AKA the "stinky farter" as Jacob called her.
There's nothing to compare to a little boy and his dog.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Jacob and Katie
This...is Katie.
AKA the "stinky farter" as Jacob called her.
There's nothing to compare to a little boy and his dog.
AKA the "stinky farter" as Jacob called her.
There's nothing to compare to a little boy and his dog.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Making Changes - Confessions for Week 1
I think I'm going to confess weekly regarding my changes. If I don't, I'll forget.
I did buy 1 bottle of pop. Purely out of habit.
My groceries for the week came in right around $120. I did pay with cash. Also, Jacob threw my grocery list out the window. Wow! That limits the spending right there! (Where's mommy's paper? "I 'frowed' it out." Out where? "I don't know!")
I also bought food, treats, and a leash for the dog. The food and treats we'll give to my brother for his dog. Katie, we think was allergic to beef and corn. That was $40 that could have been avoided. I really was trying to do something good. I guess, compared to what the cost would have been to get Jacob a dog and THEN find out about the allergies, we did save money! Feeble attempt, I know.
Speaking of Katie - there was a $20 unplanned expense for cleaning my carpets. Don't get me wrong - I'm not at all angry about that. The carpet did need to be cleaned. (Let me also say this - I am very sad she didn't work out for us. I really liked her and I did enjoy having her.)
I did use my canvas shopping bags for my groceries at all three stores - I did forget them at Target.
I did buy my Christmas and birthday gifts for Jeremy's nieces and nephew. I was under my limit for 2 birthdays (1 to go) and I found a huge score at Wal*Mart for Christmas for the 3 of them too. Which we had a gift card for!
I made about $150 on my garage sale. I do have a few more items to sell on eBay. I did Freecyle a bunch of the leftovers. AND I gave my picker-uppers some bonus items too! The stuff for Goodwill is in my truck to drop off tonight. I might also try this Craig's List thing...we'll see.
We did eat out quite a bit this weekend and went for ice cream twice! With the dog, the sale and I kept forgetting to take that hamburger out of the freezer! And to be quite honest - cooking wasn't anything I wanted to do.
I bought 1 coffee from work last week and 1 bagel too.
We did have extra trash this week.
I had 4 bags out for recycling (all those yard sale boxes).
We also had 4 plastic take-out containers. Shame on Jeremy!
I did buy a new calendar for 2010.
I also bought 2 prs of pajamas for Jacob (2 pr. for $19 - 1 pr. was $14). Those were on my need list for this fall. I had already cleaned out his drawers for the sale. I was feeling very guilty about this purchase. My consignment store didn't have anything decent in his size. I do still feel a little guilty. I'm not sure why.
I also bought our tickets for the Tractor Pulls at the county fair.
And, I am down another hole on my belt since this started...I'm not sure what's caused it nor am I complianing!
Of course, there is room for improvement but, I don't think that's too bad for my first week.
I did buy 1 bottle of pop. Purely out of habit.
My groceries for the week came in right around $120. I did pay with cash. Also, Jacob threw my grocery list out the window. Wow! That limits the spending right there! (Where's mommy's paper? "I 'frowed' it out." Out where? "I don't know!")
I also bought food, treats, and a leash for the dog. The food and treats we'll give to my brother for his dog. Katie, we think was allergic to beef and corn. That was $40 that could have been avoided. I really was trying to do something good. I guess, compared to what the cost would have been to get Jacob a dog and THEN find out about the allergies, we did save money! Feeble attempt, I know.
Speaking of Katie - there was a $20 unplanned expense for cleaning my carpets. Don't get me wrong - I'm not at all angry about that. The carpet did need to be cleaned. (Let me also say this - I am very sad she didn't work out for us. I really liked her and I did enjoy having her.)
I did use my canvas shopping bags for my groceries at all three stores - I did forget them at Target.
I did buy my Christmas and birthday gifts for Jeremy's nieces and nephew. I was under my limit for 2 birthdays (1 to go) and I found a huge score at Wal*Mart for Christmas for the 3 of them too. Which we had a gift card for!
I made about $150 on my garage sale. I do have a few more items to sell on eBay. I did Freecyle a bunch of the leftovers. AND I gave my picker-uppers some bonus items too! The stuff for Goodwill is in my truck to drop off tonight. I might also try this Craig's List thing...we'll see.
We did eat out quite a bit this weekend and went for ice cream twice! With the dog, the sale and I kept forgetting to take that hamburger out of the freezer! And to be quite honest - cooking wasn't anything I wanted to do.
I bought 1 coffee from work last week and 1 bagel too.
We did have extra trash this week.
I had 4 bags out for recycling (all those yard sale boxes).
We also had 4 plastic take-out containers. Shame on Jeremy!
I did buy a new calendar for 2010.
I also bought 2 prs of pajamas for Jacob (2 pr. for $19 - 1 pr. was $14). Those were on my need list for this fall. I had already cleaned out his drawers for the sale. I was feeling very guilty about this purchase. My consignment store didn't have anything decent in his size. I do still feel a little guilty. I'm not sure why.
I also bought our tickets for the Tractor Pulls at the county fair.
And, I am down another hole on my belt since this started...I'm not sure what's caused it nor am I complianing!
Of course, there is room for improvement but, I don't think that's too bad for my first week.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Fostering Katie
We attempted to foster a dog this weekend. A 9 year-old, 75 lb. Golden Retriever, named Katie. I picked her up Thursday night after work and brought her home. Jacob absolutely loved her. He followed her everywhere, hugged her, and kissed her. He even napped with her!
She's a great dog. A little stinky, and some food issues and we ended up feeding her rice and pasta but, she's so sweet and so gentle. She had a little trouble staying out of the road (of course, the car she ran in front of was a county Sheriff deputy) and liked to chase our cats but, we did enjoy having her around. She followed my every move and even barked at Jeremy when he came home. It was comforting to have her there at night.
Sadly, Saturday afternoon, Jacob broke out in hives. His little eyes got all red and itchy, his little nose, crimson and drippy. Katie had to go.
I called the retriever rescue lady and they found her another home. We all went to make the swap on Monday afternoon. She's living with another (absolutely adorable) little Golden, named Ruby and her mom, Cindi, until she finds a permanent home.
Isn't that always the case? The kid that so badly wants a dog, is always the kid that is allergic.
I'm a little sad that Katie couldn't stay with us. I am relieved that we didn't go and spend a bunch of money on a puppy to find out that Jacob does have allergies only to have to find a home for the dog.
And thanks to Katie (and Jeremy), I did get my carpets cleaned this weekend! :)
She's a great dog. A little stinky, and some food issues and we ended up feeding her rice and pasta but, she's so sweet and so gentle. She had a little trouble staying out of the road (of course, the car she ran in front of was a county Sheriff deputy) and liked to chase our cats but, we did enjoy having her around. She followed my every move and even barked at Jeremy when he came home. It was comforting to have her there at night.
Sadly, Saturday afternoon, Jacob broke out in hives. His little eyes got all red and itchy, his little nose, crimson and drippy. Katie had to go.
I called the retriever rescue lady and they found her another home. We all went to make the swap on Monday afternoon. She's living with another (absolutely adorable) little Golden, named Ruby and her mom, Cindi, until she finds a permanent home.
Isn't that always the case? The kid that so badly wants a dog, is always the kid that is allergic.
I'm a little sad that Katie couldn't stay with us. I am relieved that we didn't go and spend a bunch of money on a puppy to find out that Jacob does have allergies only to have to find a home for the dog.
And thanks to Katie (and Jeremy), I did get my carpets cleaned this weekend! :)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Gift Bags - my aversion explained
I was wrapping a couple of birthday gifts this past weekend and it dawned on me why I have such an aversion to giving a gift in a bag. It's not the gifts in the bag - it's just the bag itself. You may know this or have noticed this, I don't or I rarely use them.
Christmas was always just plain ugly when I was a kid. Edna always threw some type of snit. As her children, we all struggle with gifts for her. We could walk into a store and buy her everything she pointed to, wrap and give it to her and she'd still have a fit that it wasn't enough, was too much, or wasn't what she wanted. She's the only person I know who b!tches about gift cards!
Because of my mother, I always told myself that I would do anything and everything I could to make Christmas better/happier for my kids, for my family. I would always wrap gifts, and have good food and enjoy the day. No fights. No police. (I'll explain another time.)
Every Christmas, birthday, gift giving occasion, Edna never wrapped gifts. My sisters or my brother wrapped all the gifts Edna gave to me until I was old enough to do it myself. Yes, I wrapped my own gifts. Edna would put them in a box and I'd wrap the box. Oh, she'd even come up with creative ways to use the little scraps of paper too. Like wrap one little strip around the middle of the white shirt box. Or my favorite - wrap the little strip around just the corners. That caused a GIANT fight one year as I refused to do it.
Edna hoarded wrapping paper. I inherited her stash almost 4 years ago as well as a box of all the little scraps and strips, including a box of bows with no sticky. Aside from purchasing a couple of rolls of thicker, a roll of longer, and the 4 rolls that were free at a yard sale, I haven't HAD to buy paper in 4 years! Yet, she fought with me over using strips of wrapping paper!
Edna was in her glory when they came out with the pre-printed shirt boxes. You know, the ones with the little designs on the lids that you simply tape shut. Oooh! She loved those. I HATE 'em! She then gave me the store bag with my gift inside and it was up to me to stuff that store bag into that box and then tape the box shut. Merry Christmas!
Even now, with all the cute little bags available, Ole Edna, she prefers the store's plastic bag. But more often the case, now Edna chooses to write a check...sometimes. If she feels like it that year. I guess, I can only say she's fair. She slights us all the same. The kids included.
I, myself, enjoy watching a child (even old Jeremy) RIP into the paper and tear it all up to reveal what is hidden underneath. I love that look when they roll the item over and see what it is! Somehow the gift bag doesn't give off that same feeling. I mean really - you pull out three pieces of crumpled tissue paper and whoa - there's your gift. You can't shake it like a wrapped box. You can't turn it all around or upside down. And quite honestly - I'm a terrible peeker and if left alone with a gift bag with my name on it - I'll have that gift outta there, all scoped out and back in the sack so you can't even tell I looked - quicker than you can say "Christmas!" I am however, deterred by wrapping paper!
I'm going against my beliefs this Christmas and I'm giving my gifts, to the adults in gift bags - it is the easiest way to package what I have in store. But it's okay, I have plenty of paper for the little kiddies on my list. Don't you worry kids, Auntie Gail has plenty of paper for you little shredders!
**Disclaimer - I do not think less of you for using gift bags, and I do recycle the ones that I receive.
Christmas was always just plain ugly when I was a kid. Edna always threw some type of snit. As her children, we all struggle with gifts for her. We could walk into a store and buy her everything she pointed to, wrap and give it to her and she'd still have a fit that it wasn't enough, was too much, or wasn't what she wanted. She's the only person I know who b!tches about gift cards!
Because of my mother, I always told myself that I would do anything and everything I could to make Christmas better/happier for my kids, for my family. I would always wrap gifts, and have good food and enjoy the day. No fights. No police. (I'll explain another time.)
Every Christmas, birthday, gift giving occasion, Edna never wrapped gifts. My sisters or my brother wrapped all the gifts Edna gave to me until I was old enough to do it myself. Yes, I wrapped my own gifts. Edna would put them in a box and I'd wrap the box. Oh, she'd even come up with creative ways to use the little scraps of paper too. Like wrap one little strip around the middle of the white shirt box. Or my favorite - wrap the little strip around just the corners. That caused a GIANT fight one year as I refused to do it.
Edna hoarded wrapping paper. I inherited her stash almost 4 years ago as well as a box of all the little scraps and strips, including a box of bows with no sticky. Aside from purchasing a couple of rolls of thicker, a roll of longer, and the 4 rolls that were free at a yard sale, I haven't HAD to buy paper in 4 years! Yet, she fought with me over using strips of wrapping paper!
Edna was in her glory when they came out with the pre-printed shirt boxes. You know, the ones with the little designs on the lids that you simply tape shut. Oooh! She loved those. I HATE 'em! She then gave me the store bag with my gift inside and it was up to me to stuff that store bag into that box and then tape the box shut. Merry Christmas!
Even now, with all the cute little bags available, Ole Edna, she prefers the store's plastic bag. But more often the case, now Edna chooses to write a check...sometimes. If she feels like it that year. I guess, I can only say she's fair. She slights us all the same. The kids included.
I, myself, enjoy watching a child (even old Jeremy) RIP into the paper and tear it all up to reveal what is hidden underneath. I love that look when they roll the item over and see what it is! Somehow the gift bag doesn't give off that same feeling. I mean really - you pull out three pieces of crumpled tissue paper and whoa - there's your gift. You can't shake it like a wrapped box. You can't turn it all around or upside down. And quite honestly - I'm a terrible peeker and if left alone with a gift bag with my name on it - I'll have that gift outta there, all scoped out and back in the sack so you can't even tell I looked - quicker than you can say "Christmas!" I am however, deterred by wrapping paper!
I'm going against my beliefs this Christmas and I'm giving my gifts, to the adults in gift bags - it is the easiest way to package what I have in store. But it's okay, I have plenty of paper for the little kiddies on my list. Don't you worry kids, Auntie Gail has plenty of paper for you little shredders!
**Disclaimer - I do not think less of you for using gift bags, and I do recycle the ones that I receive.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Jacobisms - a new list
Yes, it's day one of my new lifestyle but, I don't want to talk about that. I want to do something fun!
All in fun, some new Jacobisms!
Chicken Room = kitchen
Captain = Napkin
Fresh = The Polar Express movie
Highland = Holland
A trolls = where mommy works
Relbo = umbrella
Sparkles = The sprinkles on the pink frosted cupcakes from Daddy's birthday (it was Sunday).
Our bed = Mommy & Daddy's bed
Poker Bear = Polar Bear Pajamas
Butter = Peanut Butter
The other night, Jacob and I were in the grocery store, and Jacob said 'hi' to the cashier. She said "hi, what's your name?"
"I Jacob. This mommy. Her Gail. What your name?"
"Damonika, nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you Monca! Bye!"
School starts next week. For us, that means speech and OT start up again. Jeremy and Jacob visited the school a few days ago and Jacob asked for Miss Honche and her firetrucks. It's very interesting to see his memory coming into play now. I'm anxious to see what the therapists have to say about Jacob's progress over this summer. In June, I saw this little boy who struggled with so many things. Coming into this fall, I see a little boy who holds a conversation and speaks quite clearly and with enunciation and emotion, who doesn't grunt and point! We've come a long way!
I think...
All in fun, some new Jacobisms!
Chicken Room = kitchen
Captain = Napkin
Fresh = The Polar Express movie
Highland = Holland
A trolls = where mommy works
Relbo = umbrella
Sparkles = The sprinkles on the pink frosted cupcakes from Daddy's birthday (it was Sunday).
Our bed = Mommy & Daddy's bed
Poker Bear = Polar Bear Pajamas
Butter = Peanut Butter
The other night, Jacob and I were in the grocery store, and Jacob said 'hi' to the cashier. She said "hi, what's your name?"
"I Jacob. This mommy. Her Gail. What your name?"
"Damonika, nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you Monca! Bye!"
School starts next week. For us, that means speech and OT start up again. Jeremy and Jacob visited the school a few days ago and Jacob asked for Miss Honche and her firetrucks. It's very interesting to see his memory coming into play now. I'm anxious to see what the therapists have to say about Jacob's progress over this summer. In June, I saw this little boy who struggled with so many things. Coming into this fall, I see a little boy who holds a conversation and speaks quite clearly and with enunciation and emotion, who doesn't grunt and point! We've come a long way!
I think...
Monday, August 31, 2009
Making Changes - for you google reader users
I forgot this and I wanted to make sure it showed up for you - IYCSAN - there's another one coming.
Accountability
Now that I got all the 'rules' out here. I'm sorry for giving you such looooong posts! I'm going to use you, Internet to keep me accountable for all of these self-imposed 'rules'. Don't be afraid.
I promise to confess my wasteful and spending sins in truth and entirety!
I will post my grocery totals every 2 weeks. I think I'll post my 'sins' then too.
I will confess anything I purchase that is not in replacement for another item (clothing/shoes).
I will confess to going over my gifting limit.
I will confess to purchasing/using paper or plastics in waste.
I'll also get my favorite casserole recipes out to you all in an email soon. I'll expect to see an email with your faves coming back in trade! :)
Tomorrow is the big day!
I promise to confess my wasteful and spending sins in truth and entirety!
I will post my grocery totals every 2 weeks. I think I'll post my 'sins' then too.
I will confess anything I purchase that is not in replacement for another item (clothing/shoes).
I will confess to going over my gifting limit.
I will confess to purchasing/using paper or plastics in waste.
I'll also get my favorite casserole recipes out to you all in an email soon. I'll expect to see an email with your faves coming back in trade! :)
Tomorrow is the big day!
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