We're Baaaack

We just got back from NY this afternoon, where I conquered yet another Target and brought back bags full of goodies. Where else can you buy Converse Allstars for under five dollars? NOWHERE, I tell you...nowhere but Tar-jay. I'm positive that this store would lose it's appeal to me if only we had one in this state. But alas, we do not.

My dear, sweet, lovable son slept the entire 2 1/2 hours there, and then also the entire 2 1/2 hours back. This made my ride incredibly peaceful and relaxing...and also boring as dirt. This was the only thing I had to stare at for the long ride home:

The drive was quite the thrilling snoozefest. But we're back home, the bags are unpacked (sort of) and my pretty new bathroom is all put back together (kind of) and we're full of pasta and ice cream (for sure).

Also, I know this cute blonde boy who's turning five soon, and I'm wondering what to get him for his birthday...any suggestions? It's kind of a big deal...it needs to be something good. He says he wants a little robot...I was thinking more along the lines of a new bike...decisions, decisions.

Retail Therapy

I've been feeling kind of down lately reading all the trash talk about single mamas that seems to be flying around my normally benign and favorite parenting websites. Why people who have never walked in my shoes feel the need to bash my life and my child just amazes me. I couldn't care less how you chose to live your life...why the need to pass judgement on mine? I'm trying to let it go. It's not really working. Why can't we just all get along, people, why??

Anyhow. My income tax refund got deposited in my checking account yesterday, and I used every last penny to pay off one of my two remaining credit cards. It felt so good to hit submit. One more down, just one to go. I did treat myself to this [go ahead and click on that link...you won't be sorry!] gorgeous new bathroom set as my reward for being so totally grownup with that money, and it's just so darn pretty! I can't wait for it to arrive in the mail so I can redo my bathroom. I've been staring at yellow rubber duckies for near on five years. It's time for a change.

When It's Fun to Have a Boy

I've been a little obsessed lately with vintage robots and wooden toys. Really cool wooden toys are easy to find for infants, but there's not a whole out there for the almost-fives. Lucas begged me to stop at one of our favorite locally owned toy shops today and we picked up these awesome retro stacking robots. They had some beat-up looking ones on the train tables, but when we went to look for a package to purchase, the store was out. One of sales clerks told us they'd have more in a few weeks. She tracked us down a few minutes later with a box in her hands. Lucas, in his trademark bull-horn of voice, starting telling her she was his hero for finding these robots. TOTAL SCORE!

The alien push car is actually part of the Brio train sets. Super cute.

Also?! I'm watching American Idol right now, and there just never seems to be any shortage of tone deaf folks who think they've got what it takes to be a superstar. Mind boggling. Don't these people have mamas that love them enough to NOT want them to be made fools of. I'm all about fostering one's dreams, but if my kid couldn't sing his way out of a paper bag, I wouldn't feed him to the wolves like that.

On Cloud Nine...

Is it normal for a pair of sneakers to make someone (me) so happy? I think so...if you're wearing THESE!!I've been searching for these sneakers for MONTHS, and yesterday a friend of mine called from a shoe store that had them in my size. They are now on my feet...and I am a happy girl!

Costco Before the Ice Storm

Every man's dream...Star Wars on a big screen.

"Just leave me here," he says, "I'll be fine."

The Best Deals

I love a bargain. I can squeeze a nickel out of two pennies, I am that frugal. And I stumbled upon a couple of really good sales this week. Nothing makes me happier than buying something I really love for 80% off. Look at me...spending more money after Christmas. I am such a good consumer. Heh.

Anyhow, we have survived the holidays once again. Lucas was thrilled with all of his gifts and he kept exclaiming over and over and over "I must have been the best boy this year to get all of these gifts!" And he's right. He's been pretty darn good. Every gift he received from "Santa" that wasn't something he specifically wished for confused him, however. And he kept asking me time and time again, "How did Santa know I wanted this so bad when I didn't even wish for it?! Did you wish for this for me?" Not knowing what to say, I just agreed with him, so he told me that I'm the best mom he's ever had. He's made of mighty cute stuff, that one.

Poor Old Stroller

The only way to shop...although I have to give props to that poor umbrella stroller. It was free with purchase a few years ago, and I'm quite positive it had no knowledge then of the great load it would someday carry...and carry, and carry, and carry...

Late Breaking News

Gas is now being sold for the low low price of just $2.25 a gallon. They're practically giving it away!

That is all...I couldn't keep it in...I was just that giddy.

Decision '08

Nope. Not talking about the presidential election...I'm talking about my kid's Halloween costume. A decision has been made (allegedly), and it looks a little something like this:

Disclaimer: That is not my kid. And My, what big feet he has.

Mmmmmm...Target

My new "local" Target didn't let me down. By "local" I mean the next state over, which is still 100 miles closer than my previous "local" Target, although it is plus one ferry ride. It technically doesn't open until tomorrow, but like a chain-store junkie I gave them a call to see if they were opening earlier, and wouldn't you know it?! They were. So I loaded the family up for a road trip. And what a trip it was, easily a one hour car ride split up nicely in 20 minutes chunks: 20 minutes to the ferry, 20 minutes over, 20 minutes on the other side. Also split up nicely by the DHL delivery truck that went up in flames at the ferry dock, easily chopping 10 years off my life, but also giving me something engaging to talk to my (miserable) 15 year old brother about...so it's almost an even trade.

I got this lovely little beauty, which is now nestled in happy harmony next to my cherry red Kitchen Aid, along with some really cool graphic snow pants for the kid. We totally raided the $1 dollar section and the Halloween stuff. In the end, we ended up fitting 4 people, 3 microwaves and various (multiple) other bags in a Honda Civic and drove home. Not a bad trip (minus the terrifying near-death truck fire)!

Why...It's Practically on SALE!

So Much for Our "Summer of Fitness"

Okay...so earlier in the year I decided that this summer would be the "Summer of Fitness" for me and the kid. This means we play outdoors from morning 'til night, we eat healthier foods and in general, we just get off our collective butts. Trust me...we could both use it. Riiiiight. That's going swimmingly, Lucas knows every episode of Spongebob by heart, and I have at least a few new dimples in my behind.

Which brings me to my point. I was at a scrub sale at a local hotel, and I pulled a pair of pants off the rack and saw that there appeared to be a pregnancy belly band where the draw string should be. I wondered out loud about how comfy these maternity pants would be and the saleslady came right over and told me, No, these were NEW! And NOT MATERNITY! I was so very excited that I bought them on the spot. Scrubs are not supposed to be form fitted anyway, so the fact that I now own a pair of baggy scrub pants with a stretchy waist band might be dangerous. Everyone hide your potato chips.

Anxiously Awaiting

I bought a set of these from Etsy for Mother's Day, both for myself (couldn't help it) and also for my cousin who recently had her second daughter. I can not wait for them to arrive. I'll post a picture when it gets here. Now I'm tempted to buy the ring as well...Etsy might prove harder on my bank account than eBay ever was!

If Only...

we had someplace to wear a suit coat. I bought this wool coat for Lucas when he was about a year old. It was a size 4 and he was maybe a size 2 at the most, but it had been marked down from $79.00 to something much much less, and I figured surely he would have a chance to wear it some place special. I found it today in the back of his closet collecting dust with it's tags still on. Even though he is a solid size 5 now...I made him put it on just I could take a picture. And because he is a four year old boy...I had to take a dozen pictures of goofy faces before I got one without waggling tongues or googly eyes.

Just So You Know...

A three hour car ride behind the EXACT SAME 18-wheeler makes the trip infinitely less fun.

Just in case you had ever wondered.

Luckily for me I have warm thoughts of Target in my head to hold me over until tomorrow.

For Real This Time...

Okay! It's really time to trade in my car for a newer! better! model. And I'm actually getting excited instead of terrified. I'll be honest. I'm cheap. And if I can drive a car for no money, why would I choose to drive a very similar car that I would then have to pay for? But it's time...past time, to be truthful. I just don't like making decisions that involve me parting with my hard earned money, you know? I don't like having too many choices with big ticket items because I will spend an eternity waffling back and forth. (Which is why I'm still driving my Corolla a year after I started saying that it was time to trade it in.) I like it best when I have a need and a sensible solution just lands in my lap. No fuss, no muss. And maybe...just maybe...my solution landed in my inbox today...so keep your fingers crossed for me that I'll love this car...the price is good and it sounds like it has everything I'm looking for. Hopefully, by this time next week, we'll have a new set of wheels. Also...I told Lucas I was buying him a new car for his 4th birthday and that's just a couple of weeks away so...I've gotta get a move on. How I plan on topping that gift for his 5th birthday, I have no idea!

"Helping"

If I was willing to live off of just Popsicles for the rest of all time, I could send him to the grocery store every week by himself and he would do just fine.

I'm Back!

I must say...although my job isn't really fun or glamorous, I get to work a lot of hours in a short space of time, and then I get a lot of days off...and we had ourselves some FUN in all of our days off this week.

Let's start with the fancy schmancy dinner party we got invited to on Tuesday. I think YUM! sums it up. We were all served a delicious salad as the first course, and I wondered if Lucas would touch it...not being a big bowl of iceberg lettuce and all. But he dug right in and ate his endive and well as some of mine. He was a little disappointed that the potatoes weren't mashed until he tried them...so tasty! He raised his glass and toasted the table to good behavior at dinner, and thoroughly enjoyed many, many, many glasses of ice water out of some very fancy crystal. I was so incredibly proud of him at the party. I think he did a very good job keeping all of his energy in check, the food could not be beat, the other party guests were wonderful and the hostess outdid herself with food and drinks and decorating. We do not often...lets say never...get invited to such grownup occasions, and we loved it!

I got all of our Christmas cards done and mailed...this is a very big deal for me. There have been years past where I've gotten everything written and stamped and then never mailed, so...yeah! Done!

My Christmas shopping is all done...but not wrapped...and is currently sitting all over my kitchen in a gazillion store bags...even the ones for Lucas...because he is not a snooper, something he definitely did NOT get from me! *wink*

I went to a cookie party in a blizzard on Thursday night, and even though my poor old car couldn't make it up a very steep drive covered in very deep snow, I had a blast and came home with some seriously yummy cookies.

I made a killing on Friday at the mall cashing in the rest of my Black Friday $10 free gift cards. I got Lucas a pair of Vans sneakers, the only brand that really fits his wide feet well, for the low low price of just $2.00 with tax. You can't beat that...really, I'd like to see you try! ;-) Also, three free Disney cars...brand new hard to find ones...'cause the eleventy million we already have just aren't enough...no sir...must buy more.

AND...the best, most awesome moment...I was walking through the lobby of the hospital with Lucas and he saw Santa. Apparently we have a volunteer on staff that looks like the best Santa in whole wide world. He was sitting behind the reception desk with a red sweater on and snow white hair and gold rimmed glasses (and a volunteers vest) and as we walked by Lucas caught sight of him and stopped dead in his tracks. The man said "Ho, Ho, Ho young man, have you been a good boy this year?" All Lucas could do was whisper, "I want Thomas pieces." over and over again. Poor child. He was starstruck. He has never let me take him up to the mall Santa, or the mall Easter bunny for that matter...so it was big deal to see this man so close after watching a string of Christmas specials this week. So fun!

TGIF

It's Friday! Well...it is for me anyway, and thank goodness. I'm ready to be home and be lazy. Preferably in my pajamas. With lots of icy cold diet Pepsi...and chips. I have a ton of After Black Friday shopping to do with all of the free money certificates I earned while shopping on the Actual Black Friday...so watch out mall, here we come. My efforts to have a China-Free Christmas are coming along nicely, with just a few exceptions...I decided it might be fun to try and buy all of our gifts made from places other than China and Lucas has ended up with some really fun stuff that I might not have sought out otherwise...so that part has been neat. Of course, some things are only made in China, so I bought them anyway, and we'll just hope they don't poison us to death before Christmas rolls around again.

Last year I shopped like a madwoman to earn all of those $10 dollar off store certificates and then worked the next week straight and they all expired before I could use them...but not his year. Oh, no...this year we shop...ten dollars at time.