I consider myself pretty well rounded and also the type of person that puts forth a lot of effort to meet most of my goals. This year, I set out to lower the cost of my grocery bill and I am happy to report that for the moth of February, I spent right about $300 to feed a family a 6 and that also includes toiletries. I am very pleased with last months spending. One thing that I did was to create a meal calendar and go to the grocery with a list and a plan. Also, I have an iPhone now and am able to use different apps to see what coupons I have.....its worth the extra cost just for that to me. Today, I had a pretty impressive trip to the store as well. I paid $17.99 and saved $93. A short summary of items are: 1-Charmain toilet paper (12 double rolls), 1- bounty (8 rolls), 5- adult claritans, 2- children's claritan, 1-Robitussin, 1- sinex, 1-afrin, 2- kit kats, 1- Reese's, 1- wisp, 2- bottles pantene shampoo, 1- 4 pack Duracell batteries, 1- book, 2- cottage cheeses, 1- tide stain release, 3- Kroger brand miralax, 1- dozen eggs, 1- 4 pack activa yogurt, 2- 4 packs danimal yogurt, 1- 4 pack splitzs yogurt!! This was done thanks to doubling coupons and e-stacking them. Also, several items were on managers special. I love to coupon when I get these results.
As for the kids, they are great. Ginny currently wants to know when she can have a boyfriend but promises they will not do boyfriend/girlfriend stuff, just hang out at school. I am scared to have her elaborate on what is considered boyfriend/girlfriend stuff? Aubree thinks that Martin Luther King Jr would have been a great president or Helen Keller or Rosa Parks. Also, today, she lost an ear ring and immediately dropped to her knees to ask for help finding it. After a few hours and her faith starting to waiver, she found it. It was a good experience for her to learn that Heavenly Father hears our prayers, and answers them but in his time. Will, is as cute as they come but pure trouble. He loves to go places and ride in any ones car but mine. Christopher cut his sixth tooth today. He is a little lazy but I'll take it because I know exactly what happens when they become mobile.

There have been a few times when I have been in the mood to blog or have had the time but during the day, I do not have a computer at home. Life in the Farrell home is busy but good. The kids grow more by the day and I love them more by the day. There is something about them that I am drawn too...maybe because they are mine. The girls are excelling in school and Will is beginning to speak s much better. Christopher is just lazy but the calmest baby we have had. He is so content and generally happy. He laughs often and is learning to play with toys too. You would think I would have great stories to tell with four children and to be honest, I know they say or do things and I say to myself "I need to blog about this" but then the time comes, like now, where I sit down to blog and my mind draws a blank. We were pondering selling our home and trying to get into something a little better but we have decided to hold off on that thought for now. The market is bad and we are not ready to almost double a mortgage. We are blessed to have a home to call ours anyway and we are happy with what we have.

This year has become the year for snow in the South thus far, (speaking of January and February) and the kids, including Jake have loved it. I am not sure who gets more excited...parents, kids, or teachers. It is beautiful but I am not a fan of the snow. It's too messy to clean up and when it starts to melt, it just looks dirty. We have found simple entertainment with a box when we are not playing in the snow.
Things here in the Farrell household are good. 2011 is a year with many blessings in store for our little family, I already feel it. My babies are all getting bigger by the day and each teaches me a little something new every day. I am very blessed to have Charity so close too....its great. She is literally ten minutes away and we get to hang out almost everyday. Our family can not seem to knock the cold this year. Monday, I took Christopher to the doctor because I thought he had an ear infection because he has been extremely fussy and that is very much against his temperament but there was no infection. The doctor sent us to the ER, to test and rule out meningitis. The doctor knew something was wrong because of how irritable he was. After several hours there, meningitis was ruled out. We were sent home with a few prescriptions and they presume he has an inflamed GI tract. I was sure on my way to the ER, my baby was fine. I am confident that it was the Spirit providing peace to my soul. Never, did I once feel scared or apprehensive. I had experienced another tender mercy of my Heavenly Father.

The first month of 2011 has came and gone so quickly. The last couple of days, I have been thinking about the impact we have on people whether for the good or bad. I hope the older I get that I am learning to try to have a positive influence on others and avoid being negative or saying hurtful things. Hopefully, my children will learn at an early age by example to not only be kind towards people but to refrain from saying anything derogatory or that could be hurtful. Now, a tad bit of catch up. To begin with, yesterday Jake got bit by a pit bull but we feel blessed it was him and not one of the children. Unfortunately, it happened but it could have been much worse. As for the dogs, yes there were two, they were taken to the pound. Jake still has a lingering cough but feels much better. Jake does the kindest things for me and makes me feel a little more loved every day.
Today at church, I was watching Ginny and noticed how beautiful of a little girl she has become. She radiates with happiness and is 100% precious. She is learning to play the piano quite well and is such a help around the house.Aubree, too is gorgeous. She is becoming a little concerned with her weight and self esteem, so we are aggressively working to be more active and help her understand that she is beautiful just the way she is. Aubree works very hard on her homework and it is paying off. She is learning to read quite well.Will, well, Will is Will....what more can I say. He is beginning to use his words more and still loves anything that is Toy Story. He has taken an interest in using the restroom outside, I can not help but laugh most the time. Christopher is becoming more active and chatty. He now has four teeth and you can see the whites of two more just waiting to cut through. He does not seem to enjoy baby food thus far, except for a select few flavors and has nothing to do with juice.As for me, life is just busy. One of the main things that I am trying to do this coming up month is to plan our meals and my trips to the grocery store. My goal is stay below $75 a week to feed a family of 6. Now, I know some weeks this will be more difficult than others but overall, I feel I can do it.

Aubree is just too cute. Jake was unable to go to church last Sunday because he was sick. When the kids and I were leaving, Aubree noticed that her dad was still home. She said it would be okay because she would "fill in" for him. I asked her what she meant and she said she would sit by bishop and make the announcements. Too cute, huh. Also, later she was telling me how babies were born, she insisted to tell us because she may be a doctor one day and needs to learn these things.

Okay, so I have some new years resolutions and will share them quickly. I am not sure how I will do but at least I am making them.

- I want to raise my voice less at my kiddos

- Exercise more regularly and hopefully this will help me lose 3-5 lbs a month and a total of at

least 30 by end of year.

- I want to teach Will his alphabet

- And lastly, I want to set a small goal each month this year and accomplish it.

It's a short listt hopefully doable, okay the weight one is a similar one I set every year and seldom accomplish that's why, I said exercise more. I plan to take stairs more often. I would like to go to the gym but like to nap in mornings and be with family in the evenings.

Did I mention that Jake got me a new camera for Christmas, it is nice and much needed since my other one broke? The kids were out of school Monday due to inclement weather. They enjoyed it, especially playing in the snow.

So, a new year is upon us and I have neglected to set any goals and feel I am already behind on things. Jake has been sick all week and finally Thursday night, I was persistent enough that he go to the doctor and he had a migraine as well. He was given 2 shots and 3 prescriptions. It is Saturday and he is still non- operational. The kids and I, however, are each doing well. The past couple days I have reflected on life in general, more in particular my life and how I want to remembered. Often, I do not feel that I have much impact on people but am reminded that I have the greatest impact om my children and they impact people as well. This week Ginny was invited to a birthday party that was to be held on a Sunday and before she even mentioned it to me, she had told the little girl that she would like to attend but would not be able too because that is not an activity that she can participate in on Sunday. When Gin told me, I was quite impressed with her. She is growing up and maturing all too quickly. My girls never cease to amaze me on their knowledge and understanding of things and my boys never cease to keep me on my toes. Each of my four children are blessings in my life.