What I'm Loving Wednesday

I won't do this every Wednesday, but I'm stealing some blogger friends' idea and writing some things that make me happy right now:

1) I'm off tomorrow. I love it b/c Friday is test day and jeans day, so I get to relax at home with my kiddos tomorrow and then come back for an easy Friday. Then it's the weekend! Now if I just had a little elf that could help me run a few errands and take the boys to the park since it's going to be so nice outside!

2) My boys are blossoming. They're becoming more like toddlers every day. Yes, they throw fits like toddlers, but it's also nice to see how much closer they are becoming to typical 18-month olds (considering they were 6 weeks premature). They are saying more words, becoming more mobile (running, jumping, climbing, dancing while standing, etc.), they know their nose, eyes, mouth, belly, they love to play outside, and they're beginning to become interested in TV (thank God! sorry, but I look forward to the day they will sit and watch a 30-minute DVD!)

3) Couponing. I am obsessed with finding deals. I am cutting coupons and saving money left and right. I do the majority of my grocery shopping at Aldi (you can't beat their prices, but you have to stick to a list or else you will end up spending MORE than you would have elsewhere) and I have our meals planned out for the next MONTH so I save money by using ingredients multiple times. For example, if chicken is on sale, I stock up and plan our meals accordingly.

4) Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I feel like I've kind of skipped this holiday b/c I'm already putting up my Christmas decorations, but I am looking super forward to my sister and her family coming in town and spending the weekend with us.

5) God. He is very evident in my life and the lives around me right now. Without going too far into it, I'll just tell you that my faith has been tested lately, but yesterday was a HUGE eye opener that God works miracles and we should never give up hope.

Now......I never did tell you guys about my awesome Fall Break with the hubby and the kiddos, so let me leave you with some pictures from our great week:

1st trip to the zoo, where we ran into Alexis Grace from American Idol and Q 107.5:
1st trip to Johnson Park, in Collierville, where they hated the swings, but loved climbing around on tunnels and slides that were just their size:

1st trip to Botanic Gardens (my Big Backyard) where they loved playing in the water and exploring:

Trip to Kiki's where they went to their first pumpkin patch, rode on their first hayride, and played with their 2 favorite kids (I love how P gravitates toward Mark and L gravitates toward Cara - they have very similar personalities):
The week ended on a sad note, with the passing of our dog Maxx. But I'm so glad I have these memories to hold on to for that week. I still miss Maxx terribly. Nights and weekends are the worst b/c that's when we would cuddle together on the couch. I know he is running like wild in doggie heaven and smiling down on our family.

I can't leave on a sad note, so let me leave you with a great picture of my favorite people in this world:

p.s. Pictures from last weekend's photo shoot should be coming very soon!!!!!