Boys, Boys, Boys...

What in the world?!? Are they about to do what I think they are about to do?

Well of course!

Did they really think he would make it over?

Fun stuff!

And then this is what people saw

when they looked in our backseat on the way home from Jack in the Box tonight...

creepy Colby!

I got this mask at Target on clearance for $3 last week! Yay clearance!!!

Boring, boring, boring!!!

I just realized that I had only been doing memes this week.

I'm guessing its because nothing has been going on around here. Its been so hot I just want to hang around the house. The boys went to camp for the first time last week, and they had a really good time. I have gotten a few sales here and there but nothing too exciting.

I was reading someones blog this morning about how well her kids (boy and girl) had gotten along this summer and I was totally jealous. She was saying that she wasn't ready for school to start again.

I am counting down the hours until school starts on the 18th.

This is my kids all summer: "Can I have a snack can you tell him to get his feet off of me he took my drink/toy/book/snack can we play the wii can you tell him its my turn he won't give me the controller he keeps changing the channel can we go swimming can we have a snack are we going somewhere today its hot MOM Aidan is spilling cereal all over the floor he took my toy/string/snack/stick and broke it ON PURPOSE can we have a popsicle MOM Colby hit me with a piece of grass he won't stop putting his leg on my chair can I have a sip of your dr pepper can we have a snack its HIS turn to feed Tyco no I fed him yesterday not uh yeah huh not uh yeah huh etc. etc. etc.

Of course them starting school also means school for me too. Not looking forward to the second year of anatomy or microbiology. The school year is difficult for all of us. I miss a lot of field trips and holiday parties at their school because I'm in class and I feel really guilty! I hope I can attend a few more parties this year since my schedule has changed a little from last year. It is going to be hard to try and be fair with everyones parties. 4 Fall Festival parties, 4 Thanksgiving parties, 4 Christmas parties, 4 Valentines parties,4 Easter parties...and then field trips...good grief!

Sincerely 'Fro me to you...

I think I was probably 6 or 7 years old in this picture....

yet still wearing a "onesie".

Was this EVER in style?

Don't you love the matching white plastic aviator shades?

I was posing by my picture of the Challenger, the shuttle that exploded right after takeoff with the teacher on board...

Bloggy Giveaways!!!

Bloggy Giveaways is having a Bloggy Carnival. Basically what this means is that a VERY large group of bloggers has gotten together in one place with over 700 giveaways! 700!

This is a great way to find other blogs! And a pretty good chance of getting some free stuff!

One giveaway that I am particularly looking forward to is The Couponizer, found at Ramblings of a Texas Housewife. I have been wanting one of these!

Git on over there for your chance to enter!

Tackle it Tuesday

In honor of Tackle it Tuesday I cleaned out/organized my medicine cabinet. It was full of meds and extra party items and measuring cups and all sorts of other nonsense.

Today:

I am going to go through the boys school uniforms and see what they have and what they need.

I am going to give them all haircuts before they shower tonite.

I am going to wash Colby's bedding ( I have decided to do one kid a day this week so I can make sure it gets done. Otherwise their dirty sheets stays in the hamper and nobody has any bedding when its time to go to bed!)

For more Tackle it Tuesday's, click here!

BBQ Brisket Sandwiches

I am making my first brisket today...I am hoping it turns out yummy...or at least edible!

With my track record I am shooting for edible.

My Husband Rocks!

My husband rocks because he gets up in the middle of the night

with the kids

or to turn the air down

or check out a noise

or get me water (with a high ice to water ratio)

or when there is bad weather (sometimes...he is not good at actually staying awake!)

or whatever else I would ask him to do after I repeatedly poke him to wake him up.

He has done this since we got married and never complains!

I love you babe!

I found this at the great adventure.

Sincerely 'Fro me to you...

Look how pleased my mom is with herself!


I found this at We are THAT Family. Click here to see more!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about Brooke 1. I live with 5 boys, 4 kids ages 3-9, and then hubby. 2. I am in school to be an R.N., I have 2 1/2 years to go. 3. I am riduculously afraid of severe weather. 4. I went to at least 7 different schools when growing up. 5. I love the way Payless smells. 6. I HATE when people can't spell. 7. I have never seen all of Top Gun. 8. My favorite show is Jon and Kate + 8. 9. I went to cosmetology school for 4 months. 10. I cry very easily. 11. I refuse to clean my bathrooms. (see #1) 12. I love to sing (don't know if everyone else loves my singing!) 13. I LOVE fried okra with ketchup!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!


Thursday Thirteen

Wordless Wednesday...

Tackle it Tuesday

Things to "tackle" today:
-try and catch up on my Bible study (we are meeting tonight and I am 2 weeks behind)
-get all my ebay sales organized and shipped
-clean downstairs
-finish washing clothes so when the boys come home from camp I won't be overwhelmed!

Wal-Mart deal...

There are boys t-shirts (sizes 4-16) on clearance for $1 at the Nelson road Wal-mart. Also Bic pens are on sale for $0.88 for 10. You can print a coupon for $1.00 off 2 Bic stationary products making the pens around $0.40 a bag.

E.R. visit

Yesterday Jackson fell and hit his lip on the stairs and split it wide open. It bled a lot in the beginning but as soon as we put some pressure on it it stopped. But it was still split open really wide and every time he would talk it would open and close...kind of like it was talking too.

We called the Childrens Clinic to have them look at it to see if it needed a stitch. They would not see him and told us we had to go to the E.R. So Kyle came home to stay with the kids while I brought him over to the hospital. We were there from 11:30 to 2 for them to tell us that he did need a stitch but that they would be unable to keep his mouth still to stitch it and that the risks of putting him to sleep to fix it outweighed him having a scar.

I was so annoyed because the dr. came in first and said he would need a stitch. So me being the wimp that I am had to call and find someone to keep the kids so Kyle could come up there with me. They were telling me they would have to strap him to a "papoose" board. And I didn't think Jackson would appreciate that very much. So I waited for Kyle to come and not 30 seconds after he walked in the door they came and told us they weren't going to do anything and sent us home!

He was fine with the whole thing. We colored and played with his horsey and froggy (my kids are very original when it comes to naming their stuffed animals...). I let Jackson talk to Kyle on my cell and he wanted to talk to Tyler and told him, " I weddy to dit my potsitle (popsicle), a stits (stitch), and do back home". He is so precious!

He had a hard day!

When all the drama happened I was trying to organize my cabinets in my kitchen. See what I get for trying to clean? This is the fruit of my labor:

39 minutes!

I have spent all morning listing the boys' old A Beka books on Ebay! What an ordeal...take a picture, upload it, describe it, price it...I have 19 so far and I still have about 6 to go!

I actually went and exercised yesterday. Yay! I did 30 minutes on the treadmill, and 9 on the elliptical. (It was supposed to be 15 but my legs started feeling a bit jello-y and I was sweating like a beast!)
I didn't just go on sheer willpower though. I needed some "motivators". I begged Kyle to let me get another MP3 player since mine had distapeered. SO I got a new sports one that goes on an armband. Music is a great motivator when you are exercising! I also got a Cosmo and a Glamour magazine for my entertainment. I brought my trusty bottle of ice cold water. And I did it! Now I just have to do it again, and again, and again...that's where the problem is...

UGH! Exercise...

Ok...so I am going to exercise today. I don't wanna go to the class so I am probably just going to walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes and then do the elliptical for 15. I am getting an MP3 player, YAY! I can listen to it while I exercise...its motivational! I have only lost about 6 pounds since June...so I gotta do this! It sounds like an excuse but I really hate paying $4 in gas to drive back and forth to exercise when I don't have to. When my membership is up in MB* is up I will just start working out at McN* for free!

*All locations have been abbreviated so if some fruitcake discovers my blog they can't come stalk me!

My best CVS deal yet!

Ok...so I had $10 in ECB's from buying the Olay stuff last week. Then Saturday I had to pick up some Lact-Aid for someone who will remain nameless (hint: their name rhymes with smile...) since we were going to get ice cream. I happen to have a coupon for it and also I got $3 ECB's back with it. So now I have $13 in ECBs. (On a totally unrelated note...we went to Cold Stone and Olive Garden yesterday...and today in the paper there are good coupons for both! So annoying...)

Kyle needed deoderant and I needed more mascara and they have these great little photo books that turned out really nicely and would make great gifts for grandparents. So this is what I did:

Neutrogena mascara $5.99 ($4 back in ECB's)

Speed Stick deoderant $3.99 ($2 back in ECB's)

Kodak 6x8 Photo Book $7.99 ($7.99 back in ECB's)

The total was $19.49

-I had a $3 off of a $15 purchase coupon

-a $10 ECB

-a $3 ECB

So my total (with tax) was $2.14!

And I have $13.99 in ECB's!!!

CVS coupon

There is a new CVS coupon that you can print...you can find it here. It is $3 off a $15 purchase. You may not think that is a big deal but when you bring that $15 down with lots of coupons it is very useful!

Deal on Planters Peanuts..

You can go here to print out a coupon for $3 off any Planters product when you buy 3 Kraft, Nabisco, or Oscar Mayer products. Koolaid happens to be a Kraft product... you can print more than one from this site and do this deal a couple of times.

These peanuts were $2.68 a piece and I had $3 off coupons for each. The total was $1.62 for all the Koolaid and the peanuts.

CVS and coupons...

A few people have asked how I use my coupons and about CVS. I thought I might try to explain it here.

The big idea with coupons is that you use them on things that are on sale. Duh, I know! And it might seem time consuming and not worth it but you can get stuff really cheap or sometimes free! And it really isn't time consuming!

So every Sunday clip all the coupons (except on things you know you will never use, for instance I wouldn't keep a Geritol coupon). You could also keep coupons for diapers and other things that your family might not need or use but that you can donate to a shelter or crisis pregnancy center. Oh, and pick up a Wednesday paper too, they have the weekly grocery deals.

After you have done that, go through all your ads and try and match up coupon to sale. My example below with the shampoo at Krogers is a really great deal. The more coupons you have the better, so try and find someone who doesn't clip coupons and ask them to save them for you. That way if there is a really good deal, you can do it more than once.

There are a few blogs that match up the sale and the coupon for you at major places like Target, Walmart, Albertsons, Krogers and CVS. If you check them on a Monday and Thursday they usually have the deals up. My favorite is the Centsible Sawyer. You can also go to Money Saving Mom. I will try my best to put the Market Basket sales up here if they match with any coupons from the paper. I got a real good deal on some nice Chinet disposable plates and Luzianne tea earlier this week with sales and coupons at Market Basket. Check it out below!

Ok, so on to CVS. When you go to the store, tell the cashier that you want to get an Extra Care card. You will have to fill out a form and you will get a card and some little barcode things to put on your keychain. This card tracks your spending and will earn you ECB's which are Extra Care Bucks. Then get a copy of the weekly and monthly deals. They should be on a rack close to the entrance.

The way to score cheap or free stuff here is to buy things that give you the same amount back in ECB's. For example, if it were offered in the weekly or monthly deal, you could buy some fancy mascara for $6.99 and you would get $6.99 back in ECB's. If you used a coupon from the paper that gave you $3 off of that mascara you could buy it for $3.99 and still get $6.99 back from it. The $6.99 ECB would print out on a little coupon at the end of your reciept and you can use it like a gift card next time you go. If you use that on something that also gave back ECB's the cycle just keeps going and you pay very little out of pocket!

I am not sure I have explained it too well...check this out...she probably explains it way better!Mrs. Nespy's CVS 101. You can also look at Life as a Mom's CVS primer for July. The deals for this month aren't that great but the weekly deals are always changing. You can check out my last CVS post to see the deal I made this week. You can also look at all my CVS deals to try and get an idea of how it works.

If this helped you, leave me a comment and let me know!!!

Kroger Deal on Herbal Essences...

If you have been clipping your coupons every Sunday you should have a coupon for $3 off any 2 Herbal Essences shampoos or conditioners.

Kroger has Herbal Essences for $1.39 a piece if you buy 3. So if you use your coupon you can get 3 shampoos or conditioners for $ .50 a piece (3 for $1.50)!

This sale is good until Tuesday the 15th.

It doesn't say that there is a limit so if you have more than one coupon you could do this twice and get stocked up! That way when you need shampoo and there aren't any deals or coupons you don't have to go buy it full price.

If you are just now starting to clip coupons or even if you have been doing it for a while, ask someone that you know doesn't use their coupons from the Sunday paper to keep them for you. That way you can stock up when there is a good deal.

My mom is giving me her coupons so I can get 3 shampoos and 3 conditioners for $3!

A few cakes Kyle has made over the years...

T-Rex cake for Jackson's 3rd birthday

Foot cake for a friends that HATES feet

Indiana Jones hat cake that Kyle made for a his cousin's son.

Snake cake Kyle made for Colby's 8th birthday

Pirate cake Kyle made for Jackson's 2nd birthday.

Today's Deals...

I am bringing a strawberry trifle to my "No Other Gods" Bible study group tonight. So I had to go shopping. I went around and picked up a few circulars from the local grocery stores: Market Basket, Albertsons, and Krogers to see what was on sale. I went to Walmart to pick up a few things but the lines were literally 10-12 people long as usual so I went on to Market Basket.

So at Market Basket I got:

-5 12 packs of Coke and Dr.Pepper -On sale (5/$10 with a $10 purchase)

-2 packs of 24 count Chinet platter plates -On sale (2/$4)

-2 boxes of 24 count Luzianne tea -On sale (2/$3)

-fat free Cool Whip -On sale ($1)

-angel food cake mix

-Tostitos flour chips

-Tostitos corn chips

Coupons:

-2 coupons for $1 off Chinet making each pkg. $1!!!

-2 coupons for $.60 off Luzianne tea making them $.90 per box!!!

I didn't have coupons for the chips but Kyle had a craving so I picked them up!

My total was $26.54

I went to Kroger because they are the only store that is carrying strawberries!

-strawberries 16oz. for $2.99

-Apple Dippers $1.89

-milk $3.99

My total at Kroger was $9.31

My total for both stores was $35.85...and if you take off the $8 I paid for the chips it was $27.85!

Not bad...

No Other Gods by Kelly Minter

A small group from my church has started doing this Bible study. After the first 2 days of "homework" I wasn't too impressed. But I just finished the 1st session (5 days) and I think I will enjoy this study. I don't have the whole workbook yet, we just printed the first week off of the internet, so I am looking forward to the rest. Not only is it very informative and thought provoking, it keeps me in His Word daily.

I have done a few Bible studies by Beth Moore and I really enjoy how down to earth she is and how fun and enlightening her videos and studies are. She has a blog and posted that she was going to do Kelly's workbook and asked if any other ladies wanted to do it as well. Over 3000 women posted saying they would like to join her! There are ladies in every state as well as several other countries doing this study this summer.

My CVS deal this week...

I had gone to CVS last week and gotten some inexpensive items with my $2 ECB's that I had. I made 2 more ECB's off of what I bought and then spent those on some facial cleansing cloths. I didn't figure it up well and ended up spending more than I made which is something I am trying to avoid. SO this time I got my ideas straight from someone who knows what they are doing at Frugonomics 101.

Olay Deal Scenario, with a $4/$20 (coupon from CVS for updating your info on website)…
1 Olay Ribbons 18oz $5.99
1 Olay Botanical Fusion 15.2oz $5.99
1 Olay Regenerist Cleanser Cloths 30ct $5.99
1 Gillette 2in1 Body Wash $3.99 (yes, this is an Olay product!)
~$10 back in ECB WYB (when you buy) $20 Olay products

SUBTOTAL 21.96 (plus tax)

-$4 off when you spend $20 CVS coupon (always give this one first)
-$2 off of 1 Olay Botanical Fusion,(V 6/29)-coupons you get from the Sunday paper
-$1 off of 1 Gillette 2 in 1 Body Wash (P&G 7/6)-coupons you get from the Sunday paper
-$2 off of 1 Olay Ribbons Product (P&G 7/6)-coupons you get from the Sunday paper
-$3 off of 1 Olay Regenerist Facial Moisturizer or Cleanser (SS 6/22)-coupons from the Sunday paper

TOTAL $9.96 (plus tax)
I had a $2.99 ECB
So my total (plus tax) was $8.24
and I got $10 total ECBs back!

Not again!

About 2 weeks ago, Tyler woke up and threw up once and then was fine the rest of the day. Then about 5 days later Jackson ran fever and had diarrhea, and a few days later Aidan had fever and was throwing up. Then Colby got sick and threw up once and then had diarrhea the rest of the day. Then Jackson got it again yesterday with the fever and the diarrhea. And today Tyler woke up and threw up around 5 with a fever and a headache and when he got up so did I with a stomachache! So Kyle got up and took care of all of us. He gave me some Vistaril and Tyler some Phenergan. But then he couldn't find anyone to keep the boys so he had to bring them to work! I got up around 9:45 and I was feeling much better so he brought the boys back and went on back to work. So I hope this is the end of it all, and that we get rid of this bug!

We had a good time yesterday. We pretty much cleaned all morning and afternoon until everyone arrived around 5:30. It rained a little but cleared up quickly and we all pigged out! At around 8:15 we went and watched the fireworks at the Civic Center. Here are a few pics:

ABC's of Me!

I found this on Ship Full O' Pirates and thought it was interesting!

Accent: Nope, don't have one, even though I'm from the South!

Breakfast: Usually skip this and save my calories for lunch

Chores I don’t like: All! But mostly toilets (I live with 5 males)

Dog or Cat: If I had to pick one...Neither, I already have 4 animals in the house! But we do have a dog, Tyco...you want him?
Essential Electronics: cell phone, computer, and camera

Favorite Cologne: Romance, by Ralph Lauren

Gold or Silver: definitely silver

Handbag I wear most often: I just got a new one today and I love it!

Insomnia: usually not a problem

Job title: mom

Kids: yes, lots

Living arrangements: 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath

Most admirable trait: friendliness? humor? charm? wit? there are just so many to choose from!

Naughtiest childhood behavior: I was the perfect child, so nothing to put here!

Overnight hospital stays: Well I stayed overnight with all four of my boys births, then 2 different times for kidney and bladder problems while pregnant, and once with Jackson when he had his asthma attack

NOW you know way more than you ever wanted to about me, and we still have eleven to go!

Phobias: bad weather, heights, airplanes crashing into my house (I know its weird but I have dreams about it all the time!)

Quote: "Frick, Frick, Frick!" Elliot Reid (Scrubs)

Reason to smile: when my kids are being sweet, when I find a good deal

Siblings: none

Time I wake up: around 7:45 but I don't usually get up until 8

Unusual talent or skill: I can cross one eye while keeping the other straight

Vegetable I refuse to eat: peas

Worst habit: laziness

X-Rays: nope, never

Yummy stuff: Chocolate Lovin Spooncake from McAllisters

Zoo animal I like most: bears

If you read this, please copy and paste it and leave me the ABC's of you in my comment section!

4th of July plans

We are planning to have some friends and family come join us for the 4th. We live a couple of blocks from where they do the city fireworks display so we think we can watch them from the backyard in our pool! We have some tiki torches to light up around the pool to keep the skeeters away, but I will have to pick up some citronella candles for the porch and tables. I think we will also play horseshoes and that washer game!

We are going to grill, and we asked everyone to bring their own meat and we would provide everything else. I am going to make a cheeseball for an appetizer, Kyle is going to grill ribs, and we are going to have cheesy potatoes, baked beans, Texas toast and brownies with ice cream for dessert. Yum!