You TWO are TWO

I think back on the pregnancy.

Trying to get pregnant (that was fun)

Telling people we were expecting another baby--not so fun

Finding out there were TWO--interesting

Being pregnant with TWO--hard & different

Getting ready to go into a must c-section--SO SCARY!!!

Having infant twins, especially newborn.....

talk about interesting.....

its like, you keep trying to tell yourself "I got this"

but really your fooling yourself

or is it trying to convince yourself, so that somehow you really will have it?

You look forward to when they turn ONE!!

Once they turn one, you wonder-did I really enjoy them being babies?

They're ONE

Everyone says it will get easier

It doesn't, just.....

different.

You go on your merry way

They go from babies to toddlers

You wish you can press a pause button.....

especially when they're running in opposite directions!!

Sometimes, you ask yourself----

how do I do this?

You don't really have an answer

except....'by the grace of God'

You get stopped by the twinarazzi everywhere you go

You continue to try and convince yourself you got this

They start walking, running, telling you NO

all the joys of toddlers

You sometimes surprise yourself at how much you do

'got this'

Then there are times your so grateful for a second set of hands and eyes

or cages :)

You wonder how you ever lived w/o them

You cry because your so overwhelmed

Then they bring a smile back to your face

a lot of smiles

did I mention they brought smiles to my face

and joy to my heart

seeing the world through the eyes of a child is exciting and fun

seeing it through the eyes of twin toddlers is incredible

the messes

the sharing

and more sharing :D

 watching their relationship develop over this year had been fascinating
its awesome to watch
they know each other, have their own language, look out for each other
they really are each others keeper

 and then the party.....fun fun fun!!
This has definitely been a trying, fun, exhausting, joyful, stressful, exciting year and I look forward to the 'TERRIFIC' TWOS!!!

You can do this too!!

So I was gonna do a note on facebook, but thought since I have been slacking on the blog lately, I'd do a blog......SO.....

I have heard many people say they wish they could coupon, or had the time, or wanted to learn how.....
Well, this week at RiteAid you could do something sooooo easy and get shampoo, conditioner or hairspray for FIFTY CENTS a bottle!!!!!! Unreal, right?! I know. But once you start to get things 'on the cheap' its kinda hard to ever pay full price!!

How?

Go to Rite Aid
Fill out the form for their wellness card (its free, its their 'rewards' card program)
Buy 2 bottles of finesse (you can get shampoo, conditioner, or hairspray)
Pay $6 plus tax.
At the bottom of your receipt a $5 up reward will print out.
Use that $5 up reward to buy 2 more bottles.
Pay $1 plus tax.
Another $5 up will print up on receipt.
Repeat one more time.
That will be 3 different transactions.

You will be out $8 plus tax. You will have 6 bottles of finesse. And you will leave the store w/ $5 up rewards to be used just like cash on anything in the store w/in 2wks. They actually will give you $5 back!! So for $3 you get SIX bottles of finesse. No coupons necessary. No clipping, no wasting (although, its not really wasting if you consider your savings an hourly wage) and its easy!!

If you don't use finesse products, consider doing this anyway and donating to a womens shelter, or a family in need.

Also, make sure you look on the expiration date on the $5 up reward and use it before it expires!!

One more thing......I <3 RiteAid!!

Wordless Wednesday

things you'd hear...........

if you were at our house as we scurry out the door

"Nobody trusts me!!" {insert crying}

"I don't have any clean socks."

"YOU DON'T HAVE ANY UNDERWEAR ON?"

"I only have 2 pair"

{so NOT true}

"I'm getting sick of {insert younger siblings name} using my stuff w/o asking!"

{that was in a whiny, cry}

"Turn off the lights upstairs."

"Turn off the lights downstairs."

"We have to go.....why don't you have your socks, shirt, shoes OR coat on?"

"Where are the babies hats?"

"Hurry, we gotta go!!"

"Come on, get in!!"

All of which were NOT said in an inside voice!!



couponing.......

Did you know that isn't a word yet? Well it should be. It probably will.....I mean if bootylicious is a word, couponing should definitely be a word, seriously.
Couponing is now what I do in my spare time. Its my work. Its how I save my family money, or buy the things I wouldn't normally be able to. I'm on the blogs, checking out the best deals and seeing what store is the best to go to!! I have a few favorite ones and this one is one I frequent. I love watching their youtube videos and love surfing their site!! Those gals are helpful in other areas. The have great ideas, links and recipes!!
I hope you go and check them out......you'll be glad you did {and you'll learn something, too ;)}

change

It's so interesting how life works. And what seems so simple for some, just isn't for others. I think most of my adult life {for me that began at 16, I wasn't the 'typical' teen mom, once I was a mom, that was it} has been a kind of transitioning. I'm always learning, growing, changing, adding, subtracting and researching. I have gone through many facets of beliefs as far as parenting goes. For some its cut throat, for me its been evolving. We've done private school, public school, homeschool, and unschool. We done attachment parenting, for Christians, this is grace-based parenting.  We have also been hardcore at times, 'these are the rules, do as we say' and then we had to find a middle ground. A ground that works for us. Some things we won't wither. Some things.....they need to learn on their own.

I think there are seasons to life. It seems our seasons are always changing.

We used to homeschool all 5 of our older children. It was truly an awesome experience. For the most part, I loved it. I was truly a pro-homeschooler. I thought {through alot of prayer and seeking God's will for them/us} it was the best for our kids. We were close.

I had to go to work---retail. No steady schedule. We couldn't go to homeschool pe @ the Y and we couldn't do homeschool co-op {that we loved} anymore. We decided to put the kids in our local public elementary school. It was weird. Overwhelming. Hard. Some of the kids struggled in some areas. They {generalizing} haven't ever been great test takers. {even when Ari & Amia went to elementary school in the beginning years}

We tried to get in the flow of things. Many things were new to us.....me working, what started out as part time ended up being full time.....and while it was needed financially, sacrifices were made. We missed how things used to be, and most of us wanted it back. Avery in particular. He would occasionally ask to be homeschooled. Actually I think they all have at one time or another. I think more that anything we wanted the closeness back. On many occasions, I was told how close my kids were in school. How when they saw each other in the hall ways, they would hug each other, or quietly wave. Or how they could just tell there was something about them. They loved each other and weren't 'normal' kids. They were nice kids.....and they are. But, in my opinion, some things have changed. They saw things that parents don't want their kids learning about, like EVER, but at least until their teen years. They heard vulger language and how rudely other kids talked to each other. They learned about mean girls.....among other things. Now, I'm not saying I wanted my kids to live in a bubble. But these things weren't our everyday normal. It took some getting used to.....and some things, should you ever have to get used to?! We did sports, and homeschool pe, co-op, and the Y and dance classes and church and Awana....they had friends....they encountered those situations before, just not every.day.

Fast-forward 4 years~

The 3 older children go to public school. Avery, virtual academy (online, technically public school) and Alaina homeschools.
We moved from our neighborhood. school. friends. All the things I've been fighting, I now miss. I've been missing. I knew in my heart they {Av&La} were too, even though, when I ask them, they deny it. Its human nature. Change is hard. And we miss what once was.......even if it wasn't the best.....or even if it was.

Avery just told me he wants to go back to his old school.

I don't even know if its possible. Or if we are going to allow him to. Its brought forth so much emotion inside.....ok, outside too......since I've been crying and all!! I feel bad for him. I feel terrible that his expectations weren't met.  What he had wanted all these years, wasn't what he received. That he misses his friends, his community, his school. I understand. Because I do too. Change is hard {yes, I know I already said that.}
I wish I could have been able to enroll them in co-op or the Y for PE. Maybe it would've been different......maybe not. But now I'm faced with this, AGAIN for like the 50millionthtrillionth time. And its hard. I don't want to fail. I want to prove all those naysayers WRONG {immature, I know.....but its the truth} and all those who are waiting for me to fail us.

I started writing this post on Thursday. I wrote the end of  that last night......among tears. It can be so hard to have the people who are supposed to support you the most, not. But today I'm free. Free from worrying about everyone else. Free from wanting to prove everyone wrong. Free from embarrassment or shame. Free to make decisions for my family w/ my husband and God. I spent alot of time with God this morning and today I have freedom to make the right decision for MY son. Today, I can recognize all those things as I explained before. They are all there, those thoughts and feelings. But they don't bring the sadness they did before. And if, through prayer, we decide that going back to school is the right decision for US.......then I HAVEN'T FAILED......at all. And there is freedom in that. And that makes me smile.

Wordless Wednesday