Pepsi Deal

Oh ... K-mart is having an incredible deal on Pepsi products. Their ads says it is 5 - 12 packs for $11 - which is a deal in and of itself. But then when you go through the register, one of them rings up free! So I paid $9.50 with tax and got 5 - 12 packs. That is $1.90 per 12 pack. Super Super Super deal! Stock up!

I'm raising a Diva!

So, here is the update on the computer. It works ... amazing what $90 worth of RAM will do for you. However, it is not permanently fixed. Apparently windows XP needs to be re-installed which will make us lose everything - so we need to make a plan on how to get what we need off of it first. Boring, I know - just thought I'd share.

So ... I am raising a Diva. Case in point: We had 3 outfit changes today - first a pink dress, then a green dress, and blue dress. All dresses. She refuses to put anything else on - only dresses. Second example, yesterday while playing in the yard with Wade, Keira took his wallet. She pulled things out until she found Wade's corporate card, threw everything else out and ran around with the credit card saying -- "I got Daddy's credit card, I got Daddy's credit card" I swear, she did not learn this from me. Boy are we in trouble when she is a teenager!

New deal is a pickles coupon! Keira would eat a whole jar of pickles at one time if I let her, so we eat a lot of pickles. In the link is a coupon for $1.00 off one jar of Vlassic pickles. At the grocery store here, you can get relish for $1.08 - so with the coupon it is only .08!

For those of you who have been asking ... I promise I will get pictures of the house posted this week! We are still kinda putting stuff together - probably will be for forever ... but I will get pictures regardless this week!

That is all I can think of for now - I am sure there is more, so I'll post when I can think of it!

Computer is headed to the Doctor

Well, I have done everything I know to this thing and still can't fix it. I was quite proud of myself for getting one of the more serious errors fixed, but no there seems to be something wrong with the graphics driver. Looks like it is headed into the shop ... I will update when I can!

Hope ya'll had a good weekend. Talk to you soon!

Technical Difficulties ... Again

Hello! If anyone knows anything about computers, can you shoot me and e-mail or give me a call. We are suddenly getting these gdiplus.dll missing errors. It seems to be effecting the way we view photos, our desktop is kaput (it's that white restore screen), and is causing some other errors. This type of error is apparently not covered under our warranty and they want to charge us big bucks to fix it. Ugh ... if anyone can help, it would be greatly appreciated!

Did you get your flip flops?

We got ours. There was a limit of 5 per customer. So Wade got 1 and I got 4. Yeah!

Looking in the mirror

Yesterday, I took Keira into the bathroom to do her hair. She stood on her stool, looked in the mirror, put her hands on her face and said "Aww, I'm so cute". Apparently, I am not raising a modest child! But who am I to argue?

Carrots

Keira had been eating carrots for her afternoon snack and Peanut had been sitting watching her, close to, but not quite breathing down her neck to get at the carrots. Well, Keira had finally had enough and took a half a carrot that she had just taken a bite out of, threw it as far as she could across the room and said "Go get, Buddy, go get it!" While I probably should have been discipling for throwing food across the room, I was actually rolling on the floor laughing!

Update on Thomas Coupon

http://slickdeals.net/permadeal/12933

Ok Ladies - Here is what I know about the Thomas Deal. There is a new coupon ... see link above ... it is only good on 4 different models and it is only good through today. Sorry girls, I just read about this today. I would call ahead and see if they have the models in stock as I have read that many stores are sold out. Hopefully someone can take advantage!

Hmm, what have we been up to?

Well, still going to the gym. Keira actually asks to go to the gym, so that is a nice bonus. Yesterday, I put on my most "I am not shy" personality and went to the neighbors and invited them over to play in the baby pool yesterday afternoon. Keira had such a great time playing with the girls. She follows the 5 year old around like a puppy dog. "C'mon Lily" she says "let's do xyz". It is pretty cute. They ran around the yard, through the sprinklers, down the slide and into the pool and then to the sandbox - over and over and over again. Keira was exhausted by bedtime and fell asleep almost immediatly. Yeah! I think we are going to go check out the mall this afternoon. Not that I really need to spend any money, but I also don't feel like sitting around the house either. Ah, the challenges of being a SAHM. I have gotten more into the whole on-line survey thing though and am making a few bucks here or there - yesterday I did a survey for 30 minutes and got a free $10 Amazon gift card. Yippee. I need a new book to read. There is a huge neighborhood garage sale near here tomorrow that I think we are going to try to hit. Hopefully I will find lots of good deals! Now that the newness is starting to wear off of Kansas I am missing my friends back in cincy bunches! Hope everyone is doing well!

Running around like a crazy girl!

Chasing Peanut

Picking Flowers

My Shopping Trip

Went "deal" shopping today ... anybody wanna guess how much all of this cost me? Let me list all that I purchased first. 3 - 12 pack double rolls of Charmin, 1- 24 pack Nestle bottled water, V8 Fusion, Bertolli Pasta Sauce, 4 pack Duracell batteries, 12 pack Blue Bunny Bomb Pops, Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal, jar of Vlassic sweet pickle relish, Oral B dental floss, Friggo String Cheese, Box of Band-Aid brand Band Aids, Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal and some Gillette body wash. Oh my, that's a lot of stuff ... and the answer is ... $5.61. Holy Toledo! I shopped at CVS and Wal-Mart and had a coupon for everything I bought. Just an example of what kind of deals you can find on the internet if you look! I was pretty excited about it all! Wade thinks I am super crazy. The cashier was cheering me on - she couldn't believe all the coupons. Happy Shopping everyone!

For all my reality tv loving friends ... we are watching I Survived a Japanese Game Show right now. I'll review it later!

Keira made some friends!

So the next door neighbor just popped over this morning and said they were going to the park and did we want to come? So we went! She has a 2.5 year old and an almost 5 year old. Keira had so much fun. She really took to the 5 year old - they held hands and walked to and from the park together. So sweet. Keira hasn't stopped talking about her since. It was nice to get out, have some adult conversation and let Keira have some playtime with other kids. We also met another mom at the park that has an almost 3 year old that just joined the MOMS club. She was very nice and lives close as well. So I came home and called about signing up, finally. I just got voice-mail, but hopefully we will be members soon!

I have a super saving shopping trip planned for this afternoon. Check back later to see how I did!

Also, Amber tried to use the Thomas coupon today or maybe yesterday and it didn't work. There was a sign posted at the Toys R Us saying there was some error and the coupon could no longer be used. Bummer! I will take the coupon down and search for another savings tip!

Has anyone seen ...

the Ped-Egg? Is it weird that I want one?

That Looks like my dog (said by Keira while pointing to Peanut!)

Today was a fun day - we finished cleaning out the garage. I know this probably does not sound like fun for most, but I LOVE an organized space. Mess makes me a little crazy, so I feel much better that it is now all put away and nice looking! Hooray!

Checked out the local Toys R Us ... needed to get sand for Keira's sand table and I wanted to see if the Thomas coupon worked ... and it does! So check out the saving tip of the day for a free Thomas the Train. Note that it only works on the wooden ones.

After nap, Keira played in the baby pool. We put the slide so that it went straight into the pool and she thought this was pretty hilarious. Up the stairs and down the slide ... for over an hour! She should sleep good tonight.

We don't currently have a lot planned for the week - visit the gym, call the local MOMS club and get signed up, I'd like to get pictures taken and posted of the house so you can all see where we live now ... and maybe an outing to two for Keira. Gas is at the crazy low price of $3.89 here, wahoo!

Keira in the Pool

We hit the pool again today as it was a hot one. Keira loves wearing her swim vest and being able to swim by herself. After swimming, we came home and grilled out - Wade attempted Ribs on the grill for the first time. They turned out great! Keira even liked them ... and so did Peanut!

Keira is starting to count in spanish (thanks Dora!). We were walking down the stairs today and she said Uno, Dos, Tres - I was shocked! She skips over 6 - 9 and goes straight from cinco to diez ... we're still learning.

We passed an Einstein's Bagels here today coming home from the Gym. YEAH! We have been missing Einstein's since we moved from Indy. Wade loves their coffee and I love their Asaigo (sp) Cheese Bagel. Sounds like a field trip for tomorrow morning breakfast.

That is all for now - check me out tomorrow for a link to a coupon for a free Thomas the Train!

This deserved a post all by itself!

Free $10 Gift Card to Outback ... check out the savings tip of the day!

I'm Back!

So we got the computer back last night and thank goodness, they were able to mirror the hard drive, so we didn't lose anything! Thanks to the Geek Squad at Best Buy for a job well done. And it only cost $100 since it was under warranty, they only charged for the work to back up the drive. Better than having to buy a new one that is for sure! So, what has been going on in my technologically challenged world ...

Wade made it home safely from Mexico. Keira was very happy to see him and hasn't really left his side since. It is pretty cute. Oddly, I had a craving for Mexican food and he indulged me and we went out for Mexican last night. Keira really loved this resturant - I had a coupon for a free espinaca - a cheesy spinach dip for the chips and she would have eaten the whole bowl if I would have let her. The meals came with these little flags in them that she loved! The waitress brought her out a whole handful.

We checked out another park and I have come to the conclusion that Kansas City is anti-swings. We have been to 3 so far plus driven past another one and NO swings. Weird.

No new pictures either ... I left the memory chip for the camera in the computer, so I haven't been able to use it. Phone is still touch and go - for those of you who have seen my phone, you know why. Hope to get that resolved this weekend.

More later ...

Technical Difficulties

Been having technical difficulties ... hard drive crashed on the computer ... phone wasn't working for a bit ... post more soon!

I want a kids meal, Please!

Not too much exciting to report today. Went to the gym this morning and Keira did great in the playroom. Yeah for Mommy! Then we went to a park. Keira had been requesting to go to the park since 7:00 this morning, so I figured we better go. She had a lot of fun and is becoming quite the dare-devil. We came home and played outside for a bit and met the next door neighbors, sort of. We met the little girls that live there - their grandma was there watching them while the Mom was a work (she works 1 day a week as a paramedic). The two little girls are 5 and 2.5 - so hopefully they will be good playmates for Keira! After nap, we checked out the neighborhood pool, and I think we found where we are going to be spending most of the summer. Keira had an excellent time! She jumped into the pool at least 15 times. There were only 3 other kids in the pool. I determined we clearly are not equipped for the pool yet - no floaties or other pool toys. Several other kids had them at the pool and Keira really wanted them. Thankfully, those kids were very nice and let Keira play with them too!

I decided to take Keira out to dinner tonight, I didn't feel like cooking and it's nice to get out of the house too! I decided to take her to Sonic because I thought she would think it was fun to eat in the car. Well, she did think it was fun - I however, just thought it was messy! (Why didn't I consider that before we went??). For those of you who don't know what Sonic is, it is a drive in type restaurant where you order at the car. Well, I ordered at the car while Keira observed. After I was done, she climbed onto my lap and started yelling out the window at the order board - "I want a kid's meal please!" It was hilarious - she must have said it 8 or 10 times. Her language is really developed now - she speaks almost always in complete sentences and just comes up with the craziest things to say. I am also happy to report that she is starting to use her polite words without prompting. Today at the gym she walked right in front of someone - but then turned around and said, "excuse me please". She can really provide some comic relief on long days!

Freebies for my Friends

Here are a couple of freebies I've found on the web:

Free Sample of Multi-Grain Cheerios: http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid43820.aspx

Free Cookbook: http://www.jollycook.com/free-jolly-cookbook.html

Enjoy!

"That's not a Rhinoceros, it's a Pig"

Today's outing took us to the Kansas City Zoo. Thanks to some very dear friends (Thanks TTT Girls!), we have a pass to the zoo that we have just been dying to check out. Keira was so excited she talked non-stop on the way there about all the animals that she wanted to see. Giraffes were at the top of the list. The zoo was fantastic. Very pretty and very spread out. We spent about two and a half hours there and didn't get to see it all!! The map said that there is over 2 miles of walking in the zoo. And I would believe it. Keira refused the stroller and walked the entire time by herself. I was really impressed. The first thing she wanted to see was the giraffes, which of course were at the back of the zoo. You get pretty up close and personal with some of the animals. I could almost touch the elephants. On our way to the giraffes, we passed a rhino. I told Keira that that animal was a Rhinoceros. She however, had a different opinion. She said, "No mommy, that's not a Rhinoceros, it's a pig". I laughed hysterically about that for quite awhile. She loved the giraffes once we found then, and also really liked the zebras and the giant turtles. She spent most of the morning running from exhibit to exhibit talking excitedly about what animals we were seeing next. I tried to skip a few things (crocodiles for one thing) but she wasn't having it. We also rode the carousel while we were there. She loved it, but did not love getting off of it. After the zoo, we came home and she napped. I should have, but didn't. Then we hit the baby pool in the back yard for some afternoon fun. Keira mostly emptied the water out of the pool claiming that she was "water the grass, mommy, I water the grass" Daddy would be so proud. We also picked some strawberries in the backyard. Yes, we have a strawberry patch in the back yard. So I picked a bunch and they were really, really sweet. I didn't let Keira have any yet, as I am waiting to see if I keel over dead from eating something growing in my backyard! Not sure what tomorrow's adventure will be. I gotta get my butt to the gym in the AM, so tomorrow may just be a park day.

Today's Adventure: The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead

We went to The Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead today! It was great. They had all kinds of animals to feed - Keira actually fed one goat, the rest she wanted me to feed. There were two playgrounds, a little water area, a pond that you can catch fish in (and rent a little fishing pole for the kids), pony rides, wagon rides, etc. The best part was that admission was free. You didn't have to spend any money there if you didn't want to. We spent a few quarters on food for the animals but that was it. Keira had a great time seeing the "amimals" and kept asking for "more, more, more". She also spent a long time on the playground and even went down the big slides without any prodding from me. That is all to report tonight. Think we are heading to the zoo tomorrow ... look for more pictures then!

So I am starting a blog ...

We'll see if I can keep up with it! I am hoping to make this a spot to catch up with friends, document all of Keira's growing up, and post some deals to help my other Mom friends save some money! The saga so far ... we have been in our new home in Olathe, KS for just over a week now. If I haven't told you about our traumatic trip out here, call me, I can't even begin to write the story here. Anyway, we are settling in pretty well. All the boxes that are going to get unpacked, are unpacked. It doesn't feel like home yet, but I am hoping it will soon. Wade is off to Mexico this week (the jerk), so Keira and I are on are own. We are going to play tourist in KC and visit all the parks, pools, zoos, and any other fun things we can find to do. Though the week will start off with some work on Monday AM. We just joined a gym and it came with several free personal training sessions, so I'll be getting my butt kicked tomorrow. They have a great child watch area for Keira - when we went to sign up, I took her inside to show her it and she wouldn't leave. I literally had to drag her out, screaming. Let's hope she loves it that much tomorrow. We went to a barbeque at the neighbors on saturday and met one family that has a 4 and 2 year old. Keira seemed to get along well with the 2 year old and even tried to hug her on several occasions, so it looks like she is making friends already. Keira is starting to become very girly. She wants to change her clothes about 5 times a day, started getting into princess things (see picture of her in the crown above), and has even asked me to do her hair on several occasions! We got Wade a radio thing that you can plug the IPOD into to listen to it like a stereo. Keira spent most of the day dancing in kitchen to the music. When the music would pause to go to the next song, she would say, "More dancing, Mommy, More Dancing!". She is too cute!