Memory Monday

Okay, I'm always blogging about funny things Alex says because he's in that "toddler" stage of speaking so here's a walk down memory lane from my others as toddlers. (I actually recorded these but unfortunately by the time Rylee came around I wasn't as faithful at it. I will have to dig deep to come up with Ryleeisms!)

Austin (at almost two)
If you ask Austin to chew his food he pretends to sneeze and say 'Ahh...chew!"

Kambree (Age 4)
K: Mom is it raining outside
Me: No, I think it's the sprinklers.
K: Well, I think its......MONSTER SPIT!

Kambree (Age 4-I am pregnant with Devree at the time)
Kambree's primary teacher told me her class was talking about being sick and throwing up and Kambree announced to her class "My mom doesn't throw up, she throws down!"

Austin (age 2 1/2)
Austin is gets down from finishing breakfast with a very messy face and soggy cereal in each of his ears.
Me: Austin, why is there cereal in your ears?
Austin: Mine earrings!

Kambree (just over 4 years old)
Me: Come on Kambree, we're leaving.
K: I thought you left me!
Me: Kam, have I ever left you?
K: No.
Me: And I will never leave you either.
K: Yes you will when I get married.
Me; No, I won't, you'll leave me. I will still be here but you can always come back and see me like I see Grandma Nan.
Kambree starts to cry.
Me: What's wrong?
K: I hurt my own feelings!

Kambree (around 4)
While eating dinner Kambree asks "Mom, Dad why do you always beat us?" James and I look up at each other in horror. "What?" we ask. "You know, beat us eating your food!"

Austin (around 2 1/2)
Austin is finally potty trained and when ever we comment about it he says "Potty Train.Choo choo!"

Kambree (almost 5) Austin (3)
Apparently I had yelled at Kambree and Austin came in and at quite a distance told me. "You no yell at my Kambwee!" Then Kambree came in and in a most grown up tone asked me.
K: Mom would Jesus do that?
Me: What?
K: Would Jesus say get out of this room?
I proceeded to tell Kambree about Jesus kicking the money changers out of the temple to which she replied:
K: Yeah, they were bad people but I am a good person!

Kambree four-ish
K: Mom when I grow up I am going to marry Austin.
Me: Sweetie, you can't marry Austin, he's your brother.
K: But I will miss him!

Devree Language (about eighteen months)
Any type of a drink is a "mew"
Horses are "Fo-Fo's"
Fish is "Sish"

Kambree (five)
On the way to kindergarten Kambree and her friend Justin had this conversation about what kinds of parents they'll be when they grow up.
Justin: I am going to buy my kids bubble gum and they can stay up until ten o'clock at night!
Kambree: Well, my kids never have to go to bed and I will never wake them up in the morning.
Me: Well, Kambree what if they have to go to school?
Kambree (without missing a beat) Well, I'm putting them in AFTERNOON kindergarten!
(She and Justin were in morning kindergarten!)

Well, that's all for today, I have more I'll post on another memory Monday!

Too True Tuesday

The topic from Essie this week is how cheap are you??
My oh my....
We are pretty cheap. (I have to say we-as James is probably more frugal than I.)
First off we don't have cable TV. Don't want the smut and the bonus is a savings of $58 a month. In fact besides the paper (which I have FOUR Sunday papers for the coupons) there is nothing in our budget that is optional. (Well, unless you count piano and voice lessons.) We don't use credit cards, we don't have payments on "toys" and although I have one car payment-I wouldn't if I didn't have to have one presentable enough to put clients in. Our other three vehicles-although not new and cool-are paid for and running!
My husband does all our car repairs and services. ALL of them. He's pulled engines out to change out things, rotates our tires, oil changes the works.
He also does all the repairs and remodels on our house. He's taught himself everything, from electrical to painting. He will pull things apart and figure it out even if it means hours of work.
Hubby and I always (or almost always) use "buy one get one" coupons when we eat out. Even if it's just a quick burger. I carry a bag in my gigantic purse of just coupons and a Happenings Book. Saves us tons of $$.
We also rarely buy drinks and if we do, we buy one and share it.
I make lunches for my kids everyday as the cost of school lunch is upwards of $150 a month. I figure I make lunches for around $20 a week. (And my kids like it better than school lunch and chances are, I pack a healthier lunch then they serve in schools these days!)
I stock up when things are on sale and refuse to buy them when they're not!
I reuse gift bags until they no longer can function for their intended purpose....like the seams split, a handle is missing etc.
I cook meals....every night! This is so much cheaper (and healthier) than eating out.
I'm a brand snob about a few things, peanut butter, shortening, bleach and laundry detergent. Besides that I buy whatever is on sale!
I have a gift closet. I stock up on birthday presents, candles, lotions etc. when I find fabulous deals. This way when we need a birthday, get well, whatever gift...we just go to the gift closet.
I found out this morning that Alex is a school lunch worker and gets free school lunch so despite the fact he's unhappy about it....he's eating school lunch this week!
I don't shop second hand stores (hubby does though-he'd rather buy pants at the DI that have been washed and worn then risk buying pants that shrink after washing.) but I DO find deals equal too or better than DI prices. I buy clothes off season for everyone. Coats in the spring, shorts in the fall. I hit the clearance rack EVERY TIME I go in a store. It's not a deal if its not 80-90% off. (This doesn't always work with teenagers!)
I buy in bulk.
I love hand me downs and in return I give away hand me downs. Lately I've started wearing hand me downs from my daughters. I have one dress I wear and always get compliments on and I proudly explain that this was Kambree's last years Easter dress!
I save all the heels of my whole wheat bread, dry and grind into bread crumbs.
I grind my own wheat flour and make my own pancake mix.
My husband conserves gas when driving. He has all these tricks like not accelerating fast, coasting down hills, letting a larger car break the wind etc. Too complicated for me as I'm always in a hurry and just needing to get somewhere.
I honestly prefer to rent Redbox and watch movies on our big screen with surround sound and pop my own popcorn, wear my pajamas, wrap up in a blanket, and pause for bathroom breaks than to see new releases in a dark theater. No matter how great the sound is, how big the screen is or whatever....Redbox rocks and it's cheap!
James makes his own weed killer concoction. It involves beer and Dawn dish detergent.
There are things I don't do that previous generations before me have done:
I don't wash tin foil and save it for the next use.
I don't wash paper towels out and hang dry to get a second use.
I don't fill up the milk jug with milk made from powdered milk (yuck!)
I don't save used wrapping paper
I don't make one HUGE pot of something and expect my family to eat it all week.
I don't save crap! I don't care if I do find a use for it in ten years. I hate clutter and crap!
So now how cheap are you? If you don't want to post, just comment! I could use some new ideas!

Memory Monday-Austin & His Civil War Paper

This is one of my favorite stories.....
When Austin was in 7th grade he detested studying. (That is not to say that he loves it now by any means!)
He had a paper due on the civil war. I had pulled up a website with the needed information and a word document and told him "You can do this!" and headed to the gym. About five minutes into my workout he called groaning, "Mom, I need help!"Now when Austin asks for help, he sounds as if he's dying. He always has a stuffed up nose-allergies-and he really pours it on in hopes that I or anyone for that matter will just feel sorry for him and do it for him. Although this would be in all actuality easier for all involved-we never do! I told him, "Austin, go find your Dad, he's there somewhere, let him help you!" Austin-rather than get off the office chair and look for his Dad (who was out in the back yard)-proceeded to call James on his cell phone except he miss dialed by one number.
Austin(in a very exaggerated, sad voice): I need help.
Nice Stranger Man: What?
Austin: I need help!
Nice Stranger: Who is this?
Austin: Austin!
Upon hearing the nice stranger ask his name Austin realized he had the wrong number and promptly hung up. He then walked outside to find his father and the two of them were sitting at the computer working on his paper when the doorbell rang.
The Murray City police were at our door.
Officer: We've had a call and need to confirm if there is a boy named Austin living here?
James: Yes.
Officer: Could we see him please?
James-who was pretty sure of the situation by this time as Austin had told him about the miss dialed call-yells to Austin "Austin, look who's here to help you with your civil war paper!"
Apparently the nice stranger thought Austin REALLY needed help and since he called from our home phone, nice stranger called 911 and told them there was a boy named Austin at this number in dire need of help!
Yes, we laughed and laughed. I think even the police officer laughed and we did call the nice stranger to let him know the true situation.
Austin was very hesitant to come talk to the police officer as he had recently been caught by yours truly egging the neighbors house.
This story is a memory in it's self. I caught Austin and his older friend Justin putting eggs in their pockets and sneaking out the back door. I asked what they were doing? Justin quickly told me they were making eggs at his house and had ran out of eggs. Being the Nancy Drew-ing mother that I am, I smelt something fishy or in this case eggy and I made them return the eggs to me and begin questioning them. The truth came out, apparently, according to Justin, some scary teenagers in masks driving in a car stopped and forced them to throw eggs at the neighbors house. All the while Austin is just nodding and contributing nothing but a look of complete agreement to the lies spewing from Justin's mouth. The boys had to clean off the house-which was actually vacant-the girls that lived there that they felt deserved the egging had moved out the weekend before. Austin and Justin were grounded from playing together for a week as well.
So, when the police officer showed up, Austin was pretty sure he was there to take him for his eggs-tracurricular activities!