Chloe is now in kindergarten.  What a week and a half it has been. Many of you out there are remembering the first day you sent your first child to school and you’re nodding your knowing nod in my direction.

Starting new things is exciting … and scary. For Chloe – all of this has been exciting. For me, it’s been scary. My house seems quiet while she’s gone and her toys don’t get scattered through our apartment. I miss her constant chatter and wonder what she’s up to many times per day.

I’ve told myself over and over – I won’t be that parent that holds my child so tightly that she can’t blossom, but I have to admit that I’m tempted. She seemed so excited leading up to the first day of school and the knowing mom that I am, I thought, “She’ll panic when she gets there. She’ll get nervous and miss home. I just know they’ll call me because she’s crying.” I kept it to myself, not wanting to instill any fear in her – but I knew. At the last minute, she’d be clinging to my leg.

This is what was running through my mind when I checked with Chloe, just to be sure, “You don’t want to ride the school bus do you? There are big kids on there. I’m happy to bring you to school and pick you up.” My confident 5-year-old replied, “I want to ride the bus.” Over the next few week before school I tried to talk myself into it and I felt near-panic at the thought of my little girl climbing on a bus with all of those older kids. No way. I brought it up multiple times, “Are you sure you want to take the bus? I’d be happy to bring you.” She still wanted to.

All summer I’d been encouraging Chloe to be brave about things and try new things. I urged her at her swimming lessons and with riding a 2-wheel bicycle. Now, here she was wanting to be brave and ride the school bus and I wasn’t ready to let go. I felt hypocritical. I made the arrangements for the bus and held my breath, hoping she’d change her mind.

I was at war within myself – I wanted her to be brave and to succeed independently, but I still wanted her to need me. The first day of school came, and through a mix up on the bus driver’s side, the bus didn’t pick her up. We brought her in to school and walked her to her classroom. She hung up her backpack in her cubby and was about to dart into the classroom without saying goodbye to us. I called to her and she turned around, smiled and ran back to us, giving hugs and kisses. She told us goodbye and love you and ran into the classroom. She didn’t cling to my leg. She didn’t cry. She didn’t even seem nervous. We peered through the door as she giggled and pulled a chair up near another little girl. She seemed fine; more than fine. She seemed happy.

We left the school, wondering if she’d be happy all day and how she’d do. I wondered. I felt nervous. I sat at the bus stop for quite a while that afternoon, waiting, dreading the thought of a tear-stained little girl getting off the bus. 3:00 came and my heart was beating in anticipation. I nearly cried happy tears when I saw my daughter get off the bus with the biggest smile on her face.

Her day was great and she loved everything – even the bus. She chattered on and on about her day and I loved every moment and so it’s been for the last week and a half; me getting used to my new normal, me getting used to her growing up. My life feels completely different and I’m trying to be brave … like Chloe. I never dreamed it would be so hard to start letting go.

Three cheers and tight hugs to the brave moms and dads everywhere. I seriously had no idea what was ahead of me …

Why I do what I do ~ Here’s the funny part of the story. When Chloe got off the bus she had her shoes on the wrong feet, was missing her socks and had her skirt on backwards. We later found out she hadn’t used the bathroom at school one time that day, which begs the question – how did her skirt end up backwards?

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We recently celebrated Chloe’s 5th birthday. I still can’t believe it …

Over a month ago, I asked her what theme she’d like for her birthday. We talked about several options and she decided she wanted it to be Tangled. Up until now she’s never had a “friend party.” We’ve done simpler family parties. I wanted this year to be special for her and I wanted her to have a fun friend party. Money has been tight for us for a while now but I knew that if I put the time and planning into it, I could still do something really special for her without it being too expensive. Here’s what we did.

The details …

I planned the party to be 1-3 p.m. That way I didn’t have to worry about serving a meal, as I’ve done in years past. It was also really great to have an end time so I knew just how much time I had to fill. I searched the web to see what ideas I could find. The Disney Family site gave me some great ideas. Chloe invited 8 girls to come to her party – which turned out great because most birthday favors and treats come in multiples of 4 or 8!

The agenda …

When the girls arrived, there were Rapunzel coloring pages for them to begin working on.  After that, they ran around outside for a few minutes while I got a painting project set up for them. In the movie, Rapunzel loves to paint and so does Chloe so it seemed like a perfect fit. I found an 8-pack of paint-your-own sun catchers, including paint for $5. I had to buy one more and a package of brushes for a total of $7 for all 9 girls.

After the painting, they ran around outside for a few minutes again. Then we played “Pin the frying pan on Flynn Ryder.” I got that idea from SuperMom Moments. We printed out the Flynn Ryder coloring page (and drew a nose on him) then brought it to a local copy store to have it photocopied on blueprint paper. It cost about $5 for the ENORMOUS poster-size copy. I printed out the frying pans from SuperMom Moments. It was a fun game and had everyone giggling! Bonus: I hung the poster in Chloe’s room afterwards and she colored it in.

The cake …

One of the HUGE deals for the birthday was the cake. Chloe wanted a fancy one and I wanted her to have one but I wasn’t willing to order the one that cost $55 from the grocery store. Previously, my cake experience consisted of a cake in the pan with frosting and sprinkles or cupcakes. That’s as fancy as I’ve ever gotten. I was up for the challenge of doing a “real” cake though and began researching. The Disney site had a great idea for the Rapunzel tower that I decided to use. For the cake I ended up buying cake boards, a wooden dowel (for the tower) and a few decorating tips and a Rapunzel doll – aside from the baking supplies. I didn’t keep track exactly but I think I probably spent less than $20, including the doll. For my first “fancy” cake, I was pretty happy with it.

The treats …

I was able to find Rapunzel treat bags and napkins on clearance. I bought the Rapunzel table cloth and then the rest of the plates and napkins I bought for super cheap in coordinating colors. I bought a few simple things for the treat bags – nothing over the top. They were already going to be taking home a coloring page, a sun catcher and a flower hair bow.

I decided to make flower hair bows for all the girls, inspired by the scene where Rapunzel goes into town and has her hair braided with all the flowers. I bought plain clips, fake flowers, gems and a few spools of ribbon. I bought it all on sale – the ribbon was 4 spools for a dollar. Two big bunches of flowers totaled $1.94, the jewels were around $1 and I got the plain clips at a craft store. To make them – pull apart the fake flowers so all you have are the petals. Use hot glue and glue the ribbon to the clip. Then layer 2 or 3 petals and jewel on top of the ribbon, hot gluing each layer. You’re done! I put them all together very quickly and the girls loved them!

The decor …

A decoration I made was a very long yarn braid. I just bought the cheapest golden colored yarn I could find and made a braid out of the whole thing. I secured the end with ribbon and used the remaining fake flowers to stick through it. I snapped all the flower hair clips on the braid and each girl got to choose a clip when she arrived. I hung it like garland in a doorway and it was very pretty! Other than that, I used crepe paper streamers around the house. It looked very festive and fun.

Before the party began, Chloe and my 2 nieces were out in the yard picking fistfuls of dandelions. They kept bringing them in to me and I acted delighted. Then I thought – if I put them in water they will stay alive for a couple hours and they were the perfect yellow for our theme. So I put them in paper cups and made them a fun centerpiece!

The party was a great success. I had plenty of things for the girls to do to fill the time, without being rushed. Everyone seemed to have a lot of fun and the cake was even tasty. I sighed a giant sigh of relief when Chloe told me she had the best birthday part ever!

Why I do what I do ~ Instead of saying she has bare feet, when she isn’t wearing shoes, Chloe says she has “naked feet.” Today, it’s naked feet just like Rapunzel.

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This post was originally published in March 2010. I had actually forgotten about it and when I came across it I thought it seemed timely – a good reminder for me ~Nicki

Need something to do with your family? Try some of these ideas for warm weather. Great for quality time and great for your budget because they all cost little or nothing.

1. Go for a walk after supper every night.
2. Or a family bike ride.
3. Make a kite together – and then go fly it.
4. Go for a scavenger hunt. (4 stones, 6 leaves, 3 pine cones, etc.)
5. Make a hopscotch with sidewalk chalk.
6. Teach your kids to play 4 Square.
7. See if you can figure out double-dutch jump rope. You’ll need 3 people for that. Need a goofy rhyme? Here’s one: Cinderella, dressed in yellow, went upstairs to kiss her fellow, made a mistake, kissed a snake, how many doctors will it take? 1,2,3 … etc. <– A real gem from my childhood
8. Go for a hike. Find trails in your area.
9. Make a daisy chain necklace – or a dandelion one if you haven’t mowed your lawn recently.
10. Play catch. Baseball, softball, football … you get the idea. Throw something to someone and have them catch it
11. Teach your kids how to throw a Frisbee. I am still really bad at this.
12. Then, teach them Frisbee Golf. (also called disk golf) Very fun and you can play it in your yard! <– This suggestion from Twitter by @moneycrush
13. Go to the beach. Almost anywhere you go you can find a free beach – whether it be a pond, lake or the ocean.
14. Go outside and read together. Under a tree if it’s hot outside, in the sun if it’s early Spring.
15. Go for a picnic.
16. Climb a tree. OK, maybe not the adults. I used to spend hours climbing trees as a kid. It never once occurred to me that it could be dangerous.
17. Plant a flower garden. This will require some money but can be done very inexpensively. Also, watch Freecycle for people giving away plants or bulbs.
18. Plant a vegetable garden. Let your kids pick out a specific thing to grow and allow them to tend those plants for the entire season.
19. Go kayaking or boating. For this to be free, you need to know someone that owns these things. Otherwise, many places will also rent them.
20. Play a game! Again, for this to be free you need to own the games. Classics like Uno and Rummy can be fun for a wide range of ages. Another idea – make up some fun “family rules” for a traditional game.
21. Star gaze. Bundle up in warm clothes and lay on blankets in your yard. If you live in a city or a bright area, drive a few miles out of town and lay in a field.
22. Have a camp fire. Be sure to get a burn permit if your town requires one (I think that most do) and build a fire pit in your backyard. Make a ring out of sturdy rocks and be sure it’s in a safe place. Don’t forget to make s’mores. I could sit for hours around a camp fire …
23. Or better yet – have a camp out in your back yard. Set up a tent and drag sleeping bags, flashlights and all that stuff outside.
24. Cuddle up in the corner of your favorite bookstore or attend story hour there.
25. Browse the library together.
26. Go for a car ride and sight-see.
27. Build something together. Many families have scrap supplies from home repair or remodeling. See if you can come up with enough supplies to make a bird house or a step stool.
28. Make a movie together. If you own a video camera this is a really fun thing to do. My husband and I did this when we were dating. We made a movie giving a walking tour.
29. Go tubing down a river. Of course, be sure your kids are good swimmers and wearing life jackets. When I was a kid I remember getting the giant tubes from the local tire store. They would loan them to us for the day – great fun.

What can you add? Do you have any great ideas for free, fun things to do with your family?

Why I do what I do ~ Chloe was eating some oyster crackers today. She hadn’t eaten them in a long time and had forgotten what they taste like. After eating one she said, “You know what these taste like Mom – sausage.”

photo credit: eyeliam

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I wrote a post titled Save Money On Personal Care a while ago. It’s all about ways to cut corners and spend a little less on, well, personal care. One of the tips I gave was to cut your children’s hair yourself. Boys are easier than girls because if you need to you can just give them a buzz cut. Girls aren’t as easy but it can still be done. My daughter is almost 5 and was born with a good amount of hair that grew quickly, so she’s needed regular haircuts from an early age. I’ve done many of them myself and as far as I know, no one has been able to tell.

Let me begin by giving you a disclaimer. I am NOT a professional hairdresser and the tips I’m about to give you are from my personal experience and NO training WHATSOEVER, got it? Good. I wouldn’t want to mislead anyone.

Ok, first, let me try to convince those of you feeling a little nervous.

3 reasons to cut your children’s hair

1. Because you can. That’s right. Don’t doubt yourself.
2. You don’t have anything to lose. If you somehow screw it up royally then just take them to the salon and get it fixed. You won’t be paying any more than you would have in the first place.
3. Saves money and hassle. Plop your kiddo down on a chair and cut their hair at your convenience. Also, no public temper tantrums, only at-home private ones. And, ummm, Free.

What you’ll need:

• A kid that needs a haircut, like this one:

• A sharp pair of hair-cutting scissors (that you only use for cutting hair). No desk scissors please. I bought a pair at the drug store for around $7.
• Water. Spray bottle or dunk their head in the sink, whichever you prefer.
• A fine-tooth comb, not a brush.

• A cape of some kind. A pillowcase secured with a clothespin works around here.

• A place for them to sit. Think about it beforehand. Go with a spot you can sweep, it’s tough to get out of carpet. Also pick a spot they won’t get annoyed with too quickly. When my daughter was very young I used to cut her hair while she was in the bathtub playing.

What to do:

1. Wet their head and wring out the excess water. It should be completely wet but not dripping at all.
2. Comb through it. If your daughter has thick hair this may take a couple minutes. It needs to be completely free of tangles before you begin. Part her hair. I prefer to part it in the middle for a haircut. That way if I part it to either side later it won’t look strange. If you part it on the side for the haircut then you’ll have to part it that way all the time. Here’s the “before” shot. Looks at those uneven ends:

   

3. Section hair. Use the comb to separate hair into three sections: back, left and right. If your child has bangs you’ll want to section that off as well. Use a clip to hold up each section.
4. Use the comb to let down a one-inch deep row (or so) of hair in the back section. Clip the rest of it back up.
5. Comb it completely flat then slide two fingers down a strip of hair, almost to the end and cut straight across. Continue in the same manner, finishing the row.

   

6. Once you’re finished with that first row then move to a side section and do the same exact thing, matching it up to the length of the back section as you go.
7. Move to the opposite side and do the same. Now you’ve cut a row from each section. From the front, pull some hair from each side down straight to be sure each side is the same length.
8. Let down another row of hair in the back and repeat with all three sections.
9. Continue in the same manner, being sure to check the front for evenness as you go.
10. Basically, match each side to the back center section, then match each side to the other.

Thinking I should have taken more pictures, but cutting the hair of a little girl who continually tilts her head is challenging enough! Here’s the result:

These are instructions for cutting girls hair. If you have boys, I can’t help you … but other people can. Here are a couple sites that show you how to cut boys hair:

• Heavenly Homemakers
• Almost Frugal

Why I do what I do ~ The other night I said something funny to Chloe and she said, “Mom, have you lost a marble?” She must have heard someone say the phrase, “Have you lost your marbles?” and she was trying it out. I’m glad she tried it out on me because she made my night … I’m still giggling as I type it.

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We eat dinner (or supper, whatever you call it – the evening meal) as a family most nights. We always have. It isn’t really exciting or ever fancy but I’ve always tried to make it a priority that we sit down together every night for our meal.

Well, recently my daughter and I watched the one and only season of Pantry Raid on Netflix. We really liked it and I am thoroughly bummed they only made 10 episodes. Anyway, there were two components of the show that started twirling around in my mind: Table setting and food presentation.

It got me thinking. I don’t usually set the table or even make an effort to make it look pretty. I might pull the plates and forks out, but that’s about it. As far as making the table look nice – I don’t even use a tablecloth. Food presentation? I usually serve it from the pan I cooked it in. That probably sounds terrible, I’m just more of a no-fuss person. The food must be yummy but I care very little about the dish it’s served from. Or at least, I did.

Chloe loves cooking shows. She’s a funny little girl. After watching an episode one night she asked if we could decorate our table. I told her SURE! So the next day, while supper was cooking, I climbed up on a chair so I could reach in the highest cupboard in my kitchen. That’s where I keep all the stuff I don’t use. That’s where I keep my fancy things. I pulled down a dusty vase and a couple floating candles. I found some place mats for the table with matching napkins. Chloe acted like it was Christmas as the two of us decorated the table. It only took a couple minutes. I pulled out the dishes and we set them in their places. I lit the candles and Chloe was so excited to reveal our work to Daddy. It was a usual supper, nothing special, but it felt special.

So for the next week, we kept it up. I changed the decorations each night. I let Chloe do it on her own one night – she used legos. So I thought to myself, I bet we could have a really special night for Valentine’s Day right at home if I just put a little thought into it. I came up with a special menu and worked to make the table and the plating look extra appealing. I even pulled out my china (which all had to be cleaned because it was CAKED with dust). My husband raved it was the best Valentine’s dinner yet, of the 10 we’ve had. All 3 of us agreed that our night felt so special – right at home.

It’s easy for me to get busy and overlook little things – like setting the table. I’m not very good at decorating either. I just don’t think of it but I’m finding that if I take a moment to put thought into little things then I can create something pretty special right here at home.

|The above link for Netflix is an affiliate link. If you choose to sign up for a free, 1-month trial then this site will get a kickback. On Domestic Cents I make it a priority NOT to advertise anything I wouldn’t use personally. I’ve used Netflix for several years now and we love it.|

Why I do what I do ~ Some of the things that my daughter is growing up with as “normal” just get me laughing sometimes. She’ll hear my cell phone make a little beep and yell to me, “Mom! You’re getting a text message!” I’ll turn on the television and she’ll say, “I don’t want to watch a show on here, I want one from Netflix.” Sometimes I just hang my head and giggle a little. She has no idea …

photo credit: elvissa

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I love Fall. The scents and traditions just make me smile and say, “Mmmmm ….” I think Fall is one of the best seasons for families. There are so many things to do that your whole family can enjoy. Today I’d like to share a few frugal ideas for Fall family fun. Sorry if I’m killing you with the alliteration – I just can’t help myself.

Fashion a Scarecrow

photo credit: allanworden@btinternet.com

This can be made entirely out of things you already have. Rake the leaves in your yard (or someone else’s?). Find some old clothes: jeans, long sleeve shirt (flannel shirt if you can). Grab some of those twist ties that you never use, if you don’t have those then rubber bands will work too. We usually fill the jeans and the shirt separately, tying off the openings. I sit our scarecrow on the porch, adjusting the pieces as necessary. For the head you have several options. An old pillowcase is the favorite – draw a face on it and put a hat on top. We used a basketball one year but had to prop it up. Be creative and make it fun!

Feast on Apples

photo credit: NancyK!

Find an orchard and go apple picking! This is a family tradition of ours and we look forward to it every year. Something about the crisp air and the crunchy, fresh apples makes everyone happy. The baking that follows is always good too I know – this one costs money but I still think it’s frugal. It isn’t often you can purchase fruit so inexpensively. Apples are great because as long as you keep them cool they last a long time.

Fun with Pumpkins

photo credit: NancyK!

Each year I usually purchase a few pumpkins to decorate with – growing them would be better but my garden spot isn’t big enough. I hunt around for them so I can get the best deal. A lot of times the best deal is a family farm selling them on the side of the road. Pumpkins are great fun – carve them, draw on them, decorate with them, scoop out the seeds and roast them. Don’t forget to let the little kids play with the ooey-gooey stuff inside

Find a Corn Maze

photo credit: roland

There are quite a few of these where I live. I’m not sure of the availability or even the popularity in other areas. To find one near you, check here. Corn Mazes are great fun for kids and adults of all ages. I remember taking Chloe when she was around 2-1/2. We brought the stroller right in. She got a huge kick out of it. The cost was pretty minimal – just a few dollars per person and we spent hours in there.

Form a new Tradition

photo credit:me. This is David and Chloe last year.

There are few things as sacred as a family tradition. There’s something about doing them and keeping them that strengthens the bond of your relationships. Introduce your children to a Fall family recipe and teach them to make it. Plan an outing, like one of the above, and do it every year. What makes things special isn’t how extravagant they are – it’s how much thought you put into them and the reward of seeing ALL members of the family smiling.

What’s your Fall family tradition? Do you have any fun, frugal ideas to share?

Why I do what I do ~ Chloe’s temper was getting the best of her the other day so she was in another room for a time out. My younger niece, who is 3-1/2, came up to me and said, “It’s OK. Chloe’s just having a temperature.”

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Today’s post is from Kyle at Rather Be Shopping. His site features online coupons and discounts. If you enjoy this post I hope you’ll consider subscribing to his RSS Feed. ~Nicki

On Sunday we returned from a weekend camping trip with the kids and another family. We have the dirt to prove it. Oh, do we have the dirt to prove it! There were times on the trip when I could only spot my kids when they smiled. Good thing we have them brush their teeth twice a day. But if you have a family camping trip planned this summer here are 5 easy ways to save both time and money:

1. Bring Frozen Meals From Home

Not only do you save money on your food bill but they double as great ice blocks in the ice chest.

2. Bring Your Own Firewood

No camping trip is complete without S’mores around the campfire, but the state park we stayed at wanted $7 for a small bag of firewood. Rip-off!! Bring your own.

3. Find Free Entertainment

Again, the state park we stayed at had a bunch of free activities for the kids. We participated in Junior Rangers and the campfire program and they were both free with your admission. Ask about what they have going on and be sure to take advantage.

4. Stay Close To Home If Possible

The park we stayed at was about 70 miles away from our home. With the price of gas, this was about as far as I wanted to travel. Ask around about nice camping spots close to home. They surely exist.

5. Improvise With Stuff you Already Have

If you are tent camping, you don’t need to invest in sleeping bags as well, just bring blankets from home. Try to bring as much camping stuff and food that you already have and avoid the big expensive trip to the grocery store or Wal-Mart.

Please add your suggestion or tip. I look forward to any new ideas. Happy Camping! Now on to some online coupons that can help save you money!

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photo credit: jon_a_ross

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I have been at it for a couple weeks now – spring cleaning. Where I live, we ordinarily have a snow-covered ground well into April but this winter we didn’t get much snow, so when the weather crept above freezing I was thrilled to see bare ground and very little mud (as a result of very little snow). We’ve had lots of sunny days in a row and it just feels wonderful. Mind you – what I consider spring is probably not what you consider spring. It’s been in the 40s here and it is wonderful! It makes me want to get moving and clean!

Are you feeling a little sluggish about spring? Let me share some of my momentum with you!

1. Spring Cleaning Is Good Exercise

I have felt GREAT for the past couple weeks, being outside and busy doing things all day keeps my body moving. The winter is so sedentary (for me) that I welcome the movement that comes with the change in season.

If you’re at work all day, don’t immediately flop on the couch when you get home. Do a little sprucing and then flop on the couch. Get your body moving a little – it’ll feel good, I promise.

2. Spring Cleaning Puts Your Energy To Good Use

Feeling antsy? When I feel antsy, like I want to do something but I don’t know what, I go shopping. It’s a bad habit and believe me, I’m much better now but it still lures me.

Putting my energy toward something productive gives me that feel-good boost I’m looking for without having to shell out any money. It keeps me home and it keeps me busy – good things.

3. Spring Cleaning Makes Your Home Feel New Again

This is my favorite part. I pack away the snowman things and swap them with things that are light colored and airy. I change a room around, organize a little and just like that my home feels new and fresh – without costing a cent. It feels so good to come home to. One of my favorite feelings is to walk in my front door and be greeted by a clean home that smells fresh. I feel like that hasn’t happened since last summer – sprucing was long overdue.

4. Spring Cleaning Helps You Know What You Actually Need

I can’t believe how much I’ve been throwing out and how many times I’ve said out loud – Why do we even have this? I constantly have to fight my consumerist mentality that wants more things – and I have no idea why because I am finding I already have WAY TOO MANY THINGS.

5. Clutter Is Contagious

I talk a lot on this blog about being money-conscious, spending less, living frugal and doing things intentionally. Here’s the thing – all of that requires discipline and organization. As soon as you let one area slip, you’ll notice that the others follow. Has your home become cluttered? Do you have mail, bills and receipts all over the place? The clutter likes to spread. Spring clean your home – and you’ll find yourself wanting to clean off your desk, organize the stuff on your dresser, redo your budget and clean out your cupboards. It’s motivating.

Many times the reason we don’t do things is because we can’t muster the resolve (or the energy) to take the first step. Once you get going, you’re fine, it’s just the beginning that gets you (not just you – me too). Sometimes we just need a little nudge to get started. So here it is – I challenge you to begin. Start today – do something extra today. Mopping the kitchen doesn’t count. Clean out a drawer that’s been bugging you – just start.

Why I do what I do ~ Our furnace died last night so our house was very cold this morning while waiting for it to be regular business hours to call the repairman. Chloe wanted answers – Why is it cold in here? Why doesn’t the heat work? Can I fix it? OK Mom, just go get Daddy’s tools and fix the heat so it can be warm. Sorry honey, Mama doesn’t know how to fix the furnace. She laughs. Yes you do Mom. Clearly if my kisses can heal boo-boos then a broken furnace should be a cinch!

window photo credit: Ana_Cotta | clothesline photo credit: Dan..

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I’ve already mentioned several times that I love Fall (which I prefer to call Autumn, but Frugal Fall has better alliteration ). I’ve combined my love of Fall with my need to nest in my home and this week I’m going to share some ideas with you. My ideas are neither ground-breaking nor awe-inspiring. They are simple, frugal and fun.

For me, the kick-off event for Fall is apple-picking. We went a few weeks ago and picked half a bushel of apples for $15. My half-bushel weighed in at 23 pounds which means I spent around $.62/pound. A deal on crisp, fresh apples. We picked MacIntosh and Cortlands for versatility. More on that soon. We had a terrific day and took some great photos. A very fun family outing and a great beginning to Fall.

Have you gone on any Fall family outings? How have you kicked-off Fall in your home?

Why I do what I do ~ I didn’t have a rocking chair or glider when Chloe was an infant. Just a couple days ago I ended up with one. It’s old and it creaks and squeaks when you rock. I took it hoping to fix it up so it glides nicely again. Every time I sit in it Chloe comes over and asks if she can sit with me. Then we rock. It’s like she missed it too

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Hey everyone. I’m typing up a quick post for you all from a hospital. My dad is here having some heart trouble, far from home. I’ve left town to be with my parents and I anticipate being here for a few days. I know that many of my readers are people that pray. I covet your prayers and thank you all for your understanding of my absence.

Nicki

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