Cheapskate

Well, not exactly but I am trying to cut corners and save money where I can. It seems like lately with all the recession/depression talk I really need to buckle down and get creative.

It seems like we waste so much and take so much for granted. I am trying to cut coupons (of which I have a backlog) and plan out our weekly meals. It is difficult since we have such busy schedules and I am trying to feed my family better. We do OK but I know we can do better!! Houghton is eating us out of house and home lately, and Mary's actually eating what we put in front of her so it's good. I am just in a dinner rut. It's the same 'ol same 'ol stuff for dinner.
Also, I am trying to make my lunch everyday which is going well so far and Paul is good at taking leftovers. (I try with some stuff but it's hard...not a big fan of leftovers!) We are also trying not to eat out/take out much. It's ok since the kids don't really care for it anyway!!

Another good thing that happened is that my mom had a yard sale (in our yard) for a bunch of stuff she wanted to get rid of .....Houghton helped by going through some of his toys and putting them out. He also helped grandma get organized and tag stuff. He made about $60...pretty good for last minute AND he was at a swim meet so grandma took care of the sales!!! (she didn't even ask for a percentage! :)

Speaking of yard sales....Paul has always been against them...too much work for to little reward....until now (I think) He was impressed to find out that my mom made about $350 in 3-4 hours and only put up 2 signs at the end of our block. With all the crap we have and are getting rid of trying to make space for #3 he's definitely not ruling out a yard sale in the future!!
We still take plenty of stuff to goodwill but I think in the coming months...it will be fun...and to see what the kids do too...it will be a good lesson for them. Plus, I am thinking they could have a lemonade stand...which is always too cute!!

"crack-berry"

Paul and I got new phones....our contract was up and I needed something that I could use to access our online calendar during the day, on the go, etc. So we decided to get "Blackberry's"
which now that I have figured out (with help from Paul-of course) how to generally get to stuff it's like an addiction. I have to check it all the time...and I am like a little kid. I use it to entertain me while waiting....it's pretty cool though!! I do like having my calendar avail. when I need to schedule something. And poor Paul, his addiction is worse....for 2 reasons...1) He didn't reallly want one to begin with ...and 2) He's techno savvy so he gets more gedunks etc. (I stick with the basics)

One interesting side benefit....I can now text more efficiently and Paul will actually text....that means he responds waaaayyy faster than if I tried to call!!

Baby update

Well, I am getting done....ok I am really done...with work, crazy children/husband schedules etc....Oh and the pregnancy thing. I apparently look great....maybe I'll actually have Paul take a picture since I don't really have any prego pics. Many people, ones I know, and ones I don't comment on how great I look. It makes me wonder...how do pregnant women look to others? Not sure but I do know I have not gained a large amount of weight, which is good...I have a little extra to begin with! On the last visit to the doc however, we had a discussion about delivery and inducing.

I have been adamant about waiting for nature to take it's course. Up until last week that is. Did I mention that I am done??? We are tentatively working towards a 4/2 baby. It just feels right....I still however, have no incling as to whether I might have a boy or a girl. NO idea. With Mary, I knew. This one....nope, nada, nothing. It will be a surprise for sure! Paul, Houghton and Mary now are rooting for a boy. Me, doesn't matter.

So at my next appointment in 2 weeks...we'll discuss the progress and determine whether I'll actually have a baby early. That would be a change of pace for me!!

Also, FYI ...it's really HOT! It was like 87 degrees out today. I am so glad I do not have to be pregnant during the summer again. I am already warm!!!

Pan'fakes'

That's what it is called when you try to make pan'cakes' for dinner and use regular flour....thinking that it's Bisquick. FYI...not the same thing. However, Houghton got brownie points for eating them...why I don't know....I told him not to...they were not good at all!

Paul came up with the name...we all got a good laugh and chalked it up to "pregnancy brain" fortunately the "real" pancakes turned out much better (anything would have been better...trust me!) And as luck would have it...it does not take long to whip up some pancakes..so we actually got to eat them.

The Mother of all tantrums

Mary decided that when we got home she'd go see her 'friend' at his house. She talked about it in the car all the way home. She has had this 'friend' for quite a while now. She also knows that she can stay there....there is a bed for her too! Well, when we got home she proceeded to tell me that she's going to walk to her 'friends' house and that it's far. When I realized she wasn't going to stop at the end of the driveway, I asked where exactly is her 'friends' house and if it was far...shouldn't she wait until we could drive?? She proceeded to inform me that the house was by 7th St. (for those not familiar....it's a VERY busy street about 3 blocks away) So realizing she really was going to go, I had to inform her that it was not safe for her to go. We were doing ok, she cried a little but let me take her into the house.....where she proceeded to scream her head off that she wanted to go outside....(out front) I tried to lure her to the backyard with thoughts of toys but nothing was deterring her. So I explained that she cannot play out front because someone might come by and take her and she'll never see her parents, friends, family etc again and she wouldn't like that. She paused and thought about it...but wasn't ready to give up. So....I picked her up and brought her inside where she then ran to her room and kicked and screamed (and I mean screamed!) for a few minutes. It was quite comical as I am too tired from a long day at work to argue ....and her tantrums are usually short if left without an audience. Which was then stopped when she brought me a kleenex so that I could wipe her nose which of course was running from all the crying/screaming. After that....she finally decided to watch a movie.

That did remind me of my favorite picture of Mary....It was taken in Tucson when we were there for the UofA vs. ASU fooball game at the beginning of Dec. It captures Mary in all her glory.....

Pack Rat

I know this... I am a pack rat. I like to keep everything. From sentimental momentos to papers etc that I might need someday. I know this....however, I have discovered I am an electronic pack rat as well. I decided to clean out my inbox. I just started deleting the oldest emails. I figured if it was from Jan of 2006...I probably don't need it. (or I can find the info again anyway) I was feeling strong. Now, I didn't realize how much anxiety this is causing me!!! I don't need to have sales from 2 years ago!!! I know this....but I can't seem to get over it. I am going to get past it and move on. I know this probably won't surprise Paul but well, it was a sort of revelation to me.

Welcome

So, my most recent dilemna (aside from not blogging since waaaay before the holidays) is this....to facebook or not to facebook?? Paul and I have had this discussion as well as one I had with Julia. I am not sure really that I have anything exciting or really any friends. What exactly would I do with it?? Not sure, especially seeing as I cannot keep up with blogging these days.

Speaking of which...I do have lots to talk about and pictures to post but I am currently on duty trying to get 2 wound up kids to clean up and go to bed since Paul has checked out to go study.
Lucky for me though he did clean the kitchen which had about 4 days of dirty pots and pans etc piled up. I might forget to mention it to him but...it's awesome!!! With him studying, I get to do more dishes than I care to. Oh well......