Playing Catchup!

Well I haven't posted in awhile, since my coupon discovery. Which, infact is one of the reasons I haven't had time to post as much. I am getting obsessive. Okay I won't say that but it is so much fun and very addicting. This morning I went to Albertsons to get groceries and I needed quite a bit. Just a fraction of what i got... 2 Dreyers icecream, 10 boxes of cereal, 2 gallons of milk, 10 gatorade, cookies, crackers, 4 12 packs of Mt. Dew, 2 mustards and a bunch more. With all the deals I found I spent under $100 and my coupons I saved $72.48. Plus they gave me two printed coupons totaling $6. The best deal was Post cereal for only 27 cents with two coupons and 67 cents with one(I did my math wrong before). Almost all the coupons are from the Smart Source ads in the Sunday newspaper. AWESOME! Well here is what else we have been up to...

For Muffin Tin Monday, Brooklynn had a muffin tin breakfast. She had toast, Fruit loops cereal, yogurt, milk and cookie crisp cereal as her treat. I have had a lot of comments on the muffin tin monday, I want to give credit to my friend Heidi. She is so creative and does the cutest things, she always finds great websites with such amazing crafts and activities. Thanks Heidi for always letting me copy you. So feel free to use these ideas as well. Brooklynn really loves it.
Well we have just been hanging out at home a lot. Poor Brooklynn gets really bored sometimes and her growing mind wants to keep busy. Last week Brooklynn helped me make Chicken Rollups and she did a great job. After she rolled them. She smashed them, it was funny. Another day we used leftover scrapbook paper, stamps and a paper towel roll and she made a cute butterfly.
Cameron started eating cereal with veggies. YUM! He does a pretty good job except that I have to keep the spoon in his mouth or else his tongue just pushes it out. Cameron really likes to eat. (As if you couldn't tell.)
Cameron is a mover, Last month he was scooting everywhere on his back it was so funny. He would get all over the living room on his back. One of these days I will put a video of him on here. He thinks it is so funny, especially when I am changing his diaper. But now he gets up on his knees and crawls backwards. This morning I put him on his blanket and I was in the other room. He started crying and he was all across the room and stuck between the recliner chair and the diaper basket. He crawled backwards and it's not even a straight shot so I guess when he ran into the couch he turned and ended up getting stuck. It was really funny. I almost took a picture but I thought that might have been too mean. Cameron still won't sit, he just puts his legs straight out and likes to stand. Silly boy!

My first attempt at couponing

So yesterday I had my first attempt at couponing. I think it went pretty well, for not really knowing what I am doing. So I got all these 25 items for $34.60. Which averages out to make each item $1.38 each. I know I could have gotten a better deal, but my printer is broken and so I couldn't print some of the coupons. The deal ended yesterday so I couldn't wait. The best part is that with all my coupons I saved $33.94. I was so excited. Most of the items are normally $3-5 each. Hopefully I will get better at this, not bad for my first time. Also thanks to Heidi and Tessa for their helpful tips on couponing.

I'm going to the Zoo Zoo Zoo...

Last Thursday we finally used our Zoo pass again.(It's been awhile.) Brooklynn brought her two friends Bella and Ellie and of course us mom's came with our babies.
The girls were so cute and they loved all the animals. Brooklynn couldn't wait to go and see the snakes... YUCK! Ryan hates snakes.
We all have babies about the same age. Bella's brother Chase is about 5 months older, Ellie's brother Peanut is 2 weeks younger than Cameron. They are all smart and had their double strollers. I, on the other hand haven't gotten ours yet and had to take Cameron in the baby bjorn. He doesn't really like it that much, but I was surprised how well he did.
Go Berkie! Here's our little musician. Brooklynn loves any type of music and singing. Half the time instead of talking, she sings what she wants to tell me.
Brooklynn and Cameron. What cute kids, Brooklynn was more concerned about getting off and playing with her friends though. That's ok, she still loves her brother.
What cute little friends they are. Thanks girls for coming to the zoo. We had fun with them and getting to know each other better. Too bad it's all snowy now.

Happy St. Patricks Day

Today for St. Patricks Day Brooklynn had a green Muffin Tin Lunch with our friends Ellie, Peanut and Heidi. (Ellie's mom Heidi was the one who I copied the idea from.) They were so excited, Brooklynn has been asking me for two days about it. "Mom, is it time for Green lunch with Ellie?" She was so excited today when she acctually got the answer she had been waiting for.


For lunch they had green tuna sandwiches, (I know they look nasty but we still ate them we were hungry.) green Pear-apple sauce, dried kiwi, String cheese (golden coins), cookie with green sprinkles, green mint chocolate chips and milk with a green straw. Meanwhile the two babies (who about 3 weeks apart) had fun playing on the floor together. We even caught them holding hands but when we grabbed the cameras they were done. Peanut is so cute he loves to blow bubbles, a trick Cameron has not yet mastered. Afterwards the girls painted black pots. I love how different they were while painting. Brooklynn did not want to get dirty and Ellie thought it made it more fun. I love the picture of Ellie with her black hands. After they went on a treasure hunt for the gold left by the leprachaun. (It was so nice outside we loved it.) They found it pretty fast and got to put it in their pots of gold under the rainbow. It sure was a fun day for the girls. Can't wait to have more fun days with friends.

Caleb's Birthday

Saturday was my nephew Caleb's birthday. He turned 2 years old. Since Ryan worked the night before and that night, we decided to go over and spend some time with him. My brother Josh and I ended up taking the kids on a walk to the elementary and they played and flew a kite. It was a lot of fun. Cameron slept most of the time and woke up when we were leaving.


The next day on Sunday we had Caleb's birthday party and he opened his presents and we had cake. It sure was a fun party. Brooklynn was a good helper and helped him open his gifts.

2 years ago today...

I posted this last year and will probably post it every year. It is just very special to us. We were at Brooklynn's birth more than 3 years ago, it was so wonderful. Unfortunately the birthfather did not want to sign his rights away. It was a very long struggle, we knew Brooklynn was our little girl. You just always have it in the back of your mind what if she is taken from us. (It has happened) After 14 LONG months going back and forth with our social worker, judges and the papers kept coming back not signed. Finally we had a court date, if the birth father was a no show, he officially lost his rights. Wahoo! Of course he wasn't there. It was a great day. We had our family support and love. Sadly Ryan's mom couldn't be there, her sister had just passed away and she was in St. George preparing for the funeral. My little brother Jake and sister Terra were both on their missions. My older brother Josh and his wife Johana were in the hospital, and she was in labor. But we still had lots of family there with us. It was so emotional I almost couldn't talk. Except when the Judge asked both Ryan and I to talk about how we felt about Brooklynn, I couldn't say enough about my love for her. In the pictures we have Ryan's dad, my mom, Ryan's brother Eric, his wife Danielle, Ryan's sister Allyson, my aunt Teresa, cousin Rachel & my Grandma and Grandpa Budd. Also we got a picture with the wonderful Judge. and Lorna, she was our social worker that was there from the first process of getting approved to the final moment, her support was wonderful. What a great day to remember that Brooklynn was officially ours.


After the hearing we stopped in to see Josh and Johana, no baby yet. (the picture is bad, but that is the only picture of us with them at the hospital.) We couldn't be there for his birth though, we headed down south for the funeral. Soon after we came back and got to enjoy our little Caleb. He is very silly and his favorite thing is CARS! Not just any cars but the movie Cars. He loves Lightning McQueen. We Love you Caleb, Happy Birthday. We are so glad that you and Berkie share this special day.

Poor Jacob Budd

Well my poor little brother Jacob had surgery yesterday. About a year into his mission (about two years ago) Jacob found out he had a cyst (can't remember what kind). It was in a bad place(by his bottom)and was infected. They had to do surgery in Uruguay, it was horrible and they cut him like 10 inches. Well like some months later it wasn't healing properly and did one more surgery. By then they just knew that he needed more care when he got home. About a week after he got home from his mission, he did surgery for a 3rd time. After recovery he stayed at my house and I took care of him the best I could. Ryan was his personal nurse and with out too many details cleaned and packed the wound. He seemed to recover pretty fast, but as time would tell he kept going back to the doctor to get it looked at.



So he had to get his 4th surgery done yesterday to hopefully fix this for good. Brooklynn remembers when Jake stayed with us before after his surgery and when I told her Jake was in the hospital she said, "Oh, does his bum hurt again?" The surgery took about 5 hours and it was horrible. Afterwards the doctor came to talk to Jake and my mom and told him it felt like he was fixing a shark bite or something. There was so much infection and had to cut him from his bottom up to the middle of his back. The wound is almost 12 inches long. OUCH! So Jacob was recovering and just waiting for them to bring the Wound Vac to him to take home. He kept waiting and waiting and finally they came and talked to him. They told him that the Financial Aid was denied and the company won't bring the machine. Since that is the key to his recovery he would have to stay in the hospital. But his wonderful doctor would have none of this and talked to the administrative of the hospital. They came back and told him that they would cover all of the costs. The surgery alone is at least $3,000 plus paying the anastesiologist and doctor, The wound vac is $100 a day, which for the amount of time he needs it would cost $9,000. Plus 3 times a week a nurse comes in and cleans out the wound. That is amazing, we are so thankful that the wonderful doctor and administrative at LDS hospital are doing this for him. His care is so important, otherwise he could literally lose limbs. I talked to Jake this morning and he is doing great. I am very glad he is staying down for a whole week (he better) to get the best recovery he can. We are all very happy that he will hopefully be done with this for good. In Jake's words, "I have a new bum."
We love you Jacob!

Cents of Style Party

My sister Terra and I are having a Cents of Style party. Cents of Style is a company that my neighbor/friend Courtney started. She sells accessories such as jewelry, headbands, handbags and shoes for a great price. Most of it is $10 or less. In today's economy it is great to find stylish things for a great price. Check out some of her product at www.mycentsofstyle.com Most of the items are there to take home that day.

Date: Friday March 13th
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM (Open House)
Place: My house
Credit Cards not accepted at this time.

For the address or directions you can email me or if you don't have my email leave me a message with your email address and I will tell you how to get here. You are welcome to RSVP so I know who to plan on.

Big Gulps huh?..... Well, see ya later!

So I have known my husband and his friend Marshal for over 9 years. They are so funny. Sometimes they can just sit there in silence and no problem. AWKWARD! (J/K) Since I have known them they always say goodbye or break silence with the same line. "Big Gulps huh?.... Well, see ya later!" It is always funny cause there hasn't been one time when I haven't heard one of them say it, everytime we are together. Acctually even a few weeks ago I heard them say it. I guess it is one of those friendships you get after a long time.


So after 6 days of only leaving the house to go to the doctor 3 times and Primary's once. And to the store to get more medicine. And now that Brooklynn is starting to get better, Ryan, myself and Cameron are sick. We were soooooooooooooooooooooo bored last night. And nothing was on t.v. Finally we came to Dumb and Dumber, a dumb classic. So we were watching it, laughing, I was reminiscing about Jr. High when I first saw it. And suddenly it came to the part. Ryan said it in unison with Jim Carrey. "Big Gulps huh?.... Well, see ya later!" I looked at him and just started laughing. After all these years I finally knew where it came from. I have even seen Dumb and Dumber in the last 9 years and didn't put it together until I heard Ryan say it along. It was hilarious, one of the funniest things I have seen in well, a week. I don't know, maybe you would have had to be there. Sorry I really need fresh air. I'm losing it! Well enjoy the clip.

Cameron's new trick

Cameron is very silly. He loves to stand, jump and bounce. Infact last Sunday he put on quite a display in relief society just jumping all over. He wouldn't stop moving. Well this bouncy chair is Brooklynn's old one. It broke when Brooklynn was a baby. I got it out just thinking that I could at least let him sit in it and he could play with the toys. Nope, he likes to move. One of his favorite things is his exersaucer, but he just can't jump high enough in it. I definately need a jumparoo. Well he figured out how to make the bouncy chair acctually bounce. Enjoy watching my cute munchkin.

Cameron doesn't do it until the end. He is too busy cheesing for the camera.

Muffin Tin Monday

Muffin Tin Monday We had Muffin Tin Monday and read two books about the alphabet. Brooklynn ate alphabet soup, abc crackers, grapes (nothing to do with letters), Capri Sun (it has letters on the drink), and conversation hearts. Unfortunately this was about the only bite that Brooklynn took of her lunch. She had a fever that day and we were waiting for her doctor apt. We couldn't get in until 4pm. That day Brooklynn's temperature bounced from 102 to 104.7 to 103. And stayed above 101 for 5 days now. Poor girl. Through out the week all 4 of us have been sick but Brooklynn is still the worst and are hoping she can get better soon. Her doctor told me to call him and talk to him if she is still sick by today. So we will see what he decides to do. It was still a fun Muffin Tin lunch, too bad she couldn't enjoy it. We'll have to do something extra fun when she is all better.