Rudy Family Rukus~Parenting tips and humor meet in one big "rukus"

Seriously I survived I did but I wasn't sure that I would.  I wasn't planning on a natural birth, I didn't want it that way.  I wanted pain relief and that was my PLAN.  I have since learned that my plans are never the PLAN.  What I do know is that I did survive and my child survived and I even went on to have 2 more babies (un-naturally with successful epidurals).  The mind has a way of forgetting.  Thank goodness!!  And now I am so blessed to be the mother to this handsome little man.  Happy Birthday Dalton.  It was all worth it and I wouldn't trade it for anything!  I hope you have a fantastic day today!  Love you!

I have never been an early riser I don't care to know what the sun looks like coming up really.  Okay well that is a lie now but back then 8 years ago today I didn't get up early for anyone. (I clearly had much to learn)  But I did today.  Oh yes because I was awaken by the oddest pain I had ever felt.  It was different, it was new and it HURT.  At first I was annoyed but then I realized what was going on.  I got excited... another naive assumption on my part.  The pains weren't so painful I couldn't function but I could tell they had a mission, the mission I had longed for the previous day my actual due date.  I tried to rest for I knew that what was coming would not be easy.  I was too scared to sleep for too long.  We walked, we went to Home Depot (I don't know why but I know we did) I had to stop a few times to catch my breath and then we went on shopping and waiting and waiting and waiting..... and then about 8 pm it was more than i...

Eight years ago today I was expecting to become a mom.  I was ready, the baby was done, and the due date had arrived.  As a naive first time mom I figured that my body just knew that on the designated due date it would do what nature intended.  That meant get the baby OUT!  I was ready I had cleaned everything in site, mopped the floor on my hands and knees, pregnant belly dragging, organized the pantry twice cleaned all the showers and tubs and had the room prepped and ready for a baby.  And yet NOTHING..... absolutely NOTHING.  I was extremely disappointed to say the least.  I resulted to a few methods that proved awful.... castor oil is no good for anything as far as I am concerned except maybe greasing a squeaky hinge.   So I waited impatiently.  I must have been unbearable to live with.  I can only imagine.  My sweet husband was at the end of a football season which I can't even recall.  I do know he was coaching at a J...

Better late than never right?  We had fun trick-or-treating in the rain... but the most fun was handing out the candy while I watched the football game.  I am pretty sure they had more fun handing out candy than getting candy. (thank-goodness!! because it was a down pour during prime trick-or-treating time!)

As I signed into my google account and opened my blog I was afraid it might crash and burn it has been soooo long.  I just don't have the time I used to for blogging.  I regret it has fallen by the way-side.  I miss it.  I miss my bloggy friends.  One day I believe I will have more time so I will try to keep posting and keep updating and commenting.   Much has been going on around here.  Our team is doing very well.  Go Utes!!!  We had family pictures last week, they turned out fabulous thanks to one of our favorite people Wendy.  You can see more pictures from the shoot on her blog but here is a sneak peak of her fantastic work! The fall colors were amazing! We have been celebrating Halloween for a few weeks now and between church, school, dance, and the actual holiday I think we will have worn our costumes (by we I mean my children) 4 or 5 times.  Makes it totally worth it right!  I am not looking forward to the sugar hig...

Okay so really just kids with vampire teeth but you get the idea.  We are ready for Halloween!  How about you??

I have not disappeared I promise.  I just haven't been inspired.  I really have no good excuses I just needed a break you all understand that I am sure.  So here are some pictures of what's been going on and what I have gotten myself into.... I admit I am biased but this is quite a handsome group and really for being taken at Carl's Jr.  I think it turned out better than expected considering that these are some of the other poses I captured... The 3 year olds are inspecting smiles, by this time the baby has been disturbed, and there is a general sense of "When are we going to get our food?"  And I love the parking lot backdrop don't you? We have also been to several flag football games.  The last game was played mostly in the dark with no lights.  That made for some interesting flag pulling. We were also very busy welcoming this lovely new cousin to our family.  She is adorable.  We can't wait to hold her again.  You can see more ...

I can't believe we are finished.  I actually did it.  I kicked my budgets behind and I survived.  I learned some things I didn't know before.  I reactivated my desire to coupon and save money.  I realized that not only can I save money but I can also live greener and teach my kids great habits as well.  We are eating more healthy and here at home.   We did eat out today but it was a special occasion.  We met our "daddy" for lunch.  I was thrilled that the restaurant we chose was having a buy a fortune cookie for $2 and get the chance to donate to St. Jude's Hospital (Children's Cancer) and possibly get your meal for free.  That fit perfectly with the challenge for this week to give back or donate.  Knowing that donating on a budget is absolutely doable makes me very happy.  So I gave the server my $2 and picked a fortune cookie and you will never guess what it said!  No I didn't get my meal for free it said.... Did my fo...

Pretty sure I am the worst blogger ever lately.  I am having a difficult time getting any computer time.  It might have something to do with the illness we have had for the past two weeks.  I mentioned it last week in my brief posts.  I am so angry about the entire situation I can't discuss it right now..... I digress.  Or it could have something to do with the organization book I am reading that doesn't include blogging time or I haven't gotten to that chapter yet.  Or it might be that my kids are off track and I am trying to enjoy every moment we have left of this gorgeous weather before we have to hibernate for the winter..... I could go on.  Here are some things we have been doing... First day of preschool Dance classes (oh and playing with the editing tool on Photobucket) Flag Football And of course enjoying the last HOT day of the year by cooling off in the pool.  I promise to be better about posting and commenting I do love blogging a...

I am a little slow getting this up this week.  We have been suffering from strep again..... More on this later this week.   The challenge this week was "rolling rewards".  You can read more about the challenge over at In Good Cents .   Something I found very tricky when I first started but now I am a pro--haha!  Actually my favorite place to get rolling rewards is Target.  They have great sales that offer a $5 gift card when you buy certain items.  This week  Target had a few items on this deal that I needed.  For example Downey was buy two get a $5 gift card.  So I had 4 coupons (because I get 4 Sunday papers) they were for $1.50/1 from the P&G insert and so I got 2 $5 gift cards.  I shopped this sale the last time and my supply lasted until they went on sale again.  Hooray!   I am far from getting my stuff for free but I love having those gift cards to use on my next trip.   I also try to shop the sales at Smi...

I called this challenge a HUGE success since I have been trying to do this for the past few years.   Clair suggested we pick an item our family loves to use and go with it for a week.  She suggested getting rid of some of the disposable items in our lives.  It not only saves money but also the environment.  She suggested baby wipes, ziploc bags, and paper towels.  Since I have an intense relationship with all of those items I decided to discuss some other items that we have given up over the past few years instead and how that affected me and my family.   We used to love these little fluffy delights in the shower and tub.  Me in particular....  I made me feel like a girl and as though I was giving myself a little extra attention in the shower.  However I realized that they are not good for the environment and I get just as much love from my washcloth in the shower. We also love body washes.  I sadly cut most of those out too.  T...

Our favorite part of the game is going on the field AFTER the game.  Everyone is anxious the entire second half waiting to hang out with daddy.  The OT didn't help the situation any this week.  I did manage to get a friend to snap a picture of me with the kids since I NEVER get in front of the camera.   If we look tired it is because we are... thus the glazed eyes and crazy hair.  I love Dalton's smile in this picture he loves football! Hosted by Krystyn at Really, Are You Serious? Joining up with Krystyn over at Really, Are you Serious for Mommy and Me Monday.

Just wanted to share this message today.  I love these they always make me feel like I am doing something right in my life.  Hope it speaks to you the way it did to me.

That is one powerful look from a 3-year old! Catching some serious air on the tramp... A beautiful sunrise on Monday. I couldn't get enough of the sky this week.  I love the clouds and the sun peeking thru! What did you capture this week? Linking up with Lolli over at Better In Bulk for Give Me Your Best Shot head on over to see what others were shooting this week.

Was reading some blogs last night and my awesome friend Cassi had this posted yesterday!  It made me cry and smile all at the same time. What would you have told yourself?

I know I am slow but better late than never.  My very tardy Wordless Wednesday post!  Linked up over at CrazyLand

This weeks Budget Boot Camp Challenge was do it yourself.  If you know me at all you know I don't do anything myself I have a guy for everything.  So this was a real challenge for me!   Beth gave us some great ideas for ways to do it yourself.   Clair has a whole youtube video series on going green and saving green.  How clever right?  After reading Beth and Clairs suggestions I realized I wasn't THAT bad and I do somethings myself.  I do make my own cinnamon rolls from scratch--  You can  see that venture on my youtube video .   So I wouldn't call this challenge a complete fail for me because I am definitely willing to try new things especially if I can save money in the process.  Just wish me LUCK!  I loved Clair's video so much about using an avocado as a face mask instead of spending a fortune on expensive beauty treatments I wanted to share.  I didn't try it yet but avocados are on sale this week so I am going to ...

I have to make a conscious effort to take pictures of my older children.  With them gone all day long it makes it more difficult.  Today after school I made them pose for me.  Peyton is way more willing than Dalton he is of course his father's child..... Those are tired eyes I must admit but I just loved the pose and how the sun made her look... I had one great pose of this prince charming but unfortunately the amateur photographer here messed up the focus ugh! Tomorrow I am going to take pictures BEFORE school not after.  The lighting is better earlier in the morning anyway..... The tired eyes are mostly from an exhausting cry over not knowing the correct bus number.  Traditional school started today and so bus schedules and numbers change for us year-round people.  I found it so sweet that each of them cried because they couldn't find the other after school.  I am grateful they still care about one another!  Bonus mommy points for today I wi...

AHHHH!  A praying mantis..... And we're done!

Hey all you Budget Savvy friends of mine.  I can't believe we are already on week 8 of this challenge.  I am particularly excited about this weeks challenge because I not only accomplished it but I took it one step further.     The challenge was to make an extra meal this week and freeze it.  I actually made a large batch of one meal and froze half of it.  I made a delicious Chicken Cacciatore.  I cooked it in the crock pot all day so it was really no work for me except the initial prep.  I served it for dinner and then froze the remaining portion.  It was a HUGE hit with my kids and so I am looking forward to using it in the next week or so.   I served it over ziti pasta and with corn on the cob.  I only froze the sauce and I always have extra pasta and veggies so it will be a quick easy meal that we LOVE!  I took this challenge one step further and joined a with a group of women in my neighborhood and formed a freezer ...

This time of year we really miss our daddy and husband.  He works crazy hours as I have already expressed!  So we try to journey up and visit him at work.  Mainly because it is a nice break from the confines of the house.  And it assures the children that he indeed has not moved out.   Besides that it helps me get excited for the season.  I love watching the players practice up close you never get to see them that close at the games and they always look so small down on the field.  Believe me these boys are not small! This is how my kids watch practice.  They are more concerned with what there is to play with and where the water is located.  Oh and don't forget the bathroom which is a complete adventure... sorry no picture of that! Linking up with Angie over at Seven Clown Circus for Wordful Wednesday.