OY! Its the last week before school starts and my little kids love going to Great America. Not just like, but love. They always have fun and are usually pretty good. Hubby and I like to take them after dinner so we are not wasting money on junk food and the sun is not so scorching.
Today I tried to be different, change thing up a bit.....What a mistake! Ava and Aiden both fell asleep in the stroller for most of the time we had to be there. The park wasn't crowded and there were no lines for any of the kid rides, probably because everyone elses kids were sleeping in their strollers.
Annie still had a great time though. She got to go in Bugs Bunny Land for the first time this year. It has been closed every time we have been there except today. It's August people! Do you think you could get your butts in gear? We were telling her all about the Looney Toons Lodge and how you can shoot balls out of guns to hit people and her and her cousin were so excited about it, oh but wait....it's closed for refurbishment. WTF!!!! How does it need to be refurbished when it is never open to begin with!?!? The kiddie climbing structure is also closed indefinitely. This park just depresses me more and more each time we are there. We were mostly taking them to see the shows since they love them so much. Now that the shows are over for the season there is about 2 hours worth of entertainment - maximum! When I was younger the shows lasted the entire season.
Everything is just getting even cheaper than ever before. Today my kids waited in line to shake hands with the Frigo String Cheese Costume. Again WTF! The least they could do is have him pass out string cheese. Who wants a picture with String Cheese Man - anyone.....anyone??? All of the $1 chance games were closed - but you can bet the full price games were open with absolutely no business whatsoever.
But anyway, back to my point, Annie was the only kid that had any fun at all. Poor Ava woke up when it was time to go home and was so bummed she didn't get to play in Wiggles World. Mayme next time Avers.......Well..............I was sleeping soooooo we need to go back..........
When we got home we realized the sun was a little stronger than we thought. Aiden has his first case of sunburn. His little ears are so red.
Case in point: Naps, dinner, great america. No substitutions or exchanges please!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Ava is 3!!
I can't believe how much has changed in 3 short years! I remember being so excited I was having another girl. I always wanted a sister, especially one close in age. So to have two girls that would be only a grade a part and can be the best of friends just sounds so perfect to me.
The first year with Ava was a huge adjustment. This was the first time I had two kids close together as babies. It was hard to give Annie and Ava near equal amounts of attention. And Ava needed lots and lots of attention. The first four months or so all she did was cry. Then I cried. Then Annie cried because everyone else was crying. The older kids hated her and were acting out every day because she needed so much from me. She was definitely the kid who tipped the scales.
With Jeremy and my mom working all day and all night most days I was lucky just to make it through the day without throwing her out the window. She would cry and cry and stop for a minute to spit up. Then cry some more. I wasn't concerned about the spit up because Katie used to spit up all the time. What I didn't remember was with Katie the DR told me that as long as she wasn't crying I didn't have to worry about the spit up. After a month of crying I finally took her to the DR. After a couple visits it turned out she was having problems with my milk because I was eating foods with lactose. She wasn't gaining enough weight and had severe reflux. Dr trips now were every week or two with all the kids in tow.
Eventually she started gaining weight. I stopped nursing for my own sanity and she started drinking Nutramagin which smells like old stale greasy french fries - YUCK! She also took Zantac to help with the painful reflux. Days started flying by and she would smile and laugh..........Eventually she had an actual personality and we began to bond. It was disconcerting to learn that bonding doesn't always happen right away. I still feel guilty about that. Was there something else I could have done? I'll never know, but I am grateful for the bond we have today.
Depression was never an option at that point. I can look back now and realize how bad things were, but when I was in the moment it was impossible for me to see. I know I am lucky that my family got through that unscathed, there are countless others that do not. My marraige and kids are all stronger. Katie still holds somewhat of a grudge towards Ava that I am hoping will fade away given more time. Since they are the most alike it will probably continue, but I will hope for the best.
In the three short years of her life she has grown and changed in so many ways. All those researchers aren't kidding when they say the first three years are the most formative. I have to wonder what she would be capable of with a little more attention. I try my best, but there is only so much of me to go around. I am lucky to have a lot of help and support from friends and family, but that doesn't replace "mom time"
At her three year dr visit we went over the milestones: knowing 4 colors (she knows all colors but I think may be a little color blind with blue/purple and orange/yellow) speaks in 3-5word sentences (she has been speaking in proper, complete sentences for over a year) knows short, simple songs (do entire movie scores count???) and can partially dress herself (in full princess attire with matching slippers.)
The best part was the potty training. The dr commented that she just got her 4 yr old trained 2 weeks ago. Ava was potty trained at 26 months because she wanted to go to school like her big sis. Unfortunately for her, she still had to wait until she was 3. OOPS forgot to mention that.
The doctor asked her what songs she knew and she starts with "fire burnin fire burnin on the dance floor" Then on the way home starts singing "blame it on the Alcohol" She hears a song once and she knows most of the words and the beat.
The girl has a memory like a steel trap. Every time we go to GA she tries to direct the whole trip. If I promise a ride for the next trip that will be the first thing out of her mouth when we get there.
On her actual birthday we went to the doctor, where she was very well behaved (unusual) She was 29.5 lbs and 38 inches tall. We went to the store to pick out a cake for that night, as well as order a cake for her party. She informed me that she prefers yellow cake mommy. I don't like chocolate anymore. (Aunt Stephanie will be happy) We got home and ate lunch and then both girls asked to take a nap (so strange) When they woke up Daddy was home and we had ice cream cake with the whole family plus Aunt Zara, Madison, and Austin. We had to eat dessert first since Katie and MJ were leaving for their dads. For dinner I planned on making mac and cheese but when I went to pull out the stuff to make it Ava says no Momma I want the blue kind (kraft) So being that its her birthday I run to the store for the blue kind. After dinner she was given the choice of doing anything she wanted. Right away she says I want to go to up and down rides. We told her it was raining but she said, that's ok bring an umbrella. So off we went. We saw ShowStoppin (again) and after the show Ava wanted to talk to Alex Hall. Except, she never actually talks to him, just says she wants to. He tried to give her high five, but she wasn't having any part of it. So as we leave she promises she will talk to him at the parade. We head over to Wiggles world as all of Ava's favorites are conveniently located right there. She goes straight for Wags the Dog and screams her pretty little head off as it falls over and over again. Next she goes on the pink tea cups and tries and tries to spin that heavy car with her little tiny arms. Ride through the sky and fruit salad complete the Wiggles circuit and we are back off to Hometown Square for the parade. It was still a little rainy so instead of sitting on the ground to watch the parade the kids all have to be held (yuck) But we get on the trolley to be in the parade and Ava is waving at everyone with both the hands. So cute........after the parade Ava goes right up to Bugs Bunny and tells him she is 3. He gave her a huge hug and was great with her. She also had to hug Lola, Daffy, Tweety, and Sylvester, but not that Big Bad Wolf guy, he is scary. Then she makes her way to Alex Hall and gives him the much coveted High Five. She thought about hugging him too, but then thought better of it. There is tons of people and loud music and it was late. She seems to think of him like one of her uncles, but doesn't quite know what to say. As long as he isn't trying to sing to her she is happy.
A couple weeks ago we were reading Mickey and the Giant Beanstalk. I stopped reading for a second to sneeze and she finished my sentence! It was just a boring descriptive paragraph too. Nothing exciting. Then I stopped again on the next page and she finished that page too. She knows a 35 page book word for flipping word. I couldn't tell you how many times I have read it, but I do know that I do NOT have it memorized, or even close to memorized. How did she learn that? Is this reading? How can I help her learn more? I feel woefully inadequte in this area. She needs much more enrichment than I can provide.
The amount of love I feel for Ava has grown so quickly. Not because of what she can do, but because of her caring heart, sharp wit, beautiful smile, and intelligence. She has more than made up for every minute of sorrow and replaced it with wonderful memories and laughter.
I am so lucky!
The first year with Ava was a huge adjustment. This was the first time I had two kids close together as babies. It was hard to give Annie and Ava near equal amounts of attention. And Ava needed lots and lots of attention. The first four months or so all she did was cry. Then I cried. Then Annie cried because everyone else was crying. The older kids hated her and were acting out every day because she needed so much from me. She was definitely the kid who tipped the scales.
With Jeremy and my mom working all day and all night most days I was lucky just to make it through the day without throwing her out the window. She would cry and cry and stop for a minute to spit up. Then cry some more. I wasn't concerned about the spit up because Katie used to spit up all the time. What I didn't remember was with Katie the DR told me that as long as she wasn't crying I didn't have to worry about the spit up. After a month of crying I finally took her to the DR. After a couple visits it turned out she was having problems with my milk because I was eating foods with lactose. She wasn't gaining enough weight and had severe reflux. Dr trips now were every week or two with all the kids in tow.
Eventually she started gaining weight. I stopped nursing for my own sanity and she started drinking Nutramagin which smells like old stale greasy french fries - YUCK! She also took Zantac to help with the painful reflux. Days started flying by and she would smile and laugh..........Eventually she had an actual personality and we began to bond. It was disconcerting to learn that bonding doesn't always happen right away. I still feel guilty about that. Was there something else I could have done? I'll never know, but I am grateful for the bond we have today.
Depression was never an option at that point. I can look back now and realize how bad things were, but when I was in the moment it was impossible for me to see. I know I am lucky that my family got through that unscathed, there are countless others that do not. My marraige and kids are all stronger. Katie still holds somewhat of a grudge towards Ava that I am hoping will fade away given more time. Since they are the most alike it will probably continue, but I will hope for the best.
In the three short years of her life she has grown and changed in so many ways. All those researchers aren't kidding when they say the first three years are the most formative. I have to wonder what she would be capable of with a little more attention. I try my best, but there is only so much of me to go around. I am lucky to have a lot of help and support from friends and family, but that doesn't replace "mom time"
At her three year dr visit we went over the milestones: knowing 4 colors (she knows all colors but I think may be a little color blind with blue/purple and orange/yellow) speaks in 3-5word sentences (she has been speaking in proper, complete sentences for over a year) knows short, simple songs (do entire movie scores count???) and can partially dress herself (in full princess attire with matching slippers.)
The best part was the potty training. The dr commented that she just got her 4 yr old trained 2 weeks ago. Ava was potty trained at 26 months because she wanted to go to school like her big sis. Unfortunately for her, she still had to wait until she was 3. OOPS forgot to mention that.
The doctor asked her what songs she knew and she starts with "fire burnin fire burnin on the dance floor" Then on the way home starts singing "blame it on the Alcohol" She hears a song once and she knows most of the words and the beat.
The girl has a memory like a steel trap. Every time we go to GA she tries to direct the whole trip. If I promise a ride for the next trip that will be the first thing out of her mouth when we get there.
On her actual birthday we went to the doctor, where she was very well behaved (unusual) She was 29.5 lbs and 38 inches tall. We went to the store to pick out a cake for that night, as well as order a cake for her party. She informed me that she prefers yellow cake mommy. I don't like chocolate anymore. (Aunt Stephanie will be happy) We got home and ate lunch and then both girls asked to take a nap (so strange) When they woke up Daddy was home and we had ice cream cake with the whole family plus Aunt Zara, Madison, and Austin. We had to eat dessert first since Katie and MJ were leaving for their dads. For dinner I planned on making mac and cheese but when I went to pull out the stuff to make it Ava says no Momma I want the blue kind (kraft) So being that its her birthday I run to the store for the blue kind. After dinner she was given the choice of doing anything she wanted. Right away she says I want to go to up and down rides. We told her it was raining but she said, that's ok bring an umbrella. So off we went. We saw ShowStoppin (again) and after the show Ava wanted to talk to Alex Hall. Except, she never actually talks to him, just says she wants to. He tried to give her high five, but she wasn't having any part of it. So as we leave she promises she will talk to him at the parade. We head over to Wiggles world as all of Ava's favorites are conveniently located right there. She goes straight for Wags the Dog and screams her pretty little head off as it falls over and over again. Next she goes on the pink tea cups and tries and tries to spin that heavy car with her little tiny arms. Ride through the sky and fruit salad complete the Wiggles circuit and we are back off to Hometown Square for the parade. It was still a little rainy so instead of sitting on the ground to watch the parade the kids all have to be held (yuck) But we get on the trolley to be in the parade and Ava is waving at everyone with both the hands. So cute........after the parade Ava goes right up to Bugs Bunny and tells him she is 3. He gave her a huge hug and was great with her. She also had to hug Lola, Daffy, Tweety, and Sylvester, but not that Big Bad Wolf guy, he is scary. Then she makes her way to Alex Hall and gives him the much coveted High Five. She thought about hugging him too, but then thought better of it. There is tons of people and loud music and it was late. She seems to think of him like one of her uncles, but doesn't quite know what to say. As long as he isn't trying to sing to her she is happy.
A couple weeks ago we were reading Mickey and the Giant Beanstalk. I stopped reading for a second to sneeze and she finished my sentence! It was just a boring descriptive paragraph too. Nothing exciting. Then I stopped again on the next page and she finished that page too. She knows a 35 page book word for flipping word. I couldn't tell you how many times I have read it, but I do know that I do NOT have it memorized, or even close to memorized. How did she learn that? Is this reading? How can I help her learn more? I feel woefully inadequte in this area. She needs much more enrichment than I can provide.
The amount of love I feel for Ava has grown so quickly. Not because of what she can do, but because of her caring heart, sharp wit, beautiful smile, and intelligence. She has more than made up for every minute of sorrow and replaced it with wonderful memories and laughter.
I am so lucky!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Showstoppin 09
I have not been able to keep up with this Blog stuff. But I am still making an effort because I woud like to keep somewhat of a loose recollection of my kids childhood.
This summer we have spent a lot of time at Six Flags watching Showstoppin 09. I thought I was past the point in my life with nothing better to do than watch shows at Great America to the point of exhaustion, but life is always a surprise. My girls want nothing more than to watch this show at least 3 times per week. They will stop at nothing to get to watch this and love acting it out even more. I will be posting their video soon it is priceless.
Their favorite song is All the Single Legs. Yes, that was not a typo. The main girl in the show that sings it is quite lazy with her diction and can not spit out Ladies to save her life. So my precious two year old Ava stands on the ottoman with a dancing dress on and spits out - How's everybody doin tonight? All my single legs, all my single legs, all my single legs, now put your hands up up, up in the club just woke up doin my own lil thing, dddjfjjrjfkjm ya wanna trip,,,,,,djkasdja, notice me, if you lika thenya sholda put a ring on it.
Now clap mom! Yay for Ava! Even when she does this 15 times in a row and I have to yell and clap each time it is the most priceless thing I have ever seen in my life. This child just amazes me to no end. I am always wondering what she will come up with next.
This summer we have spent a lot of time at Six Flags watching Showstoppin 09. I thought I was past the point in my life with nothing better to do than watch shows at Great America to the point of exhaustion, but life is always a surprise. My girls want nothing more than to watch this show at least 3 times per week. They will stop at nothing to get to watch this and love acting it out even more. I will be posting their video soon it is priceless.
Their favorite song is All the Single Legs. Yes, that was not a typo. The main girl in the show that sings it is quite lazy with her diction and can not spit out Ladies to save her life. So my precious two year old Ava stands on the ottoman with a dancing dress on and spits out - How's everybody doin tonight? All my single legs, all my single legs, all my single legs, now put your hands up up, up in the club just woke up doin my own lil thing, dddjfjjrjfkjm ya wanna trip,,,,,,djkasdja, notice me, if you lika thenya sholda put a ring on it.
Now clap mom! Yay for Ava! Even when she does this 15 times in a row and I have to yell and clap each time it is the most priceless thing I have ever seen in my life. This child just amazes me to no end. I am always wondering what she will come up with next.
Monday, May 25, 2009
What is up with Jon and Kate?
Watching this first episode of Season 5 made me oh so thankful for everything good in my life!
I don't follow tabloids and try not to gossip so I have to say the entire episode was very confusing to say the least. They keep saying everything is hard and emotional and we will have to work through everything. "It is hard not to listen to what the tabloids say and we are the only ones that know what happened."
Unfortunately for me and my kids, we just like watching the show. We only have a vague idea what they were talking about for 75 minutes because we have no idea what actually happened. Nowhere in the show do they address what is happening or what happened in the past to cause such a problem. I think TLC should have offered some sort of explanation to those of us who don't listen to the gossip. I spent every commercial break googling Jon and Kate to try to figure out what they were talking about just so we could watch the show. I really shouldn't have to patronize tmz.com to understand what is happening in a reality show. Nor do I want to. The Gosselins should be able to share only what they feel is appropriate material for the show. The way they, and TLC, are sensationalizing this is only helping the papparazi.
The focus really needs to be back to the kids. The show's focus and the parents focus. It is really a sad situation for everyone involved.
I don't follow tabloids and try not to gossip so I have to say the entire episode was very confusing to say the least. They keep saying everything is hard and emotional and we will have to work through everything. "It is hard not to listen to what the tabloids say and we are the only ones that know what happened."
Unfortunately for me and my kids, we just like watching the show. We only have a vague idea what they were talking about for 75 minutes because we have no idea what actually happened. Nowhere in the show do they address what is happening or what happened in the past to cause such a problem. I think TLC should have offered some sort of explanation to those of us who don't listen to the gossip. I spent every commercial break googling Jon and Kate to try to figure out what they were talking about just so we could watch the show. I really shouldn't have to patronize tmz.com to understand what is happening in a reality show. Nor do I want to. The Gosselins should be able to share only what they feel is appropriate material for the show. The way they, and TLC, are sensationalizing this is only helping the papparazi.
The focus really needs to be back to the kids. The show's focus and the parents focus. It is really a sad situation for everyone involved.
Friday, May 1, 2009
I'm not living up to my name
and that's okay.............for now.
Although my name "Chipper" was always meant to be sarcastic, sometimes I actually try and succeed at being upbeat and happy. Lately life has been beating me down. It has been really hard to just appear sane, let alone happy. It feels like life is passing me by and my feet are stuck in cement. I can see the things I need to change but I can't get my feet out to make it happen.
I have struggled with post-traumatic stress in the past. This is similar but I can't pinpoint what started this or what will help get me out. I just know I am losing time. I hear the clock tick, I blink, the day is over and no progress was made. I guess if I knew what progress I was looking for that would be a little easier. My kids deserve better than this half-ass version of a mother. I am here, but my thoughts are always somewhere else.
I feel so alone, even knowing that many other people are dealing with these same situations, there is no one to turn to. I have always been a private person. Many people have thought I was a snob or rude when in fact I am often terrified to speak. When I do speak, my words come out all wrong. There are a few people that I am comfortable enough with, but how do you say what you feel in 5 minute conversations that are all too common these days.
I long for someone to tell me I don't have to be perfect. Someone to say, I understand, I am here just because you need me. Talk as long as you need to. Someone who means it. Someone.
Although my name "Chipper" was always meant to be sarcastic, sometimes I actually try and succeed at being upbeat and happy. Lately life has been beating me down. It has been really hard to just appear sane, let alone happy. It feels like life is passing me by and my feet are stuck in cement. I can see the things I need to change but I can't get my feet out to make it happen.
I have struggled with post-traumatic stress in the past. This is similar but I can't pinpoint what started this or what will help get me out. I just know I am losing time. I hear the clock tick, I blink, the day is over and no progress was made. I guess if I knew what progress I was looking for that would be a little easier. My kids deserve better than this half-ass version of a mother. I am here, but my thoughts are always somewhere else.
I feel so alone, even knowing that many other people are dealing with these same situations, there is no one to turn to. I have always been a private person. Many people have thought I was a snob or rude when in fact I am often terrified to speak. When I do speak, my words come out all wrong. There are a few people that I am comfortable enough with, but how do you say what you feel in 5 minute conversations that are all too common these days.
I long for someone to tell me I don't have to be perfect. Someone to say, I understand, I am here just because you need me. Talk as long as you need to. Someone who means it. Someone.
Lost in a Fog
Ever walk through a crowd and try to figure out what the person next to you is thinking?
Wonder why the guy with the scowl on his face couldn't even turn around and apologize when he almost knocked you over?
How about the old lady who left her garbage in a shopping cart for someone else to clean up?
Or the teenager who skidded through the parking lot almost hitting your car?
It's a strange world we live in now........We are so connected to anyone, anytime, anyplace. Yet, we are so far removed from the reality going on around us every day. We can look on Facebook and find out what our cousin is cooking for dinner. We think wow, we are really linked in to everyone's lives, that is great!
But are we? So Joe Schmoe is having meatloaf for dinner. Who is he having it with? Did he enjoy cooking it? Did he buy a frozen meatloaf because his wife just left him and he doesn't know how to cook? AHA - that might be why he was too preoccupied to notice that he bumped into you while paying for the frozen meatloaf he doesn't want to eat but has to so his kids don't notice their mom is gone.
What about Suzy Homemaker with the new baby? The baby is beautiful, the parents are beautiful, and life is just going great! But is it? Maybe Suzy is so afraid and tense and scared she feels like throwing that baby out with the bath water. She is so afraid that she doesn't even see the garbage in the shopping cart and hurries back to the car. She keeps putting one foot in front of the other hoping for a better day.
Cool as Cucumber Kevin just got a new set of wheels for his 18th birthday and wants to show them off to his girlfriend. He stops off to buy her some flowers. But as he pulls in the lot he gets a call from his mom that his dad is in the hospital and has two hours to live. He speeds away and doesn't realize he almost hit your car. He can only see his fathers face.
Those are the real things going on in your friends and neighbors lives. From the front porch looking in - life is great. Post on Facebook some funny antecdotes and connect with your long lost friends. What a farce! Do the people that are your "friends" really care if you like nose rings? NO! It's like standing there listening to random thoughts and "feeling" connected when what they should be doing is talking to real live people and connecting!
Everyone around us has a story to tell! Every man, woman, and child is fighting a battle of their own. Each person that appears perfect on the outside has fallen apart and is fighting to hold it together now.
Do you know?
Do you care?
Wonder why the guy with the scowl on his face couldn't even turn around and apologize when he almost knocked you over?
How about the old lady who left her garbage in a shopping cart for someone else to clean up?
Or the teenager who skidded through the parking lot almost hitting your car?
It's a strange world we live in now........We are so connected to anyone, anytime, anyplace. Yet, we are so far removed from the reality going on around us every day. We can look on Facebook and find out what our cousin is cooking for dinner. We think wow, we are really linked in to everyone's lives, that is great!
But are we? So Joe Schmoe is having meatloaf for dinner. Who is he having it with? Did he enjoy cooking it? Did he buy a frozen meatloaf because his wife just left him and he doesn't know how to cook? AHA - that might be why he was too preoccupied to notice that he bumped into you while paying for the frozen meatloaf he doesn't want to eat but has to so his kids don't notice their mom is gone.
What about Suzy Homemaker with the new baby? The baby is beautiful, the parents are beautiful, and life is just going great! But is it? Maybe Suzy is so afraid and tense and scared she feels like throwing that baby out with the bath water. She is so afraid that she doesn't even see the garbage in the shopping cart and hurries back to the car. She keeps putting one foot in front of the other hoping for a better day.
Cool as Cucumber Kevin just got a new set of wheels for his 18th birthday and wants to show them off to his girlfriend. He stops off to buy her some flowers. But as he pulls in the lot he gets a call from his mom that his dad is in the hospital and has two hours to live. He speeds away and doesn't realize he almost hit your car. He can only see his fathers face.
Those are the real things going on in your friends and neighbors lives. From the front porch looking in - life is great. Post on Facebook some funny antecdotes and connect with your long lost friends. What a farce! Do the people that are your "friends" really care if you like nose rings? NO! It's like standing there listening to random thoughts and "feeling" connected when what they should be doing is talking to real live people and connecting!
Everyone around us has a story to tell! Every man, woman, and child is fighting a battle of their own. Each person that appears perfect on the outside has fallen apart and is fighting to hold it together now.
Do you know?
Do you care?
Monday, March 30, 2009
I LOVE CVS
I am a lurker! I often am holding a child while reading discussion forums about ways to save money. My lurking is paying off big time as I am finally getting the hang of these CVS and Walgreens programs.
So a couple weeks ago I spent about 12 dollars at CVS and bought everything that offered ECBS. I ended up with about 14 dollars in ECBS and hopefully I will never have to spend money out of my own pocket for toiletries, household supplies, and maybe even diapers (but I won't hold my breath there.)
So on Sunday I bought:
2 PAAS Easter Dye Kits for 3.98
2 Lumene Face Creams for 5.98
1 Suave Body Wash for 1.99
1 Scrubbing Bubbles Action Cleaner for 2.99
1 3-pack of CVS Paper towels for 3.69 (Ouch I should have price checked this ahead of time!)
Total: 18.63
I used these coupons :
2 Lumene CVS Coupons for 8.00
1 Scrubbing Bubbles for 2.75
1 Suave Coupon for 3.00
1 CVS CRT for Paper Towels 1
Total After Coupons: 3.88
I used one $4 ECB and got one back for 3.98! I had to pay tax of 27 cents OOP
It is very helpful that the CVS I go to allows overage on coupons. I would not have done that well otherwise.
I plan on making a list of the things that I need on a regular basis and what price range they fall in so I can stop wasting so much time wandering around trying to fill my coupon overage.
So a couple weeks ago I spent about 12 dollars at CVS and bought everything that offered ECBS. I ended up with about 14 dollars in ECBS and hopefully I will never have to spend money out of my own pocket for toiletries, household supplies, and maybe even diapers (but I won't hold my breath there.)
So on Sunday I bought:
2 PAAS Easter Dye Kits for 3.98
2 Lumene Face Creams for 5.98
1 Suave Body Wash for 1.99
1 Scrubbing Bubbles Action Cleaner for 2.99
1 3-pack of CVS Paper towels for 3.69 (Ouch I should have price checked this ahead of time!)
Total: 18.63
I used these coupons :
2 Lumene CVS Coupons for 8.00
1 Scrubbing Bubbles for 2.75
1 Suave Coupon for 3.00
1 CVS CRT for Paper Towels 1
Total After Coupons: 3.88
I used one $4 ECB and got one back for 3.98! I had to pay tax of 27 cents OOP
It is very helpful that the CVS I go to allows overage on coupons. I would not have done that well otherwise.
I plan on making a list of the things that I need on a regular basis and what price range they fall in so I can stop wasting so much time wandering around trying to fill my coupon overage.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Did you ever wonder who created the bottle and why?
I did! If you think about it, most babies don't ever need to drink from a bottle. They can go right from nursing to a regular cup with no major issues. One magical day the baby is now toddling around and just decides they don't need to nurse anymore. They want big people food and juice and all the other fun stuff the older kids get. It is a nice easy transition with no worries.....right?
HECK NO!!!
Being this is my last baby (for sure) I would like to keep nursing as long as reasonably possible. So far I have made it 9 months. The first month was torture! Sore nipples, sleepless nights..... you get the idea. But it got easier from there. Then around 5 months the doctor worrying the baby wasn't getting enough milk because he wasn't gaining weight. So the bi-weekly weight checks were just shoved into the calendar and life went on. He created his own growth chart using negative numbers. He is going to be a math genius I can just tell. Now the doctors have stopped worrying because even with his negative numbers in weight gain he has been in the 75% for length since he was born. So the rationale is if he is getting longer at the same rate he is getting enough. So they said I should make him start sleeping through the night.
Well HOO RAH! Just what I wanted to hear! Now that I don't have to worry about his weight gain I can sleep and Daddy can get up with the little dear heart at night so I can get some well-deserved rest.
But you were paying attention. You know none of this has to do with bottles. Any mothers with babies this age know darn well why bottles were invented.
My little genius understands every word that doctor says. No more nighttime feedings? No more extra cuddles in the middle of the night? No more sleeping in Mom's bed? Well, I'll show her......CHOMP!! CHOMP!!! CHOMP!! Cheerios? No thanks, I have something better to chew on..... Gives new meaning to the phrase - let me chew on it - doesn't it?
HECK NO!!!
Being this is my last baby (for sure) I would like to keep nursing as long as reasonably possible. So far I have made it 9 months. The first month was torture! Sore nipples, sleepless nights..... you get the idea. But it got easier from there. Then around 5 months the doctor worrying the baby wasn't getting enough milk because he wasn't gaining weight. So the bi-weekly weight checks were just shoved into the calendar and life went on. He created his own growth chart using negative numbers. He is going to be a math genius I can just tell. Now the doctors have stopped worrying because even with his negative numbers in weight gain he has been in the 75% for length since he was born. So the rationale is if he is getting longer at the same rate he is getting enough. So they said I should make him start sleeping through the night.
Well HOO RAH! Just what I wanted to hear! Now that I don't have to worry about his weight gain I can sleep and Daddy can get up with the little dear heart at night so I can get some well-deserved rest.
But you were paying attention. You know none of this has to do with bottles. Any mothers with babies this age know darn well why bottles were invented.
My little genius understands every word that doctor says. No more nighttime feedings? No more extra cuddles in the middle of the night? No more sleeping in Mom's bed? Well, I'll show her......CHOMP!! CHOMP!!! CHOMP!! Cheerios? No thanks, I have something better to chew on..... Gives new meaning to the phrase - let me chew on it - doesn't it?
Thursday, March 26, 2009
You can call me...
Chipper!
My mom and husband latched on to the name Chipper because I pronounced the p's individually by mistake one time while I was chewing gum. Being the sarcastic jerks they are the name stuck because it represents my sunny demeanor.
Did your kids turn out just like you?
I was reading a Janet Evanovich book recently and I love the way Mrs. Plum reminds me of my mother. My mother must have sent a million wishing pennies into the fountain to make sure my kids turned out just like me! Although, if I do say so myself, I hardly think that's a bad thing. In fact, there are a lot worse things they could be.
My kids are great. Actually, my mom tells me every day how wonderful they are and how much fun they are to be around. They have their moments of craziness, and lord knows with 6 kids things often get crazy! But what am I missing? I was sooooo horrible that she couldn't wait for me to have rotten kids to drive me crazy, right? Everything is cute and funny and sweet to her now.
Which brings me to another infamous saying in my house.......Don't let me turn into my mother. Am I the only daughter who heard this one? She can say it until she's blue in the face. She is JUST like her mother. Being that was my grandmother I don't think it's so bad. I wouldn't mind being like my mom now. I hope when my kids are grown everything falls in to perspective. As long as my mom doesn't start burning down funeral parlor's it will be all good!
My kids are great. Actually, my mom tells me every day how wonderful they are and how much fun they are to be around. They have their moments of craziness, and lord knows with 6 kids things often get crazy! But what am I missing? I was sooooo horrible that she couldn't wait for me to have rotten kids to drive me crazy, right? Everything is cute and funny and sweet to her now.
Which brings me to another infamous saying in my house.......Don't let me turn into my mother. Am I the only daughter who heard this one? She can say it until she's blue in the face. She is JUST like her mother. Being that was my grandmother I don't think it's so bad. I wouldn't mind being like my mom now. I hope when my kids are grown everything falls in to perspective. As long as my mom doesn't start burning down funeral parlor's it will be all good!
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