Today has been a fun day! We took the kids to the park for a little while. We met my sister, brother in law, sister in law and her family there. Michael was able to throw and hit the baseball a bit. He used to play baseball quite a bit but it has been awhile. We are thinking about trying to get a co-ed softball team up and running. I played softball for a long time and really miss it. I think it would be a lot of fun. The little kids really enjoyed getting out somewhere different and exploring.

Now that we are home, Michael is out trying to get our garden tilled. We want to go ahead and start tilling and mixing in compost to get the soil ready. If the weather is decent tomorrow, we are going to get out in the yard and start cleaning up. There are several branches and such that need to be moved in order to get everything ready to plant. It won't be much longer before we can get out there and really start working. I absolutely love working in the yard. I have so many plans for it this year. I have several seeds saved over from last year. I'm trying to figure out where I want to plant my herb garden this year. I had several herbs last year but really want to expand it this year. I have a goal of making my Christmas presents this year and that is going to require a lot more herbs. I was thinking a long the lines of herbal soaps, salves, and such. I would like to start them from seed so I need to go ahead and get them started inside within the next couple of weeks.

While he is working outside, I'm working inside...cleaning and organizing. I have the bathroom organized for the first time since we have lived here. We actually have two bathrooms but have found it more efficient just to use one of them this winter. I put each of the kids bath stuff in a seperate basket. That way when it comes time for their bath they can just pull down their basket with their stuff in it and when they are done they can put their basket back on the self. I also put all my stuff in a basket as well. It keeps all the stuff in one spot instead of being spread all over the bathroom. Because in case you don't remember, since we have one bathroom in use, that means there are 7 people using one bathroom! Tends to make things a bit chaotic, especially if things aren't organized! Next I need to organize Kimmie's room, the babies room, and our room in the same fashion. I want to make seperate baskets for each activity so it is easier just to pull down what you need and keep all the pieces/parts/ect in one place.

I saw my cousin for the first time in a couple years this morning. He was passing through Cartersville and asked if we could meet him somewhere. We ended up meeting him for lunch. It was funny though cause you could tell that he was just waiting for the kids to erupt or something. People are just do not see how we manage two that are 10 and a half months apart. But I have to say that they are both very well behaved. Kimmie also helps a ton with them. She is 8 but quite the little mommy! There are times that she needs her own time and space and I make sure that she gets it.

Well.. off to organize!

So this morning we are really toying with the idea of getting rid of cable. Michael has just started working with Direct TV and in 90 days we can get their package for 25 dollars (used to be free but they changed their policy). But the thing is that I'm not even sure I want to get it when it becomes available! I know that I can survive just fine without cable TV. I'm such a huge reader anyway that I spend very little time watching it. I would much rather have a book. I know the babies would be just fine without it because it is nothing more than something that catches their attention every now and then. Kimmie is the only one that I worry about. She has grown up with it and seems to think that she just HAS to have it. We brought up the idea of getting rid of it to her this morning and I thought she was going to lose her mind. She was really, really upset by the idea. The thing is that not having cable would save us a lot of money, would stop exposing the children to things that they really don't need to see, would force us to do other more creative pursuits with each other. I don't know. If anyone reading this had any ideas or opinions, I would love to hear them.

Its been so long since I have posted anything. Things tend to get a bit busy around here! We went through and cleaned out all the closets and the spare bedroom. Last weekend we had a yard sale and earned almost 200 dollars! Every little bit helps! I have also decided to start selling used books on ebay and half.com. I have so many books that are just sitting around collecting dust. I'm also going to start searching out thrift stores, yard sales, and Goodwill for good used books. I can then turn around and sell those as well. Hubby and I are also talking about starting a second hand store in the lot next to our house. The lot already had water and electricity run to it. We are not sure what we would need to do in order to get it zoned to where we could run a commercial business off of it. But I really do love the idea of finding second hand furniture, refinishing it and selling it. Not to mention if we did it on that lot then I could have the kids with me the entire time.

I just finished my monthly grocery shopping trip. I hate grocery shopping with a passion but it feels really good when I get it done. I had a friend ask me how in the world that works for us. It's really pretty easy. We buy bulk on a lot of stuff. Meats, we just freeze. I also freeze bread if I need to although I'm making much more at home now. In the summer we don't need to buy as many fresh veggies since we grow them. This year I hope to grow even more and can them. I've also read on how you can freeze tomatos. But in the winter, if I need veggies, I generally buy them frozen (so much better than canned). I have started freezing all of our leftovers to use in other dishes. The only thing that I generally have to go back to the grocery store for is milk...but that is about it. We have also found that we save a bunch of money doing it this way. I found before that if I ran to the store here and there, it would be 40 dollars one time and 60 the next. And that was only for a meal or two at a time! When I do it this way I spend less than 100 dollars a week to feed a family of 5 plus my brother in law and sister who live upstairs! I would say that is a pretty good deal!

Our neighbors are moving this week. In the midst of them moving, I noticed that they had a little play house that was just set to the side of the house. I asked them if they were taking it and they said no. So I asked if I could have it and they quickly brought it over! I'm cleaning it really well and then handing it over to my girls! It was a great find for absolutely free! I know Isabelle will LOVE playing in it this summer.

I have another project that I am taking on as well. When I was going through the kids clothes to sell in the yard sale, I found several items that had been stained. Instead of throwing them out, I have decided to cut them up and make a blanket out of them! It will be a great way to remember when the kids were little... a keepsake. Some of the clothes have great memories attached to them so I think it will be a fun project. It is something I can hand down to them when they get older. I will post pictures of it as soon as I am finished.

I guess that is it for now. Got to get busy with the kids. It so much warmer outside today so I think we will take a long walk.