Are you a list person?

I know I am! I almost always have a small notebook in my handbag so I can jot down things I want to remember. I have a horrible memory, so this little notebook is very important to me. It keeps me sane. Otherwise, I go around always feeling like I have forgotten something.







Some stuff I write it my notebook:

• directions - I get lost easy.



• phone numbers - ok, I know it would be easier to just put them in my cell.



• addresses - when you have to write them down quickly.



• grocery lists



• dates to remember



• notes from the Girl Scout meetings



• random drawings - my daughter likes to draw in there sometimes.



• a poem?... ok, while writing this, I found a poem my daughter wrote in my little notebook. See the pic below, this was a third grade assignment that we worked on together. She had to use some spelling words and write a poem with them.

Anyway, that's what I do with MY notebook. How about you?

Free Stuff from MyPoints

I have been a member of MyPoints for some time....years actually.

I love them! You get points by reading emails and shopping online through their site. You can choose from great stores like Walmart, Avon, and lots more. Then when you earn enough points you can redeem them on the MyPoints site.

This week I will have enough points to get a $10 Walmart gift card!

Today is my Free Day

(This great picture was taken by my daughter...beauty throught the eyes of a child, you gotta love it!)

Today is my 'free day' to do as I like...does any mom actually get to do that anymore? So I am slowing the pace today but I still need to get things done. As I am writing this, I am thinking, 'darn it! I really have to do a few things today'. And then it's like a little 'to-do list' pops into my head.

• run to the store for dog food


• plan dinner


• do laundry


• clean up the kitchen


• get the kids to clean their rooms


• drop some stuff at the post office


• pay a bill


• the kids get out early today, so no lunch at school...make lunch for the kids


• get them to do their homework


• listen to them read for 20 minutes

Crap...there goes my free day! Then I have two teacher conferences and a soccer game this evening. Oh well, maybe I will find the elusive 'free day' another time.

Are you ready for Halloween?

I have to admit...I am not ready for Halloween. I still need to finish getting costumes ready. I wanted to add a little more detail to mine this year but if I don't get to it I guess it will not be the end of the world. So far we have me as the Queen of Hearts, Mark as Batman, and Leah as a Witch.

I have gotten some (5) pumkins for the front step so I am doing better than last year. It is almost time to carve them up so I better get some stencil patterns for the kids. They are doing the carving this year...should be interesting. No sharp knives for them though.

I found a very cool light-up skull at the Goodwill yesterday. We originally went there to find and 80's outfit for Vanessa...they have and 80's day coming up at the High School. We didn't find anything she liked (big surprise!)...it was the 80's!!!

OK everybody go get ready for Halloween! I will post pics as soon as I can....

My crazy brother on YouTube!

Ok, my crazy brother drives a cattle truck and this is a 25 second video he made. His partner must be just as crazy because if you watch the video I bet you can figure out where my brother is sitting! You just have to shake your head. I guess I am a redneck by association! Hahaha

My Dream Car: A Ford Mustang

Here it is folks! I love Mustangs, I guess I always have. I have had a few in the past...there was the black '77, and the red '66, and of course the red '94...then I had twins and the Mustang was traded in for a minivan. :(

Well, I have been thinking lately, the kids are all growing up and I really don't need seven seats anymore. So maybe I will think about trading the minivan in and get a Mustang again. My goal is to do this by next summer, so we will see how that goes. I will be sure to post a picture when I bring my new baby (the Mustang) home!

Taking Medicine vs. Not Taking Medicine

I have discussed this issue with my doctor and he knows how I feel about taking any sort of medications. I do take vitamins and calcuim suppliments, but I admit I don't do it on a regular basis. I would be in real trouble if I had to take meds every day "or else". He tried to put me on blood pressure meds and I just do not remember to take them. So he won't be happy to hear about that when I go to my check-up. But I have done other things to help with blood pressure... I lost some weight and changed some things that were giving me stress (although I really don't think I worry and stress over things that much.)

I really don't like to give my kids medicine unless they really, really need it. I will use children's Tylenol to bring down a high fever but I will not give my kids any meds unless it is really necessary and the doctor has ok'd it. I think medicines are way over-used these days. And, in my opinion, the body should be able to overcome the common cold without parents having to medicate their children.

Groceries

I spend so much money at the grocery store! I have been trying to follow the sales and use coupons to make it a better deal but it is hard to do sometimes. At one point I started buying extra newspapers so I could have multiple coupons. I also joined refundcents.com, the ladies there are so helpful and let everyone know when there is a really good deal going on. But, in my opinion, it's not a deal if you don't need it.

So I have been trying to just get what is on my grocery list and stock up if it is a really good deal. I posted last week about the powerade deal and this week I bought more and got a free case of water, so that was great for me as my hubby takes the powerade when he referees the games and the kids like to take the waters to school with their lunch. So I guess it's just a never-ending battle of watching for sales and stocking up when you can.

Love my Bluetooth

I love my bluetooth! It makes me feel like I have extra hands. I can get so much more done while still talking on the phone. I usually get impatient when I am talking and trying to get something done...I mean, have you tried to cook, do laundry, or carry something that you really need two hands for and talk on the phone at the same time? Whoever invented this thing was a genius!

The state of Washington did pass the law in July that all Washington drivers need to use a bluetooth while driving and talking on the phone. And they banned text messaging while driving back in January. Under the new law, drivers who text or talk on cell phone while driving could face a $101 ticket. Although I have heard that they cannot stop you JUST for talking on the phone, they apparently have to have another cause for actually stopping you and then they can give you a ticket for not using bluetooth.

Obama vs. McCain

Here are some great up to the minute stats for you.

Halloween Decorating

I was at Walmart yesterday and they had pumpkins on sale so I went ahead and bought 2 large ones and 3 small ones. I have not decided what to carve into the large ones yet. I was thinking something scary or maybe just really funny. I'm sure I can find some cool template designs online with a little searching.

Anyway, I was visiting some of my blog friends and one has a 'how-to' on making monster footprints....but then I thought....I have some left-over glow in the dark washable paint that would make awesome ghost prints! So I might do that if I can get myself motivated to decorate some more. Visit her site to check it out.

I also had an idea to make my front door spooky. I think I will get some large black garbage bags and cut them into strips and staple them onto a piece of cardboard or wood to make a spooky front door 'curtain' type look. If you have any ideas that would help me, feel free to comment and send me a link.

Happy decorating!

Release the Hounds

Release the Hounds!

Here is a short video to show you what happens when you release the hounds. This was so totally funny that I had to share it.

Free YouPet T-Shirt

I love all the pet photos on YouPet! Here is a cute picture of Coco and teddy snuggling on the couch. She is so spoiled, she's just like one of the kids.

By the way, YouPet is giving out free t-shirts when you get five of your friends to join and make a profile. If you are not already a member click here to sign up and then go invite five of your friends so you can get this cool shirt too!

My daughter loves t-shirts with pictures and logos. She lives in her t-shirts... She has all kinds of them. I think I will give this one to her when it comes, she'll love it!

Rainy Day

Today was rainy for most of the day. I had to work this morning for a little bit and nobody wanted Subway (where I work) because who wants to get out in the rain when there are all those drive-thru places. Not me! So I had to pick up one of the kids from soccer practice (in the rain) then we drove through KFC for dinner. Now I just need to get them all to work on their homework.

To soccer we go!

Last night was important game for our girls soccer team....because.... Attendance has been low at the games so the coach said he would dye his hair PINK if the girls could get 100 people to come to the game. (This kind of stuff in important when you are a teenager) Well, in our defense, you DO have to pay to get into the games. But I was a trooper and also took the twins with me because they count too. We were # 80-something and we came a half hour before the game even started...so I fully expect to see some pink on the coach's head next time I seem him! (The other team had about 30 people show up.....yeah us!) Our team ended up losing, but we had a great time!

Mark and Leah are 8 yrs old and the both like to take pictures. As you can see, they take mostly pictures of each other. I didn't really get any good pics of the game....but I wasn't really expecting them to be master photographers. It was so cold that all the pictures are blurry (from Mark shivering while taking pics).

3rd Grade Homework

Hey everyone, I just wanted to share a poem with all of you. This was a 3rd grade homework assignment where we had to use some of the spellling words and write a poem. Parents are allowed to help so this is what Leah and I came up with....

My dog is fluffy,
My dog is white,
She sleeps on the bed
every single night.

She knows how to roll over,
She knows how to beg,
I can teach her a new trick,
How to stand on one leg.

The green words are the spelling words. Leah is so proud of this poem she has it in her room. After the first verse, she was having so much fun she wanted to do more! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this little poem by Leah.

Yesterday I was getting ready to pick up Vanessa from school, she stayed after because she joined key club. And Mark (8 yrs old) says, "How come she can't just get her own car!". I told him I was working on that and she had to get her license first, she is 16 yrs old now. She is still studying the book. He just hates it because he has to come along, I won't leave him home alone. We plan to have her get her license and maybe buy her a car for graduation (possibly sooner). It would be convenient to have another driver in the house.

Then Leah (also 8 yrs old) and I finished our Girl Scout craft last night because the meeting is tonight and we wanted to take it along to show everyone. It was a cute little pouch that hangs around your neck and holds a lip gloss. Sorry, no picture. My camera batteries ran out of juice.

High School Today

My daughter, Vanessa, is a Junior this year. I am very proud of her accomplishments so far. I would hate to be a high-schooler again. She does so much and you can see that she loves it but it does drain her at times. She already has college credits from the last two years and is taking two 'AP classes' this year that give college credit. She is on the varsity soccer team and they practice daily after school for two hours. She keeps up with her homework and gets very good grades but stays up until 11pm finishing homework (sometimes later!). This week she told me she wants to join the 'key club' AND the 'heritage club'. The soccer coach is ok with this, so she will go to practice a half hour later one day per week.

She missed the bus twice this week because she was too tired to get up in the morning. And she told me that she "officially has too much homework" because she fell alseep in history for about seven minutes the other day. What the heck is wrong with these teachers that they feel the need to give hours of homework every single day! And this morning when I dropped her off at school (she missed the bus today) I was about to write her a note (it's required when you are sick or late) and she told me the lady said my last note was 'not a good note'.

Here is what I wrote last time: Vanessa missed the bus...signed and dated

OK so her is what I wrote this time: Vanessa missed the bus because she has too much homework and stayed up until 12:30 to finish it like a good student should. Please excuse her for being late....signed and dated

She said "MOM, stop! That's so embarrassing! She's going to laugh at me!" So maybe whoever SHE is will pass the word to the pricipal or some of the teachers and they will ease up on our students a little. Probably not.

Her pre-calculus teacher emailed all the parents some web sites where they can practice for the next quiz and review stuff that they are having trouble with....like she has time for that! So I hope she does ok with this class as the semester goes on...this is one of her AP classes for college credit. I'm not really sure how that works...if she has to get a certain grade to receive the credits or not. I guess I should find out so she doesn't lose credits because you have to pay for the AP test and it's not cheap!

Gave the dog a haircut

I recently gave Coco a haircut. I think I kind of suck at this but each time it seems to turn out a little better than the last. I took a bunch of pictures, this one is the best. Once in a while we paint her nails. They actually offer the nail painting at the groomers now. She hates the groomers though. She tried to bite the last groomer that plucked her ear hairs. I did warn them that she gets angry when they do that, so now we just go to the vet and have it done and she seems to like that a little better.

We walked the kids to the bus-stop today and she got cold, so I think it's time we get out her little winter jacket. I will have to post a picture of that, it's so cute on her.

I wonder how many people dress their dogs up for Halloween. Coco has a Ballarina costume. She hates the crown but it is so cute. We treat her more like a kid than a dog sometimes but she is definitely part of our family.

It's October: Halloween is coming!

Ok, so I asked the twins what they want to be for Halloween this year. Leah wants to be a witch and Mark wants to be a knight. So I'm thinking this won't be too hard. I have been scanning the stores for something I think they might like...and nothing! There are no witches or knight costumes to be found! So I'm thinking that it would be easier to shop online for this stuff.

Find great costumes at Amazon.com!

Last year I was the Queen of Hearts and I made my own costume because I can never find a size that fits me. It turned out great and I found a crown on ebay for a super-good price. My mom was the White Witch. Mark and Leah were Batman and a Princess, if I remember correctly. I will try to find a picture to post later.

Girl Scout Camp

Last Saturday my daughter, Leah, and I went to Girl Scout Camp for the day. I volunteered to help out with the craft, which was a tiny purse to hang around your neck that holds a lip gloss. Maybe I will post a picture of that later... it's very cute. We made bubbles, went boating (almost), and had dinner with about 120 other Girl Scouts. I say we almost went boating because Leah was scared and would not get into the boat. I was lucky to get the life vest on her and walk out onto the dock...and that was a job in itself. So maybe we will go boating next time. We also hike, and hiked, and hiked some more! I was sore for 3 days! But we had a great time and spent some quality time together, and that is what counts.