Money

So I did a boo boo. I forgot about an automatic payment that comes out of our checking account and we overdrew the checking account. Yes our savings is hooked up to draw money out of it in case this happens, but in order for that to work you actually need to have money in the savings account. Go figure. So I'm going to work extra hard to get money in our savings account and keep it there. But I do know that in the past I have been able to get money into our savings and something always seems to happen and we have to use that money, and then poof it's gone faster than I could put it there. It just seems like I'm on a mouse wheel running around and around getting nowhere. I need to get off the wheel and actually start moving forward instead of running in place like we have been. It seems like we take one step forward and then two or three steps back. I know that all our hard work in keeping up with our bills, and paying on time and making more than the minimum (when we can) will pay off in the end. But it just seems like it's taking forever to get there. It just sucks that the whole world revolves around money no matter what part of the world you live in.

Cloth Diapers and saving money

Lets see where to start. I use cloth diapers during the day time with both of my kids. I use disposable ones at night because it just burns there skin from the pee at night. For a lot of kids cloth works just fine at night, but not for my two little ones. I can't even begin to add up now much money I have saved using cloth diapers. I use a "pocket" diaper when I go out, and a pre-fold with a cover while I'm at home. The pocket diapers a way too cute. They come in so many colors and patterns depending on what brand you buy. I found that if you buy the "one-size-fits-all" you get your moneys worth out of them. I have used the pocket diapers on my daughter since birth, and they still fit her to this day and she is almost 17 months old. I also found that by cutting up some fleece from the craft store and putting it in the diaper like a liner that with the pre-fold diapers it helps keep the kids dryer, plus when they poop in the diaper it makes it much easier to clean up. The poop does not really sick to the fleece.

I have also found that a lot of the wipes out there can be washed in the washing machine and used again. I found this to be very helpful when money was extra tight and could not afford to buy wipes. I do use cloth wipes for the pee diapers, and then the washed store bought ones for the poopy diapers. I don't normally take my cloth wipes with me when I go out so that is how I get a lot of my disposable ones washed to use again.

Clothes line. My clothes line is one of my best friends in the summer. My cloth diapers always have a little smell to them no matter how much I wash, soak, or anything else I have tried. But the sun helps takes the smell and any stains right out. Plus I save money by not having to use the dryer as much either. I always hang my pocket diapers and covers up to dry year around, it helps them last longer that way.

Diaper creams. When using cloth diapers you have to be more careful about what kind of creams you use. Yet if you use the fleece liners in the diapers then you don't really have to worry about messing up your diapers. Fleece is cheap enough that you can just throw them away if they get to messy. If you are going to buy some fleece check your local fabric store and look in the remnants basket first. Most of the time less than one yard will give you plenty of liners.

Paper liners. They do make paper liners that you can place inside the diaper and then just take that up and flush it when it's been pooped on. Some you can wash and reuse a few times. But after a while I found it to be more of a pain than anything. Plus a waste of money as well. In a way using the paper liners is defeating the purposes of saving money with cloth diapers.

Moving around

So today Pat and I moved our bed into the downstairs living room. The kids now have their own room. The main reason for this is because the kids where keeping Pat up at night, and he was having a hard time waking up for work on time. Thus the reason he was late to work two times this week. Oops. I have to get used to this because I will have to be more quiet at night now. I can't sew at night like I used to, I can't keep the light on to read anymore. So I will have to adjust. I know it will be for the best but it will take time.

Since living with my parents we have all had to make sacrifices, I'm trying to make the best of the situation. We all have our hard times and yes we get on each others nerves a lot. But we know that this is for the best for our family. We are trying to make it though theses hard times just like everyone else out there. We do plan to buy a house that is more set up for two families living together somewhere down the road. But who knows how long that will take. Until then we just have to make due with what we have here and now.

Time

Well for the second time this week Pat woke up late for work. Today I'm pretty sure the problem was Ross messed with the alarm clock. I feel really bad for him, because he really tries to make it to work on time everyday. His job is on a points system and since he has now reached 8 points he will be suspended for one day. If he reaches 10 points he will be fired. With the way everything is right now, losing his job would be devastating. I'm trying to help him wake up in the morning, I even started sleeping on the other side of the bed so that Pat wont just shut the alarm off in his sleep. He has done that before more than once. I feel awful about this this morning, so much so that I can't fall back asleep yet. And trust me I need to go back to sleep if I'm going to be able to chase the kids around today. So if anyone has any ideas on how to help Pat wake up better in the morning, please please leave me a comment. We need some new ideas so he does not lose his job.

What's New with me

Well lets see, Peyton is getting way to big, she can stop growing now. Ross is in the oh so wonderful "why" stage. I can't wait for it to end already. Peyton got her first concussion the other day, Ross hit her right in the middle of her forehead with the swing and then she smacked her head on the deck. It was oh so much fun to have to wake her up every two hours throughout the night. She is just fine now thank goodness.

My mom was diagnosed with COPD a few days ago, and since I was the biggest moron and started smoking again I'm determined to stop, again. I have already been back to the hypnotist once and I'm going back again tomorrow. I will keep going back until I stop again.

I finally finished Peyton's quilt the other day. I have started on another one for a Christmas gift and have another one I need to start as well. I really hope I can get them done in time, or at least the front of them to show them as the gift then take them back and finish them.

We just spent the weekend at Browns Camp, camping this last weekend and had a blast. We are planning another camping trip to Coos Bay for the last weekend in August and I can't wait. I have never been there before. I have been told that I'm in for a real treat going there. Since I have never been anywhere but Sand Lake. I feel that I'm getting much better at riding my quad, gaining more experience with my riding.

Well I guess that is all I have for now.