Civic Duty...

Several years back, I made a promise to myself that I would never miss an election, no matter how small. I really value my right to vote and what women went through so that I can have that right. While I am not very active politically and really don't like talking about politics at all, I do my part in my own little way.

I have not succumbed to the absentee ballot lure because I really love going to a polling place and casting my vote. There is something symbolic for me that I enjoy. I actually wish that my polling place had red, white and blue curtains like I remember from my child hood (our grade school was a polling place). I also love to take my kids with me so they can know the importance of voting (not just to annoy the other voters with two small children). I became emotional in November as I explained what I was doing. It was such a monumental day.

Yesterday was a special election here in California. The only things on the ballot were a set of measures from the governor's office. Honestly, there hasn't really been much talk about them that I have heard and the political ads were practically nonexistent (thank goodness). Due to the lack of hype, I completely forgot it was election day. I was driving to meet my friends for a Mom's Night Out when I suddenly remembered that I needed to vote. I decided that missing one drink wouldn't be a bad thing and I took a little detour to my polling place. Honestly, I had only done some cursory reading about the measures and wasn't completely prepared. I did know about at least two of the measures and wanted to vote on at least those issues.

As I walked into my polling spot, I found out that they had moved my precinct. I don't even recall receiving my election book; only Kenny did (he is an absentee voter). Did I miss a notice telling me that my polling place of the past five years had moved? The volunteer told me vaguely where I should go. I drove to the street where she told me and turned in where I saw a sign for a polling place. Nope. I needed to go two blocks over. O.M.G. This was getting to be quite an ordeal. For one or two ballot measures, I was driving all over the place. A fifteen minute detour was quickly becoming forty-five. I was starting to get a bit grumpy. At this point, I was committed. I couldn't quit now.

I finally found the right spot. After joking with the volunteers, I was able to finally vote. My mood improved. I went and joined my friends proudly wearing my "I voted" sticker. I didn't miss the drink or two I would have had if I had arrived earlier. I had done the right thing.

She's my girl!

Amelia just cruised by me with her baby in her stroller telling me she was going to Stroller Strides. Awwwww. She did a few laps and started getting faster and faster. She slipped in her socks and fell down (we have hard wood floors and tile). I said to her, "you know you aren't supposed to run in socks." She got up and started going again,"but, Momma! I am running a marathon!"

Like mother like daughter. It warms my heart.





oh... she just crossed the finish line in victory. :-)

Kitty Kitty vs. The Easter Bunny

Our cat is a predator. In the years that we have had her, she has brought in various samplings of her prey (both alive and dead) including numerous mice, a couple of birds, a few rats (*shudder*) and most recently a rabbit (Kenny found this one up in our room-- EWWWWWWW).

Jackson just came out of his room after being tucked in for the night. I asked what was wrong (as I hid plastic eggs and fillings behind my back). He was very concerned that Kitty Kitty (yes... that is her name) would attack the Easter Bunny. Can we make sure that Kitty is outside tonight? Oh! But what if the Easter Bunny comes in from the outside and she gets him??

Don't worry, Jackson, we reassured him. The Easter Bunny is tough. The kitty won't hurt the Easter Bunny. We promise.

I sure do love that kid!

grocery shopping gives me a sense of accomplishment...

Due to our current economic situation, I have been trying different ways to cut costs. One of the easiest is to clip coupons and use them wisely. I follow a couple blogs that help me find some deals, but the rest is from reading through the ads and planning out my shopping excursion. It takes some time (clipping the coupons, sorting them, going through the different ads etc.) but it is definitely worth it. Shopping itself is more involved. That is why I can't do my coupon-crazy shopping excursions with the kids. That is one benefit of an unemployed husband. If he is unavailable, I have a couple of hours on Tuesday mornings when both kids are in school. In a perfect world, this time would be for massages or pedicures. Now it is shopping or getting in a run.

I have had some success lately. Last week I saved over $100 by shopping club specials and coupons. Yesterday, I saved $80 and still have over $9 of coupons that I earned on that trip to use next time.

Here is an example of a great deal I got yesterday at Albertsons:

Five boxes of Kellogg's Cereal
$2.38+$2.38 +$2.38+$2.50 +2.39=
$12.03

Two manufacturer's coupons for $1.00 and
$.70

$12.03-$1.70=$10.33 (Albertsons doesn't double
coupons)

They gave me two coupons for free gallons of milk (up to
$4.69 value)

$10.33-$9.38= $.95

I just bought five boxes of cereal that we use every day and two gallons of milk for less than a dollar!!!! How cool is that?????

For some great money saving tips, try these blogs (there are a ton more, but it gets overwhelming, so I am sticking with a couple for now):

http://happilyaverage.blogspot.com/

http://www.couponcravings.com/

http://www.moneywisemoms.com/

My baby is THREE.

March 17, 2006 12:04 a.m. (look at how big she is... she looks like the newborns in the movies. LOL)






Her big brother loved her right away.



At 5 months old, you could tell that she was going to have beautiful blue eyes. She has enchanted us with those eyes. How many people in the future will be enchanted by those eyes?


She was a butterfly her first Halloween. To me, she looks like an angel.


Our little precocious 9-month-old took her first steps right before Christmas.



And by her first birthday, she was cruising the party.






Here she is on her 2nd birthday.



She is really becoming Daddy's little girl...



Mmmmm.... cupcakes!

by three years old, she really gets the idea of a birthday party in her honor. She loved every minute of it!

She really is our little princess.

Although the day after her party, she said in a matter-of-fact manner, "Mommy... I don't like princesses anymore. I like POWER RANGERS. Next time I want a Power Ranger party."
Ah, the fickle nature of a three-year-old.

Where did the time go???

Great Forecast!

Amelia turns 3 a week from today. Where did the time go???

I am super happy that the forecast calls for sunny and 73 degrees on Saturday for her party. We have borrowed a friend's jumpy house and Kenny has added some cute features (a steering wheel and trapeze swing) onto the play structure in the backyard. Between playing outside, coloring and doing foam crafts inside, twelve preschoolers will be entertained. I know that you should really only have three or four kids at a three-year-old's birthday, but how do you pick and choose kids from a playgroup? I am friends with all the moms and Amelia calls all the invitees her friends. I didn't even invite any kids from her preschool.

I think we are pretty darn lucky to be able to call so many people our friends. Isn't that what really matters?

I am looking forward to Saturday.

I love give-aways!!

I have started to follow a few blogs helping me to save money. I am learning about coupon clipping and all that jazz. One of my favorites, Mommy Making Money, is giving away an Amazon gift card. I can't decide if I will buy my Luna Bars with it, or splurge on a new book.

This particular blog has some sort of giveaway every few weeks or so (and she often links to other giveaways). It is cheaper than playing the lottery. The odds are sure better. A few weeks ago I won some sport wipes from a running blog I read. Even when I don't win, it certainly is entertaining. Give it a try! :-)