Hmmm... not sure what to think

So, Timmy has taken to calling me "Sir, Mommy" when (after asking him a few times) I tell him to do something and he doesn't do it. Like most Moms, my voice gets a little louder & a little more stern. But Sir Mommy?? Really?? Is it that bad?? When he first did it I was waiting for him to laugh (still waiting). But I guess in the long run- as long as he does whatever it is that is being asked of him at the time... whatever!
At least he's not calling me "Mommy Dearest"... right!?

Oh- went to Walgreens and MADE money... (which is good after the money spent Friday morning!)
Bought:
Johnson & Johnson's Body Wash
Dove Ultimate Deodorant
Right Guard Deodorant
Infusium Leave In Treatment
Aquafresh Toothpaste

Between Rebates & coupons... I came out ahead $2.47

Also, I will be starting to do mystery shopping for McDonald's. A long list of rules but on top of the free food (which most of it will be thrown away because I don't want to be like the guy on SuperSize Me) you get paid $10 each visit/evaluation. And the evaluations for them rock because there is hardly any narrative to do! (unlike Hooters) So... that will bring in an extra $60 a month. Score!

Tommy... our boy genius

Okay, every mom thinks their kid is a genius. And most are- in one way or another. So let me tell you why I think our little man, Tommy- has proven to have intelligence above and beyond the normal 13 month old.

A couple months ago, I started to really focus on using the baby sign language with him. Once I was smart enough to be consistent with it- Tommy picked up on it right away. First it was eat. Then more. Then milk. But, a couple of weeks ago- he created his own sign for the word lotion. I'm not kidding!

Tommy's eczema had returned and he was pretty miserable. When I put lotion on him, you can feel his body just relax and feel relief. Well, one night early last week, I had him on his changing table and he saw the bottle of lotion. He started to rub his hands together. Then he did the more sign. Then he rubbed his hands together again. He then started pointing at the bottle and going "ah-ah-ah". So I grabbed the bottle and asked him if he wanted lotion... and he just had a huge smile on his face. So, I took his lead and did the "more" sign and then Tommy's "lotion" sign (rubbing my hands together). Tommy repeated it. My heart leaped!

He's done that sign on a consistent basis. Again tonight,which is what made me think I should post it. I realized that when I go to put lotion on him, I squirt some in my hands, then rub them together, then rub the lotion on him. He picked up on that and went with it! I mean come on- how many 13 months do you know who CREATE their own signs for words???!!

Anyway- that is my proof that Tommy is indeed a genius. Not to mention a gentle soul with a heart that loves to make you smile :)

A note on my oldest golden child... Timmy. We were in Target today and as we were checking out he said he had to go to the bathroom. Panicking (seriously in the middle of checking out) I asked if he was going to be able to hold it and he said yes (love these potty conversations out in the wide open :). So, we ran to the family bathroom as soon as we could. As we walked in, I realized it was the first time I took him pee in public. Ummm... it's a big oval toilet w/ no "pee blocker" on it. No stool either. Oh- and I have Tommy to contend w/ too. Long story short- Timmy was a champion- worked w/ the situation- peed & pooped in the potty at Target. That ah boy Timmy!!

Some pictures taken through out the day today...

Here is a picture of Timmy- just before bed with his pals- Tugs & Pooh Bear. My heart consistently melts with this little man. After watching me cut and work with coupons so much this past week, the other day he asked why I did that and I told him it's because I want to be a "coupon queen" His response was- "but your a coupon princess mommy!" And then later in the day he said I was a "cleaning princess" :)

Here is Tommy (right after telling me he needed lotion) getting ready for bed... look at those choppers!! He loves being goofy- and yes, we encourage it around here :)

Timmy still LOVES taking pictures with my camera... here is my morning look-nice, huh?

I had to put this one on (makes up for my picture above- but Timmy loves to see the pictures we takes posted so I took one for that team there). I found Tommy's zoo hat and he pointed at it and made it clear he wanted it on. So- on it went. Funny- he hated it on when we were out in the hot sun during summer!

More coupon bragging...

Okay, I'm really getting the hang of this. It takes a lot of time between looking up the blogs, looking up the sales and looking thru the coupons (not to mention trying to organize it all so when you're in the store you remember what's going on). Here is a low-down of today's adventures...

Walgreen's

3x $6.99 toys that were buy two get one free
1x $9.99 toy
1x pkg Ricola cough drops
2x aluminum foil
3x Scott tape

The toys had an additional sale so between sales, coupons & register rewards, I paid $11.97 for everything- but also received $8 in register rewards for my next purchase.

Did the best bargin shopping at Dominick's. Had my first nasty check out lady- all the blogs warn about these types. She wasn't going to accept a bogo coupon on nivea lip balm because Dominick's already had a bogo- so it would have been free. She said that I had to pay for at least one of them. So I ended up going to customer service and they accepted the coupon. I might try to Orland Park Dominick's next time- this is the third time the check out people have been kind of rude there.



Anyway- Dominick's:
9 lbs of 93% lean hamberger
5x boxes of Quaker Chewy Granola Bars
2x boxes of Cheez Its
1x box of Wheat thins
4x boxes of Multigrain Premium Saltines
3x two liters of diet dr pepper
16x yogurts (we love yogurt here!)
2x Nestle Coffe Mate creamer (big bottles!)
1x pkg of american cheeze (or "square cheeze" as we call it)
2x pkgs of Land o Lake spreadable butter w/ Olive Oil
2x loaves of wheat bread
1lb fresh asparagus
1x 3 lbs bag of red potatoes
2x Nivea Lip Balm

ALL FOR $39!!!!!!!!

Our last credit card bill was HALF of the average bill from the past 12 months!! Whew- that makes it worth running to different stores. Every month we save like that- it's more time I can spend at home w/ my boys. And this is what I remind myself when I want to get lazy :)

So how about some pictures since it's not all about me and my shopping habits :) These pics were taken last week at Boilingbrook's Symphony of Lights. We went to Bass Pro Shops and got a pic taken w/ Santa.

Timmy's daily question... "is it Christmas time yet, Mommy??" And as quickly it came up and as scary as it is... yes, it's Christmas time. Hope your preparations are going well!!

Conquering the Coupons...

Like 99% of everyone else out there- we are really trying to make our dollars stretch. I've been trying to figure out this super couponing thing- but it's harder than it first looked. I go on these "super couponer's" blogs and see the table top full of food that they paid $5 for. On Good Morning America a couple of months ago, they did a story on a woman who spent an average of $4 a week on groceries... for a family of 6. I would cut coupons (mostly for the items I always used) and then would pray for the best as far as remembering the 1) use the coupon and/or 2) bring the coupon to the store.

I'm definately getting better. I now save ALL coupons from the Sunday paper and clip out the coupon when the item goes on sale (unless it's something I'm buying anyway- like contact solution- then I just cut it right away). We've seen a difference in our credit card bill- which is always a relief.

With all that being said, yesterday and today mark some of the biggest successes for me yet. Here is a picture of what I got at Target for $13.48

$13.48 includes everything pictured- except for the Breeze2 glucose monitor. That I MADE $5 on at Walgreens :)

Gratitude

Picture this if you will...

You are walking along a path in your local forrest preserve with a couple of friends. Suddenly, inbetween your chit-chatting, you start to hear a loud, very loud, noise coming from behind you. The noise is hard to make out for sure, but it starts off with just some creeking and squeaking but becomes so loud it's as if a freight train is right next to you. You & your friends realize that one of the trees is falling, and it's coing towards you.
You start to run, not even knowing where the energy or ability to run so fast comes from. You love your friends dearly but you are so focused on running, it doesn't even strike you to look to see how fast they are running. Up ahead on a path, you see a man coming towards you. And then CRASH- the tree lands. Relieved you made it, you start taking deep breaths. As you & your friends talk w/ the man that was also on the path, you realize that your leg is hurting. Down by your ankle. And then you realize that blood is squirting everywhere. The man from the path pulls out a piece of paper towel and applies pressure until the ambulance comes. It works, the amount of blood loss isn't that bad. And you end up walking away with a mended leg and the feeling you are one lucky duck.

I told this story to my Health class, as we were on the discussion of "good samaritans" and if they really exist. After telling the story, one of the students stated "wow, that woman is really lucky that man was walking on the path." And then it hit me, yeah, she is really lucky. Lucky that he happened to be at the right place at the right time.

This is a true story. And for once, it's not me who is the injured woman. But actually, it's my father in law, Tom, who was the man walking on the path (w/ a clean piece of paper towel in his pocket. Tim & I like to call that type of thing a "McGyver move." ) After my classmate said that about the woman being lucky it made me realize. Yeah, that woman is really lucky that Tom was there for that moment. But how lucky am I that I have such a wonderful person in my life. Even more lucky that he's a packaged deal and comes with my mother in law!

My absolute favorite Proverb is: " Those who walk with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools comes to ruin." Back in my early 20's I made that my prayer, asking that the right kind of people would start to come in my life. And here I am today. With some of the most amazing people for in-laws and an even more amazing husband. Sometimes I get pretty sad about being so far away (and often out of touch) with my family. But then I realize that I'm surrounded and embrace by love, support & encouragement. So I'm away from family but there is no doubt that I'm home.

Quote of the day..

Had to get this one down in writing...

Instead of getting in the habit of having the TV or a video on in the morning, we usually listen to music. Which, often leads to dancing. Some of our favorites (mostly just Timmy & I at this point. Tommy often looks at us with a hint of suspicion, I'm guessing he's wondering if he's really related to us) include the ever popular "Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes" and of course, "The Chicken Dance."

This morning while doing the chicken dance, Timmy was holding on to a little ball that was shaped like a brain. In the midst of flapping his arms he stopped and said "This is really hard to do with my brain!"

I've been on a "giggle high" since :)

BY THE WAY: I JUST REALIZED MY LAST POST ON OCT 17 SAT IN THE "EDIT" BOX AND WASN'T OFFICIALLY POSTED. JUST IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...