free photo session

want to win a free photo session for you and your family? check out this site for details!

treasure valley steals deals & discounts # 4

ANYONE HERE A MANGO FAN? WELL WE SURE ARE HERE. THAT IS....RYKON AND I. WHEN THEY ARE RIPE, THEY ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE FRUITS. I COULD PROBABLY EAT 2 OR 3 A DAY. ( I FEEL THAT WAY ABOUT BLUEBERRIES AND WATERMELON TOO!) WELL, IF YOU ARE A FAN TOO, HURRY OVER TO FRED MEYER BY TOMORROW EVENING. THEY HAVE LARGE, FAT, PERFECTLY RIPENED, ORGANIC MANGO'S FOR A DOLLAR. YES THAT IS $1.00 EACH!!!! IF YOU'VE BOUGHT MANGO'S BEFORE, YOU KNOW THEY DON'T GET MUCH CHEAPER THAN $1.50. ESPECIALLY NOT THE LARGE ONES AND TO BOOT, ORGANIC. IT'S LIKE HEAVEN IN MY MOUTH :o)
SO, WE STOCKED UP. (LIKE 10). YOU CAN CHOP THEM UP AND FREEZE THEM FOR SMOOTHIES OR MY FAVORITE, JUST FRESH. I THINK I'LL GO HAVE ONE NOW!

treasure valley deals, steals, and discounts 1,2,&3

i've decided to starting sharing all the great deals i found around town on my blog. why? just because. i'm the kind of person who's always loved including everyone in what i'm doing. i'm known to probably be too social for my own good :O)
i'm always coming across things i think are really cool and very helpful in saving me some money. i love telling people about it but don't always get around to it. so, i will be sharing them here on my blog. it will automatically post to my facebook page so everyone can share in the information. if you come across anything great, please share w/us by leaving a comment on my post and i will post it on my blog.
#1 - a free movie.
overland park cinemas is offering a free movie tomorrow morning.
VEGGIETALES "PISTACHIO: THE LITTLE BOY THAT WOODN'T"
there are three shows to choose from.
9:45, 10:00, and 10:45am.
if you choose, you can make a donation that will go towards helping the people of Haiti. otherwise, you only pay for snacks/drinks.

#2 - Fred meyer has Kettle brank chips....the BIG bags, for $2.50.
#3 - If you're looking for a warm drink for you kiddos, check out dutch brothers.
they have a "not so hot chocolate" that comes in a great little plastic cup. it has a lid and rubber straw that bends so spills are very minimal. the bonus is it's all re-usable. all this for only about $1.50. a great deal in my opinion.

a lesson in patience

today, as i sat at a stop light in a subdivision, the light did not change and we waited and waited, until finally i too was getting a little antsy. it didn't seem like we were getting our fair chance to go. finally, the guy in front of me had enough and pulled out. he was about 3/4 of the way through the intersection when the light turned green. i smirked a bit as i pulled out at how foolish he must've felt, yet i'm sure under his breath, he justified his actions all the way. if he'd just waited a few more seconds, he could have experienced doing the right thing and not giving into his impatience. i've been there. at a stop light AND in life. it brought me to think about our lives. how many times are we in situations where we are waiting? we know we've been faithful, asking God fervently, trying to do it the right way by leaving it in his hands, yet the temptation to take control and just get the job done becomes unbearable. then it wins us over and we give in. we go ahead and take action and then miss out on the blessing of waiting to see what God would have done. and of course, it usually ends up changing...just moments after we've given in. what i've learned? it will always pay to stay the course and committed to what you say you'll do. to do the right thing, when cutting a corner could seem easier and faster.
if you are asking god to do something, persevere. hang in there. be patient. i speak from experience. i am the leader of the "do it yourselfers."so romans 5:3-5 have become life verses. tribulations produce perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope. choosing to persevere in patience is not usually easy, but it is always worth it. when we stay the course, then god is free to move and something wonderful happens. we SEE his hand at work in our lives and our faith is increased. so the next time you're at a light in your life that just doesn't seem to want to change, hold on, cause about the time you think you can't take any more and you want so badly to move, God will ask you again to wait and trust in him, and then he'll move his hand. then and onl then will you recieve the biggest blessing. you will grow and be sharpened and then you'll have your own story to tell. patience is a virtue because it is usually required in the moments we feel we cannot bare it any longer. but we do and our character is shaped more like christ. a worthy sacrifice if you ask me.
james 1:2-4 "my brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. but let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

this year i'm in to flavor and color

i think the key to staying healthy has to be flavor. and i'm NOT talking about synthetic, produced flavor in some kind of chippery. i know i'm not saying anything new, but this year i really need to implement this. i like food. i love the taste, the smell, the colors, textures. i mean really, what's not to love? the problem is food loves me and has some "detachment" issues.
we've also discovered that red 40 makes rykon hyper. at least we think. we're still observing, but we're pretty sure, based on what we've read and how he acts. that stuff is in ALOT of processed foods, not to mention popcicles. so getting him off of it will mean cutting out lots of things he loves, but it's for the best (not to mention good for my sanity :O).
i've made room in our grocery budget to kick it in to gear. there are so many delicious things out there that have great nutritional attributes. i've been taking our product "JUS" now for about 2 years, so i have the peace of mind that i'm getting my daily nutritional & antioxidants needs met each day, but that hasn't helped me shed my extra weight. i go over this and over this all the time. we've lived on such a tight budget for the past 3 1/2 years that it's held me back from cooking and eating the way i'd really like to. but now i'm in full mode to step it up. part of the sacrifice means i'll be cutting back on the coupon savings because as wonderful as they are, they really only save me money on things that aren't good for me. so our goal this year is to slowly rid our pantry of junk food and replace it with healthy options. my kids are young enough that they won't know the difference and now is as good a time as any to train their pallette, not to mention my own :O)


so if you have any great resources, ideas, recipes, and grocery options that will save me in the pocket book as well as on my calories, im all ears.

the holidays 09.....so far!

why is it i'm always playing catch up with this thing? i'm really trying to stay on top of this blog, but sometimes i just can't make time.
so as of today, Christmas Eve, our december has been completely packed. aside from three birthdays so far, we've seen two school pageants, done lots of christmas shopping and baking, & we had our Hines family christmas fondue and raquelette last weekend. no pictures so far, but it was a great time as always and the food was DELISH! thanks mom & dad for all the preperation! mom hired a sitter to keep an eye on all the kiddos while we sat in privacy to chow down. after dinner and dessert, there was a little surprise......

a knock on the door & guess who walked through?
jolly saint nick w/a ho ho and jingle too!
he brought presents for good little boys and little girls
although one was afraid, most looked surreal.
we all sat on his lap to tell him our wishes,
and loaded him up with hugs, smiles, and kisses.
there were toys galore and candies and treats,
this memory we've made is endearing and sweet.
all the kids went back home with their hearts full of joy
a nice sugar high and a new christmas toy!

after the first snow fall last week we did a little playing. well, actually more like rykon played and rich and i pulled him, pretending to be his reindeer of course!





santa was spotted atop a chimney

snow icecream was made and eaten


christmas pictures have been taken (some they weren't so happy about :O)



and the 1st christmas program went great. rykon managed to get the mich (i think he had it planned the whole time :O) and i totalled it up....i had 6 neices and nephews in the program this year. lucas, presleigh, anneliese, peyton, emily, & taylor. definately the stars of the show (in a biased, auntie kind of way!)





all in all. it's been good so far. we've managed to experience all the traditions we love about this magical season and still make sure that we don't forget that Jesus is the center of all we celebrate.
merry christmas to all my fellow bloggers! can't wait to read about your holiday.

thanksgiving 09

thanksgiving at our house is classified under "craziness." but it's craziness i wouldn't change for the world. our family brings life to the holiday. to every holiday for that matter. i don't think rich REALLY knew what he got himself into when he married me. but we always have a good laugh about it aftwards. it's getting a little better. not necessarily any quieter, but the kids are getting older and actually starting to find their own little groove. it's fun with them all being so close in age. they play well together and they love each other. here are a few pictures from our big hines/smith thanksgiving day.

and she hadn't even had her turkey yet

the "spread"

playin with papa's train set

rich carving the goose that he prepared and cooked ALL BY HIMSELF! i'm so proud :O)

ry enjoying the goodness of fresh whipped cream


three little chunkins layin in a row, the jovi, levi, and mason show!


anneliese entertained us all by putting on a "magic" show. of course all the kiddos assisted!
i'm greatful for a family that loves each other. that stands beside one another and would give anything for each other. for a family that loves God, loves this country, and believes in values and truth. i'm greatful for parents who've sacrificed so much so that we could have a different one than those which they endured. who chose to change their family heritage so that we could have one built upon a strong foundation of biblical truth. i'm thankful for our founding fathers who did not let intimadation change their course, but instead aloud it to become the fuel that gave us this great country. my prayer this thanksgiving is that we will go back, as a country, to our roots, to where it all started, and remember who we are. we are a great nation,"one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." a nation that provides the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Thank you Lord that i've been raised in this great country and that i get to raise my children here too. GOD BLESS AMERICA, LAND THAT I LOVE.