Woo Hoo!!!
We have 15 friends and family coming over for a BBQ and as usual I am able to do it on the super cheap!!! I went to Target and picked up some little steaks. After searching through all the meat I found a bunch with $3 off stickers! Each package had 4-6 little steaks and I paid between $1.72-$1.98 per package.
Menu
Steak $7.24
Baked Potatoes $1.99 (used a BOGO coupon so $1 per 8lb bag)
Broccoli with cheese sauce (for on the potatoes) FREE (previous catalina deal)
Garlic Bread FREE (from previous catalina deal)
Pasta Salad FREE (from previous catalina deal)
I could make some frosted brownies for a dessert that I had gotten for about $0.25 too.
So for under $10 I will be feeding 15 people!!! Not bad!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
I should have just gone back to bed...
Ever have one of those days?
I love waking up to the sound of my coffee pot grinding the beans and smelling the fresh coffee brew as I am getting out of bed in the morning. This morning...sniff...sniff...my coffee pot...died. I think I knew deep down this day was coming. But I was so unprepared. It has been a loyal part of our
What do you get when
(he is not as innocent as he looks)
+
______________________
Actual dog. Not actual pillow. It took some time before we found the humor of it. Amazingly, no animals were injured after this episode.
Friday, March 19, 2010
BTW-we are out of paper...
Not everyone gets to be an astronaut...especially when the school district is providing only a fast food education.So just before Spring Break our district announced that about 1,100 jobs have been cut for next school year. Because they are broke. The classroom sizes will increase to 28 kids for kindergarten and 1st grade (with no teacher assistants). I am afraid to hear how many students will be in my son's high school classes. As of right now there are 31-33 students per class. What will this sky rocket up to next year? Will there actually be any learning involved when these children attend school? Our district employs nearly 2,700 teachers, and more then 700 of them will be unemployed at the start of 2010-2011 school year.
I am afraid my son will graduate high school and have difficulty solving this
Just about all after school activities...Gone. Gone. Gone.
How are their budget cuts affecting our students? Well, lets start with what is being cut...
Teachers...teaching assistants...special needs funding...librarians...music programs...art programs...gym classes...bus drivers...clerical workers...foreign languages-from middle schools... operational staff...3 vice principals...guidance counselors...choir...after school sports...after school activities...the list goes on.
What isn't being cut you ask???? The administrators professional memberships, the administrators $3,000 annual stipend if they have a doctorate degree, their salaries, car allowances(some up to nearly $10,000) and other "bonuses". Of the 196 administrators there are 111 of them that make well over $108,000 up to $250,000. After looking at some of the administrative perks...I think they could have made cuts elsewhere.
And instead of holding these irresponsible, moronic administrators and politicians responsible for the complete and total mismanagement of funds lets just raise the taxes. The district has been aware of their financial woes for many years and what do they do? They were purchase freaking $10,000 watches for retiring teachers! (yes, you did read that amount correctly and that was the amount per watch).
By the way-there are parts of the district that is currently completely out of paper so there will be no notes home from teachers (unless they choose to purchase it with their own money-i assume they will be saving their last few checks before they are tossed to the curb), there will be no tests taken on paper, no learning packets, if it needs to be written down you will find the writing on the wall because we're out of paper.
To enroll my son in a public high school next year will be over $325.00. How much is it to enroll your child in public school?
Monday, March 15, 2010
The missing tail
Remember when you were a kid and someone used to pretend to take your nose?
My son decided to one up that and tell my tot, "I got your tail! I got your tail! Ha Ha Ha!!! I got your tail!" I didn't hear that part at first. All I heard was the loud screaming from a wounded toddler whose tail was ripped from her backside. And the thud of my teen collapsing to the floor laughing so hysterically I can't believe he didn't wet his pants. As I came running into the kitchen my tail less tot had tears of complete and total anguish pouring down her little face.
I picked up my precious little girl to console her and I asked her what had happened. As tears still poured down her tiny face she finally managed to choke out, "he took my tail." Then the crying began all over again. Which in turn made my son start laughing all over again. I tried convincing her that she never had a tail. But her only reply was: "Cuz he took it!"
The crying eventually stopped. From both of them. She has been searching frantically everywhere for her tail. The silly boy left his bedroom door open a small tornado went thru his room in search of her tail. She still hasn't found it.
Anyone have any good stories about siblings?
Conversations with my tot
Me: "Can you start cleaning up your toys."
Tot: "No, you doed it."
Me: "If your not going to be a good listener, you will sit in time out."
Tot: "Pssshhh"
Seriously, you just psshhed me?
Me: "Please, do NOT throw your food."
Tot: "Why not!"
The dog is sitting in a pool of his own drool.
Me: "Because we eat our food."
Tot: "You welcome, doggie"
I swear the dog smiled.
At least someone is eating a well balance meal.
Me: "Your not being a very good listener."
Tot: "Really?!?"
Me: "Would you like to sit in time out?"
Tot: "Yes...PLEASE!"
She happily walks over to her time out spot and plops her bottom down.
Two minutes later
Me: "Are you ready to be a good listener now?"
Tot: "NO WAY!"
My son was never this difficult.
Tot: "No, you doed it."
Me: "If your not going to be a good listener, you will sit in time out."
Tot: "Pssshhh"
Seriously, you just psshhed me?
Me: "Please, do NOT throw your food."
Tot: "Why not!"
The dog is sitting in a pool of his own drool.
Me: "Because we eat our food."
Tot: "You welcome, doggie"
I swear the dog smiled.
At least someone is eating a well balance meal.
Me: "Your not being a very good listener."
Tot: "Really?!?"
Me: "Would you like to sit in time out?"
Tot: "Yes...PLEASE!"
She happily walks over to her time out spot and plops her bottom down.
Two minutes later
Me: "Are you ready to be a good listener now?"
Tot: "NO WAY!"
My son was never this difficult.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
It's not nice to lie
This is an old story from my life, but it is one that we still enjoy.
My grandfather past away 14 years ago when my son was only a few months old. My grandmother past away 11 years ago. (of course that was not the part of the story we get a chuckle from!) The cemetary in which they were buried was nearly 45 minutes away from our town. The year my son began kindergarten we had made the decision to have them moved to a cemetary that was in our small town. They had just expanded it and had plots available.
It was a Friday, in early September. School had just begun.
As my son sat in circle time at school the teacher went around the circle asking what everyone would be doing that weekend. Each child eagerly stated what they would be doing on the weekend. When she finally reached my son he responded, "we will be moving my grandma and grandpa." The teacher responded, "oh, and where are they moving to?" She expected to hear...a nursing home, condo, new house. Anything other than the response she received. My son responded, "The local cemetary."
Teacher: "Its not nice to lie." He was instructed to go sit at the table away from the other children for the remainder of the day in time out.
I picked my son up from school and we drove over the cemetary for a small family service.
Unfortunately, when they tried to lower the caskets to their new resting place, the holes were not wide enough. The company that is responsible for digging the holes was unavailable until much later in the day. My mom lived just a hop away so my cousins went and grabbed a couple of shovels and began digging to widen the plots. Anyone that knew my grandfather would know he would have received such great joy with this situation. I think he smiled down from heaven that day and rested a little easier, as my cousins (in their suits) widened his final resting place.
So as they dug we chuckled about how gramps was really enjoying this. (The story we laugh about ends there. A story of a teacher abuse follows)
On Monday, my son returned to school, sat down in circle time eager to share his weekend activities. The teacher went around the circle listening as each child gave the details of their weekend. Until, she reached my son. He proudly stood up to tell the story of his cousins having to dig our grandparents grave. His teacher assumed his story did not have any merit whatsoever and told him, "It's not nice to lie, go sit over there."
He continued to sit in a spot isolated from the rest of the class until the end of October because he would not change his story. On his birthday he brought cupcakes and celebrated alone, while the other children played and ate his treats. He had such a fear of this teacher-(which we later found out some nasty threats were made to not only my son but some other students as well), that he never told me that he sat far away from the other students and was not permitted to participate in class. Finally, it was time for parent/teacher conferences. This is when a story began to unfold about the type of teacher she really was.
My husband and I walked into the classroom and he struggled to fit into a tiny chair (me not so much, I am pretty short), to discuss my son. The teacher flat out told us that he has been isolated for over a month and has not been permitted to participate in class activities because he is a liar. After I explained to the teacher this story was in fact true, and had questioned some rumors that I had heard. I assumed she would lighten up. (This was the first of many confrontations we had.) Instead she did not like being made a fool and my son paid the price. Before my son started school with this teacher we were warned by MANY parents of older students about this woman. Within a few days of the conference it had made it's way around the school and other parents that I stood my ground with her and called out her inappropriate behavior not only to my son but towards other students as well. And more stories began to filter out. One parent called to tell me how she had witnessed the teacher drag my son by the back of his shirt with his feet dangling above the ground, to the bathroom because he had hair gel in that was blue. (My son insisted the bruise he came home with on his head was from playing outside). Later we found it was caused from her cramming his head under the faucet to wash his hair. Another saw the teacher carry him by his backpack handle and give him a little push as she let go causing him to fall and scrap his knees and hands. I was in awe that these parents had not come forward regarding this horrible woman who was responsible for children. Other parents were afraid if they complained it would make it worse for their children. SERIOUSLY PEOPLE THIS IS YOUR CHILD!!!!
I began filling a journal with all the inappropriate behavior and comments this teacher made. I called the principal just about on a daily basis. I was often seen waiting in the office to speak to the principal about this horrible woman. She was always too busy to deal with teacher complaints. So I decided that if the principal did not want to deal with the situation I would write a letter to our school district. I carefully drafted a letter. Before, sending it to the district officials I went to the school to hand deliver it to the principal first. I had instructed the secretary that it would be sent to the district, certified mail by the end of the school day, if the principal did not contact me to discuss the situation. Before I arrived at work the principal was now prepared to deal with the problem. It's amazing how threatening to mail a letter to her boss can do that. The principal agreed to do a principal, teacher and parent conference at the end of the week. I came prepared. I had also kept my son out of school during the week. I had my journal with dates and times. The teacher and I sat side by side across from the principal to discuss my son. As I questioned the behavior she demonstrated on various occassions, she would only respond, "I don't have any notes regarding that matter with me." Over and over this is the only response. I could tell she was just seething with anger the more questionable actions I brought to the principals attention. I had been calm, cool and collected throughout this entire meeting. (For anyone that knows me-lets just say WOW there's a first!) Not once did I raise my voice or lose my temper. But I just could not take one more response from her that she didn't have her notes with her regarding that matter. I calmly looked her in the eyes and stated, "This meeting has been planned since Monday, you have had plenty of time to look over your notes. Although, I do believe you remember each of these situations."
Finally, I struck gold. I hit the last nerve. The teacher jumped out of her chair, lurched toward me with her finger within an inch of my face, screaming at me at the top of her lungs. I continued to sit calmly in my chair refusing to take part in a screaming match with her. The principal jumped over the desk (literally!!!) to restrain the teacher. As the principal stood between us, afraid this psycho woman was ready to physically attack me, the principal apologized profusely for the teacher's behavior and I was informed that my son would be immediately moved to another classroom. I calmly stood up, thanked the principal. As I walked out of the office the principal continued to struggle with getting the teacher under control.
My son was immediately transferred to a new teacher. She was a wonderful woman with a heart of gold, and a true desire to teach. Several other children were transferred out of her classroom after my final confrontation. I do know she received several write ups and was watched like a hawk for the remainder of her career. I truly believed she should have been terminated.
My grandfather past away 14 years ago when my son was only a few months old. My grandmother past away 11 years ago. (of course that was not the part of the story we get a chuckle from!) The cemetary in which they were buried was nearly 45 minutes away from our town. The year my son began kindergarten we had made the decision to have them moved to a cemetary that was in our small town. They had just expanded it and had plots available.
It was a Friday, in early September. School had just begun.
As my son sat in circle time at school the teacher went around the circle asking what everyone would be doing that weekend. Each child eagerly stated what they would be doing on the weekend. When she finally reached my son he responded, "we will be moving my grandma and grandpa." The teacher responded, "oh, and where are they moving to?" She expected to hear...a nursing home, condo, new house. Anything other than the response she received. My son responded, "The local cemetary."
Teacher: "Its not nice to lie." He was instructed to go sit at the table away from the other children for the remainder of the day in time out.
I picked my son up from school and we drove over the cemetary for a small family service.
Unfortunately, when they tried to lower the caskets to their new resting place, the holes were not wide enough. The company that is responsible for digging the holes was unavailable until much later in the day. My mom lived just a hop away so my cousins went and grabbed a couple of shovels and began digging to widen the plots. Anyone that knew my grandfather would know he would have received such great joy with this situation. I think he smiled down from heaven that day and rested a little easier, as my cousins (in their suits) widened his final resting place.
So as they dug we chuckled about how gramps was really enjoying this. (The story we laugh about ends there. A story of a teacher abuse follows)
On Monday, my son returned to school, sat down in circle time eager to share his weekend activities. The teacher went around the circle listening as each child gave the details of their weekend. Until, she reached my son. He proudly stood up to tell the story of his cousins having to dig our grandparents grave. His teacher assumed his story did not have any merit whatsoever and told him, "It's not nice to lie, go sit over there."
He continued to sit in a spot isolated from the rest of the class until the end of October because he would not change his story. On his birthday he brought cupcakes and celebrated alone, while the other children played and ate his treats. He had such a fear of this teacher-(which we later found out some nasty threats were made to not only my son but some other students as well), that he never told me that he sat far away from the other students and was not permitted to participate in class. Finally, it was time for parent/teacher conferences. This is when a story began to unfold about the type of teacher she really was.
My husband and I walked into the classroom and he struggled to fit into a tiny chair (me not so much, I am pretty short), to discuss my son. The teacher flat out told us that he has been isolated for over a month and has not been permitted to participate in class activities because he is a liar. After I explained to the teacher this story was in fact true, and had questioned some rumors that I had heard. I assumed she would lighten up. (This was the first of many confrontations we had.) Instead she did not like being made a fool and my son paid the price. Before my son started school with this teacher we were warned by MANY parents of older students about this woman. Within a few days of the conference it had made it's way around the school and other parents that I stood my ground with her and called out her inappropriate behavior not only to my son but towards other students as well. And more stories began to filter out. One parent called to tell me how she had witnessed the teacher drag my son by the back of his shirt with his feet dangling above the ground, to the bathroom because he had hair gel in that was blue. (My son insisted the bruise he came home with on his head was from playing outside). Later we found it was caused from her cramming his head under the faucet to wash his hair. Another saw the teacher carry him by his backpack handle and give him a little push as she let go causing him to fall and scrap his knees and hands. I was in awe that these parents had not come forward regarding this horrible woman who was responsible for children. Other parents were afraid if they complained it would make it worse for their children. SERIOUSLY PEOPLE THIS IS YOUR CHILD!!!!
I began filling a journal with all the inappropriate behavior and comments this teacher made. I called the principal just about on a daily basis. I was often seen waiting in the office to speak to the principal about this horrible woman. She was always too busy to deal with teacher complaints. So I decided that if the principal did not want to deal with the situation I would write a letter to our school district. I carefully drafted a letter. Before, sending it to the district officials I went to the school to hand deliver it to the principal first. I had instructed the secretary that it would be sent to the district, certified mail by the end of the school day, if the principal did not contact me to discuss the situation. Before I arrived at work the principal was now prepared to deal with the problem. It's amazing how threatening to mail a letter to her boss can do that. The principal agreed to do a principal, teacher and parent conference at the end of the week. I came prepared. I had also kept my son out of school during the week. I had my journal with dates and times. The teacher and I sat side by side across from the principal to discuss my son. As I questioned the behavior she demonstrated on various occassions, she would only respond, "I don't have any notes regarding that matter with me." Over and over this is the only response. I could tell she was just seething with anger the more questionable actions I brought to the principals attention. I had been calm, cool and collected throughout this entire meeting. (For anyone that knows me-lets just say WOW there's a first!) Not once did I raise my voice or lose my temper. But I just could not take one more response from her that she didn't have her notes with her regarding that matter. I calmly looked her in the eyes and stated, "This meeting has been planned since Monday, you have had plenty of time to look over your notes. Although, I do believe you remember each of these situations."
Finally, I struck gold. I hit the last nerve. The teacher jumped out of her chair, lurched toward me with her finger within an inch of my face, screaming at me at the top of her lungs. I continued to sit calmly in my chair refusing to take part in a screaming match with her. The principal jumped over the desk (literally!!!) to restrain the teacher. As the principal stood between us, afraid this psycho woman was ready to physically attack me, the principal apologized profusely for the teacher's behavior and I was informed that my son would be immediately moved to another classroom. I calmly stood up, thanked the principal. As I walked out of the office the principal continued to struggle with getting the teacher under control.
My son was immediately transferred to a new teacher. She was a wonderful woman with a heart of gold, and a true desire to teach. Several other children were transferred out of her classroom after my final confrontation. I do know she received several write ups and was watched like a hawk for the remainder of her career. I truly believed she should have been terminated.
Hoping for one last BBQ
Great Grandma (my husbands Grandma) just recently turned 102! When I think about the things she has seen and done in her lifetime I am in awe. What is even more amazing to me is that her mind is still sharp, she loves to knits, does word puzzles, taking a drive around town (as a passenger), shopping, and coming over for BBQ's. The last few months have been really hard though. Her body is so tired. And we recently were told she has cancer.
For years we have hosted a family/friends BBQ every Sunday. Everyone just knows to appear around 3 pm. We spend the afternoon talking, watching all the kids play, playing horseshoes and sometimes card games or scrabble at the table. Last summer we had to adjust to not having my husbands dad around. He had past away the previous fall-(on my son's birthday). We were with him when he past away. It was heart wrenching to watch great grandma hold her only child's hand as he took his last breath. But the following spring our BBQ's started again and Great Grandma didn't miss one. The doctors don't think she will be with us much longer. They actually weren't sure if she would make her birthday. That day has past (her birthday) but the weather hasn't broken for BBQ. Our weekly BBQ's have always been something she looks forward to all week. We just hope for one more. So I guess I am asking for just one day. A really warm spring day that comes really soon. So grandma can come out to play, just one more time.
For years we have hosted a family/friends BBQ every Sunday. Everyone just knows to appear around 3 pm. We spend the afternoon talking, watching all the kids play, playing horseshoes and sometimes card games or scrabble at the table. Last summer we had to adjust to not having my husbands dad around. He had past away the previous fall-(on my son's birthday). We were with him when he past away. It was heart wrenching to watch great grandma hold her only child's hand as he took his last breath. But the following spring our BBQ's started again and Great Grandma didn't miss one. The doctors don't think she will be with us much longer. They actually weren't sure if she would make her birthday. That day has past (her birthday) but the weather hasn't broken for BBQ. Our weekly BBQ's have always been something she looks forward to all week. We just hope for one more. So I guess I am asking for just one day. A really warm spring day that comes really soon. So grandma can come out to play, just one more time.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
My toddler informed me...
"I make da rules...not you."
Hmm...I don't think so little girl!!!
She is so completely different than my son when he was that age. With my son I would say, "No, we can't touch that because we could get hurt," and that would be the end of it. I would tell him, "hitting/biting/kicking/etc...hurts people and we don't want to hurt anyone do we?" and that would be the end of it. Time outs worked with my son when he did have those moments of not listening or misbehaving. My daughter on the other hand is the complete opposite. She walked up to my son (who is 14 yrs old) whacked in the face with a wooden block, gave him a bloody nose...and then stated, "I go time out now." Smiling all the way to her time out spot. Time outs do not seem to be working for her.
Friday, March 12, 2010
The princess at work
So, I brought my daughter to work with me for the day. She's two. She's cute. And I work for family so I get away with bringing her in for the day when we're slow. My little princess spent the day visiting with the relatives and playing with the occassional child that walked thru the door with their parents. She colored, played with chalk, watched Curious George and Calliou. She listened. She had lunch. And when the day was nearly through she became miss polly parrot. A customer (resident of our rental community) came in, and she ran up to him, tugged at his pant leg, and when he looked down, she smiled and said, "Hello. How can I help you today?"
We nearly wet our pants laughing.
We nearly wet our pants laughing.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Why I chose to start a blog...
I love reading blogs. I have so many favorite ones! My obsession with blogs started when my husband's business took a nose dive along with our economy. I searched out every which way I could cut down on expenses-especially groceries. Thanks to so many great coupon, money saving bloggers I was able cut my grocery spending drastically! Then as his business continued to decline further, I found myself in need of a good laugh and some cheering up. So I searched out every funny mommy blogger I could find. Recently, I began entering all the giveaways I have found on some awesome blogs. Not only have I won some super cool stuff BUT I have found some products that I would have never come across without the help of the awesome bloggers I have stalked.
I guess you still don't know what the point of my blog is yet. I really don't either, I guess we'll see where it goes. I hope to share some great family moments and vent about the not so great ones, host a few awesome giveaways and maybe some craft ideas, recipes and maybe a deal that you can't pass up!
I try to find humor in everything. Sometimes it works...sometimes it takes awhile before I can look back and laugh at it.
I guess you still don't know what the point of my blog is yet. I really don't either, I guess we'll see where it goes. I hope to share some great family moments and vent about the not so great ones, host a few awesome giveaways and maybe some craft ideas, recipes and maybe a deal that you can't pass up!
I try to find humor in everything. Sometimes it works...sometimes it takes awhile before I can look back and laugh at it.
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