Howdie everyone!!!

Hope you had a great week.

Just a short post this week. Wanted to give the relatives a look at the birthday boy, and share my thrifty tip of the week.

We went from spring like weather, back to winter this week, but I am maintaining a positive attitude, it is still warmer than it was, and spring is officially Just a few weeks away. Already I am back to doing my long runs outside again with my running buddy Jami, and that really make me happy!!! Treadmill running is great for speed training, but it sucks for long runs!!! It gets so boring, when the scenery never changes.

My First Teenager!!!!
Well Jack and I have been parent's of a teenager for just over a week now.
Thomas however was kind to his mom. When I asked him what type of cake he wanted, he said, well a heart shape one mom like you always make BUT please mom no more pink icing, I want green!!!! so green he got, with green and blue candies to top it that he picked out.

This was the first year that instead of cashing the money from the relatives and getting him a gift with it to wrap and give from that relative, for the big day along with the rest of the cash, we gave him all the cash, and just a gift from us (a Tintin comic, and the Madagascar 2 movie). After several days of hard thinking he spent a bit of the money on lego and decided to put the rest of his money is his car account "sixteen is only three years away you know!!!!" (ugg I don't want to think of that)
No party this year, he spent his day, watching movies, eating mom's homemade pizza for dinner ,and we took him to his favorite buffet restuarant for lunch (Ryan's) where he ate more than his Dad!!!!
This week he got his first taste of teenage hood by going to the YMCA with his dad to get his student card, so he can now use all the big machines, and workout along side his dad. Thomas touched us both by thanking God for the YMCA outing that evening during prayers before dinner. Which lead Jack and I to agreeing to trying to get him and Jack there on a regular basis together. Who knows perhaps we will have another runner in the family!!!

This Weeks Thrifty Tip

Md's is one of my children's favorite places to eat (isn't that true of most children?). One of the best ways I have found to save money and enjoy a thrifty treat, is to buy the coupon packs that they print at ,Halloween, Christmas, valentine's and springtime, and sometimes even during the back to school time of the year. Each Pack has 12 coupons and cost just a $1 and are good for children 12 and under (Thomas was so upset that he can't use them anymore, and so was I).

For those of you that live in the area, these packs are available at the kokomo's Md's across from Menard's, or the one in the Kokomo Walmart. You can also get them at the Fort Wayne location just off 24 and 69, at the Jefferson point exit, and the Md's near the Fort Wayne Zoo also has them.

The treats for the Valentine's packs included, hamburgers, apple dippers or fries, milk or juice, ice-cream cones. These are great for snacks on the run, or to reduce the cost of a take out meal.

For instance running home from church today , I fed our entire family at Md's for $10.25. How did I do it? Well first, we did not pig out, and we took the meal home to round out and finish off with fruit! I got Aiden and Courtney to use a hamburger coupon each, Thomas and I split a 2 cheeseburger meal and I larged the fries and drink, Jack had a big Mac meal and I larged the fries and drink. We brought it all out and shared the fries between us, and the kids shared a can of coke, (Jack and I kept the drinks that came with the meals, I am still sipping the sweat tea two hours later) and as I said if they were still hungry I pointed them towards the fruit drawer in the fridge.

Do we do this all the time. No we do allow the children to sometimes pick whatever they want to eat, and there is no sharing of fries those days. But generally that is saved for vacations, birthdays and other celebrations. Seriously what mom needs another happy meal toy to trip on anyhow!!!! And do any of us need that many fries on our hips!!!! ( I once saw a visual demonstration on just how much fat and salt are in those fries believe me it made a huge impact on me!!! yuck talk about artery compacting) By sharing meals we fill our craving, but keep within our budget.

Hey,

It has been a fun week, and a reflective week. Jack and I can hardly believe our journey into parenthood began over 13 years ago.

I hope you enjoy the pictures of our winter get-a-way and all the thrifty hints.

Me loosing to Aiden at the "lily pad" race

Mommy hood at its best

One thing I thank God for a lot is the fact that I am fit enough to really play with my children. I can bike with them, run with them, and even do Lily Pad races with them.

I love weeks like the one we just spent, where I am reminded over and over that I am blessed to be a mom. To share in the giggles, and the fun, to be hugged by them and to be loved by them.

Aiden hitting the waves in the wave pool with waves of up to 6 feet high
Me and Courtney doing water races!!!

Aiden getting ready to do the Lilly Pad race with his mama and win!!!!

Thomas doing the "lily pad" race

Me finishing the races!!!!

A few things I have learned about water parks

1. No matter how fit you are, expect to feel muscles ache that you never knew you had the next day

2. Getting water up your nose is 100% guaranteed

3. Children have no fear, but strangely you now do, so expect to scream, while you children laugh at you!!!

4. Swimming makes the whole crowd hungry so pack lots of food.

5. Swimming does strange things to blond hair that it never does to brunette, BUT brunette mother's out there with blond headed children do not fear, deep conditioner left on for an hour will save the day!!!

Enjoying the use of the "Hut" that Daddy surprised us by renting it for our full day at the Resort
Courtney Hitting the waves!!!

Aiden and Thomas heading out to seek adventure on one of the many water slides

The Hut we had for one day!!! Living the life of Luxury

Jack reading his book!!! I think he finished it all by the end of the day
Our Annual Winter Get A Way

For the past two winters our entire family has enjoyed two nights and three days at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky Ohio. The year before that I sent Jack and the 2 boys there as a surprise vacation for just the boys. They loved it so much they begged for a return visit with Courtney and I, and so our annual trek, to Kalahari was born.

If you book early at www.Kalahariresorts.com you can get some excellent rates, especially mid-week in deep winter (that is the one of the joys of homeschooling you can organize your school year to vacation at off-season rates).

We had a great time, it was very relaxing, and the place is huge (see pictures of it on the website) and the kids are of course begging to go again next year.