Mom's Sick But We Got Some Cool New Old Bunk Beds!

What a week! I got hit with the yuck bug otherwise known as a sinus infection. I always seem to struggle with allergies here in East TN, and have been with the season change for the last couple of months. (when I was 18 I had sinus surgery which helped for a couple of years) It all hit me Tues. and just worsened throughout the day to cap of the day with a migraine that induced, well you get the picture. Anyways, Ryan was in for it when he came home from work around midnight to a messy house and a woozy wife. Thankfully I got some antibiotics the next morning and the Lord is slowly healing me as everything is seeming to move south :P

Before all this happened we were in deep search for semi-nice used bunk beds for the boys as their crib/toddler beds were recalled. So I've been an ebayer awhile and thought maybe good ol' ebay would come to my rescue, but there were NONE in our area. Ryan kept trying to find one around Atlanta so we could find a really good excuse to visit family and Chalcedon, but nope, no good deals. Finally I decided to reluctantly turn to craigslist. After several days I was disappointed how much people were holding onto their stuff, and then wham. After looking every hour to see if new beds were added, one popped up. A nice family out in Kingston, TN practically gave them away (with mattresses)to us real cheap. And they are so nice! Boy are we blessed! The funny part is, the man told us later that when I got off the phone with him he thought that I responed quickly and was puzzled why it went within seconds of him posting it. Then as he waited for us to pick them up he got four more calls--I bet those people are disappointed! :( We ALL stayed up past midnight getting these beds put together. I also found these nice quilts on craigslist. The lady sold me 5 identical twin quilts for $45, another steal! I'm going to take one of the quilts and make shams, valance and possibly a couple of toy bags for the end of their beds.

It's a bitter sweet to not have any cribs in our house after ,more than fours years of having at least one up (but two cribs for over 2 years)! I would love to have a crib filled with a little baby, but it's just not been God's will for our family. I am so glad to see the boys growing from toddlers to kids, but also so sad to see them starting to leave toddlerhood :(

Ron Paul Same Today as 1988

Another cool giveaway!

A fellow blogger friend, whom I've grown very fond of due to all her fabulous giveaways, is having another great giveaway. She is giving away a product called, Soda-Club. You make and mix your own sodas, isn't that cool! Go on over here to her site and check it all out!

Our Views on the Economic Crisis

I am sure we are not the only couple who frequently discuss these economic hardships. It is a near daily accurrance because it affects everything we do. Every two weeks we get Ryan's paycheck and are reminded of the problems our leaders have got us in. When we mail postage at the post office we are amazed. When we get that dreaded utility bill in the winter, we are frustrated. When we buy ANYTHING, we are down right angry! It might seem small that Ryan's work has asked them to take off 8 unpaid days to benefit the company, but that is compounded with the fact that there is NO overtime available. The plant has nearly cut out a whole shift, which nearly affected Ryan. I am sick of everyone blaming it on the mortgage loans. Sure there were way to many loans given to people that could not afford them. But, we neglect to realize that anyone who got a lone 3-4 years ago or more was to expecting the outrageous gas prices. Ryan and I are now regreting buying a house with gas heat. Thankfully everything else is electric. These gas prices have doubled. Therefore our grocery bills, utility bills, and all other spending took a major hit. I know Ryan is making more than he did 3 years ago and we are still straped due to the prices. What frustrates us so much is that the prices are quickly dwindling down as our country has finally hit a breaking point. We can't help but think these oil executives have a hand in all this. I am sure there are plenty of families who would still be living in the comfort of their own homes had these gas prices not sky rocketed. With all that said, we know that the Lord will provide for all our needs and really we don't deserve such lavish lives. I will say it has made us more witty when it comes to trying to make do. But I hate to think that we are just wasting our money so the suit wearing executives can have their summer homes and indoor basketball courts.

A Pilgrim's Progress Giveaway!!!

Click on this button above to learn more about how to enter in this GREAT giveaway. I'm entering myself as I have heard great things about the book and am eager to see what all the fuss is about!

Birthday--BOY?!!!!

Our little toddler is growing up and is officially a little boy and not a toddler. I can't believe he is four now. Joseph turned four on Sunday. We celebrated his birthday with our little family on Saturday with the usual food, cake, ice cream & a couple of presents. The Mooses and Pop & Mimi sent him balloons and boy was he excited when a man brought them to the door just for him! Papu will be proud that he chose football themed sprinkles on his cake. He was so excited to get a red apron, matching chefs hat & rolling pin all of his own (and thanks to a fellow blogger it was FREE!). There is always a fight over Mommy's one extra apron and it usual ends in Thomas wearing a dishtowel. We still have a few more presents to open at his big party, but I find it very interesting that he was so content with the few presents he already received. He knows that there are more presents wrapped, but doesn't really care to much about them. We will do his big party with family and friends on the 18th at a nearby park. Where has the time gone? To make it harder he is humongous for his age, Dr. Green is amazed too! Bless his heart his body is growing faster than his brain can catch up and he seems so awkward when he runs. The little 7lb.9oz., 19 1/4 in. baby went from 50% to 100+% very quickly and continues to stay there. He is now past my waist in height and isn't slowing down, as some said he would. I am also encouraged that Dr. Green doesn't put a lot of weight on his learning level, as he is behind in some areas due to regressing with a younger brother and Joseph always seems behind around other people due to his shyness. We spent his birthDAY at some friends, The Wilkersons, for some fellowship and fun. Oh how the boys love playing over there with the freedoms and dirt and all those kids! It's sad to say I am not used to my kids having all those freedoms to run off in the woods and just be boys, but it just can't be done here in this little city. But enough of my rambling, my first born little toe-headed boy is growing up before our eyes! It has been a great four years and I couldn't imagine life without him!

Kids Really Do Say The Darndest Things--So We're Learning!

The other day Ryan took off work to catch up on school work and take us out to brunch at Cracker Barrel--One of our fav's. As we waddled out with full bellies we noticed a couple parked beside our van getting off their motorcycle. Joseph was gazing at the big shiney Harley, as any boy would and I commented to him that it was like his Uncle John's motorcycle. Without hesitation he commented back, "yeah, and I have a tricycle!" I followed with, "yep Joseph, you do have a tricycle don't you." The couple of course got a great tickle out of it and the husband agreed with me that children are so simple minded ;)