A wahoo Halloween by Ginny

O.k. I have went to THREE trunk or treats Karas and James Nana andPapas and mine it awesome ,I loved it was so cool I got to see old friend, and make new friends ,and see my friends from church, I had three WHOLE BAGS of candy I LOVED IT. we got to see a bat, a snake, Aubree got to pet a snake it was so cool. A animal was as tall as a bear

Halloween and Zoo

Ginny was a butterfly. The tutu is homemade, compliments to Sandra. This was at James and Kara's ward trunk or treat.

Miss Aubree was Miss AubreeBell (Tink). This was something we already had.

Will was Sully, from Monsters Inc. Ginny also wore this costume when she was 2. Due to circumstances from Jake's unemployment earlier, we did Halloween on a budget and it still turned out nice. Halloween was fun for us this year and the kids were able to enjoy several Halloween festivities. The kids went to James and Kara's trunk or treat, Jackson Wards with Nana, and our wards too. We let them trick or treat in Jackson at Nana and Papa's, Papaw's, and a few other family members. Just from those few stops, they got all the candy they needed. Papaw gave them each 2 full, unopened bags of chocolate and bananas. They had plenty and I enjoy the brief visits with family.

Aubree's kindergarten class went on a field trip to the zoo this past week. Mom and I accompanied the class and we had a nice time. Aubree asked for her picture to be taken so often and different parts of the zoo. Memphis actually has a nice zoo and it is one of the highest rated ones in the United States.

Nana and Will

Nana and Aubree

The weather is beautiful outside today, so Jake is working in the yard, and Will, is just hanging out by the fence.....

Third Will

Do you ever just feel like you are the third wheel? I have felt like it often lately. Who does not want to be included and feel needed? Do you ever want to be called to hang or do something and be the first choice, not because no one else can? Sometimes, it is just nice to be the first choice and not back up. I am good though because I know my family loves me and is there for me. Aubree said the cutest thing yesterday, quoting her:" Mother, you are more than just a mother, but a child of God." Randomly, out of the blue, my five year old helped remind me of my self worth. Everything here is good. We had a good Halloween and maybe I will post about that soon. I have not felt great lately, so have tried to take it easy, not that blogging is not easy but it requires me getting the camera out and once I start there, I will think of 50 other things that need to be done.

Kindness spreads around

We are blessed in our family to make new friends and enjoy our old ones too. My girls love Miley Cyrus and a few months ago, they heard she was coming to Memphis and asked to go. We responded no because we did not want to pay the price they were asking for tickets. The girls moved on and did not ask again. However, the morning of the concert, we received a call from Aubree's teacher asking if we wanted tickets to the show that evening. Naturally, we said yes. It was through her kindness and someone that she knows that 140 people were given free tickets to the show. We were way excited and I called into work, although I ended up going, just a little late and prepared to go to the show. We were going to get 4 tickets, however, when we picked up the tickets, they gave us 5. We had already invited to Sandra to join us but now could invite someone else too. Sandra loves Miley and was excited too. We were sad when she had car problems on the way down and was not able to make it. It would not be hard to find someone to go, who does not like Miley, but we chose another girl, who does not have opportunities like that often, and when Sandra could not come, we invited her mom to join us too. Both of them were over joyed. It was a good night and I very much enjoyed making that memory with my girls. The only thing that would have made it better was if Sandra could have come too.


Yesterday, the kids and I went to Jackson for the day. We followed Sandra back in he car because the car is having some serious issues and then spent the day with family. We were able to see family we rarely see. Uncle James and Kathy Eaton (dads brother), Aunt Linda and Uncle Bill (dads sister), and Aunt Sandy (dads sister) were all over at the house. Then someone had the bright idea to go visit my dad's father, so we all loaded up in cars and went over. Papa Eaton was probably blown away when we all showed up but you can tell he enjoyed it. I enjoy when my kids get to enjoy the same people I enjoyed growing up and get to know our relatives. Speaking of that, last Monday evening, one of Jake's cousins was passing through Memphis helping someone move and we were able to meet up and have dinner with her. Jake enjoyed catching up with Rebecca Farrell Lozano and the kids met a family member they had never met before.
After visiting with the family, we went to the hospital to see my childhood neighbor, Mr. John Rochelle. He is getting very old but will always have a special place in the lives of my parents, siblings, and I. He is so lonely and it was brought to my attention, how happy he got when he received a hug. So, I am trying to not only teach the girls the importance of kindness but to give hugs to those we know and love. You never know when someone is lonely and it will brighten their day and ours too.

After the trial of your faith....

Most people are not aware of the silent struggle that our family has faced over the past few months. In June, Jake was temporarily let go from his employment due to the lack of a test score. Dumb thing (or one of the dumb things, the whole situation was dumb) is that the previous test of the same nature he received an award for because he scored in the top 10% in the nation. However, he was scheduled to take the test but the results would not be in before the deadline. So, I believe in an attempt to reduce staff members, they let him go. The principal pleaded with the board not to do this because Jake's students have some of the highest test scores in the area and he is an exceptional teacher. So, Jake was employed as a substitute teacher for the last 9 weeks, while the details of his new contract were worked out and the "extra" teachers were surplussed. He was able to continue to teach his regular class and the board even tried to send someone over to fill the position when they got wind of it but the principal sent them back. However, our prayers were once again answered when he went back under a contract on October 7th. We rarely felt stressed at times due to a blessing Jake received by the stake president when he was set apart and President Dorius had no idea about the situation because it had just happened that week. Jake remained calm about the entire situation but in October, I began to feel a little stressed. Our savings was about diminished and my income was not sufficient to support the family, not even close. The entire family made sacrifices. The girls chose not to take ballet and were so good about trying to conserve money. I am hoping this was a good learning experience but hope even more it is one we do not have to endure again.
On the upside, Sandra has taught me to make tutu's and I am enjoying that. I love to make things for my kids. Okay and maybe for me too, although Sandra did almost this entire one. I also found a great deal on bunk beds for the kids on craigslist. It is unfortunate of the persons situation that had to sell them but they are the exact ones we looked at in the store but there was no way, I would pay that price for them.

Dropping off at school

Sometimes, well actually, every morning it is hard for me to get up and the girls ready for school and harder when I take them because I work nights. However, I always come back home smiling when I do. Ginny is at the stage where she will tell you bye and give you an "almost hug" ten marches up the stairs to her class. Then you walk Aubree over to her door, after a minute long hug and kiss, she is on her way. She walks in the door and then comes to the glass, peers out, smiles, then waves bye. But that is not then end, she starts walking down her hall and it becomes a race...she is off. It becomes her little mission to pass everyone else in the hall without running to not get in trouble. It is the cutest thing. Her fists are balled at her side and she hurries along. You can not help but be in a good mood while you watch and then she always turns around one more time to wave bye before she turns the corner. What a cute personality both my girls have.

Learning to Coupon

I have been very impressed by those people who "coupon", so I decided to try to learn how. I have thought about attempting before but thought it would be too difficult. So, I decided to really figure it out and the first step was to ask a lady in our ward to present it at closing in one of our enrichments. Unfortunately, I had to leave early because that was the day Aubree had the flu and I was needed at home. However, she has taken the time to e-mail me things and teach me. It is always easier to see than to just hear it but I am learning. There is even a blog devoted to it. This is my 2nd week learning and I am getting better. I am still no pro but at least I am learning. Here are my buys from today, granted I do no need these things but you never know and medicine is always good to have on hand. Here the great thing is that I have $6.00 off my next purchase in register rewards.
The first receipt: paid $6.91 and saved $18.25 ( this was my last transaction and would have only been $2.81 but who does not need the office trivia game for $4.00?)
Second Receipt: paid $1.23 and saved $7.50
Third receipt: paid $1.02 and saved $16.77
I am hoping to still learn and get better, especially at grocery store buys. These were all from Walgreens, which I am learning has some really good deals, the more I learn.