This Week's Goals

Last week I did okay goal wise.  This week I hope to do better.  Here are the carry-overs from last week,  some new ones, and some that will appear every week!  I've gotten a couple done already.

1. Clean bathroom
2. Cash Wise trip
3. Econo Foods trip
   
4. Target trip
5. RSVP to baby shower (still haven't done this-I stink!!!!)
   
6. Make eye appointment
7. Call dentist to change appointment
8. Make Henry's 2 year picture appointment
9. Finish cleaning Henry's room (I got his closet done last week, yay!)
   
10. Bring (*cough* dead *cough*) plants from outside in, clean pots, etc.
11. Clean living room
12. Laundry
13. Work on "to do" folder
14. Work on email inbox....it's almost 200 again.  Sigh.
    
15. Catch up on this blog!  I have oodles of stuff I want to post! :)

Last week I taught Henry about Noah and the ark.  Just the very first part where God tells Noah to build the "BIG boat" and put the animals on the "BIG boat!"  He really got into it!  It was a blast!  I took some of his bath boat toys and placed some of his toy animals on them to visualize it for him, and he truly understood.  By the end of the week I was asking, "Why did Noah build the boat?"  His answer, "God."

[and my heart melts]

We also read a children's book on the story, and we took a laundry basket, pretended it was a boat, and placed every animal toy we could find on the "boat".

This week I will be teaching him about how it rained and how God kept Noah and the animals safe.  I am going to put one of his toy boats in the bathtub and turn on the shower to show how it rains and the boat will stay afloat.  Water + todder = great fun!!  We'll have to play with soap after the Bible time too...he he.

Any other ideas to help teach this story?  We'll probably re-read the children's book...perhaps there is something on YouTube that I can find too.  Hmmm.

Goals for the Week

Last week was a pretty successful first week at home.  I accomplished most of the goals I set out for the week!  This week, I have a large list of goals (below), and will just check them off as I accomplish.  I don't really have them assigned to any particular day like I did last week.

1. Purchase my free Kodak item
2. Organize coupon box (it's a disaster in there!)
   
3. Clean bathroom
4. Cash Wise trip
5. Target trip
6. Create 3 free cards on Shutterfly (CODE: 3FREECARDS, exp 11/4)
7. RSVP to baby shower (still haven't done this!!!)
   
8. Make eye appointment
9. Call dentist to change appointment
10. Make Henry's 2 year picture appointment
11. Determine if I want to order a gift card from MyPoints for Christmas shopping (MyPoints is a "click on this email and earn points to get free stuff / shop through our site and get points" program I belong to, I can send you a referral link if you are interested!  I've been a member for about 10 years and I really like it - if you join under me I get some bonus points too!)
    
12. ShopKo trip / brainstorm costume ideas for Joe and I (any easy, cheap ideas?)
    
13. Clean car
14. Clean Henry's room
15. Bring (*cough* dead *cough*) plants from outside in, clean pots, etc.
16. Take Henry's penguin costume to sister-in-law
17. Clean living room
18. Pay bills
    
19. Work on our December Disney vacation plans.  This is the #1 thing I actually plan to do this week - I have been neglecting the plans for a LONG time now, gotta get on the ball!  If nothing else gets done, this will!
    

Friday's Goals

Today my goals are to accomplish what I didn't the previous few days!

-Clean kitchen.
-Get email inbox under 50 emails.
-RSVP to baby shower

Also, I need to write out 4 cards.

Tonight Joe and I are going to the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre (got Free Night of Theatre tickets!!) to celebrate our 3 year anniversary, and Henry is spending time with Grammy and Poppa.

Pay Day Friday

It's Pay Day again!  Always a happy day. ;)

Last night Joe crunched the budget and then procceded to move over $1500 into savings!  This was his bonus money and my entire paycheck.

Why are we moving my entire paycheck?

Because we are preparing ourself for October 16....better known as "My last day at work"!

Yes!  I quit my job!  Today's economy tells me not to quit; however, I must follow what God has called me to do, and that is stay at home and raise my child (and any future children).

It is time.

And I'm psyched!

That has been the point of all this penny-pinching - preparing ourselves to make it possible for this event - and we did it.

With no child care costs, we will save over $400 a month.
Without having to drive over 60 miles 4 times a week, we should save a bit on gas costs.
With couponing, I have easily cut the grocery budget down $200 a month.
With being at home, I am hoping the temptation for dining out with let up some.  I can start to prepare meals earlier in the day.  Granted there will be somedays I'm exhausted and just want a meal served to me by a smiling server; but, I'm hoping those days are fewer.  My current job is demanding.  INCREDIBLY so - I'm fried at the end of a day and the last thing I want to do is dirty my kitchen, cook for 30 minutes and then have to clean it all up....by the time it's all done, it's 8:30 and time for Henry to go to bed.  Not fun.  I'm hoping that will change some.

I am going to have to plan more.  Plan for big expenses like Christmas, birthday gifts and vacations.
We won't be going to Disney World 3 times in a year.
I will have to look at the prices of things.
I'll have to think ahead.

Instead I get to teach my child new things.
I get to play with him.
I get to see life through his eyes.
I get to train him, shape him and provide the proper envrionment for him to grow up in.  (our child care provider does an amazing job--but it's not home....)
We are obeying God and my family will reap the bounty of that obedience.
And I am certain both Joe and I will learn how to rely on the provision of God a bit more during this time.  A wonderful lesson to learn and experience.

The rewards are unending.