First Day of School Cake...

I completely stole this idea from Destiny. Last year she made Emma Kate the cutest cake for her first day of kindergarten. When Destiny posted the pictures of EK with her cake last year I knew I wanted to do it when Hayden got in school.Cake decorator I'm not but the kids liked it alot. Oh, and that I rhymed to so maybe I'm a poet and didn't even know it. Okay, I'll stop!

Hayden and Parker both helped me make the cake so after school on Friday they were excited to eat a piece of cake.

My school boy!

By the way, at the bottom the CHM-K is for Chad Hayden Mills-Kindergarten. I guess next year I'll be adding Parker's name (boo-hoo).

A good idea...

The other day the boys wanted to paint. I don't let them paint very often. I know, I know...I'm suppressing their creative skills, right? I'm going to get better about it and here is why--I was thinking they were going to make a huge mess but NO they didn't with this little tip.

I went looking for an old twin flat sheet to cover up the table with and I accidently grabbed a twin fitted sheet. I almost put it back up to get the flat sheet but then I realized the fitted sheet would perfectly cover the table. Here are some pictures...

Not only did it perfectly cover the table but it stayed put. No slipping off! So, yes, we got some paint on the sheet but it is okay because now it is our painting tablecloth!

First Day of School (for real)...

This morning Hayden and I took some pictures of him before school...

It was his idea to do this pose so he could get a picture of his backpack.
I was able to stay around for a little while this morning and help the teacher. She said I could take as many pictures as I wanted. I did take a couple but didn't want to be a distraction. The teacher was calling out names one by one to go sit down on the mat. She said the first few days of school would just be following instructions hence the following picture...

Thanks for all your prayers! This is going to be fun!

Hayden's Day of Testing...

**Update**

Hayden had a great day! His teacher said he did well on his testing and his first comment to me was, "That wasn't too long." I'm glad he thought that way because it seemed like an eternity to me. Another funny conversation...

Me: Were all the kids nice at school?
Hayden: There was this one mean kid.
Me: (Heartbroken thinking he was mean to Hayden) How was he mean?
Hayden: He didn't want his picture taken by the teacher and he laid in the floor and cried.
Me: Really?
Hayden: I thought in my head, 'He needs to go to the principals office and go to detention.'

Funny, huh?

Another thing...he is quite impressed with the chocolate milk that comes in the bag for lunch. He drank the chocolate milk and said it was good. He won't drink milk for me for NOTHING!

Thanks for all of the prayers, please try and continue them for Friday...the first real day of school when all of the kids in the class come together for the first time.

This morning we dropped Hayden off at school for testing. The girls tested yesterday and today is the boys day to be tested. Apparently, it is not really a test but more just to see what they know and what they don't. It doesn't affect anything but just lets the teacher understand where the child is in their learning.

This is Hayden and his teacher, Mrs. Ivins...
Isn't she cute? She is pregnant and due around Christmas--I love how teachers plan pregnancies around school holidays.

Even though today is not officially the first day of school for kindergarteners we treated this like a first day. I woke up at 6:30 for a little quiet time and computer time, woke Hayden up at 7am (he popped right up insisting that he was already awake and that he just had his eyes closed), I made pancakes for everyone, Hayden got dressed/ready, we prayed and headed out the door a few minutes early. I know every day won't be as easy as this but it was a wonderful morning.

Yesterday Hayden I spent the morning cleaning out (not cleaning up) his room. He is so funny...his room always appears to be clean but when you start looking underneath his bed and in the depths of his closet you find where all his socks (and many other things) went. Anyways, I found this hanging thing in the depths of my closet (see where my kid gets it)...

I'm thinking this will be perfect to put each days clothes in. I know they make these that are for kids and say each day of the week but this is free :). We did a trial run this morning and it worked perfectly not having to think of what he was going to wear. Apparently our school is one of the only schools in our parish that doesn't have to wear uniforms, which I'm thankful to not spend money on uniforms, but it sure would make it easy when getting dressed in the mornings. Hopefully the above contraption will help us stay organized and happy in the mornings.

If you will please pray for my little Hayden today. Have a good day!

UPDATE...Family, Friends, Church, School Open House & the Olympics

So...I haven't posted in what seems like forever but it has only been 11 days. We have been busy around here but I still needed to update.

Hayden starts school this week. I'm happy and sad all at the same time. It is crazy that he is going to be away from me so long. Why does kindergarten have to be so long? Really. I could cry if I thought about it too hard but I'm just going to focus on the fun.

Today we went to Open House at the school. I LOVE his teacher, Mrs. Ivins. If she were my kindergarten teacher I would be one happy kid. She is young and pretty and seems to have lots of energy. I want this year to make a good impression on him because this will help shape his thoughts on school. Hayden goes for testing on Tuesday and then his first full day on Friday. I got some information on joining the PTA and they seem like a nice group of ladies. I'm going to have to pay to join (only $5) but did you know there was a fee? I had no idea. If you think of it this week pray for Hayden.

In preparation for school starting we were so busy visiting friends and family. Tuesday we were at Michelle's house, Wednesday my mom and I and the kids went to my grandmother's house then on Friday the kids and I spent the whole day at Chad's mom's house. Then Saturday Hayden and I spent time with my mom and Eloise, Chad's stepmom, doing some shoe shopping for Hayden. I'd love to know...when did almost 6 year old boys get so picky about shoes? I just assumed that boys were easy when it came to clothes and shoes, ummm...not my oldest boy.

Is anyone else watching the Olympics? I was convinced that I didn't like the Olympics because I really haven't watched them recently but I have been getting into the swimming and gymnastics. The other night I got in bed early (about 9:45pm) and Chad came to bed and turned on the gymnastics. The next time I looked at the clock it was midnight and I was watching two American gymnasts get the gold and silver in the individual competition. I thought I didn't like it but apparently I do.

We had a great day at church today! We had a potential youth/children's minister come and preach tonight and he will most likely be voted in on Wednesday night. This is the same church that when Chad took the position in October didn't have a pianist, Youth Minister or Music Minister and now we will be fully staffed. I know the Lord has some great things planned for our church and I'm so happy to be apart of His plan.

Okay, I'm thinking I've updated enough (and it's 12:18am). I promise pictures for my next post (school pictures)!

CVSing and Couponing (yeah, they're verbs now)

So, I'm going to share with you my newest hobby...couponing and shopping at CVS. I know what you are thinking...she is a boring girl if this is what she finds fun. I promise I'm not boring (okay, maybe I am a little)! Don't laugh at me (Shell)!

I have always loved saving money and have used coupons for many years. While trying to get our budget under control and reading lots of money saving blogs I found girls who shop at CVS and get LOTS of stuff for free/cheap and also people who use coupons like crazy at other stores (grocery, Walmart, Target) and get TONS of stuff for free or pennies.

These bloggers believe, instead of buying things as you need it (and paying full price), you buy it when you can get it on sale and stock up. I have a very small stockpile (since I have only been doing this for a short time) but it includes tampons, 4 bottles of dishwashing liquid, 4 tubes of toothpaste, 2 stick of deoderant, 3 packages of Cascade gel packs for the dishwasher, 3 bottles of Lysol antibacterial spray and a few other things. When my friends came over a few weeks ago I was showing off my stockpile and they just thought I was crazy. When I called Michelle, one of the friends who thought I was crazy, and told her what all I got today for 99 cents. She said, "Okay, put this on your blog and tell me how to do it!" So here I go...

I got these two toothpastes and two toothbrushes for 43 cents at CVS.

Then in a second transaction I got two more other toothpastes, Always pads, Scott tissue and more dishwashing liquid for 56 cents, again at CVS.

Basically I got all of this from using Extra Care Bucks that I earned with my last transaction at CVS (they print off at the bottom of the receipt) and coupons (that my sweet older ladies from church save for me).

If you are REALLY interested in learning the ropes at CVS (it is a bit confusing at first)...you can go read this Beginners Guide to CVSing.

I'm also catching deals at other places...I have seemed to just luck up on a lot of good deals recently at grocery stores. The Cascade Gel Packs that I mentioned were marked down to $2 and I remembered having coupons for that. I ended up getting them for $1 a package. Now, instead of having to run out and get whatever is in the store when I run out of my current dishwashing powder I now have 60 gel packs waiting on me in my stockpile. A few weeks ago Bounty was on sale at a local grocery store for 89 cents. I had two $1 off coupons and purchased two Bounty paper towel rolls. Do you know they ended up paying me 7 cents after I gave them my coupons? That has NEVER happened before.

Now that I'm getting me a little stockpile going I'm starting to give to my church so it is benefiting everyone. Really, how many toothpastes can you use? Besides, they'll be on sale again :). Tomorrow I'm taking two tubes of toothpastes, the pads and shampoo/conditioner to my church. I know whoever receives that will be thankful and really all it cost me was a little time and organization.

If you are interested in more blogs where there are people even crazier than me (just joking...seem like really nice people) then you can check out...

http://jane4girls800dollarannualbudget.blogspot.com/
http://carlie-whyaskwhy.blogspot.com/
http://www.dealseekingmom.com/
http://www.kingdomfirstmom.com/
http://couponcravings.com/

Let me know if you have any questions.

Okay, now you can laugh at me...

Tooth Mishaps!

On Saturday Hayden lost his third tooth. Can you believe it? This is what he looks like now... His bottom two teeth are coming up and he just lost the tooth on top (where he has his tongue sticking through)

After I pulled Hayden's tooth Chad put it in a snack-sized Ziploc bag and laid it on the counter in the kitchen. I never saw it and didn't think another thing of it until it was time for bed.

In the few hours before bedtime I was standing at the counter filling 40 snack-sized Ziploc bags with trail mix for our Cactus Canyon Vacation Bible School. They are for the VBS workers and say "Thanks for riding the trail with us!" Here is a picture (sorry it is blurry)...

When bed time rolled around this was how the conversation went between me and Chad:

Me: We need to get Hayden's tooth so the Tooth Fairy will come tonight.
Chad: It is on the counter around your purse.
Me: Okay (me looking for it).
Me: I don't see it.
Chad: (Coming in the kitchen.) I laid it right here.
Me: What did you put it in?
Chad: A snack-sized ziplock bag.
Me: Oh, no. (realizing what has probably happened)
Chad: You don't think it could be in the trash? (as he is digging through the trash)
Me: No, I'm pretty sure it is with the trail mix in one of the 40 Ziploc bags.

So...without opening them up we did a scan with our eyes to find the trail mix with a tooth in it. Chad found it on our second look through. Praise God!

I never realized how much broken off peanuts can look like baby teeth. Thankfully it was found before one of our church members bit onto Hayden's tooth (ouch and gross)!