Over the Hills and Through the Woods….

As I type this, we’re headed to MS…about 2 hours to go! It’s a loooong drive to Nana and Pop’s house but the girls are seasoned travelers and do an excellent job.

How do we do it?

Food. Candy. DVD’s. Candy.

Wonderful parent’s aren’t we? 

So far we’re  6 hours in and have only stopped once to potty and once to grab some lunch. Ashley is on her second nap and Annalyse has been asleep for 1.5 hours. This trip we have 2 DVD systems so that the older girls can watch their movies (Ferngully, Barbie Nutcracker, and Alice in Wonderland) and the little girls can watch theirs (Dora, Elmo and Wiggles!) We’ve come a long way since I was a kid and the only thing to do for an 8 hour car trip was hit your little brother and color!

This weekend will be the first time Ashley has met some of our extended family and we can’t wait! I think once they heard we were coming, they all decided to come and meet her! We have much to be thankful for this year…as we have every year!

Pictures to come! I’ll be doing a shoot with Jay’s sister and her family on the Oxford Square! Can’t wait!

****UPDATE******

That post was written on the road…we’re home now….here’s a quick recap….

lots of family…..check!

stuffed our faces…..check!

very thankful…..check!

car trip back home…check!

bags unpacked…..check!

laundry started…..check!

3 year old with fever….ummmm….check.

What I am Thankful for….Ally, 5

1. My heavenly Father

2. My family

3. My sister Avery, my sister Annalyse, and Ashley

4. My grandparetns

5. My beautiful home

What I am Thankful for….Avery, 7

1. For God

2. For my mommy & daddy

3. For my sisters

4. Grandparents

5. Ole Miss, the football team

One Year Ago Today!

China said what we already knew in our hearts to be true....that Ashley could come home to be a Flynt! We waited 126 of the looonnngggest days of our lives for that little sheet of paper! This will be a season of "firsts" with her...her first Thanksgiving, her first Christmas...I cannot wait! Last year was such a hard one emotionally for me, because well, my child was on the other side of the world...but this one is going to be full of JOY!

I got her adoption blog in book form in the mail today and it KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF!! To see MY words in print was amazing and to read all the details and priceless things, and see the China trip....it's AMAZING. I highly recommend Blog2Print.com!!

So stay tuned for a whirlwind November and December in our household....one that promises to be full of giggles and squeeling and all sorts of "girly" things!

Ashley Mei- 2years

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

No matter how hard I’ve begged and pleaded with her, to please NOT turn 3…she has. This mama is having a VERY hard time with this! I was in such a hurry for Avery and Ally to get to the next stage but this is my baby!

Annalyse was our smallest baby at 6lbs 14oz, but from the day she was born she has taken up a large part of my heart! I always tell Jay…there is just something about her that draws people to her, and everyone loves this child!

Annalyse,

You are the sunshine of our family! The joy that you bring us and the laughter that you create is unmatched. The Lord has gifted us with your smile and your precious voice. Sometimes at night I just stare at you when your asleep and thank God that I am your mama! Your family loves you Lysse Pop! 

Lysse’s Dora Party

Grocery Shopping Overhaul

Since September I’ve been on a mission to get the grocery bill CUT in this household. It’s taken me WEEKS to get this huge feat accomplished and i’m just now starting to really reap the benefits of my hard work! Although I don’t have time to go into it all here, you can check how HOW i’ve been able to do this by reading the following sites:

www.southernsavers.com

www.time2save.blogspot.com

www.moneysavingmom.com

These women have helped me cut HUNDREDS out of our budget. In October I cut 130.00 out easily and my goal for November is to cut out another 50.00, and by December, I hope to have us getting all grocery items….including tolietries, diapers, dog food, etc…for 70.00 per week. When you compare that to what I was spending, it’s a HUGE difference!  (and remember we have 6 in our family!)

The neat thing is, I’m buying name brands and getting MORE food and better quality, and spending less…gotta love that! Here is what I got today for example….

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And I only paid …..get ready…..

$10.41!!!!!

Check out the sites and get ready to save!!!!