Thursday's Tip: Educational DVD's

I love educational dvd's and in the car that is what the kids watch along with Veggie Tales and Cedarmont Kids dvd's.

Top 4 Favorites:

• Baby Signing Time Volumes 1-4. Volume 1 is a great baby gift to get someone. Also, the other Signing Time videos are good as well. I never buy new dvd's for my kids, I buy them used on amazon or half.com
  
• Spectrum Connections: Bounce: Lets Talk...speech therapy dvd's
• Baby Babble...speech therapist dvd's. Both volume 1 and 2 are great
• Lets Talk with Puppy Dog

What are your favorite educational dvd's?

Also, CVS has great deal on diapers this week:

$10 ECB wyb Pampers Baby Dry, Swaddlers or Cruisers 48-96ct., $21.99 LIMIT 1 (reported LIMIT 2)
-$1.50 off Pampers Diapers or Pants, PG 7/04, PG 6/06 -$2 off Pampers Cruisers, Swaddlers Sensitive or Extra Protection Diapers, PG 7/04 -$2 off Pampers Swaddlers or Swaddlers Sensitive Diapers, RP 6/20
-$4 off Diapers and Wipes, any printing on CVS receipts (store coupon)

(from Southernsavers ). Also, remember that if you are like me and live in Kings Mountain where the CVS is not open 24 hours a day you can shop both the deals for the last week and the next week on Saturday night and Southernsavers posts the deal on like Friday I think.

What is your money saving tip this week?

Romans 7: 5-7 and Romans 8:15

"Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of the sinful man is death, but the minds controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God."

Later on:

Romans 8:

"For you did not receive a spirit that makes you slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship And by him we cry "Abba Father."

New Apple Juice with a 2 Total Fruit and Veggie Serving Per 8 ozs

I got this new apple juice at Ingels and I am very excited that it says it gives 2 servings of fruit and veggies. Jackson tried it yesterday and really liked the apple juice (I think it is apple and carrot juice blend).

I would definitely recommend it and I am planning to give it to Jackson every other day (it was like $3.50).

Do you have an tips on how to get your little ones to eat more veggies? Is there a certain vitamin your little one likes?

I am ordering This Steamer Soon from QVC!

Natalie writes (this picture is from what she cooked):

"Last night I used my Technique 3 tier steamer and made tilapia filets and asparagus. On the side I made minute rice. It was a delicious 6 point meal. Did you know that for 4 ounces of tilapia, it's only 2.5 points? The pic below is what it looked like when finished."

I love asparagus and with all the fresh veggies we are getting from people at the church, this steamer will be a great way to cook veggies.

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.K26182.desc.Technique-85qt-3-Tier-Food-Steamer

She also says,

"HOT NEW FIND!! This thing is awesome! I steamed boneless skinless chicken breast in the bottom tray, cauliflower in the middle and fresh yellow squash and zuchinni in the top tray. Most tender chicken I have EVER eaten and all the fat dripped away. I coated everything in extra virgin olive oil (just a little), sea salt..."

She is on facebook and is so close to reaching her goal. I think she has lost 80 pounds through Weight Watchers and she posts every week on her group on facebook, "Knotts So Much of Me," you can join.

I am having a really good week this week, eating healthy and feeling great. Weighing in every Monday morning at the house.

What is your weight lose tip this week (or eating more healthy tip)?

Abigail's Second Weekend Away...Jackson's Favorites

at Gigi and Grand!

When Jackson was a baby we tried to get him to stay at Gigi and Grand's one weekend a month. It was great bonding time for them and a great break for us.

Well, with the craziness of this year and living with my parents for a month, Abigail has only gotten to stay with Gigi and Grand one time. So, it has been like a mini vacation with just one child! We were nervous on how Abigail would do considering she is a huge mama's girl and says mommy all day long, but she has done great. Abigail is so sweet and loving and I am so glad she has been that way with my parents as well.

We are so thankful for Gigi and Grand!

So with Jackson:

His favorite DVD right now is: Veggie Tales, "Silly Songs"

His favorite thing to sing: "God is bigger than the Boogie Man"

His favorite thing to do: Play the Wii with Nick (the next door neighbor who both my kids talk about all day long...we are so thankful to have someone for our kids to look up to and play with that goes to our church) and his daddy. He is so incredible with swords, I can not even come close to beating him in this game.

Also, we signed him up for group swim lessons at the YMCA, and he had his first lesson was last week and he loved it. It is for 3-5 year olds and goes till the end of August. It is every Saturday and it was only $25 for me with being a Y member and getting a coupon in the mail. In the Fall, we will do soccer, and in the Spring tee ball, and the summer swim lessons (once he turned 3 years old).

His favorite toy: New Woody Doll from Toy Story that we got that says like 20 phrases and when you take his hat the doll says, "Where is my hat?" along with a couple other phrases

School challenges: I try to do "School Time" and Brain Quest worksheets Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. He is working on when I say to put a block beside his teddy bear, he puts it beside it. Then I ask him to put it "on top," and "behind." This was one exercise he struggled with on his end the year testing. He also can tell you what street he lives on now.

Do you know what other "school tests/activities" we can be working on for a 3 year old (turning 4 in September)?

What are some of your preschooler's favorites?

Chick Fil A Cow Appreciation Day

This year at Cow Appreciate Day we made it for the costume contest (that I did not know about), and Jackson got 3rd place! He got 2 free kids meal, toy cow, and pencils. He was a cow last year for Halloween so we still hat the costume.

They did change the rules this year and you had to be dressed up more than just your shirt to get the combo meal. Charlie referenced it in his sermon he will have up soon here:

Fun to look back at last year's pictures ,here.

Abigail's 18 Month Old Check Up

Weight: 24 pounds and 3 ozs (50%)
Height: 32 1/4 inches (50-75%)
Head Circumference: 75%

Funny thing is that I checked Jackson's blog post (here) and he was 24 pounds and 4 ozs at his 18 month old check up.

I am beyond thankful that Abigail is right where she needs to be with her words, probably a little a head of where she needs to be. If you ask her what her name is she can say Abigail and the other day she said, "I see the flower." While we were at the doctor's office a ball hit the doctor and she told the doctor that she was sorry...ha! She loves to sing, and tells me what she needs all day long with her words.

Eating: She is a lot better eater than Jackson, but she is started to become more picky. The big issue with her that the doctor and I discussed is her not drinking but a few ozs of milk a day. She eats yogurt and cheese, but is not liking whole milk even out of a straw.

Any suggestions on how to increase her milk intake?

The doctor's suggestion was hardly offer her any juice, but she really loves her 8 ozs of juice a day!

She still has pear baby food and squash baby food and is good about trying new foods. We finally got rid of her wake up bottles last month, she told me she did not want them anymore...ha!

Prayer

"reminds you that life is not about you. Prayer reminds you that the center of your universe is a place reserved for God and God alone. Prayer reminds you that real peace, satisfaction, and contentment come when you live for a greater glory than your own. Prayer reminds you that the hope of marriage is not found in a husband and wife conspiring to build their own kingdom but in submitting together to the wisdom and rule of a better King. Prayer calls you away from the kingdom of self, which is so destructive to everything a marriage is intended to be, and welcomes you to the kingdom of God, where a God of love rules in love."

Tripp, "What Did You Expect?" (265).

Tuesday's Tip: Weight Watchers and Budgeting

Weight Watchers Tips:

• I got off going to Weight Watchers meetings after we moved but I am back to using their journal and my first tip is to plan out what you will eat every day right when you wake up!
• Normal day of eating for me is: Fiber One Bar first thing: 2 points, Smart One Chicken Alfredo frozen meal: 6 points, Fiber One yogurt:0 points, Weight Watchers brownie (heated up in the microwave): 2 points with light cool whip on top, Junior Burrito at Moe's: 8 points, chips and some dip: 4 points, Red Velvet cake bar: (found only at Weight Watchers meetings) 1 point. Total used 23 points even though my goal is 22. Writing down what you eat is huge, and I love the 3 month journal that is found only at the meetings.
• Every other day I eat Special K Chocolate Protein Shake for breakfast for 3 points. I try not to have the same thing for breakfast and lunch every day. I also try to wait to I am hungry to eat!
  
• Recently, I have enjoyed the new Special K vanilla almond cereal. What are some low calorie/ low point food that you enjoy?

Budgeting:

• I am making a new personal legalism of only spending $100 a Walmart per week on groceries, medicine, diapers etc. I will not go back to Walmart for 7 days, not matter what!
• Trying to not spend more than $200 a week on groceries and out to eat food
• Check on how you are doing at least once I week...I do it on Mondays usually.
• We try to spend no more that $3 on breakfast for all of us, $5 for lunch and $10 for dinners for all of us.
  
• What are your money saving tips for this week or budgeting suggestions?
  

More Amazing Pictures Taken By Dana

If you live in the area, email me and I can give you Dana's information (emilywallace80@hotmail.com). She is so good at taking pictures and has a great big lens!