Wow, Time has flown!

Wow I can't believe it has been so long since my last post! But looking back not a whole lot of note has happened.
Eric is still trying to get signed this year. Caleb is still going to school. We went to Mom's last night, it was fun! I am NOT going to mention the two games we played that I LOST both to Eric!

Lizzie is still inching her way along. She is getting closer to crawling, but she has entered the clingy phase. She needs to be held most of the time. She needs to see me most of the time to. If I walk past her and she sees me she starts throwing a fit!

I have won three items in instant win games so far. COOL! I love becenstable.net I went to one of their classes. I loved it! I am thinking about becoming an educator.

I did my first BPO. Hopefully they will be coming more frequently now.

Our garden is still going. Hopefully it will produce this year.

I have been baking fresh bread and I love it! I tried a whole wheat recipe yesterday. It was sooo good! I Never thought my father in law would ever say that about whole wheat, but he liked it too!

I am going to try home made pitas today. I would have tried croissants but I can't find the book the recipe is in! I hope I find it soon! I would LOVE to have wonderful home made croissants.

I am going to try my hand at making baby wipes! I found a good site that offers a recipe (is that what you call it for non food items??????) They said it costs less then a penny a wipe! I could definitely use that freeing up in our budget! I am still not ready to try cloth diapers yet, but we need to do a little shaving in the budget. I think this might be a good way to! At 2.50-5 for about 80 wipes that can be quite a sum over the life of a baby.

I am also still struggling with house work. But I have lost 5 pounds since I started my weight loss competition! I got to go to macaroni grill as a reward! I LOVE their BREAD and PENNE RUSTICA!!!

Too CUTE!

I have the cutest kids! This video is long but it is worth it to watch the whole thing. At least for me it is. LOL I think it is just hilarious! Caleb has such a personality!

This video is of Lizzie and her extreme cuteness. She has been a little more solemn today. Thus the laughs to make her smile and participate. She is teething her second tooth and being very needy and clingy. But the rocker is not on I PROMISE! You can see her rocking, and also if you listen and look real close you can see her blowing kisses. I am of course blowing some too to help her want to blow hers. And After listening to this I almsot didn't post it.... forgive my horrible voice!

I have now done 60!

I did talk to Dad and I did visit Italy. Funny story about that. Ask me some time, although it involves a toilet. Nothing crude though so never fear! I laugh remembering it! We had some good times in the Alps!

This is a game I found when I was blog surfing. Rules: Anything you have done has to be in colored, bold, and/or underlined. How much have you done? It only takes about 5 minutes…Just do it..it's fun!The things I've done are bold.
1. Started your own blog (duh)
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland!
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a Praying Mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched an amazing lightning storm (I love a good thunder and lightening storm)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (French Bread Making IS an art! lol also scrapbooking)
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning...
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (In the process!! Last year we had a teeny tiny carrot! and the rest flopped big!)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (although it was a hot tub and not a pool)
27. Ran a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community!
36. Taught yourself a new language (I had help with all my languages! LOL)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David (I don't remember I have to ask Mom and Dad)
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa (No thanks to MOM! LOL j/k)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie (This movie had a VERY select audience! Me and some friends!)
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood! (Although I couldn't for a period of about 10 years due to living in France.)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter (I Will soon!)
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (Nope, and that's a GOOD thing!)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (Does a dislocation count?)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (Wheeeeeeeeeeee!!!)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (Ok, everyone has doen those school project books!)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury (Almost, I was slotted too but they canceled at the last second)
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Visited Italy (I have to ask Dad, I think Italy might have been on the list of our tour through the alps)

59! With a few Not sures, and a whole lot of Soon's! Kind of cool!

Great News!!!

Eric Passed!!!! He passed his test and now he can be hired on as a permanent teacher! He is going to as soon as spring break week is over. Well He is going to tell the principal that he is interested in staying at this school with these classes but if he does not sign a contract then will the principal be a good reference for him to find a job elsewhere. Hopefully that will motivate the school to sign him fast! Yeah!!!

I also got about $55 of items for $34! I HAD to spend $34 because we were just tooo low on diapers. We had like 5 left! I know, I know, We could have held out for another day or two right! lol Now we are stocked up on diapers for a LONG time! Anyway I went to Target and used some fabulous coupons, and got some great deals. My best deal was a big refill pack of wipes normally 5.99 for .99! and of course 2 free trial size deodorant, one free trial size tide, lotion, zip loc bags, and band-aids. I love free stuff and good deals! Oh I also found a box of crayons for .48 and a pair of scissors for .47 COOL!

Long time gone fast!

It has been a long time since I posted but it has gone by very fast. I am working outside to get our garden ready this week. You wonder why I have all this free time? Spring Break! Yes the time that most everybody deserts their states (like my family who is in the Dominican Republic!!!! You stink Mom! LOL) and goes on vacation I am still here in Texas getting my garden ready. My arms hurt!
I have to move some old wood we have and then pick out the bits that won't go well in the garden plastic and all that just isn't good for the plants, go figure! I also had to trim some of the trees and the sidewalk so we could actually walk around it. And then later I have to get the free lumber I was talking about before and outline the garden area. We are going to mulch this year so hopefully it will go better. Apparently we were like the only ones in Texas to not know you have to mulch or everything will die! And we got the approved varieties of some vegetables we like so they have been proven to grow in Texas! It is NOT HOPELESS this year!
I am also going to be starting an herb garden. I have found my absolute favorite herb to grow (to grow, not to use) which is called lemon Thyme. It smells soooo good! Only because I love the lemon smell so much. But I LOVE it! I like to crush some of the leaves and just smell it all day!
I have lost some weight! I lost last weeks competition but I did lose some weight! I am going to whoop her butt though this week! She is in the land of Temptation. Well one anyway, known as the ALL-INCLUSIVE Resort! HE-HE-HE We'll see who has lost weight at the end of this week! LOL
I am hopefully going to go see the pre-screening of the movie Knowing for free tonight. Although If Eric doesn't get back soon we might not make it in time. We might not make it in time to get good seats anyway. They say some of these things have people standing in line for hours. We will see. This is my first one so I will get the feel of it tonight.

Great Weekend! Great Deals!

I went to CVS and got some toothpaste and some stuff for Mel on Saturday, and I only paid 1.49 OOP. And Mel was like COOOL!! I need to learn how to do that!
I LOVE getting good deals!

Oh I almost forgot to mention the other good deals I got. This weekend was busy, First I started it off going to Home Depot for their first Saturday of the month kids craft. I have gone a few times and they have the neatest crafts. Lowes ahs one as well. i wonder if I could go to Lowes and then Home Depot on the same day! It is soo cool. Caleb loved this months craft a race trac thing. I even have pics. Although the two cars are missing and one of the pegs to hold up the track is missing too. But that just goes to show how much Caleb loves playing with it.
Anyway I was on my way home from Home Depot, and from getting my free small sub at quiznos, and then getting my free small candle at creekside collections, and I saw a Garage Sale sign. I almost passed it up but made a last minute turn to try and find it. Maybe it was the spirit telling me to go, I don't know, but I sure am glad I went! (Usually those last minute decisions are the spirit. After I have thought about it and convinced myself not to go, and then last minute I decide to go anyway, those promptings usually have very good benefits.)
I had a hard time finding it, their signs were not very good, but I did find it and I saw a bike child carrier attachment! I was so excited. I got out and then someone else started looking at it. I waited for them to finish and they kept looking so I was going to go ask the lady how much it was to see if I could out buy these people, since they couldn't make up their minds if they wanted it or not. But before I could ask they walked away so I went and looked at it. Hardly used, good condition, two seater! Handle and front wheel so it can be pushed when not on a bike. Plastic cover to keep cold air out, screen to let in breezes, removable straps and seats so I can carry other things besides children if I want to. It was nice. She wanted 45, I offered thirty! She took it!!! YEAH! I had to run and get some cash from the bank but I got it! I love it! So does Caleb, and Lizzie sat in it as well. She didn't scream so she doesn't hate it, but she didn't laugh so she doesn't really like it... yet. I am glad we got this! They are WAYYY expensive in the store. I Mean even-on-sale-I-could-not-afford-one-without-saving-for-a-few-months expensive!

Here's a general picture of my family all playing together. Right before we read scriptures at night!

I am the weiner!!

I am the weiner (winner)!!! It's a Carver thing! Thanks Grandma! I did win the weekly competition. But by points and not weight loss. But at least I didn't gain anything. I just didn't lose anything either. I was wayyyy too loose with my snacking habits. I am DETERMINED to be better this week! I have already cut up the carrots and the celery for some ready made, healthy, low calorie snacks. I am going to drink my water and then I am going to work my butt off outside making our new garden area.
Our neighbor had some old posts that were warped out by the curb to be thrown away and so we snagged those to outline our raised garden area with. They don't have to straight if they are going to be sitting on the ground! We have saved sooo much just by picking up some useful items that our neighborhood is getting rid of. Our neighborhood is the decluttering King!!! Although it is probably done by the queen not the king, but you get my drift! I am MOST proud of our prelit NICE Christmas tree, and the several totes Christmas and Halloween colored I found! YEAH GO ME!!!!
Lizzie is so close to crawling. I have to get serious about babyproofing our house now! Here she is outside!

Yes, those are weeds! BUT THEY'RE PURPLE! I just love purple on my little frilly frilly girl! Did your voice get all high and dolphiny when you read that??? Good, so did mine!

Important Person

I am an important person people! I am so important I was invited to a prescreening. I get to see an advanced copy of the movie Knowing. Like I said I am sooo Important. NOT. I found this website that offers prescreenings for different movies in different areas and Dallas is showing the Knowing. That is so awesome. Something I have always wanted to do!

Elizabeth my best friend had her little boy. Andrew Miles Duncan, 7lbs 12 oz. He has the MOST hair I have EVER seen on ANY baby! But he is a darling.

Caleb is good. School is still hard for him. He is too independent. He likes to do his own thing too much. And he does NOT like to be told what to do. I had to have a little training meeting with him showing him that the little I do tell him to do is better then what I COULD be doing to him. After being told every little instruction for about 2 minutes he was VERY glad I don't boss him around so much.

Elizabeth is good, not crawling yet but I am not worried at all. Her explosions are coming more under control. And the surprise of the year, Elizabeth does not like peaches or pears. I don't know why! Caleb loved them all children that I know love them. Why doesn't she? Maybe She just needs to get used to them.

Eric is good. Flexing his teaching muscles. We have run into some snags, but nothing we couldn't handle or, to be honest, nothing we weren't expecting. Ethics are strong in our family though and we did the right thing. Eric hopes to get a permanent teaching position soon. He takes his alternative certification test on the 14th. Then 5 days later he will know if he passes, and then he can get hired for a permanent teaching position. His principal likes him, so maybe it will happen the way we hope (dare we say, plan) for.

Fun Days

I had a Pretender sleepover Friday night- Saturday with Mel. We watched ALL the Pretender shows we could cram into Friday night and then Saturday till about 6. It was soooo fun! We watched all of season one and got one episode of season two in. I love The Pretender. It has not been on in 12 years but you can get it on dvd. It is a good story and pretty clean. I let Caleb watch a few of them. The only thing is all the technology used in it is advanced..... for its day...... Back in 1996!!!!!!!!! They used windows 95 and the old thick laptops with all the old bulky plug in cords, and VHS tapes. And the cell phones are the big ones with the flip down bottoms, or the really fat ones. It is funny! I just have to remember this came out a LONG time ago and I can overlook the ancient technology!

We had Stake Conference today, we got there 15 minutes late but we managed to get a pretty good seat, near the front on the padded fold out chairs. It was fun and then we went over to Moms afterward. Becky and Ariel were there, and Michelle and Dan were there too. They are moving to Plano. It is going to be fun. They were here looking at houses.

I have all of my Real Estate Stuff done! I joined the board, and now I am official and have access to the MLS service. Hopefully some BPO's can come in now. I am going to call the companies tomorrow to see if there is anything else I need to do to get some BPO's. Just to let them know I am ready to work! I hope it all works out!