Coupons, colds, and criminals!

That's it! I'm going to jail! I'm going to be locked up because . . .

I ruined a library book.

Okay, so I didn't ruin it, but I spilled water and it got on the latest book I have from the library. It soaked in 1/2 inch from the end of the page the entire length of the book.

I hope I survive the punishment.

Kayla is getting a cold. Bless her little heart, but she has the sneezes and that cute little cough that babies get just before it gets really bad.

And I invite you so share in my shopping joy!
I wore a hole in my post baby jeans I bought when I had Alaina so I finally got around to using my birthday gift card for JCPenneys. I had a coupon for $10 off and it was a buy one get one for $1 sale.

I ended up with 2 new pairs of jeans for $7.

Yay!

Unfortunately, all I can think about is how if I would have completed the survey from the shopping trip a week or two ago to get Alaina shoes, I could have saved another 15%. Oh well! Maybe I'll forget after I wear my new jeans a few times!

Big weekend!

Big weekend for the Brenneman family!

First off, happy birthday to Jeff! Yesterday Jeff turned 32 and we celebrated by going out and eating with friends at Shoguns. They have a little birthday treat you can buy, but we've never been excited about getting the $5 pineapple slice that comes with a song and a Polaroid photo, so we get sushi for our birthday splurge.

This was Alaina's first trip to Shoguns and she had a lot of fun watching the chef cook our food. (Of course I don't have any pictures, even though I brought the camera.) Her eyes were as big as saucers the entire time!

Jeff's parents were up for the weekend because they wanted to bring Alaina her birthday surprise early. But before we could even think about giving it to her . . .we had to go to the Children's zoo for a train ride, so we loaded up on Saturday (which was cold and wet) and went for a very cold ride.

When we got back, Alaina got to go downstairs to see her new present. Her very own train.

Kitty even joined in the fun.

We also took a bed buying trip for Alaina to Nebraska Furniture Mart.

Jeff and I debated quite a bit on what to get for a bed for Alaina:
Bunk or regular?

Twin or Full?

We ended up with this behemoth of a bunk bed, but Alaina would have preferred the one with the slide attached.
Each bed is a full size mattress and the total cost ended up being $3 less that the check we got for my little accident two weeks ago. Yay insurance money!

We could have spent all day in the store it was so much fun! Even Alaina loved 'trying' out the furniture.

Every time she sat down she would say . . .

"This is so comfortable!"

I told Jeff that I can't wait to go shopping for new couches there. We'll need a whole weekend. Do you think the sales people would let us order in lunch while we browse?

One problem we didn't foresee was buying sheets. Did you know that licensed character sheets aren't usually found in Full size?

Neither did we.

But the evil empire of Wal-Mart had them so for the first time in two years . . .Jeff went to a Wal-Mart. (I've been in one on road trips, but he usually stays in the vehicle with Alaina, so for me it was only about two months)

I try to console myself with the knowledge that the money we spent was from Jeff's company party in Feb and from the baby shower his co-workers threw for him . . . so we didn't spend any of our money.

Stupid Wal-Mart.

The Good, the bad, and the Ugly. . .

The Good:

IT'S A GIRL!!!!

The Bad:

DAYCARE RATES WENT UP!!!

The Ugly:

Jeff and I spent an hour after Alaina went to bed sitting on the couch reading the books we picked up at the library. Jeff was reading Stephen Colbert's "I am America, and So Can You!" and I was reading Nina Garcia's "The 100: A guide to the pieces every stylish women should own." We took turns reading outloud things that we thought were interesting and funny and I can to one conclusion . . .

I have no fashion sense.

I cringed at half of the things mentioned in Nina's book. I have no desire to own a designer purse, a hobo bag, espadrilles or a kaftan. Yep, I am doomed. I think I had about 5 things on the list.

My fashion sense is ugly!

I liked all the little tips in the book about accesorizing. I think that I could make/buy a few of the essentials, but the few things that I really took to heart where the recommended coats. I still have to repair my peacoat from 1998 to wear again because they are THAT CLASSIC!

And starting next year, the search is on for the perfect trench coat.

Final Countdown . . .

10 days until Christmas!!!

And how is your shopping going?

This was a big weekend for our house to catch up on a lot of things and some big lessons learned:
1) After three hours of unpleasantries betwixt my spouse and I . . . the christmas cards are in the passenger seat of the new van waiting to be dropped off over lunch.

Lesson Learned: Actual pictures are WAY to expensive to get for Christmas cards. Next year I'll pick out 4 -5 shots of kids and family to make color copiers on the copy machine like Mom and Dad do. . . although the letter will be no where near the level of dad.

2) Mom and I did Christmas baking on Saturday and made a good dent in the pre-holiday baking. During the entire session, she kept saying, "Why didn't we start doing this years ago?" Which my mind translated into "This is much better than trying to do this the day before Christmas Eve at 3 in the morning!"

Lesson Learned: Next year, we need to make a weekend out of it and get the shopping done friday night before. The shopping/softening/plan of attack process should get refined by about year three I hope.

Oh, and we won't plan on cooking indoors all day on the nicest day of December either because . . .

3) I completed MOST of the family christmas shopping on Sunday. this is a tough year for us, with just having bought a new vehicle and shelling out a lot of cash for the other one to be up and running, so I tried to stick to a very strict budget this year . . . which led to a few discussions (not quite heated . . .but a bit intense for us) with the spouse about why spending ten extra dollars on one person was a mortal sin. Oh and by the way, I was the winner and the ten dollars was NOT spent.

Lesson Learned: When we sit down to look at finances for next year . . which we most definitely will with a baby on the way, we are budgeting for gifts for birthdays and Christmas next year.

But the weekend was a pretty good time overall. Alaina had a lot of fun singing along with the Chrsitmas station on the radio yesterday, bursting into song with and occasional "SNOW!" "GLOW," or "CHRISTMAS!" sung at the top of her lungs. She usually joined in with any word at the end of the line that was sung for more that four seconds. It was so darn cute I wish I had it on tape, but she clammed up whenever we got near.

However, we did try going with training pants all weekend, with a few painful parts. I probably didn't approach this right, but after the third time she walked up to inform me that she was poopy and I needed to change her diaper, I informed her that she was wearing panties, and you don't change panties because you don't poop in them.

Alaina stared at me as if I had gone mad.

I said underwear isn't for changing. So you have to go to the bathroom in the toilet. She said, "No! Change my diaper!" So I said again that she wasn't wearing a diaper she was wearing underwear and underwear isn't for pooping and peeing in.

She started to pout quite prettily at this point, so I said I was sad that she didn't want to go to the bathroom in the toilet like big girls because I just know that she is a big girl and can do it. Which I got a resounding "Yes I can!" for so we hugged and went to take off her underwear and take a bath.

I told her next weekend is a no diaper weekend again, which she seemed pretty open too, so we'll see what happens.

I suppose I did that kind of backwards, but I know that she does well with the toilet at daycare so I'm a little frustrated that she refuses to try at home. Its just flat out time to encourage the switch to big girl undies.

Does anyone have a tip on a sticker chart or candy reward system?

Gah!!!



I'm so excited! We are going to Disney on Ice tonight! I'm so excited for Alaina to see the Incredibles in person! This is going to be the best!



Yesterday was also the super shoe and purse sale day at Younkrs. I finally realized that I bought mom shoes and a purse last time she was here! So I went last night and returned and then rebought the shoes to save about $12 and then I bought the same purse again with the intention of returning it with the old receipt that mimi has . . .which saves $18 on the purse.

I bought myself three pairs of shoes for $50 and a liz claiborne purse for $6. Cool!

But the big buy today is a camera. Yep I finally gave up looking. I'm so devastated . . .

I bought a sony cybershot . . which gets good reviews and isn't too costly.

Which means time to start posting pics again!!

Yay!

I know, I'm silly.



But what's the point of having the discount if you don't use it?



Tonight I'm headed out with Tiff to see "The women" I'm so excited, I'm sure this won't be quite as good as I want it to be, but I loved the original movie, and there was a version that they showed

Shopping!!!

So . .
The family went shopping last night at the mall for a couple of reasons.

1) tomorrow, I get to use a 35% discount on all shoes and handbags at work (Yes!!)

2) Jeff had gift cards to use at Dill*rds and Penneys

3) I needed to go to work and get someone to cover my shift for Thursday

We had a good time, Alaina was a little rebellious for some of the trip, but at her age I figure that's the norm. . .

But Sunday was a fun day!

I worked most of the day, but while I was there we found two boxes of stuff that was clearance and someone forgot to put out on the rack a month ago. So it was now a box of $4.99 shirts. I got to go through it first and pick out my size and brought home 4 really good shirt for $3.99 each.(discount!)

Yes!

And then when I got home, we had the moment of the day . . . Jeff, Alaina and I got to dance!

We played the credits from Shrek 2 and danced out little hearts out to "I need a hero!" It was wonderful!

I've also started really taking advantage of my library card, 10 books already! A couple of them are ones that I'm just rereading for the fun of it, but this is sooooo much better than buying all those books!

It's so much better that I'm thinking about getting rid of some of the books I have at home now and only keeping the best of the best . . . anything else, I can borrow from the library when I want.

AlainaB Training Pants!

They finally posted the schedule for next week for Younkers and guess who got the entire weekend off? That's right me! And without asking!!!

Yaay!

However, this also brings the perfect opportunity for potty training . . .the training pants way!
Alaina just doesn't seem to get the point that having a wet/poopy diaper is an undesirable thing. So I'm going to go all out and put her in training pants this weekend to reinforce the joys of potty training.

I may sound brave, but inside, I'm trembling. I'm hoping she learns a bit this weekend, because the mess that I envision isn't very appealing. Thinking about the nice new carpet in the bedrooms and hall and the white carpet everywhere else gives me quite the deathly pallor.

But it must be done. The praise and encouragement to sit on the potty chair just isn't sinking in.

But enough about the weekend. I have two other things to bog about today.

Thing One.

How hard can it possibly be to find the wallet I want? They need to have a mix and match line that you can add and subtract pieces from. I have some very specific needs that I would like fulfilled.

1) windowed holder for DL - removable if possible
2) 6-10 credit card holders - and why does everything have to have a punch card or rewards card these days?
3) REMOVABLE checkbook (this is kind of optional because I don't carry it often, but I would if it fit nicely into my current wallet.
4) zippered coin holder INSIDE the wallet
5) I would prefer a zip close wallet over all but I really just want a wallet that closes securely
6) I want it long and skinny because I HATE folding dollar bills.
7) Multiple large side pockets for floating media . . .

I mean how hard should that be to find? ; )

Thing Two

Last night after Alaina's bath, we marched downstairs to pick out our pj's

Which led to a lot of hopping since she picked the frog pajamas.

After she practiced "hopping" into the pants, Alaina was being silly and suddenly turned to face Jeff and I and began doing the most impressive belly roll I had ever seen! You know, like Mike Myers in Wayne's World (for some reason that's the only example I can think of. . .)

Jeff and I struggled not to laugh too hard at her since we were trying to keep our game faces on for bedtime.

But we were failing.

I'm not sure yet, but is this a pretty neat thing for your kid to do?
Do I giggle at her antics, thus encouraging the development of the belly roll . . .

or do I stay straight-faced and try to keep her from seeing how impressed I am by her muscle control?