One on One

Organizing my time for each kid

Find time to spend with each kid individually can be difficult sometimes just because of time constraints and just life.

However, on this day I was super lucky and was able to spend some genuine one on one time with both the kiddos!

The hubby and I make an effort to occasionally (like once a year if we are lucky) to take each kid out by themselves and make it their special date. Our kids are so close in age neither one of them knows life without the other nor what it is like to get that individualized attention.

Haley and I hit up the nail salon to get some much needed wanted pedis. It was SO nice! I love hanging out with her chatting about girl stuff!

Who doesn’t just LOVE Denny’s! It was about 9:30 at night and Haley was at a sleepover and the hubby was out on a bear hunt and Cody said he had been crazy pancakes and he thought me and him should hit up Denny’s.

So I said SURE WHY NOT!?  He must have caught me at a moment of weakness.  I have to drive 25 minutes each way to get there and it was late, I was tired, but I didn’t hesitate!

Yup – there is my boy! All swagger like huh? We had the best time just the two of us chatting about the day and how dad’s hunt was going.  It was so nice to enjoy his company just together.

We try to make each kid feel special individually. Some days it is tough to carve out individual or special moments for each of them.  I like to hope that the moments we do have create a lasting impression and a great memory for down the road.

Is there anything you do for each kid? I would love to hear any ideas!



Bonding with my Boys

Ok - Yes I am somewhere in that crowd!

We are the probably not the best role model coolest parents EVER!

Cody turned 13 recently and we bought him a ticket to Tucson's FALL BALL!

I don't typically listen to this type of music - you know the kind - hard, heavy, bang your head against the wall, metal music. I mean it's rock right? Just heavy metal rock?

I don't know but I went to spend some time with my boys over this past weekend because they both LOVE this stuff.

It was crazy, awesome, and I learn something every time I go to a concert! This time Cody schooled me - ever heard of the WALL OF DEATH? Nope you either? Well basically people act like idiots and run into each other to see who well can bleed the most.

Gonna post some awesome pics! 

Red Light Kings
Middle Class Rut

Five Finger Death Punch
Chevelle
Staind
KORN

My boys! Love you two!

It was HOT!!! My hair was a mess but we had a great time!

Oh look! It is Tio Brad and Cody! C-R-A-Z-I-N-E-S-S!!

Wow look at that hair! There were some crazy outfits!

Yeah I broke down and bought a t-shirt for Cody.

Ritz Carlton = Frugal

Ritz Carlton = Frugal

How is it you ask?

I often blog about ways to save money and how to be frugal. So I am sure you all think I am a big fat liar when I say that I stayed at the Ritz Carlton and it was frugal.

WELL... let me give you a little peak how.

OK it would have been so easy to just put it all on the Discover Card! But that sure wouldn't be frugal.

However, I do have a Discover Card and just like this Pink one- isn't it so cool and girlie?

Well we put almost everything we can on the Discover Card every month and I pay it online through my online bill pay every couple of days. That way we pay no interest but we get lots of points!

I used my last 2 months of Discover Card points to pay for a little mini-vaca with Haley at the Ritz Carlton. Just a cool way to be frugal but get some really awesome treats while building memories!

The last 2 years the boys have gone on what seems their annual hunting trip to Texas ( I will spare you the dead hog pictures).

So this year I decided Haley and I would take a little vaca. I got a one night stay family package for $199/night (remember I used my Discover points to pay for it). Haley got to eat free and a friend AND I had a $50 resort credit to use towards my food.

Somehow we ended up with a Casita and we weren't even in the main hotel lodge - guess it was our lucky day?

This had the deepest bathtub I have ever seen!

One door shower and one door toilet  - it was crazy!

The shower was crazy awesome!

Notice that really cool TV that you can watch while taking a bath?

Love this mirror!

Oh yeah baby- the whole reason I picked this resort - the WATERSLIDE! And yes I went down it too!

Doesn't take much to impress this simple country girl!

View from lunch

Again doesn't take much to impress us!

Oh yeah baby! Oh wait that's right I had 2 kids with me- Coke it was! But pretty impressive huh?

Infinity pool at sunset

I loved the fire bowls! They were everywhere and it was just gorgeous!

Oh I forgot to mention we had a visitor on our porch! It was SO GROSS!

The Infinity pool was lit up gorgeous at night.

So remember when trying to think of some great vacation ideas - think outside the box, have a stay-cation - check out the local deals that include meals, use your credit card points! Make the most and be frugal and Make some Memories!



What was I Thinking?

What was I thinking?

Oh yeah, this is my first love and I wanted to spend time with the kids.

Something you didn't know about me - I was the 1988 Class IV TN State Champion on the floor exercise in gymnastics! I know I know, quit your clapping!

Well, I LOVED gymnastics! I was a crazy person!

Haley has started gymnastics a few times and she is moving up slowing and learning good skills and work ethic on how to achieve something that isn't so easy.

Check out a fun day with the kids! ( I still have a few moves).

He has ALWAYS been a monkey!

Love that girl!

I bet you didn't know that about me huh?

Sore you ask?

Not at all 

Maybe a little! Let's just say I can tell I have built some muscle!

More than anything I am so happy to spend some great quality time with the kids and we weren't sitting on the couch. I am not very active these days with the recovering Valley Fever stuff - this was more like do something, sit down, lol do another sit down. 

But all in all - what a great hour with the kids!

Cotton Candy, Turkey Legs, and A Zipper - a Giant one!

You've heard me talk about my cleaning fairy right? Well she isn't just my cleaning fairy- she is one of my best friends! I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends!

This day I invited my friend Mindy and her daugther Melaina to the fair with us. I had 40 rides to waste  get used up because I had bought these thinking the kids would have an awesome time at the county fair. Well, I didn't anticipate on not feeling the best and almost 90 degrees. Whew thank goodness these kids LOVE to ride rides!

Cody and Mindy getting ready to ride the ZIPPER - that big one I was talking about, no thank you!

Here they go!

Melaina and Haley - I love those girls!

Mindy and Cody - I did the "mom" thing and sat and held everyone's cotton candy, cell phones, you get the picture!

We love these youngins!

Before the log flume ride thingy

After - not too much damage but  you can't really see their wet shoes.

Excuse my crazy 80's hair, it was windy and I was just well, tired.

Oh he had been waiting for that mutten ALL day!

Guess they were too?

These are great kiddos!

That right there is my best friend Mindy - she is the best cleaning fairy E.V.E.R!!

It was a great day! Memories made! We have done the country fair every year since we moved to AZ. What do you do with your kids to make memories?