Alligator girl is still a smartie.  We went through a rough time at the beginning of the school year because she was in a bad school.  A bad school?  As a teacher, it is hard for me to say that.  I was warned about the school that she would be attending, but at the time I didn’t have much choice.  When she came home with worksheets with concepts I had taught to my 3 and 4 year old preschoolers, I knew we were in trouble.   Then the homework load of worksheets was far more than I’d ever given, even to my middle schoolers.  Then came the neverending days of her teacher not taking them outside to play (in October!).  Now she’s at a pretty good school and within just a few months has caught up and is reading above grade level.  The teacher hasn’t told this to me, but I know it’s true because I used to teach first grade.  The books she’s bringing home to read are not kindergarten books.  She’s reading books with first grade site words in them.  She’s a smart girl.  Too bad we wasted those few months at the other school.  It’ll be ok though.

Cuddlebug is 3 1/2 and is at home with me.  I feel badly that I can’t put him into part-time preschool just yet.  Our other house still hasn’t sold and we’re supporting two households.  It really stinks!  I’m trying to teach him some things at home, but find myself constantly struggling for time.  And this leaves me feeling more guilty. 

I’ve decided to cut back on some of my daytime blogging and start blogging more in the evenings.  So far, this is working well, but it’s leaving me pretty tired. 

Cuddlebug reaffirmed my motherhood today.  He said something like, “Mom, you’re a great mom.  You can do lots of stuff . . . Mom, you’re a great mom.  You make the best sandwiches.  And you clip coupons.”  hahahahahaha  Ok, he had me at the coupon thing.  He knows what’s important to me and he values it too.  Love my kids.  

images are mine

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

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Jennifer and Jim kept getting huge water bills. They knew beyond a doubt that the bills weren’t representative of their actual usage, and no matter how they tried to conserve, the high bills continued.

Although they could see nothing wrong, they had everything checked for leaks or problems: first the water meter, then outdoor pipes, indoor pipes, underground pipes, faucets, toilets, washer, ice maker, etc. — all to no avail.

One day Jim was sick and stayed home in bed, but kept hearing water running downstairs. He finally tore himself from his sick bed to investigate, and stumbled onto the cause of such high water bills.

Apparently this was happening all day long when they were not at home. Knowing that few would believe him, he taped a segment of the ‘problem’ for posterity.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

 Jennifer’s wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement, not even her parents’ nasty divorce. Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear and would be the best dressed mother-of-the- bride ever !

A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father’s new young wife had bought the exact same dress as her mother! Jennifer asked her stepmom to exchange it, but she refused. ‘Absolutely not. I look like a million bucks in this dress, and I’m wearing it,’ she replied.

Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, ‘Never mind sweetheart, I’ll get another dress. After all, it’s your special day.’

A few days later, they went shopping and did find another gorgeous dress. When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, ‘Aren’t you going to return the other dress? You really don’t have another occasion where you could wear it.’

Her mother just smiled and replied, ‘Of course I do, dear. I’m wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding.’

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

source: forwarded email

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

We, KM and I, woke up around 7 am and watched the wiggles.  She ate oatmeal on my lap and we thought about getting dressed for church.  The DH got up and watched her for me at 8 so I could get a shower.  I know!  He was actually up and focused before noon.   That’s only because he went to bed at 11pm instead of 5 am.  He works way too hard!

So I got my shower and then he did.  We were getting read to walk out of the house to eat at McDonald’s when we noticed that our daughter had decided to poop and then dig it out to paint the carpet with!  LOVELY!  So I went to change her outfit, which was adorable, and wash her up while the DH shampooed the carpet.  We were both frustrated because we need to get her to stop doing this without her thinking that pooping is a bad thing.  Just using as a paining medium is bad. 

We had to go to church in separate cars due to our afternoon schedules so we landed at McDonald’s with no extra drama.  My daughter yells out “Sausage Gravy!” while her daddy tries to get her out of the car seat in the back of the truck.  She proceeds to accidentally kick over his full oversized mug of diet 7-Up all over the diaper bag, bible, and truck interior.  Needless to say that by the time I got to the truck, he was very frustrated and I was trying not to laugh because she was just wanting to get to the food inside.

So we cleaned up the mess and ate a quiet breakfast.  Luckily, we didn’t spill anything for the rest of the morning, but it was a very time consuming morning with us missing out on church.  We got there in time for second service but not first.  If you know anything about me, I hate being late.  But this morning, I did very well.  You would be proud of me.

Hope your Sunday was less traumatic than ours.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

I hope to finish up tonight or tomorrow afternoon and then I’ll be back on schedule. Until then, I have some cute pictures for you to look at over at The Weather Channel.  You go can there and view the animal pictures, get yourself some smiles, and even submit your own photos.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

I got an email today from my cousin that made me laugh and I thought I would share it with you. I had seen the list before but there is nothing more frugal than taking the time to laugh and be refreshed. Hope you enjoy it.

1. You spend the first two years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next sixteen telling them to sit down and shut up.

2. Grandchildren are God’s reward for not killing your own children.

3. Mothers of teens now know why some animals eat their young.

4. Children seldom misquote you. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn’t have said.

5. The main purpose of holding children’s parties is to remind yourself that there are children more awful than your own.

6. We childproofed our homes, but they are still getting in.

7. If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle:
“Take two aspirin” and “keep away from children”!!!

Post from: Thrifty Mommy