Ghostly drawings

Tonight the kids and I were making posterboard ghosts to leave on our neighbors' doorsteps with goodies (a ritual the kids call "booing"). I gave the first one eyelashes, giving her a decidedly feminine look.

In an attempt to keep things gender equal, my son said, "Let's make the next one a boy. Let's give him armpit hair!"

Is that all I'm good for?

The other day, my mom, my husband and I went out to dinner with all the kids. Since the boys were getting restless, my husband took them and the baby out to the car while my mom and I finished up with the bill.

While they were in the car waiting for us, my husband joked, "Should we just leave Mommy and Grandma?"

"No!" yelled one of the boys. "We can't leave mommy! Who would make us our food?"

Money, Money, Money

I have been attempting to coupon in earnest lately. I have watched a few blogs and given it another attempt. I have always been a sort of iffy couponer - I always read the coupon inserts in the paper and clip the ones I think I will use. Then, if no child is climbing on me at the checkout, and I had a good night's rest and I have my wits about me, I might remember to use the coupon. More often than not, I will notice I had a coupon for an item about 2 days after I bought said item.

So - I decided to try a little bit harder. Today I scored two tubes of Colgate Total for -$1.75. As in, I made $1.75 by buying these two tubes. Well, I earned CVS Extra bucks, but they are the same as cash. I will use them on my next purchase at CVS.

All this couponing has me reevaluating all my methods of saving money. I am a pretty frugal person - I shop around for the best price, never buy retail etc. So I decided to start a comparison notebook. I have a page for every household/personal item we buy (i.e. toilet paper, dishwasher detergent etc.). I am jotting down the price per unit at each store to find the best deal around. That way, when I see a sale on paper towels, I can pull out my handy dandy notebook (memories of early Blue's Clues, anyone?) and determine if it really is a good sale. So far, it has served me well.

Another way I save money is by using postcards for all thank you notes. I get the postcards and have them personalized at www.vistaprint.com. If you watch, you can almost always get them free plus shipping. So I get 100 postcards for about $4, usually with my family's name or picture on the front. Then, I use postcard stamps, which are several cents cheaper than first class stamps.

What are ways you save money? Please post a comment!

A parenting plea

Dear parents at Kroger,

Please do not leave your children alone in your van while you grocery shop. I certainly know how difficult it is to shop with your children, especially at 8:30 p.m. I know they are tired and might whine and fuss. But leaving them in the van in the dark parking lot is so dangerous! Next time, won't you send one parent in and leave the other parent in the car with the children to protect them?

As I got into my car this evening, my headlights shone into the watchful eyes of your 6 year old son. He was looking toward the entrance of the store, waiting for you to return. He was talking to his little sibling next to him. I sat in my car until you came out, because I couldn't leave them all alone. It was at least five minutes before you both returned.

I'm sure you love your children very much. Next time, please keep them close to you! They are too precious to expose them to such possible dangers.

With sincere care for your children,

mammamilk

A moment of peace?

The other day, I entered the bathroom, hoping to have a moment to myself. Almost immediately, a child was behind me. Child #1 followed me in, despite my pleas for privacy. After I answered the child's pressing question, I had about 15 seconds to myself.

Enter child #2. Knock, knock. "Who is it?" I asked.

Without missing a beat, child #2 barged in the door. "Could you grade my math paper?" the child said.

"Is this some kind of joke?" I replied. "When I left the room a moment ago, your father was sitting inches from you at the kitchen island. Is there a reason why you couldn't ask him to grade your paper?"

Child #2 mumbled something about daddy not hearing him when he asked. I silently wondered why it seemed easier to walk all the way upstairs than to ask daddy again, or perhaps touch his arm. I decided asking this question would be futile.

I enjoyed another 7 seconds of peace.

Enter child #1 again. "Can you please help me get ready?"

Sigh. Privacy and peace are elusive around here.