTS more flowers to go in my flower beds. This is only part 1 of the front of the house. We have another project to the left that we need to work on - oh, and also vegetable garden. I think that is just going to be tomatoes this year....I dont have the energy right now to plant anything else.

BEFORE

AFTER

Generic or Name brand?

I have always been a food snob. Everything I bought had to be name brand. If I was asking a favor of someone, as in I forgot this at the store..would you grab some on your way? I would ask them "please make sure it isnt Western Family" or Great Value or whatever generic brand that certain store would carry. Now that my grocery budget doesn't stretch as far as it used to - I have been trying some generic brands and to my surprise I love them!! I love that they are actually yummy, and/or work the same, and they cost up to $2.00 less. My judgment based merely on the ugly packaging and name was so wrong - in most generic products. Anyway, I thought I would list some of my "favorite" generic products. I guess I am still in shock that the generic thing isnt so bad! The list wont be too long as I am just starting, but here they are:

Western Family Tuna Fish
Western Family Canned Tomatoes
Great Value Taco Seasoning
Great Value Turkey gravy ( I bought this because they were out of the McCormick brand and it made the YUMMIEST! Turkey gravy)
Great Value Garlic Bread
Members Mark Laundry Soap
Member Mark Hand Soap
Target Body Wash - this is the item that made me thing of this post. It was actually really good!
Target cereal
(that's all I can remember.....)

I dont like:

Target Dryer Sheets - they dont smell Downy enough

Lisa told me to stay away from:

Generic Cream of Mushroom
any generic Macaroni & cheese

I have to take Lisa's word because she doesnt buy anything name brand.

Some generic names still scary me, so I will stay away from those. Especially in the milk section.

I am still a meat snob - only Harmons.

Oh! All this saving a dollar stuff has even got me to go to stores that I wouldn't go to before - REAMS & MACY's - I have discovered these stores have super yummy bakeries!

Maybe this list could help someone else get started on saving a few dollars on the generic stuff that tastes the same or better as name brand!

Though this is all in food - I HATE cheap shoes :)