Life and the Value of a Dollar

I know, it has been almost a month since my last post.  Not much going on.  The weather here has been SO nice!  It has only snowed a few times this entire winter and whenever Jules gets a snow day (there have been 2 of them and there was ONLY 2 inches on the ground!) we snuggle in close for the day, make popcorn and watch ABC Family movies all day!  :)

I have made one big change this past month and that would be quitting my job at the University.  I was a stressed out basket case each day and came home miserable night after night.  When Sunday rolled around, I was a crabby/crying mess because I did not even want to think about going back to work the next day.  It was that bad.  Finally Drew said - "Quit.  There is no reason to be so miserable."  It was also hard being away from Julianna so much. I would drop her off at before school care at 7:15 and not get home until almost 6:00.  By the time I got home, I would only have a little over an hour with her before we started her bath and bedtime routine.  She was struggling with that and so was I. 

Thankfully we are (finally) in a position financially where we could make the sacrifice of me quitting my full-time job and taking something part-time, so I would be more available to Jules.  So we made the decision for me to quit and I have been SO happy ever since!


I am now working part-time at an office not too far from Julianna's school.  I am able to drop her off each day and pick her up from school.  We have the whole afternoon and evening together now!  And with this nice weather, we have taken advantage of it by going to the park, taking drives around town and just snuggling in and spending LOTS of quality time together!  It has been amazing!  I am like a new woman! 

Drew and I both said that when we moved, that nothing else mattered except Jules and her adjustment to the move.  I am so happy to say that she is doing great!  She has made some great friends at school, she loves her teachers, we found someone wonderful to watch her when she doesn't have school and now she has more time we me and Drew.  I will admit that this move has been a little hard on us and more than once we have questioned whether we made the right decision or not.  But, after 5 months here, it is really beginning to feel more and more like home and we are very thankful we decided to make this change for our family. 

Let's see, what else do we have going on.  We are all getting excited for Julianna's birthday this year.  We are planning a family trip to Chicago.  The Cubs are playing at Wrigley the week of her birthday and she has been asking to go to a game for the past 2 years.  Chicago has a special place in my heart and Drew's.  It is there that we knew we were totally in love and wanted to spend the rest of our lives together, but I will save that for another post..... :)

Julianna has made a deal with Grandma Lili and Papa Tom, that for each day that she can keep the sass to a minimum and be respectful to all adults, she will receive $1.00.  This started in January and will continue until her birthday.   So far she has done great.  She has lost her $1.00 a couple of times, but then will do something completely above and beyond (like sweep the kitchen floor without being asked, or take care of me when I am sick) and Grandma will give her back the $1.00 she missed out on before.  It has worked really well.  I can tell when she wants to be sassy about something or talk back, she will stop herself, think about it and then look at me and say "Ok, Mommy, I am listening and will do what you asked."  It has been pretty amazing. 

We have also talked about the value of a dollar and how much this will add up over the next few months.  Each month, I take the money my mom has given her out of our checking account and put the cash in her bank, so she can see how much it is.  Last weekend she wanted to go to a movie.  I told her that movies cost a lot of money and that it would be wiser for us to save our money or spend it on something we really needed.  Her response was "well I have a lot of money in my bank"  So we took out the money that it would have cost to go to the movie and then I showed her what would be left in her bank.  She couldn't believe that she could go to being so "rich" to being so "poor" so quickly. I told her that the more she saves, the more she will have to get something special when we go to Chicago.  So....the plan is to take her to the American Girl doll store on her actual birthday.  She has been DYING to go there and to get a real AG doll.  This little system is a great way for her to buy it herself with her own money that she earned.  She is so excited about going.  I am really hoping that we can surprise her by having lunch there and getting the full AG experience!  Mainly I am excited for 4 days away with my family and creating lots of new memories!  :) 

Catching up....

It has been a crazy couple of weeks.  Jules and I went back to Iowa on Sunday the 15th and were there for 5 days.  Even though the circumstances for why we were there were sad and hard to deal with, it was SO nice to be with family.

My sister Lauren and her husband Cody came up from Texas on Sunday too and it was SO GREAT to see them.  It had been almost a year and that was too long!  We were able to spend all of Tuesday with them and we had a blast together. 

It snowed Monday night while we were there and Cody (being a southern boy and all) had never seen that much snow.  He was up by 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday and outside playing in it and DYING to drive his new 4 wheel drive truck in it!!!!  We indulged him and let him take us all to breakfast at a local diner. :)  The most hilarious part of the day was that he doesn't get cold very easily, so he bummed around town that day in his Texas gear - shorts and a t-shirt!  We got some strange looks, but he thought it was great!  Courtney joined us for lunch that day and then it was the Three Bush Sisters, a husband and one child. Watchout world!! We laughed so much and had a great time - especially when we all almost went down in the icy parking lot of a restaurant and then Courtney bit it big time taking Jules down with her.  If I wasn't laughing so hard, I would have tried to help her.  :)  Good times!  Drew came into town Tuesday night and we all went out to dinner after the visitation.  It was great to see our husbands together and getting along so well.  We are both so blessed to have such wonderful husbands who love us more than anything.  It makes me tear up seeing how much Cody loves Lauren and how great they are together!

On Wednesday Jan. 18th was Grandpa's funeral.  It was seriously one of the most beautiful services I have ever been to. Lauren and I were honored to be asked to read 2 passages from the Bible during the service.  I thought I could do it, but broke down mid-way through, but managed to finish my reading.  It was just so tough knowing we had just seen him the month before and now he was gone. 

I am so thankful for the time we did have with him and the relationship I had with him as an adult.  He was very close to me, but also with Drew and especially with Jules.  He meant (and still means) so much to all of his and we will miss him dearly. :( 

My Mom and Tom came back to Columbia with us for a couple of days.  It was so nice to spend time with them and Jules and Papa Tom were joined at the hip for 3 days straight! 

On Friday night after a long exhausting week, Mom and Tom offered to watch Jules for the night so Drew and I could have a date night!  Well you don't have to ask us twice!  We haven't had a date night since we moved.  So we prettied ourselves up and headed out.  Mom had given us a giftcard to a steakhouse here in town for Christmas, so we used that and had a nice dinner, went for a drive, washed our new car and picked up some toilet paper.  Oh yes, that's how we roll on a Friday night!  :) We were home by 10, but it was just what we needed! 

Mom and Tom headed back to Iowa on Saturday and then flew back to Phoenix on Sunday. 

Such a nice week in so many ways and I am so glad we could all be back to celebrate the life of my Grandfather.  I think my favorite moment of the week was looking through all of the old pictures of my Grandpa growing up and of us as kids with him.  Precious.  And those images will stay with us forever. 

Love you Grandpa T.  See you again one day! 

My Wonderful Grandpa Tonsi

Yesterday I received a call that I had been dreading.  My beloved Grandpa Tonsi wasn't doing too well and had been admitted to ICU.  The cancer he had been battling was just too much and by the end of the day he was gone. 

I have been through so many emotions.  Hurt and pain because he is gone and I will never see his sparkling blue eyes or laugh with him again.  And relief and happiness that he is no longer suffering and is rejoicing in heaven with my Aunt Gayle. 

He was the strongest and most determined man I have ever met.  Last year he had eye surgery and Drew took him so he could drive him home.  The Dr's told him to rest for a while after the surgery and then he could go home.  The Dr. had no sooner left the room and he had his shirt on and told Drew "Let's go get breakfast at Perkins!" 

He was so sweet and caring to me growing up and continued that sweet demeanor with Julianna.  They had such a special bond - one that she can still feel.  This morning she woke up and asked me how I was doing and said "I can feel Grandpa Tonsi in my heart, he is sitting next to Jesus holding his hand."  How completely sweet is that.  :)

Last night Drew and I were talking about what a blessing Grandpa was to us and we realized that all of the letters in "Tonsi" are in "Stinson". For some reason, we both took great comfort in that.

We will miss him greatly and we are looking forward to celebrating his life next week and I am glad that I will be able to see my Mom and Tom and Lauren and Cody too. 

Rest peacefully Grandpa T.  We love you and you will have a special place in our hearts forever. 

Sue and Dad Came to Visit!

Sue and Dad had a nice drive down to Missouri on Saturday.  They had not had a chance to visit since we moved and it was nice to be able to show them around our new little town! 

We drove them around and showed them Julianna's school, the University where I work and the restaurant where Drew spends his time. :)  We enjoyed a nice lunch at a local brewery (thanks Dad!) and then explored the town some more.  After driving for a couple of hours, we went took them to the Candy Shoppe and then walked around downtown and did a little shopping.  It was a great day that went by WAY too fast!  Hopefully they will visit more often now that they know it is seriously the easiest 4 hour drive they will ever make!  :) 

Jules had a welcome sign for them when they arrived!

 After we were done driving, eating and shopping, Jules had to show Grandpa her shooting game (remember her dad's gift) and Grandpa, of course marveled at what a great shot she was and tried his hand at shooting the cans and bottles.  They were cracking up and having a great time. 

 After some hugs and a few tears, it was time for them to leave. :(  Sue is the new treasurer at their church and they had to be back for Sunday morning. 

 Such a fun spur of the moment day. Can't wait for lots more just like them from anyone who wants to come our way!!!!!!

One of my favorite Christmas gifts

I like to think that I am pretty 'hip' and keep up with certain trends.  I mean I did have a blog before EVERYONE started having a blog!  :) 

With that being said -  I started couponing WAY before any of these crazy tv shows came out and are now causing people to roll their eyes at me as I come through the check out line. That will never stop me though - I can coupon with the best of them.  I very rarely buy anything without a coupon attached to it.  And if you get me a gift card to somewhere, you better believe I will wait to use it until their is an instore coupon to stack with it ($10.00 off $25.00 purchase at Penney's with $100.00 in gift cards - HELLO!) 

Anyway, so my cutie pie husband has been known to call me "Sexy" when I pull out the Sunday Paper and start clipping away.  Saving money - doesn't get any sexier in his opinion. 

So imagine my delight when on Christmas morning - I opened some of my gifts to see - New Scissors, a calculator and baseball card protectors!  HELLO!!!! 

My couponing has never been more organized!  It takes a little work, but it is so worth it.  Our weekly budget for groceries is $100.00.  This past weekend I spent $43.00 and saved over $20.00 with coupons!!  I didn't clear any shelves and I don't have a borderline "hoarders" stockpile in our house, but I do stock up on a good deal when I see one and I only buy what our little family will use.  I am curious to see how much we will save this year.  I have never tracked it, but I think I will just for fun. 

Anyway, you know me and my pics - I had to take a picture of "Limey" my green coupon binder.  I named it Limey because obviously it is lime green (my favorite color), but what else is green - MONEY.  And what is this binder all about - SAVING MONEY! 

So thanks babe for hooking me and Limey up.  Be prepared for all of our sexiness to come out in full glory on our next shopping trip!  ;) 

Yay!

Sue called last night and said that she and Dad are coming down tomorrow to spend the day with us.  We are going to show them around and go to lunch some place fun!  Can't wait!

New Years Eve Party at the Stinson House!!!

:)  Not really.  Drew was REALLY sick and Jules was still getting over her cold, so we made roast and baked potatoes and settled in for the night. 

The plan was to watch movies, but we were drawn into the countdown on t.v. They had the 40 best performances over the past 40 years and they brought back some nostalgia for Drew and I, and we watched the whole thing until midnight! Jules loved doing the countdown with us and we celebrated with a little sparkling grape juice and then went to bed. I know we are getting so wild in our old age! :) You know it's bad when your five-year-old can out last you on New Year's Eve! It was a nice night together as a family and we all really enjoyed sleeping in the next day! :)

Jules enjoyed dancing to all of the music we grew up with! 

 Silly (hyper) girl! 

 The highlight of her night of course, was having her picture taken with Justin Bieber!!!!! :) :)

 Hope everyone had a safe and Happy New Year!!!!