tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36864028932668137392012-02-16T03:30:24.587-05:00Snippets and sprawlings from my crazy life.Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.comBlogger3961100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-64979577366832669672009-06-06T09:05:00.002-04:002009-06-06T09:07:40.194-04:00

Today is Nana's birthday, so Husband called to wish her a Happy Birthday. Naturally, the kids couldn't be left out, so they got to talk to her too. Bug's conversation was short & sweet, but Bird's was... amusing:Bird: Happy Birthday Nana!!Nana: somethingBird: How old are you now?Nana: answersBird: Wow, that's a big number!!

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-73931736224904359302009-05-15T06:22:00.002-04:002009-05-15T06:25:47.347-04:00

In case I ever had any doubt, my baby is definitely NOT a baby anymore!! She was quite excited by the whole thing, really. And here she is, fake smiling to show you.Looking at this picture, I kind of wonder if I should change the sidebar of our pics over there. Nah... I don't want to take a pic of MY teeth!

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-27141937183166165382009-05-12T06:12:00.000-04:002009-05-12T06:12:00.656-04:00

Bug: Do you know what bad guys look like Mommy?Me: I don't think there's an exact dress code.Bug: Bad guys don't wear underwear.Me: They don't?Bug: NO! They are only wearing pants. So now you know.

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-89149544646728451222009-05-11T06:03:00.000-04:002009-05-11T06:03:00.797-04:00

My baby turned SIX this past weekend. (Ack!) Naturally, being the social butterfly that she is, we had to have a birthday party. She really wanted to have it at a local playground (yes! procrastinating deep housecleaning until summer vacation!), and for the first time, we were letting her invite friends from school. She had fun, but it didn't exactly turn out as planned. So, if you wanted to

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-24574585468370294202009-05-10T09:07:00.002-04:002009-05-10T09:16:30.893-04:00

Last year, I had an awful lot of fun reading what Bird thought about me... this year both kids had the chance to do some Mommy Mad Libbing in their classes. My Mom - by BugHer hair is brown.Her eyes are white. (It could have been worse. One kid said his mom had pink hair & orange eyes.)She is 14 years old. (Well, at least an improvement from last year's 1500!)Her favorite food is all the food

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-83511787874902119662009-04-27T18:05:00.002-04:002009-04-27T18:29:41.057-04:00

Looks like it was breakfast week here at the Looney Bin! What can I say... this family of mine really loves the cereal. I keep thinking I should post pics of my cereal stash, but on one hand, it's a little embarrassing. They really do eat a lot of it, though.Here's this week's breakdown:Total Cost of Items: $72.18Coupons: $11.00Sales: $22.82Total OOP: $38.36SAVED 47%* = couponItems on Sale (

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-55399207995614431322009-04-20T06:09:00.000-04:002009-04-20T06:09:00.746-04:00

There are certain things about grocery shopping that will always be true:- You will buy more food that you don't need if you shopo when you're hungry.- If you shop on Sunday night, you will stare at all the college kids & their choice (or lack thereof) of actual food.- It's amazing how quickly you can do the shopping when it's just you.- Any male bagboy will offer to take your groceries to your

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-19646337190064629632009-04-14T16:51:00.003-04:002009-04-14T16:55:52.419-04:00

All I have to say about Easter is- Bird was up early.- She completely forgot that she was getting an Easter basket, so she didn't pester us to go look for it while we waited for Bug to wake up.- Once both kids were up and we told them to go look for their baskets, she went immediately to the place where we hid her basket last year. Yes, I have the child who can't find the shoes she wore

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-18155418566296997902009-04-06T19:59:00.003-04:002009-04-06T20:52:17.444-04:00

1. Wake up without an alarm.2. Feed breakfast to masses of hungry children. (Okay, it was just Bug & Bird, but they seem to eat so much for breakfast that I feel like I've fed hoards of hungry lumberjacks. Minus the flannel.)3. Start GRE practice sets of questions on the computer. (GRE is the SAT for grad school/master's degree. They send you a free little practice program that you can use to

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-10805585400572553602009-04-06T08:00:00.002-04:002009-04-06T08:23:14.785-04:00

Ahhh... SPRING BREAK!! I can't think of anything better. Except maybe summer break. There were several items on decent deals this week. I used some of the budget to start to stockpiling fruit snacks (by the way, that is snacks of fruit, not the gummy things) in anticipation of many long days at home this summer. Total Cost of Items: $117.30Coupons: $11.05Sales: $33.65Total OOP: $72.60SAVED 38%

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-1066611395686773902009-04-01T05:50:00.002-04:002009-04-01T05:53:59.932-04:00

I'm sure Martha Stewart once said that if you don't like your current flooring, you can alter the look by using area rugs.My kids' interpretation? We don't know what area rugs are, but we have all these blankets that folks have made and/or bought for us, and they'll work just fine!

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-46729057435419019262009-03-30T06:11:00.001-04:002009-03-30T06:11:00.334-04:00

One of the things that surprised me about this bloggy break were the comments about the lack of grocery posts. Which, I have to admit, surprised me. Granted, *I* like seeing how I'm doing budget-wise, and posting here helps keep me honest, but I never really thought anybody else liked reading about them either.This week I had the good Albertson's coupon, as well as a $2/$5 worth of produce from

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-26443729235667101072009-03-27T20:39:00.003-04:002009-03-27T20:49:17.200-04:00

I've noticed (well, I'm sure I'm not the only one!) that bloggers seem to be doing less blogging lately. And I've been a little sad at that, because I really do enjoy reading blogs. Many have wondered if blogging has jumped the shark, and maybe it has.... but I still liked reading other peoples' stories. Of course, I must then notice the plank in my own eye! I haven't blogged in 6 weeks, and

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-33240167086419605672009-02-15T19:30:00.002-05:002009-02-15T19:32:55.255-05:00

Earlier this afternoon, Husband was sitting on the couch & talking to a friend on the phone. Bug wandered over and asked who he was talking to. Husband replied "Mr. B.", at which point Bug began to have a conversation with Mr. B through Husband.Bug: Tell Mr. B I'm going to throw a snowball at his house!Mr. B: A snowball at my house?Bug: Yes, and then your house will turn upside down!Mr. B:

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-41575907269316714932009-01-27T14:33:00.004-05:002009-01-27T15:26:28.383-05:00

Bug has known for quite some time now that his birthday was in January. Fortunately, he also knew that January came after December and after Christmas.Unfortunately, his birthday is towards the end of the month, so for a few weeks we had to endure "Is it my birthday YET? It's January! I should be turning four!"About two weeks before his birthday, we asked him what kind of cake he wanted. The

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-863303744575201502009-01-25T15:12:00.003-05:002009-01-25T15:28:09.575-05:00

Dear Bug,On the day of your actual birthday, the modem celebrated by frying itself. So this is written just a little late. Oh well.Happy Birthday, Big Boy!! Now you are four years old. And you have been oh-so-excited to tell everyone about it too. Any new ability you have is due to your old age. (My feet touch the floor! It's because I'm FOUR!!) I'm starting to wonder if FOUR is really a

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-62927445440637505832009-01-21T19:36:00.002-05:002009-01-21T19:39:24.762-05:00

1. It is not worth it to discuss - with a three year old - that the tangerine is really a tangerine & not a little orange. 2. It's way cuter to say hiccing-up.3. Fried cheese sticks, yogurt, and steamed veggies DO hit all the major food groups.

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-74589823600533543212009-01-20T19:32:00.003-05:002009-01-20T19:34:14.839-05:00

.... or as Husband says, everything is History, so what makes today any different?We were able to watch the inaguration speech at school today, although we missed the swearing in. I found it far more interesting watching the students than the speech though. Some of them were so incredibly enamored; some were so incredibly disgusted.... some were hoping we wouldn't catch them texting.And now we

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-68307782591342696932009-01-19T07:58:00.002-05:002009-01-19T08:01:47.058-05:00

Just read this over on Friday Playdate:Quaker is partnering with Share Our Strength, a network of food banks that target children. Through February 28, you can go to the Quaker Start With Substance website and enter the UPC from any Quaker hot cereal; for every UPC entered, Quaker will donate one bowl of oatmeal to Share our Strength, up to one million bowls of oatmeal.In the interests of full

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-89346815206661350272009-01-19T07:55:00.003-05:002009-01-19T08:09:13.871-05:00

With Bug:Bug: Okay, I'll be the baby and you be the Mommy?Me: How do you know I'm the Mommy? Maybe I'm an alien? (yeah, I have no idea why I said it either!)Bug: You're not an alien. You don't look like TE!!How the child remembers ET when he's only seen him at Universal Studios is beyond me.With Bird:Bird: Mommy, what day is tomorrow?Me: You tell me.Bird: MONDAY!! Do we have school?Me:

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-82587020638256651122009-01-18T08:57:00.002-05:002009-01-18T09:01:25.000-05:00

1. Took down Christmas tree & all other decorations except for trains.2. Kids helped take ornaments down & none were broken.3. Deep cleaned half of kitchen & threw away lots of things we don't use anymore.4. Husband took kids to the park, and I got to take a lovely hot shower with no audience.5. Went to book club with other teachers from school. Can't go wrong with fruit, chocolate , and a

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-4550224767105627792009-01-10T13:03:00.003-05:002009-01-10T13:27:52.150-05:00

Heather is apparently one of many who have decided to reflect upon their posts for 2008. The idea is that you take the first sentence of the first post of each month in 2008 and see if you notice any pattern or common theme. Sounds like this could be fun or dangerous. Perhaps both.January: Happy New Year!(yes, let's start off in a jolly party tone! I'm always up for fireworks.)February: I found

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-44471806278028110772009-01-02T15:57:00.003-05:002009-01-02T17:19:22.658-05:00

Hello and Happy 2009!!!I must say, we had a fantastic holiday. Had some family over for the holiday itself, and for the most part, everything was low-key and went smoothly. The day after Christmas, we packed up the kids & spent the past week in a condo across town - a "vacation at home," so to speak. It was wonderful - no computers, no work, and no obligations - just spending time alone with

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-45740859410925229262008-12-10T20:40:00.002-05:002008-12-10T20:43:46.136-05:00

Jess wrote a great post today about how nobody does everything. Right now, I'm not doing much blogging. Which really kind of stinks, because I do miss it. But the fact of the matter is that I've been doing an awful lot of boring writing this week. I could show you the 40 pages of review questions I've written in the past two days, but if this post hasn't already put you to sleep, that surely

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-59270262322942604202008-12-08T06:05:00.000-05:002008-12-08T06:05:00.941-05:00

The holiday season is upon us!! But I'm still in a little denial about the remaining ingredients I still need to buy for Christmas cookies.... not to mention the stuff I need to get for the lasagna. I'm still recovering from Thanksgiving, darnit!! This week, I was able to stay $20 under budget, so only $20 left to recover!! It's always so helpful when Albertson's put a $5/$50 coupon in their

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-65829643508707563942008-12-07T06:46:00.000-05:002008-12-07T06:46:00.924-05:00

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-15466145609841988772008-12-06T06:40:00.005-05:002008-12-06T12:49:53.281-05:00

Perhaps my favorite field trip (I'm ignoring the fact that it's my ONLY field trip!) is where I take my physics class to a theme park to study all the different types of rides. We look at the roller coaster, carousel, free fall, and a water ride, take all kinds of measurements and then do all kinds of calculations. It's a great review of all the things we've been learning all semester. (And

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-81321529100702772042008-12-01T06:08:00.000-05:002008-12-01T06:08:01.046-05:00

So, although we tried to stay well under budget this week.... yeah, that didn't happen! I've decided that it will just take many weeks to recover from last week's holiday blowout! I *should* have only spent $12 today (ha!), but since I clocked in around $52, I still have to make up the $40 overage in the coming weeks. We shall see!!Total Cost of Items: $75.77Coupons: $5.30Sales: $18.71Total

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-74538287078025454522008-11-30T13:25:00.000-05:002008-11-30T13:25:19.725-05:00

I took this picture last Thanksgiving while we were on the road. Beautiful, isn't it?!(and if you think this is your backyard, it probably is. ;) )

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-67684187482704918062008-11-29T14:33:00.004-05:002008-11-29T14:46:19.045-05:00

Since 1993 (FIFTEEN YEARS ago!), Husband has woken up very early on Thanksgiving morning & gone to run a Turkey Trot race. Every year. No matter where we are that year.This year marked the first time that a) we did not have infants, b) we were home, and c) we were not in a place with freezing weather. So we all went with him. .This pic was taken just after they started. It was a pretty big race

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-39609674113397793742008-11-27T06:19:00.000-05:002008-11-27T06:19:00.665-05:00

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for these two turkeys.(that's Bird on the left, and Bug on the right)What amazes me is that they are almost 2 years apart, yet their hands are almost the same size.

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-77777794901841288902008-11-24T06:10:00.000-05:002008-11-24T06:10:00.590-05:00

Hello again, and welcome to another exciting entry in What-I-Buy-At-the-Store! If you were looking for last week's list.... I never posted it. The kids & I visited my parents last weekend, and I ended up doing the shopping on Monday night. Suffice it to say, I didn't buy much, and made up for the previous two weeks budget transgressions.But then we went shopping yesterday, and spent almost two

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-74225704682756380782008-11-23T15:17:00.004-05:002008-11-23T15:52:54.531-05:00

Haven't done a meme in a while, and this one is all the rage on Facebook right now.... and since I would never post something like this where my students could find it.... it can go here! I have to say, I am always amused by these things. Some of the answers can be dead-on, while others make absolutely no sense. Looking at this list, though, I am amazed at how much influence Husband has had on

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-32941100115438682972008-11-22T07:16:00.003-05:002008-11-22T07:43:21.795-05:00

Each week, I have a quote of some kind (usually from a scientist, but not always) on my board. My first year students have to write a response to it. This week, it was "Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude." Instead of a specific directive, I simply told them to respond to the quote. I thought some of their thoughts were interesting. Excellence is something you have and are, not

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-53352310228186927332008-11-19T20:35:00.002-05:002008-11-19T20:37:20.153-05:00

Bird: Smile Bug!Bug: You can't see me!photo courtesy of Bird

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-64823220632674541352008-11-14T06:08:00.003-05:002008-11-14T06:34:47.777-05:00

I hear that it's fall somewhere. Not around these parts, at least not yet, so I like to pretend that it is with these cookies. I like to bake them around Halloween time, although this a great pumpkin pie alternative around Thanksgiving as well.Ingredients1 cup softened margarine or butter (2 sticks)3 cups sugar2 eggs1 15oz can canned pumpkin*2 teaspoons vanilla5 cups flour2 teaspoons baking

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-30966725747078446422008-11-13T06:42:00.003-05:002008-11-13T06:47:20.634-05:00

"Mommy, look what I made!!"Lovely, Bird, just lovely."Guess what it is?!"This is always a dangerous game. I tend to see.... well, nothing that it actually is. (is it a house? no! it's you!) and then I have identity issues. (do I really look like a house?)Thankfully, this time she took it easy on me:"It's that thing that hangs in the back of your throat!!"I can't wait until I hear about her using

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-72944634578427817152008-11-12T06:12:00.000-05:002008-11-12T06:17:54.017-05:00

What do you mean you don't recognize this person who's suddenly posting daily?!A is for Age: 30B is for Burger of Choice: triple-cheese (cheddar, swiss, mozzarella) burger.C is for the Car I drive: I'm a Toyota girl! (which makes it fun considering Husband is a Domestic car buyer.)D is for your Dog’s Name: no real pets. Just Ellie (yes, her name and gender have changed!)E is for Essential Item:

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-24179519895271885292008-11-11T06:15:00.000-05:002008-11-11T06:15:00.568-05:00

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-28862422834441563952008-11-10T06:19:00.000-05:002008-11-10T06:19:00.440-05:00

Well, this is not good! I've now gone over budget two weeks in a row. We were under until Husband threw in a couple of last-minute impulse items (*cough-see-the-last-item-*cough*). That'll be the last time I send him across the store for shredded cheese all by himself! Total Cost of Items: 130.94Coupons: $ 16.40Sales: $23.98Total OOP: $90.56SAVED 31%* = couponItems on Sale (sale price listed)

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-78614037229610125562008-11-09T07:39:00.003-05:002008-11-09T08:37:17.191-05:00

Last night, Husband & I watched the new Indiana Jones movie. I have to say, I liked it. I wasn't sure how I would feel, considering all the bad reviews it got, but it is still Harrison Ford Indiana Jones after all. Considering it's been 19 years since The Last Crusade, I'm not surprised that this movie was set in the 50s instead of the 30s - and they acknowledged the passing of time & aging of

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-31999936587081275592008-11-03T06:14:00.000-05:002008-11-03T06:14:00.247-05:00

Back to two-store shopping this week, as Albertson's insert had some amazing coupons! I also found out that I can sort of stack (i.e. use more than one coupon) coupons on items. By sort of, I mean I had to use the "coupon" from the insert to get the special price, and then I could also use a manufacturer's coupon on top of that.Sadly, between trying to holiday & baking pantry stock, a couple of

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-47743601092213177512008-10-28T06:16:00.000-04:002008-10-28T06:16:00.738-04:00

If you've been reading here much, or if you just happen to know Bird, I bet you could pick out her pumpkin even if I didn't circle it:I like to believe that she's an individual who likes to think for herself. I already know she doesn't like being told what to do. I love that she doesn't let common opinions sway her. I do, however, dread her pre-teen and teenage years.

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-62818678055568102602008-10-27T05:59:00.000-04:002008-10-27T05:59:00.368-04:00

Well, there weren't a TON of great sales this week, and my pantry is fairly well stocked, so I took the opportunity to start to buy some holiday baking supplies. The good news is that since I've been buying wisely, I'm still under budget, even though I had to buy several unusual items. The bad news is that I hit an all-time low in savings. Total Cost of Items: $71.14Coupons: $2.10Sales:

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-83117678257665842542008-10-22T06:11:00.002-04:002008-10-22T06:11:00.418-04:00

It's Homecoming Week round these parts, and that means we have all sorts of weird dress up days at school. Yesterday was the Ultimate Sports Fan Day, the idea being that you dressed up to support your favorite sports team.Ahem. I don't really watch sports. I don't even pretend to LIKE too many sports.So, I started thinking it would be really fun to support a sport that is not all that common in

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-43630671342972982082008-10-21T18:34:00.003-04:002008-10-21T19:16:36.752-04:00

In the past 2 years, we've taken 2 different summer road trips. In 2007, we spent two weeks driving around Tennessee, Pennsylvania, and then driving down the East Coast back to Florida. The kids were 2 & 4. Last summer (2008), we took a 3-week road trip out to the Grand Canyon. (You can read about it in reverse here, if you're interested.), and the kids were now 3 and 5. Our survival was due

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-90017890857187639422008-10-20T06:13:00.001-04:002008-10-20T18:05:28.847-04:00

Hmmm.... I have nothing to natter on about this week, so here's the list!!Total Cost of Items: $103.47Coupons: $13.50Sales: $31.74Total OOP: $58.23SAVED 44%* = couponItems on Sale (sale price listed)Items on BOGO (price of one item listed)generic gallon of milk - $3.592L generic diet caffeine free soda - $0.70(2) 2L diet black cherry vanilla Pepsi - $1.05 each(2) Kellogs Blueberry Mini-wheats -

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-9543737400009853782008-10-16T06:10:00.002-04:002008-10-16T06:10:00.398-04:00

I've been in a bit of a writing rut lately, and there are two things that can possibly get you out of that:- procrastination (blogging sounded like more fun than writing a math test)- somebody you don't know (thanks Eileen!) tags you for a meme (and you're happy to do it because it turns out that now you feel even more responsible to give fokls something to read)So, on the off chance that I

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-21028130709702435942008-10-15T06:17:00.001-04:002008-10-15T06:17:00.665-04:00

Bird's commission:Husband's rendering:Pretty good, huh?!

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-83448763762509014172008-10-13T06:15:00.001-04:002008-10-13T18:01:32.391-04:00

This week was not great, sale-wise, at good ol' Publix. Thankfully, since I've been trying to stockpile when I can, we did not need a huge amount of things. In the end, we were under budget with the things we had to have, so I was able to buy a few extras in the Produce section. (mmmm..... fruit.... I could eat my weight in fresh fruit....). This did, in the end, throw off my percentages, but can

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-54717193289134476712008-10-08T06:11:00.000-04:002008-10-08T06:11:00.588-04:00

At the thought of fall, some people's minds turn to autumn leaves and pumpkins.My mind turns to lighting chemicals on fire. Seriously, some compounds on fire are simply beautiful.I am in awe.

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-28704078383923819872008-10-06T06:09:00.002-04:002008-10-06T19:12:03.404-04:00

Went back to shopping at 2 stores this week. Mainly because Husband had both kids after school on Friday (Bird had a field trip, so after they were finished he picked up Bug too), so I could go quickly to Albertson's all by myself.The Publix trip also includes last night's dinner of Publix subs. Mmmmm. And the coupon was one of the ones ($2/$5 in the deli or bakery) that magically printed off at

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-87689471165811043472008-10-04T07:36:00.002-04:002008-10-04T08:22:42.690-04:00

Imagine the scenario: a student (not mine) disobeys a teacher (not me), and the teacher writes him up. The principal disciplines the child - i.e. talks to him & doles out the consequences. The parent of the child then calls the principal - to ask if he fully investigated the events leading up to the infraction. Because, you see, her child is normally such a good child, and he was just

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-48397874299430742462008-09-29T06:00:00.001-04:002008-09-29T20:12:15.596-04:00

I seem to be making up for lost time at Publix. After a couple of slow weeks, they put an awful lot of good stuff on sale or BOGO. Check me out:Total Cost of Items: $167.35Coupons: $18.45Sales: $63.49Total OOP: $85.41SAVED 49% (a new personal best! yay for me!)* = couponItems on Sale (sale price listed)Items on BOGO (price of one item listed)generic gallon of milk - $3.79generic gallon OJ - $2.49

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-49012151442077747862008-09-27T20:24:00.001-04:002008-09-27T20:25:37.984-04:00

"So, were you biologically attracted to me?""Well, there was certainly some chemistry between us!"Buh-DUM-dum!

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-75043257223126444442008-09-25T06:19:00.000-04:002008-09-25T06:19:00.497-04:00

Note - this actually happened last... April I think. Finally finished polishing it up & posting it now. (Yes, pun intended.)I am a creature of habit. You can always find me in the grocery store in the moddle of the afternoon on a Sunday. Which is why it was so odd to find me there on a Tuesday night, muttering to myself as I searched for oven cleaner.You see, one afternoon, I decided to make

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-24925268176103658772008-09-24T06:30:00.003-04:002008-09-24T06:44:49.384-04:00

My regular chem class is a little surprising this year - there are only 15 of them (my Honors is bigger, for once. 25! eek!), half of whom are seniors. It makes for interesting dynamics because a) they're chattier, and b) their work is... haphazard at times. I'm glad they decided to challenge themselves in their last year of high school, but it does keep me on my toes!!After class on Monday

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-77080426864814881022008-09-22T06:42:00.001-04:002008-09-22T17:57:54.991-04:00

In amidst all the schoolwork, I did manage to buy food for our family. I did only go to Publix, since Albertson's has been scanty on the produce specials lately. And on the $5 off coupons, I might add. Not that I'm bitter about that or anything. It's certainly not helping them that I never use their coupons at their store. Still.... this week's percentage is pitiful.Total Cost of Items:

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-3383928091253404842008-09-21T20:40:00.003-04:002008-09-21T21:02:15.792-04:00

Wow, I can't believe it's been a week since my last post!! I also wish I had something really spiffy to show for it.Wait... I am filling the minds of our youth with knowledge and logic! That's got to be worth something, right? In all seriousness, this 5th prep (in other words, I teach 5 different classes) is really kicking my proverbial hiney. And my real rear end too. I have seriously spent

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-29587104107283912392008-09-13T16:02:00.007-04:002008-09-13T16:09:35.172-04:00

You might have heard a bit about the nifty new particle accelerator over in Switzerland - you know, the one helping us learn more about the Big Bang. (ahem).Anyhow, here's a nifty way of explaining what it does. I think I might have to show it to my physics class.

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-725998063429413342008-09-13T09:49:00.002-04:002008-09-13T10:00:19.754-04:00

Bird and Bug have been playing with their (really big) Legos this morning. So for the past 15 minutes or so I've been looking at all kinds of towers & houses. Then Bird came up with quite a winner:"Here's my house Mommy! This is the part we live in, and this part is for tramping."Ummm... whaaat?"This is where we go tramping!"What is tramping?"It's what Mommies & Daddies can do."(Now wondering

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-73335466587929054782008-09-11T06:00:00.000-04:002008-09-11T06:00:02.050-04:00

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-47440933400993301262008-09-10T06:11:00.001-04:002008-09-10T06:11:00.807-04:00

Since Bird has started Kindergarten, her interest in writing has increased to levels I didn't know existed. Mind you, there are plenty of times she has no interest in writing letters the correct way, but she's still writing all the time.Considering she's 5, she doesn't really understand the concept of spelling yet. Therefore, she is really just writing whatever letter pops into her head. This

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-77469929067778369172008-09-09T06:18:00.000-04:002008-09-09T06:18:00.596-04:00

Sometimes I wonder what sort of fun Freud would have inside my head. For the past couple of weeks, I've started having the following complaints about myself. (You may want to skip past the list. I have few qualms About these sorts of things, anyhow. There are plenty of other things I won't talk about!)- My skin has been breaking out far more often than normal- My scalp was no longer lasting

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-30830302197009541962008-09-08T06:18:00.000-04:002008-09-08T06:20:25.263-04:00

It's been a fun weekend here in the Lunatic house. Remind me to tell you all about how we've been sucking water out of Bird's room. And how Husband told the repairman to leave after he proposed a $1000 bill. And then how Husband solved the problem himself for a mere $11 instead.But anyways... you were here to read about groceries, weren't you? Not a huge savings this week, but not a long list

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-28349097918201615622008-09-02T18:52:00.003-04:002008-09-02T19:12:57.516-04:00

When Bird started preschool last August, her teachers celebrated when she began talking in class in October.Bug, it seems, does not have that issue! Apparently, if he acts even remotely quiet, he might require hospitalization. Or maybe just some really good meds. Let me back up a bit... I received a phone call from Bug's teacher in the middle of a Chemistry class. (note to self: turn up ringer

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-90163925171442690742008-09-01T10:20:00.002-04:002008-09-01T10:36:57.338-04:00

Apparently, I just need some really good prompt ideas for blog entries these days. (In reality, I just need to make TIME to write again.)Grabbed this from Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer this morning, in honor of Labor Day.How long were your labors? Bird - 10 hoursBug - 5 hoursThis has always been my answer. The more I think about it, though, I think Bird's was closer to 5 hours.... I will explain

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-46321864878015548962008-09-01T09:30:00.004-04:002008-09-01T09:49:35.189-04:00

I really need to think of a better title for these posts. Perhaps something alliterative.Anyhow, there were not great coupons or incredible deals to be had this week! I guess all the coupon companies take Labor Day off in advance? No matter - I seem to be feeling the great effects of the stockpiling! There were only a few essentials that I buy every week, plus a few extra deals that I picked

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-40169922004015556562008-08-27T06:00:00.001-04:002008-08-27T06:15:03.215-04:00

Now I'm an official grown up.

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-29010517120485994102008-08-25T19:08:00.000-04:002008-08-25T19:08:45.470-04:00

Well, the rain has lifted and the college students have returned!! Made for this week's shop to be a very.... crowded experience!Although I find it kind of amusing to watch the packs of college students as they shop. Reminds me of the days when I only ate macaroni & cheese for dinner (wait, I still do that)... let's see - it reminds me of how I could last for days on a bag of Tostitos, a sack of

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-15861541958447480942008-08-21T19:16:00.002-04:002008-08-21T19:24:20.864-04:00

Apparently I spoke too soon. Once the eye passed us late yesterday afternoon, it began to rain. It is now almost 7:30pm the next evening and it hasn't stopped yet - that's over 24 hours of rain, folks. Our pool has not flooded, but I do have about a standing inch of water in the front yard. The wind has picked up considerably again this afternoon - so much so that I was incredibly nervous

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-5234413141653994622008-08-20T20:15:00.008-04:002008-08-20T20:35:54.965-04:00

Thanks to Hurricane/Tropical Storm Fay, we've been out of school for 2 days now. Thankfully, neither day was really warranted for where we are (And be assured that our hearts go out to those whose lives have been drastically changed by this storm. There are folks who are going to need a LOT of help after all this.)But seriously, the storm path has pretty much looked like this:So the school boards

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-37257866765852935032008-08-18T19:01:00.001-04:002008-08-18T19:04:04.142-04:00

Well, it's starting to look like Hurricane Fay is headed straight for us!! Granted, it's still a little early and she could still head in another direction, but I did stop at the store on the way home to pick up a few things. It helps to be a little prepared. Thankfully, although the stores are full of people, we do not seem to be in panic-buying mode yet. I think I'm most worried about losing

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-51151878555226607402008-08-18T06:28:00.000-04:002008-08-18T06:30:05.855-04:00

I was starting to feel a bit depressed that I can't seem to break 45% savings at Publix. Which is when I realized a couple of things:1. I am still building up the food stores in my pantry.2. My lists show everything I bought, not just the sale items.3. Although I have the occasional trip to Albertsons for some items, I am still buying the week's necessities at Publix. And it's the non-grocery

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-1678049215008016562008-08-16T21:06:00.002-04:002008-08-16T21:19:34.362-04:00

I seem to have forgotten that this is MY blog, and that occasionally I do like to talk about MYSELF. Because, quite frankly, it eases the need to endlessly talk off other people's ears about me. I have all sorts of jumbled thoughts in my head, yet they seem to be unable to come out in a coherent format. The reason for that will eventually become apparent. Therefore, we will revert to a

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-85408687347351793752008-08-13T21:27:00.000-04:002008-08-13T21:28:31.265-04:00

The morning started off like many others - dark and quiet. I heard my alarm clock for the first time in a couple of months. Can't say that I liked it, but it was necessary or I never would have gotten out of bed!By 6:15 I had woken up enough to see if Bird was up yet - by some small miracle (or is it Murphy's Law?) she was still sleeping in her bed. Naturally, I spent a moment watching her

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-39814311270462165992008-08-12T21:54:00.003-04:002008-08-12T21:56:58.340-04:00

Tomorrow is the first day of school. I'm not sure if I'm more nervous about teaching, or about bringing Bird to kindergarten. Pretty evenly split!To quote the song from Les Miserables that's been stuck in my head all day:Tomorrow we'll discover what our God in heaven has in store.One more dawn...One more day....One Day More!!!!

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-54510530265300538732008-08-11T06:34:00.001-04:002008-08-11T17:12:08.072-04:00

I really need to watch those sweeping proclaimations. You know, the ones that always come back to bite you in the rear?This time, I'm referring to the one where I said I would only shop at one grocery store.Then the Wednesday circulars came out and I saw that Albertson's was selling canteloupes for 99 cents. As badly as I wanted them (I just can't bring myself to spend the $2.50 that they

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-38146863848727685562008-08-08T20:29:00.003-04:002008-08-08T21:27:09.513-04:00

Today I took my baby Big Girl to Open House. We brought her copiously labeled supplies to her classroom so she could meet her teacher and set up her pencil box at her table. We were not going into the room totally uninformed - Bird's teacher sent a lovely postcard last week, so we (as in Bird & I) looked up her picture on the school's website. Last year Bird hung onto her Daddy when she went to

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-38163245353752331262008-08-07T17:32:00.003-04:002008-08-07T17:52:43.650-04:00

Part of the 'fun' of preplanning is all the wonderfully long faculty meetings to catch up on policy, protocol, and general information. This year is no different in the sense that we have had a meeting every morning, yet the way in which they are conducted has drastically changed this year. We have a new principal, and the difference between this guy and the last one is.... amazing. Night and

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-48297709427480293752008-08-05T07:04:00.002-04:002008-08-05T07:07:47.110-04:00

Husband: What are you doing?Me: Labeling Bird's school supplies.Husband: Didn't you already do that?Me: I thought I did. But apparently you're not supposed to label the box; you have to take all the pencils out & label each one individually.Husband: How many pencils are there?Me: 48. And then there's all the crayons and markers....Husband: Do you have to label the plastic bags too.Me:

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-78862972870375133842008-08-04T18:53:00.004-04:002008-08-04T19:34:23.114-04:00

I have heard legends about women who are able to buy massive quantities of food & nonperishables for hardly any money. Nowadays, they have the Internet to tell us all about it. I've been reading a few for quite a while, but it seemed like a lot of the advice didn't apply to me - I don't live near a Kroger or an Aldi, nor do any stores around here double/triple coupons.Many months ago we began

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-12314540588681524702008-08-04T06:31:00.003-04:002008-08-04T06:38:02.752-04:00

BUGBug: Goodnight Mommy!!Me: Goodnight Bug. (actually looking up from my book to kiss him) Bug, where's your pajama shirt?Bug: I don't want to wear it.Me: Oh honey, you might get very cold tonight without a shirt. Go put one on.Bug: Okay! (runs off)(a few minutes later)Bug: Goodnight Mommy!!I look up to see a boy in his pajama shirt, but now with no pants.* * *BIRDBird: What

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-18330753879556636552008-08-01T06:45:00.004-04:002008-08-01T06:45:00.495-04:00

It's that time of year again: Preplanning - preparing for another year of school. No, I have no idea why we HAD to come back to work on a Friday; I would have preferred one more uninterrupted weekend, to tell the truth. One less day to wake up to my alarm clock. But that is not to be.I thought this picture (which I found here) was singularly appropriate. Mainly because of the 8 tentacles, and how

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-24808376284569642812008-07-30T06:59:00.000-04:002008-07-30T06:59:00.895-04:00

Uncle T is a very tall guy, which is what makes this game so much fun!

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-74492689912796227142008-07-29T07:13:00.002-04:002008-07-29T07:13:00.726-04:00

Regardless of the fact that their pictures are EVERYwhere, there are some Disney princess movies I am okay with the kids watching (Cinderella), and some that I still don't want them to see (Sleeping Beauty). And if I haven't let the kids see it, chances are that Husband hasn't seen it either. Which is why we found ourselves on the couch watching Sleeping Beauty after the kids had gone to sleep.I

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-81156477194792553162008-07-28T07:07:00.002-04:002008-07-28T07:07:00.297-04:00

(Yes, the typos are on purpose. That's how he talks.)Bug: Mommy, I want to nuggle. (crawls up into my lap)Me: (happily snuggling my arms around him) You're my little baby Bug.Bug: I not a bady! I not two years old! I three years old! I big boy!Me: How do you know you're a big boy?Bug: My feet! (sticking them out & showing me) They're very big. They don't touch the floor though.

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-59404030666452101862008-07-26T07:15:00.000-04:002008-07-26T07:15:00.731-04:00

The results surprised me too.82As a 1930s wife, I amVery SuperiorTake the test!

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-204840837711391792008-07-25T10:30:00.000-04:002008-07-25T10:31:53.525-04:00

Two Fridays ago, two of our favorite places were giving away free food & drinks: 7-11 and Chick-fil-a. Naturally, the kids & I had to make the rounds!7-11 was easy - all you had to do was go in and get your free 7.11 oz Slurpee (mmmm.... Slurpee). In order to get our free food from Chick-fil-a, however, we had to dress up as cows. How do you like my tropi-spotted cows?! Funnily enough, the

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-24990510012971213522008-07-24T08:56:00.002-04:002008-07-24T09:14:43.465-04:00

I realized a few things this morning:* I haven't blogged in 2 weeks.* Today begins my last official week of summer. (or is it tomorrow?)So, for the few of you who are still out there.... I'm still here!! And while I did not necessarily plan this Blog-cation, I did enjoy it. One of my favorite things about summer is the opportunity to truly let my mind wander - almost free from any kind of

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-31373173491883042932008-07-10T20:18:00.002-04:002008-07-10T20:20:16.051-04:00

Thank you for joining the ***** Fan Club! You will be receiving your ***** coupon in roughly one week. In the meantime, stay posted for more ***** treats sent your way and enjoy the satisfaction of belonging to something tastier than yourself!What I want to know is.... when did they find me to taste me? And how did they manage that without me noticing??!!(oh, I fear the Google engine hits now!)

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-74786368490602666122008-07-07T21:27:00.003-04:002008-07-07T21:32:13.653-04:00

On our recent adventures I let Bird use my old camera on occasion. Most of the time, it was when we were in the car & she needed a little something to do. It's kind of odd what a 5-year-old finds interesting.There were about 20 pictures of her shoes. This particular pair is a set of the silver gilttery shoes you find at Target. They were already well worn & split by the end of the trip. Also

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-2548015673774881402008-07-02T17:20:00.000-04:002008-07-02T17:21:15.595-04:00

You know you've had to listen to Charlotte's Web a few too many times in the car when you start to wish that Charlottle had just gone ahead and written "Crunchy" or "Tasty" in her web instead.

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-67496759803604551372008-07-02T10:24:00.000-04:002008-07-02T10:24:00.540-04:00

As we hit the interstate leading to our house, I asked everybody what they'd missed the most on our trip:Husband: My car. And orange juice.Bird: My brown puppy. (oh, she was MAD that I hadn't packed that dog!)Bug: My bed!!What did I miss? My house's water filter. Yes, with the exception of Mississippi, the water was drinkable everywhere, but it didn't mean that it wasn't hard. (Although,

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-11520320523460855582008-07-01T20:52:00.004-04:002008-07-01T22:10:30.077-04:00

Sunday, June 29Fast FactsStarting: FloridaEnding: Florida (HOME!!)Today's Mileage/Total Mileage: 298 mi /5378 miAs we coasted towards home, I began mulling over all the things I'd learned on this trip:* I always knew there was a McDonalds in every town. What I did not realize was that Pizza Hut has similar ambitions - they were everywhere!* Cooking outside in major heat just plain stinks!

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-7003174090445100332008-07-01T20:35:00.002-04:002008-07-01T20:51:54.965-04:00

Saturday, June 28 Fast FactsStarting: MississippiEnding: FloridaToday's Mileage/Total Mileage: 254 mi (408 km)/5080 mi (8175 km)WHOOP WHOOP! We really passed the 5000 mile mark today!! (I fixed yesterday's entry. Apparently this trip is getting to me - I can't even read a simple calendar anymore!)And let me tell you, THIS was a happy occasion!Since this was to be our last night away from

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-51546465979153511142008-07-01T09:18:00.003-04:002008-07-01T20:40:27.016-04:00

Friday, June 27(Happy Birthday, the Sister!)Fast FactsStarting: LouisianaEnding: MississippiToday's Mileage/Total Mileage: 225 mi (362 km)/4826 mi (7766 km)WHOOP WHOOP - we've returned to the East!! We celebrated by going through Baton Rouge & crossing over the Mississippi River again, putting us officially back on the Eastern Seaboard (more or less!).The end of our driving today found us in

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-70757366527746536432008-06-30T20:19:00.004-04:002008-06-30T21:17:38.409-04:00

Thursday, June 26Fast FactsStarting: TexasEnding: LouisianaToday's Mileage/Total Mileage: 404 mi (650km)/4601 mi (7404 km)In the end, it's amazing that we broke 400 miles today.We broke camp around 9:30 and hit the road. Our plans today were rather open. We did have a reservation in Beaumont, Texas (city motto: the last place of civilization in Texas), but it was at a place where we had to use

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-6703610835085437712008-06-30T15:39:00.003-04:002008-06-30T15:57:33.640-04:00

Wednesday, June 25Fast FactsStarting: TexasEnding: Texas (am starting to wonder if we will ever LEAVE Texas!!)Today's Mileage/Total Mileage: 123 mi (197 km)/4197 mi (6754 km)We didn't have very far to go today because we'd planned on spending the day in San Antonio. Looking back, we should have just sucked it up yesterday & spent 2 nights in San Antionio in order to avoid all the "excitement" of

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3686402893266813739.post-62839246148182192672008-06-28T22:10:00.002-04:002008-06-28T22:15:22.604-04:00

Tuesday, June 24Fast FactsStarting: Texas (Van Horn)Ending: Texas (Junction)Today's Mileage/Total Mileage: 314 mi (505 km)/4074 mi (6556 km)Husband: (to KOA employee) Are there any activities around here?KOA employee: There's nothing to do in Junction.He wasn't kidding.

Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03439951910924587708noreply@blogger.com0