YouTube Contest

My nieces have entered a contest on Youtube. I think they are they best. Not only are they beautiful, but they are super nice. There are five girls on the video, one of them is not related to me, the brunette at the piano. :)



Log onto your YouTube account and give them 5 stars!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dii9ELVxiiI

Funny Face

Emma loves to make funny faces. Last night Jacob had a scrimmage game and we went to support him. While we were there, Emma wanted me to take pictures so she could see her creations. She is wearing her favorite shirt of all time. Last summer she got it and her cousin Maddie got one that said everyone loves a blue eyed girl. I don't know what we will do when she grows out of it! If it is clean, it is on her. After the "photo shoot", she spent the rest of the night playing in the dirt. The last picture is my favorite.

Toe Pick!

On Saturday, we celebrated Jathan's birthday at the ice rink. Our kids had never ice skated in their lives and I was a little worried--to say the least. Plus Mickey and I have not been ice skating in over 10 years. They all had a great time. Beth liked it but was a little scared. The rink offered some ice walkers for less experienced skaters and Beth was able to enjoy the day. Jacob hit the ice and never looked back. Emma couldn't skate without us holding her hands but that didn't stop her from making us take her around.

Jacob wants to know when he can start to play ice hockey. We have told him for a year that he couldn't play that because he didn't know how to ice skate. Now, I have to find a new reason. :) Here are some pictures from the rink.

Mickey was tired after skating with Emma.

Canette and Jacob

These videos were taken with my digital camera, so they aren't the best quality. But it gives you the idea!

This is Beth at the end of our ice skating session. She had improved by leaps and bounds.

You will have to hear what Emma is saying so turn up the volume and turn off the music at the bottom of the blog if you have to. She loved skating.

I don't think you can see this very well, but Emma looked adorable walking in her skates. Mickey said people kept commenting about her tiny skates.

Jacob loved this. I didn't think we were going to be able to leave.

This next video is Jacob..just keep watching and he will show up from the back.

Yippee!

Tonight was Jacob's 3rd game of the season. Jacob is playing baseball for the first time in his life. While he considers basketball his favorite, he is enjoying coach-pitch ball. Jacob's team is full of 1st year players, so they are a little green. They have lost by incredible amounts but seem to still have a good time. Tonight's game was a little better, they only lost 1 to 12. But the best part of the game was when Jacob hit a good ball almost out of the infield. He got to first base and eventually made it to home base. He was so happy. Jacob scored the first run of the season. At the end of the game, he was talking a mile a minute. Of course, we had to celebrate with a scoop of ice cream. Mickey's dad, sister and nephew came to the game tonight. We had a great night. I am so proud of him!

Jacob going for a fly ball.

Jacob's best at bat.
Running Home!
Jacob is in the middle of this picture with no hat. He is so happy!
Post game pow wow.

Jacob and his cousin Blake.

Couponing

I love to coupon. While I was looking for a new picture for my blog, I found some picture evidence of my greatest coupon trip to Kroger. My sister, Tina, shared with me how to save money and build a food storage just by using coupons. I wish I was more consistent at this but I am not. At this shopping trip I used coupons for everything except a loaf of raisin bread. Some of the items are hidden in this picture.

I bought 66 items...which averages to just under 60 cents per item. I had a total savings of 72 % with coupons, double coupons and store sales. Without those things, I would have paid about 126 dollars for all that. Not too shabby!

World Thinking Day

Every year, the girl scouts put on a World Thinking Day. They girls learn about a country, then have a presentation for the rest of the troops in the council. Beth loves this activity. This year, her troop chose Japan. Beth and another troop member had been learning about Japan in their ACE class so they taught everyone a song in Japanese. Plus another leader found Make New Friends in Japanese and they got to perform this song as well. They did a fantastic job. The girls also made themselves kimonos out of t-shirts by stamping nature pictures all over them. I thought they turned out adorable. Beth is the 2nd girl scout from the right. The other 2 leaders are pictured with the troop.


Beth got to "visit" Egypt, France, England, Ireland, Italy, China, Ecuador and Hawaii. I guess that Hawaii represented the US. Beth's favorite country was Ecuador because they had a paper flower making station.


This is Beth's last year of Brownies but she is determined to be a Junior girl scout next year. Beth has finished most of the badges (try-its) from her Brownie book and she is ready for the next challenge.

My Kids

I just love them.