Childrens Orchard Deal December 5th

On December 5th Childrens Orchard is having a great deal on kids clothing! $5 for just one bag.... Fill it how you like... My husband and I love when stores do this... It allows for you to stock up on many items for a great price... Expect lines and crazyness, but have fun!!!

Louisburg Cider Mill

What a great field trip for the kids during the Fall. Enjoy the aromas of freshly made apple cider. This is one of my favorite spots to take my kids.

October 2009 Ciderferst & Craft Fair
September 26th & 27th and October 3rd & 4th
Huge Pumpkin Patch - Corn Maze - Craft Fair
Fresh Cider Making - Cider Donuts - Live Music
Food - Picnic Area - Kids Activity Area
Hay Castle- Hayrides

http://www.louisburgcidermill.com/events_calendar/october/

Aquafest Olathe

Sept. 19th @ Cedar Lake Park This event is free!!! 11A.M. to 2p.m.

More info:http://www.olatheks.org/parksrec/programs/trails/thingstodo/aquafest

Spinach festival Lenexa $1.00

The fee is 1.00 however they have events for the whole family.

Saturday, September 12, 2009Time 9 am - 5 pmSar-Ko-Par-Trails ParkFee $1.00, under 13 free

How do people decide when and how many children are enough?

This is a struggle my husband and I are going through. We have 2 perfectly wonderful great children. After have the foster kids in our home, we are not even sure if we want more children due to so many reasons. Here are some that we have come up with:

• Added Stress
• More mouths to feed
• The expense alone is much more
• Jealousy of time between children
• Harder to get places or do anything
• More householdchores
• Pretty much more of everything
• Sibling Fighting
• Less time with each child

We have always desired a large family, but yet we have found one struggle after another. From having a hard time getting pregant, to the miscarriage, to the pre-term labor. Now we have a really hard case which was supposed to be an adoption case. However is a reintergration case. Wow, after writing all of this, no wonder my heart aches. I had always dreamed of being a large christian family full of love and compassion. Maybe I wasn't supposed to feel this way. Maybe this my own desire and not God's. How do I know? I know that I hate living month to month wondering am I pregant. I hate the hoping and then finding out no, again!!! So maybe its time for a new chapter in my life. Almost everyone around us is saying you have 2 beautiful children one boy and one girl what else could you want. Well maybe I should feel this way. The hard part is I am starting to fall in line with this thinking. My husband is so burnt out from this case he has pretty much given up on all his dreams in regards to having more children. Thats what saddens my heart the most. Hearing him, after all he was the one that kept saying he wanted like 10 kids. Now he is saying enough is enough.

The thing that looks the most appealing to stopping would be we would never have to move. We probably will not outgrow this home. We could get rid of all the baby things I have been holding on to. We possibly could afford college for the two of them. Get debt free a whole lot sooner. Its hard because almost all of this is materialist. I know materials do not bring happiness. But the stress of being wall to wall furniture and living on top of each other. And all the FIGHTING drives me crazy. So where do we go from here. I do not know. I feel like I am sitting on a fence waiting for the wind to push me one direction. I do not want to make a rash decision, yet I do not want to forget this crazyness and end up in the same position again. I really don't know if I could manage having a large family. Maybe that is why all of this is happening. Maybe I would go crazy or something.... Who knows.... I just wish I knew where to go from here.

Well we got the news this is the last week.

We have heard officially that kiddos will be moving this next week sometime. Which is sorta difficult yet I am excited to see what is next for my family... I know homeschooling will be starting soon! I am anxiously excited. I am a little nervous since this is my first year and she has attended public school for kindergarten and first grade. So I am jumping in.... Wow that is scary. I have signed her up for a few extra curricular activities. Now I have to figure out a schedule that works for the whole family. I wonder how mom's get it all done. House cleaning, and teaching, cooking etc. I would love to hear about schedules that work for you. Do fathers help out with this stuff or is all up to the moms? These are the questions I have...

Garage Sales for Winter Clothing

Do you need winter clothing for your little ones? If so start checking out garage sales. Garage sales are a great way to cloth your children especially young children this way. Sometimes you can even find new clothing that has never been worn for a reasonable price. There are also group garages sales. For an example, www.herewegrowagain.biz is a large garage sale that happens a couple of times a year. Their prices are not retail and not garage sale. They are right in the middle. However as the sale goes on prices get cheaper. This is what I wait for. I believe if I am not mistaken on Saturday all prices go 50%. So check it out later and see if you can even find some play clothing for your kiddos.

Great ways to save money and still get Holiday decor

After any holiday you will find almost everything on sale if not 75% off or so. I do this with all my christmas items especially. Christmas is my favorite so a few days after the rush is over I head to my local wal-mart and target and shop the clearance. I got all my goodie bags for next year for $1. These will hold up 100 people's worth of food items. I love baking goodies so what a great way to save yet allow people to enjoy. Halloween is another great way to get cute costumes. Even if you do not celebrate you can still get dress up clothing for your children much cheaper after the holiday... Being patient is the hard part I know I do it alot.... Another great way to save in the holiday season is celebrate christmas with your family after christmas. Get great deals after Christmas. What a great way to get more things for your family with out missing the holiday. Get creative if you see something on sale that you know your child will still want a few months from now purchase it and put it in a special spot so you will not forget... ;)

Large Family Savings at Restuarants

Wow, lately I have had the opportunity of going from a family of 4 to a family of seven. Now I have had to find out other ways to save big when going out to eat. No longer can we go to the really nice restaurants and make it affordable. Great ways to save. Check dollar menus! Mcdonalds, Burger King have these. Taco bell also has a dollar menu, some items are even cheaper than $1. That is always a good thing. Subway has buy a footlong for $5. Little Cesars has pizza for $5. Yeah I know their left overs are not so great however for a quick meal on the go. These ideas can be very affordable. Always drink water. That saves the $ even more! All of us can go to Taco Bell for under $15. Still remember to keep a food budget no matter what size of a family you have. This will help you stay on track to keeping your dollar where it belongs.

Waterfest Lenexa Free

The 10th annual Waterfest is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 1, 2009 at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park in Lenexa, 87th Street and Lackman Road.

More info on link:http://www.raintorecreation.org/Waterfest.html

10 things not to say to someone who is a resource parent

1. Are they all yours? Seriously people, If you do not know and its not your business don't ask.... Now after the question is asked the parents have to explain and the children feel belittle because of their cirmcumstances... Just wait more an likely they will tell you in ways the children will be able to feel normal through it all
2. Are you sure you can handle it? 1st of all God would not have put them in their lives. 2nd of all they are already freaking out, so be positive and encouraging
3. Well thats not a money maker... Are you kidding me. Do you honestly think we do this for the money? Your right not a money maker, but it is help;ing wonderful children who deserve Gods love
4. You don't have to keep them? Seriously you look in their eyes and tell them they are not worthy of your home
5. Are you sure you want to adopt them? Of course I do... Why would I have them in my home if I didn't. They deserve a good home just like you got!
6. Tell the resource parent you look like you have too many kids and you don't know what to do. Who are you? Seriously have you helped the resource parent, if not be encouraging and help. These kids deserve a full energized mom.
7. Ask the mom if she has been messing with the milkman while her husband is right their. Stop being hurtful what if she did cheat on her husband, don't you think it would have hurt her feelings or possibly the children. (for all you reading no I didn't)
8. Are you sure bi-racial children should be adopted by your family? Are we not in the 21st century? Why does color of skin matter? These kids are beautiful and have so much potential in life to be wonderful people...
9. Chew the mom out for not having enough room in their house for them all when you have never even been to their home. Well the state decides how many children they can have in their home and actually for all of you I have room for one more according to them. (no plans to fill it either) Our house is actually huge compared to where they have come from!
10. Tell your kids all about the situation. They do not need to know. More an likely your kids will say things to the resource kids. How do you think they are going to feel? They just want to feel normal or as normal as possible given their situation.

Sorry if I have offended anyone, I just want people think before you open your mouths. Your mouth is the most powerful portion of your body. I know I have used it for the wrong unfortunately. It can either build up or discourage people. Use it for God's glory!!! The resource parents are going through alot already, Encourage Them!

Lenexa Great BBQ June 26th and 27th

This event is Free on Saturday but admission is on Friday. So to make it more affordable for you BBQ'ers check it out on Sat...

HOURS:Friday 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For more info.
http://www.ci.lenexa.ks.us/parks/bbq.html

Stay at home mom's credit

To all you who stay at home... You are doing a great thing! The other day I had someone tell me that staying at home must be so easy. They continued on saying that you dont even have a job. Well I let them know staying at home is harder than working. I told them all the things I do in just a single day. They could not believe it! So for all you moms who struggle with this battle. You are doing the right thing! Your kids will know you love them! Keep up the good work and strive to do better tomorrow. We all could use improvement, including myself! Don't compare yourself to the amazing mother next door we all have one of those. Be happy with who God made you! You were made by the most amazing creator, and He knows what your kids need. Follow him and you will succeed!

Todays is the day to hang with family

We have extended family in from town so I am down here in southern Kansas just chillin with my hubbies family. This weekend we get to go to the lake for a family reunion. This should be a good time. I am hoping that it does not rain like the one time it did a few years ago. So if you do not here from me in a few days that is why. Next week is Vacation bible school so I am limited in my time available. So I hope you have a great week if I do not post. Who knows...

Things to do while its raining

I know its can get so boring with it raining days after days. Here is a list of indoor activities that can keep your dollar the same and your kids from killing each other.


1. Go to a local mall and find the kid play place (in Olathe there is a place called zonkers in the great mall and they have a large free kids play place in the mix of all their other things.)
2. Go the library for a story time or to play on the computers
3. Have a movie day.. Where you pop some popcorn and get into pjs and make it fun... You could even invite some friends to watch too!
4. If there is no lighting and its warm let the kids play in the rain, I know when I was little playing the rain was a blast...
5. Play games indoors
6. Make homemade playdoh and play with it afterwards
7. Make homemade cookies or cakes or brownies
8. Find a craft that you have always wanted to make the kiddos and have fun!
9. Pick a day called yes... This is the day while one kid can ask you to do whatever they want within reason of course. You can make meals of their choice and do it with them. Whether its barbies to movies, to playing games. You will find your childs interests that day and help with bonding
10. Organize and clean out a room, I do this with the kids bedrooms. This allows them to declutter, I rearrange furniture and redecorate and clean the entire room including the ceiling fans and windows. My kids love the look afterward. I ask them to help accordingly, whether its just sorting toys.

Kansas City Chalk & Walk Festival

This is somewhere I would like to go, I now personally crown center is very nice. However I have not been to this event. Unfortunatley would not be able attend so if you are there please let me know your thoughts on this event.

Friday, June 19 - Saturday, June 20

Admission: FREE
Time: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Crown Center Square

Kansas City River Market

This is a free attraction for the whole family to enjoy. The farmers market is a great experience for kids to see all different types of vegetables and maybe you can pick some out to make something wonderfully homemade with your kids. Usually a vendor will work with you on prices which can make this trip a win win for all to enjoy. If this is not close to you then check for a local farmers market however I feel this trip is well worth it. There are also many other attractions there that do cost money however. Totally try to stay in budget! Thats the key, if you want to enjoy have a budget before you go. Here is the link, so you can check out the attraction before you go. Have Fun!

http://www.kcrivermarket.com/index.php

Vacation Bible Schools

Vacation Bible schools are a great way to get your kids to have a great fun filled week for free. Not only do they get to learn about Jesus, but they teach them how to accept them into their hearts. This free activity could be the most life changing event for kids. Don't miss out on the fun.... If you do not have a local church, look around at your signs on your churchs near your home and see if its something your kids could enjoy. Who knows you may find some great friends and great church home this way. Pray about where God wants your kids and he will lead you! Have a great time!

Free sippy cup or water bottle with Juicy Juice

Check below to register and recieve your free sippy cup or water bottle. http://www.juicyjuice.com/Login/Register.aspx

Check your local library

I personally was checking our local library and found tons of educational or fun things to do with my children during the summer. They had movie nights for the whole family to spanish classes for kiddos. Even if you do not find what you are looking for check with other neighboring towns and make it a field trip for the kids. Could be great day filled with the library and a picnic at a new park. Free ideas for the wonderful summer filled with little adventures for the kids!