As some of you know, we made the decision to have Cole repeat kindergarten. Red skirting (which is starting a child in school a year late) is becoming more popular, to give kids and academic edge, but beyond that, we felt like Cole could really benefit from another year. The good news is, I was probably the only mom in kindergarten not sobbing this morning. The bad news is, Cole finally realized today that many of his friends aren't in his class anymore. Even though this is something we'd discussed with him ever since making our decision, I don't think the concept fully hit him until today. However, he did make some new friends (and is excited to learn their names).
My "bad mommy" moment came, though, when I realized I had forgotten to write his name on his supplies. Yeah, I forgot to do it last year, too. Maybe we'll both benefit from this second go 'round! But, I must admit, as prepared as I was to send that big guy into the world today, I was kind of sad and bored without him here with me. But, alas, our days will fill up with class parties, baking for school events, organizing fundraisers, socializing with the other parents and not to mention my own classes, so the boredom will pass as the year kicks in to full swing.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Not-So-"Extreme" Couponing
So, lots of my friends saw the Extreme Couponing show on TLC last week and are gung-ho to start your couponing adventures. I was in similar shoes in December, after attending a couponing workshop with Jill Cataldo and associating with several fellow couponers at Cole's school. Let me say, for the record, that it has seriously changed the way we shop, spend money and acquire many items for our home. At current, our stockpile includes more pudding than you could shake a stick (or spoon) at, enough toothpaste to last us well into Cole's college years, pads and tampons out the wazoo, as well as a seemingly endless supply of formula, diapers, razors, body wash, etc. But, it started out rough. The first six weeks I was in the "business", it seemed like every good deal required a coupon from an earlier insert that I didn't have. I couldn't figure out how to decide which coupons to print (I didn't want to wait, in case they ran out, but I also didn't want to waste ink). I couldn't figure out the right order to stack coupons, sometimes I got the wrong products and sometimes I bought things that weren't really a good deal (like toothpaste for $0.50). But, after several months of doing this, I'm now able to coupon without a lot of help, confusion or dismay. Here are some tips for those of you interested in starting:
1. Subscribe to a newspaper. For Rockford-area people, you'll want to subscribe to the Chicago Tribune. Florida friends - you'll want to subscribe to The Ledger. Get one newspaper delivered for every person in your household. We get two (and if there are really great coupons, I'll pick up one or two additional at the store on Sunday).
2. Take some time to find what the good price points are for an item. Hip2Save.com offers a really simple breakdown for stores - if the item is in red, it's a good price point. For us, we won't pay more than $4.99 for diapers (and that's if we NEED them), I usually try to stay closer to $4.00. I won't pay for toothpaste or pads. I won't pay more than $1 for a box of tampons. I try to stay around 5 cents a prepared ounce for formula. For wipes, around a penny per wipe is about the best you'll find on a regular week. Sometimes you can get them for less, but the wipes deals are few and far between.
3. Try to avoid being a product hoarder. If you are going to buy toothpaste and you have 6 coupons and there are 6 tubes left, take 3. Save some for the other folks, but still get a good deal for yourself.
4. Be as prepared as you can be - have your coupons clipped and ready to go when you go to the store. Have them ready when you get in line. If you know you'll be doing four transactions to roll RR's, etc., and there is a lady behind you with a child on the verge of meltdown who is simply trying to buy some diapers - let her go ahead of you.
5. Start a coupon network with your friends who coupon. Facebook is a great arena for this. Several mom's from Cole's school participate in a coupon swap. You can go there to offer up coupons you're not going to use, as well as to obtain coupons you need/want. We don't use cat food, so we can part with those, but we do use diapers, so we can take those off the hands of someone fortunate enough to be out of the diaper stage. If a coupon is going to save you $.50 or more, it's worth it to even ask someone to mail it to you. Just be kind enough to return the favor if the day ever comes.
6. Don't be overwhelmed. Like I said, I've dealt with having deals go horribly wrong, letting $20 in RR expire, buying items that weren't truly a good deal, etc. It happens and it will likely happen to you. Just take it easy. Slow and steady wins the race. You'll come to a point where you can get a peelie at the grocery, pair it up with another item and find substantial savings on your own, but it's going to take time to get into that practice.
Here are some blogs I like for saving money:
savingmoney-101.blogspot.com
hip2save.com
stretchingabuckblog.com
totallytarget.com
wildforwags.com
There are others, of course, but those really helped me in the beginning and continue to help me. For starting out, I highly recommend to use Walgreens. It's pretty simple to get started there, it's not a huge store to navigate and there are really good deals. Walgreens is my primary store on a weekly basis. Since CVS is so far away, I try not to get involved in their ECB's program because it doesn't make since for me to go there weekly. I also don't go to Target very much. Again, it's a distance thing. If I know I'll be going there, I'll look up their deals that week, but beyond that, I don't make a special trip. I do go to Hilander/Kroger for my weekly grocery shopping and search coupontom.com to see if there are any coupons I can use for my grocery list, plus look up any deals that might be of interest. I also look for "expiring soon" coupons that I might use, just for snacks, etc.
I would be happy to help any of you as much as I can. If I can't help you, I can probably find someone to help you. Good luck!
1. Subscribe to a newspaper. For Rockford-area people, you'll want to subscribe to the Chicago Tribune. Florida friends - you'll want to subscribe to The Ledger. Get one newspaper delivered for every person in your household. We get two (and if there are really great coupons, I'll pick up one or two additional at the store on Sunday).
2. Take some time to find what the good price points are for an item. Hip2Save.com offers a really simple breakdown for stores - if the item is in red, it's a good price point. For us, we won't pay more than $4.99 for diapers (and that's if we NEED them), I usually try to stay closer to $4.00. I won't pay for toothpaste or pads. I won't pay more than $1 for a box of tampons. I try to stay around 5 cents a prepared ounce for formula. For wipes, around a penny per wipe is about the best you'll find on a regular week. Sometimes you can get them for less, but the wipes deals are few and far between.
3. Try to avoid being a product hoarder. If you are going to buy toothpaste and you have 6 coupons and there are 6 tubes left, take 3. Save some for the other folks, but still get a good deal for yourself.
4. Be as prepared as you can be - have your coupons clipped and ready to go when you go to the store. Have them ready when you get in line. If you know you'll be doing four transactions to roll RR's, etc., and there is a lady behind you with a child on the verge of meltdown who is simply trying to buy some diapers - let her go ahead of you.
5. Start a coupon network with your friends who coupon. Facebook is a great arena for this. Several mom's from Cole's school participate in a coupon swap. You can go there to offer up coupons you're not going to use, as well as to obtain coupons you need/want. We don't use cat food, so we can part with those, but we do use diapers, so we can take those off the hands of someone fortunate enough to be out of the diaper stage. If a coupon is going to save you $.50 or more, it's worth it to even ask someone to mail it to you. Just be kind enough to return the favor if the day ever comes.
6. Don't be overwhelmed. Like I said, I've dealt with having deals go horribly wrong, letting $20 in RR expire, buying items that weren't truly a good deal, etc. It happens and it will likely happen to you. Just take it easy. Slow and steady wins the race. You'll come to a point where you can get a peelie at the grocery, pair it up with another item and find substantial savings on your own, but it's going to take time to get into that practice.
Here are some blogs I like for saving money:
savingmoney-101.blogspot.com
hip2save.com
stretchingabuckblog.com
totallytarget.com
wildforwags.com
There are others, of course, but those really helped me in the beginning and continue to help me. For starting out, I highly recommend to use Walgreens. It's pretty simple to get started there, it's not a huge store to navigate and there are really good deals. Walgreens is my primary store on a weekly basis. Since CVS is so far away, I try not to get involved in their ECB's program because it doesn't make since for me to go there weekly. I also don't go to Target very much. Again, it's a distance thing. If I know I'll be going there, I'll look up their deals that week, but beyond that, I don't make a special trip. I do go to Hilander/Kroger for my weekly grocery shopping and search coupontom.com to see if there are any coupons I can use for my grocery list, plus look up any deals that might be of interest. I also look for "expiring soon" coupons that I might use, just for snacks, etc.
I would be happy to help any of you as much as I can. If I can't help you, I can probably find someone to help you. Good luck!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Our Mini Alarm Clock...
Last night, Hunter woke up and Doug nudged me to get him. After rolling over, he mutters, "That's unbelievably crazy." I looked at the clock and knew instantly what he meant when I saw, "3:32" lit up in red. Hunter wakes up every single night at the exact same precise minute. Every single night without fail. The minute does not change. It's never 3:33, or 3:31. 3:32. Always. I could literally set my clock by his middle of the night waking. Doug and I think it's remarkably crazy. I know a persons internal clock is pretty consistent, but for a 6 month old to have a down to the minute waking is insane, in my opinion. But, it is what it is. I, however, have recently found a way to make life easier.
We used to grab him and put him in bed with us, which would induce another 2 hours of sleep, followed by him waking and being ready for the day. I'd feed him and put him back in his bassinet until 6:30, when I wake up. I'm not really sure if he ever went back to sleep, if he laid there and played. Heck, he might have run to Walgreens to catch a good diaper deal. One can never be sure...But, in his advanced stage of life, he's learned to hold his own bottle. So, two nights ago, in my drowsy state, I made his bottle and let him feed himself while he laid next to me in the bed. Last night, however, I got a little more ambitious...I left him in his bassinet, made him a bottle, handed it over and woke up this morning to a happy, talking baby and an empty bottle by his side. Again, I'm not sure if he hit up the town once he was done eating, or if he went back to sleep or just laid there and played, but I know I am feeling FABULOUS today! I got the closest thing to a full night of sleep I've had since late in my second trimester!
Now, I realize that feeding a baby who is laying down can lead to ear infections, or that feeding is supposed to be a time of bonding and snuggling, etc., but I also understand what my needs are and the quality of mothering my children get when I'm exhausted. I think the benefits, in this case, outweigh the potential damage Hunter will have from feeding himself a few times. I like to think that I'm teaching him independence and self reliance. Haha!
And so now, to all you mom's who have informed me that your children didn't sleep through the night until well into their toddler years - I say, BRING IT ON!! Haha!!!!
We used to grab him and put him in bed with us, which would induce another 2 hours of sleep, followed by him waking and being ready for the day. I'd feed him and put him back in his bassinet until 6:30, when I wake up. I'm not really sure if he ever went back to sleep, if he laid there and played. Heck, he might have run to Walgreens to catch a good diaper deal. One can never be sure...But, in his advanced stage of life, he's learned to hold his own bottle. So, two nights ago, in my drowsy state, I made his bottle and let him feed himself while he laid next to me in the bed. Last night, however, I got a little more ambitious...I left him in his bassinet, made him a bottle, handed it over and woke up this morning to a happy, talking baby and an empty bottle by his side. Again, I'm not sure if he hit up the town once he was done eating, or if he went back to sleep or just laid there and played, but I know I am feeling FABULOUS today! I got the closest thing to a full night of sleep I've had since late in my second trimester!
Now, I realize that feeding a baby who is laying down can lead to ear infections, or that feeding is supposed to be a time of bonding and snuggling, etc., but I also understand what my needs are and the quality of mothering my children get when I'm exhausted. I think the benefits, in this case, outweigh the potential damage Hunter will have from feeding himself a few times. I like to think that I'm teaching him independence and self reliance. Haha!
And so now, to all you mom's who have informed me that your children didn't sleep through the night until well into their toddler years - I say, BRING IT ON!! Haha!!!!
Saturday, April 2, 2011
The Very Sleepy Caterpillar...
Cole has a tendency to find things and insist on keeping them. Thursday was no different. He found a caterpillar in our woods and brought it inside, begging to keep it, as if it were an adorable stray puppy. I obliged him, and cut holes in the lid of a piece of disposable "Tupperware". He gathered sticks and grass and all other things he assumed would make a nice home for his new furry friend and off they went. I had my reservations about the liveliness of this little guy from the moment we first met - but Cole insisted he was very much alive, just cold from being outside and would perk right up out of his fluffy balled up position now that he was inside our warm home.
It's been two days since we've welcomed him into our family, and he's yet to make any physical progress from his initial appearance. Last night, I asked Doug, our resident caterpillar expert, if he thought he was alive. At first, he was as confident as Cole. But, after poking him and making attempts at stirring some movement from this little guy, his confidence plummeted. However, Cole, ever the optimist insisted, "He's just tired, it's past his bed time, you know." So, if this little creature goes to bed so early, surely he'd be up this morning, right? Wrong. "He's a late sleeper - he stays up all night, like a bat," Cole informed me.
So, my friends, what I think has happened is that I've allowed my child to acquire a dead animal, build it a home and create whatever kind of attachment one can have to a happened upon caterpillar. Now, I just have to find the best way to break the news to him - your caterpillar isn't sleeping, just like he wasn't cold. Your caterpillar is dead. Tough break, kid. It happens to the best of us. There will be many more caterpillars. He's in the beautiful cocoon in the sky. He's gone to caterpillar Heaven, where all good and wonderful caterpillars go. Rest in peace, little friend. I feel like we hardly knew you at all...
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The International Caterpillar Rescue Foundation.
It's been two days since we've welcomed him into our family, and he's yet to make any physical progress from his initial appearance. Last night, I asked Doug, our resident caterpillar expert, if he thought he was alive. At first, he was as confident as Cole. But, after poking him and making attempts at stirring some movement from this little guy, his confidence plummeted. However, Cole, ever the optimist insisted, "He's just tired, it's past his bed time, you know." So, if this little creature goes to bed so early, surely he'd be up this morning, right? Wrong. "He's a late sleeper - he stays up all night, like a bat," Cole informed me.
So, my friends, what I think has happened is that I've allowed my child to acquire a dead animal, build it a home and create whatever kind of attachment one can have to a happened upon caterpillar. Now, I just have to find the best way to break the news to him - your caterpillar isn't sleeping, just like he wasn't cold. Your caterpillar is dead. Tough break, kid. It happens to the best of us. There will be many more caterpillars. He's in the beautiful cocoon in the sky. He's gone to caterpillar Heaven, where all good and wonderful caterpillars go. Rest in peace, little friend. I feel like we hardly knew you at all...
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The International Caterpillar Rescue Foundation.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Happy birthday, "Stanley"!
Six years ago today, my life changed in ways I never imagined. When becoming a mom, you have nine months to "prepare" for what's to come - to anticipate the challenges and joys motherhood will bring, to create ways to divert disaster, to envision what your new life will be like...and once that tiny baby is in your arms, it's all out the window. Nothing will ever prepare you for the overwhelming pride the first time your baby walks. You will never be prepared to hold back the tears on the first day of kindergarten. You will never know the right words to give the answers when the hard questions come up. You can't prepare yourself for the first heartbreak, the first meltdown or the first argument. I was once told, before Cole could even say his first words, that being a mom is an especially difficult job, because although you get the first I love you, you'll also get the first I hate you. That's true. Nothing can prepare you for either one of those moments. Nothing will prepare you for the amazement in your child's eyes the first time he walks in to meet his little brother. If you thought you were in awe at new life, try seeing it through the eyes of a five year old. No books, movies or magazines can ever prepare you to be a mom. But everyone unprepared moment is so perfectly unique and amazing and worth it. There is nothing more worth it on this Earth.
With Cole, we've relished so many wonderful moments of success and achievement. We've grown with him and because of him. We were "babies having a baby" when he came into our lives and the three of us figured it out together. We figured it out because of each other. We learned that just because Eddie Bauer makes the stroller, doesn't mean it's the best - it actually means it's the most complicated. We learned that being parents doesn't mean making everyone else proud of your job - it means making tough decisions that will one day allow your grown child to look back and be proud of your job. We've learned that the gratification of raising a child comes daily, but that we probably won't be thanked until he's a father of his own. (Though, he tells me that he doesn't think he's going to get married and have kids, he thinks he's just going to stay with us forever. Haha!)
So, today, on your 6th birthday, know that we love you more than you will ever know, Cole. Know that you so wonderfully changed our lives in ways we could never have imagined. We are better people because of you. Know that you can brighten a day with your big hugs, that you so freely give to everyone who comes into your life. Know that your witty remarks can make a room roar with laughter. As you grow up, always be true to yourself. Always be who YOU are. Always laugh more than you want to, and love more than think you can. Be honest and trust people - find the good in bad situations and have faith that is always stronger than your questions and your challenges. Dream big dreams and watch them come true. When the odds are against you, beat them. And when and if the world seems to much, you will never be too big to fit in my arms, to sit on my lap or to have your back rubbed. And NEVER forget: "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."
With Cole, we've relished so many wonderful moments of success and achievement. We've grown with him and because of him. We were "babies having a baby" when he came into our lives and the three of us figured it out together. We figured it out because of each other. We learned that just because Eddie Bauer makes the stroller, doesn't mean it's the best - it actually means it's the most complicated. We learned that being parents doesn't mean making everyone else proud of your job - it means making tough decisions that will one day allow your grown child to look back and be proud of your job. We've learned that the gratification of raising a child comes daily, but that we probably won't be thanked until he's a father of his own. (Though, he tells me that he doesn't think he's going to get married and have kids, he thinks he's just going to stay with us forever. Haha!)
So, today, on your 6th birthday, know that we love you more than you will ever know, Cole. Know that you so wonderfully changed our lives in ways we could never have imagined. We are better people because of you. Know that you can brighten a day with your big hugs, that you so freely give to everyone who comes into your life. Know that your witty remarks can make a room roar with laughter. As you grow up, always be true to yourself. Always be who YOU are. Always laugh more than you want to, and love more than think you can. Be honest and trust people - find the good in bad situations and have faith that is always stronger than your questions and your challenges. Dream big dreams and watch them come true. When the odds are against you, beat them. And when and if the world seems to much, you will never be too big to fit in my arms, to sit on my lap or to have your back rubbed. And NEVER forget: "I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."
Happy birthday, "Stanley"!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
@)(*$)&@#$*))&
So, when contemplating what to give up for Lent, several ideas came to mind: laundry, dishes and housework, amongst others. But, when I seriously sat down and considered it, I wanted to do something that would make me a better Christian, a better mom and a better person. Was I a better Christian because I gave up drinking everything but water? No. Was I a better Christian because I quit eating fried food? No. Now, I don't judge people who give up these things, because it might take some people a lot of prayer and soul searching to abstain from such pleasures for 40 days. But, for me, it just wasn't something I felt really brought me to the heart of Lent and what sacrifice in the name of the Lord meant. However, in recent weeks, I've really reevaluated a lot of the language I used on a day to day basis. Hunter will soon be at an age where he repeats everything we say. Cole is at an age where he is learning appropriateness. How can I expect my children to know that there are certain places you can say naughty words and not be in violation of social norms, but there are other places where it's unacceptable? How ignorant am I to expect my children to understand and believe that "adults can say naughty words, but you can't"?
That being said, I've placed it on my heart to quit cussing. It's taking a conscious effort to quit. It's something that I need to pray about. It's something that will make me and my family better. Heck, just this morning I caught myself saying, "Hunter has a stinky @$$." Not okay. I quickly caught myself, and prayed for the ability to think before I say something. But, believe you me - Fat Tuesday gave me LOTS of reasons to cuss. I was so mad at a situation regarding our house in Florida that I said some unlady like things yesterday. But, now I'm going to be challenged to move forward without continuing with those words. In an effort to better serve the Lord, when I slip up, I will add $1 for every cuss word I say to my weekly tithe. Congrats, Immanuel Lutheran - so far you've earned a dollar!
I'm going to challenge my whole family to this task - including Cole. While his naughty words are more like "stupid" and "dumb", they're still words that shouldn't be in his vocabulary, so for every word he says, he'll be adding a quarter to his chapel offering. I'm hoping Doug gets on board with this, too. And, if you catch me cussing, call me out! Hopefully I can hang up my sailor hat by the time this is over with. ;-)
(And kudos if you got that final witty comment! LOL!)
That being said, I've placed it on my heart to quit cussing. It's taking a conscious effort to quit. It's something that I need to pray about. It's something that will make me and my family better. Heck, just this morning I caught myself saying, "Hunter has a stinky @$$." Not okay. I quickly caught myself, and prayed for the ability to think before I say something. But, believe you me - Fat Tuesday gave me LOTS of reasons to cuss. I was so mad at a situation regarding our house in Florida that I said some unlady like things yesterday. But, now I'm going to be challenged to move forward without continuing with those words. In an effort to better serve the Lord, when I slip up, I will add $1 for every cuss word I say to my weekly tithe. Congrats, Immanuel Lutheran - so far you've earned a dollar!
I'm going to challenge my whole family to this task - including Cole. While his naughty words are more like "stupid" and "dumb", they're still words that shouldn't be in his vocabulary, so for every word he says, he'll be adding a quarter to his chapel offering. I'm hoping Doug gets on board with this, too. And, if you catch me cussing, call me out! Hopefully I can hang up my sailor hat by the time this is over with. ;-)
(And kudos if you got that final witty comment! LOL!)
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Raising Kids...
As parents, we are given children and sometimes a small skill set to prepare us, and then we are left to our own devices. We hope and pray at the end of the day that we make the right decisions for them, that we grow them to be people who are capable of making the right decisions for themselves and that they turn out to be good, honest, loving people. But how do we know we're making the right choices? How do we know that we have the right answers, or if there even is an answer? How do we take these little, formidable people and mold them into something strong and capable and honorable? And how do we know, along the way, that we haven't made some major mistake that will impact them for the rest of their lives?
I want for my kids to grow up and share stories of their wonderful childhood, of the fun they had, the things they did and what they learned. I want them to be proud of us as parents and to want to be parents like us. And how do you get past this overwhelming feeling that you've failed them? That you could have done something different, something better, something more?
I'm trying to believe that I have been the best parent I could be, and to learn from my mistakes and shortcomings and to be better, to grow and to provide more for them in every capacity. I'm trying to rely on my faith that the Lord wouldn't have given me these children if I wasn't able to parent them successfully. I'm trying to see things through their eyes, to teach them in ways they can learn. I'm trying to dedicate time and effort to their success in a different and more meaningful way.
That's all we can do, right? To learn with them and change when we see our current method isn't working. To pray that God is doing bigger and better work in their lives than we can ever imagine. To trust in His plan and know it is better and greater than ours. So, with a new perspective, I am challenging myself to be more for them.
I want for my kids to grow up and share stories of their wonderful childhood, of the fun they had, the things they did and what they learned. I want them to be proud of us as parents and to want to be parents like us. And how do you get past this overwhelming feeling that you've failed them? That you could have done something different, something better, something more?
I'm trying to believe that I have been the best parent I could be, and to learn from my mistakes and shortcomings and to be better, to grow and to provide more for them in every capacity. I'm trying to rely on my faith that the Lord wouldn't have given me these children if I wasn't able to parent them successfully. I'm trying to see things through their eyes, to teach them in ways they can learn. I'm trying to dedicate time and effort to their success in a different and more meaningful way.
That's all we can do, right? To learn with them and change when we see our current method isn't working. To pray that God is doing bigger and better work in their lives than we can ever imagine. To trust in His plan and know it is better and greater than ours. So, with a new perspective, I am challenging myself to be more for them.
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