Breakfast at Dunkin

Yesterday Daddy didn't have to go into work until a little later in the morning. It was great to have some help getting the kids up and dressed. (He usually eats breakfast with them and then leaves for work.) I also didn't have to load all 3 kids in the car to bring Princess to school.

I decided to take Princess out for a special treat before school. The two of us went to Dunkin Donuts for breakfast before school. I thought she enjoyed it, but didn't really think much about it until this morning. One of the teachers came up to me and told me that she talked about it all day long. She was excited that she got to go to school ALONE without anyone else in the car AND she got donuts. I guess it was a bigger deal to her than I expected.

The New Idiot Box

We are not big TV watchers in our house. In fact we only have a 19 inch TV that used to be my husbands grandmothers before she passed away, almost 15 years ago so our TV is almost 20 years old and it worked fine. BUT finally the speakers were dying, they would make a funny buzzing sound and the noise would be really soft and then all of sudden get really loud. It was time for a new one.

However, we looked at new TV's and realized they only sell plasma screen TV's. Do you know what happens to a plasma TV if a child gives Elmo a high five, or pokes a finger at Dora. It breaks the TV, nevermind if an errant soccer ball or thrown toy hits it. Say goodbye to that several hundred dollar TV. We talked to the salesguy at the NEX, his recommendation. "Buy this one, because it is only $399 and the cheapest to replace if it is broken." HUH? Since when does anyone have an extra 399 to spend every month for a new TV.

So we searched online and found covers for them, but they were expensive to add to an already expensive TV. So we went the cheap way out.

I searched on Craigslist.org and found a 2007 20 inch TV for $45. It is the first TV I have ever bought. (the others were gifts) We are now the proud owner of a TV that is only 2 years old. It is the newest TV we have ever owned and I hope it too lasts for the next 18 years. Though somehow I doubt it will last that long.

Once in a while it all works out.

This weekend was a fun weekend, but amazingly we didn't take any pictures.

Saturday we all drove up to the Daffodil Festival in Gloucester and it didn't even rain. It was a fun festival where they had kiddie games for 25 cents each and the kids got all sorts of cheap prizes that they love. We were too cheap to pay $5 for a pony ride once around a concrete circle, but Buddie loved watching the ponies and petting the llama.

We stopped for ice cream at our favorite ice cream place where they make it right there (Short Lane Ice Cream in Gloucester, at the light just North of Lowes). They even had sorbet so the lactose intolerant baby could eat some. The ice cream parlor has an outdoor area with tables and grass where the kids can play. It continually amazes me how my kids can make friends with any other kid their age in seconds and then play for half an hour while Daddy drank lime-aids and finished our ice cream.

Saturday night we left the kids and went out to the symphony. I haven't been to a symphony in a really long time and it was an excellent night out.

Then today was beautiful and 80 degrees. We went to church and then spent the afternoon running some errands and playing outside. We ended the day with a pot-luck dinner at church hanging out with our some of our favorite friends.

Overall it was just a fun relaxing weekend where we didn't get much done around the house, but had lots of fun. Of course, tomorrow it is back to school and work and housework, but for now I am playing on the computer and my husband just handed me a glass of wine before he headed down to watch TV. The dishes will still be there in the morning.

Budding Photographer

Buddy has decided that whenever I am busy he should be able to take pictures to keep himself entertained. He loves it and I am grateful for a digital camera. I have deleted LOTS of pictures of the floor, my feet, his feet, the chair, the rug, the curtains, my nose, my backside..... It is a little crazy. This is his favorite of the day.

Basketball ?

My husband came home a little early yesterday and decided to play on the neighbor's basketball hoop out in the road. This is one of the wonderful things about living on a cul-de-sac, we can play basketball and ride bikes in the road without much worry. My husband is not exactly a stellar basketball player, but it was amusing watching him with the MUCH younger (and appropriately dressed) neighborhood kids. It was amusing to me that he was the only one who had his own fan club. Though it was pretty cold out there all the kids wanted to watch.Buddy wanted to play with the big kids but we convinced him that playing on this hoop was a little bit safer. He loves this hoop.

Sucker for a deal

I am a sucker for a deal. I usually only go to the grocery store once a week and if we run out of something mid-week we usually just make do and wait until my weekly trip. This week we have been having some issues with Munchkin. We have discovered that she is lactose intollerant or has some sort of milk allergy, but the doctor won't have her tested because they say the tests aren't accurate until the kids are older. So she gets lactaid and is usually OK if she eats cheese. Well lately she had some yogurt and a lot of cheese, so she has been up in the middle of the night with gas pains. So we decided to cut out all dairy for a few days. Until I realized we didn't have much juice in the house.

I decided to run to the store and get juice. But then I walk in and there are A LOT of people around an Easter display. Apparently they were selling bags of mini-chocolates, Dove Solid Chocolate bunnies and bags of jelly-beans (the good Starburst ones) for 25 CENTS each, and filled easter eggs for 10 CENTS each. It was crazy watching people FILL their carts with candy. And because I love a good bargain I got some too. I didn't fill my cart, but now I have plenty of mini 3-Musketeers, Snickers, M&M's, Twix, Jelly Beans, and others.

I plan to give a bag to each of the kids teachers, and then will add the rest to our Easter stash. It will be a good Chocolatey Easter.

Old pictures

I recently realized that I had taken a bunch of pictures with the camera without the memory card in it. So they were stored on the internal memory of the camera. I finally downloaded them.

Daddy's birthday was part of them, unfortunately the pictures are mostly of Munchkin eating chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. It was amusing, except trying to get chocolate out of her hair in the tub afterward. There were a few of Christmas morning, but in the craziness of the day, we didn't have many good pictures.

Spring is HERE!

The last few days have been great weather. It is not real warm, but in the 50s and sunny, so a great time to get outside to ride bikes and play. I also broke out an early Easter basket gift. They really needed some more chalk. Daddy also mowed the lawn for the 1st time this spring... Well actually we don't have a lawn as much as a lot of weeds. At least it is something green.

Heavy Heart

My heart is heavy this morning. Cassi went to be with the Lord this morning. Please keep her family in your prayers.
www.caringbridge.com/visit/cassidy

Spring Break at home

We are on spring break this week and are having some fun times at home. Since Monday was fantastic weather we spent the day playing outside and getting filthy. Tuesday was a day to head out to the Children's museum. The kids love it there and since it was cooler today it was perfect to spend the day inside.

Princess and Buddy love the bubble room.Buddy thought banging on the drum made great noises, especially when you do it over and over and over and over again. Munchkin walked around a lot and carried whatever object was movable. I felt like I was constantly returning things to their proper location. Older kids were getting mad at her for always walking away with stuff in her hands, but she thought it was fun. I also tried to get a decent picture of all 3 kids. Munchkin didn't think it was a good idea.

Frustrated with Walgreens

OK, I am completely frustrated.

The Walgreens I normally use offers 15% off for military on Tuesdays (20% off of Walgreens brand items) I planned my purchases and headed out. Of course the Walgreens I went to was out of diapers that I needed for a really good diaper deal deal and out of light bulbs and some other things. I got 3 things and headed to Walgreen's #2. They had light bulbs, but again no diapers or other stuff. I went to check out and they don't offer the military discount anymore, since I was only getting light bulbs I decided to get them anyway. Then on the way home I realized it was still pretty early so I headed to Walgreens #3. This Walgreens had the diapers and the other stuff, I asked if they had the military discount and they did, so I got all my stuff and went to check out. Here is my deal

I was buying 4 packs of diapers at $10 each, total of $40.

I got a 15% discount so that is $6 off

I had 2-$3 coupons and 2-$1.50 coupons, so I that was $9 more off

My total was $25 dollars.

Walgreens is running a deal where if you buy $25 dollars of diapers they give you Register rewards of $10 good on your next purchase.

So basically I was getting 4 packs of diapers for $15. That works out to just under 12 cents a diaper and a very good deal.

However, the person ringing up the sale (manager) would not let me use more than one coupon, despite the fact that I was buying 4 packs. I have never had this problem at ANY store. I am hoping to go tomorrow and talk to a different manager. Unfortunately Walgreens does not have a set coupon policy. I just read an article about it on http://fromwagstoriches.entempore.com/ or see
http://fromwagstoriches.entempore.com/2009/03/know-the-coupon-policy-at-your-walgreens-stores/#more-2440 for the specific article.

OK, I think I am done venting my frustration now... though probably you got sick of reading it by now too. :)

Spring Weather

I have been enjoying spring weather this weekend. It seems strange that less than a week ago it was snowing and freezing cold. Today the high was 79 and everyone was wearing shorts and T-shirts. We spent a lot of time outside working in the yard and playing. We have had bonfires with friends the last 2 nights... The kids have been completely filthy at the end of the day, but it has been fantastic. I love this picture, Princess has grass and leaves in her hair, her shirt is dirty, but she is happy to be out playing on the slide. Buddy on the other hand fell off his bike, tripped over his own feet and managed to scrape his knees and elbow and his thumb, but he still had a smile as long as he could play with his flashlight at the end of the day. The best part of the day is the sugar high from eating lots of s'mores.

These are all from the first night. The second night of bonfires I forgot to take pictures. It was a crazy fun night with 7 kids and lots of sugar. Only one kid needed band-aids, but a successful night overall. We got to spend some time sitting and talking with the adults and the kids ran around with flashlights going crazy. I want to do it again next weekend.

Paper Airplanes

This week the kids were coloring and Buddy decided that he was going to turn his picture in to a paper airplane, basically he crumpled up the paper and threw it across the room. Princess realized this could be cool and asked me to make her a paper airplane. Now 3 days later, the kids are still playing with those same airplanes. (We made Buddy a better one) and this morning before school the game was stand at the bottom of the stairs and see how high up the steps your plane could reach. It was fun to see them creating their own games and playing nicely together... It isn't very common lately.

Snack

My kids can be weird sometimes. They don't want me to take pictures with the camera anymore, they always want video. Then they want to watch it over and over again and talk about who is on the video. Because of that, you get to see video's too. This one makes me laugh, it is Princess making snack for herself and her brother.

New Toy

We made it to the Consignment sale at Tabb Church today. They didn't have many clothes for Princess like I hoped, however I did let Buddy pick out a new toy... Check it out.

He is still working on not crashing into things, but maybe that is part of the fun.