Cyber Monday

Having a family of 6 requires (maybe I should say demands) us to live on a budget. I like to think of myself as a thrify mama...a frugalista, if you like. We cut things out where we can - no cable t.v. here. Yes, you can live without it. Watching more TV isn't something we miss out on. I also like to look for good deals. When Black Friday and Cyber Monday come around, I scan all the ads and make a game plan. My mom and I went Black Friday Shopping and left without our usual Black Friday high. There wasn't much in the ads that we 'had to have'. However, thanks to being clued into a deal from a friend on Facebook, I ordered this sweet high chair for Karsyn. It retails for $79.99. It was marked down on the Safety 1st Website for $24.00. With a 15% off coupon and free shipping, it will be shipped to my house in 5 days for the grand total price of $20.40. I paid $40 less than what I budgeted for a high chair. I'm super excited!

Little Girls....

Little Girls are made of...



Sugar and Spice...



And everything nice.

Thanksgiving 2011

Yesterday, we celebrated our first Thanksgiving as a family of 6. It was such a great day! I really have so much to be thankful for - God's been good to me. I am very thankful for my 4 Little Turkeys.



I am also thankful for my husband! It was 11 Thanksgivings ago that he asked me to be his wife.



I am also so thankful that God gave us another happy, healthy baby to celebrate Thanksgiving with.



We spent Thanksgiving morning cooking, cooking, and then doing some more cooking. Evan, Payton, and Addi were great little helpers. Jason made his green bean casserole. After we snapped a few pictures, it was time to go to Nana and Papa's house. Here's Karsyn ready to go.



Our Pastor and his wife joined us for Thanksgiving dinner. I was a little worried that Pastor wasn't going to give Karsyn back to me. He thinks she's a sweetie pie.




We celebrated Turkey Day at Nana and Papa's house. The kids and I started a tradition a few years back of staying the night on Thanksgiving. Papa babysits while Nana and I go Black Friday shopping. Jason works in the retail biz, so he usually has to work over night. I have to say a big thanks to my Dad!




B=Natalie, Billy, Stephen, Kary and Emily all joined us for some feasting.



Here's Ashley and Chad. Ash made one tasty Tom!



After we ate, Evan and Stephen had a lot of fun playing together.



Payton was such a good little helper when we were cooking. She is a good girl!



Addi didn't enjoy herself at first, but then she started having fun.




Karsyn had a great first Thanksgiving. Nothing like spending the day with people you love!

Tourney Time

We had a pretty eventful weekend. Friday night, we took family pictures. Oh boy, was that an experience! We did get a few good shots...perhaps you might see them in our Christmas cards. I'll let that be a surprise.
Saturday morning, we were ready to watch some basketball. It was tournament day! Payton's team played at 9:00 a.m. They played against the Gold Team. It was an easy win for the Green Gators. Jessi's team, the Blue Team, played at 10:00 a.m. They were playing against the Red Team. The Blue Team and Red Team had a history of playing close games with Red always coming out on top. That was until this past Saturday. Blue Team came out on top, which meant they would be playing the Green Team for first place at 2:00. Papa Gene was super proud of his girls!





Here's Payton warming up for the 2:00 game. She's #2!



The leauge starts each game in prayer. I said a silent prayer that Payton would get a basket. She had worked so hard all season long and had become such a good little player. I just wanted her to have that satisfaction. She was last in line to do a free throw shot. The ball went in and then popped right back out. She didn't play in the first period. It was time for the second period and the coach put her in. Her teammate, Brooklyn, got the ball. Blue was all over her. She passed the ball to Payton. Payton dribbled the ball over to the goal. She found exactly where she wanted to be and took a shot. The ball went in. The crowd went wild! Before I even knew it, I was on my feet with my hands up in the air cheering. Nana and I both had tears. It was so exciting!




The Green Gators took 1st place in the tournament. The final score was 19-10. What an exciting game! I am so proud of Payton. I am so glad that she found something that she loves so much. I can't wait to watch her play next season. Thank you to all the family and friends who showed up at every game to watch her play!

Earthquakes and a Big 4 Month Old

Yesterday, two big things happened. One, we experienced our first earthquake. We had one around 2 a.m. I didn't feel that one, but I heard it. Then, at 11:00 p.m. last night, there was one that registered 5.6! The kiddos all slept through it. I was 'resting my eyes' while watching a football game with Jason. He said my name and the couch was shaking. We could hear the earth moving - it was a lot louder this time. We looked at each other for a few seconds and then the news came on. The newscaster sat in the studio unable to speak for a moment with her eyes wide. And just like that, it was over. It was an experience I won't soon forget.

The second big thing that happened was...



This little sweetie pie turned 4 months old! Little Miss Karsyn is wearing a size 3 diaper now and is quickly outgrowing her size 3-6 months clothes. She has laughed, blew a raspberry, can bring her hands together, and can push her chest off the floor. Today in the church nursery, she sat in an exersaucer for the first time. She loved it! Nursing is still going great for both of us. At 4 months, I started Evan, Payton, and Addi on baby cereal. We are going to wait until Karsyn is 6 months old, since she is exclusively breast fed (that's what her pedi recommends.) I can see a little of all of her siblings in her. She's strong like Evan. She melts every one's heart like Payton. And she looks almost identical to Addisyn at this age. Yet, she's still her own little person. She has the sweetest little coos...even her cries are sweet. She only gets fussy when she's too hot - she takes after her mama there. She is such a doll and we all love her so much!

Halloween 2011

Hold on tight my bloggy friends, this is one action (and picture) filled post. Yesterday, was Halloween. We've been under a lot, and I mean A LOT of stress lately, so we tried to make the day full of fun. Especially, since it was this cutie pie's first Halloween.



Karsyn and I went to Evan and Payton's school parties. Daddy stayed home with Addi so she could nap. She was over her tummy bug, but still a little tired.



We got to the school in time to watch the Spook Walk. Then, the principal led all the kids outside to the field. We saw one handsome police officer.



We also saw that Payton and one of her best buds had the same costume on. And no, we didn't plan it at all.



The principal led the kids out so they could all perform the 'Thriller' dance. Can you spot the cop?



After we did some partying at the school, we came home and got ready for our evening festivities. Addi was awake and ready to go.



She looked quite cute!



So cute, I had to include this picture too!



Here is Evan and myself.



Daddy and Karsyn.



And with one last picture...that we tried to take several times, we were ready to go.



We went to the church that Payton plays basketball at for Trunk or Treat. We then had to stop by the house. Officer Evan needed a Code 14. (That's the code we made up as kids' for my dad's 15 minute work breaks. I'll explain it if you ask. lol.) We then went to another church carnival.



We ran into my sister-in-law and two of my nieces. Here are Natalie and Emily.



This carnival was set up like Scream and Shout. There were hot dogs, games, and all kinds of family fun. Evan and Payton loved doing the pop walk. We didn't win a bottle, but they had fun.



Since it was a school night, we made it home by 7:30. Our little family had a lot of fun. I think Karsyn enjoyed her first Halloween.

Thanksgiving Onsie

I really love the look of the boutique style little girl clothes and hairbows. I was looking at a few different online stores and got a major case of sticker shock. Really? They want to charge how much for a onsie that a baby can only wear on one day. I found this little onsie at Wal-Mart for $3.25.



After I made a matching hair bow, I decided to add matching bows to the sleeves. I didn't add a jewel - it could be a choking hazard.



Here is a sneak peak of Karsyn trying it all on. It might not be quite as charming as the onsies I looked up, but I thought it was pretty cute. If you add up the cost of the ribbon and supplies, it was less than $10 too do. Plus, I can made Addi and Payton matching hairbows, and have some supplies left over.

Scream and Shout 2011

Since last month, it was our plan to go to Grandma and Papa's Halloween Party on the Saturday before Halloween. It wasn't in our plans, however, for Jason to have a kidney stone or for Addi to have a tummy bug. I was a little worried that the tummy bug would cycle through our family and the kids would miss Trick-or-Treating, so my mom and I took Evan, Payton, Karsyn, and Jessi to my Grandma Paula's church for an event called Scream and Shout, while Jason and Addi stayed at home to rest.



Payton made one cute Dorothy!



She's just too cute!



Last year, we planned to do a Wizard of Oz theme for this year. But then, Evan decided that he wanted to be Spiderman. At the last minute, he changed his mind again and decided to be a police officer. (Last year, we got a few costumes on clearance for dress up, so we were good.)



I found this set of p.j.'s for Karsyn and thought they were too cute! Plus, she can wear them as jammies until she out grows them.



After we were all dressed up, we picked up Nana and Jessi and went to the church. We started by eating hot dogs. Evan and Grandma Paula made a fun game (and a bit of a mess) out of eating popcorn. My grandma said they had enough food for 2,000 people!



After we ate, we played games.



Evan told me that he was having a blast.



After we played games, it was time for Trunk or Treating in the parking lot.



Nana made sure Karsyn was as snug as a bug.



Nana wanted me to get a shot of this cute costume.



After we were done Trunk or Treating, Nana and Karsyn went back inside. It was a little cool. Plus, I think it gave Grandma Paula time to show off her newest great grand baby. Evan could not wait to do some jousting.



Jessi gave it a try too. Payton would have no part in it at all. She loved to watch it, but she had no desire at all to do it.



Evan and Jessi gave the inflatable wall a whirl too. They could only get about half way up it. Evan was very determined. He tried it about 5 times.



After the inflatables, we went back in to find Nana, Grandma Paula, and Karsyn.



You know, over the years, I've been told a lot that I have a crazy sense of humor. After taking this picture, I have decided that I must come by it naturally. I'm not sure what is funnier. Is it that my grandma was carrying fake mice in her purse? Or is it that my mom decided to put them in their mouths?



Evan, Payton, and Jessi were all smiles all night long. We really had a nice night. I have to say, I was super impressed by all the hard work the church put into making this night fun for families. I hate that Jason and Addi had to be sick and that we had to miss the party we had been looking forward to, but I'm glad we were able to have a lot of fun.