The Perfect Picnic Spot

I can remember being 5. It's the first age that I truly think I can recall outside of seeing photos.

I remember reading this book.

I remember the dialect my mother used for each character. This was my book, given to me by my cousins at age 3.

My mother is a keeper of all things and today, I'm glad she kept this book for me to share with my 5 year old.

We had a Sunday afternoon picnic.
It might be February but it was also 80 degrees, sunny and we were all alone. Lincoln was napping, Daddy was working and it was just the two of us.
I made sandwiches with his help and we packed our picnic basket with chips, salsa, carrots and cookies!
I got out the picnic blanket and he choose the "perfect spot" in our yard. He said he chose one with NO onion grass!
Then I took a stroll down memory lane as I read the book I remember so well to my 5 year old. It wasn't the first time we've read it but it was the first time on a picnic.
I hope these are the memories that HE remembers forever and that he thinks as highly of me as I do my own mother!

I Zip, You Zip, WE Zip!

Frugal momma here saw this deal on my Groupon site back in December. It was the most expensive Groupon I had ever bought but after reading the reviews, I knew it was a good price for something I wanted to check off our "list" of things to do. Who knew you could find such beauty in Fayetteville?

I bought this for Jason as part of his Christmas present but selfishly, I wanted to do it more than him.

Our guides were funny and had each couple write the others name on their helmet. It was what you'd be called for the rest of the day. I quickly choose Jason's name for the day and although it could have (should) been much worse, I named him Malechi. He and Jackson recently watched children of the corn and they walk around scaring each other by saying "Malechi" in a screechy voice. My name on the other hand, well, you'll see and it wasn't nice!

We first did "ground training" where we were 2ft off the ground as they showed us how to use our equipment.

We progressively moved to higher zips. Some were high and straight and some were U shaped and you really had to move fast to get up the uphill haul.

Some were short and you could see the other platform and some were so long, you had to get halfway across before you could even see the other side. I was a little afraid as we got higher. I'm not necessarily afraid of heights but since I've had children, I've become a little more cautious. I mean, somebody has to take care of these kids everyday and as their mother, it might as well be me.
So yeah, I'm a little bit of a tree hugger at heart!

There were 3 of these suspension bridges and they were the real deal! The were shaky and swinging and of course Jason liked to make them a little more exciting!

Doesn't he just look thrilled! I caught him talking more than I tried getting good pictures of him. It was fun!

This is the word that caught my attention. I'm a sucker for any type of waterfalls. It is a childhood fantasy that I never outgrew. 10 years ago this Valentines Day, Jason secured my "YES" to his proposal (2 years later) when he surprised me to a trip to Niagara Falls on a weekend trip to NY. He told me to pack warm, picked me up from the airport and we drove 8 hours to the Canadian Line to see the falls. It was nearly 2am when we got there and before we even checked into the hotel, we went to see the falls. He knew I couldn't wait until morning. It was a COLD weekend with night time temps in the negatives! I loved every minute of being there and I knew then I was gonna marry this guy!
So, it ain't Niagara but still a waterfall in Fayetteville nonetheless. It was the pinnacle of the zip and the last zip rides right over them. They are known as Carvers Falls.
Yes, he was talking again. That's what he gets for letting my 5 year old watch horror movies. Oh, and it's also his job to get up with him if he has bad dreams. That was the deal. Malechi, ha!

It was a FABULOUS day in February, 77, highest temps of this year so far. It was a great day for zip lining and even better to be spending the day together. It's hard to believe now but this time last year, he was still in Afghanistan.

Super Doubles=Super Happy Shopper!

This is an example of what 20 bucks can buy you at Fayetteville's fanciest grocery store, Harris Teeter!

IF you...
gather coupon inserts like a hoarder
spend countless hours online looking at coupon forums
match the coupons with the latest sales ads
locate, cut and print the coupons and organize them

OR

you can do like I did and go to www.southernsavers.com and print a handy dandy grocery list complete with all the coupons matched and located for you. It's really pretty simple.

I did the same thing for rite aid. Using several rain checks from weeks past I got all this for just under 10 bucks.
It's "shopping" and what girl doesn't love that?

A Valentines Tale of 2 Sons

This morning I got up extra early to bake Jackson and Lincoln Chocolate chip heart shaped muffins in my granny's antique 120 year old cast iron muffin pan. I got dressed, dressed Jackson and my sweet hubby offered to take Jackson to school today. Before he left, he gifted me with the best 5 year old Valentine present ever. He and his dad spent last saturday at Walmart browsing the cards and chocolates to find a present for me. He let Jackson lead him and this is the card Jackson deemed PERFECT for me!

On the inside it reads "So lucky to know a sweet little girl like you, So special, so precious, so loveable too! Happy Valentines day!

signed,
Jackson (in his writing) and Lincoln

And this is the gift Jackson choose for me. He's got a pretty good start on the way to a girls heart! Bless him!

Now for the flip side...

Lincoln decided to gift me with an extra 30 minutes of morning sleep. This allowed me to begin operation clean house and read my daily devotion. When he woke up I went to get my loud little munchkin. As I lifted him out of his crib, I noticed it was wet along with his clothes through his diaper. I undress and undiaper him and then put him down to take the sheets of his crib for the washer. He proceededs to go into the living room to get his book. On the way there, he decides to take his morning dump.

On my living room floor. And if that's not enough, he decides to walk through it and back to his bedroom so that I'll read the book to him. Then he finishes the job right there on his own carpet, while I begin my morning meltdown. (if you were hoping for photos, there are NONE!)

You can imagine how the rest of my morning went...clean the baby, clean the tub from the baby, clean the carpet, clean the hardwoods, clean the carpet more, clean the sheets...and the list goes on. Thanks Lincoln for the reminder that I'm still a mom, even on Valentines day!

This leads to my Valentines night which includes the second, (ok, ok, THIRD) one of these I've consumed since they were delivered by neighbor along with a large glass of red wine. <>

Now that I think I've earned this Valentines day.

Next year, I think I'll be more glamorous like the kitty with the crown in the photo above.