Ta-Dah!

These are the next size down jeans! I am now one size smaller than I was before I was pregnant with Callie! After looking at the picture, I realized that layering for the one cold day in Florida was not the best way to show a slimmer me, but the jean size doesn't lie!
I went to Kohl's today to use my $20 Kohl's Cash. I had a hard time finding clothes for me (probably because Carson was with me). I tried on a cute little jean skirt that was a size smaller just for fun. It fit! I then tried on a pair of jeans in the same smaller size and they looked fabulous! Not only did I go down a size, I got a killer deal too (I know, I'm on this killer deal high).
Jean Skirt $34.00...sale price $10.20
Jeans $36.00...sale price $14.99
Kohl's Cash $20.00

Grand Total $5.56
Amount Saved $64.81
Percentage Saved 93%

Best Kohl's experience ever!

Awesomeness

What would bring me out of my 6 month hibernation in the blogging world? What could be that awesome? I just have to share my awesome deal I got tonight! First off, I am normally a couponer. I check the circular ads for the best grocery deals. I know that I'm not as good as my fabulous sister-in-law, Alice, who rocked out 50 boxes of General Mills cereal for...FREE! I will never get to that status, but this is what I bought at Winn Dixie tonight.



Stouffer's Family Size Chicken Enchiladas $13.99
Pepperidge Farm Garlic Bread Loaf $2.79 ... FREE!
Steam Fresh Green Beans $1.89 ... FREE!
2 Liter Pepsi $1.89 ... FREE!
Breyers Oreo Cookies and Cream Ice Cream $5.99 ... FREE!

Grand Total with Tax $14.13
Total Saved $12.56
Percentage Saved 47%

Too bad I didn't have a coupon for the Stouffer's!

Carpet vs. Laminate Wood

Okay, I really need your opinion!! We desperately need new flooring in the house. It's not really a want anymore, it is a need. The question is whether to put carpet or laminate wood flooring. Which do you prefer and why? Both Jordan and I thought laminate wood. The more I've talked with people who've used it, the more I'm leaning to carpet. I'm afraid that it will some how get wet and we'll have to replace it. I do love the feel of carpet too. At the same time, carpet stains. We do have a carpet cleaner though. Which do you think is the best choice and why? I need your help!

Callie's First Trip to the Beach

***WARNING: IF YOU DO NOT LIVE BY THE BEACH, THE FOLLOWING PICTURES WILL MAKE YOU YEARN FOR THE BEACH***

We finally took Callie to the beach a couple of Saturdays ago. She did not like the water at all. In her defense, it was a yellow flag day so there were some pretty good waves and a lot of noise. She liked the sand though. She went to a pool on Monday and loved it. She'll warm up to the beach as she gets older. Here are the pictures of her first beach experience.

The look on her face is priceless!

Mommy and Callie soaking up some rays!

The water was choppy so it isn't as pretty as it normally is, but it still is nice.

Carson loves the water, while Callie...not a fan.

Callie loved her feet in the sand.

Primary Activity

A couple of weeks ago we had a fabulous Primary Activity. It was about Family Home Evening. It was really neat because it was set up just like FHE. We had a song, prayer, scripture, story, activity, treat, and closing prayer. The activity was to make a FHE chart. Carson had fun making it. We already have a nice one, but he still loves his. The other activity was a big water slide. The treat was snow cones! This FHE totally outdid any FHE we have ever done. It was a lot of fun though. Here are some pictures from the activity.

Carson and Aiden play so well together. They're becoming best buds.

The Primary President was able to get the slide and snow cone maker for free. She is quite amazing!

Click the picture and look at that face up close! If he didn't love Primary and FHE before, he does now!

Carson Moments

I have a couple of funny little Carson moments to share. Since I've been staying home for the summer, I get to experience more moments like these.

The other night something amazing had just occurred. I don't even remember what it was. There are a lot of ways to express your amazement. Wow! Awesome! Cool! Holy moly! Oh my! Carson chose a different way, "Oh my, Holy Ghost!" I thought I was going to wet myself. (We've obviously been having a couple of FHE lessons on the Holy Ghost.) I explained to him that that is not appropriate and gave him some other alternatives to say instead. Too funny!

On to another moment...We've been having trouble with Carson talking when he's in time out. When he's at the "naughty stool" (yes we did Super Nanny him), he could talk to himself forever. I told him he could no longer talk when he was at the "naughty stool", and if he did he would receive more time. The next time he was in time out, he began to talk. I added another minute and did so a few more times until he sat quietly. When there was only about two minutes left on the timer, Carson yelled, "Mommy!" (time out is in the kitchen so he can't get attention from anyone). I told him there was no talking in time out. He then yelled, "Meagan!" I told him the rule again, no talking at time out. So he sat quietly until the timer went off. He quickly turned off the timer, grabbed himself, and ran to the bathroom screaming, "I have to pee! I have to pee!" before I could even get off the couch to go talk to him about why he was in time out. Jordan and I were dying! The poor kid. I am kind of glad that I didn't let him ask because I am sure I would have told him to wait because he has used that as an excuse to get out of time out before. Oh Carson!

Little Jordan

I was checking my e-mail and looked up to see Carson. He had pulled apart his fishing pole and was putting it back together. He is definitely a little Jordan!

Pictures from Easter Sunday

I am late posting these, but they were some that Happy (Michael) took and I just received. Every year we always get a great family picture at Easter. This year, I didn't think we were going to make it. Here's how our pictures turned out.

The Girls

The very patient baby Callie.





Carson on the other hand...was not so patient.



Thankfully this is not the only family picture we got!

Hooray! We got a good one!

Thanks Happy! Your picture didn't turn out too bad either.

Kid Fest

Last Saturday we went to KidFest. It is once a year and costs $1 per kid and $2 per adult. We always go and have a blast. The trick is to get there right when it starts. By the time you're ready to leave, everyone else is just getting there. We had a blast! Here are some pictures of what we did.

Callie just hung out in the stroller.

Carson loved Bouncing.

Carson loves firetrucks and this was one of the first things we did. He was super excited!

Here Comes Peter Cottontail...

Here are some pictures from Easter.

So Blessed

I really thought that I had posted about the process in which I got my job. I was looking back so I could link it and I couldn't find it. So, here's how it happened. I graduated back in December of 2007. It is normally difficult to find a job in the middle of the school year, but I checked daily to see if there were any openings. Every morning I would check...nothing. One day in February there was an opening for a Kindergarten ESE teacher (Special Education). To teach ESE, you must be certified in that area. I was not. I told Jordan about the opening and he told me to apply. I told him that I wasn't going to because I am not qualified. We went back and forth on this for a few days. Finally out of spite I applied, muttering under my breath the whole time. Long story short, I got the job and loved it! At the end of the school year, I did not have a job for the next school year because we lost an ESE unit (which means there weren't enough kids to keep the teacher). The principal told me that she was really impressed and would love to have me back. She said she would call if something became available. She called in the middle of July and offered me a third grade position. I happily took it and only had to sign a contract (no interview and the job was never posted). All of this happened during a hiring freeze. When the hiring freeze was over, the few jobs that were posted had between 70-100 applicants. I know that there is no way that I would have had a job without the previous experience in Kindergarten ESE. Well now that we're up to speed, today is the day that we find out if we are asked back for next year or not. With the economy the way that it is, there are many cuts. I really was expected a letter saying they don't have enough units to keep me. I checked my box for the letter early this morning, only to find nothing. When I got to the classroom, I received a phone call asking me to see the principal during my planning. Luckily my planning was at 8:05 because I was very nervous. Last year the principal called me in to explain she didn't have a position for me. As I sat nervously, I heard the words that I was not expecting to hear "We are inviting you back next year." I could not believe it! I was so excited.

By the end of the day I heard that there were four teachers that were let go. There may have been more, but that's all that I heard. I know that my Heavenly Father always has taken care of me and continues to do so. I am very blessed to be able to work while Jordan finishes school to keep from taking out school loans. I am not sure if I will be in third grade again or not. The principal said she will let me know by the end of the school year (next month). Today a huge burden has been lifted. I am very grateful.

What Will I Find Today?

First off, let me start off by saying I love my husband. I really do. Not many men would agree to a role reversal for a couple of years. Both Jordan and I have realized that this role reversal thing is a lot harder than we thought it would be. We are steering clear of any school loans this way, but it does take sacrifices. Luckily it will only be for a little bit longer because Jordan should graduate from FSU in December of 2010. Anyway, when I get home from work I am always anxious to see what I will come home to. Will the house be a complete Carson Tornado? Will the living room be freshly vacuumed for the fifth time that day? Today I came home to one of the funniest things I have come home to. I was sitting on the couch talking to Jordan, when Carson came around the corner. I asked him how his day was. I immediately noticed that he was dressed today (some days don't go as well for Jordan and the kids stay in their jammies). I looked at his shorts and asked where he got those from. I knew instantly where they came from. Like a good little frugal girl I always have a couple of baby outfits on hand. I pick them up when they're a good deal for presents. It seems like there is always someone having a baby. Carson had on a pair of baby boy PANTS not shorts. They were a 6-9 month pair of khakis that I had originally picked up for Julie's baby, but he had already passed that size by the time I got around to getting them to her. It was such a hilarious sight! Jordan and I laughed for a while. He told me that he thought he was doing well today because they came out of the clean basket of clothes. Too funny!

Little Jordan

For those of you who don't know too much about Jordan, Jordan was a child who was in everything! From all of the stories that I have heard, I wonder why on earth he ended up being a middle child instead of a last child. Carson is very much like his daddy. He is always in something. Callie is more like I was, happy just to be watching. When Carson gets into things we call him Little Jordan. Maybe if we would have known how much he was going to be just like his dad, we may have named him Jordan. Anyway, I was feeding the baby and talking to Angela on the phone. Carson came around the corner from the kitchen with a boiled egg from the refrigerator. I told him not to eat that because it had been in there for a week and I don't know how long boiled eggs are good. I told him to throw it away. So he ran back into the kitchen and came out with another egg. I told him the same thing because there were about three boiled eggs in a bowl in the refrigerator. I told him to just throw away the eggs. He asked if I wanted him to throw all of them away. I told him yes. I heard him cracking them as he threw them in the garbage. I told him to stop playing and just throw them in the garbage. He said okay. I came back into the kitchen to clean out the refrigerator to find this...

Yes, that is a dozen eggs that were bought LAST NIGHT in the garbage. What else is there to do but laugh?! He did exactly what I told him to do. He threw all of the eggs in the garbage. Next time I will be more specific.

Remembering Nanny

The other day I was asking Carson what he wanted to do since I was home for Spring Break. He said he wanted to go to see someone. It sounded like he said he wanted to see Nanny. Nanny is my great grandmother who passed away a few years ago. When Carson was born, we had 5 generations alive on my mom's side. I didn't think that he remembered her so I asked him to tell me who he wanted to see again. He repeated himself, "Nanny. You know, that lived with Mimi and Papa." He was obviously remembering Nanny. I told him that she was dead and lives in heaven with Heavenly Father. I was kind of afraid he might react to her being dead. He replied, "That is a long way to go to see her." I love him!

I Did It!!!

Callie is three months old and will be four months on April 5. Today is a milestone! I have on a pair of prebaby Callie jeans! YAY! I have been working so hard at this and am finally there! I am still going to keep working at it, but I am so excited! I did it!!

One More Day...

One more day until Spring Break!! Today we had to go to shelters for the majority of the day due to bad weather. That is not one of the many perks of being out in the portables (some of the perks being having a bathroom and no one comes out there unless they have to...that is IF they can find you). Today and tomorrow fourth and fifth graders are on a school trip so we were moved to a fifth grade room which was nice because we could continue our day close to the normal routine (normally we share the library with another third grade class). Anyway, to make a long story short it has been a long week! I can make it one more day! The district is not allowing teachers in their classroom during Spring Break and we have to unplug everything in the room, so that will kind of nice though I could get a lot done. Hopefully within the next week I will have the time to really update. We're just staying home for Spring Break. No Disney World, kidney stone, or pregnancy this Spring Break. It should be nice to just relax with the Jordan, Carson, and Callie.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

Carson is a follower. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on who he is around. If he sits next to someone who is being good, he will be good. However the trouble starts when he sits to someone who is not being so well behaved. There is a child at church who he cannot sit by because of this. I told him to not sit by Marcus. He then began firing the why questions at me. After answering why to about 5 related questions about why he couldn't sit by Marcus I finally just said he is a bad kid because he doesn't follow the rules. I know, I know...there are no bad kids, just bad decisions and that was a bad decision to tell him that. However, he did finally stop asking questions and has not sit by Marcus when Marcus comes. Last Sunday, a different Marcus was giving the scripture during closing exercises in Primary. Carson proceeds to lean over to his Sunbeam Substitute Teacher who is a very good friend of ours and tell her that Marcus is a bad boy. She is confused and tells him that Marcus is a great kid. Carson is adamant and tells her, "No, my mommy said that Marcus is a bad boy! Not that Marcus, but the little one." CRAP!

The Worth of a Quarter

A quarter really won't buy you much these days...that is unless you have a three year old. Carson will do pretty much anything for a quarter. If Carson doesn't want to clean his room one day, we'll offer him a quarter and the room will be clean in a flash. He loves to have a quarter in his pocket when we go to a store so he can get a piece of candy. The other day Carson asked me to get him some juice. I was in the middle of feeding Callie and told him I would do it when I was done. He asked if I would do it right then even using the magic word please. I told him no. He then responded, "I will give you a quarter Mommy!" I couldn't help but bust out laughing.

Me Time

Now that we have two kids, I think it's going to be harder to get some me time in. Today I was able to get some me time in. I start back at work next week and was in dire need of a haircut. Mom has been trying to get me to go to her new hair lady. I finally decided to try her out. She is fabulous! It was so nice to have my hair washed, conditioned, massaged, and cut. It was a wonderful hour!

Hooray for a new cut!

Even though I do need a little me time, I do love my kiddo time.

Learning About Babies...

Carson is still doing great with Callie. He is learning more and more about babies each and every day. When Callie's cord fell off, we were finally able to give her a real bath. Carson wanted to take a bath with her. We had to explain to him that Callie is too little to take a bath in the bathtub. He learned there was a baby bathtub also known as a sink.

The other night, I told Carson it was time to brush his teeth. He told me that Callie had to brush her teeth too. I told him she couldn't because she doesn't have any teeth. If only I had a picture of what his face looked like when I told him that. He had never noticed that before. He didn't believe me. I had to show him before he would brush his teeth.

Gold Family Time

Jordan's parents came down on Christmas and stayed through New Year's Eve. Ali and LeGrand and their girls came down too during this time. We had a blast. We stayed at a rented beach house. We were able to watch the sunset on the beach. We played games one night...and yes I am smarter than a 5th grader. Team LeGrand/Ali and Team Jordan/Meagan made it to the million dollar question and each got them right. LeGrand demanded another million dollar question for both teams to answer to determine the true winner. Team Jordan/Meagan were declared the true winner. We finally found a game that Duane didn't beat us at. It was a ton of fun to play with the girls. The weather was fabulous...70s. The Sunday everyone was here, we blessed the baby. Jordan ended up with a kidney stone the day after Christmas. He passed it that Sunday evening. He came for church and was able to bless Callie. He then had to go home because he was feeling awful. That is why there is no family picture on the day she was blessed. Jordan has stopped drinking sodas in hopes of having no more babies (kidney stones).





My grandma made the blessing dress. It is gorgeous!

Christmas

Alright, it has taken me forever to add new pics to my blog but I am finally doing it. For those of you who don't like the blogs that post tons of pictures, go ahead and make your way to a different blog (Alice...haha). I have been asked to add more pictures with the baby. Here are some pictures from Christmas.

This is a family picture of Christmas Sunday. It actually turned out pretty good surprisingly enough.
Christmas Eve we spend at my grandparents. We eat BBQ sandwiches and get to open presents from my grandparents and cousins (the grandkids exchange presents).

This year I took charge and passed out the presents.

The chaos of opening presents on Christmas Eve.

Carson loved opening all of his and Callie's gifts.

Callie just watched all of the craziness that is Christmas Eve.


Santa did come and visit the Gold house. This year Carson asked him for a fishing pole and a kitchen...two totally different presents. Jordan and I woke up early and made muffins for breakfast. We were waiting on Carson to wake up. I was so excited for Christmas this year because Carson is such a fun age. He really loved Christmas. I was in the other room when I heard him coming down the hall. I screamed and told him to wait and stop right where he was. I didn't have the camera and camcorder. I scared him because he was not expecting that. Poor guy. It was so great though because when he got up and saw what Santa brought him, he was super excited. He said, "Santa brought me a kitchen and fishing pole!" If you look carefully in the picture, there is no fishing pole. I asked Carson again what he got from Santa. He looked again and said, "Hey, where's my fishing pole?!" Thankfully Mommy and Daddy bought him one so he did get the two things he wanted along with a million other things. Again, Callie just sat back and watched.