Monkey Joe's: Half Price Wednesdays

About every week, one of my babies asks to go to Monkey Joe's. We have not been since cousin Jake's birthday in December, and now we have been twice in two weeks. The above pictures were two Monday's ago in Spartanburg. Charlie had a meeting every night last week and I needed a getaway, so we went to Spartanburg for the day two Monday's ago (my parents took us to Monkey Joe's which was fantastic).

Today we went to Monkey Joe's in Gastonia, and they have half price day on Wednesday and I met a couple friends out there. I am also friends with MJ's on facebook where they let me know when they are having events with chances to win a free birthday party there. We had another great time there, and I will hopefully upload pictures soon.

I have a feeling we will be going to Monkey Joe's a good bit during this summer. I am a little nervous about this summer because it will be the first time I have not had a gym membership since I had Jackson, and I really do not want to get one for the summer. If you stay at home, what are some fun, inexpensive things you do with your babies during the summer (the first thing out of Jackson's mouth every morning is...where are we going today mommy?....)?

Tuesday's Tip: Restaurant.com: 80 % Off: Purchase Before March 31st

and get a FREE $10 Gift Card!

"Get 80% off at Restaurant.com using the code: TASTY at checkout. This is good through Thursday, March 31st.

Better yet, with any purchase, you will get another FREE $10 eGift Card to Restaurant.com.

These are really coupons off a larger purchase (so you do still have to spend money in the restaurant), but they are still a great way to save!

You’ll get:

- $25 dining or gift certificates for $2

- $10 dining or gift certificates for 60¢

Think of them as a $10 off a $15 lunch or $25 dollars off a $40 dinner. For us this makes for cheap lunches out with Daddy, or inexpensive dinner dates. Make sure to read what the requirements are for that restaurant before purchasing."

Thanks Southern Savers!

There is more to choose for in Spartanburg so I am hoping to get this deal at a restaurant in Spartanburg and then I will have a free babysitter...my parents!

Also, Southern Savers writes:

"There is another great new Huggies printable coupon for $3 off any package of Huggies Diapers! This is a different printable from the one a few days ago.

Don’t wait to print your coupon – it will go fast!"

I somehow printed this coupon twice.

And finally:

Redplum loaded a whole new batch of coupons this morning! If there are any coupons you may want you need to print them now, sadly Redplum coupons never last long.

One to note is the Success Rice coupon. With the Disney Tangled movie being released on DVD this week, this coupon pairs in nicely with a mail in rebate for Tangled and Success Rice.

The Coupons

$1 off Scott’s Liquid Gold Wood Cleaner & Preservative printable
$2 off Culturelle Digestive Health of Health & Wellness printable
$1 off Tums Product 24 ct. + printable
.75/2 Ball Park Products printable
$3 off FiberChoice Product 90 ct. printable
B1G1 Whiskas Product printable
$1/2 Success Rice Products printable
$2 off Excellence or Excellence To-Go Hair Color printable
$5 off Slimshots Liquid Portion Control printable
$1 off Opti-Free Replenish Solution 10 oz.+ printable
.50/1 Whole Fruit Bars printable
.50/1 Bridgeford Frozen Rolls, Bread Dough, or Monkey Bread printable
$1 off Whiskas Dry Food for Cats Bag printable
.75/1 StarKist SeaSations Entrée printable
.50/1 Bona RTU Spray printable

I printed off a bunch of these coupons, all thanks to Southern Savers!

I have been seeing some of the new show extreme couponing on TLC and it blows my mind. I do not know about yall, but I am not going to buy something that I do not need just because I can get it free.

What is your money saving tip for this week?

Fun Friday: We had a Great Time at Shelby Park!

Today we went to the Shelby Park for free Carousel rides with the Moms Club of Shelby. It was a beautiful day and we had a fanastic time.

My heart was also very heavy as I enjoyed the day with my babies. The Cleveland Park Train Crash has constantly been on my mind.

How is the family that lost their son coping with this tragedy? How is the wife dealing with all of this being eight months pregnant? I am sure her emotions are all over the place.

Last night, I was overcome with emotion hearing the pastor who lost his son speak on the Channel 7 news station (in Spartanburg). This family is being so strong, and I know the supernatural strength that they have is coming through the Holy Spirit's awesome power working in them.

Pastor Dwight (the family's dad) said that losing a son was the most terrible pain you could ever experience, but that the Lord will help you get through it and sends other people to help you as well.

He said that he wants answers but that he does not blame anyone. He was very proud to be the parent of Benjie, the boy that died. Both parents said they had a wonderful six years with him. They said they were confident that knew Benjie knew the Lord.

Wow. So many times we get so caught up in things, especially material matters, and in the end we can't take them with us. We really need to enjoy the day that Jesus has given us, and enjoy the precious miracles that God has richly blessed us with!

Wednesday's Word: Marvelous Light

"Marvelous Light"-Charlie Hall

I once was fatherless,
a stranger with no hope;
Your kindness wakened me,
Awakened me, from my sleep

Your love it beckons deeply,
a call to come and die.
By grace now I will come
And take this life, take your life.

Sin has lost it's power,
death has lost it's sting.
From the grave you've risen
VICTORIOUSLY!

Into marvelous light I'm running,
Out of darkness, out of shame.
By the cross you are the truth,
You are the life, you are the way

My dead heart now is beating,
My deepest stains now clean.
Your breath fills up my lungs.
Now I'm free. now I'm free!

Lift my hands and spin around,
See the light that i have found.
Oh the marvelous light
Marvelous light

Lift my hands and spin
See the light within...

This song is not really new, but it is new to me! I heard it at eteens when we went to hear Robyn (eteens is fantastic!). I downloaded off itunes and have been listening to it on my ipod a lot! I would really encourage everyone to spend time during you day worshiping Jesus. It has been a crazy time in our lives with our house not selling, voting on going to two services, and trying to do our complicated taxes this year. So much of our battle is spiritual, and it begins with our thought life. I also have the Bible on cd (dramatized version) that I purchased a long time ago, and I am listening to the Bible throughout the day as well.

Click here to see Charlie's letter to David Baptist Church. We are amazed at what all God is doing!

Movie Monday: Charlie and Abigail watching Gamecock Baseball

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Since the Gamecocks won the national championship in baseball last year, we have been watching a lot of the games this year online. We also have been working on Jackson's Cubbie's verse all week long, and Abigail wanted to do it to and ended up learning the hard verse too. Hopefully, this year I will save up enough money to get a new digital camera that has hd video...this camera has almost had it!

Fun Friday: Riverbank Zoo is Amazing!

My kids really like the new "Jake and the Never Land Pirates" show on the Disney Channel. One day I called the kids in to come inside from playing outside, and I said, "You can watch Jake!" Abigail got so excited and said "my cousin Jake is here." She was all confused and heart broken that her cousin Jake was not here for a visit. So, we quickly planned a day trip to Columbia. It was good because we got some free Dream Dinners, and our lawnmower from the house. It was so great to see them and to get to go to the zoo!

Tuesday's Tip: Jackson's First Trip to the Dentist

We had many different people tell us different things about when to take our babies to the dentist. Some people said don't take them when they are two, because they will not do a cleaning, and all their teeth have not come in yet.

So we were planning on taking Jackson to the dentist when he was three for his first cleaning and check up and then when he was three we moved. Then soon after we moved, Charlie had his gallbladder out, and then well...his first visit was last week. Abigail's first visit will definitely be right after she turns three years old, but I am only taking them once a year until their permanent teeth come in as of now.

Some things I learned at the dentist:

1. We need to brush their gums at least once a day. Not brushing your babies' gums can cause gingivitis. It is tricky with Jackson because he has big lips and we need yo pull the lips back. Jackson did have some build-up on one side, but the nurse said brushing his gums for three days straight on that side will get rid of it. We already use a spin brush on him.
2. Need to floss back four molars daily for sure. They have these teeth utill they are four years old. Any tips on how to do this easier let me know! Might be getting those devices that makes flossing easier.
   
3. They do not have x rays until they are five years old.

We went to Pediatric Dental Care in Gastonia (Dr. Conner). I was very happy with the experience. They let me come back there for his first visit and he got a balloon, sugar free sucker, and a token to get a prize.

Another thing we are going back and forth debating now is dental insurance. It cost us $180 for Jackson's visit, but dental insurance for us all is around $120 a month....now that does not add up if you ask me. Do you have dental insurance? If so do you think it is worth it?

Also, do you have any tips on cleaning your Preschooler's teeth?

Movie Monday: Jackson and Abigail Asleep in the Car after the Zoo

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

I do not get to see the kids sleeping much at all in the day time anymore. They were worn out! I did not think it was possible but I love them more and more everyday!

"Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. A joyful heart is the inevitable result of a heart burning with love.

It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.”
-Mother Teresa

-from The Woman's Study Bible (Paterson)...while doing my Community Bible Study today.

Fun Friday: So

thankful for my babies who are growing up so fast!

Tuesday's Tip: The Kids' Favorite Book Right Now Is...

One Duck Stuck (Root)

Just thought I would share that with yall. This was one of Jackson's Preschool books of the month he did in speech and one that is definitely worth buying. Abigail is loving this book, and we are reading it every day before her nap.

What is your Preschooler's favorite book right now?

Also, this week is the Letter "S" in Preschool and we are working with him writing the letter S and the theme is Dr. Seuss. I heart Preschool.

For the Month of March:
Next week is Circus week
Week of March 13th they will work on the Letter G
Week of March 20th is the Letter U (Outer Space Theme)
Week of March 27th is the Letter K (Weather Theme)

Jackson is in a 3k Preschool Class two days a week, and next year he will go four days a week to a 4K Class. Email me if you would like to know what Preschool he goes to (emilywallace80@hotmail.com). I really have been pleased with all they have taught him and it is VERY affordable (it also helps that his best bud is in his class)! Abigail will not go next year. I am not going to put her in one until she is in a 3k class.

Please also keep us in your prayers. Saturday night a TV feel on Jackson (somehow he only got a cut on his knee). Monday night a class bowl broke on me and I have a cut on my thumb, and then tonight a class bowl broke on Abigail (she is fine). This is a new type of demonic attack that we are experiencing. However, any suffering we have for His name sake, is so worth it. Living for eternity, is so worth it. Jesus is so worth it.

David Baptist Church will be voting March 13th on going to two Sunday Schools and two services. Every since the expansion committee has met we have gone through spiritual warfare for sure. David Baptist church has never gone to two worship services (and Sunday school hours) in the entire 70 years of its existence, so this is pretty major. Click here to see Charlie's great post on why 2 services on his blog. Thank you for praying. and just continue to pray that our family and our church will be all about Jesus and reaching/discipling people for Him!

This week marks our one year anniversary at David Baptist. We are loving it here, and love the people so much!