Our baby turns 5!

Its hard to believe. Almost impossible to be reality. Our Baby. Our little girl... has turned 5. How did that even happen? Where did the time go? It is starting to sink in. There is no baby left in this house.. and she won't let us forget. She's not a little kid anymore. Just today, I got the "Remember when I used to be 4?" uh, yep. I remember. and I am choosing to believe she will stay 4 for a couple more years. None of this Birthday stuff, and growing up. Not gonna be allowed anymore. Sorry kids. You're making us old and we both have the gray hair to prove it.. yikes! Kady has been our little Diva for awhile. She loves to sing. Lately she has been "making" her own songs. Cute. until she starts to act out like a Diva. So in keeping with her personality, we threw her a little party. Pop Star style. It was a hit. and lucky for us. we're still on her good side :) A little Birthday Pancakes for Breakfast (Funfetti Cake mix drizzled with Frosting... That's healthy, right?)

2012 update

Well, Look at that! we made it an entire year in Georgia! After the last two moves from Wisconsin and Ohio, I wasn't sure we would ever live a year in any one place again. It's summer again, so the heat begins. Actually, its been warm since March and it was only a little chilly in the winter months. We never managed to wear a winter coat at all this last year. Just our hoodies. Yep, we are from Washington and LOVE our hoodies. :)

I want to apologize for cheating on our blog with Facebook, it was only supposed to be a one time thing, but one thing led to another and I neglected the one thing I actually really enjoyed. blogging. Pitifully I think we have like 4 posts for all of 2011. I am going to try harder to revive it and fulfill my desire of a family journal this year.

Our goal is to move back to the West Coast this summer. How close we will get to Washington is something we have put in the hands of the Lord. Our desires lie in Vancouver/ Portland, but one thing I have learned is that I can express my desires all I want, but if it isn't in line with Heavenly Fathers plan for our family, I will be the one left compromising. :)

It's really hard to believe but our kids are getting so big. Kady is officially 4 years old. My baby is FOUR!! Chandler is ready to be 11, but I most certainly am not. Eek! So in honor of our beautiful and amazing children, I will finish this post off with a picture montage. To make up for the other 46 posts I probably should have made.

Welcome back to the blogging world, let the sarcasm and inspiration roll........

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Random gibberish

Oh how life seems to just fly so fast.

Where did this year go?

Our oldest is 10 and our baby is already 3 1/2.

We are officially getting older.

You know you're old when your kids start asking the questions "is that what it was like when you were a kid?" oh dear child if you only knew that I will forever feel like a child stuck in this 30 something body.

30's really isn't that old, but when you're only 10, 30 is ancient!!

Just a random thought this Beautiful 74 degree Mid November day in Georgia, thinking of all those we have met along the way in this mostly crazy but fun journey in life. We Love you All!!

Hey Y'all!

Georgia.

Surprisingly very Beautiful. I have always sort of pictured this region of the states to be similar to Arizona desert type dry flat land. I don't know why? It is actually just the opposite. I feel at home here. Just like being in Washington State. Green everywhere! The humidity is worse, but A/C is a given, not a privilege. The trees, the mountains. There are waterfalls, and hiking trails and wonderful parks. I am enjoying this so far.

Our new home is a wonderful fit. Finally something that fits our family. 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and a kitchen we can all stand in at the same time and still move around. Spacious yard and an in ground swimming pool. Perfect. Even better Cory and I have an oasis in the home away from the kids. Not just a bedroom, but a sitting room, and a bathroom and a closet that says "Hey! you're a grown up now" :)

I can't wait to have family visit us here. Plenty of room for sure.

Cory is settling in nicely in his new role here at work and the kids are enjoying the break from school. They have already made a few friends within the neighborhood, but honestly, since they each have their own room, they aren't going outside as much as they used to. Even more shockingly- I haven't put up the trampoline yet, and they aren't begging me for it. Not one child has asked even once. I think that is where the pool has distracted them. Fine with me.

Putting things together to make this wonderful house our home







Signing off from the southern state for now....

Howertons. HA! More like the "move"ertons

Um, Wow.
This is just another testimony builder for sure. Another move, states away. The third in just a year.
To say I am a pro packer is simply an understatement. I should make this my job- I'm good at it and if it paid- I'd be RICH!!

We have turned down three job offers to Georgia in about as many years. This time we couldn't say no. After lots of prayer and a blessing, we now know that this is where we are supposed to be. I wonder if we would have accepted the job years ago, if we could have avoided moving from Iowa to Wisconsin onto Ohio and NOW Georgia. I often laugh inside wondering if all these moves are our trial for not taking the hint the first three times...... Whoever says God doesn't have a sense of humor, is wrong.

So here we are, enjoyed a summer in Wisconsin, a Winter in Ohio and now moving to Atlanta to enjoy our first summer there. I'm beginning to wonder why we continue to take stuff with us, it would just be easier to pack a suit case and sleep on the floor. At least that is how I feel sometimes. 4 kids = A LOT of STUFF!!!!

We haven't yet found a home in the Atlanta area yet, we are praying that it will come to fruition soon, we have to vacate our home here by the end of June.
The kids aren't out of school yet. There last day isn't until June 10th.

If I had to do it all over again, I of course would not choose this many moves, but I do know that with every move, I was able to meet and help some GREAT people, who will forever be in our hearts and a part of our lives forever.

I promise you we are not crazy. We all have a plan that is set for us and this is our lot in life. One where we need to travel across the country and stay for a while. I am a servant of the Lord and will go will he sends me. Sometimes murmuring along the way, but I will go. :)

So, as we pack our home here in Ohio and prepare to move on to a new place, Thank you for your support.

Our Baby is Turning Three!!

In less than a week our youngest child will be three years old!! It is so hard to let her grow up so fast. She is such a joy with her humor and overall cuteness. So, here's to Kady - A picture tribute highlighting her amazing personality.
hApPy 3rD bIrThDaY kAdY!!!

NEVER pay full price again!

I did it!!

I haven't paid retail for clothes in at least 8 years! I always searched for the best deal.
Then these last few months I found Swagbucks. I use it as my search engine and earn points for just doing my regular online searches. I can then turn my points into giftcards to Target, Amazon and paypal and sooooo many more. In the last 3 months I have managed to earn $50 to amazon and have enough points for another $50 giftcard! and this is just casually searching. My goal is to have Christmas paid for by Swagbucks!! If you want to do this too- start here. Then use Swagbucks as your homepage instead of Google or Bing. Then to save money on shipping sign up for Amazon Mom- it is free 3 day shipping on your purchases from amazon PLUS you get an extra savings off of plenty of things like diapers (30%), and sooooo much more!!!!!! It saves soo much more money!!

The only thing missing was my grocery savings. Sure I used a coupon here and there, but ever since Grocery stores have started doubling coupons up to $.99 it has changed the way I shop.
My Know it all resource page is most certainly COUPON DIVA's. They take the work out of couponing for you. leaving just the clipping up to you. (There are so many sites that can help you with this- so if you want any more- let me know.) The Coupon Divas take almost every store you can think of and match up coupons to their weekly sales to get you the BEST buy on everything out there, and often times-things for FREE!!!

The picture above is a savings of $48.83 and that is a savings AFTER the already marked down SALE price!!

All of this is just too good to keep to myself, but I will warn you- Saving Money IS Addicting!!!!!