Tales of a PB and N Sammich

Today as lunchtime neared, Lil asked if I could please get her the bread, the peanut butter and the Nutella.

You see, she wanted to make her own sandwich.

"How will I ever learn if I don't get to do it myself?"

Good question, Bitty.

I showed her how it is far easier to spread a big hunk of sticky goo than to do little dabs at a time.

 She didn't want to be wasteful, you see.

 I think she did a pretty good job.

 Her fingers definitely tasted good. ;o)

 

And, the finished sammich.  She likes a fold over.  I can get behind that. :o) 

She was very proud of herself and she didn't make a very big mess at all.  She cleaned up after herself and even put the knife in the dishwasher.  Wow. She's getting to be so big.  :sigh:

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Today's Sparklies:

1.  I saw this story and it really warmed my heart.  What a guy!

2.  Good friends.  Thank you.  :o)

3.  Coffee on a cold, grey day.  

4.  Speaking of coffee, I have a Keurig coffee maker I adore (no, it isn't green or environmentally friendly, but I love it just the same...) and I created the most delicious drink the other day.  I took a pack of powdered, commercial cocoa mix and and put it in the bottom of my coffee mug.  I then brewed a regular cup of coffee and added some half and half.  Oh my.  Oh my oh my.  That was goooooooooood.  ;o)

5.  The hair bow in Ellie's coiffure.  LOL!  The child's hair does NOTHING but stand on end now.  :oP

6.  Slow dancing in the kitchen with Brien to Ray Charles's "Moonlight in Vermont".  :happy sigh:  

No milestones

Long Lost Photos (and Some New Ones)

 I needed my camera today and couldn't locate the new one (it's in my studio but I was too lazy and in too much of a hurry to run up to the studio to get it) and picked up my old "baby". 

Lo and behold, there were photos on the memory card!  And, not just any photos, Christmas photos! :o)  

Ah. Lil with her new camera.  :o)  Check out that crazy long hair!

In trying to undecorate, I had put an end table upside down in our big, squishy chair.  Lil climbed up and pretended to be in a crate.

 I suppose it's fitting for a child that is a "kitty" all the time.  ;o)

And, my favorite find, Ellie with a little pencil thin mustache.  :oP

Now then, the reason I was looking for my camera:

 It would seem Greyson needed to get out of the house so Kat brought him and Keira for a visit.  For a child who used to screech at Greyson, Lil plays very nicely now. :o)

 If you're wondering what happened to Greyson's britches, he and Lil were playing outside, and he found some water...

Yes, it has been beautiful weather the past two days and I've kicked Lil outside to play while the playing is good. It's been a low key weekend.  Brien had a comp day from all the crazy hours he's been working, so he was home Friday.  Lil and I did some school in the morning and had a wonderful lesson.  She read an entire book to me and then wrote all about it in her journal.  All without the cattle prod! ;o)

 While I was on the phone with Sarah, Lil got creative and cut out this star.  She then got the foil and covered.  By herself.  I was impressed.

 And, the silly Bean.  She was a "chilly Bean" after her bath this evening.  :oP  She is funny!  She cracks herself up she's so silly.  This evening, she got really good at blowing raspberries.  She would nurse a bit, pop off, look up at me, blow a raspberry and then laugh.  So, I would blow one right back and start laughing as well, which would then set her off some more. Hee hee!

She is a babbling brook these days, and I know she is understanding quite a bit of what we say.  One of my biggest concerns has always been her "mouthiness".  She mouths anything she can get her little mitts on, and, no matter how diligent I am, she'll find something.  The other day I saw her little mouth working and I exclaimed, "Eleanor! What do you have in your mouth?"  She promptly removed the offending item and showed it to me.  When I reached for it (a stamp, thank you, Lily), she handed it to me.

I thought for sure it must be a fluke.  I waited for her to put a toy in her mouth and once more asked, "Beanie, what do you have in your mouth?" And, again, she popped it out and showed me.  That is one clever Bean, I tell you. :o)

Ah, Miss Keira.  It's crazy how quickly babies change!  I saw her, what, two weeks ago?  She's an entirely different baby now.  She is far more alert and is really starting to develop some good head control.

(Yes, another blurry photo, but she's so darn cute I had to share it anyway.)

Ellie is utterly fascinated with her, and It's a wake-up to me just how big my Bean is getting.  She is so young and teeny, and then, I see how much she does and can do, and I look at Keira and I'm amazed.  Holy moly they learn a lot in a short time. Wow.

There were so many other things I wanted to share and I can't remember...I was sitting in the bathroom with her as she was bathing (more water displacement studies...), thinking "Oh, I need to remember this. Oh, I have to remember that."  There's just too much change too quickly.

People always told me to write down what the girls said because otherwise I wouldn't remember.  I figured there was no way I wouldn't remember--these are my girls.  Oh, I remember what was said, but I don't "benember" (Lil) who said it.  :shakes head:  So, a word to the wise, WRITE IT DOWN.

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Weekend Sparklies:

1.  This outfit. 

This is a pegasus-unicorn-butterfly. Yes, I'm serious.  I also really like the purple with the orange.
2.  The whiskers. 

Done in blue watercolor.  I'm wondering if she "benembers" that talk we had about face paints...
3.  Oh, and the pads of her paws:

Thank goodness for washable watercolors...
4. I laughed my way through the last Shrek.  Hee hee!
5.  Brien made the most AMAZING Italian pot roast Saturday.  That will be a weekend fixture in our house from now on.  Oh. My. Goodness.  :drool:
6.  Visiting with Kat and the kiddos.
7.  Limited computer time this weekend.  I spent time with family and it was wonderful.
8.  Finding "lost" photos.
9.  This "Failbook".  Oh my goodness it had me laughing and cringing.  Orange is me I tell you, ME.  :shakes head:  Oh, and Blue?  Yeah, that'd be Brien.  ;o)

No milestones.  But, that "lost photos" comment triggered a memory.  We found an unused camera after we lost Hannah and I prayed--oh how I prayed--there were unseen photos of the Monkey that we had forgotten.  It was so hard to realize there would be no new photos of Hannah, no new memories being made.  

When Rachael Met Brien, The Saga Continues...

I'm not sure where I left off in the saga of my dating life with Brien.  As a recap: girl meets boy.  Girl likes boy. Girl flirts SHAMELESSLY with boy and he misses it.  Girl gives up. 

Next year girl meets boy's mom.  Mom suggests boy asks girl out.  They have a first date at the homecoming dance Oct. 2, 1993 (holy cow has it been that long?!?).

To pick up the tale...

Brien and I dated all through marching band season.  Those of you who marched know what it involves--competitions, ball games, parades, etc.  We were on our way to a competition in the tip of Virginia, in a tiny little hamlet called Tazwell.  Most of the time we would just take school buses, but on this occasion, we actually had tour buses.  Woah!  Two of them, in fact, since we were such a HUGE band and all. ;oP

Brien and I were still fairly new in our relationship at this point (maybe early November?), so I was sitting with my friend Courtney, and he was sitting across the aisle from us.  We were all chatting and laughing and having fun when the bus in front experienced engine trouble.  Oh dear lord.  Are you kidding? 

The only thing to do was combine the buses and put everyone on the one bus.  Wow.  We had to move all the people and instruments onto our bus.  People were crowding in together, and seeing no other option, I dragged Brien into my seat and plopped myself right in his lap.  To say he was stunned would be an understatement. ;o)

Being sixteen, seeing as he was my first "real" boyfriend, I was giddy.  I remember giggling my fool head off.  Poor B.  The minute I dropped myself in his lap, his arms went out and up, making sure he didn't accidentally place them somewhere he shouldn't.  It was really quite sweet. 

So, the giggling continued, and eventually, we both settled in quite comfortably.  Well, that is, until he mentioned something about his father and mother being there at the front of the bus.  Oh. My. GOSH! Are you KIDDING me?  I knew Mom was a band parent, but for some reason, it didn't occur to me she would be doing it with Dad--I know, I know, stupid on my part.  I almost died of embarrassment on the spot.  Brazen hussy that I was, I had just settled myself quite comfortably right in their son's lap.  *blushes*  I hadn't even met Dad at that point.  Oh my.  Oh, and lest we forget, Mom and Dad both knew I had been flirting rather shamelessly with their son all the previous year... 

We made it to our destination, and of course, we all offloaded to the restrooms.  And, since Courtney and I were female, there was (of course) a line at the ladies' room.  I was still very giddy and giggling from my ride up, talking in hushed giggles and whispers with Court about how it was a difficult situation but I knew the best thing to do would be to just sit in his lap since neither she nor I wanted to sit in each other's lap. 

Cue a toilet flushing and Mom walking out of a stall.  Oh, the horror!  The drama!  I had just talked about sitting in her son's lap and how fun it was with her in the bathroom!  She came out, washed her hands, said hi to us and promptly left.  At which point, Courtney and I dissolved into yet another fit of giggling, whispered conversation.  We were only 16 after all.

We left the bathroom and found Brien waiting for us (okay, waiting for me, I was the one he was dating, after all).  We told Brien what had just transpired in the bathroom, what was said and everything that happened (hm, seems this communication thing we do so well started right then). I thought he needed to know.  He told me Dad said it looked like he had had a fun ride up.  *more blushing*

After church the following afternoon, Brien called.  We chatted about the events of the previous day (no, he didn't giggle, what with him not being female and all), and then he mentioned Mom had sort of given him a sad look and patted his leg in church and that he thought Mom thought I had dumped him. Huh?!?  We got a little chuckle out of that and B set Mom straight. 

Now, it has been 17+ years, so don't quote me on this, but I'm fairly certain that Friday (somehow, I became a regular Friday evening dinner guest, dining with the family just about every week--huh, what do you know, we still do that today!) we all cleared the air.  We ribbed Mom a bit about thinking I had dumped Brien, and she said, she almost died when she realized Court and I were in the bathroom talking about Brien.  She said she tried desperately not to listen, wasn't sure what to do, and felt desperately trapped.  She wasn't sure if she should just stay in the stall until we left (not a very appealing idea) or just leave. 

Well, she decided leaving was the best option, but in the course of trying to get out of there, heard me say something about "a difficult situation" and then heard Courtney and me gasp and giggle and whisper and put two and two together and got five. ;o) And, looking at it through an adult's eyes, I can't say I blame her. 

From then on, the joke was, Mom would show me the shoes she was wearing so I could check under the stalls before beginning a gossip fest. :oP 

Oh, and Brien? Did he actually settle in and enjoy having his girlfriend in his lap on that fateful trip?  You betcha!  Before the end of the ride up, his arms were snuggled quite comfortably around me. :happy sigh:

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Today's Sparklies:

1. I've been rediscovering portion control and size.  Today I didn't gorge myself on the pizza we had for supper.  I'm quite proud of myself. :o)
2.  How much do I LOVE the Nook App on my phone?
3.  Revisiting the early days of our relationship.  It makes me smile and my heart beat just a little bit faster. :o)  I think it's sad we sometimes lose the awe and wonder of those first heady days/weeks/months in the busy-ness that is living an adult life.  :oS
4.  The Bean is feeling like a million bucks again.  Hooray!  She is the smiley-est little thing!
5.  Lil has had a wonderful day as well. She too has been one smiley Bit. :o)
6.  Going to bed early tonight.  I'm going to.  I swear I am.

No milestones.

Why, Beanie, Why?

Ahhhh, sweet Beanie, too bad you didn't do this last night.  Nope.  You were up from 1:00 until 3:00.  Yes, yes you were.  I think you may be trying to kill me with sleep deprivation, but I'm not sure. 

You were up at 1:00, wanting a midnight snack.  Okay, I'm good with that.  Then, you were up at 1:30 wanting more snack.  Um, okay.  Then, at 1:50 you were just UP.  I'm not so good with that.  That's when I called in the reserves and begged Daddy to help me out for I was sure I was going to do one of us some bodily harm (okay, not really, but you know, I was EXHAUSTED at this point). 

Poor Daddy. I went and relieved him and laid down in the middle of the floor in your room while you crawled all around playing.  What was up with that?  You know better.  You know night time is for sleeping, not playing.  Was it your tooth?  Your fever was gone, so all I can figure is your tooth woke you up--I mean REALLY woke you up, not just that half-awake thing you do for a midnight snack--and you figured since you were already awake, you might as well play. 

May I please put in a request we never do that again? Please?  I'm sleepwalking today as a result.  Oh, and that sleeping up there?  Yeah, that was 8:00 this morning, well past time for you to be getting up, especially since we had to get to the doctor's office by 9:00.  You were sleeping quite soundly there since you usually wake up the minute your doorknob is turned...

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The girls both had a good visit today.  Ellie had to get her second flu shot, and Lil her five year immunizations, and they both had to get finger/toe sticks.  Good news--they're both insanely healthy. ;o)  Was there any doubt?

Both of them have excellent hemoglobin levels (I confess, this one worried me a little) and are in the pink of health. Well, except for Lil's allergies. 

I've been concerned for a while about her snoring (I mean, come on, should a four year old saw logs to rattle the house?) and the perpetual black circles under her eyes, no matter how much sleep she got.  I was thinking allergies, but wanted to get Dr. Jen's opinion.  I didn't mention the word "allergies", I waited to hear what Jen thought.  She confirmed my suspicions. 

After looking in Lil's ears ("some fluid, but it's obviously draining"), her nose ("signs of drainage and you can see where she's been wiping it"), and throat ("yup, those are some big tonsils"), we decided it wouldn't hurt Lil to be put on Nasonex for a while to see how it works.  The idea is that not only will it help her nose, it will drain down the back of her throat and help with the swelling of her tonsils as well.  We'll give it a go and see what happens.  Neither Jen nor I are ones to medicate children, but in this case, it's needed.

Ellie was 15 lb 13 oz (5th percentile), 27" long (29th percentile) and head circumference was 17" (25th percentile).  So, like I predicted, she is growing along her curves for length and head, but fell of it with regards to weight.  We saw the exact same thing with Miss Bit so there is no concern.  In fact, Lil was 15 lb 12 oz and 27.5" long with a 17.25" head.  Go figure. ;o)  Jen was concerned with Lil, but seeing how she's turned out, and seeing how El is growing right along Lil's curve, there's no worry this time around.  My kids just burn a TON of calories because they are so active.  I dare you to try to keep Miss Bean still.  We had to today for her exam and she was mad as a wet hen.  Oh the screeching!

Lil was 41" tall and 35 pounds, long and lean.  She is growing!  Of course, Han was 43" and 41.5 pounds at the same age, but hey, who's counting? ;o) 

It was once more rather deja vu-ish.  There I was, at the doctor's for a 9 month and five year old well baby/child visit, same as back in September 2006.  :sigh: My life is repeating itself...

Anyhow, I was happy to have my thoughts confirmed--the girls are INSANELY healthy.  Or, they were until we went to the doctor today. ;o)  Here's hoping they come away with nothing worse than a slight reaction to their immunizations.

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Today's Sparklies:

1.  My Otterbox Defender arrived for my iPhone today.  When Jessie shattered her iPhone screen a month back, I got concerned, because well, I'm the klutz in the family, and if Jessie could break her phone, I was doomed.  She got an Otterbox, and I decided it was a good investment.  I found one on Amazon for 1/2 the price they wanted at Best Buy, and with a better selection.  Ah, I ADORE Amazon.
2.  Good appointments for the girls.
3.  I also found you can get Philosophy products from Amazon.  Who knew?!?  I've been out of moisturizer for months and hadn't wanted to spend the money.  Well, my face was unhappy, so I rolled over some of those grocery savings into moisturizer.  My skin is happy once more. :o)
4.  I'm still LOVING the gDiapers.  :o)  They have been the BEST investment. :o)
5.  Coffee.  With half and half. Two cups today.  It's been a long day.
6.  Play time in the studio. :o)
7.  See if you can do this.  It was a lot harder than I thought it would be.

No milestones.

Feeling Better?

Lil came out of the bathroom with hair doodles for herself and for Ellie the other day.  She was quite proud of herself as she put the bow in the Bean's hair and made it stand up. ;o)

 Well, it was a rough night for Miss Bean--she was up, I think four times, but don't quote me on it.  You know how you just get so sleep deprived you become immune and can't tell up from down?  That's where I was and am. 

That said, she seems to be far perkier and more chipper today.  I'm blaming the tooth.  The fever is MUCH lower and she is continuing to leak like a sieve on the drool front.  It's gotta be a tooth, right?  RIGHT?!?

There really wasn't much going on today, otherwise.  Tomorrow's the biggie since both girls will have well baby/child visits tomorrow--that fever had better be gone!--first thing in the morning.  Oh joy.  Is there anything more delightful than sitting and waiting around a ped's office with two squirrely children?  How in the WORLD am I going to keep Miss Busy contained?  Oh dear lord...I'm NOT looking forward to that.  I envision much screeching as I try to keep her OFF the floor.  HELP!

Lil should be no problem at this point.  She used to scream every time she saw the nurses (from the time she was four months on--seriously--until last year) and I know she's apprehensive about going.  I'm not sure, but I'm fairly certain she won't have to get any shots tomorrow.  I'm not so certain about the finger prick, though.  I haven't mentioned it, on the off-chance she won't have to have it.  Keep your fingers crossed. 

Ellie should have no shots tomorrow, thank goodness.  I'm predicting she's not much bigger than 16 pounds.  Lil was around there at 9 months, and since Ellie's a peanut like her big sister, I think it's a fairly safe guess.

Lil is around 33 pounds and 40" tall.  I'm not sure where that falls on the growth charts, but I'm willing to guess peanut-y.  ;o)  Once again I'll say it.  I have NO idea how Brien and I spawned such dinky kiddos since neither of us are in the least bit dinky.  We have petite family members (GG, Jen, Lissie, Jessie), but we aren't by any stretch of the imagination.  I suppose they could surprise us and have MAJOR growth spurts, but I really don't see that happening. 

I don't worry because I know they both eat very well, they get plenty of rest, and except for the fevers the Bean has had recently, are both quite disgustingly healthy.  (An aside, it's amazing just how healthy we all are now that no one is going to a school environment every day.  I'm typically sick with some sort of upper respiratory thing from October through March.  I've had one cold this year, and it wasn't nasty like the ones I usually get.  Who knew there were even more bennies to this SAHM gig?)  They're just small--and there's not a thing in the world wrong with that. :oP

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Today's Sparklies:

1.  My bathrooms are sparkly and smell good too.  I just LOVE the aroma of pink grapefruit and it makes a lovely bathroom cleaning agent. :o)
2.  Did I mention the pink grapefruit? Yeah, I also put a bit of the essential oil on a tissue I then sucked up in the vacuum.  The air was fresh and crisp as I went about the vacuuming today. 
3.  A Beanie that's feeling better.
4.  Chatting with Robin.  I don't know what I'm going to do in the afternoons when she starts back to work...Eek!
5.  Another card made.  Woo hoo!
6.  There were some snow flurries during lunch today. :o)
7.  Being home and not having to worry about teaching on a day when I'm so sleep deprived I can barely function.  Again, another benefit I hadn't considered...

No milestones. 
Sometimes I wonder if I only dreamt my time with Hannah--it's seems so far away and illusion-y.  I've lost the frustrations and strains of daily life, the beauty and love and daily observances of the extraordinary and am left with soft, subtle memories.  I KNOW she drove me batty with her theatrics and drama, I KNOW she loved to be cuddled and snuggled and adored, but I can't REMEMBER.  I mean, I remember, I know it happened, but I can't remember the feel, the frustration, the love, the EMOTION.  Does that make sense?

I can't remember the feelings of being with her, the intensity, the love, the way she felt in my arms, the way she smelled.  I'll have glimpses of the feeling of holding her when Lil throws herself on me and wraps her arms around me and squeezes so tightly, but it's not the same.  It's like a mirage in the desert--it's there, in the distance, and when I try to reach for it, it's gone.

Not Again

 I thought we might start this post off with yet another fantabulous Lil ensemble.  I'm not sure which is my favorite part, the leopard print shoes with pink polka dotted socks, the tutu with the Hokies shirt, or the purple shirt under the Hokies shirt.  I think it's ALL wonderful and she proudly wore this out and about yesterday.  :o)

Next, we have Holly.  Holly is slowly adjusting to being an only dog.  She still misses Buddy Dog, but is managing.  She has never been one of those pooches to roll over for you to rub her tummy.  Yet, last night, I was greeted with this sight.  There she was, stretched out, tummy up, on B's lap.  Silly dog.  :oP

And then, last night I was greeted with this when I went to check on Lil.  First off, it doesn't matter that she has matching pj's, she insists on wearing mismatched ones all the time.  And then, of course, there's the way she's sleeping.  Most evenings I go in to make sure she's not going to fall out of bed before morning. ;o)

And, finally, here's my sweet little Bean with yogurt and avocado all over her face.  I particularly like her eyebrows. :oP

And, speaking of the sweet Bean, she's got a big ol' fever again.  :sigh:  I'm fairly certain it's that tooth trying to pop through causing all her misery.  The older two only got low-grade fevers with their teeth, but this one, well, it seems as if her immune response kicks into high-gear and gives her a much bigger one.  :o(  At least, that's my conclusion given her fever-then-tooth of two weeks ago.  And, given the copious amounts of drool, the snotty nose and the general miserableness (which a fever will definitely cause), I'm given to think it's a tooth.

She's still eating (the nursing strike is off!), she's playing, she's just not my normal, sunny baby.  Poor Beanie.

B and Lil went to church without us.  Yes, it probably is the tooth, but what if it's not?  We don't want to go spreading any germs around.  Nan and Pop will be joining us for dinner this evening, so at least the Bean and I will get to see them then.  :o)

Poor Beanie. :o(

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Weekend Sparklies:

1. Saving $49 on groceries yesterday, and still getting LOADS of meat.  :o)
2.  Getting into the studio.  Woo hoo!  I've made five cards and it looks as if my mojo may be back.
3.  I've lost seven pounds!  There's still a bunch to go, but it's a start.  :o)
4.  The beautiful sunshine today--it may be cold, but the sunshine coming through the front door is warm and lovely.
5.  Veggie Tales.  Hee hee!  We've only just recently started watching them, even though I've known of them for years and YEARS.  Oh so so so funny--even Ellie laughs at them. ;o)
6.  "My Big Fat Greek Wedding".  Ha!  I haven't watched it in forever and I forgot just how much I love it. :o)  Oh, the laughter.  Gus Portokalos has got to be the cutest man alive.  He's just adorable.
7.  Infant's Tylenol and Motrin.  'Nuff said.
8.  Being able to be home with Miss Ellie during her miserableness and not having to call a sub, write sub plans, worry about a class full of students, etc.  All I have to worry about is the Bean.  Not a bad gig. 

No milestones.

Couponing--For Those Interested

(This has the potential to be a VERY boring post for anyone NOT interested in couponing.  I promise, there is nothing about us, the girls, or our family in this post, it is completely dedicated to how I shop.  So, if you aren't interested, please feel free to skip it--I promise, my feelings won't be hurt.)

I just spent an hour meal planning for the week, searching my coupon sites, my grocery circular (on-line), and matching coupons to my list.

I am in NO way a coupon maven.  There are a bazillion blogs and websites out there dedicated to extreme/hyper couponing.  I am just getting my feet wet in this pond, and I only clip/print coupons for those items I actually use.  I am committed to eating as processed food, partially hydrogenated and HFCS free as possible, and eating organic where we can.

That said, I'm trying hard not to be brand loyal. If there's a coupon in the circular for $1/2 packages of a certain brand of frozen veggies, I'll most likely use it.  However, I won't buy an item just to get a "deal".  If I don't use it, it's NOT a deal to get it on sale--I'll never use it.  And, yes, I know many folks will donate these items--I'm just not there yet.

So, here we go.  My grocery will double coupons up to $0.99--I LOVE $0.75 coupons!--for the first one used for that item.  Often, the items in the Sunday inserts are on special at my grocery.  Additionally, my grocery also offers "instant money back" if you purchase X number of X items.  Frequently they are processed food items, or items that have way more packaging than I'm happy with (I don't purchase prepacked applesauce cups, etc. since I can buy the large jar for cheaper and use reusable containers), but, every once in a while, they'll be for items I actually use, AND they'll match with coupons I have.  I got $5 in instant money back last week just for purchasing some frozen salmon.  Wow!

I begin by pulling my coupon inserts and grocery circular from the Sunday paper (We pay less than $0.75/week for the Sunday paper only.  If I can save that much in coupons every week (and I do FAR better), then I am breaking even.  Not a bad deal.), and then, every Friday evening, I scour these websites:
http://smartsource.com/smartsource/index.jsp?Link=5S2ZUA6PWPEPO
http://happymoneysaver.com/
http://www.mycouponteacher.com/ (this one even matches grocery circulars for you!)
http://www.couponsinc.com/corporate/OurCompany/OurClients.aspx
http://www.couponnetwork.com/
http://www.coolsavings.com/printablecoupons.php
http://www.coupons.com/couponweb/Offers.aspx?pid=13306&zid=iq37&nid=10&bid=alk0121190158bc95349725410

Some of them will even let you print the coupons twice.  I have found deals not only on food, but on DVDs and books as well.  It's pretty cool!

I print the coupons I want and then cut them out (that part is a HUGE pain in the butt, but very worth it). 

Here's my menu for the week:
Saturday: Chili over rice
Sunday: baked chicken with a twist, fresh veggie
Monday: salmon, spinach, fresh salad
Tuesday: pork ribs, fresh veggie
Wednesday: sketti, salad, Texas toast
Thursday: baked potato soup, salad
Friday: dinner with Mom and Dad

Most weeks, I have the energy to look through my Cook's Country and Cook's Illustrated magazines to find at least one recipe that is new to us.  However, this evening, I'm feeling pretty beat and just don't have it in me.  The potato soup is a new recipe.  I'll let you know how it works out. We also do at least one meatless meal a week. 

Also, when I plan, I try to make sure that I can use up leftovers or use up all the food I purchase for the week--I'm really working on not wasting food.  Brien will take leftovers for lunch and I'll have them for lunch (if there's enough left).  Last week's meal plan was AWESOME for using up everything completely.

I often purchase "used meat"--meat that is sell by a nearby date that has been reduced for quick sale--and put it in the freezer.  Who doesn't love getting meat on sale?  So, this week's menu has been planned with that in mind as well.  I also stock up on canned goods we use a lot of (tomato products in particular) when they are on sale.  Last week, my preferred brand of tuna was on BIG sale--save $0.26/can, so I was saving more than $1.00/4 cans.  We use a LOT of tuna in this house so I stocked up.

This week's grocery list is (* denotes a coupon):

• salad stuff (leaf lettuce, grape tomatoes, green onion, avocado, peppers, cukes)
• salad in a bag*
• pears
• apples
• veggies on sale
• milk*
• eggs*
• 1/2 and 1/2* (I indulge in my coffee)
• butter (on sale this week)
• yogurt*
• scour cream
• canned soup*
• mandarin oranges (for the Bean)
• tomato products**
• oatmeal
• chicken stock*
• Dole fresh fruit*
• tea bags*
• ground beef
• chicken boobs
• chili meat (B prefers nice stew beef type meat)
• bacon
• bread (on sale this week)
• frozen spinach*
• frozen veggies**

And, a few additional items (laundry detergent, dog treats, and such, but not worth boring you with) that don't have anything to do with my meal plan.  As you can see, I have a large number of coupons to mesh with my menu this week.  When I write out my list, I put a check mark next to those items for which I have a coupon.  I carry an envelope with me that has all the coupons I need for the week so I can look at the list, see I have a coupon, pull it out, and make sure I meet the appropriate conditions.  One additional thing that makes my couponing go a little more smoothly is Brien keeps the girlies home with him, giving me time to really make the most of my list and savings. 

When the FM reopens, I'll do my produce shopping (and some meat shopping) there, and fill-in with the grocery.  I try to make sure we are eating seasonally--it's cheaper, but more importantly, food tastes better--and when the FM restarts, I'll be doing that for sure. 

Ultimately, I guess it comes down to this (and I know I've said it before but it bears repeating): you would bend down to pick up a quarter, right? So why not take a moment to clip that $0.25 coupon (which many groceries will double, making it TWO quarters!)? Or, even that $1 coupon? No, it's not as satisfying as finding money, since you don't necessarily have that money you save in cash-in-hand, but boy is it fun to watch your grocery total go down down down. :o)

***ETA Saturday, 1/22 at 11:00***

I just got in from the store.  I discovered they had much "used meat" this week.  I stocked up BIG time.  I picked up three packages of Laura's ground beef (organic, antibiotic free/growth hormone free) for more than a dollar off each pack.  I got four chuck steaks, a ribeye, London broil, and chicken boobs all on sale.  It jacked up my bill quite a bit, but this is all meat we will use for various recipes, and it was worth it to get it on sale.  I brought it home, put it in freezer bags, wrote the purchase date and sell by date on the bags and popped 'em in the freezer. 

All told, I saved $27.30 in bonus card savings, $17 in coupons, $4 in double coupons, and $1 in instant savings for a grand total of $49.30 in savings this week.  Including all the meat, laundry detergent, organic milk and veggies, I spent roughly $2/item this week.

For those of you who live in areas where there is no coupon doubling, I'm SO sorry, that really really stinks. :o(  My grocery only used to double on Tuesdays, now it's full time and it's wonderful. :o)

Busy Tonight

I have RCIA this evening and things are rushed. I'm going to leave you with these images. Lil's outfit for the day--a new combination, and now a particular favorite of mine.

The addition of the hair doodle.

And, her journal.  Her writing is REALLY coming along.  This was also done with no help from Teacher Mommy (other than the cattle prod used to get her to write, that is...) "Some animals' coats change in the winter."  Not too bad.

The Bean is cutting another bottom tooth (another long week...) and is therefore quite miserable.  Lil, meanwhile, has been an absolute ANGEL the past few days.  She has been so helpful and courteous and considerate I can't stand it.  We have had a number of talks about our family "team" and that as a team we have to work together, that even though I didn't make the mess in the kitchen, as a member of our team, I'm going to clean it up.  It's worked the past few nights to get her into the playroom to really give it a good cleaning.  :o)

I'm reading a fascinating book right now, Where the Hell is God, by Richard Leonard, a Jesuit priest.  His family suffered a catastrophic event that left his mother asking, "Where the Hell is God?" In the book he discusses how God is a merciful, kind and loving God and that sometimes, yes, bad things happen to good people; what role does God play in the face of tragedy? 

95 year old Sister Bernice recommended this be the next book the women's group at church read.  In turn, Terri (the leader of the women's group), my RCIA director, strongly hinted she would like me to read it so she could get my views on the book.  I can say, so far, everything Fr. Leonard has written is spot on with what I believe. I'm looking forward to delving a little more deeply into it.

Oh, and Lea, I'm no coupon whiz by any stretch of the imagination, I assure you.  There are MANY out there who are FAR better than I.  But, I'll share with you the small things I do to stretch our dollars a bit, if you are interested.  

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Today's Sparklies:

1. Lil's outfit. *grin*
2. Dinner--burrito bowls made from leftover rice, chicken (seasoned with cumin, chili powder, and garlic), and pinto beans.  We added black beans (which were already open compliments of the Bean and her eating predilections), sour cream and homemade guac.  Mm. :o)
3. Good hand cream.
4.  Brien--just because he makes me smile. :o)
5.  Packages of fun in the mail.

No milestones. 
Where the Hell is God is making me revisit life after we lost Hannah--the things people would say (because they didn't know what to say), my thoughts about God and how He could let this happen, and so much more.  So, not a milestone so much as a reflection.

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Please don't forget to click over to 170 Million Americans (reached from the button on my sidebar) to support public broadcasting.  If your children watch PBSKids or "Sesame Street" or "Curious George" or "Dinosaur Train" or any of a number of wonderful children's programming, you should consider clicking.  Thank you!

Meet My "Meenion"

My leetle meenion. :o)  Her "Despicable Me" DVD came with "minion goggles" and every once in a while, they'll make an appearance.  She is such a funny kid!

Kat, Greyson and Keira came for a nice visit this morning.  Miss Keira is now about six weeks old and she is a cutie pie. :o)

Ellie was utterly fascinated by her and kept trying to explore her (for lack of a better term), especially her face and mouth.  Oh my.  I know my Beanie is getting to be a big girl, but I fail to realize just how big she's getting until I see her next to tiny babies.  :sigh:  She's growing so quickly.  Okay, maybe not growing, seeing as she is still such a peanut, but her physical development is incredible!

She is nine months old today, my Bean.  She is now pulling up and cruising along vertical surfaces--she pulls up on the wall, doors, you name it.  Eek!  She babbles like a brook and will greet me with "Ma ma ma ma ma ma" when I go to get her from naps.

She is currently on a nursing strike during the day--UGH!--but we're working on that.  I'm pumping so she can have milk in a sippy with her meals.  However, at night, she is a nursing pro.  In fact, she seems to be making up for lost time during the night, and is up two to three times.  I want to cry.  I know each baby is different, but this really brought it home to me.  :sigh: She'll sleep through when she's fifteen, right?!?

She is still a peanut, I'm guessing around 16 pounds--we'll find out next week, and is still in 3-6 month clothes.  It is odd to see such a teeny being "walking" around.  She is happy most of the time, laughing, giggling and grinning.  She loves to make happy baby noises and let us know she is pleased.  She is also quite good at letting us know when she's not happy...that is one loud, shrill Bean.  Wow.

She wants to be anywhere her sister is, playing with anything her sister has.  Of course.  Much to her sister's everlasting joy, I assure you.  If Lil has it, Ellie desperately wants it.  Oh my head.  I had hoped we could delay this just a bit longer.  I had to have a physically "gifted" child, didn't I?  :sigh:

Some current favorite foods: beans (particularly pinto, black and green), mandarin oranges, diced tomatoes (with basil, onion and garlic especially), cheese (any), ham, a pretzel stick to gnaw upon, pear slices (she can gum them to bits), and whatever we happen to be having for dinner--the gumbo last night was a particular hit.  This child can throw back some food.  

Greyson and Lil played beautifully today.  I had to laugh when I saw them standing together.  Greyson is 2.  Lil is five.  Lil is SUCH a shrimp. :oP  But, don't underestimate her, she is a rough tough kiddo! ;o)

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Today's Sparklies:

1. This lovely combination of red sparkling star shirt and pink pants, and the grinning face:

 2.  Check out Mr. Josh:

What a miracle baby! :o)  He is SUCH a sweetie, and maybe, someday, I'll actually get to see him in the flesh. ;o)
3.  The pot of beans I've had simmering on the stove all day smell heavenly.  Ahhh.  Winter and pots of simmering beans just seem to go together.
4.  Our visit with Kat and kiddos.
5.  It was a GORGEOUS day out--57 degrees and sunny.  I threw Lil out the backdoor with Holly and told them to stay out.  hee hee
6.  My silly Beanie.  Nine months. Wow.

No milestones.

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As you may know, I'm an NPR ("Morning Edition", "All Things Considered", "Fresh Air", "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me", "Car Talk" to name a few) and PBS (too many programs to list!) junkie.  It has come to my attention there are three separate bills before congress to eliminate or severely restrict funding for public broadcasting.  Now, I don't know about you, but this frightens me.  I LOVE my public programing, and I give as much as I can during every single pledge campaign.  Public broadcasting is that important to me.  If it is important to you as well, I urge you to visit the 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting site and let your voice be heard.

Please.

Self Reflection

 I've decided I'm going to take a photo every few days to document my darling's wonderful sense of style.  As she grows older, she will certainly grow out of the phase where she wears something because it is her favorite color or because it feels good, and will instead be intensely focused on how it looks.  So, I'm celebrating all this is good and wonderful and five year old girl--her fashions. :o)

Today's ensemble is a royal purple Naartjie tunic paired with black velor slacks.  In her hair she is sporting a combination of big, light blue hair bow and turquoise hair barrette.  ;o)

Yesterday we had the day off from school for the MLK holiday.  We've been working on Dr. King and why he was an amazing human and why we celebrate him.  Lily was struck by his words about using love to conquer hate.  This is the first journal entry she has ever written all by herself without my help for any of the sounds or words.  It reads: Dr. King  used his voice but not his fists.  Yes, my love, he did. 

I have often thought long and hard about that period of time.  I feel actual pain when I think of injustices being committed against people who have done no wrong.  I actually cry.  I know I would have wanted to be brave and strong and stand up for what I believe in, were I alive then, but I'm ultimately, a big fat chicken and loathe confrontation.  Would I have been brave enough to face the hatred and the bigotry? Would I have been strong enough to stand up for what I believed to be right and true in the face of such violence? 

I like to believe I would have, but deep in my heart, I have my doubts.  Would I have been able to live with myself knowing by not speaking up, I was silently condoning actions I knew to be wrong? I'm grateful I live today when things, although not 100% perfect, are definitely better than they were.  I know there are still injustices out there for those who are in poverty, that racism (across the board, white, black, foreign, religious--all against one another) still exists and it makes me ill.  What can I do to make it better, to make a difference? 

I don't understand it.  I can't comprehend how you can possibly hate an entire group of people based on a common characteristic--that you assume you know something about a group based on...what? Stereotypes? Misinformation? Personal experience with one person? I don't know.  I always go back to this Shel Silverstein poem when I get upset and think maybe this is the answer...

"When You Turn Out the Light"

 Small as a peanut,
Big as a giant,
We're all the same size
When we turn off the light.

Rich as a sultan,
Poor as a mite,
We're all worth the same
When we turn off the light.

Red, black or orange
Yellow or white,
We all look the same
When we turn off the light.

So maybe the way
To make everything right
Is for God to just reach out
And turn off the light! 

Since, alas, that is not an option, we need to heed the wise words of Dr. King.  He had the right of it--we need more love.  

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Today's Sparklies:

1.  I saw these lol cats and they made me smile:

2.  Ellie is starting to "walk" using her walk-behind toy.  I'll have to get a video and post it.  It is the CUTEST thing.  My babies have all look bow-legged, like cowboys who have been on a horse just a little too long when they first begin to walk. :o)
3.  The kitchen has been uncovered and reclaimed.  Hooray.
4.  I have also recovered the family room and playrooms.  ;o)
5.  Gumbo for dinner made from the stock from the chicken carcass from last night's dinner.  I'm really working on being less wasteful with food, and this is a good start. :o)
6. Ellie's giggle fit tonight.  Oh my stars, she had all of us laughing our hineys off. :o)  And, she was just SO happy! :o)
7.  Talking with Robin today about just how much I love being home with the girls.  I know it put it out there all the time, but it is still SO true.  I LOVE being a SAHM.  I LOVE being the one to see all the firsts, to be Lil's preschool teacher (most of the time...), to have time to work on chores and cook dinners and take care of my family and not be stressed and rushed and harried about getting all that done AND the grading and such.  I NEVER would have predicted this about me, but it's perfect for me. :o)

No milestones.

Reminisce

April 2009

 I've been feeling nostalgic.  I was looking back through photos and found this sweet face.  What a sweet baby.  She's still a sweet baby, she's just older.  She's becoming such a big girl.

January 2011

Her nose has changed the most.  (Don't you just love the face she's making?) I think that is often the case.  The cheeks lose a bit of their baby softness, and the nose changes from a little button into a real nose, it has a bridge, it has some definition.  The changes are subtle, and yet they're there, changing your toddler into a big kid. 

And, this is as it should be.  It makes me wistful for days long past that seem like recent memories (and, yes, I know 2 years isn't that much time, really, but in the life of a young child it's forever), and yet, I'm so glad she's here, getting older.  The alternative is unthinkable.

In many ways, the person she is now is the same as the one she was then.  She is utterly serious and so earnest, and yet she is so funny.  She was a kitty then, she's a kitty now--with a twist.  Then, she was just a "kitty".  Now, we have variations on that theme and she is often a member of the big cat family, and let me tell you, I think she knows them all. ;o)

This is one independent girlie.  She dresses herself (as evidenced by all the really funky ensembles she pulls together), grooms herself (see mention of funky ensembles and apply it to hair), and gets her own snacks.  She wants her outfits to "go together", but objects if you make suggestions such as light pink and orange not looking so hot as a combo. 

This morning, she got into her B&BW sprays and liberally doused herself.  It's still lingering HOURS later.  She created a recipe card for me so I would know how to replicate the delightful aroma.  ;o)  What a kid.

Brien was off today (he managed to get things to a state in which he thinks he'll be okay come tomorrow morning...) and we spent a fun day together.  We had lunch out as a family (Ellie helped eat Lily's and my meals) and visited "Barnes & Oval".  If heaven has a smell, it surely must be the smell of a bookstore (among others I could list--new baby's neck, baking bread, cinnamon rolls, the woods after a soaking rain...).  Sure, all low-key things, but remember, B and I often have dates at the bookstore.  ;o)

I'm hoping to end the evening on the same low-key note, spending time with my sweetie.  :o) I'll let you know how it works out.  For now, I'm going to work on that goal of finding more time for myself by picking up a novel. :o)

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Today's Sparklies:  

1.  The Avett Brothers.  Thank you, Jess, for the introduction.  I LOVE this song.  In fact, I downloaded the entire "I and Love and You" album.  It (obviously) really struck a chord with me (no pun intended).
2.  Time out with my family.  It was grey and icky today so we couldn't go hiking as B and I would have liked, but we still managed to have fun. :o)
3.  Did you ladies see this?  I know I'll be checking into some supplements next month.
4.  Really reconnecting with friends from high school. Courtney and I hadn't spoken in fifteen years (you know how you go your own way after hs...) and have recently reconnected and it's been like no time has passed.  We're both just as open and chatty as we ever were.  ;o)
5.  Family time in Ellie's room this evening.  The girls were playing on the floor and we were on the floor and it was just warm and cozy and wonderful.  These are the moments I most want to remember.   
6.  All those yummy smells listed up there.  What are some of YOUR favorite smells?

No milestones.

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Oh my word, Lily just said her prayers and thanked God for "the Mythbusters".  Oh how I love that girl!