The huswife's guide to

So my littlest one turns one this week and we celebrated her birthday yesterday. It was a small party, we had four adults, two teens, and three kids not including my own and it was a lot of fun. I also didn't want to spend a lot of money on this party and tried to keep it under $100. Here's how I did.
Food - $45
We served chips, crackers, pretzels, strawberries, grapes, apples, three types of dip, homemade doughnuts, homemade cookies, and of course cake and cupcakes. We only served water as drinks and only used our regular dishes.We saved money buying no name food and making everything ourselves. The dips were Sunset Gourmet which was a bit of a splurge.

Decor - $20
Everything I either already owned or purchased at the dollar store. Table cloth, plastic bowls, cupcake stand, cupcake toppers, snowflakes, ONE decoration, trees, and balloons. Almost everything came from Dollarama!

Gifts - $25
I picked up a Melissa and Doug Puzzle on clearance a couple months ago for $5 and added in some second hand finds for another $5. I then let my older two kids choose some books from my gift collection in the basement, but since I can't remember what I paid I just added on $15 for those (they were probably less).

Activities - $3
My mom picked up a Pin the Nose on the Snowman game along with the snowman table cloth at the second hand store on bag day, so I estimate that at $1 total. We also bought a box of snowflake ornaments for the kids to decorate which cost $2.

Total - $93

So there you have it - birthdays are possible to be adorable and frugal! Can't wait for our frugal Christmas!

It was super busy day yesterday with my littlest's first birthday party so I didn't get a chance to post this, or even take a good picture, but here it is.

The easiest, most frugal, least fattening advent calendar ever. The ones with activities are super cute but we just don't have the time. My youngest is allergic to chocolate so it wouldn't be fair to buy the chocolate calendars. We do have a lot of Christmas books.

So what you need to do is just wrap up Christmas books and set them under the tree! I didn't number them so the kids can have fun picking. We did 23 since we always open one present on Christmas Eve and I found out one of the books was a repeat (two copies of The Night Before Christmas).

By using wrapping paper I bought on sale last year this project cost less then $2 and our story time last night was lovely. I think this will be out new holiday tradition.

Here in Canada, Thanksgiving came and went in October, and Black Friday has always been an American thing. We get Boxing Day sales instead. Over the past few year's we've also been lucky enough to get Cyber Monday sales over here. This year is different - not only will I be a short 3 hours from Fargo this year for these sales, but almost everywhere major retailer in Canada is offering some kind of Black Friday deals. Granted, they're not quite the same as the states, and we certainly won't get as many interesting trampling stories, but half priced EXPEDIT shelves from IKEA is very tempting. But of course, I'm on a budget so...

Black Friday is the "official" start to holiday shopping. Here in Canada we've been thinking Christmas since November 12th, out Neighbours to the South had to wait to give thanks. Now that they're so appreciative of what they have, it's time to go shopping! Seems kind of wacked to me, but then again, so is the Canadian "we just got a bunch of presents yesterday let's go shopping!" Boxing Day mentality. I typically only pick up wrapping paper the odd Christmas decoration for next year, but I digress. Black Friday occurs at a time of year where we're all motivated to buy.

You don't even need to be close to the stores to shop. Online retails offer free shipping and insane discounts with no lines. Most places have started posting deals this week to get you to order now, then again on Friday. They want your money.

So this year while you're being bombarded by the awesome sales and Black Friday marketing, remember these questions:

1. Do I really need this?
If the answer is yes, it's a real need, then maybe it's a good time to buy. Half priced mittens if you kid doesn't have any is a fantastic deal. If you already have three pairs it's a waste.

2. How badly do I want it (or will they want it if it's a gift)
If you don't need it move on to this.

3. What will have to sacrifice to get this?
Space? Money you don't have? Work more? Dinner out?

4. What will happen if I don't get this?
Usually nothing.

Just because the sales are short term, think about everything you're buying! Don't let the pursuit of stuff get in the way of your goals.

Better yet, don't shop at all. Don't look. Just spend time with your family.

Finally my kids have hit an age where they can handle kid movies that are not animated, hurray! We just watched Jumanji and are watching Muppet's Treasure Island tonight. Here are our favorite holiday movies that we'll be watching with our kids throughout December.

1. Elf
   

2. Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas
   

3. A Charlie Brown Christmas
   
4. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
   

5. An Elf's Story: The Elf on the Shelf
   

6. Muppet's Christmas Carol
   

7. The Santa Clause
   

8. Jack Frost

9. Frosty the Snowman
   
10. Frosty Returns
    
11. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
    
12. The Year Without Santa Claus
    
13. The Santa Clause 2
    
14. Rise of the Guardians
    
15. The Nutcracker
    
16. Mickey's Christmas Carol
    
17. Winnie the Pooh and Christmas Too
    
18. The Nightmare Before Christmas
    
19. The Santa Clause 3
    
20. The Polar Express
    
21. Miracle on 34th Street
    
22. Mrs. Santa Claus
    
23. A Christmas Story
    
24. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
    

This year I'm trying to tone down the usual craziness and limit the store bought gifts while remaining as frugal as possible. I've put much more thought into gift selection for my three kids this year. Here's what will be arriving under the tree:

Skylanders Giants and 2 extra Skylanders 

A Book For Each Kid

Super Mario 3D World

Second Hand Finds

Stocking Stuffers

It snowed buckets here in southern Manitoba this weekend! Here are some ways to keep the little ones outdoors during those not too cold winter days without much prep-work or involvement.

1. Snow Spray-Painting
   Grab some plastic spray bottles and fill with water. Add a few drops of food colouring to each one. Any colour will work but make one of each red, yellow, and blue for some colour mixing fun.
   
2. Shoveling
   My kids love to shovel. Have them see how high they can build a tower or dig a hole, or grab some bucks of various sizes for them to fill and dump. Use kid sized snow shovels or your beach toys!
   
3. Snow ShapesHave the kids make all kinds of shapes in the snow - snow angels, tracks, circles, elephants - whatever.
   
4. Snow Maze/Path
   Stomp out a maze or path for the kids to follow through the snow.
   
5. Pull Out the Sled
   Kids have fun pulling the sled around the yard and filling it with whatever they find.
   
6. Make a Snow Fort
   Kids of any ages will have fun building up snow walls and making a little snow fort or house.
   
7. Examine Snowflakes
   See all the different shapes they have.
   
8. Play Archaeologist
   See what you can unearth under the snow.
   
9. Look For Tracks
   Seek out animal tracks in your yard. Try and guess what made them.
   
10. Build a Snowman
    It wouldn't be winter without building a snowman!

She wouldn't stop taking off her diaper but refused to potty train.

To my daughter,

Although you are only six now, and you feel so grown up, you are still so so small and so so young. There is so much about yourself, about me, about the world in general that you have yet to learn. So much of it is going to break you heart and bring you to tears but one day you will realize that your natural determination and stubbornness will pull you through.

You were the child I waited my whole life to have. Granted, I only waited seventeen years to bring you home, you were wanted, oh so wanted, and brought into more love then you could possibly imagine. Your entrance was dramatic and you refused to breastfeed but I didn't care, I was so happy. We bonded. It was love at first sight.

People told me babies were a lot of work and you were remarkably easy. Sure, you didn't always sleep, sure some days I held you non stop, but you were happy, you were healthy, and you were perfect. It was for that reason you were only 22 months when your brother was born.

You were always a bit of a handful. You used to run away from mommy and me dance class from the first day to the last. You loved it. You wanted to go. You just didn't want to listen. People said it was normal, that it would come.

Then you were three and more challenging. I was in a constant state of exhaustion and have a complete memory gap of that entire year. I can't remember anything from when your brother was a baby. I can't remember what kind of child you were at three. I regret this daily.

Then you were four and you were the most smart, beautiful, and awful four year old I've ever met. I remember there was a car accident and you hoped everyone was OK. I remember you could write your name and count and knew the whole alphabet. I remember you throwing things at me while driving because you didn't want to come home from the beach.

And as you became the world's most challenging four year old I became the world's worst mother to you. For that I am sorry. I am sorry for the times I slapped you, even when you spit in my face. I am sorry for crying to you at one in the morning asking you why you couldn't be normal. I'm sorry for the yelling, the spankings, locking you in your room, and not taking you anywhere because I was afraid I couldn't handle you. I made so much of your life worse. I fought with your dad over discipline. I was depressed. I was pregnant with your baby sister. I couldn't play with you. I couldn't help you.

I didn't cry when I dropped you off at the first day of school. I was too scared to cry. I was worried you wouldn't handle it, that you'd meltdown, and you did. It took you a month to get the hang of school. Then you were perfect. You were never in trouble, and still aren't. I cannot believe it still, but I am more proud of you then I could ever express in words.

Life with you now is so much more manageable. You are so much more cooperative. Other people may look at you and think you are misbehaving but to me these are good days. We can enjoy things now. We have fun.

Now I fear that one day your friends, which you have so many of, no longer forgive your explosive behavior and you fight. I fear that people won't love you as much as I do and break your heart. I fear that one day you'll be a teenager and more trouble still. I worry that I wont be there to protect you, to talk you down, to tell you everything is OK.

When I look back on your childhood I won't think about the three hours of screaming it took to get you to bed each night when you were three, I won't be reminiscing about all the things you destroyed, all the walls you coloured on, all the food crushed into the carpet, or even the way you thought it was funny to spit whatever you were drinking onto the floor. I will remember the nights you fell asleep to me singing, insisted on helping me with whatever I was doing, and always helped your brother when he needed you.

One day you're going to need that spirit, hang on to it.

Christmas shopping starts early in our family and I'm already thinking of the holidays. This is doubly true for my baby who turns one December 5th, so we've got double presents for her. We are trying to keep things simpler and more thoughtful this year since the kids already have too many toys.

My store carries the Janod line and I plan on ordering more of their fantastic wooden toys for Christmas. That means I can put a few of them on our wish list. The baby is also severely lacking in books so we are focusing on them too.

Janod wooden forest puzzle. I like that the chunky pieces can stand independently.

Janod wooden farm puzzle.

 

Janod wooden magnets. Baby loves magnets!

Babylit books. I saw these last time I was at Chapters and fell in love.

Giant crayons so she can colour with the big kids.

Skip Hop Owl pull toy. Baby will be walking then.



We found this at the local library and baby absolutely loved it.

Baby Stella is perfect for little ones and you can get one with dark hair!

 II love shopping for babies, it's so nice when they don't ask for anything and I can still choose their toys. We're still working on stocking stuffers and I'd like to get some kind of bath toy. I'm really looking forward to having three happy children in a brand new house this year! Christmas is my favourite!

This fall printable is for children preschool and kindergarten age. The package contains three sheets - A word list, matching, and fill-in-the-blanks. Enjoy!

Click here to download the Fall Word Bank Printable (PDF)

'When a friend announced dramatically that she was taking on a second job and would be working 7 days a week I confessed that I would prefer to stay in the debt we're in then work that often. I've done the Mon-Fri evening thing and it was hard to be away from my husband every night. It most certainly put a strain on our relationship and made it hard to do anything. I also cut back on a lot of expenses that she has - satellite, diapers (I use cloth), only owning one vehicle, and activities for the kids.

Today was a sad day for my husband and little ones. My mother in law and her sister (they're twins and live together so my husband is very close with both) visited for the past four weeks and just went home today. They are not expecting to see the kids for two more years.

My husband and I met online and he moved here from Australia in 2006. Over the past almost 6 years of having children we have seen his mother 4 times including this last trip. She came for our wedding in 2007 when my oldest was 9 months, another visit in 2010 when my oldest was 2 1/2 and my middle son was 10 months, we visited Christmas 2011 with 4 and 2 year olds, and now they were here summer of 2013 visiting the three kids ages 5, 3, and 7 months. That's about as often as any of us have been able to afford to come and visit and take the time off of work.

It's really sad to me whenever they go. So many different stages of development are missed and they basically don't get to see the grand kids grow up. I can't imagine what it's like for my husband being so far away from his family, especially his mother. My mom lives in the same town as us and will be moving when we do. I like being close to my family.

I also feel a bit guilty - it is my fault. I'm the reason he moved up here in the first place. It's also getting harder for the kids as they get older and understand how long it's going to be before the next visit. I'm in the process of trying to talk them into moving to Canada, but so far no luck. It's too cold.

Soon I'll be moving away from a lot of my close family too. My half sister is the same age as my daughter (a whole 'nother story) and the two are best friends. They'll go from being 6 hours away from each other to 12-13 hours away.

It's a good thing for technology. At least we have Skype, iPhone Facetime, and online gaming to keep connected. It definitely makes the separation feel a bit smaller.