Thanks, Miss Jeannette, for a great time!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Pumpkin Patch
Miss Jeannette came over yesterday and we went to the pumpkin patch at a nearby church. Charlotte loved running around the pumpkins and didn't want to leave!
Thanks, Miss Jeannette, for a great time!
Thanks, Miss Jeannette, for a great time!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
The Monkey
Miss Jill bought the cute little outfit in the previous post for Charlotte from Small Paul. I am not sure that any of the pictures below show it well, but the shirt has the signature monkey smack on her chest. The other morning, while I was out, Fred was trying to show Charlotte the Monkey on her chest. When I came home, he proudly brought Charlotte forward to demonstrate her new trick.
"Charlotte, where is the Monkey?"
She points to her chest and says, "Monk."
Wow, that's great Fred! Now she points at her chest all of the time and calls herself a Monk(ey). Which of course, she is :-)
"Charlotte, where is the Monkey?"
She points to her chest and says, "Monk."
Wow, that's great Fred! Now she points at her chest all of the time and calls herself a Monk(ey). Which of course, she is :-)
My Baby is a Toddler!
I can't believe how big my baby is getting! I pulled out this chair the other day (we found it at my parents house when Charlotte was in the cast, and it worked GREAT as a place to put her down and keep her happy those long weeks) and Charlotte promptly showed me how she can climb up into it!
It took a few tries while I showed her how to safely climb out, but by the end of the day she was giggling as she climbed in and out of the chair, over and over again. She's so proud of herself.
I'm so mean, I wanted her to sit still so I could take more pictures.
Climbing down, all by herself!
Of course, after watching her climb in and out of the chair all day, I realized how much she doesn't look like a baby anymore. I can't believe how much she's changed since June! She's really put on some length and lost more of her baby rolls. My baby became a toddler!
I've also seen a lot of pictures of new babies lately, though, (though none in person, which is probably GOOD) which makes me itch to have another little one. For now, however, I'll just have to live through other people's new bundles of joy.
It took a few tries while I showed her how to safely climb out, but by the end of the day she was giggling as she climbed in and out of the chair, over and over again. She's so proud of herself.
I'm so mean, I wanted her to sit still so I could take more pictures.
Climbing down, all by herself!
Of course, after watching her climb in and out of the chair all day, I realized how much she doesn't look like a baby anymore. I can't believe how much she's changed since June! She's really put on some length and lost more of her baby rolls. My baby became a toddler!
I've also seen a lot of pictures of new babies lately, though, (though none in person, which is probably GOOD) which makes me itch to have another little one. For now, however, I'll just have to live through other people's new bundles of joy.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Coupons - Week 2
This week I followed a tip of Tasha's and visited TheGroceryGame.com. Unfortunately, this site ISN'T free like couponmom.com, but offers a 4 week free trial for $1. The plus to this site is that it's lists include unadvertised sales, and it has a list for HEB - my all time favorite place to shop.
Because I still don't have the stockpile of coupons necessary to make awesome deals at stores that double and tripple them, I decided to shop only for produce and items on sale (or with instore coupon). The Grocery Game made it easy for me to sort and see which items were at their lowest prices, so, after 15 minutes going through the list, off to HEB I went!
This week I paid $73, after $19 in instore coupons, for 35 items. I left feeling MUCH BETTER than I did about my take from Kroger last week. While I spent the same, I had 11 more items in my basket AND produce for the week.
So far, both avenues I've taken for saving money have made a difference. If you consider I was spending just over $100 a week on groceries - I should have around $120 extra, after-tax dollars in my pocket at the end of the month. Not bad.
Now to aim for an overall savings of $50 a week...
Because I still don't have the stockpile of coupons necessary to make awesome deals at stores that double and tripple them, I decided to shop only for produce and items on sale (or with instore coupon). The Grocery Game made it easy for me to sort and see which items were at their lowest prices, so, after 15 minutes going through the list, off to HEB I went!
This week I paid $73, after $19 in instore coupons, for 35 items. I left feeling MUCH BETTER than I did about my take from Kroger last week. While I spent the same, I had 11 more items in my basket AND produce for the week.
So far, both avenues I've taken for saving money have made a difference. If you consider I was spending just over $100 a week on groceries - I should have around $120 extra, after-tax dollars in my pocket at the end of the month. Not bad.
Now to aim for an overall savings of $50 a week...
Monday, October 20, 2008
Crayons are Not Just for Eating Anymore...
I've been meaning to post these photos since I took them on Friday, but at least I'm getting around to it, right? I can't believe this weekend has vanished, and I'm not sure what I've done with my time, except a few things that probably should have been taken care of a long time ago (like laundry!).
She seems to be teething again (ha! the story of my 'lil alligator's life!), so to keep her from chasing me around the house crying, "up, up!" I pulled out the crayons. Amazingly enough, she only tried to eat them once! We colored together - she really liked coloring over anything that I'd just doodled, so her own paper did not end up with too much color on it, but she had fun! She also seemed to like taking the crayons out of the box and then putting them back into the box :-).
And yes, that is banana all over her shirt. She made a big mess at breakfast (I lost the battle over bib-wearing a long time ago) and wore it all day. Bad Mama! Although, since learning banana stains, I was just lucky the shirt is brown.
She seems to be teething again (ha! the story of my 'lil alligator's life!), so to keep her from chasing me around the house crying, "up, up!" I pulled out the crayons. Amazingly enough, she only tried to eat them once! We colored together - she really liked coloring over anything that I'd just doodled, so her own paper did not end up with too much color on it, but she had fun! She also seemed to like taking the crayons out of the box and then putting them back into the box :-).
And yes, that is banana all over her shirt. She made a big mess at breakfast (I lost the battle over bib-wearing a long time ago) and wore it all day. Bad Mama! Although, since learning banana stains, I was just lucky the shirt is brown.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Coupons - still undecided
So, with much enthusiasm, I pulled together the inserts from the Sunday paper, pulled out my scissors, and started clipping away. Then I went online to Kroger.com and loaded coupons onto my Kroger card. I found a copy of their sales circular and matched coupons to sale items, planned meals for the week, and made my shopping list.
After Charlotte went to bed Monday night, I hurried off to get on my way to saving the big bucks! Total coupon savings? Just under $8 on a final sale of $72. Overall, my receipt noted that I saved $42.00 - including club-member savings. While that is not bad, I suppose, I did a lot of work for that $8, and not very much for the rest. Despite sticking to my grocery list, (well, save one item, but I'll get to that in a bit), I left disappointed.
First, as I was warned, Kroger's produce selection left much to be desired - especially the prices. Some items seemed to have multiple prices indicated, without handy sticker numbers marked, so I could not tell if the oranges I wanted cost .$99 or .$89 each, or even less as they were the smallest of three different groupings of oranges. And then, $.99 for a single orange? Crazy! I skipped most of the produce from the list that was not on sale, as I felt I would negate all my hard work to save $$.
Second, though I stuck to everything else on my list, I came across a replacement carafe for my coffee maker that I've been to several stores looking for and had yet to find - add $12.00 to my bill.
Third, after getting home, I noticed I was charged FULL PRICE for what should have been sale items. The 2 for $3 strawberries cost me $2.49/ea. The pasta sauce I bought rang up a whole dollar higher as well.
All in all, I guess I didn't really do too poorly, as I bought a couple of weeks worth of chicken on sale - skinless boneless Tyson breasts for $1.67 lb and whole chickens for $.99/lb.
So all in all I spent less money on groceries (subtracting out the carafe) than usual, seeing that recently we seem to top $100 each trip. However, I bought hardly any produce this week.
Though discouraged, I decided it was a start, and came home to scour the internet for more information.
I ordered this little organizer called The Couponizer. http://www.couponizer.com/
With a discount code, the kit comes with a free book by Stephanie Nelson, "Greatest Secrets of the Coupon Mom," for about $23 with shipping.
That led me to this site: couponmom.com. where I read the free ebook and registered with the site. They have a great reference that comes out weekly. The database indicates, by state and store, what items are on sale and if there are any current coupons available for those sale items. At a glance you can see what the deals really are!
There I found a discount code for restaurant.com for 80% off gift certificates. The site intreagued me, as at regular price you can purchase a gift certificate worth $25 for $10 - minus 80% equals $2 for a $25 gift certificate. Of course, there are restrictions not found on regular gift cards - for example you must spend at least $35 on your meal The restaurants aren't the hottest places in town, but the price gives us a good excuse to try a new place!
So I'll stick with this for a few weeks and see how it affects our spending overall - I still have hope!
After Charlotte went to bed Monday night, I hurried off to get on my way to saving the big bucks! Total coupon savings? Just under $8 on a final sale of $72. Overall, my receipt noted that I saved $42.00 - including club-member savings. While that is not bad, I suppose, I did a lot of work for that $8, and not very much for the rest. Despite sticking to my grocery list, (well, save one item, but I'll get to that in a bit), I left disappointed.
First, as I was warned, Kroger's produce selection left much to be desired - especially the prices. Some items seemed to have multiple prices indicated, without handy sticker numbers marked, so I could not tell if the oranges I wanted cost .$99 or .$89 each, or even less as they were the smallest of three different groupings of oranges. And then, $.99 for a single orange? Crazy! I skipped most of the produce from the list that was not on sale, as I felt I would negate all my hard work to save $$.
Second, though I stuck to everything else on my list, I came across a replacement carafe for my coffee maker that I've been to several stores looking for and had yet to find - add $12.00 to my bill.
Third, after getting home, I noticed I was charged FULL PRICE for what should have been sale items. The 2 for $3 strawberries cost me $2.49/ea. The pasta sauce I bought rang up a whole dollar higher as well.
All in all, I guess I didn't really do too poorly, as I bought a couple of weeks worth of chicken on sale - skinless boneless Tyson breasts for $1.67 lb and whole chickens for $.99/lb.
So all in all I spent less money on groceries (subtracting out the carafe) than usual, seeing that recently we seem to top $100 each trip. However, I bought hardly any produce this week.
Though discouraged, I decided it was a start, and came home to scour the internet for more information.
I ordered this little organizer called The Couponizer. http://www.couponizer.com/
With a discount code, the kit comes with a free book by Stephanie Nelson, "Greatest Secrets of the Coupon Mom," for about $23 with shipping.
That led me to this site: couponmom.com. where I read the free ebook and registered with the site. They have a great reference that comes out weekly. The database indicates, by state and store, what items are on sale and if there are any current coupons available for those sale items. At a glance you can see what the deals really are!
There I found a discount code for restaurant.com for 80% off gift certificates. The site intreagued me, as at regular price you can purchase a gift certificate worth $25 for $10 - minus 80% equals $2 for a $25 gift certificate. Of course, there are restrictions not found on regular gift cards - for example you must spend at least $35 on your meal The restaurants aren't the hottest places in town, but the price gives us a good excuse to try a new place!
So I'll stick with this for a few weeks and see how it affects our spending overall - I still have hope!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Whew!
So, I know it has been 18 years since I posted last, and Charlotte has gone off to college and all, but things have been a little busy!
Actually, when are things NOT busy around here, might be a better question? I am never all caught up on anything any more. There is always one more load of laundry, dishes to load, dishes to unload, bathrooms to clean, floors to vacuum, floors to sweep, floors to mop, bills to pay, accounts to manage, and CECO stuff to do.
Charlotte, however, has been the picture of a good little girl recently. This weekend she entertained everyone at Fiona and Todd's wedding. Yesterday she skipped her afternoon nap so we could visit Dr. Gerow and get an x-ray of her hips. Bug wooed everyone she met and managed angel status the entire visit.
She's so active these days, I can hardly keep up! Its amazing how a little tot can make me feel so old! She's also picking up more words than I can count. Of course she always tries to repeat what we say, but she also uses many words independantly. Sunday she found some low lying candy bars at the in-laws house that she grabbed and held up and proclaimed, "nack, nack." I had to pry them away and bring her back to the table to finish her lunch. Last week I showed her a plane in the sky, so now, any time she hears a plane or helicopter (the traffic ones are always flying near our house), she searches the sky. Of course, my baby is the brightest, bestest baby in the whole world! ( I mean, who's baby isn't?)
Anyway, now that I've finished my ramble, here are the photos you've been waiting for!
"I might be cute, but I can't steal attention from the Bride tonight!"
Actually, when are things NOT busy around here, might be a better question? I am never all caught up on anything any more. There is always one more load of laundry, dishes to load, dishes to unload, bathrooms to clean, floors to vacuum, floors to sweep, floors to mop, bills to pay, accounts to manage, and CECO stuff to do.
Charlotte, however, has been the picture of a good little girl recently. This weekend she entertained everyone at Fiona and Todd's wedding. Yesterday she skipped her afternoon nap so we could visit Dr. Gerow and get an x-ray of her hips. Bug wooed everyone she met and managed angel status the entire visit.
She's so active these days, I can hardly keep up! Its amazing how a little tot can make me feel so old! She's also picking up more words than I can count. Of course she always tries to repeat what we say, but she also uses many words independantly. Sunday she found some low lying candy bars at the in-laws house that she grabbed and held up and proclaimed, "nack, nack." I had to pry them away and bring her back to the table to finish her lunch. Last week I showed her a plane in the sky, so now, any time she hears a plane or helicopter (the traffic ones are always flying near our house), she searches the sky. Of course, my baby is the brightest, bestest baby in the whole world! ( I mean, who's baby isn't?)
Anyway, now that I've finished my ramble, here are the photos you've been waiting for!
See that tongue? Charlotte was cracking up as she tried to LICK Lola's face.
"I might be cute, but I can't steal attention from the Bride tonight!"
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Thanks, Beta,
Recently Beta showed Charlotte how to throw things into the trash. WONEDERFUL idea, teaching her to clean up after herself, except, she doesn't quite understand what is trash and what is not.
Today, after watching me sweep the kitchen, Charlotte picked up the dust pan and threw it into the trash can. Then she proceeded to smile and clap her hands in praise of her own efforts.
Someday, I will not smile and laugh at all of the things I should NOT encourage. But for now, it is just so darn cute!
Today, after watching me sweep the kitchen, Charlotte picked up the dust pan and threw it into the trash can. Then she proceeded to smile and clap her hands in praise of her own efforts.
Someday, I will not smile and laugh at all of the things I should NOT encourage. But for now, it is just so darn cute!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Pumpkins!
After the week from hell at work last week, Charlotte and I kept it pretty easy today. We ran a few errands and had lunch with my mom. I even cooked meatloaf for dinner!
This afternoon, Charlotte and played with the pumpkins I have decorating the front yard. I think I am going to scatter a few more through my flower bed - paired with my scarecrow, I'll have a pumpkin patch in my front yard! I love fall.
Here are a couple of my favorite photos from this afternoon.
This afternoon, Charlotte and played with the pumpkins I have decorating the front yard. I think I am going to scatter a few more through my flower bed - paired with my scarecrow, I'll have a pumpkin patch in my front yard! I love fall.
Here are a couple of my favorite photos from this afternoon.
"Mommy, I think you have a pumpkin problem."
"Hmm, what's this?"
"Ha, Ha! Pumpkins!"
Thursday, October 2, 2008
"No"
Yes, that is Charlotte's newest word! Wonderful, huh? Apparently she fully understands the concept, but also just likes to say no to everything. The other day while at Beta's house, Charlotte held a gold fish cracker out to Maddie and then said "No" and took it back. Yesterday morning, I asked her if she wanted a bite of banana. She eagerly toddler-ran across the room, stopped a couple of feet away from me, said "no!" and toddler-ran away again.
Silly girl.
Her vocabulary grows by leaps and bounds as she tries to repeat just about everything I say. There are at least 12-15 words that she uses consistently now, and lots more that I'm not sure if she's just trying to repeat whatever word I've just said, or if she really understands what I'm offering (this morning it was a "(s)nack").
All in all, I've missed the blogger world! Our power came back on late on September 21st, but we went to Hershey, PA early on the 22nd, and I came back to a mountain of work. Between watching (chasing) Charlotte and working insane long hours late into the night, I'm zonked!
Here is a cute photo from our trip, though. I'll have to tell you about it in another post when I'm all caught up.
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