Dedicated to Brian from PA...

Dear Brian from PA,
Without your insight, I would not know the definition of a "blog". Without your expertise in the area of coffee beans, I would still be drinking discount coffee. Without your friendship, I would have no place to stay when traveling across the country. For all of these things (and many more), I thank you.
Sincerely, E. (Snow) Kohns


It has been brought to my attention that I have not been updating my blog frequently enough to satisfy my dedicated followers. The past couple of weeks have been super busy. I am finishing up my second summer session of school today. A lot of awesome happenings have went on this summer, so part of me is sad to see it come to an end. On the other hand, I am anxious to really jump into my education, because I am beginning to be able to see the finish line.

The next two weeks will be amazing and will give me the opportunity to really soak up the rest of the summer with Keyana and Desmond before Keyana and I head back to school and Desmond gets to experience a new world full of slimey kids and lots of cool toys that I like to call "daycare". After that, we have so many exciting things happening: my 24th birthday, my sister getting married, and meeting my future-sister-law, Elizabeth. Yes, there will soon be one more Elizabeth Kohns walking the streets. Watch out world.

Stay tuned...

Smart Shopping

The past few weeks have been very busy. We had a great time celebrating Desmond's birthday with some of our Kohns family who came into town. Desmond especially enjoyed his first cupcake.



A couple days later we headed up to Michigan for the annual Kohns family reunion. We made a pit stop in Detroit to catch a Tigers game. Words of wisdom: Sure, buying tickets online will cost a little extra given fees and taxes that come with online shopping. However, there is a perk you cannot overlook: you are guaranteed a seat. Keyana will forever remember this Tigers game as the one where we walked for miles. And moved from seat to seat. Despite the craziness, the game was a lot of fun and the Tigers won!

So, now that I have given you one shopping tip, how about another? I am by no means a coupon fanatic like some people I know. However, I believe in pinching pennies any way I can. This includes taking at least an hour or two each week to clip coupons. Many stores (in my case, Kroger) will double or triple coupons. This can definitely help you save lots on your grocery bill each week. Also, some stores (Kroger again) have online sites where you can download coupons straight to your shopper's card, so there is no printing or clipping involved! You can also "stack" coupons in this way. If you have a coupon for a certain product downloaded to your card, you can also use a paper coupon for the same product. Double savings!!

My last tip is something I have recently started doing. Take the time at the beginning of each week to make a dinner schedule. This has really helped our family. Instead of buying everything in sight at the store, you only buy the things you need for each meal. This has definitely helped save us money each week (no more produce/meat/dairy going bad because it isn't used for a meal), not to mention I never have to worry about what to make for dinner at 5 o'clock. It's already planned out.

Here's to hoping these tips make life a little easier...and cheaper!

Where does the time go?

At 24 weeks of pregnancy, I began to go into labor. My doctor wasn't super concerned at first, only telling me to take it easy and stay off my feet as much as possible. A couple weeks later, I went in for an ultrasound. The nurse left the room to get another nurse. When they returned, I asked them what was wrong. They just smiled and said the doctor would come to speak with me.

With Shane half a country away for work, it was discovered that my body was silently laboring and my baby was in danger of being born nearly 15 weeks early. There was a lot of rushing around. I was hooked up to monitors, given shots to stop my labor and another shot to help mature the baby's lungs. I was put on bedrest. My doctor was hoping I would stay pregnant until June.

The next three months were scary and long. My wonderful husband came home from work every day and made us dinner, washed the dishes, switched out laundry, and anything else that required me lifting more than a couple pounds or bending. I was in and out of the hospital 10 times.

Against all odds, one year ago today I gave birth to my sweet boy Desmond, who weighed in at 8 pounds, 1 ounce.

The last year has flown by. We have adjusted to being a family of four. Keyana loves her baby brother, even though he tends to steal her toys and drive her crazy. I have felt so much more confident the second time around, and I am proud of my kids and what I have accomplished this far as a mother. I couldn't imagine my life without these two precious, amazing little people.

So today, I wish you all a happy 4th. And to my beautiful baby boy, happy birthday. Getting you into this world was scary, trying, and sometimes more than I thought I could ever handle. But in the end, you were more than worth it. I'm so thankful to have you in my life.

Another week begins

We had an eventful weekend here in the Kohns household. I decided to take Keyana on a surprise trip to the zoo Friday. She had a blast. This year we purchased a zoo pass. I highly recommend this! Instead of trying to pack the entire zoo into one day, we can take our time and see different things each trip. Friday we finally got to ride the train. Keyana held onto her brother the entire time and made sure to point out all the cool stuff along the way.

The rest of the weekend involved getting the house cleaned up and, of course, relaxing. We have a busy week ahead of us. I began a new class today: American History to 1877. Exciting, I know. It's crazy how a semesters worth of material and information is jam packed into 5 weeks. I look forward to it though, because it helps me get one class closer to a degree.

This week will also be spent preparing ourselves and the house for a weekend full of family and parties! Our friend Ella will be turning one on July 1st. And of course, Desmond will be one on July 4th! We are looking forward to having some of Shane's family here for all the excitement!

Until next time....

The adventure begins

I have never had a blog before. I guess there is a first time for everything. Let me begin by introducing myself.

I am a stay-at-home mom and a full-time student. I have two kids. Keyana is four and crazy. Desmond will be one on July 4th. They drive me crazy, but I love them. I like to think I'm a good mom, but I still have a lot to learn. Someday I hope to have my degree in English Education. It has taken me a long time to get this far, but I'm proud to say I'm still going.

I've been married to Shane for almost five years. He drives me crazy, but I love him. He's an amazing husband and father, and I don't know what I would do without him.

This is my family.

Aren't we cute?

Anyway, I hope this blog helps me stay updated with family and friends. I might even try to add some exciting tips I learn along the way. So stay tuned, because there's plenty more to come.