January Totals

Aaaaaaah, don't we all just love sticking to a budget??? Clint and I have set a monthly budget of $400 for groceries and toiletries which I think is pretty darn good for a family of six. What is included in our budget?

Any and all food items

Any and all beauty products

All over the counter meds

I buy allergy meds for both Clint and Drew plus a constant supply of heartburn meds for Clint. (yes, I know he needs to go see a Dr but that will have to wait until we get insurance in May.)

All paper products such as tp, paper towels, napkins, plates...

All baby products INCLUDING DIAPERS

Basically all consumable items in our house with the exception of school supplies.

(I DO count couponing supplies in our budget though)

Well I am happy to say that in January we were under budget!!!!

Total spent: $ 355.41

Total Saved: $680.68

Of that $680.68, $335 was from coupons alone!

Let me just say that I LOVE coupons!!!

What am I going to do with my extra $45 you ask???

Well buy some groceries for my sister who is a single Mom of course!

Lately

Been feeling like this

Not really sure why??? Went to bed on Friday an extrovert and woke up on Saturday an introvert. Had lots of time to myself this weekend and LOVED it!!! And would quite honestly be home more then any where else in the world right now.

Home sweet home :) hmmmmmmmm

Flashback Friday

Drew and A.J. (2003)

Weekend Review

All and all it was a good weekend at the Mitchell house. The girls and I had made some treats for Clint to take to work on Friday and from what I hear they were a hit! I was pretty excited about that since I had come up with the idea all on my own. I took those Snyder's pretzel nibblers, (free from couponing) rolled them in melted chocolate and then sprinkled them with crushed peanuts. Since it was my creation I got to name them.

What do ya think of my Lincoln logs?
Clint got home from work early on Friday and then we went to community group. It was a great night at group. The women and men broke off from one another and the women discussed the first chapter in Feminine Appeal. We had a great discussion that lead to a very intimate and honest time of sharing. Definitely a time of bonding and a time of mentoring one another. It sounded like the men had a great time too. We are blessed with an amazing group!!

The Herald newspaper had offered Amber and I tickets to the Silvertips Hockey game and since she was busy Clint and I had a date night. The game was fun and FREE and it was awesome to spend some time with my hunk of burning love!

Speaking of my hunk of burning love... I am so thankful for him! Here he is on Sunday evening in the dark and rain outside fixing something. He is such a hard worker and pretty darn handy to have around. I am also so thankful for the wisdom and guidance he gives me. I would be running around like a basket case 99% of the time (as apposed to my current 50%) if I didn't have him to help me balance and prioritize the things in our lives that will most honor our loving God.


Sunday night my sweet Evie had her first taste of mush. She quite liked it I must say! I was hoping it would extend the amount of sleep I would get but it did not prove to be the case. Maybe tonight...

She immediately grabbed the spoon out of my hand and was wanting to hold it in her mouth. SO CUTE!

Today we ran some errands and I was able to get a coat I had my eye on for quite sometime now at a fraction of the price!!! Sometimes it really does pay to wait. Then we cashed in one of our gift cards for a yummy lunch at Red Robin. I LOVE Red Robin!!! Clint and I split our meals cause everything looked so good and we couldn't decide what to get.

Well I better sign off now as the Family move night is about to start without me...

One-way

So often I find myself driving down a one-way street in my relationship with God. I am heading in His direction and sending much His way, yet so often I forget to stop and listen and see what He might have for me. Relationships must go both ways. Otherwise there is not really much of a relationship at all. I need to remind myself to slow down and stop at the station to fill up on his word. I need to take every rest stop I see along the way and quiet my heart to listen to what he has for me while resting in Him.

Lord, I thank you for forgiveness of my selfish ways. I want to drink your word daily. I want to crave it and need it like it is the air that I breathe. Help me to be obedient to your call.

My life is but a weaving

Between my God and me

I do not choose the colors

Yet He worketh steadily

Of times He weaveth sorrow

and I in foolish pride

forget He sees the upper

and I the underside

Not until the loom is silent

and the shuttles cease to fly

will God unfold the canvas

and explain the reasons why

The dark threads are as needed

in the skillful weavers hands

as the threads of gold and silver

in the pattern He has planned

Title and Author-Unknown

Baby Girl

4 months ALREADY?!?!

Time does fly when you're havin' fun! Evie is just a sweet baby and we love her to pieces. In the last 4 months she-

practically doubled in size

smiles all the time

coos and chatters (sometimes in her bed at 3am)

chews on her fingers while drooling all over

rolls and rolls back to front and front to back like our very own little steam roller

likes to bat at, grab and chew on toys

loves her siblings and soaks up all the attention they give her

Even if it means putting up with this