Happy 8th Ya-Ya

This post is dedicated to my sweet Elise who is turning 8 today. I just want to wish her the best birthday and tell her how much I love her!!!

On one hand, it seems like it was just yesterday that I held her for the very first time, but on the other hand, I can't seem to remember a time without her.  She is one of the sweetest kids there is, so full of spirit and personality.  She is also extremely funny and creative.  You never know what she will do next.  She has provided us with so many funny stories and memories, and I'm sure she will give us many more to keep us smiling and laughing for years to come.  She is a very special spirit and we are so blessed to have her in our lives.  I can't wait to see all the great things she will do in her life and the wonderful person she will become!!!

I LoVe you Ya-Ya.  Thanks for being mine...

The OC

Last weekend I had the pleasure of going back to So. Cal. for a visit.  I flew solo on this trip due to some much needed "me time".    I stayed with a good friend of mine, Liz, and had a FABULOUS time with her and her beautiful daughter, Sydney.

The weather was great!!!  We went shopping, ate, had pedicures, ate, visited friends, and then there was the EATING!!!  As you can tell, that was one of my favorite parts.  I have to say that California is a great place for a girl who loves to eat.  As a matter of fact, the only good picture I got from the trip was this picture of the WAHOO's sign (a favorite OC eatery of mine).  It's not that I hadn't planned on taking more pictures - we were just so busy that I didn't ever think to pull my camera out (except for at WAHOO's, of course...)  Oh, and during our pedicures, but I will spare you the picture of my feet!!!

Thanks Liz - I had a great time and brought home some great memories... along with a couple extra pounds (dang food - why do I love thee)!

Ewww mom...

This may not be an appropriate subject to talk (or rather blog) about, but when did that ever stop me, right?  This was just too funny not to mention...

The other day my mom stopped by to visit and to drop off some things to me, one of which happened to be a bra that I had ordered.  We were standing in the kitchen chatting when Ian came by and said disgustingly, "Ewww mom, your BOOB SUIT!!"  Apparently, he had seen the aforementioned unmentionable laying on the table and was not pleased about it.  Needless to say, I broke into hysterical laughter and have been randomly chuckling ever since.  Where do kids get this stuff?

Gotta Love Connections

I love having a photographer in the family!!!  There's nothing I like more than seeing cute pics of my kids, so now that my niece, Ashley, is really into photography, I get to see plenty.

Ashley, and her counterpart Meg, had us over today to do some test shots of the kids.  They were trying some new backdrops and ideas they had and needed some subjects.  So I, like any proud mom, jumped at the chance to throw my kids in front of the lens!

Here are just a few of the pics:

Man, I have CUTE kids!!!  Don't ya think?  I can't wait to see the rest of the photos.  Check out more work from these talented gals at:

www.ashhiltonphotography.blogspot.com

&

www.peramorephotography.blogspot.com

Don't Speak too Soon!

Well, I must say that nothing really blogworthy has gone on in the lives of the Wirick family lately, and I was just saying to myself that my life had been pretty boring as of late (for lack of a better word).  But, I guess I spoke too soon...

Last night (Friday the 13th, mind you), Chris and I decided to go out for Valentine's Day. We wanted to beat the crowds and get it done a day early.   We hadn't been gone more than a half-hour, and were just sitting down at Bistro 258 in Ogden getting ready to enjoy some fabulous food when the waitress came over with the phone and said there had been an emergency.  (Yes, we have cell phones, but neither one of us heard them ringing - a lot of good it did to have them!) Anyway, Chris took the call from my mom (who had kindly agreed to babysit, but after this, may never offer again due to trauma).  She informed us that Ian had fallen off the top bunk bed, landed on his back, and broken his arm!!  Chris asked if she was sure it was broken, and she said most definitely!!!  (You will see how she knew for sure momentarily...)

So, we rushed home and took him to the ER.  It was, in fact, broken -  two bones to be exact. So, long story short, we ended up spending our romantic Valentines night in the hospital with a very traumatized 4-year-old, fluorescent lighting and hospital burgers and fries.  Talk about ROMANCE, huh???

I have never been a superstitious person before, but I think I have changed my tune a bit. Needless to say, we will be spending our next Friday the 13th (which is a mere month away, by the way) at home, sitting in the rubber room I am planning to have built, and staring at each other!!!  

So, in closing, I will quote my sweet Bishop from my California days and say, "A good time was had by all!!" 

(Oh, and as a side note for all you superstitious people - as we were walking my mom out to her car after all the drama, a black cat walked across the street!  No Joke...)

Do you think it's broken??

The nurses said this was one of the most "impressive" breaks 

they had ever seen!  Ian really knows how to do it up right!!!

If we had only had candlelight, 

this dinner would have been PERFECTION!!

A Penny Saved...

I've been hearing a lot about this Grocery Smarts/Pinching your Pennies craze as of late, but always thought it sounded like too much work.  But then I thought, "wouldn't my dear hubby be so proud if I saved some extra money?" - goodness knows I've already perfected the art of spending it!

So, a couple of weeks ago, I decided to go for it.  A friend of mine taught a group of us the ropes (thanks, Nicki), and I took my first shot at it. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture from my maiden voyage, but I did manage to save some money.  I ended up spending $52 and saving $56. Not bad for the first trip, I thought.

The next week I headed to Albertsons, armed with coupons from multiple papers (one of the GOLDEN rules), my sale ad and a personalized spreadsheet.  Yes,  I even made a spreadsheet so I wouldn't crack under the "money saving" pressure!!  I didn't want to look like a "newbie" in front of the hard-core shoppers.  (You know who you are...)

Well, I did pretty good - better than the week before.  I took a picture, but instead of spreading everything out like the pros do, I stacked it all, so the picture doesn't display the full savings that I partook of.  (Dang novices and their stupid mistakes...)  But, I have to admit, I have saved more money than I thought I would, and I imagine it will only get better.  I actually found the adrenaline rush to be quite invigorating. Now if I can just keep from running directly to the nearest mall, I will be in good shape!

Coupons: $23.00
Preferred Savings: $72.72

Bonus Buy Savings:  $8.84
Total Spent: $78.75
Total Savings: $104.56