A Rambling Monologue

So I found another way to take care of the time. Do the taxes! Oh YEAH!! Doesn't that sound like fun?? LOL!! Seriously though, I had a good reason to do it.

I *love* to clear the way of all the *have to* projects/jobs, so that I can look forward to doing some neat stuff. I have some great ideas in mind. I'll get to that later. First let me tell you about my day.

Up here in our little spot in the country we have a couple feet of snow. Our little ones have been housebound for the last few weeks. It has been *so* cold that I didn't send the out to play. We were really getting cabin fever. Goodness, the other day I actually opened the kitchen door to let in some AIR as it was days since I had stepped outside!! LOL!! Seriously, the kids get out to play, but do you know how easy it is to stay in? My sweet husband has been picking up the groceries after work.

Do you know what a great way that is to save money?? My friend, was talking about shopping for a certain amount of money per week to feed her family with seven children. Now, she lives in the States where food is much cheaper!! Gee, last year, we lived for a month in Tennessee and did all our grocery shopping. I could not *believe* how cheap it was!! Not here!

Anyhow, her kids are *not* my kids. Hers are all under the age of 12, and many are girls. Then there is *my* family - boys, boys, boys!!! Plus, I am feeding four adults (2 big boys and Ray and I), plus 4 kids. I can tell you it is way more expensive up here with my crowd.

So, she was giving suggestions for how to save money, and I had to agree with many of them. Plus, we have a few tricks ourselves. My main trick is when Ray offers to get a few groceries on his way home from work. He is such a wonderful husband. He knows that my day is so full and by him offering to get a few things it saves me from going to town and losing half my planned day. Plus, you know how guys shop. They buy exactly what is on the shopping list!! No surprises like icecream or chocolate. *grin*

Right after my friend was talking about this saving money, I went shopping. Right after I had said that I saved money by letting Ray get groceries. I should have listened to my own advice!

I went in for FOUR things! I came out with a shopping bill of $532.00 LOL!! Seriously, I do have a good excuse. I am not really that badly disciplined and there was NO chocolate or icecream. For some strange reason *hmmm, Corrie?* I have really had my sweet taste buds in hibernation lately! Must be all that harrassment about my unhealthy living. What's wrong with having icecream before bed every night? *smile*

There was actually a caselot sale when I arrived. And I *never* miss caselot cause I know exactly what I use and get killer deals. In Canada, we are not so fortunate to get the coupon deals that my friends in America get. I can't believe the deals you all get!!! Nope, it's case lot and sales for me!

As I was just finishing packing the groceries into the van, a lady walked past and smiled and said, "I wasn't admiring your bill! How much was it?"

So I said, "$532.00, but I got three cart loads." (Small town behaviour - we talk to each other *grin*)

She replied, "At least it was on sale. All one family?"

"Yep, got six boys." I LOVE sharing my family. People are so admiring when *we* show pride in our troops!!

Well, as usual I went off on a bunny trail didn't I? LOL!! So back to the taxes. Since we had had weeks of subzero weather the boys *needed* to get outside. Actually, *I* needed them to get outside!! LOL! So I packed them up and out they went. The sun was shining and it was a blue sky day.

I got up this morning with the intention of getting on my taxes at 6:30 am. I figured it would be a long day and I might as well get a headstart. Well, I made the mistake of calling my friend Erin in the morning. She has an amazing situation happening right now where she is waiting to see if they get picked to be parents of four precious children!!! How exciting is that? They are all under the age of 5! Twin baby girls of 3 months, a 2 year old and a 4 year old! Well, you try talking about that kind of excitment in the 45 minutes I allowed myself!! LOL!! Not likely.

Suffice it to say, I got started my taxes a lot late!! I finally got them finished by 9:00 pm tonight!! Lucky for me the two biggest boys were at a winter campout with their Cadets for the weekend, and my hubby and another child were at the Bye Bye Birdie rehearsal all day. So that left me with three little ones who were happy to play outside most of the day! They had lots of fun building snow forts and having hot chocolate and cookies.

And now I am trying to catch up on some blogging. I figure I'll continue in a new one...