Been up all night-maybe that's my problem

I wish that I was good at something. Not just good, but excelled in some area. I just feel like I dabble here and there, but never dive right in. The End.

Sneak Preview

Also, read about Michael's pals here

How many guys does it take to put a shelf together?

The missionaries stopped by at random, on an evening we were rearranging our livingroom. So we put them to work.

Elder Wallin, Elder Crandall, and Richard. I thought it was funny when all three of them were sharing the duty of screwing on one leg on the TV stand.

Michael just enjoyed playing in the large box afterwards!

Pillow fights

A few weeks ago, I was watching a movie and in it two of the actors get into a pillow fight. Michael was all over this idea. He jumped off the couch, grabbed a pillow from the bedroom, then came at me. He's always liked jumping on the bed but hitting with pillows just adds more fun to the fun!

At this point, he just wanted me to stop taking pictures and start playing again. :)

Dreams

This is not meant to be a movie plug for Inception, but I have definitely thought a lot about that movie since watching it. My favorite part in the movie is during one of the levels when the characters are flying. I love flying in dreams. In fact, I have been flying in my dreams almost every night since watching the movie. It makes dreams one of my favorite things, because it's an experience I can never have in reality.

I felt like I could relate to the characters as they floated to the ceiling while flying. Actually, I hate it when that happens. Just like displayed in the movies, I have to crawl myself along the walls, and grab onto doorways to lower myself into the next room. This kind of uncontrollable flying is unbelievably annoying, and it used to happen all the time, until I learned to control it. Now, if I start off flying like that, I can usually make some controlled effort to "snap out of it" per se, and be able to fly freely up and down, and it's, well, awesome.

As I've mentioned this to some people, they've told me that they have never flown in their dreams. For reals? So, take my poll on the right, and leave a comment if you wish. Have you ever flown in your dreams? What is it like for you?

On a different note, for at least 2 years now, I have been having a reoccurring "nightmare" involving chewing gum! The setting surrounding this nightmare is never the same, but this situation is always the same. As I read the book "David Goes to School" by David Shannon, as a bedtime story for Michael I saw this picture that made me stop and reflect on these dreams. I feel it adequately illustrates how I feel sometimes in my dreams.


Nightmare situation: I am chewing gum. GOBS of gum. It's so much gum that I can't talk to the people around me, and I'm typically drooling because the gum is overwhelming. I reach my hand in to pull out the gum, and it just keeps coming out. Many times I'm wearing a retainer, and can't pull it out of my mouth because of this gum being wrapped around my back teeth! It's horrible! And most of the time, people around me don't understand what's going on. I usually have to wake up to make it stop.

I used to think our house rule of "no gum in the house" as kids was ridiculous, but now I don't like gum, period.

Paper Nut Alphabet

My dear friend Jeanie-a talented designer, has recently finished her alphabet poster. I have seen this in the works as she sketched individual letters. I honestly had no idea that this magical poster was going to be the result of her work. I can't believe all the intimate details she put into this piece of work. So, if you're looking to buy me a belated birthday present, or Michael an early Christmas present, or if you are just dying to have this displayed in your home, visit her etsy shop.

"Each character is inspired by Victorian ornamental typefaces and holds a wonderland of fine detail hinting at an object beginning with that letter. Perfect to encourage the budding imagination of your child...or to freshen up your own!" Isn't that incredible?

Fandango Ticket for $4!!!

If you want to snag this deal you need to sign up for Groupon. It's free! And I have totally loved it. Everyday they have a new local deal that you can snag if you want! Check it out, I'm serious.

So right now--there's a sweet national deal if you ever go out to see movies. Richard and his friends are always wanting to see one movie or the other so this deal is perfect for us.

A National Deal---Buy ONE Fandango.com Movie Ticket for only $4 (a $12 value! One one can be purchased per person) good thru February 28th, 2011

So, First you need to sign up for Groupon Here

Then, go here to see the Fandango deal!

Phones And Guns

I am so amazed how you can pick up any object and turn it into a gun. Drool and spit fly from your lips as you make a shooting sound. It's rather disgusting, really. We've tried to teach you a different shooting noise that just uses your voice, but you seem to revert to the vibrating wet lip-smacking shooting.

Just today, we were outside playing next to the Baptist church next to our apartment. You found an interestingly shaped bark from a tree. You started poking at it, saying "8-9-10-11". Then you perched the bark against your ear like a telephone.

"Hello? Hi Chris! Yah? Okay bye."

First of all, I find it very funny that whenever you make imaginary phone calls, it is usually to Chris and Jonette. I know you really like these guys, but they are friends of Mommy and Daddy. I just wonder why you don't ever make phone calls to your nursery friends. Is this because they are too young to have phones?

I guess imaginary phone calls aren't the only calls you make. You love playing with Daddy or Mommy's cell phones whenever you get the chance. Yesterday evening you got into my Recent Call tab on my phone, and made a call to the missionaries. I heard you talking, but was extra surprised when I heard someone responding. According to the call log, Elder Peterson was humoring you for at least two minutes. Was he offering you some advice on how to be the best missionary you can be? I hope so.

Anyway, after you finished your imaginary conversation with Chris, we spotted an airplane flying overhead. Immediately, this bark transformed from a phone to a gun. You perched it up to your face, aimed the bark at the sky and began to shoot wildly. Spit flying. Drool dripping until the airplane was out of sight. Then the phone was back in your hands and the conversation with Chris started all over again.

"8-9-10-11. Hi Chris."

Imagination. I love watching it bloom.

Freezer Cooking Day

I decided to take part in "Freezer Cooking Day" inspired by Money Saving Mom. I had a lot of fun figuring out what meals I could prepare in bulk, freeze, and have ready-to-go when needed. I spent just a couple of hours during two days preparing what I could, and cleaning as I went. For as much as I was chopping and stewing in the kitchen, it stayed very clean. It was very nice.

I didn't prepare as much as I'd like, but this is what I did:

Mozzarella Cheesesticks-battered and ready to fry!

Southwest Roll-ups

Turkey and Veggie Wraps (These took the most time, although they are good, I need a better system to prepare them more quickly.)

2 lbs cooked brown rice

Zuchinni Bread

Ready grated pepperjack cheese

Ready diced green peppers

Ready diced onion

Few pounds of cooked, shredded chicken

I will be buying more produce when it's on sale and chopping/dicing it so it's ready to throw into my recipes when I need it. And freezing brown rice-genius! Considering it takes 45 minutes to make, now I can just warm it up quickly & it tastes just as good.

Have you tried using coupons recently?

I'm curious dear readers, HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE STARTED CLIPPING COUPONS OR SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED DOING SO, and what motivated you to start doing so? Comment please! I'm very curious.

I recently received an email from a lady at church who will not be working come next month, and needs to find a way to help pinch her pennies. She asked if I could show her learn how to use sales and coupons. I was WAY excited at this email, and look forward to teaching her the basics of coupons, and showing her the resources I use. Is anyone else interested in tagging along? I'd be happy to share! I think the biggest thing though is just getting in the mindset of being a little more thrifty with what you already have, and keeping your mindset on being smart with purchases with or without coupons. Secondly, getting organized with bills, meal planning, budgeting is important.

Anyway, I want to highlight one thrifty deal at Rite Aid. Have I ever told you that I love Rite Aid. I used to not care for it but then they started their wellness program, and Single Check Rebates, and they are one of the best places to shop for non-food purchases. This month there was a great deal on a night guard. Months ago the dentist recommended Richard get a nightguard to prevent grinding teeth which usually causes massive headaches for him. The dentist gave him an estimate of making a mold at the office. ($350+) WHAT? He said store bought ones could probably do the trick. So, cross your fingers! Less headaches = :)
If you had just walked into the store and bought these without logging in your receipt online for rebates you would have paid: $33.97

Here's what I did--think you can follow along?

Doctor's Night Guard

Sale Price: $19.99

Coupon: -$5.00

Single Check Rebate: $10.00 by mail

Qualifies for Oral Care Rebate = $5 gift card by mail

Purex

Sale Price: $5.99

Coupon: -$3.00

UP Reward: +$1 to use on future purchase

Complete

Sale Price: $7.99

Coupons: -$1.00

Single Check Rebate: $7.99 by mail

Applied $5 off/$25 purchase

Applied UP rewards from previous purchases of $2.00 and $1.50.

Total OOP Purchase Price after tax: 19.22

BUT

I paid $16.39 with gift cards that I received in the mail from last month's rebates paying only $2.83 OUT OF POCKET

and will receive a check from Rite Aid for $17.99, and a $5 gift card, and have a $1 coupon to use on anything in their store in the future.

Did you read that whole thing? I'm proud of you. =)

Seriously-tell me that doesn't make you even consider clipping a coupon, or signing up for programs that give you rebates for purchases you were going to make anyway.

I'm a blogger

I like blogging. And I like my son. So, I have started a new blog-a daily diary for Michael. I try to keep a scrapbook with lots of pictures, but I feel like a lot of journaling falls out (which makes sense, because I'm already a year behind and forget things). I write in my journal regularly, but that's about a lot of things, so I wanted to have something set aside that was just about him and things he does on a daily basis. Because, he does and says a lot of funny things, and just keeps growing up!

So, if you're interested, you can read up here.

Forgiveness: My Burden Was Made Light

I cried like a baby watching this. I like the part where someone states that Chris had made his decision to forgive others early in life. So, although it wasn't easy later when such a tragedy struck, this decision probably made forgiving seem more attainable.

Forgiveness: My Burden Was Made Light