Our lives and my thoughts right now....

With summer fast approaching, and the year almost half over, I have been thinking about what the next six months will bring to our family.  There are a lot of scenarios I go through in my head.  Ike always hates when I plan for or think about things that might or might not happen....he is more of a roll with the the punches and plan when you know type of guy (good and bad in certain situations).  In my mind I really want to be continually progressing in all areas of our lives....in finances, business/career, in family expansion and relationships and spiritually.  I know it is impossible to do all these things at once, but I would like to continually progress in each area little by little.  I feel like if I am doing that, then I am doing it right and I don't want one area to suffer because I am putting too much or not enough effort into another.  Hard to juggle at times as the family grows, but it's all worth it right?!  So right now I am deciding if it is time for me to go back to work or not.  And then if I do, will there be any opportunity for me.  Being a teacher it is hard to jump from school to school like I have been every few years.  Put that together with taking breaks here and there for both my kids when they were born, and I may not be able to market myself to potential employers very well.  I have found adjunct work here and there at the local college and may continue that because it isn't a big commitment at all, but it only adds a little bit here and there.  So is that enough or not?  Am I not humbling myself enough and being appreciative enough of what we do have right now?  We are very fortunate to live where we live in our humble abode with wide open spaces all around us.  The gym continually progresses each month, but in reality, may not provide what we want for another year or so.  Ike works hard training and keeping the gym running smoothly and does a great job and I still help a few days a week to have a change of pace from my mom/home duties, so I am grateful for that.  But I find myself complaining more about the tight space we live in that always seems cluttered and messy at the end of the day, lack of health insurance (which I HATE) unless we pay out of pocket ourselves, and dirt that is all around us that gets tracked in everywhere unless I vacuum and clean it up at least once a day.   I think about where I wanted to be at this time in my life (especially financially), we are not there.  But we still do have so much to ge thankful for.  When I step back and really think about these things, I feel ungrateful, because if these are our only trials right now I should be jumping for joy!  I know others are facing much more difficult challenges in their lives, and maybe I need to be grateful for all the blessings and little opportunities that have happened over the past few years in spite of our trials and I can see the Lord's hand in it.  I am just not one who is patient in waiting for things to happen.  So, what do I do?  I have to make the most of it and try to turn the negatives into positives and make something happen for us.  Hence....the decision to go back to work or not.  The extra money would be nice...the benefits would be even greater, the chance to move into a bigger place would be awesome, and I am really good at what I do and I enjoy that sense of accomplishment in that aspect of my life.  It would however be more time away from familly and the boys (well, Jack, because Dane will be in school all day next year).  And it would mean putting off baby #3 for a little longer than expected (weren't planning on starting that this year anyway).  Plus, there aren't many education jobs in my field right now, so I guess if the opportunity arises I will make the decision then.  In the mean time it is all in the back of my mind swirling around in different scenarios.  For now I have to focus on end of the year activities for Dane's class, Dane's 6th birthday party in June, planning our family reunion trip in June (YEAH!!!!!), and thinking about the lazy days of summer doing more of this..........


Free rides in the laundry basket powered by MOM!



Proud Purchase!

The family has been sick the last week so I have spent a lot of time at home while they have been sleeping it off!  THis gave me a lot of time to prepare for a good shopping trip, but wouldn't you know it....there weren't any really great sales this week.  I did however manage to get a few items we use regularly at Walgreens for a great deal.  I think this is how I will attack it from now on....smaller groups of purchases.  It takes less time to prepare (only about 20 min this time) and I already had to go that way so I stopped in!  They didn't have everything I wanted because it is mid week, but I was informed they were unloading a truck and to come back later and they might be restocked! Sweet!  Anyway...my best deal yet (only I had trouble with a few coupons at check out so I could have saved a few more dollars).  Here's what I got:

4 boxes of Splenda 100ct packets (I love lemonade and herbal tea so I'm trying out splenda)
2 Schick Hydro 5 razors (with one replacement cartridge each). 
3 cans chuck white tuna
8 bags popcorn (they were selling individually for .25 each)
2 packs stayfree maxipads 

Retail total: About $40 before sale discounts and coupons.  Here's the retail breakdown...razors retail about $9 each, the splenda and pads retail about $3 each, the tuna just over $1, and the popcorn is sold separately for .50 or more each. Plus Retail at Walgreens is a little more expensive then retail at discount stores like target or walmart, but with the deals they have weekly, I can pay much less!

Grand total out of pocket: $9.50!!!!  AND...I got a $4 coupon to use on my next walgreens purchase before 5/11/11.  So that's really like I got it all for $5.50.  Not too bad I say!    I want to go back and use the $4 on replacement razor cartridges when they are restocked, so I will get two packs for about $5...that's $2.50 each for TWO replacement packs (I think they are 3 or 4 count).   

My Couponing Venture

I am trying to learn the basics of the extreme couponing technique and I have been getting some success after a few weeks of trying it out.  I am not saving what the pros are by any means, but currently I am at about 50-60% savings per trip.  Many of the "pros" use coupon clipping services and buy tons of one item when it goes on sale and then stockpile it.  Plus they spend hours and hours per week planning their shopping trips.  Well, I just don't want to spend that kind of time on this and neglect other duties I have to do in my day (still trying to get my "system" organized) so I do my coupon practice on a much smaller scale, only getting 2-3 papers per week and getting only the brands and items my family will really use in the next few months (even if we aren't currently out of it).  Maybe one day when I have space to store items and am more experienced in couponing I can step it up and make bigger purchases, but for now it is working great.  Here is an example of what I got today.  I spent about $45 out of pocket but saved about $35 based on matching my coupons with store sales and promotions (store bonuses using savings cards) and making multiple transactions to get the most out of my savings.  It may not seem like a lot of items for $45, but many of these health and beauty items were items that are typically large expenses....like make up, lotion, skin care, and razors.  Here's what I did: 

Transaction #1: Bought the two jergens and one biore product on a buy $20 get $10 rewards bucks.  I used one coupon (could have saved more if I had a coupon for each of the 3 products) but with tax, paid $25 for the three items (the biggest expense...this first transaction needs to be refined a little more).

 Transaction #2:  2 boxes bic razors, 2 bags nestle candy, 2 bottles loreal vive products, visine.  Used coupons for every item plus my $10 rewards bucks from my first transaction and that brought my total down to about $6 (that includes tax....which was almost $2). 

Transaction #3:  2 m&m eggs, 2 snickers eggs, peeps, 3 almay make up products.  Using my coupons for every item (plus b2g1 free special on the make up) my total came out to about $13.  Then I will enter my receipt number on Riteaid.com and get an extra $5 rebate for the makeup purchase that I can cash or use in store for a future purchase. 

Went to Stater Bros. supermarket after that to make use of one or two deals at the end of the sales cycle and got all the food products in the picture (minus candy) for only about $7 using my coupons on top of the store promotions.  So that is 4 packs breakfast sausage links, 1 pack lunchmeat, 2 packs go gurt and one box cereal all for only $7.

On Sunday I entered my coupons from my paper into my excel spreadsheet I made to gain easy access to my available coupons, date received, expiration date, etc (takes about 30 min) then I planned out my drugstore trips for the week.  (usually at Riteaid, Walgreens or both).  I spent about 2 hours on it total, but it will get faster as I go on. 

When the supermarket ads come out tomorrow I will plan my grocery trip for the week, which takes a little more time, but I am going to set a goal at 2 hour planning time and $50 spending limit for now.  I have found some great local blogs that do the coupon match ups for you so you can decide where the best deals are.  I usually look at Stater bros, Ralph's, and Albertson's since they are all close by.  If anyone has any tips for me, let me know.   This couponing thing is kinda fun because I feel like I can get good deals (who doesn't want to save money?) and a shopping fix.....since my other shopping trips for fun stuff like clothes etc don't really fall into the budget right now!  Happy shopping!

A little of this and that...

Low Country Boil at Ike's Aunt's house.....YUM!

Waiting for the Balboa Island Ferry with Tiff and the kids

Jack really enjoyed his time at the beach......he loves the sand!

Couch fort (aka...mess).  Drives me crazy but I love seeing them have fun together and play!

Our little spring visitor.....luckily he only came by one day and haven't seen him since!!

Jog-a-thon at Dane's school. 

Although I have been M.I.A. for over a month, I still want to document a few things.  First,  at the beginning of March Ike gave his two weeks at his second job and went back to running the gym full time again and trainig.  I was nervous about it at first, because it means a drop in income/benefits but underneath the initial fear was relief for him and me.  He worked like a dog for 7 months and the plan was around 6 or until we felt the gym was stable enough to do so without us going crazy financially.  After he worked his last day I think we both felt a weight lifted....it just wasn't the right thing for him to do anymore and it's purpose had run its course.  So he is back running the gym full time and I am at home with the kids more now.  I am glad to be home more (for now) because I feel like I can have more balance with keeping up with the house and kids.  I thought it would give me a little more time but I still feel like I stay pretty busy.  I think I go in cycles and it's like I can never make up my mind....do i want to be a stay at home mom or do I want to still be involved in my career?  I know I don't want the full time career right now because it is just too much and I think it is important for me to be with my kids as much as possible especially right now while they are still fairly young.  Then there are times when I think about going back to work and I get excited because I think I am good at what I do and it is important to feel that accomplishment and appreciation in that aspect of my life as well.  For now I am good but depending on what happens for us in the next few months, I may be revisiting the idea of either working again, or thinking about child #3.  But like I said...a lot is riding on how things develop over the next few months.

That being said, I posted some pics from my phone (not great quality...guess I need to upgrade again).  Dane had a jog-a-thon at his school to raise money and I think I still owe $1 or something...whoops!  I love watching him grow and develop and interact with is teacher and classmates.  I love seeing him learn. 

A few weeks ago we had a little visitor slither accross our front lawn, down the driveway, then off into the brush...YUCK!  I sat down on the sidewalk to put Jack down and turned to my right and BOOM...there it was about 5 feet away in the grass!  I grabbed Jack and jumped up so quick.  The snake was about 5 feet long....harmless, but gave me the heebie jeebies none-the-less!!

My sister came about a week or two ago for her spring break at the Univ. of Utah.  It was so fun to see her...it had been about 9 months!  She came for 3 days and we met up with some cousins, went to disneyland, went to the beach, and just played with the boys.  I was hoping for better weather, but it was still better than what she left behind in Utah.  I have some more pics on my camera so  I will add those later.

I had to include a pic of this Low Country Boil we had for Sunday dinner tonight at Ike's Aunt's house.  Ike's cousin, Burke cooked up some good grub for his daughter's b-day party.  It was a variety of shellfish, sausage, potatoes, and corn...YUM!  I haven't had crab in forever!  Jack even tried it! Of course he just ran around biting and sucking on his little ear of corn most of the time but it was fun!

Ike went to the final four in Houston, TX this weekend and I'm staying up to wait for him to come home from the airport.  I have only talked to him briefly over the past few days because he has been so busy meeting up with his coaching buddies, and going to a ton of events.  I think it has been great for him and I know that is what he is really meant to do.  While he was there he texted me a few times that we need a weekend get-a-way...and Yes, I agree...we do!  I don't think we have ever been away from the kids...and it is about time!  Maybe we can work on that soon!  Anyway, he was really missed and I can't wait to have him back, but I'm glad he had a good time.  He deserved it after all the hard work he has done over the past 6 months!

Random Post but WAY OVERDUE!

Dane and friends jumping in a giant pile of leaves!  Fall fun in CA!

Splash Mountain....Dane's favorite!  Our last ride before it closed down...until MAY!  BOO!

Our little TFitness mascot, Jack...just hangin' around the gym!

Dane and Waimea at Knott's Berry Farm after Christmas. 

My contribution to our Superbowl Party:  Coco Krispy Footballs!  I ran out of my normal decorating frosting and had to make do, but they turned out ok I guess!

So, I haven't posted in a while, but I figured out why...my camera was set to the best pixel setting and it took FOREVER to upload pics...hence, no blog posts for a while.  These all came randomly from my phone, so the quality isn't as good, but they popped right up!  Anyway, here's what we have been up to in a brief bulleted list:

• Christmas at home and then with Ike's family
• Visit from Ike's Dad and Cheryl with a fun trip to Knott's Berry Farm
• New Years Eve was pretty uneventfull, and the Turley house was exhausted that day and went to bed before midnight.  (Sad, I know)  We just weren't feelin' it this year!
• Busy time at the gym (of course) with the new year.....hopefully the trend continues
• Jack started walking in December and is a pro now.  He is so fun right now and loves being outside, waving "hi", and he knows what a cow says!  We are teaching him new things all the time because he is a giant sponge right now!  He is 14 months old, has 8 teeth, is about 26 lbs, and wears a size 4.5 to 5 shoe and 18 month clothes.
• Ike is still working his night job with YRC and I'm still running the gym, but I am only there mornings now, so that it nice because it gives me time to get things done at home and feel like I have some down time as well.  I started teaching a Personal Training class at Riverside Community College that meets for the next month on saturdays.  I loved our first class (minus the technology difficulties) and am thinking of applying for adjunct teaching positions in the PE or Education department.  It's more money for smaller class sizes of students that are actually interested in learning and don't act out like pre-pubescent (sp?) teenagers do! 

And that's what we have been up to!

Thanksgiving and Jack turns ONE!

Jack's first birthday was on Thanksgiving Day this year.  He was born the day before Thanksgiving last year and we got to come home on Thanksgiving night.  The year has gone by so fast!  He started out at 9lbs 14 oz and my guess now is about 23-24 lbs which we will be able to confirm at his one year check up next week.  We had a family celebration after we ate our turkey and pie and it was an overall great day.  He had fun with his little cake and the proof came up twice a little later on!  Too much green frosting for Jack but he didn't mind!  There are too many reasons to list why I am grateful for this little (big) boy, but here are a few of my favorite things about him:

• He is a great sleeper when he's not cutting teeth (that thumb sucking really comes in handy right now, but hoping it's not a problem later on).  I put him in his crib with his bottle (no judging) and he is usually out as soon as his bottle is gone.  If not, then he pops in his thumb and grabs his blanket with the other hand, rolls over to his side and knocks out.  I love watching him fall asleep on my monitor.  If he does cry, then it usually only lasts 10 min or so and then he lays back down and sleeps.
• Speaking of teeth...he currently has one that just broke on top and a wierd situation on the bottom.  He has one regular tooth and one that looks like it should be two separate teeth.  Kinda funny, but hope it's not an issue later.
• He started taking steps about two weeks ago and is doing better each week.  His biggest drawback is that he tries to go too fast...he just wants to start running I guess!  Crawling is still his fastest method of travel!
• He knows quite a few signs (some legit and some I just made up) and he's pretty good at communicating.  My favorite one is when he is tired, he will put his hand on his ear, and if he's REALLY tired, both hands go up on the ears.  It's so cute.  I started tilting my head on my hand when I would put him to bed, and he just caught on.  He also puts one or both hands in the air if he wants "up".  He will do the official "more" sign and "bottle" sign when prompted.  And he points at a lot of stuff.  I can only imagine how fast his brain is working...it's amazing to see it at work!
• Our favorite song in our household right is "Dynamite" by Taio (I think that's right).  Dane LOVES it and when we put it on and sing the chorus part..."I throw my hands up in the air sometimes...." Jack will put his hands in the air like we do and start moving his body by bouncing and pumping his hands...SO fun to watch!
• He comes to work with me each morning and all the female "regulars" just adore him...he's like the TFitness mascot!  I need a baby gate, though, cuz he always wants to leave the office!  When it slows down in the late morning I let him crawl around by me while I'm wiping down equipment or vacuuming.  I'm so glad I am able to take him to work with me.  I didn't have that luxury with Dane, and although he still did great at the montessori school we sent him to, it would have been nice to be with him during the day more often.
• Overall, he is just a really happy and loving baby.  He is tormented a little by his older brother because Dane just wants to wrestle with him and play with him like a big boy.  I keep reminding Dane that one day Jack might be bigger than him and he will take him down, but Dane insists he will always be bigger than his brother.  Hate to break it to him, but Jack is the brewser of the two! 

There are so many things to list about this little chunker (I call him my little fatty), but there's just not enough time in the day and I always forget stuff and remember it later on anyway!  I'm just so happy to have both of my boys....don't know what I would do without them.  Ike and I did pretty good, I must say!

(Oh, and by the way, Ike and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary on the 16th of this month!  Love him more than ever and we have two beautiful boys to show for it!)

Halloween a little late...

Loved our Halloween this year!  We all dressed up and had fun at our church trunk or treat!  Then on Halloween night we all went to Mandi's house for some good food and trick or treating!