I have to keep telling myself this. Rome wasn't built in a day! And my family isn't going to magically master frugal living in a day either, or week, month, year ect! I've learned to slow down and lower my expectations of myself and others. I can not change other people, only myself and I can lead by example.
We got audited again this year. I am so bummed as I really thought it wasn't going to happen again this year! So now it is time to settle in, gather all the information up they need (which I sadly already sent in once this year) and fax it. Then wait, wait and wait for my refund! Last year was mid July after getting assigned an advocate! and they told me yesterday to expect the same! So I'm defiantly disappointed.
Although being audited is no fun and lots of work it just drives me harder to find a better way of life and one that does not make me dependant on things like my tax return!
Summer is coming and summer just makes frugal living easier in my opinion, some may disagree with me, but I find it so easy to save in Summer,(it may the years of practice having a hubby that works overtime in the winter!) there just seems to be so much more to do that's practically free! I'm going to open a page for free or almost free (there is sometimes gas involved!) Summer activities.
We are getting our Chickens this week! I am so excited but nervous at the same time! I have a lot of friends that have chickens so they are excited to help me! My next animal to get is a couple of piglets! Caleb is kinda doing that one. Cody doesn't want to get any animal we have to kill. Wednesday I hope to plant all my seedlings, its a little late but its better than never! I'm adding a new recipe to the frugal recipes page. So stay tuned. Hope everyone had a great Easter!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Our first attempt at farming...
I get my baby chicks next Wednesday. I am excited and nervous! I've doe some research but am most worried about my dogs! We are also getting ready to put on addition to our home! Its exciting! We have pruned one apple tree and cleared all the other trees around it. We have designated our garden plot but I have yet to plat my seedlings, hopefully this weekend we will do that. I really am excited for this new adventure!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Its been a while!
I got a new computer and because I'm not computer savvy, its taken me a while to figure it all out! :) I love it, my other one was a dinosaur so it seems so nice to have a computer that actually does what I neat it to do!
Our Family is doing well. It had been a very long Winter! We have had gorgeous weather! We were able to finally finish our play yard. This is so nice because Cathryn is not a baby that stays around. It seems nice to be able to relax outside!
I broke down and bought a dryer. Our laundry was piling up like crazy and I was always way behind on it! Also hanging out washcloths, socks and underwear for 8 people proved extremely difficult! So my compromise for myself was that I dry only the smaller things and hang out everything else!
I am really looking forward to my garden! We have a spot all picked out. We are looking to buy a used a rototiller. I also really want to treat my antique apple trees! Hoping to find, mark and prune them soon!
Connor's EEG came back as showing no seizures but something was abnormal. I'm waiting to hear from the Dr. now. They told me not to worry about it, but as a mom you worry!
Carson started a medication called Vyvanse and it has made all the difference in the world!!! He is doing so good! Home life has improved greatly, his school work has improved by at least 80%! He's so proud of himself and so are we!
Caleb had his 15 year old physical. He did well, but defiantly has to get his weight down! So he has become very interested in Basketball and we have set up the outdoor hoop for him. He's also been drinking a lot more water! We are proud of his progress!
I'm currently in the process of deciding where to send Connor and Carly to preschool next year. Its a hard choice because there are two great options. I defiantly want them together this year! Its been stressful managing two preschools this year!
So stay tuned, theres always something going on in the Greenleaf's life!
Our Family is doing well. It had been a very long Winter! We have had gorgeous weather! We were able to finally finish our play yard. This is so nice because Cathryn is not a baby that stays around. It seems nice to be able to relax outside!
I broke down and bought a dryer. Our laundry was piling up like crazy and I was always way behind on it! Also hanging out washcloths, socks and underwear for 8 people proved extremely difficult! So my compromise for myself was that I dry only the smaller things and hang out everything else!
I am really looking forward to my garden! We have a spot all picked out. We are looking to buy a used a rototiller. I also really want to treat my antique apple trees! Hoping to find, mark and prune them soon!
Connor's EEG came back as showing no seizures but something was abnormal. I'm waiting to hear from the Dr. now. They told me not to worry about it, but as a mom you worry!
Carson started a medication called Vyvanse and it has made all the difference in the world!!! He is doing so good! Home life has improved greatly, his school work has improved by at least 80%! He's so proud of himself and so are we!
Caleb had his 15 year old physical. He did well, but defiantly has to get his weight down! So he has become very interested in Basketball and we have set up the outdoor hoop for him. He's also been drinking a lot more water! We are proud of his progress!
I'm currently in the process of deciding where to send Connor and Carly to preschool next year. Its a hard choice because there are two great options. I defiantly want them together this year! Its been stressful managing two preschools this year!
So stay tuned, theres always something going on in the Greenleaf's life!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Funny things that happen to us!
With 6 kids there are bound to be funny things that happen! I have many stories and here is a great spot to keep em, enjoy!:
Today, I had gotten up a little before 7am, I'm standing in front of my coffee pot waiting for my coffee, when I hear the dogs bark, I look out the kitchen window and there is a police officer on my porch! Apparently Connor had dialed 911! LOL! Thankfully we know the police officer and he was very nice!
Today, I had gotten up a little before 7am, I'm standing in front of my coffee pot waiting for my coffee, when I hear the dogs bark, I look out the kitchen window and there is a police officer on my porch! Apparently Connor had dialed 911! LOL! Thankfully we know the police officer and he was very nice!
Winter be gone, I'm ready for Spring....
It seems like Winter has gone on forever! I want warm weather so bad! I want to be able to get outside and soak up some sunshine! Frugality is just easier in summer! More to do, like: swim, camp, hike, play! I am so excited to start my garden, and prune and treat my Apple trees! Feel the cool grass under my bare feet! Above all else I want to start my Garden! I can not wait to get started on it!
We are also thinking of getting some chickens and a pig! :)
We are also thinking of getting some chickens and a pig! :)
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Harder than I thought:
I was so excited to venture into frugality, and am no where near giving up, but it so much harder than thought it would be!!!!
I think the number one reason for me is that my husband and older kids do not support me. This makes things 100 times harder when trying to be more cost conscious. The second reason would be time! In order to save money it cost you time. With 6 kids and a very busy life I have found this very difficult!
With all this being said, I am just pushing harder now to make this work! I'm trying to figure out ways to save money but not take so much time! I have a very hard time when it comes to my husband and not giving in to his wants and also my kids relentless whining! Mostly it revolves around eating out or going somewhere that cost money. I am also not as organized I need to be, so we forget things, like getting something out for supper, or everyone getting in the car and half of us haven't eaten breakfast. Things like that!
I say to people all the time, if I teach anybody anything its this: Start early! Before your married establish some money ground rules, take a financial class and decide how money will be spent! Also start early with your children! They cant miss what they've never had! My youngest four have been raised in more lean times and are so much more willing to accept frugality then my older two!
OK no need to go on all gloom and doom. Just pray I can recover and go get that place I dream of! I KNOW we can do it, I just know we can!
I think the number one reason for me is that my husband and older kids do not support me. This makes things 100 times harder when trying to be more cost conscious. The second reason would be time! In order to save money it cost you time. With 6 kids and a very busy life I have found this very difficult!
With all this being said, I am just pushing harder now to make this work! I'm trying to figure out ways to save money but not take so much time! I have a very hard time when it comes to my husband and not giving in to his wants and also my kids relentless whining! Mostly it revolves around eating out or going somewhere that cost money. I am also not as organized I need to be, so we forget things, like getting something out for supper, or everyone getting in the car and half of us haven't eaten breakfast. Things like that!
I say to people all the time, if I teach anybody anything its this: Start early! Before your married establish some money ground rules, take a financial class and decide how money will be spent! Also start early with your children! They cant miss what they've never had! My youngest four have been raised in more lean times and are so much more willing to accept frugality then my older two!
OK no need to go on all gloom and doom. Just pray I can recover and go get that place I dream of! I KNOW we can do it, I just know we can!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Just an update.....
Well its been a while since I've blogged. Things have been a little crazy! lol! Cody won his basketball championships! Go Cody and his whole team. They remained undefeated the whole season! Good job Bulls!
Cody won the 5th grade spelling bee! Great job Code man!
Carson continues to do awesome on his new med. Dr. Silverstein is so impressed with his progress! He is doing SO much better in school! He's gotten all green's since starting this med. His work is more detailed and hes so proud to tell me about it! He is loving reading, you could read to him all day! Tonight he spent over an hour, yup you heard right, reading and looking at Cody's Ripley's believe it not book!
Carly is so smart. She knew the number 14 in preschool the other day, totally impressing her teacher Miss Tammy! She also recognizes 9 of her friends names!
Connor is regressing a bit. :( Hes keeping his hands in fists a lot and rocking more. He's also hitting more. Were keeping a close eye on him. We are doing more one on one with him and trying to help him describe his feelings, and relating our feelings back to him. Hopefully its just a small bump in the road.
Cathryn is as busy as EVER! She jumps up and down with both feet all the time. She is talking a lot more. Including saying NO with a really big attitude! :) She also loves her momma very much, so all is forgiven! lol!
Caleb is doing pretty good. He failed Science for the quarter but passed for the semester. He's been decreased down to one med. and so far is doing really well with that.
I am getting very excited for my garden this spring. We are also hopefully going to be pruning and treating our apple trees! :) I am trying like crazy to convince Terry to let me get some chickens.
I am going to be adding a few more ideas to the recipe and money saving blog. So stay posted! :)
Peace and good savings to you!
Cody won the 5th grade spelling bee! Great job Code man!
Carson continues to do awesome on his new med. Dr. Silverstein is so impressed with his progress! He is doing SO much better in school! He's gotten all green's since starting this med. His work is more detailed and hes so proud to tell me about it! He is loving reading, you could read to him all day! Tonight he spent over an hour, yup you heard right, reading and looking at Cody's Ripley's believe it not book!
Carly is so smart. She knew the number 14 in preschool the other day, totally impressing her teacher Miss Tammy! She also recognizes 9 of her friends names!
Connor is regressing a bit. :( Hes keeping his hands in fists a lot and rocking more. He's also hitting more. Were keeping a close eye on him. We are doing more one on one with him and trying to help him describe his feelings, and relating our feelings back to him. Hopefully its just a small bump in the road.
Cathryn is as busy as EVER! She jumps up and down with both feet all the time. She is talking a lot more. Including saying NO with a really big attitude! :) She also loves her momma very much, so all is forgiven! lol!
Caleb is doing pretty good. He failed Science for the quarter but passed for the semester. He's been decreased down to one med. and so far is doing really well with that.
I am getting very excited for my garden this spring. We are also hopefully going to be pruning and treating our apple trees! :) I am trying like crazy to convince Terry to let me get some chickens.
I am going to be adding a few more ideas to the recipe and money saving blog. So stay posted! :)
Peace and good savings to you!
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