Many parents out there spent tons of money on the latest and greatest of toys.  Went to the store with a list in hand and stressed about getting THE right toy.  Tony and I played the game a little different.  With 4 kids we certainly could not afford to go hog wild on gifts.  I know what my kids like and I got what we could afford.  The best part is the toys they loved the most are these $3.50 flashlights and some $5 book bags.

Tony and I have discussed on numerous occasions that we don’t want our kids to be raised thinking Christmas is about the gifts.  We want them to understand the holidays are a time to be with family.  To spend quality time together.  If we start them off young not getting in to the hype of all the expensive gifts then it won’t be so bad as they get older. 

The holidays are totally going to come and go.  I already see Halloween decorations and candy in stores.  I asked Lil Tony what he wanted to be for Halloween and he said Mario.  He told me what he wanted the rest of the family to be.  Daddy will be Luigi.  Nicki will be Kuupa, Isabel will be a Princess, and Max will be the Mushroom.  AND mommy will be taking the pictures.  LOL!

If we lived somewhere that we had friends or something I could send out Halloween invitations.  I would probably make them, I hardly ever make those kinds of cards but I know it would be fun. 

The next couple weeks will probably be pretty busy with school work and such.  I will try to be back tomorrow. 

I can’t even wrap my brain around the idea that my kids will be cared for by someone else.  Will it be traumatic for them?  Will they adjust easily?  Will it be more traumatic for me than them?  Will we be able to afford daycare?  I mean that was the whole reason I didn’t work for the last 4 years is it is just too expensive to have 3 kids in daycare.  The only difference is Lil Tony will be in school part time.  Maybe we can find a kindergarten that’s all day.  That would be good because then I would only have to worry about 2 kids.  Ahhh, I am just a wreck.  There is just so much that has to be put in order before we move. I know one year may seem like a long time but really it isn’t.  LOL! I hope I can make it through. 

I am just ready to get it started.  I have five classes but one is a Math class that should be “easy.”  Heck I think Nicki could teach the class.  Plus I have Tony to help me along if I need it.

Nicki starts high school next Thursday.  HIGH SCHOOL!!!!  I truly feel old now.  She will be 15 in April.  She will be getting a job soon.  She will be driving soon.  She will be graduating soon.  She will be heading off to college (hopefully).  Seriously where has the time gone.  Lil Tony will start kindergarten next fall.  Ahhhh I feel so sad.

Speaking of sad I fought back some tears last night when I thought about having to put my kids in daycare.  When we move to Arizona, both Tony and I expect to be working.  Lil Tony will be in kindergarten and that leaves Isabel and Max to be put in daycare.  For four years all Isabel has known is momma watching her during the day, Max is very much a momma’s boy and Lil Tony spent five years home with his family.  Now we are moving them across country and sending them off to school and putting them in daycare.  I am trying to convince myself that this is more traumatizing for me than it will be for the kids but I am not very successful.  I think they will have a fun time but I worry they won’t understand what’s going on.

I am excited to start making money of my own, have more things, have more savings, and be able to provide more for the kids.  I am tired of living paycheck to paycheck worrying about money.  I am excited that my dad might be moving to Arizona too.  My kids are finally understanding there is a “grandpa.”  He tries to talk to the kids as much as possible.  When the phone rings they first ask if I am talking to “daddy” but if I say no they ask if I am talking to “grandpa.”  I want my kids to have an opportunity to know their grandpa.  So fingers crossed he moves out there too.

I am just ready to start our life.  The last 4 years has sort of been “not reality.”  It’s not realistic with a family of six to expect I can stay home forever.  Nor would I want to.  The play was, though, that I stayed home until all the kids were in school full time and then I would try and work when they were at school.  But I don’t think Tony and I want to wait that long anymore.  The only way Tony will be ok with moving to Arizona next summer is if I have a job.

A lot of things to take care of before next summer.  Finishing school is first and foremost.  We are planning and budgeting our money.  We are finishing school more quickly than I think we would have liked given our other responsibilities.  I worry things won’t line up as I want them to.  I want to move before the kids start school.  I would prefer to not have Lil Tony go to school for a month or a couple weeks and then have to pull him out.  I guess if I have to then I have to but it wouldn’t be ideal in my mind.

Oh well, I have a year to get everything in order. 

Then we had an awesome dinner that Tony cooked, twice baked potatoes, bourbon chicken, brown rice, and broccoli.  Oh it was delicious.  I was able to craft a bit and I made this super awesome card.    I ended the day watching some TV.  It was an awesome day.  Today we will just be playing outside.  We need to mow the lawn and get the outside cleaned up a bit.  We will fill the kiddie pool up with water and let the kids play.

Here are some of the pictures from yesterday.  I love my kids and I love that Tony has the next couple days off.  It’s so nice to just hang out. 

In a way I wish we would have done something for his vacay, maybe a small trip somewhere but all in all I will be happy he is just home.  I would much rather save the money and have it next year for our move than go to a water park or something that the lil ones won’t even remember. 

Well off to heat up our morning skillet and then off to the park.  Hopefully I will get some pictures. 

Lil Tony will also be going back to speech therapy.  I am excited because he is actually talking in sentences now the therapist just needs to help him clean up his words.  Some of them are hard to understand.

I need to do some school shopping, maybe get some clothes for Nicki.  Money is always tight for us so any savings I can get I happily welcome.  We have a kmart really close so maybe if i could find some kmart coupons that would help.  I know sometimes stores offer tax free shopping during back to school time.  I can’t wait until Tony and I are both working, we could really use the extra income.  It will be a sad day when I go to work but it will be well needed. 

We have a lot to get done over the next year but I am starting the planning now.  I am making a list of things that need to be done and making some calls on moving companies.  We could do the move ourselves, I mean it’s not like we haven’t done it before but with 4 kids, a dog, and a cat, I don’t want to drive 2200 miles in a car by myself.  I get bored really easy.  BUT we don’t want to have to drive a moving truck across country.  We need to be able to afford a move so that is the main priority.  Maybe we need to use our visa reward cards and earn point or cash back or something.  We have one that I know that offers discounts on various companies.  I need to check if there are any moving companies on the list.

We are also doing our best to save our money.  It is tough with 4 kids and me not working but we are doing our best.

I am also getting rid of a bunch of stuff.  Pictures, computers, tables….etc.  I will have a big yard sale next spring.  I just can’t wait.  Time seems to fly by but next year seems so far away.

Anywho, Fridays for us mean homemade pizza, buffalo chicken bites, and a movie at dinner time.  There are two days a week that we eat in the living room and watch a movie or show, Thursdays and Fridays.  Thursday is hamburger and tots.  YUM!!  So I am happy when the end of the week comes.  We are trying to start traditions with our kids, Friday night pizza night being one. 

Well I am off to check out my favorite craft blogs again while I drink my coffee. 

So on the way to the Ortho the kids usually play with the tablet or as they call it, “their laptop”.  So cute.  Then on the way home we stop at the gas station before getting on the express way.  We get some snacks and a slurpee, it usually takes the kids most of the way home to eat it.  So the car ride hasn’t been the problem, well a couple times I thought I was going to lose my mind, all the kids were yelling and crying.  But lately they have been behaving.  What bothers me is the two hours of driving for a ten min appointment.  Such a waste of gas.  But we have been going for almost a year and a half and Nicki’s teeth have gotten really straight.  I am hoping it will only be another couple months and then we will be done.

Well off to drink my coffee and check out all my favorite craft blogs.  Then to get dressed and out the door by 10am.