The Grocery Game

January 31, 2009, Saturday - I hope everyone is having a great Saturday. It is 31 degrees here right now and they are calling for our second snow of the year on Monday and Tuesday. Yeah! I love snow!
Do you like saving money? I sure do. I love searching for a bargain. Hey, our money is hard earned, why not use it wisely so you can make it go farther. I would like to tell you about The Grocery Game. It is a company online that you subscribe too and you sign up for the grocery stores that you use in your area. When you play, you'll get a weekly list of the lowest-priced products at your grocery store matched with manufacturers' coupons and weekly specials -- advertised and unadvertised. The Grocery Game does all the hard work and research, and presents it to you in an easy to use format.
You need to get the coupons in Sunday's paper & use with the list. Try it out! You can try it for 4 weeks for just $1 and then it is $10 for each eight weeks. Believe me, you save that $10 & way more just on your first trip to the store.
- it is so easy to use
- you don't run all over town to different stores, just the grocery store you like to shop at
- you can save more than buying Wal-mart generic brands
- it is fun to see how much money you can save your family each week
- your car payment, house payment, your tv bill, etc. are fixed costs - the money goes out the door, but your grocery bill is something you CAN control. Start saving now!
- mention my name when you sign up, THANKS!
- Call me if you have any questions, I would love to help you save money!
- Go to the website and sign up now www.thegrocerygame.com

Snow Day 1-20-09

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The kids enjoyed the day off of school because of the snow we had overnight. Enjoy the slide show of our sledding Tuesday morning. We had a lot of fun! Our first snow of 2009!

Brittany's Birthday

January 18, 2009, Sunday - Today Brittany turns 7! Happy Birthday Brittany! The kids woke up early this morning and so we decided to go to the early service at church. Brittany celebrated with her Sunday School class by bringing some M & M cookies. After church we stopped at the grocery store & then finished preparing for the party. Her theme was the Littlest Pet Shop. The toys are very popular in the stores, but no one around here carries the party supplies for it, so we order those things online. I am glad they arrived in time.
We had a great party. The kids made glow in the dark sand critters. Then they played a musical game and bingo. Then we had cake, ice cream & cheese doodles. And then opened gifts. Last year during Brittany's birthday it started snowing. That was so neat. This year they were calling for snow later in the evening. It did snow Monday night though. More about that in the next entry. Brittany had a super fun birthday. Thank you to her friends that made it to the party.

Brittany's 7th Birthday Party

Make a Smilebox slideshow

God knows

January 9, 2009, Friday -

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Job 14:5 Man's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.

Psalm 39:5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath.

Psalm 139:16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

Brittany & Nathan's Rooms

December 31, 2008, Wednesday - Well, our kids are growing up. With both kids Chad & I did not find out what we were having when I was pregnant. We moved Brittany out of her all pink room into the bigger room which was the guest room. We faux painted her walls half purple and half yellow with a ocean/fish border 1/3 the way down the wall. For Nathan's wall we went with something gender neutral and did bright yellow walls with a Winnie the Pooh border at the top. When he was about 2 he went with the Bob the Builder comforter set, wall stickers & curtain. Well, Nathan is now 4 and we decided it was time to update his room. Chad having the time off with vacation, he decided to take on the project. Nathan wanted a tree frog theme. Chad was just going to paint the border green, but discovered that the border when wet just peeled right off so he ended up taking the border down. Then painted a green border & decided it didn't make a big enough impact & so headed out to the stores & returned with a frog border & more green paint. Here are the before and after pictures. It took Chad 3 days (it always seemed to take longer than we think it will), and Nathan thoroughly loves his new room! BeforeIf you notice, Chad painted the ceiling green too!After

We updated Brittany's Princess comforter set to Littlest Pet Shop. She wanted a beach & Littlest Pet Shop theme. Chad found a beach poster and Brittany came up with the idea of putting Littlest Pet Shop stickers on the poster. What a great idea! The poster is hanging over her bed. Here is her before & after shots.

We had a wonderful 2008 and look forward to what God has in store for us in 2009. We wish you many blessings in the coming year. Happy New Year!

Chuck E. Cheese

Tuesday, December 30, 2008 - We had spent the day at home and so decided to do something fun with the kids in the afternoon. We took them to Chuck E. Cheese for pizza and fun and games.

Outside Decorations

December 28, 2008, Sunday - I thought I would show you what the outside of the house looked like at Christmas.

45th Anniversary

December 28, 2008, Sunday - Happy 45th Anniversary to Mom and Dad Secraw!
"Today is a special blessing,
a gift from God above,
in honor of the two of you,
in honor of your love."
God bless you
with a love strong and caring
that you have truly lived
your lives as one,
sharing everything
the years have brought to you,
the ups and downs, the work,
the warmth, the fun...
So, Mom and Dad
now on your anniversary
may God be near
and bless you once again
with a heartfelt pride
and joy that come from knowing
what very special parents
you have been.

We love you! Chad, Christy, Brittany and Nathan

Christmas Morning 2008

Here are a few pictures of the kids with their toys and stockings from Santa.

Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2008, Thursday - We hope everyone has had a very Merry Christmas! We enjoyed the day here with my mom and dad and Grandma. The kids really enjoyed opening and playing with all of their presents. We miss all of our family far away. We are thinking of you!

I would like to share with you the writing on a Christmas card I bought for this year.

God's ways are good and bring you joy...
His ways are right and bring you wisdom...
His ways are true and bring you freedom...
His ways are pure and bring you refreshment...
His ways are sure and bring you strength...
His ways are best and bring you love.

May God bless you this Christmas -
in every way,
in every moment,
in everything you do.

From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. John 1:16

Christmas at our house

December 23, 2008, Tuesday - I thought I would show you in pictures different areas of our house that we have decorated for Christmas. My brother and his wife and their 3 kids are in The Netherlands this year and my younger brother is able to spend Christmas with them there. We also have relatives in Wisconsin, Florida, Pennsylvania and parts of NC. I thought maybe family and friends would enjoy this.
My village collection

Count down calendar, and my miniature Hallmark ornaments on the tree in our hallway

My snowman collection
This year I did a Packer Tree for Chad. It has Packer ornaments and Notre Dame ornaments.

Nathan's tree in his room. He picked out the blue tinsel.

Brittany's princess tree
Brittany's Gingerbread Village on her dresser. She set it up all by herself.

Children's Museum

December 23, 2008, Tuesday - I took the kids this morning to the Children's Museum. Our friends Kelly, Elise and Lucas joined us. The kids had so much fun. They enjoyed building with the sticks, making bubbles, making their own obstacle course, playing on the fire truck and airplane and shopping in the grocery store. It was a fun way to spend our vacation time.

Cantata

December 21, 2008, Sunday - In the evening we went to Mom and Dad's church and attended their Cantata program. Dad was singing. It was a very nice program. Mom even got to read some scripture. After the program we enjoyed a covered dish dinner in the fellowship hall where Chad and I had our wedding reception (12 years ago). Yummy food.

Pig Race

December 19, 2008 - Friday - Brittany was a top seller at her school for the Cookie Dough Fundraiser so today the top 9 kids got to race pigs for a $100 Toy-R-Us Gift Card. Nathan and I were able to be there and cheer her on.

She did not win the gift card, but she did get 2 Webkinz. One for selling 20 Cookie Doughs and the other one for a prize in today's competition. Way to go Brittany!
Oh, notice that she has her p.j.'s on. Today her class wore p.j.'s and watched the Polar Express.

School Parties

December 17, 2008 - Wednesday - Busy day. The morning started off with Brittany's class "winter party" for breakfast. We all got to join her. Then Chad headed to work, I took Nathan to preschool and then I headed back to her class to help with crafts. The kids made 5 crafts and rotated to the different tables. A lot of parents stayed and helped with it. It was a fun morning. I then did as many errands as I could in 1 hour before heading to preschool for Nathan's Christmas Play. Nathan had a fan club there. Nana, Papa, Great Grandma and Uncle Cameron were there to watch him too. He was a sheep in the story of Baby Jesus' birth. It is such a cute play. The church has done it for many years. Nathan did a great job and he sang the songs at the end very well too. He was proud to have us there watching him.

Dancer

December 16, 2008, Tuesday - For Brittany's dance class tonight the parents got to come in and watch their tap performance to Frosty the Snowman. It was cute. Brittany also danced to another Christmas song for ballet. The teacher treated them to cookies and drink.

Advent Wreath

December 14, 2008, Sunday - Our family got to light the church Advent Wreath during the 11 o'clock service today. It was was very special time. The preschool choir sang right after us and Nathan did awesome. The Kindergarten - 5th grade choir then sang and Brittany did an awesome job as well. We are so blessed with kids that enjoy singing and especially singing for the Lord.

Surprise 60th Birthday Party

December 13, 2008, Saturday - Today is Mom's 60th Birthday! This morning her and dad "went somewhere...and we can't let you". Later you found out that Mom went and Tandem jumped out of an airplane. She made it I am glad to say! She really enjoyed it too and the instructor said "you are the calmest person I have ever taken up, are you always this calm?" And mom said "pretty much". You go MOM! She even agreed to doing twirls going down. They free fell for 1 entire minute before the chute came out. WOW! How amazing.When they arrived back home Mom was surprised to find I had planned a surprise party for her at their house. There was only one couple and family members when she got there. And she thought that was all who was invited to the party. The party was floating and so people starting arriving at different times. Mom kept getting more and more surprised as people showed up. It was a really fun party. Thank you to everyone for keeping it a secret. She did now know a thing and was totally surprised. It was a birthday to remember.