Frugal living

With the increasing gas prices, our daycare costs increasing for the summer and rising grocery prices, Mr. Man and I decided we needed to try to live more frugally. Here are some things we are doing to decrease spending. Living frugal does not mean giving everything up, it just means cutting back a little here and there to ease the burdens a little bit.

CUTTING BACK ON GROCERY BILL BY:

1. Using Non-Fat Dry Milk for cooking and baking. I tried it for the kids cereal too, and no one complained about it. For drinking (to make our regular drinking milk go further) I mixed half the regular milk with half the non-fat and it tasted fine! My mom fessed up to me that she did that when we were young. I have 5 siblings and at one point my mom also did foster care in our home, so to stretch our milk she said she did that when no one was looking (including my dad!) I mixed up the non-fat milk in a pitcher and let it sit over night. I stirred it again. Then let it chill a little longer. Then I poured it into the gallon milk jug and gave a little shake! No one even noticed that the once half-empty milk jug was now full again! I have a very observant family, don't I?
2. Making my own hand soap. I actually came across a recipe for this when I was searching for ways to get rid of some Dove soap. I bought the Dove for my body and found out I was allergic to it. I scratched and scratched for days. So I found a recipe here for liquid hand soap using grated Dove soap bar! I made it to use up the Dove soap and I use it in the kids' bathroom for washing their hands. It works great.
3. Making my own dryer sheets-- which also happen to be reusable. I saw several ideas online and I combined a couple of them and here is what I came up with. Take some washcloths, or flannel pajamas and cut into strips. I made mine about 6-8" long and maybe 4-5" wide. Combine 4 Tbls liquid fabric softener and 10 Tbls water in a plastic container with a lid. Store fabric strips in the liquid. Keep container sealed at all times. When ready to use one of the strips, wring out excess liquid so that the strip is just damp. Throw strip into dryer. Re-use strips over and over.
4. Buying generic when I can. I am a self proclaimed "food snob" and there are certain things I just do not like when it is generic. I know people say that generic items are made from the same companies, but I'm sorry some of the things just don't taste the same, don't last as long and to me taste/look like "bottom of the barrel" items. So, there are things I can not and will not budge on. For instance, block cheese tastes way better and actually slices better (generic brands crumble too easily) if you spend more on it. Having said that, I do buy generic for almost every occasion, if we are having a party and I am going to slice cheese I might spend a little extra and buy a name brand. There are also certain brands of frozen veggies that taste like they were in the back of someones freezer for a long time before they bagged them up to sell to me... I have done some experimenting and now I know which ones are good and which ones aren't.
5. Making my own cleaning wipes. I used to do this years ago because right after my first son was born a friend of mine gave me some as a gift. Somewhere down the road I got lazy and just started buying them. They are easy to make. When we decided to try to cut costs, here is one thing I decided I could make again. This site has a great instructional page for making these. You can also reuse a baby diaper wipe container by cutting the paper towels in half and laying them in the wipe container and pouring the liquid on top -- this is what I did.
6. Making my own household cleaners. I use the "recipes" here and place them in a spray bottle. They work great and are much cheaper than purchasing cleaning supplies in the store.
7. Buying meat in bulk and then breaking it into "do-able" portions and freezing can save money. We are lucky enough to have a large freezer in our garage. I read a tip to put your hamburger meat in a ziplock bag and flatten it out with a rolling pin for easier storage. For pork chops and chicken I line a cookie sheet with waxed paper, then put the chops or chicken breasts on top. Place in the freezer for about 15-20 minutes. Just until they start to freeze and aren't "sticky", then place them in zip lock bags (4-6 in each bag). Since they are slightly frozen already they won't stick together and can be stacked in the bag easier.
8. Making my own "instant" mixes. I have actually done this for years. For pancake mix, I use this recipe from my MIL and I double or triple the recipe. I store it in an airtight container. When we want pancakes I can add the remaining "wet" ingredients and viola-- instant pancake mix. For instant oatmeal (which I love for breakfast, especially on colder days) I use this recipe. It is also stored in an airtight container.
9. I signed up at ShopLocal.com and I receive weekly emails of grocery deals and even other stores (Target, Kmart, etc) that may be having some great specials.
10. My husband does not like margarine, only butter. Real butter and nothing less. Butter is costly. Here is an article on how to turn one stick of butter into two. I haven't tried this yet, but it sounds easy enough. You can also make your own butter, we used to do this when I worked in daycare. The kids got a real kick out of it. Here is a link for this recipe.
11. I love my coffee and I love my coffee even more when it has some creamer! I found this link to some great recipes for making your own coffee creamers. The toffee one is delicious! I made mine using non-fat powdered dry milk instead of the non-dairy instant creamer and it tasted pretty good.
12. When I was still living at home, my mom would wash and then re-use the Ziplock bags. Back then, I thought she was ridiculous and she should just throw them away. Now that I am the one buying those bags, I see the usefulness of re-using when I can, especially the larger ones. So, I wash them in my sink and usually drape them over a wooden spoon to drip dry. I can usually get several uses out of one bag.

CUTTING BACK ON ENTERTAINMENT SPENDING BY:

1. Not eating out for lunch, instead eat left over dinners as lunch.
2. Using RedBox to rent movies, especially when we have a promo code from here for a free rental.
3. Taking our own snacks to sporting events instead of purchasing their overpriced drinks and food.
4. I signed up for this online kids/parents magazine where I get a weekly email of activities and events and even sales happening in my area.
5. I also check our city website for free events they have planned.

CUTTING BACK ON ENERGY COSTS:

1. I wash as many loads as I can in cold water (it takes energy to heat that water) and my laundry soap works just as good in cold.
2. Then I also try to dry my loads back to back (once the dryer is heated up, it doesn't take as long to heat up the next load!)
3. Also, doing laundry early in the morning or later in the evening so it doesn't heat up the house causing the a/c to have to work harder (we don't even have a/c so that is reason enough for me to be careful with heating the house.)

Instant Oatmeal Mix

I love the instant oatmeal packets, but they are so expensive. My oldest sister actually gave me this recipe about a year ago, but I only recently tried it. It works great, tastes great and is so easy. I make multiple kinds, then store it in individual Ziploc baggies (label with permanent marker the flavor of each baggie)

Basic Instant Oatmeal (for 8 servings)
INGREDIENTS:
3 c quick-cooking oats
Dash of salt

Put 1 c of oats in a blender and give it a few pulses, to break up the oats. In a sandwich bag, add 2 Tbls of the ground oats, plus 1/4 c of quick-cooking oats and a dash of salt. Add any additional flavorings (the dry ingredients only of course) -- See the flavorings listed below.

When ready to eat, dump bag in a bowl and add 3/4 c boiling water (for thicker oatmeal use less water)

Apple-Cinnamon Oatmeal
INGREDIENTS:
a few chopped, dehydrated apples
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbls brown sugar (add more or less to your taste)

Peaches and Cream Oatmeal
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 of a peach (fresh or from a can works too), diced
2 Tbls instant vanilla pudding powdered mix (or can use 1 Tbls dry non-fat milk instead)

**This actually works well with any type of fruit

Maple and Brown Sugar Oatmeal
INGREDIENTS:
1 Tbls brown sugar (add more or less to your taste)
1 Tbls maple syrup

Love my deck

Our new house has a great deck that is shaded by an old tree. The kids play outside while we sit and enjoy the shade tree and visit with each other. It is peaceful and relaxing. We have been eating outside quite a bit too. The kids love it. We get requests to eat outside almost every night. This morning I had a little extra time after my shower that I decided to eat breakfast on the deck and read my book. It was so nice!

No pain, no gain .... right?

Remember I said I exercised yesterday? Wellllllll, I am feeling it today! whew! The stomach crunches and squats from yesterday are killing me this morning! My stomach muscles ache and my legs are wobbly and ache too!

I got up and went on a short bike ride this morning - my legs hurt during the ride so much that I wasn't gone long. I love the fresh morning air, the peace and quiet and just how pretty everything looked (that helped me forget about how my legs were hurting!)

Potato Salad

No one in my house really likes potato salad except me, so when I have a hankerin for some tater salad I usually cut the recipe way back and make just enough for me. This recipe is sort of what my mom used to make, although I don't think she ever really had a "recipe" for it so I have had to wing it.

Potato Salad
INGREDIENTS:
8 potatoes, peeled and cubed
3 hardboiled eggs, peeled and sliced
1 c mayonnaise
3 Tbls yellow mustard
1 small onion, finely diced
2 Tbls Italian salad dressing
3 medium sized dill pickles, finely chopped

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender, but still firm (about 10 minutes). Drain and place in a large bowl. Cover with Italian salad dressing and place in the refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes. This marinates the potatoes and gives them a yummy flavor.

In a small bowl whisk together the mayo, mustard and onion. Now add that to the potatoes and stir until evenly coated. Gently mix in the eggs and pickles. Put back in the refrigerator until completely cool. Serve cold.

A little this and that

I have nothing to really blog about today. With the kids gone, my life seems pretty boring. I went to a friend's house last night for about an hour and that was good to catch up with her. Then I went home and did some laundry and thumbed through some magazines.

Tonight I am making dinner for a friend that I have known over 30 years. Not sure what to make yet, as she is on Weight Watchers and I want to be understanding of that and not slap a big juicy steak in front of her!

I got up early today and exercised.... before any of you give a "way-to-go-girl" pat on the back I must tell you that I have been intending to do this for 2 weeks and this is the first day I actually did it. I felt good after and am ready to do some more tomorrow.

I have a coupon to try McDonald's new Southern Style Chicken Sandwich so I might go get that for lunch and sit at the park and read. That would feel so nice!

Kids are gone

We dropped the kids, all three of them, off at my SIL's last night. She is keeping them all week. Her church is doing a VBS from 9:00-12:00 every day this week and then in the afternoons they are going to go fishing, boating, swimming, biking, etc. My SIL is the oldest in my husband's family and all of her kids are grown up and are starting families of their own. So the last two summers she has taken my kids and kept them for a week. The kids were so excited. It was like Christmas Eve or something... they couldn't sleep for days because they were so excited!

When we first got there, Lady Bug started to show some hesitation and she looked at her dad and said "I just wanna go home wiff you guys." But, my SIL started talking to her about all the things they were going to do and all the fun they would have and Lady Bug loosened up.

I talked to my SIL this morning and she said all went well. They watched a short movie before bed and then she said they got up early and were all ready for VBS this morning. Spirit got to go with his uncle in the church van to pick up kids for VBS and the littler two went with her. She said they all seemed to have a good time in their individual classes. Lefty got lucky and his teacher is one of his older cousins (she is an absolute sweetie!).

I was all sad this morning. I was enjoying the peace and quiet this morning - -no fighting, no screams of "mooooooommmmmmm. He touched me!" or anything like that. But at the same time I missed them already. boo hoo.

Mr. Man and I are going to have a date night one night this week, tonight I am going to a dear friend's house who just found out she can't have a baby and she is devastated, tomorrow night another friend of mine is going to come by for dinner and to see my house so it will be a fun week (but I still miss the kids!)

It's a Party

I had just gotten Lady Bug out of the tub and told her I needed to head downstairs to do some laundry. She jumped up and said "I wanna go wiff you!" As we are heading down the stairs, she is marching (literally) in front of me singing "We are going to a par - ty! Going to a par - ty! We're going to a par - ty! Yay!"

I thought to myself, "when you've been doing as much laundry as I have it is no party, let me tell ya!" But I thought she was so cute, I just let her sing. I couldn't bring myself to sing along with her, however!!!

"Instant" Pancake Mix

This recipe is something my MIL has made for years and years. It is one that my husband said I had to get from her after the first time I made him pancakes using a boxed mix! I make this up, usually doubling or tripling the recipe and storing it in an airtight container. Since I double or triple this recipe, I usually dump out an approximate amount -- close to 1 1/2 c of mix and then add the "wet" ingredients.

Pancake Mix
INGREDIENTS:
1 1/4 c flour
4 Tbls sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

Combine the above ingredients.

When ready to mix as a batter, add the following wet ingredients to the dry mixture.

1 egg, 3 Tbls oil and 1 c milk and stir well.

Sparkling Punch

This is good party punch!

Sparkling Punch
INGREDIENTS:

1 (2 liter) bottle cherry 7-Up soda
1 liter raspberry flavored soda
1 (12 oz) can frozen lemonade concentrate
1 (12 oz) can frozen pink lemonade concentrate
1 liter can pineapple juice

Mix all together and serve in a large punch bowl!

Stop bugging me.... literally

I have serious issue. Last night I got into my car and started to drive and a giant (I mean it was huge) grasshopper jumped at my head. I screamed and was flailing my arms and he jumped onto the dash. Then he started crawling around. Pretty soon he jumped onto the part right by my head near the window. I rolled all the windows down in hopes he would go out. Nope. He would just move around and threaten to jump at me again. I seriously thought I could have a car accident if the thing jumped at my face! I tried to shoosh him out once, but he just jumped to another spot.

Then, the next "issue" -- I was out watering some flowers and Lefty says "Mom. What is that crawling on your leg?" I looked down and it was a big ugly bug of some sort. I tried flinging it off and he wouldn't budge. I had to wipe him off with my hand...... ew. yuck.

"Issue" #3: This morning I am driving to work and notice two pesky mosquitoes flying around. At least with those I could swat at them.

I'm surrounded by bugs!! Must be my sweet personality they are attracted to! ;o)

Gardening tools

Spirit has a new infatuation with tools (I knew there was no need to worry about his "manliness!!) -- read this post if you don't know what I am referring to) and he has been wanting to build things or cut things down, like cutting my bushes just so he could get his ball out!


Last night, Mr. Man pulled out some trimming shears to trim rose bushes in the backyard. Spirit perked up and said:

"Dad, where do you keep finding all these cool tools?"


Mr. Man chuckled and said: "In my gargage"


Spirit: "Can you show me?"


Mr. Man: "No. I don't want you playing with them."


Spirit: " I won't play with them. I just want to know where they are."


Mr. Man saw right through that and just laughed.


There was about 3 minutes of silence.


Spirit: "hey dad. I'll put those trimming things away. Where should I put them?"


Now, I say that was a pretty creative (sneaky) way to find out where the gardening tools are kept! Especially since this boy never puts things away-- you should see his room right now!

Brave little boy and Not-so-mother-of-the-year

Lefty dislocated his right index finger on Sunday night. He came inside from playing ball and told me he thought his finger was broken. I asked him to wiggle it.... which he did, a little. I figured he was being dramatic and told him he'd be fine.

3:00 AM he came in my room and told me that his finger was really hurting. Maybe I was half asleep, maybe I am just a bad mom, but I said we'll let's go back to bed and I will look at it in the morning.

6:00 AM he came in again and was laying in bed next to me. When Mr. Man gave him a hug Lefty jumped and said "oooww!" so then I remembered his finger and I looked at it. It was swollen and bruising! Nice. (guess no Mother of the Year Award for me!)

8:00 AM I called the pediatrician and they can't do X-rays at their office so they told me to just head over to Children's Hospital ER.

8:45 AM we walk into the ER and are seen fairly quickly because they aren't that busy. The doctor thinks it may be jammed or dislocated. They send us over for an X-ray and sure enough it is dislocated, not fractured in any way. They give him a shot to numb it and then yank it back into place. (I am such a good mom that I couldn't even watch.... yuck!) They wrapped his two fingers together and told him to be careful for the next few days.

10:45 AM we are heading to the store for ice cream (every good ER trip deserves some ice cream right?) and some lunch goodies.

Motrin was needed about 4:00 PM for pain and we had to re-wrap the fingers because the tape came off. Other than that he seems pretty good!

BIG DAY! More visitors coming our way

Today my favorite sister is coming to visit me (no, not the "favorite sister" who was just here, another sister. I have 3 ya know! LOL)


She flies in this afternoon, so I am working until noon. Then I have the rest of the week off (sort of. My boss asked me to work "an hour or two on Thursday afternoon" - Let's hope I don't get stuck here forever on Thursday afternoon!) I can't wait. We don't really have any major plans, but I have a few things in mind that we could do if we want.

I spent last night cleaning the room and bathroom that she will be using. The bathroom she will be using is the one Mr. Man uses. It is his bathroom only and when we moved in he told me he would be responsible for keeping it clean. WOOT! I can handle that. I think I have cleaned the toilet a couple times and I know I've wiped down his counters on many occasions, but I have never done a thorough cleaning in there. He tells me that he cleans it and I have had (until now) now real reason to doubt him. Since I don't use it I wouldn't really know. Here's the thing. For about two weeks, whenever I have had to go in there, it smelled musty. The smell you get when something is leaking and you don't know and now is getting moldy. I asked him what it was. He said he didn't know. We lit candles in there while we were investigating. I checked under the sink, around the toilet and Mr. Man was checking the shower. We didn't find any major problems. Well, last night I'm in there cleaning -- let's note here that he said he would clean the entire bathroom, but I needed him to do some other things that I couldn't do so I said I would do it. I started in the shower. It doesn't have a tub, just a shower. It.was.disgusting. It took me 45 minutes or more just to clean his shower. Guess what he told me when I told him it took me 45 minutes?

Him: "Well, it's never been cleaned."

Me: "WHAT?"

Him: "Don't look at me like that."

Me: "Are you serious that all those times you told me you had 'cleaned' the bathroom that all did was clean the toilet or something?"

Him: trying to make a joke "Oh come on. It's only been a year."

Me: Not finding any humor in this whatsoever "That is so disgusting. That's probably what has been smelling in here."

I went in there this morning and it smells so fresh. Here I was thinking that we had a plumbing problem, or worse yet a critter died in the walls. No fear just a filthy, dirty shower. I guess from now on I will have to just clean the bathroom when I clean the rest of the house. I am still in so much shock! Oh.my.gosh. EW! I'm glad that I did the cleaning because now I can honestly tell my sister that the shower is clean!

Men. Gotta love 'em.

Camping Out -- or is that Camping in?

We have a wonderful sun room in our new house that looks out over the backyard and the large park behind the house. Mr. Man set up our tent in there and let the kids sleep in their sleeping bags in the tent. It was so cute! They had a great time. We let them stay up later than normal and watch a movie. Now, that isn't just like camping in the mountains, but hey it was fun! I made them some popcorn and gave them some candy to nibble on too.

Homemade Ice Cream sandwiches

This is something we like to do at our house. My littlest one has a harder time eating these, but most of that is attributed to her being a slow poke of an eater!

Homemade Ice Cream sandwiches

INGREDIENTS:
Chocolate flavored graham crackers
vanilla ice cream (or really any flavor you want)

Spoon some ice cream onto one graham cracker. Place another graham cracker on top. Enjoy!!

Officially a "big girl" now

Lady Bug has sucked her two middle fingers since she was a tiny baby. Never did take to a pacifier. She always used those fingers. We hadn't been pushing her to stop sucking them because she pretty much only did it at bedtime anyway. A couple nights ago I was painting my toe nails and she wanted her toes and fingers painted. So she picked out a red with sparkles in it. At bedtime she realized that if she sucked on the fingers then the polish would come off. She started to whimper and her dad went in to console her. He told her how brave she was and how proud he was of her. At 6:00 AM the next morning I heard her in the bathroom running water. I got up to see what she was doing and she was trying to wash the polish off -- I chuckled to myself. I brought her to bed with me and she closed her eyes, but couldn't fall back to sleep. She usually sleeps until 7:30 or 8:00 so 6:00 AM was very early for her. I know it was because she didn't have the comfort of her fingers to put her back to sleep. Poor thing.

Her daddy promised her a new toy and he told her we would have a "Big Girl Princess Party" if she doesn't suck her fingers the rest of the week. She has done good so far so I guess I better start planning a party fit for a princess! Today she even slept until 7:00 AM again! Woo hoo!

Learning to crochet

Our 7 year old learned to crochet. Our sitter showed him how because she was crocheting and he picked up on it and made a doll blanket for Lady Bug's dolls in 2 days. The funniest part was that he was watching Stanley Cup Playoffs with his dad while he was crocheting! It was hilarious. I told him that my step-father, known by me as Big Al, used to knit and crochet all the time. In fact, he taught my mom to crochet. Al has several brothers who also knit, crochet and one of them also loves to embroider. These men are oil rig workers, bridge engineers and farmers by day and at night they crochet!


I think my husband was feeling a little insecure about the whole thing, like if he did more "manly" things with the boys they wouldn't take to doing crafts. But my husband is not a fisherman, a hunter, a sportsman, nor does he like to work on cars so that makes him feel like he isn't giving his boys what they need. I keep telling him he is fine. He takes them bike riding, they play ball, they go camping and hiking -- the boys just happen to have a little bit of me in them too and they like to craft. My husband can be so hard on himself sometimes worrying that the boys will not grow up correctly if he isn't four-wheeling with them every weekend. Plus, I keep telling him that it is ok for a boy to do craft projects. It really is. He doesn't seem upset when they do art projects in school, what is the difference? Nothing. I keep telling Mr. Man that there is nothing wrong with them crafting. The babysitter for the summer also told me yesterday that she plans to do some cooking and baking with them this summer... watch out! hee hee

**Notice how he chose green camoflauge yarn for his sister's doll blanket? I love it!!**

Father's Day ideas

I asked Mr. Man what he wanted for Father's Day and he didn't really have any ideas. I know he wants a new bike. I know he would love to have a new grill. I know he needs new roller blades. I know he'd love some shelves for his garage. Since he told me he doesn't really have any gift ideas I am not sure what to do for him. I would love to get him a bike. The grill.... well ours, as old and rattled as it is, still works so I don't really want to spend money on that and I feel about the same for the roller blades. But, a bike is something that he needs and wants and I would love to spend the money on it for him.

I also, would like to see if the kids want to make him something -- but what? What would we make? Nice breakfast? He gets that every Sunday. Nice dinner? What would he want? UGH

I am so confused this year on what to do. Mother's day is so easy for him -- the kids make stuff in school and then he took me out to lunch. It was nice, but it was easy for him to make it nice. I have it hard!!! I have to come up with all of it on my own! As my kids would say: "It's just not fair!" **do you hear the whine in my voice?**

Anyone got any glorious ideas to share?

Monday

I am totally uninspired today. I have some posts sort of swarming in my head, but none of them are complete and only one or two are even half way interesting. 

Blame it on Monday I guess.

It is a gorgeous day here today. Sunny, mostly clear skies, supposed to be about 75 degrees F today. Should be good! The sitter is at home with the kids today. When I left they were coloring together and she told me they were going to make their own pizzas for lunch - how fun is that?

Over the weekend we made some sidewalk paint. Ever heard of this stuff? It was great. It was inexpensive. It was tons of fun and cleaned up easily. The "recipe" I had said to take 1/4 c cornstarch, 1/4 cold water and 6-8 drops of food coloring. Me, being the lazy one that I am, I just dumped some cornstarch and water together and then added food coloring. I mixed each color into a plastic cup and each color had its own foam brush (I picked up a 6 pack at Hobby Lobby for $0.99). They kids played for 45 minutes until it was all gone. The driveway had a whole mural on it of a sky, the sun, the moon, some stars and then under all that was a house with some trees and flowers. (I failed to get a picture of it before they washed it off...) If you haven't tried this before you should try it. The colors were vibrant -- they go on wet like paint and then dry into these great colors! And you can't beat how inexpensive it was to make -- cheap entertainment! 

Spinach, Cheese and Smoked Turkey

A friend of mine gave me this recipe a few years ago and we love it. We make it in the summer because you can use the microwave and not heat up the house with the oven, although you can also bake this in the oven if you wanted to which browns the cheese a little bit which is prettier.

The spinach will soak up the smoked turkey flavor and taste wonderful!

Spinach, Cheese and Smoked Turkey

INGREDIENTS:

Fresh spinach (I don't have a set amount. I usually buy a couple of the bags of it. Keep in mind it will shrink down as it cooks so you really need to pack your pan full, make it so full that you think you have too much!)

Mild or Sharp cheddar, shredded (again, no set amount -- I usually use 2 or 3 cups of shredded cheese)

Smoked turkey breast, cubed into bite size pieces (use as much or as little as you want - I would say I usually use 2 cups cubed turkey)

Take a 9x13 baking pan. Place a hefty layer of fresh spinach on the bottom. Sprinkle on some turkey and then some cheese. Add a second layer of spinach, turkey and cheese. Remember that you will want the pan almost overflowing because the spinach will cook down and shrink inside the pan quite a bit.

There are two options for cooking this: 

OPTION 1: Microwave this until spinach has cooked down and cheese is melted.

OPTION 2: Cook in a 350 degree F oven for 10-12 minutes until spinach is cooked down and cheese is melted. 

You can also broil this for 1-2 minutes after cooking in order to brown the cheese.

I serve this with french bread and fruit salad.

Chores, bird poop and showers

We had a wind/rain/hail storm the other night which knocked a bunch of leaves and branches into the yard. Lefty was asked to go pick up all the branches and then rake the leaves. He was complaining a little about it and there was lots of mumbling under his breath. Pretty soon he comes running in the house yelling:

"Mom! Mom! I need to take a shower right now!"

I asked why and he said:

"Because. Mom! Come on! Right now!" he begins to strip his clothes off and throw them in my trash can. "Mom! A bird just pooped on me!"

As I tried to contain my laughter I pulled the clothes out of the trash can to wash them and helped him start the shower! I told him that I had been pooped on lots of times by him when he was a baby. He did not see it as the same thing at all. "Mom. I was a baby. Babies do that." So I said "So do birds. Birds gotta poo too ya know!" He was not finding any humor in it -- none at all!

**I bet there was lots of grumbling about the chore when we he was in shower disgusted that he had been pooped on!**

In a funk today

I want to be out enjoying our nice weather. I don't want to be stuck in this gloomy office with no windows (well there are windows, but none that I get to enjoy). It is supposed to be nice and hot today -- would be a fun day to play in the hose and go to the park for a picnic maybe. Oh well. I am here earning some money instead.

When I left this morning, the boys were wound up and I am not sure what they will be like today for the sitter. I hope she whoops up on them if they act out (just kidding...sort of) I sure hope they don't upset her too much. I don't want to lose her this early in the summer! Lefty can push buttons and I already saw him push some of her buttons before I left. She seemed to handle it well though. I see Time Out in his future today!

Pitiful . . .

Lady Bug's favorite saying right now......

You broke my heart when [you did that to me]

or

[you said that]

or

[you told me no.]

She looks so pitiful when she says it too. It is ridiculous! She is already "working it"!! We are in for a long road with this one I can already tell!