Birthday Party

It's hard to get my mind wrapped around the idea that Petra is two years old. I have a whole new exciting year for her that is starting to be planned. And I was very excited to have found a great website with wonderful resources for teaching toddlers. You will be seeing more of this to come, but for now if you have a toddler in your life be sure to check out 1+1+1=1. This mother of three has posted some fantastic FREE resources for other moms to use in their own home. I have spent hours today reading her website and I have only begun to scrape the surface of what she has available.

Petra's party on Saturday gave us an opportunity to get out with some friends at the park. Leigh Ann and Kacy came (and took photos and helped with the children). Petra got half dozen fresh eggs in a nice pale green color from . And she even had a playmate show up for a little while.

Here are some photos.










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AArgHHH! I'm 2 today!

(A post from Petra's perspective)

Things just can't get better around here. Mom, daddy and our nanny Jenny keep Jasper and I busier than bees learning and doing new things. Today, I couldn't believe how excited mom and dad were to tell me Happy Birthday. The kept correcting me and telling me that I am two years old now. But all I wanted was cake. Birthdays = cake. And I couldn't find one.

I couldn't sleep in this morning because I knew it was going to be a great morning. Leigh Ann and Kacy came and had breakfast with ME! I got some really nice presents and cards. Granddady (and a nameless person)sent me a card that had a picture of FIRE on the inside. How cool is that?

Dad and mom got me a little red riding hood doll. Can you tell I was surprised? (you might have to click on the photo to get a closer look at my face)


And thank goodness I got some new pajamas. Did you see how small the ones I have on are? Look at that top photo again and you can tell I needed some pjs. Now I will look civilized again.

And this new book is a good read and provides lots of opportunity for counting. I can't stand worms, but caterpillars aren't really worms and these are pretty and colorful.



I got some really neat presents. Grandma Joyner sent me some clothes, shoes, and book that mommy loved when she was a little girl about a squirrel names Ms. Suzy. And my new playdough craft set was great! I played with it all day, and even shared with Jasper - although he can't play with the playdough because he will eat it! YUCK! I also receive a BIG puzzle that has my abc's on it! it is really big, and there are pictures under each letter. Mommy was very happy with it and said now I could learn all my letters.

Jasper also got a new shirt. That was cool. He liked it.




Mom and dad said it should be an exciting year because I am already doing so much. They seemed to be very happy that sometimes I can string together words and have a normal conversation. I mean really, its not that hard. I really enjoy singing to myself and making up little songs. For instance, the other day after my bath I made up this song:

"Mama, Mama wash your hair; I don't want to wash your hair" and I gave it a nice beat. I hate having my hair washed. You would think mom purposely tries to pull all my hair out.

Or sometimes I just add a touch of creativity to an everyday song. Mom and dad love my rhythmic version of twinkle twinkle little star.

Jasper isn't singing with me yet. Sometimes he screams really loud though. It hurts my ears. But I love him anyway. He gave me a huge birthday hug this morning. And I really don't mind sharing my new toys. That is just how things go around here.

Tonight daddy took us all to chik-fil-a so that I could play on the playground. Jasper and I played a few minutes, but all the big boys and girls kept running around screaming like mad men and I couldn't figure why they would do that. It didn't make any sense at all. I mean, seriously, what were they thinking?

And then after an evening of books and bath, mom put us to bed. Except I had to sneak down to the study to type this post. I better go before she finds me. =)

Kisses and hugs to everyone,
Love, Petra

Point of Light

(photo at 2009 Heart Gallery exhibit and reception receiving Point of Light award from Jim Kallinger, Florida's chief child advocate.)



Today, I was honored and very, very, very surprised to be recognized as a Point of Light by Governor Crist.

Here is the text from the press release

GOVERNOR CRIST NAMES SHERRI CROOM OF TALLAHASSEE AS GOVERNOR’S POINT OF LIGHT FOR ADOPTION AWARENESS MONTH

November 12, 2009

Contact:

GOVERNOR'S PRESS OFFICE
(850) 488-5394

TALLAHASSEE- Governor Charlie Crist today recognized Sherri Croom of Tallahassee as this week’s Governor’s Point of Light for Adoption Awareness Month.

“Sherri recognizes the importance of Heart Galleries in the adoption process and her activism benefits so many foster children in North Florida who have dreamed of being a part of loving, stable families,” said Governor Crist. “The opening of a North Florida Heart Gallery has ensured that potential adoptive families are aware of the wonderful children available for adoption, while continuing to promote adoption as a way for families to grow.”

In late 2008, Sherri created and founded the Heart Gallery North Florida, the largest gallery in the state that includes 12 counties. She established a board, implemented organizational rules and regulations, and also inspired and mobilized her community to get involved in this cause. Sherri has recruited fellow adoptive parents, adoption case workers and other influential members of the community to come together to help place foster children with their forever families. Among her many important recruits are local talented volunteer photographers who take photos of the children, print and mount them for display at the gallery. Sherri is also a licensed foster parent and is the adoptive mother of two special-needs children.

AAA Auto Club South is the supporting sponsor of the Governor’s Points of Light Award. This program recognizes Florida residents who demonstrate exemplary service to the community. Award recipients are announced weekly. A panel of judges comprised of leaders in the areas of volunteerism and service evaluate all nominations and make recommendations to the Governor. Occasionally, the award is presented to outstanding organizations. The Volunteer Florida Foundation manages the program. For more information, or to submit a nomination, go to www.VolunteerFloridaFoundation.org.

The Swing

I'm very happy to be able to say that the swing is finally up, and Petra couldn't be more thrilled. The photos are from their first swing on it - Thomas finished hanging the swings after dark on Sunday. She spent over an hour and half on it yesterday... and this poem usually accompanies her swinging. She loves it and can recite some of it by herself.

The Swing

by Robert Louis Stevenson

How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside--

Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown--
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!

Work in the yard

Thomas has been busy too. He picked up an extra 2 classes this week for a professor that is out with back issues. We are so thankful for the opportunity for him to make some extra money - especially this close to the holiday season. But now he is super busy once again.

Before he received a phone call requesting him to start teaching 2 more classes, he started on a few projects in the yard. And it is all coming along nicely. We now have a fire pit and a rack of firewood. And we also have a nearly completed swing set for the children!





He finished the pit on Monday and we sat outside that night and enjoyed the weather and conversation with each other. We haven't had the chance to go back out this week because Jasper and I have been sick.

Thomas also dug some enormous holes in the ground for the swing set. They were about 2 feet deep and 3 feet across when I took the children outside to play. Both of them wanted to stand and sit down in the holes - they got absolutely filthy.

And to add to all this, I managed to get a fall garden planted about 2 weeks ago - in total about 80 plants including lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, Swiss chard, kale, etc. I'm hoping to add some onions and carrots soon. Its all such a new experience for me because I've never grown any of these things - so I'm not sure what to expect.

And I'm probably going to dig up some more of the sweet potatoes soon. I dug up some about a couple weeks ago - but they were mostly too small, with just a few large ones here and there.

This is me peeling the small sweet potatoes at 5am in the morning. I wasn't expecting Thomas to take a photo of me.




I will have some more photos soon of everything in the yard.


And one more photo - about 3 weeks old of the children playing outside. This tricycle along with some puzzles and 2 more pottys were given to us by a very generous friend of a friend. (for anyone wondering, this tricycle does not work well at all - it is very hard to turn the handlebars - my neighbors complain of the same thing with theirs.)

Frugal Grocery Shopping

With my new book in hand, Family Feasts (yes, this is the one I won), I'm beginning to take a better look at how I can save more on food each month.

I've done a decent job at cutting our grocery bill down dramatically each month. But I think I can probably do a little more.

There are 2 big areas I feel like I can work on and have marked improvement: meal planning, and price comparison.

So, I will be working on both over the next few weeks. And I will be developing a price comparison chart.

But I had two decent grocery shopping trips this week I wanted to share. I could have saved more if I had been willing to give up the organic milk - but I'm just not. And I'm also a diaper snob and can't seem to give up the name brand diapers. The cheaper ones feels so hard and look so uncomfortable.

So here is trip #1 - to Publix this past Sunday - total cost $51. (total saved about $55)


Above you will see in the photo:
4 boxes couscous
2 bags salad
2.5 lbs bananas
3lbs apples
1 large sweet onion
2 loaves Arnold whole wheat bread
1 large box Arm and Hammer baking soda
1 dozen eggs
2 packages of whole wheat pasta
2 cartons Bryers ice cream
Lemi shine - dishwasher cleaner
1 bag of dry beans
4 boxes of wild rice - uncle bens
1 pint half and half
1 block of cheese - 2lbs
tylenol infant medicine
4 eight oz cartons of sour cream
1 gallon organic milk
2 boxes family size Luzinanne tea - decaf
4 deodarants


And here is trip #2 this week - I went to both Harveys and Publix - totaled $37


In this photo you can see:
1 jumbo pack of diapers
12 double rolls of toilet tissue
3 bars of Castille soap
1 sweet onion
2.5 lbs of banans
1 zuchinni
1 bag of black beans
1 head of cabbage
6 lbs of tangerines
3 lbs of apples
2.5 lbs seedless grapes
1 large container of ricotta cheese
2 bottles of apple juice
4 dozen eggs
1 gallon organic milk
5lbs of flour
2 boxes of ziploc bags

So what messed me up from saving more? milk, dishwasher cleaning stuff, tylenol infant med, diapers, Castille soap - these are either all expensive or coupons are not available.

But I was pretty happy with the deals I got this week, including:

• 17 cents for a box of pasta
• I made 12 cents on the sour cream - so free plus money
• $1.49 for a 3lb bag of apples
• $3 for 4 dozen eggs
• 6lbs of tangerines and 2.5lbs of grapes for $3.50
• 40 cents for deodorant

(One deal that I found last month was Bryers ice cream - I bought 4 cartons for $5.99 - for that price I decided I needed more and went and bought another 4.)

Tonight paid 50 cents for a box of couscous - and this is where I am wondering could I have paid less if I bought it in bulk? Not sure, but something to figure out.

You will notice here that I did not buy any meat. There were not any sales on meat and we have some in the freezer. I try my best to only buy meat when its on a great sale. Around here I can get:

• 99 cents lb for chicken breast with bone
• $1.99 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast
  
• $3.99 lb ribeyes with bone
• 79 cents lb whole chicken
• 49 cent lb chicken quarters
• $1 sausage rolls
• And $2.50 for pack of Oscar Meyer Bacon
• I have no idea on prices of pork b/c we don't really ever eat it