'Tis the Season

We have been very busy around here! Between our normal daily duties and getting ready to leave NJ, we have been up to our arms each day. It feels like the days go so quickly because they are so jam packed. We have a crap ton of stuff that needs to make it's way to new homes before we even begin to pack the things we will be taking with us. Also, if you are wondering, we still have no idea where we will be living. Our fall back is Georgia so I'm just banking on that at this point. It's so frustrating. "Hurry up and wait" is so right on!

Anyways, Christmas is upon us. We are so excited and I had Joseph get out the Christmas boxes yesterday. I have begun my Christmas shopping and we will be getting our tree right after Thanksgiving. We always get a real tree but plan on getting a tiny "Charlie Brown" tree this year as we have a toddler on the attack. I decided to attempt a pin from one of my many Pinterest boards to help keep Isla from assaulting our Christmas tree. I got lucky because my pregnancy group Pinterest board actually decided to take it on as a December challenge piece. I bought all the felt from Michael's and hung it from a command hook in the walk-way. Joseph helped cut ornaments. This is the finished product:

Isla seems to really enjoy putting all the pieces up. She seems really confused though when the ornaments won't stick to the wall or other things around the house... LOL. I actually have a ton of leftover felt and think I'm going to make Isla a felt board and a quiet book or two for Christmas :) We'll see how creative I can get with those.

In other news, Isla and Joseph have been going to swimming class together. I thought it would be good for the two of them to have a thing before he leaves in a few months. I actually went with them to the 2nd class this past Wednesday and took a ton of pictures. Cole was sleeping the whole time in the ring sling.

I snapped this picture of them while they were waiting for class to begin. Can you believe my mom got Isla that suit at Target for like $3?

 

She had a great time collecting the little play food... she even thought it might be tasty! 

Here's a couple more photos from their class: 

 Singing and twirling in the water....

 Trying to catch her ball...

 One of my favorites-- jumping into the water! 

So my Colie-Olie turned 1 month old on the 10th and I have been trying to get his one month picture... but this is what happens when I try :)

Crazy girl thinks it's all about her, all the time <3

It's been pretty yummy around here...

Alright, so I said I would let you know how this meal planning thing was working out and so far so good. Working from home, allows me some prep if I need it each day but I bulk prepped a lot of stuff the day of my shop and this past weekend. I thought I would share my menu... notice some meals are doubled during the month, this was mainly a money saving tactic on my part. Being that only 2 1/2 of us eat meals... I was able to do double servings of some meals and freeze them for later in the month. Saves time and money!!!

In other news, we're slowly getting ready for the big deployment/move! Unfortunately, we still don't know where the children and I will be moving... but we shall hopefully find out soon. Fingers crossed for Charleston or Georgia. I've been looking at houses like a mad woman and like we are going to buy one tomorrow... I'm a tad crazy. Joseph is very excited about Christmas this year, since we won't be with him for Christmas next year... so tonight he started Christmas shopping. He, of course, could not contain his excitement and I am now the owner of a brand spanking new camera, so expect a ton of photos to come :) I'm going to be a picture taking fiend, thanks to my lovely husband. I have to find a way to keep him from giving me the rest of my gifts or else I may not be opening anything on Christmas ;)

Working Hard or Hardly Working?

Things have been busy... as any of you with a newborn past or present might understand. I finally got a minute to sit down and write something. I've been trying really hard to save us money lately and get us on a good path for paying off debt and buying a house in a little over a year from now. My biggest project as of late is meal planning thanks to an awesome blogger/mommy. You can see her blog here. I am just starting out and have been using her blog and advice to help me along. I planned out the whole month of November and did my big grocery shop on Halloween. I spent $188 which included dinner for the whole month (with the exception of one eat out day), milk, some snacks for Isla, fruit, and ice cream! I figured at most we'll spend another $80 this month for milk, fruit, and other snacks. Such an awesome change to the nearly $400 we were probably spending at the grocery store each month and that doesn't even include all of our eating out! A-MAZING! When I got home from the grocery store I started doing some prepping for the month. I threw chicken breasts in the crock pot because I needed some shredded chicken for two things of chicken enchiladas this month and chicken taco soup. I also cut up some breasts to make orange chicken, floured them up, and tossed them in the freezer! I have some more prep work to do but I figured it could wait til a weekend. I'll probably finish the prepping tomorrow.

I will let ya'll know how it turns out.