Pumpkin Carving

Vroom, Vroom - C-Chow!

Hank and Charlie love the movie Cars. Watch Hank. I edited the video, but I uploaded the unedited one, so it is a little long.

Charlie's Car

This is a random box that made it to our house with leftover food in it. I was just waiting for Thursday recycling day to throw it out, but Hank and Charlie had other plans. Hank first liked it just for a chair. He thought it was a good recliner that was the perfect size.

Charlie started looking at the box, asked me if we could make it a car, and got his tool box. He asked me to get the tape, and we added headlights. He got stuff out of the cabinets (parchment paper, plastic bags, etc.) He worked very hard with these things and the tape. He said, "ummmm, still needs something else." He told me we needed a wheel. At first, I thought he said a whale, and I was obviously confused. Charlie said, "NO, a wheel." We made one out of a pipe cleaner and trash bag, but that wouldn't do. He had me opening cabinets until we found blue paper plate holders. We had to go back to get four more. We also had to make a place to put the keys. When Marshall got home, Charlie showed off his car, but told him that it still needed a door to open and close. After several trials, we finally came up with a door to meet Charlie's satisfaction. Finally, Marshall had to push Charlie around. The car broke and needed hot glue repairs. The hot glue is not holding to well either. So far, Hank can't get near it because he causes damage. The car sits on our dining room table.

BEAUTIFUL Bee Southern

Momma and Brittany came last weekend and worked so hard at our friend Angie Strother's shop Bee Southern. Momma took everything Mrs. Angie had plus some (a 7 a.m. run to Wal-mart in Athens to get fabric.) to design these beautiful windows. Using Bee Southern's signature hot pink color, colorful signs and flowers, and much more momma and Brittany worked to make these windows SPARKLE! I worked hard to keep up with them and help as much as possible.

We all helped to work on these shelves, but Brittany put it all together.

Brittany's project!

Hank Paints

This past weekend Auntie Brittany came to visit. Charlie and Hank had so much fun with her. Charlie was helping us do an experiment. We wanted to see how Auntie Laurel's idea of making pumpkins with fist prints looked. It looked VERY cute. Hank would not be left out of the action; he just HAD to paint. We let him have at it and then Brittany (who was supervising) joined in the fun. Hank started out with one orange dot on his head that he put there accidentally while painting his masterpiece, but Brittany couldn't help herself and added a few more. When the painting was finished, Brittany earned the job of giving Hank a bath. Thanks for so much fun Auntie Brittany!

We need to make more fist pumpkins. Hank painted over Charlie's art before it could be moved. Charlie didn't mind. He was already on to other things.

Strong Willed Children

Hank loves cars! He makes this really cool vroom, vroom sound that no one can imitate no matter how hard we try. All of that to say, today, we had to go to CVS twice. The first time I was smart and took in our own car because CVS has strategically placed a giant display of cars by the buggies and check out counter. The second time I was not so smart. I forgot the car. My mistake was let Hank play with a car so I could shop in peace. After we checked out, I pried the car out of his hand and put it back. If the car was a $1 or $2, I would have just bought it, but it cost $5. He screamed and tried to climb out of the buggy to get the cars. CVS has no where to return the buggies outside and it was raining, so I asked Hank if he wanted to walk. He stopped crying and said, "uh, huh." I took him out and the bags, and put him on the ground. Before I could grab his hand, he took off running for the cars. I had to pick him up off of the floor where he was laying face down screaming because I wouldn't let him have a car. One man laughed and said, "He's gonna get his car." We get to the parking lot. The man in the car next to me rolls down his window and says, "Man, he's p - - - ed off ain't he." (I'll let you fill in the blanks.) The man was laughing like crazy as I wrestled Hank in the car seat. It really was funny.

On Saturday afternoon, Charlie and I put clean sheets on his bed, and I left him to take a nap. He never went to sleep, so about 45 minutes later I go to get him out of bed. When I got to his bed, I saw a puddle. Charlie is potty trained, but he wears a pull-up at nap time and bed time. I could not figure out how it happened unless the pull-up leaked. But the pull-up wasn't wet. Charlie purposely peed on the bed. I asked him why he did it, and he said, "ummmm, on purpose." Later, we were telling Marshall about it. Marshall said, "Charlie, why did you pee pee on your bed?" Charlie said, "Umm, I was naughty." Of course, Charlie had to sit in time out.

Tailgating with the Other Side

I have not updated in awhile, but here are a few highlights from the past week. We spent last Saturday evening tailgating with the Longs who are HUGE South Carolina Gamecocks fans. Although, we are Georgia Bulldog fans, we went to a party that was lots of fun. There is a long row of old train cars that have been turned into tailgating headquarters. They call them Cockabooses. The Longs' train car is outfitted with t.v., restroom, bar, seating, and then on top is a screened in area that also has t.v. and seating. I should have taken a picture, but I was chasing Charlie and Hank who only wanted to play. The area even had a playground. Hank loved the pavilion with live music and bright lights. Charlie enjoyed the playground and watching football. Although, Charlie was very disappointed that he didn't have tickets to go to the game. We just couldn't let his first college game be an SC game. We plan on taking him to a UGA game next month. Thank you to the Ken and Cyndi for a fun evening of food & drinks, friends, and football.

Recipe: Coca-Cola Chicken

We are in the midst of Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover and Financial Peace University transformation. Even though I know this is the best thing for us, sometimes, I swear DAVE is a bad four letter word. So we are doing a lot of things different including eating at home more. Our household can get CRAZY in a the blink of an eye which I have to admit is usually funny (afterwards,) but I am always looking for quick and easy recipes since I never know when chaos is going to hit. Two of my friends and I are doing a meal swap. Every week we prepare one meal that will feed three families. We freeze it and swap. You wouldn't believe how much money we save not to mention time. This past week, I made Coca-Cola Chicken. Here is my version of the recipe.

Ingredients

1 package of chicken legs (I also added 2 chicken breasts on the bone.)

1 cup Coca-Cola

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. salt

Mix coke, brown sugar, and salt. Pour over chicken in a 9x13 pan. I turned the meaty side of the chicken down to cook in the syrup. Cover and bake on 300 for 3 hours.

If you want to freeze, place chicken and syrup in a freezer bag. Thaw completely in the refrigerator before cooking. You can always add more syrup if it doesn't look like enough. Bake as directed above.

Very good served with Zatarain's cheddar broccoli rice, English peas flavored with chicken bullion, and Sister Schubert dinner yeast rolls (ready in 5 minutes.)

Enjoy!

Save Money!

For the past year, we have been doing The Grocery Game and saving money BIG!!! Now, I have been introduced to the Southern Savers site. One of the participants in Marshall's Financial Peace University class told everyone about this site. I gave it a look! Overall, I still prefer the nice organized efficient format of The Grocery Game, but Southern Savers is FREE! I love that on the Southern Savers site the CVS information is set up to help you maximize the bargains, gaining Extra Care Bucks, and spending Extra Care Bucks. I used the Southern Savers site today and spent $11 and gained $14.50 in ECB. Before I used my coupons, my total was $24.76. I have two more lists to go back to CVS this week. I should walk out with over $40 of merchandise for less than $5!

I have the links listed on my blog under Save Money.

A Few Tips

Don't get frustrated! They have done the work for you. NEVER cut coupons. Just collect the coupons and file them by the date they are in the paper. For example, today's coupons that I got out of the Sunday paper will be filed as 10/4. You will just cut the coupons you need when you need them. Don't print the entire list for the store. Select just what you want to buy and then print your shopping list.

Good luck! Let me know if you are successful or have questions.