Another deal!!

I completely forgot about their new tent! Another thing I have been eyeing at Target was a little frog tent. I kept checking it to see if it went on sale and sure enough, it was on the clearance isle for half-price. I thought it would a good place to Hannah and Hunter to play in since they seem to like things like that. I tried to build a fort for them recently, and it didn't turn out very well. It turned out to be adorable (although a lot bigger than expected), and they love it!!

Delayed gratification saves money-who knew??

Many of those who know me well know that I am a huge advocate of coupon clipping. I am proud to say that last week at the grocery store I set a record of $62 dollars in savings (coupons alone). The cashier at Kroger's seemed to be very impressed, and I left the store with a sense of great accomplishment! Each time I get home I am so excited and can't wait to tell Kevin-I think he may think I'm a little overboard now, but I know deep down he really appreciates it - you can do a lot of things with 60$.
A few days later we made a trip to Target for various things. On a previous trip, about 2 months ago, I spotted a shirt I really liked for 14.99. I was so close to getting it, even took it out of the buggy, but decided it was something I really didn't NEED. I am really trying to buckle down with spending and think about my purchases, but I did not forget about the shirt. Each time we went to Target after that (we go ALOT), I checked to see if it was on sell. It took about two weeks for it to reach the clearance rack-it went down to 10.99, I continued to hold out. I checked again probably the next week-still the same. I really almost forgot about it when we were there Saturday. As we were getting ready to leave I told Kevin I needed to check on something and sure enough it was still on the clearance rack-this time for $2.47!! Needless to say, I was thrilled. They had it in a few different colors so I decided to get 2 of them because I liked it so much. I left Target that day babbling to Kevin about how amazing it was to just wait a while for things that you want, and that I got 2 shirts for less than 1/2 the original price! I'm not to sure he really understood the big deal, but he seemed enthusiastic. To me, however, it was a secret challenge that I had won!
I realize that many people may think I'm a little crazy for making such a big deal over a shirt for $14.99, but to me it was important ( and no, I don't have to much time on my hands). I guess being a partial stay at home mom , I am really trying make a difference no matter how small-because it adds up. So from now on, my goal is to not buy anything unless it is on sale........or I have a coupon for it....

Trying to keep them busy!!

Here are are some new pictures of me trying to entertain Hannah and Hunter. Recently, I feel like I am running out of things to do with them to keep them entertained! I guess they are doing more now and are always on the move-it's tough to keep up. They are also close dropping their morning nap and just having one single nap. I've noticed that they are sleeping less time-so I guess that's what that means????? I'm not really sure at what age that is supposed to come, but it seems to make sense to me. Point is.....I have to come up with a lot more stuff to do with them, so if anyone has any good ideas, let me in on them!

The picture below of Hunter sleeping is after Kevin's family "Christmas" the weekend after New Year's. They both wore themselves out so much, they fell asleep before we even had the car in gear to go home. Those close to us know that Hunter is not a big fan of diaper changes; needless to say, he didn't wake up at all while we transferred him inside and changed him into his pj's. They slept until 9:00 the next morning!!!!

Happy New Year!

I can't believe Christmas is already over, it went by way too fast! Despite Hunter being sick with a virus, we had a great time. Christmas Eve we spent at the house with my mom. Christmas day Kevin's family, and my Dad and Kim came over for lunch. The kids were a little more into the gifts than last year, but were still mainly interested in the tissue paper. It was really a quiet and simple Christmas compared to how we usually travel all over to see different families, so we were able to relax a lot more.

Today is New Year's Day and Kevin and I are really bored. We pondered a trip to Walmart to get some things we need, but I am too scared to bring the kids out because they will probably catch something else. I do realize that we eventually have to leave the house, but it's just not worth it right now! We have spent the day outside on the new slide that Pam and Dickey gave them, and trying to teach them how to eat with a spoon by themselves-it got pretty messy as you will see in the pictures!!

We are back...Finally!

Well-this might be a long one. As some of you know our computer has been on the fritz and we have finally gotten around to getting it fixed (some 2 months later)-I guess that tells you how busy we have been! I really missed being able to do this-I have felt a little disconnected lately. I will try to recap the past 2 months-at least what I remember of it!

October was a busy month. Dickey (Kevin's dad) was scheduled to have surgery on his back. As he was going through preliminary stress tests they found he had severe blockage in his arteries. The next day, instead of back surgery, he had a triple bypass. He is recovering very well, and seems to be getting back to his old self. It still amazes me to see how Kevin's family operates. I think Dickey surely had a record number of people in the waiting room at the hospital during his surgery. Everyone was there to offer their prayers and support for him, and I was reminded how blessed I am to be part of such a wonderful and caring family...I really think that families like that are few and far between these days. Also, on October 30, my best friend Katy had her baby girl that they named Adalee Kate! She is healthy and beautiful and they are doing very well-I am so excited to have someone else to share motherhood with! And at the last minute we decided to get Halloween costumes. Hannah was a bumble bee and Hunter was a monkey (very fitting for him). We made rounds at all the grandparents so they could see them. The kids seemed to really enjoy themselves until the ride home when Hannah got tired of her wings and cried the whole way home!

November was a little more relaxed; we enjoyed Thanksgiving over at Pam and Dickey's and went to my Dad and Kim's the day after. Way too much food for one weekend that's for sure. Hannah and Hunter both started cutting their first molars which was not fun. Hannah's teeth never have seemed to bother her, but Hunter is so miserable. I feel really bad for him, but there's not much we can do I guess. I also have tried to start phasing out their pacifiers. They usually only get them when they sleep and in the car. The car thing is more of a crutch for me, because I can't stand it when they cry in the car-I feel so helpless. Evidently day care doesn't allow binkies in the Toddler room at 18 months, so we have a few more months to kick the habit! Also in November we went to a large "mothers of mulitples" garage sale-Pam got them a huge plastic pony for a great deal, and Hannah has fallen in love with it. She rocks back and forth on it and cracks up laughing! Hunter has also developed a few new interests: the first is climbing on anything and everything (scary for me); the second is trying to fit himself into things (boxes, bowls, cabinets, etc.); the third is his new fascination with his nose. To my dismay, he really enjoys sticking his finger up his nose and keeping it there (especially when there is someone trying to take a picture of him). You will see some examples in the new pictures!

December has been wonderful so far. Kevin and I went to my office Christmas party last weekend, Pam came over to babysit. We had a great time, we haven't been apart from the kids in a while. I am thinking of maybe picking up a 3rd day of work somewhere, I am not ready to go back full time, but wouldn't mind working a few more days here and there. We went on Sunday to take pictures with Santa. We were so worried Hannah would cry, but she did pretty well. The little girl in front of us had a major meltdown, but when we put them on his lap Hunter just looked confused and Hannah just stared at Santa with a very serious look on her face.

We are looking forward to the Christmas holidays and being able to see family and friends. I have posted some pics of the last few months that I liked(some are funny, some are random). Enjoy!










my sleeping beauty

Hunter being mischievious

Hunter climbing

Hunter climbing again..

Hannah being silly

Hannah riding her pony from grandma

Hunter looking handsome

this one just made me laugh

Hunter and Hannah squished in their toybox (does anyone notice the teething ring in the air-it looks like a halo?) I know-I'm crazy!

Hunter trying to fit into his popcorn bowl...

Hunter trying to get out of his popcorn bowl!

Spaghetti night!

Hannah and Grandpa Hutchins

Hannah and Grammy Hutchins

First really cold weekend

I just thought they looked so cute (Kevin was telling me enough pictures!)

Hunter meeting Adalee Kate for the first time

Hannah the bumble bee

taking in each other's crazy get up

Happy Halloween!

Kevin and I before my Christmas party

We were on our way home from church last week, and turned around to check on them. Hannah was engrossed in the Church bulletin-she's a future reader!

Grandpa Johnson and Hunter (with his finger up his nose)

Grandpa Johnson and Hannah

Hunter and Hannah with Santa

Have a Merry Christmas!!

No more bottle!!!

We have been so busy lately I haven't had a chance to update. This past weekend was very eventful-Saturday I went to a baby shower while Kevin stayed home with the kiddos-the hygienist I work with, LeighAnn, is due any day now. Saturday night my good friend Lundy got married-Pam and Dickey were kind enough to come to the house and watch the kids. They must have really tired them out because they sure slept great that night. Sunday we headed over to Pam and Dickey's to have fried dove (Jana and I had chicken tenders). We had a good time and got to visit with Keith, Jana, and Kaitlyn-she is growing so fast! Then Sunday night we headed over to my Dad and Kim's house where we had Vernon's takeout, the usual for their house, it was very yummy. We had a good time visiting w/ Dad and Kim-they usually come to the house on Thursday afternoon because that is my Dad's half-day off, but they were unable to make it last week-so we thought it would be nice to stop by their house for a change. I'm not sure what would happen if Dad didn't get his Hannah and Hunter "fix" for the week. I just realized that I use dashes a lot when typing---it's a bad habit. Needless to say we had a busy weekend.

Monday Kim and I took the kids to "Snippets" at the mall so Hunter could get his much overdue haircut. He was getting very shaggy, and I had a lot of people asking if he was a little girl--so I thought it was time. I was worried he wouldn't sit still, but he did great! They have a lot to entertain the kids with there and did a great job! He looked much better afterward, but I secretly was sad to see the shaggy hair go-he looks like a little man now, not so much like a baby.

Today, Thursday, I went to see my dad at his office. I have an inner and outer ear infection-doesn't feel to great. But-I would rather it be me than the kids-much easier to handle that way!

Also today was the first day that Hannah and Hunter did not have a bottle!! Yeahhhh!!! I have been trying to introduce a sippy cup for a while now and they haven't been very receptive. I kept procrastinating and putting it off, but I decided today would be the day!! My goal is by Monday to box up the bottles and move on! They did really well today, and it sure was nice to not have to worry about them holding their bottles upside down and spilling all their milk on themselves (they liked to do that and thought it was very funny that it upset me)!

I am going to a continuing education by myself in College Station tomorrow. Kevin has taken the day off to stay home with Hunter and Hannah, I'm sure they will have a blast! Above are some random photos of the last few weeks-I incluede a before and after shot of Hunter's hair. Sorry I didn't have a lot of pics of Hannah this time-will put more up later. Hope everyone is doing well-Love, Mandy

Pink and Blue T's

Here are some pics of Hunter and Hannah in their T-shirts that Grandma Leveritt gave them for their birthday-I thought they were pretty cute. We had just gotten back home from a trip to Walmart-I am still amazed at how many times people ask me if they are twins, and if they are two girls!!! I mean, pink t-shirt/blue t-shirt?? I guess it just seems obvious to me-ha, ha!