Storage Bags comsumer report

So I've been trying to declutter and organize. I'd love to be in the position to get rid of kids clothes, but I'm not. So I gotten some of the space saver bags for free over the summer (go Walgreens) and thought I'd try some more. These are my girls 12 month to 2 yrs. No that does not mean I'm having a boy. It just means Jonah's still wearing that age and I had more girl clothes to put away. There is actually one more bag of clothes, so picture it up to the top of the Luv's boxes. No bad. The two big bags fit back in the grey tote and the little bags went up on the shelf. They do save some space, but the drawback is, the bags rip fairly easily. When I tried to close two of the bags with the zipper, they ripped. And since they cost about $5 each for the large bags and $10 for the x-large bags, if they rip before you even really get a chance to use it, then that sucks. I did buy some of the bags I used. For once, Walmart had a better selection, but I'd have to recheck the price comparison. I think it was about the same as Walgreens. I think I'm going to buy one more to put the clothes in that are sitting in the ripped bag. If you don't fill it as high, then it shouldn't rip. Was it worth it? Still deciding. They definately help with space, but I'm not sure long term.

Updates

So I'm finally updating my blog. Here is the latest haircuts. I had to cut Jonah's hair. It was getting way too shaggy and Dan's been bugging me to trim Megan's bangs. Megan requested that I trim her hair to the ballerina's on her pj's (because there were some pieces too long). I'm getting much better at cutting straight bangs and girls hair just straight across. This is only my second time cutting Jonah's hair and I think I did a pretty good job, considering the first time was with my sister's help. She actually did most of it, giving me pointers.

We got a new to us piano last weekend (the one before Valentine's day). It was originally my grandparents and has been passed around the family a little. It sounds good still and as you can tell, my kids have been fully enjoying it. I just love the look on Jonah's face. I've been impressed with Catherine and Megan though. I was worried there would be a lot of pounding and there hasn't been any from them. Catherine sits there and writes songs and Megan likes to run her hands up and down the keys, which sounds "like Tinkerbell's coming." Catherine is begging me for lessons, which we're hoping to start her next fall.

Lastly, here's Megan's birthday party. As you can tell it was a Tinkerbell party and she had lots of fun. I tried to get her to wear her Tinkerbell costume, but she wouldn't.

I was so happy she was ok with just a Tinkerbell candle and flowers on her cake rather than a picture of Tinkerbell. Flowers are so much easier.

Miniature Golf

When Dan was home for a week or so around Christmas, we took the kids Miniature Golfing at an indoor golfing place. None of the kids had ever been before and they were really cute. Dan won, and Megan came in second with only one point less than Dan. Catherine was third and I was last. In my defense though, the second half of the game, when I played the worse, I was also golfing one handed with a baby on my hip.

After the golfing was over we got Dipping Dots. It was part of the package and the kids loved them.

Misc Pictures

Ok here's some pictures. Catherine & Megan eating snow in our first snowstorm. That's what they love, to build snowmen and eat snow.



















































Dan & I at the football game. This is the first game I've been to since 2001. I'm just not as much of a fan as Dan. I'd rather watch the game comfortable at home, usually. It is fun to go to a game once in a while.








Catherine's swimming lessons.



















Catherine dressed up as a pilgrim for their Thanksgiving feast at school.












Catherine, Megan & Jonah setting up the Little People Nativity. It's great because it's a Christmas decoration they can play with and I don't have to stress over it.

Catherine, Megan & I on the day we decorated for Christmas. Yes, we have to be all Christmasy to decorate the house.

November

Ok, I know it's been almost a month since I've posted anything and I keep saying that I need to upload pictures and update the blog and it never happens. So I'm updating without pictures and hopefully they'll come later. It seems like this has been a crazy, hectic month. Catherine had swimming lesson for two weeks and she loved it. I admit I got to the point that I dreaded taking her to class everyday though. Megan and Jonah weren't feeling well so I wasn't about to let them play in the water and I had tonsillitis for a couple of those days so it was not fun for me, but great for her. She really is our little fish and loves being in the water.
My parents and two of my brothers with their families came up a week(ish) ago and we had a lot of fun. We had a sort of Thanksgiving dinner at my house on Saturday with lots of family here. It was great to try some new recipes on a big crowd and had some really good compliments. It was nice to have my parents here. My mom watched Megan and Jonah one afternoon so I could volunteer at Catherine's classroom, which is something I'd love to do more, but don't get to do very often.
Then this last week I tweaked my back, enough to be bothersome, but not enough to be out of commission. Dan was very worried, mostly because he is so busy at work and working late a lot, that he couldn't be around to help if I was out of commission. I'm fine though. It happens every now and then.
I am thankful for Thanksgiving this week and for this time to think about all we've been given. I am thankful to be going close by for Thanksgiving and not having to drive far this year. It seems to work out well, that the years we have to drive I'm in the mood to get away for a vacation and the years we're at home, I'm content to just stay close by. Hopefully I'll get updated pictures posted soon.