Frugal gone Fabulous!?

For over two years now, ever since having become a SAHM (stay-at-home mom), the Cummins family purse strings have been permanently tightened. Going from two incomes to one, definitely has it's repercussions, but they were sacrifices that we (Jeff and I) mutually agreed to accept in order that our boys would have me at home with them. The road to getting the most bang for our buck has been paved with endless coupon clipping, cost cutting, discount shopping, researching freebies, and shopping off of the sales ads at the grocery store.

It hasn't been or felt at all glamorous to say the least, so imagine my surprise as I've begun to notice an increased number of websites and other advertising venues touting bargain bins as the current trend! More and more, I'm noticing advice and tips on shaving off the top a bit without sacrificing style, being generated for the average income earner.

It's a nice idea, especially because the nation's economy is feeling so ill, and everyone is starting to cut corners where they can, but the concept is a little bizarre. I just never thought that when I bought my little coupon file folder at Wal-Mart for .96 cents that I was poising myself to be "in style!"

Dinner by Jonah

Tonight, as I was enjoying some playtime with the boys before I prepared dinner, Jonah found the remnants of Brady's afternoon snack-cheerios in a small spill proof snack cup. Rather than finish off the remaining munchies himself, as I expected him to, he was suddenly moved to share them instead.

One by one Brady and I took turns having cheerios lovingly, yet forcefully shoved in our mouths. I couldn't bring myself to refuse the snack at first, because we have been working so diligently lately on the concept of sharing. Brady obliged Jonah with each offering and obediently opened his mouth just like a little baby bird. I on the other hand, started to tire of the taste after a while and gently and courteously tried to refuse any further handfuls. I even used his usual words for telling me he is done with a meal. Jonah would not hear of it, and he promptly adopted the phrases that I use when I am trying to coax him into finishing a meal that he has lost interest in. With each "No, thank you that I recited, he came back with "open up," "try it," and "have some more." By the time we were finished, I was no longer hungry for the dinner that I was about to prepare! Luckily, Brady's appetite was still wet.

Giving Thanks

This year's Thanksgiving dinner was small, but special. In previous years, in fact as far back as I can remember, all of my extended family (maternal): grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins would gather at my grandmother's house for big holiday celebrations. It's what I grew up on, and at one point it's what I'd hoped that my children would experience as well.

Life however is not stagnant. It is forever moving and changing, and we have to change with it. As the years have gone by there have been divorces, separations, deaths, and additions to our ever evolving family and inevitably we outgrew my grandmother's house. For awhile there we were taking turns hosting the biggies: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter...now however, much of that is fading away. The cherished get-together's and traditions are dying, but new ones are cropping up to replace them. It is sort of bittersweet. I am somewhat saddened at the loss of our big family holidays, but I find comfort in the new traditions that lie ahead in wait.

Now that I have my little family we have been gathering at my mother's house where Jonah and Brady can begin creating their own childhood memories. This year, we had a great time. We certainly weren't lacking for food. Despite the smaller number, we still churned out a feast. We had the pleasure of having my grandmother at our Thanksgiving table and one of my mother's siblings-her brother. Wednesday, we had a pre-Thanksgiving with the Cummins family down in San Diego. It's been a great holiday, and I'm looking forward to Christmas. Here are a few things of many that I am thankful for:

1. Jonah and Brady

2. My family-Husband, Mother, Brother and our health

3.Being a Stay-at-home mom

4.God's provisions

5.Little hugs, and little kisses

6.Sweet voices that speak "Hi, Mommy"

7.My home

8.Nap time

9. My DVR (digital video recorder)

The Age of the Blog

We've been blogging since July, and have been having a great time doing so. It's so nice to be able to share on a regular basis the goings-on of our family. I can post stories of not only the big milestones, but also the little quirky day-to-day things that happen. These are the little anecdotes that make up our family persona, if you will.

Last night, Jeff and I were talking about what day we would be pulling out the Christmas tree and decorations, and the conversation went on to include all of the other things that go along with the Holiday-including the annual Christmas letter that we began two years ago after we had Jonah. We wondered if there would actually be a need for it this year. The blog seems to have inadvertently elbowed out it's quickly aging predecessor, because of course the letter serves to update our family and friends of our lives over the course of the year. Not necessary now. If we want to update anyone, now all we have to do is send them an email with 4cummins.blogspot.com on it. Kind of sad, don't you think. Heck, we even have the "Christmas paper." I just changed the blog background to reflect a Christmas theme, and there's even theme music for your listening enjoyment! Can't do that on paper! And let's not forget that in a continuing effort to remain a "green" family-a blog eliminates the need for paper, cards, and envelopes, so we're saving some trees.

Still, I'm not decided yet on whether or not I will cancel this year's letter. There are some people on our mailing list without access to the Internet. I'm a traditionalist-I've never been secretive about that- and I don't like change:) Stay tuned to see what we decide...

Singing to a New Tune

This evening, Jeff and I ran a few errands without the boys. It's rare that we are able to do this, but my mom was free to watch them after dinner and it made for a much quicker trip to leave them at home.

We'd been in the car for awhile and the conversation came to a pause (sometimes it's just nice to enjoy the scenery and the quiet)-we were just lost in our own thoughts, when subconsciously I began to hum a song. Not so unusual. I didn't even realize I was humming until Jeff (also subconsciously) began to hum along because he recognized the tune. Still not unusual.

We laughed in unison as we realized that we were singing the melody to "Zeroes" a family favorite from the They Might Be Giants Here Come the 123's album. Yes, it's a kids CD. For those of you unfamiliar with They Might Be Giants, they are a group whose upbeat songs are broadcast between show interludes during the morning Playhouse Disney lineup. Jonah and Brady love their songs. We are also big fans of the Imagination Movers and their Juice Box Heroes album. It's pretty darn good. Still not too strange, wouldn't you agree? I mean it's not uncommon for a person to get a song stuck in their head regardless of the genre-especially if it is a song that is frequently heard.

Here's the unusual part: Jeff and I don't normally listen to those Cd's unless the boys are in the car. When it is just the two of us, we'll listen to jazz or contemporary Christian, or adult contemporary, or top 40's and the list goes on...tonight we said "why not?" We're in the mood to hear One Dozen Monkeys-so we popped it in, and the two of us continued our errands listening to "Pirate Girls Nine Nine Bowls of Soup," "Eight Hundred and Thirteen Mile Car Trip," and the coup de grace of the album: "I Can Add!"

A boy and his balloon

We love balloons at our house-especially Mylar balloons. They are inexpensive and provide literally hours and hours of entertainment. Here are some pictures of Brady enjoying a balloon from Round Table Pizza. Once it died, he made friends with the Mylar balloon we bought at "A Day out with Thomas." That one has been like a twin to him, hardly having left his side since it came home with us. It's quite funny to look across the room, and see nothing but the big shiny balloon seemingly floating along of it's own accord, but really being gently pulled by a crawling Brady. Unfortunately, in all of those moments I never thought to get out my camera.

Day Out With Thomas

Often times, I'll finish a great book, a good movie, or even watch the season finale of a favorite television show and be filled with a sense of sadness and loss. I get tangled in the lives of these characters and they become my good pals, so it's no wonder that I feel like I'm losing the friendship when it's time to say goodbye. In the case of a book, it's always such a special treat when some movie studio decides that these made up people are worthy of having their world brought to life on the big screen. Then, not only do I get more time with my good friends, but I'm also privileged to put a face with the name (even if it is only an actor), and that is such a thrill. The only thing greater than that would be to meet them in person.

Therein lies one of the many magical aspects of childhood. Numerous beloved characters of children's books, TV shows, and movies are found at amusement parks, birthday parties, and specialty events. Today, my boys experienced a bit of that joy and magic at the Perris Railway Museum when we spent a Day out With Thomas. Both Jonah and Brady are absolutely enamored with the little blue "cheeky one" from Thomas and Friends. They love trains period, but Thomas and his pals hold a very special place in their hearts.

It was a great day! We rode the Thomas train of course, posed for a picture with him, and then rode the caboose train (we happened to sit in a VERY old and dusty Santa Fe car [that part wasn't so great]) and a cable car. A nice picnic lunch on the grass followed and then we took in the Bob the Builder show. Jonah knew who Bob was prior to our visit, but the show familiarized him even more and now he often asks to see a Bob episode.

Other activities included a trip or two around the children's maze made of hay, and Thomas tattoos (temporary, of course). Brady received his while he was sleeping-he woke up and there it was! See what happens when you can't hold your milk:) We finished the day with some play time in the Imaginarium where the kids were able to play with a bunch of Thomas tables that were set up (of course to entice the parents into purchasing one before they left).

I must admit, by that time the boys were starting to get cranky from having missed nap time, so trying to pry Jonah away from the tables without too much of a scene didn't go over so well, but we were able to distract him with the petting zoo right outside. Of course, we couldn't actually touch the goats or ponies because Jeff's allergies would have kicked up, so again, we had a little protesting from Jonah before we actually left the park.

The day wouldn't have been complete without a little souvenir, so we purchased a Thomas balloon on our way out. Helium balloons are much loved in our home. Cheap entertainment that lasts for weeks!

The Way to Brady's Heart is Through his Stomach

Very early on, when Brady was first learning to make sounds, he said mama before he said Dada. This is rare, I know, and so I was very pleased. Somewhere along the way, he decided that he never wanted to say mama again and I hadn't heard it for months and months. It was always about Dada! Tonight I served the boys some pasta and a vegetable. For some reason, I was moved to make them a small piece of buttered bread, something that I have never included as a part of this meal. It must have been good. Brady took one bite of the buttery piece of sourdough toast and as his eyes widened in delight, he licked his lips and said "Mama!"

Playground Politics

Today, I spent a great Sunday with my son. We went to church together and then had lunch at Round Table Pizza. Before heading to my mom's to pick up Brady and then home for nap time, I decided to take Jonah to the park. This was a rare treat for him, because I usually prefer that he play in our backyard when he is outside. I never trust parks. They are too unclean for me.

On this day however, I decided that I would go on a hunt for a decent park for Jonah to play in, but there must be at least several dozen in Moreno Valley, so I wasn't quite sure of how I was going to do this in a time-friendly manner. I needn't have worried. After driving by 3 parks, number 4 won me over. It was nestled in a fairly new housing community and was completely gated. There was beautiful green grass that went on for what seemed like miles, and the playground equipment was new and clean, and taken care of. The best thing of all was that the playground surface wasn't dirt or wood chips, but that wonderful padding that absorbs shock so well (I'm unsure of the official term).

Everything was going swimmingly. Jonah was climbing, sliding, swinging, and running. He was having the time of his life, when all of a sudden a little bully of a girl came along and literally ripped him from the teeter-totter he was about to climb and took his place for herself. I had to stifle the mama bear that immediately rose within me from her deep sleep. No matter that the offender was a little female tyke not more than three years old...I wanted to shake her and scold her for her behavior. Of course I didn't. I just gave her a stern look and picked up my son who is not used to that kind of treatment, especially from a peer...and then it hit me, and the concern came flooding out of me.

He isn't used to this kind of treatment-why, because he doesn't go to preschool. He stays at home with me, and isn't exposed to this kind of playground bullying. What will happen when we send him to preschool next year? Will he be one of those kids who lets the others walk all over him? Will he stand up for himself when it's his turn for the swing or will he let someone else cut in line? Fast forward five to ten years when he is in elementary and middle school. If the occasion arises, will I be the parent who tells him that it is never okay to fight, or will I tell him to defend himself if someone hits him?

Lots to think about. Although I taught at the secondary level, I subbed quite often at the elementary level, and I know that the playground can be a brutal place. How will I help my son deal with the playground politics?

Halloween 2008-Cummins style

For as long as we have been married, Jeff and I have celebrated Halloween simply by staying home and handing out candy-we always spring for the good stuff, all chocolate! Once the boys came into our lives, we knew that our tradition would eventually metamorphose as they became old enough to partake in the festivities. This is actually Jonah's 3rd Halloween. He was 3 mo. old during the first, and 15 mo. old for the second, while Brady was a mere 2 weeks old last year, during his first Halloween.

This year at the ages of 2 and 1, we decided to attempt a small sampling of the trick-0r-treating scene, with our own twist. Anyone who knows us well, knows that we have very strong feelings about sugar in our boys' diet.

I made prior arrangements with my father and two other family friends to visit their homes and have them give the boys small toys in lieu of candy (I found some fun stuff in the dollar bins at Target and drove them over to the houses earlier in the week). Jonah learned the phrase "trick or treat," but I don't think he quite grasped the whole concept. Getting them in and out of their car seats while they were in those thick outfits proved a hassle, but other than that it was fun-and different from what we were used to.

We made it back home in time to hand out our own candy to some trick-or-treaters, and Jonah and Brady enjoyed sitting on the floor examining their loot. They looked so cute all dressed up that Jeff and I got another brainstorm. We decided to start collecting costumes for the boys to play with on a daily basis. We both have extensive backgrounds in community theater and are eager to share our passion with the boys.

I went to Toys R Us on Saturday hoping to find discounted costumes, but 50% off wasn't enough of a markdown for me. I'm going to try again in a few days, when hopefully they'll be down to 75% off. Now that's a deal!

Elm O' Lantern

Being the great daddy that he is, and always thinking of his boys, Jeff decided that this year's pumpkin would take on the form of something recognizable to them. They love Elmo-so that was what he carved. The finished result was greeted with enthusiasm by Jonah, while Brady in turn took one look at the pumpkin and waved hello. It really did turn out well (as usual) and Jeff got several compliments from trick-or treaters.