Can you explain this to me???

..I just opened up a Babies R Us catalog I got in the mail.. to check out these "gifts under $20"

..Since when is $19.99 under $20????? Seriously???? I hate Toys/Babies R Us.. they may possibly have everything in just one store..but they are OUTRAGEOUSLY over priced..It amazes me people still shop "normally"
I dont pay retail for ANYTHING. I went to catch Kohls "Biggest Sale of the Season" last night when I realized I needed a winter coat..

$220 Columbia jacket.. on sale for $140..

I come home, googled the coat & the "average price" for it ANYWHERE is $130-$149.. Soo.. Kohls marked it up & then marked it DOWN. I googled a coupon code, got free shipping & got the coat in the color that I actually wanted ( which wasnt in the store) for $118 shipped.

I remember seeing this super awesome blow up slide/pool/sprinkler marked down 40% and Kohls last summer & being like "WOW! What a STEAL!!" So I got it ($20..) came home & was telling a friend in an email about it, looked it up online for a pic & Amazon sells it for yes.. $20, LOL.. I didnt get a steal!! I got ther TYPICAL PRICE!!

I must be an idiot, because I never realized this.. I have never worked in a department store, I've worke dat retail clothing stores..Tommy Hilfiger, Vanity, DKNY.. I got hired at a Ralph Lauren storee & then declined it.. At Tommy, I got a 50% discount on all my purchases & a 25% disacount on clearance items. Soo..I paid $3 for mens shirts half the time.. I never CARED what the prices were b/c um.. I got good deals anyway.. ya know??

But now.. well.. I'm an adult!! Peopl esay babies are SOOO expensive.. but I really dont believe so.. I mean.. sure, they CAN be.. If YOU choose to buy $100 baby shoes.. But I have a fond love of resale.. and co-ops...

I will shell out the money for some kids stuff, for SURE. I mean.. God knows I of all people have a shopping addiction..but I NEVER pay retail!!! $350 top of the line car seats.. Um.. only with a 20% off coupon, free shipping & $5 return if you dont like it or it doesnt fit in your car..

Gently used Polo & Tommy kids clothes that still have new tags on at a resale store for $5..duh!

Basically every Christmas gift this year is from a co-op, or with a snazzy deal from Snapfish..

No waiting until things go on sale, and them being out of stock.. Get yourself a MyPoints account & use retailmenot.com or couponmountian.com
Hell..just type in "OLD NAVY COUPON CODE" (or whatever store your using) and I promise you, every time you will find between 15% off, to free shipping, to $5 off a $20 purchase..Its just basic knowledge now'days..

Isnt it??????????

More pics...

look at his hand!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!


Andy & Bear..heading to 'Gamps with Daddy this last weekend!! Too cute right?


One of the frames I made the other day...out of wrapping paper =)





Ryans new soaker!!









Andy today..he seemed to have gotten up from his nap too early & changed his mind!!!



Andy really likes when Mike gets home from school to put him to bed.. Check him out..

Yes..its bad that he is imitating Mike drinking a beer, blah blah..what a bad example.We really need to think about what images we want to portray to our children & assess their mental/social/emotional blah blah..
GET OVER IT. Its sweet to see a boy wanting to be just like daddy.. Andy asks for toilet paper to wipe his butt, JUST LIKE DAD..
We're good parents, we love our kids & do more for them than our parents did for us so, as I assume they will with their children one day.we also do more than a typical parent does, sadly, now a days, much less a YOUNG family!! SO..keep it to yourself, I dont care. Its a cute video. Period.

aannndd here is Ryan this morning...I never let him play with the "skishy ball" but he got ahold of it today & was hysterical with laughter!!

Feeling honest...

I am tired of people not caring about my feelings, people who are selfish ( yes i WAS selfish, but as a teen...your SUPPOSED to be..whas you excuse as an ADULT?) I am tired of people whining like they are 7 years old, I am tired of manipulative, self centered, snobby people. Grow up & get over yourself. Your NOT that fabulous. If you were..you wouldnt need to toot your own horn moron!

I am tired of Mike being right and I am ..not sad..not let down.. just.. disgusted, maybe..that all those "best friends" who were guys , that Mike insisted only liked me b/c they wanted a chance with me, DID drop off the face of the earth when I was off the market.. I always have been stupidly trusting of people who dont deserve it, now havent I?

I am tired of all the fake friends I have. People I've known for YEARS who only have something to say when they dont have anyone else who can understand.. Girls who find themselves pregnant, or in a relationship issue & oh gee.. they cant talk to their friends who arent there yet..but Oh.. CLAIRE! SHE'S there.. and its only when I am of use, that they come to talk to me.. I want SOO badly to tell them where to go when it happens again & again, but I instead, turn the other cheek & offer sincere helpoful advice.. Maybe it IS time I stop & stand up for myself.. Thats the only way it will stop happening, right??

I believe some people, MANY people, never truly "leave highschool" And I feel sad for them. It must be miserable to be SO worried about what everyone thinks of you, being fake, feeling worried about being judged..

I am a jealous person. I never knew it, then again..I never had anyone worth being jealous over, until I met Mike.

I am tired of hearing "well the __(baby,toddler,child) wouldnt let me.." You weigh at the least 100 lbs more than your child..what do you mean THEY wont LET you?? COME ON.

I really dislike how people are so very fake. They are one way in front of friends/some family, etc..but thats different from who they REALLY are. I've seen ALOT of this before, and there is nothing prettier than a person who smiles for a camera out of happiness.. but there is nothing good in pictures of people who are so worried about how they look that each picture shows the tenseness in their bodies & faces. it shows on film ya know... being YOURSELF, and having the confidence to say :if they dont like me as I am" and to RECOGNIZE that you ARE self conscious & to still be, but to stop putting on an air.. THAT is gorgeous, admirable, and all around FABULOUS.

I LOVE people who gift for the reason of giving to do good. Paying it Forward.. nothing in return but the pleasure of doing something nice for someone, that they know, or not. I've had several people do this for me in the last few weeks, and it always happens when I least expect it and most need it.. And I pass it on too.. So in turn, it comes back to me again. For this I am grateful.

You can not accept the light if you can not pass on the light as well.....In order to enjoy whats been given to you, you must also know the pleasure of giving that happiness to someone as well. If you keep it to yourself, you dont get the joy that comes from sharing!


I can count my FRIENDS on one hand.. And I appreciate them very much.. people dont get it.. those people have obviously never had a TRUE best friend... I'm lucky enough to be someone who does know..

Mike said it snowed today on his way home from school.. I cant wait! I bought myself a new winter coat..FINALLY!! I had a bad day today & Mike decided I needed to go find it TODAY. He's sweet..

I feel so guilty every time I go outside, not letting those kittens in..I know, its what sbest for US.. But I worry about THEM. Sweet bugs..

For some stupid reason I decided to get a flu shot this year..the nurse was a real bitch, to be quite honest..Anyone who doesnt even smile or blink when a child is being super sweet & cute in front of them, cant be a fabulous person, in my opinion.. Sure enough, I have a black bruise the size of a quarter on my arm. Not only does she hate kids, but she was a crappy shot giver.. Just my luck.

I am having a bad day... can you tell?? LOL! I have SOO much I want to say, but hold alot of it in..I figure, this is a tiny step in the right direction..If someone reads this & doesnt like what I've said.. I really dont care..dont come back to my blog then!!! I NEED to start unloading.. I know this was started to be about the kiddos..but this is my place too.. So.. Yeah..

Hang on, or get out.

Trick or Treat!

Yesterday was Trick or Treat. I've been prepping Andy .. so he would say "say trick or treat" ( I say say before hand & he repeats that part too, lol)

My best friend drove up to see us & wound up T or T'ing with us too! Andy didnt quite get the hang of it til the 3rd house maybe.. when he found someone who insisted he "take another...one more!" When he finished, said thank you & turned to walk back, the biggest grin EVER lit up his sweet little face.. like "THIS..is... AMAZING." lol! He decided "Shammon" is much cooler than mom & asked her to hold his hand the whole way, which was sweet to see, but the mom in me, of course, was a bit hurt. But, HE chose it, so.. I let them be.

I wound up feeling a little left out so Mike swapped Ryan in the Ergo to me, thanks Mike.. and we ventured on.. Andy isnt pushy, he isnt rude & he isnt greedy. I realized..I already knew all of that, but he thanked every person & other kids pushed past him & he didnt bat an eye. Not that I want him to be a push over, believe me, but I like to think that hes better mannered than some of the kids who were needing to be told several times "just ONE" and then ran away yelling "this house only gives out ONE!!" in a ticked off manner... Andy was just thrilled to realize all he had to do was ask & say thank you & people gave him treats!!!

We probably only got about 10 houses before it started to rain, so we all loade dup & went home. Where Andy was thrilled with his loot.. I gave him a mini chocolate bar & then he asked for M&Ms while I was cooking..I did the ((tug tug tug)) wow Buddy, its stuck, i cant open it!!! That we usually do & he gives in & I guess I tugged a bit too hard b/c the bag flew open & Andy was THRILLED!! LOL.

Here are some pictures from the last few days..

(we were black eyed peas....And Mike just wanted to wear a cowboy hat, lol)

Well..Ryan just pulled himself up to stand with the couch..got a good look at the dog, squealed with glee, attracted Andy who ran to him..annnddd.. fell over.

lol. Silly boys!

We are HOT.

Check us out...

In a week..

Well, in the last week, we've managed to all get sick. It started with Andy getting a runny nose...then a cough..

Then Ryan got a runny nose..

I started to get a sore throat last week.. used some oral spray & it went away...

Ryan's developing more of a cough now..

Andy just has snot still.

Mike just randomy starts throwing up & is completely out of commission ( you know how sick men are!) last night.. I made him soup from scratch & he went to bed early with Andy.

Today I am weak, shaky, vomiting & feeling like he did last night..

BUT! Somehow I've managed to do some major cleaning today, and even make Halloween cupcakes! haha..Isnt it funny how when a MOM is sick, the world keeps turning, but when Dad is sick it comes to a screeching halt????

((Sigh))

Well..lets see..

Last week Ryan officially switched from creeping, to CRAWLING.

Check him out!!!

I woke up the other day & realized...I think this is the age when Andy randomly yelled "MAMA" and then didnt talk again for MONTHS.. So Ryan & I laid in bed waking up while I said Mama Mama Mama over & over...I did this through out the day.. in the late evening I felg uilty & threw in a few Dada's.. set Ryan on the ground to go get some water & he starts yelling "Dadadadadadadadadada"

DAMNIT.

My plan was foiled.. he laughs at me now when I say Mama.. then gets a silly grin when I say Dada. Silly boy!!!

Andy is officially a naked wild child..The kid refuses to wear pants ( and a diaper!) the SECOND your in a different room than him, its OFF! Then he yells "GO POTTY!!!" Which is just his *excuse* for taking the diaper off, of course, this kiddo has No interest in the potty what so EVER!

Thanks to Mike.. my wonderful husband & fabulous father...when Andy poops he now says one of 2 things..

"Big turd..Andys big turd"

or..

"Dop Deuce" ( since Mike asks "you dropping deuces buddy??"

Ahh.. arent boys lovely?????

Hm..what else is new.. I've drank probably close to a gallon of water today & my lips keep getting dry b/c it just isnt enough, I seem to be dehydrated =(

We were hoping to go a large Zoo this weekend, but its going to be rainy..so we might not even get to Trick or Treat Sunday either.. I'm not going to drag both barely well kids ( and sick parents) out for T or T if its cold & rainy..

My best friend is going to come see us Sunday, either after T or T or if we dont go due to weather, instead of.. I'm excited. Shes never met Ryan & only seen Andy once.. its hard to get together with people when you have little kids & dont live super close...

I've been doing manjor organizing lately.. its a slow process, and its making somewhat of a mess in the process, but is long awaited.. I've even reorganized & labeled my spice cabinet.. Scary huh??

I think thats it! Off to chase Andy with a diaper!

Our Day at the Orchard

the corn maze..

last say at the Custard place we love!

Ryans claws...



I LOVE this..it could be a magazine Ad!!

it took us about 5 minutes of standing on the hill staring for Mike to say "Wait..are those real?? They havent moved.." to realize all the geeze were fake, LOL! So they "pet the geese"

Food is a no go...

I tend to be into the whole delaying solids thing for babies, however, Ryan has been REALLY interested in our food, he reaches for it whenever hes close enough, etc.


So, I figured, why not give it a whirl. Rice cereal really dont have anything of nutritional value for babies, but I found an Organic Brown Rice & Probiotics cereal I thought I'd give a whirl anyway..


i love this face!! haa haa!!!






I was wrong.. Maybe we'll try something new in a few more weeks!!!