A Giveaway On My "Other" Blog

So I found this awesome new budgeting software called, You Need A Budget (or YNAB). I decided to approach them and see if they'd sponsor a giveaway for my coupon blog. And they said, No Problem! I'm really excited about it! Go check it out, I'd love to have someone I know win!

Or feel free to just go check it out. They have a free 10-day online course that is awesome, and they also gave my readers a discount coupon code to save 10% on their software purchase... just enter "FABULESS" in at check out!

Cool stuff.

Check it out!

One Year Older and Wiser Too...

So, I'm 34. Yep, that's right. I'll say it. I'm happy to be 34. I'm getting smarter! Yesterday was my birthday. Of course, it wasn't as exciting as it was to have a birthday when you're little. I didn't get a slew of gifts, I wasn't necessarily queen for a day (they tried, but you know how it is). I pulled the "It's my birthday so please don't fight with each other" card. It didn't really work either. But I did get lots of hugs from my kids!

Saturday my sister Jennifer took me out for my first ever professional pedicure! What fun it was. We got to sit in relaxing massage chairs while our feet soaked in nice hot bubbly water. I even got a foot and a leg massage. And of course, when it came time to choose my color, I chose red. As they call it, hooker red (shhh, did I just say that?).

Later that night Roman and I spontaneously went out to dinner (Hugo's Deli - The Pilgrim sandwich which I had been craving for a few days!). I'd been locked up in the house all week sick (again), despite being a bit under the weather, I HAD to get out! After a quick dinner, we went and caught a flick, thanks to the movie tix I got from my mom for my birthday. We went and saw Confessions of a Shopaholic. I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars.

With 3 sick little boys, we had a pretty rough night. Once I got back to sleep, I was able to sleep in til 9am!! I still wasn't sure if I was up to going to church or not, but decided to do it, since I certainly wasn't going to get any rest at home with the 3 boys (who we kept home from church for obvious reasons).

Before church I had an Enrichment planning meeting, where I got the most delicious big fat oversized brownie from Monica (So good, and guess what - Roman didn't eat it while I as at church!)

We had a great sacrament meeting. Our old Bishop and his wife returned from their mission in Africa. and gave wonderful talks. And of course, Relief Society was just what I needed to hear, after experiencing one of my most discouraging weeks I've had in a few years. Thank you Stephanie!

Later that evening, not one, but TWO of my sisters ended up coming over and bringing me some BIRTHDAY PIE!! YUMMY!!! Melanie brought her world famous Dutch Apple Pie - baked with her home grown apples! It is THE BEST Apple Pie recipe I've ever tasted (and the crust is to die for!). Then my little sister Carolee stopped by with some Cream Cheese Cherry pie - a long time Anderson favorite, and my dads standard birthday, fathers day, (etc) dessert. Yum Yum Yum! So which one did I eat? BOTH!!

See the crazy bunch I live with! I love em to pieces. Yes, I look tired and worn down, that is because I was!! Thank goodness for a good nights rest (only up once), I'm feeling much more productive today!

Oh, and Roman mopped the kitchen floor for me for my birthday, per my request!

Thank you to my wonderful family and friends for making it a special day!
{{hugs}}

Y Ball

Megan is playing Y-Ball for the second year in a row. We were bored on Saturdays, with nothing to do, so we thought it would be great to put another child in sports. Here she is, while waiting her turn to play. You can see her face as she realizes I'm taking pictures of her.

She got hit by the ball a few times during practices... which has led to this:
Moments later, you could see her trying to get open, asking her team mate to again, pass the ball to her. (Hey, at least she's persistent). The moment I captured above has become more and more frequent... Her team mate did not pass the ball to her.

Did she have fun? Most times she always does. But by the 4th quarter, she was doing this down the court.

Finding Joy in the Journey

My friend Tiffani has this really neat thing she is doing on her blog, called "Finding Joy in the Journey". It's about doing things for yourself to become spiritually prepared... we always hear about "be prepared" and we think monetarily. This is something I need, and I'm grateful to her that she is doing it! I met her in a weight training class at BSU my freshman year. We were then reacquainted in the young married ward. She watched my baby Aaron for me so I could go to an institute class. She is one of the most kind people I know, and is such an example to me.

Go check it out and get signed up! You'll also want to be sure and read this.

The journey begins on Sunday February 22nd (what a great birthday gift for me!).

Thanks Tiff!

6th Folder 6th Picture

It's been awhile since I've done a tag. My long lost friend, Jaycee, from BHS is a newbie blogger and tagged me, so I thought I'd do it!


This happens to be a page I made for my photo book, of Christmas 2007. Man my kids look so much younger. Especially Aaron! Ah, five kids... how would it be. Ha! Isn't it funny how you can't even imagine life with out your littlest one!

In the bottom left hand corner, you'll see a picture I took of all the grand kids on Christmas day after opening gifts from Grandparents and each other. That's a lot of kids! We now have 25 of them and we have a great time together! I love each one of them to pieces! And there is my and my pa (just in case you're wondering, I don't call him "pa" to his face).

This picture reminds me of how much I love our big family!

I tag whomever is in a blogging rut and needs a quick little subject to blog on! Or anyone that just wants to do it! Go for it!

Cathy is...

My ma and pa are serving a mission in San Diego. We got a letter from them today and they are doing wonderful! But they are missing their family and grand kids. I decided I need to get more diligent about blogging (eeek!), and realized that I've been spending more time on Facebook updating my status, than blogging. Facebook is easier. It is so easy to type in Cathy is changing the 10th diaper of the day. So I decided to give my parents (and all you non Facebookers) a glimpse at my boring life, I'm going to copy and paste a few weeks of my status updates. Wow. Desperate for a post. Yes.


Here we go... starting with January 28th!

• Cathy is going to finally blog her week in pictures that she hasn't started... and work on preschool for February.
• Cathy is FINALLY getting to her preschool calendar. EIGHT HOURS LATER!! gRRrrrrR!
• Cathy is FRIED!
• Cathy is looking forward to hearing Ginny Gilman speak tonight!!!
• Cathy just saw that all three boys are napping! Including the one I didn't force to have a nap!
• Cathy thinks that Sis Gillman ROCKS!
• Cathy is finally eating breakfast. (11:24 am)
• Cathy just figured out how to do this: ♥.
• Cathy is going to stop wasting time and get her 3 things on her list done now. OK, maybe 2.
• Cathy is going to Crapital to watch my hubby ref!
• Cathy is getting off FB for the rest of the weekend. SO THERE!
• Cathy is moving preschool to my house today.
• Cathy thinks this has been one of the longest days ever.
• Cathy teeth are killing her.
• Cathy 's teeth are killing her... that's right.
• Cathy is now feeling the burn (and a bit like Jello), thanks to Stephanie's Kickboxing class!! AARGHH!
• Cathy is hurting - teeth, legs, shoulders... and yet I want to go to another class tonight!
• Cathy is contemplating Pilates at 4:30... anyone? anyone?
• Cathy is making a birth announcement for her little sis. (Never got past opening PSE)
• Cathy is getting ready for my preschool friends.
• Cathy knows never to buy Frigidaire again... 2 years new and dead... repair man says to chuck it.
• Cathy is listening to her husband wash the dishes while he listens to Jim Rome.
• Cathy is posting her "week in the life" pictures.
• Cathy is leaving all the mess for tomorrow and hitting the sack.
• Cathy is tackling the messes and all those horrible dishes in the sink that she has to hand wash. Grrr.
• Cathy is listening to Dave Ramsey while doing the books.
• Cathy just had two kids throw up within 1 minute of each other.
• Cathy is sick now too. :o.
• Cathy enjoyed Shish-Ka-What about-Bobs tonight. And is glad the sickies are gone!
• Cathy is going to recipe group! Good food and company ahead!
• Cathy is up with a poopy baby and a up chuckin 7 yo. (3:08 this morning)
• Cathy just made her Valentines Day reservations at Tucanos.
• Cathy just read a great letter from her ma and pa!
• Cathy is making Bubble Pizza
• Cathy is headed towards a vegetative state.

Now wasn't that just a lot of fun. There is the gist of my life over the past 2 weeks. What is more fun is the conversations these "status" updates bring.

So why in the heck aren't you on Facebook yet?

I Posted!

I got all my "Week in the Life" photos - scroll down to see... Here are a few others that I like that I didn't post... I'm sad to see that I never got any pix of my girls! Bad mommy!

Bella's Lullaby

Some one wrote out the sheet music for Bella's Lullaby (LOVE IT!) - thought I'd share where I found it - check it out here.

Loo Hoo... Zer Her

(Do you get it? Jim Carey, Ace Ventura)

Yes I totally stink at the attempt of a daily blog post. It just isn't happening right now. Friday I did my freezer cooking co-op for the first time, Saturday and Monday I worked on rearranging my house to make room for preschool (moved it from my parents to my own house... long story - I'll tell you later, although at the rate I'm going, that will happen next year!), and since then I've been trying to function in all these new work spaces... I'm not doing so hot. So all the fantabulous pictures I've taken are still on my camera. They'll make it here. Hopefully by Saturday. That's my goal. And don't worry - I'm totally going to back date them so it looks I'm way on the ball... you may want to scroll and take a peek next week!!

Quick recap on my familia:

Roman -

• busy with new position at work (enjoys),
  
• travels to Pocasmello every other week for an overnighter (for work).
  
• Referees city league and High School basketball one or two evenings a week to bring in some extra cashola.

Me

• trying to work out more. just tried pilates for the first time ever today.... nearly died at kickboxing last night... going to torture myself more tomorrow!
  
• Enjoying not preparing dinner, as I did it for 6 hours last Friday night (oh yes, you'll get pictures)
• Needs some major organization at the moment

Aaron

• All A's and 1 B on Semester Report card
• Loves school still
• Went on first winter overnight camp out (holy cow - COLD!)

Haley

• Straight A's on semester report card
  
• Still very obedient and enjoyable to be with
• Started reading Harry Potter Monday

Megan

• Playing Y Ball
• Got a tackle/hug from a 2nd grader boy today - fell in the mud... she wasn't too upset (wink)
• Is dying to start piano lessons (I'm not ready for it!!)

Zack

• Unenrolled from Pre-K class to simplify moms life... is doing quite alright with it!
• Totally rocks on the Wii Fit and Mario Kart
• Is most often the last kid awake (on school mornings)

Seth

• Becoming more enjoyable to be around
• Will compromise and do things "together" instead of all on his own (like pouring cereal and milk)
• Can totally use the bathroom (#1 and #2, in case you were curious) - but would rather wear a diaper (I'm not going to start that battle).

Logan

• Rolls all over the place
• 8 months old this week!
• babbles "ma ma ma ma", still loves to growl, and I can hear him snoring right now through the baby monitor

There mom - that was for you. Sorry I'm a slacker. I just can't do it all at the same time, you know? :) {{hugs}}

A Week in My Life - Day Seven

I almost missed pictures from this day! Took one of my new Living Room/Family Room... you can't see the desk or piano in this picture... some how we got it all in there!