Our "Grandpa Jack"

I was told by the previous tenants that he was a grumpy old man. Just to take what he said with a grain of salt and don't be offended. He called himself a "Jack Mormon". So, I was advised to not bring up the church with him.

We passed by each other the first few times, until one day we were getting into our cars at the same time and he introduced himself. McKenna got out of the car and walked right up to him, reached out her arms to give him a hug, he picked her up and that was the beginning of "Grandpa Jack."

He kept us inline on our watering schedule. He gave me a hard time when he noticed I didn't get to the gym first thing in the morning. In the Summer he would be out doing yard work when I got back from the gym at 7am. He gave us a handwritten list of all the new Blue Ray movies he had, so we would come over to borrow them. Every time he got a new movie he would update us. I would never here him knock on the door, so he would finally just open it and come in.

One night Grant and I went over to borrow a movie and we hung out in his movie room for a while. He played the opening ceremony of the Olympics and talked about his high tech movie/TV gadgets.

McKenna and I helped him bring in some grocery's a week before Christmas, his tree was beautiful. We kept trying to bring him some Christmas goodies the week of Christmas but, never found him home.

Last night, his car was parked out front, so I went over to drop off his Christmas goodies. I was saddened, and shocked to learn that he had passed away on December 26th, after spending 10 days in the hospital.

We truly loved our Grandpa Jack. He will be greatly missed.

Santa and Sushi

We went to Sushi last night with our friends, Nicole and Tony.
I LOVE SUSHI!



Kenna's idea of dressing for snow:
Ballet skirt, panties, boots, gloves, hat, and silky shirt.



Classic Santa at the Mall


This season has been wonderful!
A real Tree, packages from Grandma's,
Cards from friends, Santa at the Mall,
Christmas movies everyday. Christmas crafts with friends,
lots of Parties and of course too many sweets.

I only have 4 more days to go until I can have CHOCOLATE!
If you happen to have any extra from your stocking send it my way, I will be trying to catch up from my 1 year off of chocolate. I DID IT! (but, HIGHLY, do not recommend it)

Thank you Grandma's!!!

Grandma Pratt made these cute hats for all of us!

Kenna loves her new boots from Grandma Lisa.

So cute in their new clothes!


We love you Grandma Lisa, and Great Grandma Pratt!

HermanO

They have a few new songs. I can't wait for them to post them on their page so you can here them. But, don't they look great!

Hiking with the Family

We went hiking with the Family after Stake Conference last weekend.
It was so great! A little scary in some parts. But, we survived!

Addicted to Saving Money!

I'm completely addicted to Money Saving Methods
It started with the coupon craze, and now has become so much more.
There are so many things out there that will easily cut your spending more than 1/2.
It's just a matter of doing it, or just even signing up for the right programs.

Check out Money Saving Methods

This could change your entire financial situation.

Most of us are full-time 'Home-Makers'. What better thing to be doing than learning how to make/save so much money! This definitely beats getting a job!

Things I've done:
*Applied for the Chase CC to get 3% Cash back on all my purchases
*Registered for Money Exchange Revolution to get $5 back on $50 purchases
*And registered for the $50 Bonus on Sharebuilder
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO????

Coupon Deals:
Thanksgiving weekend Walgreens has Colgate for $3.49 but get $3.49 Q back for your next purchase -FREE! But, if you have any Colgate Coupons, then you will make money!
I have $4.50 in Q's. I will initially spend 12.95, but get back $17.45 in coupons off my next purchase! Collect your Colgate q's!!!

Kiddos

My Grant Grant is getting too big. I thought he would be my baby boy forever. Now he'll be 1 on the 30th. It's exciting to watch them learn and grow, but sad to know that life is short.

A little late for Halloween Pics, but this is all I got, so cute!

Kids at the mall. I came prepared with juice.

Little Kitty Cats.

TP Mummies and TP Brides (Cheap activity)

Morning Cartoons with our friends.

Free Santa Letters

Does your kid make you watch all the commercials during cartoons right now?
All morning I hear, "Mom I want this, mom look at this, I want the whole thing, mom we should get this for Dad but he will let me play with it" and on and on.

Have your kid write a letter to Santa and they will get a letter back FREE!

SANTA'S LETTER

$60 grocery trip for $5!!!

I've been going crazy with coupons lately. Learning how to cut my grocery budget in half or more!

Albertson's is having a "Buy $30 of participating products, get $15 off your next purchase"

So, this is what I got:



$60 worth of groceries for $5!!!

A cool trick I found:
Load coupons on your grocery card:
Shortcuts,
P&G Esavers
Upromise

If you also have a clipped coupon or a printed coupon you can use that on the same item.

Want to try?
Check your local Albertson's ad here to make sure they are having the same sale.

Here is a transaction for you: Total: $4.41!!!

Buy This Take these Coupons

6 cans Progresso Soup- 2 Coupons $1/3

3 Green Giant Steamers- 3 Coupons $1/1

4 GG Boxed Veggies- 2 Coupons $1/2

3 Betty Crocker Cookie Mixes- 3 Coupons $.75/1

2 Macaroni Grill Frozen Entrees- 2 Coupons $1/1

Register Total: $30.66

After Coupons: $19.41 - you will pay this.

Register Reward: $15.00 off your next purchase

Total: $4.41!

You could get the rest of your grocery’s, and buy them on your second transaction and use the $15.00 you just got.

Print your coupons here:

www.coupons.com

www.pillsbury.com

www.bettycrocker.com

http://www.restaurantfavoritesathome.com/ (click on the frozen meal, and there will be a $1 coupon) you can print it twice.

Happy Shopping!

Bath Time!

Thanks to one of my AMAZING sisters, Sharon, who took these fantastic pictures at Grandma Lisa's house. Check out more of her work by clicking here.

On a FATTER note.

So, I've been in Utah at my Mom's for the past week, meal plan went out the window.

Here is a great giveaway that will support yummy FREE DAYS, or weeks, (naughty).

High Protein Meals for Busy Moms

I eat 6 meals a day every 2-3 hours apart.
Every meal contains 25grams of protein.

Low Carb Day
Pre Workout- protein and oatmeal
Post Workout- quick protein and simple carb
Meal 3,4,5,6- protein and veggies (no carbs)

Turkey Wraps
Prep 2-3 servings in baggies

5- 1oz. slices of turkey
Green/Red pepper (could use cucumber)
Spray Ranch Dressing



Omelet and Bacon
I get a little fancier for Dinner

Turkey Bacon (could chop it up and put it in the omelet)
Saute green pepper, onion, and mushrooms
4 egg whites
1/4 cup FF cottage cheese- put it inside while on the pan and let it melt a bit.


This is what I use to marinate my chicken.
I buy Sam's Club chicken ($2.20/lb) thaw the whole bag
I pick 2-3 marinades and do 4-5 breasts in each.
Marinade overnight.
Then stick them on a cookie sheet and bake in the oven.
350 degrees for 1 hour.

I chop them up, measure out 5oz portions, baggy all of it,
stick half in the freezer and half in my designated drawer in the fridge.


I find that when I fail to stay on my meal plan it's because I'm not prepared.

Workout at Home

I've been putting together a few short circuits for a quick "at home" workout in the evening.

Here is a great video I found that shows some good exercises you can do at home, even while watching TV!- The guy isn't too bad to watch either- If you like tan, buff guys.

You can do these exercises without DB's (dumbbells).
Start with however many reps you can, but set a number so you push yourself to the point where you can hardly get through the last one.

If you don't have the equipment to do all the exercises just pick the ones you can and go with it!


300 Spartan Workout - Home Version 2 - Watch more funny videos here

For something even more basic start with doing jumping jacks, or the split squat jumps during commercials. If you do those every commercial break during a 1 hour show, you will burn 300 CALORIES!!! (Tip from Biggest Loser)

Body Building- Mom Style

Since this is such a big part of my life right now, I thought I would share.
I am training for a Figure/Fitness Competition. Originally it was planned for November, but I will be doing the competition in Boulder, Colorado in April 2009.
So, this is some of what I eat.

Pre-Workout Meal at 5am- I prep about 3 days worth so I don't have to make pancakes every morning.
Protein Crepes- (25 Grams of Protein, 30 Grams of Carbs)
6 egg whites and 1/2 cup oatmeal, Splenda to taste, cinnamon, 1/2 tsp vanilla.
Blend in blender, pour in pan, flip, and serve.
EXTRAS: Berries, Sugar Free Syrup




Post Workout- Replace energy quickly
25 Grams Protein- 30 Grams Simple Carbs
Whey Protein is best, could use juice, soda, fruit, etc., for simple carb. (No fat)


Meal 3- 11am- Picking up kids from PreSchool
Yummy Chicken Breast out of a Bag
I prep about 8 Chicken Breasts- Marinate and Bake/Grill
Cut, measure 5oz portions, baggy them and you're off!

Yes, I'm driving, eating, and taking a picture with my phone.
I'm DANGEROUS!

Okay, Okay, I'm a slacker.

I know I haven't posted for a bit, so here's my attempt at catching you up.
John and I went to the Rockies game with the Young Men. It's always a great romantic date with 12 year old boys belching in the back seat.



McKenna is loving Preschool, this is her friend Shelby


She got a bike! ($3 at a yard sale) She loves her BFF Ella.


They could be sisters! This is them making "Strawberry Pie"


My "Big" boy! He is a month older then these "bigger" boys.
Grants in the middle, if you didn't know.


Lounging and eating, just like a Man.


Fixing the vacuum, such a Man.


Being a Dare Devil, definitely a Boy.


I have so many more pics, so I'll be playing catch up this week, so stay 'posted' for daily posts!

What would you do?

If I had a little extra $ I would...

1. Send cute presents to all my friends. (of course, because I love you all!)

2. Decorate my house with 'non-college room mate' decor.

3. Get John a new suit, so he doesn't have to keep wearing his mission suit.

4. Use pampers cruisers for Grant instead of the generic Sam's Club kind.

5. Get individual Sunny D juice bottles instead of the big huge one.

6. Have all the zip lock bags I want, I hate running out!!!

7. Take a Sunday drive without fretting about the cost of gas! (remember when you would do this as a little girl? I don't remember hearing my parents complain about it costing too much)

8. Use Clorox wipes instead of a wash cloth, gross.

9. Get my car washed instead of waiting for it to rain.

10. Not check my bank account every time I need some groceries.

What would you do?

No matter what happens today just remember...

Thank you,igottab!

I'm FAMOUS!

Okay, so I'm not quite famous....yet. A big THANK YOU to the girl behind Seriously So Blessed for hooking me up with KSL.

CNBC here I come!

Monday Madness

Thought I would catch you up on the family.
This was Me and Kenna's response to TT's idea.

I cherished a quiet moment in the middle of they day by getting in the shower and getting dressed. What a reward!



Grant loves to help with the dishes.

This is what gives him the energy to do the dishes.

They are getting too big.



Yes, this is Pizza. That I can't have!!!
I got to have tuna and broccoli instead. Jerks!

He will stand against the wall, but too wimpy to do it by himself yet.