Shopping and totally relaxed.

Last week I was able to go to Kroger without the girls for a big shopping trip using all of my concentration. :) I thought I would share some of the great deals I got. There are plenty of people out there who are way better coupon/sale shoppers than me, but I like to think that means I still have something to learn. Until then...
These are the things I picked up totally free using coupons combined with sales: (Yes, I know instant potatoes are not the best food, but they're so yummy!)
These things were all 50 cents or less using coupons combined with sales:

I love that Uncle Ben's 90 second rice. It's perfect for when I completely finish my stir fry and then realize I've forgotten to make rice or pasta to go with it!

Joanna has figured out how to recline the rocking chair. She does it, then says, "this is for Gran." because that's how my mom always sits in that chair.

I have really begun to realize recently that Joanna notices and remembers EVERYTHING for a VERY LONG time.

Last night, Joanna really wanted to snuggle with me right before bed. We were watching a little TV (Say Yes to the Dress -- oddly addicting) and rocking. I had just told her that we were going to go night night on the next commercial when I heard snoring! Sure enough, she had fallen asleep rocking with me.

I couldn't believe it! This was very uncharacteristic of Miss Joanna. Matt was able to pick her up and transfer her to bed without any trouble.

Today we went over to Mamma and Pop's so Matt could have his dad help him with a project. The girls and I hung out and watched. Poor Natalie has not been feeling well lately (like for the past MONTH!) and she's been napping badly. She didn't fall asleep here, but she was sure chilled out.

Our Itsy Bitsy Spider

The other day, Joanna discovered a very tiny spider living underneath one of her chairs in the dining room. I was leaving to go to work, but noticed that she brought the chair into her playroom and turned it upside down to look at the spider. My mother reported later that Joanna began singing "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" to the spider. She stopped, looked at the spider, and asked "Do you know The Itsy Bitsy Spider?" Apparantly the spider did not answer, but Joanna kept on singing.
I'm pretty sure the spider is still living under that chair.
Don't call CPS. It's okay.

Tell me what you think!

The girls had "school pictures" a few weeks ago, and we got to preview them this week! I need help deciding which ones are the best! There are nine pics total, numbered 1-9 in the order they were taken. The numbers are above the pictures. The first 3 are Joanna, followed by 3 sister pictures, and then the 3 of Natalie. I know which are my favorites and my mom has told me her vote -- help me decide!

#1 #2
#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8#9

They're a little pricey, so we're not going to order a bunch. We're not even going to get one of each set. I'm basically debating on whether to just pick one of both girls or to get one of each girl. I really love having their "school pictures" to put up on the wall -- a great way to mark the passage of time!

Please, please, please leave a comment (or send me an email/facebook note) and tell me your favorites (or which you really don't like) and why! I love you guys!

That settles that.

Went in to check on Joanna at about 10pm. She was wet. She wore a diaper the rest of the night. I thinking we're done experimenting. :)

To answer Kathy's question from my comments...

Joanna always naps in her panties and very rarely has accidents. She slept the whole night Tuesday night just fine but woke up at 6am completely soaked. Actually, I don't know whether she peed, then woke up or woke up, then peed out of habit. I feel like I need to try it a few more days just to see. If it really seems to cause her to wake up early or messes with her nights, we'll go back to diapers at night for sure. However, if she's some kind of magical toddler whose able to be night dry at 2 1/2, might as well do it! I feel like the diaper is definitely a crutch for her. She could never wear pull-ups or diapers and refrain from peeing in them. However, she does so great every day in panties. Sure, there are the occasional accidents, (Sometimes I think she just gets mad and pees.) but it has been an AMAZINGLY easy process. You can congratulate Joanna; I had NOTHING to do with it. She's in panties again tonight... we'll see. I actually found a night light and stuck it in the bathroom, just in case. Then I showed her how it lights up in the dark and how to find the bathroom from her room (it's next door). I'm not sure this information will prevent her from peeing in her bed, but I figure it can't hurt.
I am running out of mattress pads though.
:)

Joanna slept totally naked last night, but woke up dry!

At Halloween!

For days, Joanna's been talking about going "to Halloween" or "at Halloween." We're pretty sure she was thinking Halloween was a place. I guess it kind of was this year because we went over to our friends the Vandenberge's house for dinner and trick-or-treating!
Lisa fixed us a wonderful dinner that everybody ate (even Natalie!). Thanks, Vandenberges!!
After dinner, we got our 4 girls into their costumes. Joanna was a mommy this year, and I decided she could wear a little make-up (not that her mommy does) to make it extra special. She didn't have much on so it's hard to tell in the pics. She was very excited. Mommr and her little butterfly:

Me and the big girls:

Daddy the chauffeur :) The mommy and the Ladybug at home...

and trick-or-treating.

I guess I didn't get any pics of Emma as a bumble bee. She was soooo cute. We're pretty sure she could have trick-or-treated FOREVER. She wouldn't let go of her candy bucket either, even when it was pretty heavy.

Joanna got this bag of pretzels at one of the first stops and wouldn't let go for the longest time.

Natalie slept through the entire thing.

Tony and Lisa took a lot of pictures which I'm excited to see!

After we hit a few houses with the Vandenberges, we hopped in the car to visit Uncle Mark. He let Joanna hand out candy to the trick-or-treaters. She was very good at it!

Then we stopped by Mamma and Pop's house.

Natalie got some snuggles.

Joanna finally got to eat some candy!

Mamma and Pop's friend Glenda came over with goody bags for both girls. Thank you, Glenda! The girls love their babies, and Joanna has been all decked out in her "bling" today. Mamma and Pop also gave us, I mean the girls some goodies, too! I've decided that it's appropriate for me to eat Natalie's candy since that's surely the best way for her to enjoy it, right?

That is just cute.

"Joanna's" haul:

I will admit it; I'm not proud: I am a serious candy-holic lately. Joanna would be too, if I'd let her. She really turns into a maniac with high levels of sugar in her, so we've told her she may have one piece every day. (That is, until her mother eats it all.)

We had fun on the best candy holiday of the year.

:)

The best part was spending time with our family and friends.

I like them even more than chocolate.

:)

Really.