LSU and lumps in my throat

Sophie watching the band come down the hill

Sean, Sophie and I went to the LSU/Kentucky game Sat. morning. It was great weather and overall a smooth operation. We walked up right before the band came down the hill. Sophie saw everything from her Dad's shoulders and was thoroughly impressed. LSU is so much sweeter in person than the flashy, smooth production you get on TV. She loved that it was a school, there were students and cheerleaders and "fast" football players and we walked around campus sharing our memories. I couldn't get rid of the knot in my stomach thinking about how soon she would join these kids at some campus somewhere. It makes me hold her a little closer and snuggle even when I don't have the time.

I might have been the only person there in black, I broke down and got a shirt while we were on campus

It's nice to have contact with the outside world

Here is my Dutch Baby that I made last week, I've linked to the recipe at Cook's Country. It was really tasty, a cross between a pancake and a popover. Cooking it was nicer than pancakes because I didn't have to stand over the griddle to make it but was able to get dressed while it cooked. Then we all ate together like the Cleavers, well sort of.

We've been busy but productive. I'm doing the Facebook page for Sophie's school and working on a good contact list of active parents. I've also been listing items on Ebay for friends, a win-win situation, they get rid of their clothes and we both make a little money. 

I have gone to my Birthday Club and my Book Club and seen friends which is so nice because staying at home all day with only the kids makes for a socially hypersensitive adult. Shortly after I had Sophie I remember getting my feelings hurt by the cashier at the grocery because she wasn't nice and she was my only contact with another adult (besides Sean) all day. That was in New Orleans and we did not know our neighbors, things have improved. There is such a nice network of support and friends here in Laurel, I would imagine that is the greatest benefit of living in a small town. Still the lingering effects of being alone with babies everyday makes you overly sensitive.  I go home and analyze what is said to me and what I said to others. I have so little time to do anything but I do think about these conversations while cleaning or singing or hopscotching. I'm hoping this social awkwardness will fade away when I enter the non baby phase of my life.

Don't you love Etsy?

Holy Moly are these cute or what?  Not a big fan of the ubiquitous giant bow but I DO need something to hold back Vivian's hair. The only thing is I might go into a panic if I lose something so darn cute.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/77767957/new-alli-the-crocodile-and-alligator

Why I stay home with the kids....

Things have gotten crazy since school started last week. I had no idea how relaxed we had gotten this summer until having a schedule for school whipped us back into shape. I'm trying to make a real breakfast every morning. So far we have had buttermilk waffles and oatmeal. Tomorrow we are having Dutch Baby which I can only imagine has some Northern? origin because I'm not at all familiar with it but it will include strawberries and whipped cream which makes anything good.


They only need a few books and then they fall asleep. AMAZING!



Sophie has school, Wes is adjusting to school and the babies are becoming their own people that probably need to have separate cribs but I know I'm not ready. They are such good companions at sleeptime, waving at me and saying 'night-night' (this has been unheard of in our home) bedtimes have always been disasters. Sean is so busy making artwork and selling it and also finding time to work. I think it's nice for all of them to know that I have everything covered at home. When they get home from work and school I'm ready to hear about their day, absorb it as my own and prepare them for the next day. I love my job, I sometimes forget this when I have a week like last week when I wanted to throw the manicotti off the deck and pull a full on Kramer vs. Kramer. I finally did leave and walk around CVS for an hour (there aren't many places to venture and I needed the A/C). I was still mad when I got home but I wasn't screaming. I needed to leave and remind myself why I stay home and what a special time it has been. I look forward to working outside the home when the kids are all in school but I can't imagine it will be half as fulfilling as the time I've spent shaping their lives.



Undercover Mystery Shopping Mother

I saw an ad for local mystery shoppers and signed up with Intellishop http://www.intelli-shop.com/evaluator-area/become-an-evaluator it was free and quick to do but I assumed we would not get much mystery shopping action in Laurel.  However, last week I got one at a local cell phone store (I had to go there anyway to reset my pin) and all I had to do was ask the clerk a question. Perhaps my giggle gave me away but I hoped by bringing the kids with me they would never assume I was actually trying to shop them. The hardest part was remembering her name while wrangling the kids (I'm terrible with names anyway). When I got home I filled out the review in about 10 minutes and I was paid $15 through Paypal. Right now this same company is offering to reimburse oil changes for certain American made cars at a local dealership.

 A friend told me about National Shopping Service, http://www.nationalshoppingservice.com/ Tonight we had pizza delivered for free on top of a $12 bonus. The kids thought it was fun to take pictures of a pizza before we could eat it. I was just excited because my self imposed $150 weekly grocery limit was made easier with free pizza (we also made a salad). Last week we got in under the $150 weekly limit ($134.91) which was nice to know it could be done.

Pricematching in Laurel 8/12 ending 8/16

Not a whole lot going on this week exciting. Even Kroger isn't amazing....
Milk 1/2 Gallon $1.66 Kroger
Coke 12pk cans 3/$9 CVS (ends Sat.)
Popcorn Indiana $2.50 CVS (ends Sat.)
Hilshire Farm Sausage $2.49 Sunflower
Ground Chuck $2.59/# Sunflower
Boneless Skinless Chicken $1.88/# Save Rite & $1.87/# Kroger
Bama Grape/Apple Jelly $1 Sunflower
Wishbone Salad Dressing $2 Piggly Wiggly
Ore Ida Potatos $2.50 Kroger
McKenzies Chub Corn $1 Corner Market
Blue Bell 1/2 gallon $4.48 Save Rite
Red/Green Grapes $1.38/# Save Rite
5# Red Potatos $3 Save Rite
5# Russet Potatos $2.99 Piggly Wiggly
Celery .98 Save Rite
Tomatos .99/# Kroger
Peaches/Plums $1.28/# Save Rite
Nectarines $1.29 Kroger
Strawberries $2 Kroger
Brocolli Crowns $1.49/# Piggly Wiggly
Green Beans $1.29/# Corner Market

No more wearing your brothers jeans....

I have had a few "bad mother" moments since the twins were born. One was not going to the awards ceremony when Sophie won the AR award for 1st grade. Another moment was realizing Sophie had worn her little brothers jeans to school (the knee marks were at her mid thigh). Soooo to prevent this from happening again and also to help us plan her daily outfits the night before (nice thought). We have divided her clothes with some fun dividers. We love our circle cutter that we used to make the universal birthday banner that we WILL use until the end of time. And we used the leftover letter stickers from same banner. So on our last day of summer we were crafty and it felt good. It feels much better than the look of disappointment I received on awards day....





The Birthday Banner that I copied off of Etsy and have used for everyone (I do add their name and birthday year)