So, we spent another day hanging off of the bridge, fishing with sticks, butterfly nets, and whatever else was handy. :)

I taught a class on the facts of Evolution, Creation, and Intelligent Design this morning, while Julia went to Sunday school.  Then, I brought Julia and her friend home and we practiced their song for the Creativity Fair at their school in May.  They changed their mind mid-way through our practicing and now are doing a much shorter (thank God) little cheer.  Then, we went outside and they waded in the stream, looking for gold and catching water bugs.  We caught a few water bugs, put them inside the discovery kits that Julia and Patrick have, and then inspected them with our magnifying glasses, then let them go again.  Julia's friend left early because they had another commitment, but just around that time, Rob came home from  his Dad's with the boys.  So, the boys napped and J and I did the food shopping.  When we got home, the boys woke up and the kids rode bikes and played some more in the stream.  That stream is a curse when it rains and clogs up and floods the yard, but it is a blessing in the warm weather.  Last year I thought Patrick was too little for the stream, so we didn't let the kids play near it.  This year they are both fine and having the time of their lives.  I think we've found our summer activity! :)

Rob made hot dogs and hamburgers for dinner for us on the grill (yum!) and all of the kids had baths/showers and off to bed they went.  Matthew is having a hard time getting to sleep.  I don't know if it's a tooth problem or if he just isn't ready, but he's quiet and then he starts crying out.  Such a sad sound. :(

It's going to be a crazy week around here.  Rob has colleagues from California that are in for the week for training and so he is going to be with them after work most nights.  I have more Parent/Teacher conferences from 1-5 on Tuesday, then handbells from 6:40-8:00, then on Wednesday, I have an interview for the principal certification program at the college where it is held.  Thursday is piano and I think Friday is actually clear.  It's just going to be busy.  My sister-in-law is taking Julia after school on Tuesday and my Dad is going to meet her off of the bus on Wednesday.  Lots of lining things up, sending notes in on the right days about the right meetings, etc.

So, my big claim to fame around here is that I can feed my family of 5 on $250 a month, including health and beauty products, paper products, diapers, etc.  I can and I have done this on many occasions, however, I've fallen away from it lately.  I'm not way over...I've been at around $300, but May is the month that I'm going back to it.  I am making this the week of using it up and wearing it out for my fridge and pantry, and it's a great week to do it, since Rob won't be eating with us most nights, I can go through the little stuff we have like boxed mac and cheese and frozen chicken nuggets, etc.  Then, when I do the food shopping next weekend, it will be like starting fresh, so I'm not cheating when I say $250 for the month of May.  I did pick up 3 roasts this week because they were on MAJOR sale.  But, other than that, I'm starting over.  (Obviously I have the basics like flour, sugar, salt, etc...everyone does, except if there were some sort of catastrophe, and when Frugalites talk about how much they spend on feeding their families per month, they usually figure that these things are already on hand, however, if I need to buy more, it certainly figures into the cost.) 

The biggest challenge will be keeping it at $250 with diapers.  Again, I've done it before, but those diapers are such a freaking expense, and with Patrick potty training, his pull-up might only be a little wet, but when I see that when he's sitting on the potty, I'm not putting it back on him, so we are going through them at a quicker rate than we used to.  However, challenge aside, I'm going for the gold. :)  I think once I get back on track for May, I'll be on track for the rest of forever. :)

The key will be meal planning.  If everything is planned out in advance, I can definitely do it.  Meal planning is so great because you already know when you wake up in the morning what you are making for dinner that night so things can be defrosting, cooking in the crock, etc.  I can do (and have done) this and do so while making healthy, nutritious meals.  Someone once said to me, "Well, sure I can do that too if I feed my family Hamburger Helper and frozen meals."  Uh, no.  Not around here.  We always have a full meal like roast beef, mashed potatoes, and peas, or pork chops, rice, and beans, or meatloaf, potatoes, and corn, etc., etc., etc.    We eat fresh fruit all the time.  Everyone in our family brings lunch to work/school/daycare with them everyday.  Sandwiches, yogurt, apples, cheese sticks, bananas, etc.  Because of this, on top of the other stuff, we buy 3 loaves of bread per week.  We drink only Milk, Crystal Light and water.  We buy 3 gallons of milk a week and literally drink the last drop on Saturday with dinner.  I just give this information so people realize that I'm buying real food to feed all 5 of us.

So, wish me luck!  I know I can do it...it's exciting. :)