Awesome Jeans Find for my Hockey Player

Hockey Player is a very disobedient child lately.  I (the Mom) keep telling him to stop growing.  He won't.  Instead he tells me, Big O Daddy O keeps telling him to keep growing.  Well, we know who he listens to the most.  BODO doesn't know what he is saying.  He doesn't do the shopping.  Buy the boy pants, and couple of months later he looks like he is ready to wade the crik out back.  If only we had a creek. 
Well they aren't that short yet.  But they are on the verge of being that short.  Short enough for Fun Mom to be concerned for everyone's sake.  On break from school, so I should spend the time getting the shopping done so it doesn't interfere with more important things like acquiring groceries and shuttling kids to activities and laundry.  Did I mention school in there?  Nope, cause that isn't considered one of free time hobbies by the family.  And I mean by the family, cause in my dreams that isn't how I would spend my free time.  But that is not the theme of this post.  My super savings and happy dance moment is the theme.

So off I go to Old Navy, hoping and hoping some more that their jeans are $10 still.  My gut telling me No Sir-ee Bob, that I missed the sale by a day.  Sure enough, I did.  Not only did I miss the sale but the shelves were almost empty.  I mean big wall of a few random pairs of jeans and lots of empty shelves.  I managed to find, get this, 4 pairs of jeans in his size.  4!!!  at the good ol' price of 2 for $30.  Could be worse.  At least they were offering the Old Navy Cash.  $10 when you purchase $20.   Did I mention I was there the day before with my Groupon coupon?  Yep, they waited till I bought fun stuff to let  me know they couldn't find jeans in the totes downstairs.  So I look around a bit more, find a coat for Little Princess.  She lost her coat this year.  Fun Mom has been loaning her a coat from her collection of garage sale finds.  It works for right now, but once it snows and they want to play it won't afford her much warmth.  It is more sweater like than a play in the snow coat.  Off to the register.

I do a couple of transactions just to maximize the amount of Old Navy Cash I can get.  Not that I want to have spend that much more money at Old Navy, but I figure there is gonna be more growing in my house.  Cause Daddy's Buddy has grown almost an inch in the last couple of months.  Hockey Player has let it be known he is gonna listen to and obey the Dad and not me.  Humpf.  But back to the register.

First two pairs of jeans ring up as $15 each.  Third pair of jeans..........$0.97   Ummm, that can't be right.  I look at the girl behind the cash register and shake my head and say, "That can't be right."  She looks at me and kinda shrugs and tells me she'll try the next pair to see what happens.  Pair number 4......$0.97
I laugh, cause this just can't be right. 
She looks the jeans over.  She looks at the tags again and then she explains.  They are "Painters" and sold online only.  They must have been returned to the store.  They aren't carried in the store anymore.  Hence $0.97  ! ! ! 
Nope, I didn't go back and check the shelves for more, cause I had already handled every pair back there and grabbed every pair in the size I needed.  Cause, afterall, I could only find 4 pairs in his size. 
I floated out of the store feeling a big hug from my Heavenly Father.  Thanking God for his provision.  4 pairs of jeans for $32.  Which is less than the $10 sale, I missed by a day.  97 cents....better than a garage sale new with tags find! ! ! 
Want to know just a little bit more about how awesome all this was.  I had looked online late the night before and all they had in stock in Hockey Players size was skinny, super skinny and lined (for warmth) jeans.  None of which he would have worn.  He would rather wear his too short pants than go there.  For which, Fun Mom, has much to be thankful for, because, afterall, she is a teenager and style is important.  These painter jeans are one of his favorite styles of jeans to wear.  They are baggy and loose in the legs.  (I think this is kinda funny, cause Hockey Player has gotta be one of the most thinnest kids I know and most things are baggy on him.)
Favorite Jeans, favorite price....what a great shopping experience!

Twirling, floating, happy dance! !

ZooBooks, Zootles, and Zoobies Buy One Get One Free + 25% off

My boys love Zoobooks!
Recently we added Zootles for the youngest. 
Every year I hold out to renew until the Buy One Get One Free sale is here. 
This time the email contained a coupon code for 25% off.  Not sure if it would apply, I typed it in the coupon code box.  It worked! 
Happy Dance!!!  Love, love, love unexpected deals and savings.

For the sale click here.  The coupon code is: 25OFF

Flutter Nutter's Sixth Birthday!

I don't know how it happened.  My baby turned six.  Five was a piece a cake for this mommy.  Starting kindergarten was easy.  No tears.  No heart strings being pulled.  BUT six, that is another story.  To make it even harder he went to the dentist a week and a half later and we discovered he is getting his molars and has loose teeth.  How can that be?  Where has the time gone? 
Since we saw cousins perform in the Nutcracker in Colorado Springs over Thanksgiving Flutter Nutter chose the Nutcracker as theme for his cake.  A little overwhelmed.  Determined I would not put ballerinas on the cake.  I did some thinking. I took the girls to the cake store to get some help.  AND by the way, "Mom, I want a bow and arrow on the cake too."  Hmmm, the Nutcracker used a sword...but it is his cake.

                                    So the Nutcracker went bow hunting, killed himself a reindeer. 

                                 The reindeer left Dr. Pepper Jelly Beans behind in the shape of a six.

                                     
Then he shot arrows into those pesky mice he had to fight in the Nutcracker.
 

After all was done and said, he was very happy with his Nutcracker cake.
The cousins (my neices) might be just a bit dismayed at our re-creation of their favorite Christmas story.
Dad was happy I stuck with it and eliminated the ballerinas.

We had lunch at Olive Garden just like he wanted.
Just a couple of days later, cause he had to share his head cold with everyone.  He didn't want to be the only one with the birthday sniffles.

Aunt Sharon did not fail the Aunty test.  She provided lots of sweets and treats.
Just look at the top of that present.

Look deep, I think we can see his stomache!

Whew, he blew them all out!

I may be sad about how old he is getting to be, but he is still my little Flutter Nutter.
Happy Birthday!

Favorite Shots From MidWest Tournament

I like to watch my Hockey Player on the ice.
He took to ice skates as if he was born to live on the ice.  He has a tremendous amount of grace and focus when on the ice.  He plays defense.  Which means if the other team doesn't score when he is on the ice, he has had an awesome day!  My tender hearted Warrior gets to hear me say, "Knock 'em down!" He may have a gentle heart, but there is nothing gentle in how he plays hockey.  That is how it should be. 

Yep, read that score sheet.  They managed a shut out at 6:15 AM!
Translation, Hockey Player was up at 4:00 AM fueling up and shaking the sleep from his brain, so he could be at the rink by 5:30.
Good thing the ice rink is refreshingly cool in the morning

Birthday Favorites

Flutter Nutter received this shirt from Aunt Sharon and Uncle Terry.

This morning, Hockey Player announces to me, "Mom, I think Flutter Nutter has worn that shirt for the last 3 days." 
Me:  "Dad did you hear that?"
Dad: "3 days, WOW, you must like that shirt.  It must be a favorite?!?"
FN: "Yep"
Dad:  "Why don't you put a different shirt on after breakfast."
FN:  "I already have it on."
Dad: "So it is like stuck to you."
giggles
Dad: "Tomorrow, wear a different shirt."
 

What is it with Wednesdays?

Last week it was all about language.  This week, Daddy's Buddy asks me about Grandma when she died.  Did we put her in a box and she died or did we put her in the ground and she died?  I had to explain, she died in her sleep at HOME, then she went to a funeral home, they put her in a nice box called a casket and then put her in the ground.  AHHH, that is how it works. 
Hockey Player then asks, "Don't they drain all the blood out of the body and replace it with a preservative?"
A lot of oooohs and yucks. 
"Yes and sometimes  no," I replied shaking my head the whole time.
Little Princess pipes in with, "Unless they want to be cremated and turned into ashes."
Daddy's Buddy adds, "If they don't want to be in their dead body for the rest of their life."
Hysteria breaks out.
In their dead body for the rest of their life....
repeated over and over and loads of laughter
At this time, I am in the Pizza Hut drive through, at the window and can't stop laughing.  I have to explain to the lady in the window about last week and the current conversation.  She starts to laugh pretty good over being in the dead body for the rest of your life.  I mean seriously, how do the kids come up with these things?

But it doesn't stop there.  Flutter Nutter is giving me trouble with wearing his seat belt proper.  I decide drastic measures must be used.  I very calmly inform him, I do not want to buy a casket for Christmas.  I do not want to spend Christmas crying.  Would he please sit properly in the car?

He did for all of 5 minutes.  To which I sounded off and told him, "Fine, you die, I am not buying you a head stone.  I refuse to buy you a head stone for Christmas."  He shaped up and sat all good in his seat and seatbelt.  Who knew.  Having a head stone is important !

Then coming home from church Flutter Nutter is being all super silly and disobedient, AGAIN.
I am done and tired.  I am not letting them take you to the funeral home.  I don't want a Christmas funeral.  I will just leave you by the side of the road if you get killed.  Shaped up and sat like he was supposed to.  FLutter Nutter did respond with, "Cool."  Not exactly what I was looking to hear.  Hockey Player quickly responded with, "Not cool, cause then people would think you had been murdered."

Time to change the subject..."Let's go look at Christmas lights!"

Nintendo Mario and K'Nex Meet! !

Oh my goodness I am soo excited!  This year, I am way behind on my Christmas shopping.  No time, no ideas, until tonight!  I made myself do some shopping and looking around tonight.  Look what I found ! !
K'Nex Mario Kart sets.  My gamer/builder is going to love this !  Good thing he doesn't know about my blog.  Well he knows about it...but he doesn't go online yet.  If you are one of the big siblings reading this, "ZIP YOUR LIPS AND CLOSE DOWN YOUR WINDOWS!" No sharing what you know.

Early... who needs sleep when it is Hockey Season???

Its hockey tournament weekend! 
Saturday's games were all in the afternoon!  Blessed timing. 
Sunday's games are at 6:00 AM and 7:45 AM.
Translation:  Must be at the rink between 5:20 and 5:30.  Must leave by 5 AM.  Must be up with Hockey Player at 4 AM.  He needs breakfast and to get the blood moving.  He might need to shower again to clear his chest, throat and sinuses.  He has been fever free for 7 days.  BUT the previous 8 days to those seven were filled with fevers and crud.

But we will not have to juggle hockey with church.  We will be done with plenty of time to get to Sunday School and church.  Woo Hoo. 

But first we must get all the children to bed.
"Flutter Nutter if you want to go to the hockey games, you need to get to bed." 
FN:  I want to go!  I love hockey games ! 
Mom: They are really early.  REALLY EARLY.  You won't be able to get up if you don't get to bed. 
FN:  I love EARLY.  Sometimes I get up when it is still dark early.  Like Midnight early.  I LOOOVVVVEEE  Early ! !
Mom:  Then off to bed.

Honestly he does love early.  We have two that are up before the rest of us more often than not.  Little Princess and Flutter Nutter.  It can be a toss up between which will be up first.  Sometimes, though, we think it is Little Princess, but Flutter Nutter has curled up in a corner with a blanket and his DS.  He knows he isn't to play his DS in the morning till he has his stuff done.  But I guess when you get up and it is like Midnight dark outside Early, you know you can get some play time in. 

The 'F' word and conversations Mom overhears after church

Coming home from church!  Yep, from church.  I hear the following conversation in my back seat.
Unfortunately, I can't distinguish which child said what, so I will just abbreviate AC for another child to introduce the next speaker.
"You said the F word!"
AC:  "You shouldn't say the F word"
My eyebrows are raised and my curiousity is peaked, still listening.
AC (I think Futter Nutter):  "I know what the F word is, it is FAT !! "
AC: But your not suppose to say it.
AC: I know what the S word is!
more eyebrows
AC: Don't say it!
The conversation changes and I am curious.
MOM: What is the S word?
Daddy's Buddy: Loud and Proud :  STUPID!
MOM:  Yep, that is a bad word.  We shouldn't say that one.
Daddy's Buddy:  BUT YOU asked me. 
MOM:  Yes, I did.  That was okay.  But no more.
Daddy's Buddy:  What is cussing?
Mom: Anytime we use mean words to try and hurt someone.  Ugly, mean words.
Children:  ohhh, okay

On the way home from church ! ? !
What were they discussing in their Awana Groups????

Woohoo! ~ Christmas Came Early!

On our way out of town Thanksgiving weekend, we had to call the doctor for Flutter Nutter.  He had a super bad head cold and we knew the Colorado altitude could complicate things.  So our super wonderful pediatrician found a Walgreens along the way and ordered some scripts for Flutter Nutter.  Good thing, cause Flutter Nutter needed them, and then Daddy's Buddy and Hockey Player needed them.  All approved by the doctor, just in case you thought we were doing a big no-no of sharing prescriptions. 
After we picked up the medicine, I got to looking at the receipt.  I thought we just got an amazing deal...$10 for 3 prescriptions.  However, we were only charged for one of the three medications.  What ?????  Focused on having fun, I decided to put it aside and think on later when we got home.  Arrived home and decided not to worry about it, afterall, I made it all weekend without thinking twice about it. 
Today I had to refill a couple of prescriptions.  I signed the slips and sent my card in through the drive thru tube.  I even put in my member number for Dillons so I could get my fuel points.  The clerk informed me there was no charge!  What? ?  I looked at her and told her, "I always have to pay for my prescriptions.  What is going on?  This is the second time this has happened."  Poor girl, she didn't know what to do.  Here she had told me, "No charge" and I was insisting on paying.  How crazy is that ! ? ! ?
She quickly went and found reinforcements.  Receipts and paperwork looked over.  I was told that everything had been processed and was correct.  Balance due:  $0
She did suggest we might have met our deductible for the year.
We DON"T have a deductible.  Just co-pays.
I call the insurance company.
Our insurance has a catastrophic medical clause.  Once you reach the designated amount out of pocket in a year then all medical expenses are covered at 100% for the remainder of the enrollment period!

Co-pays, prescriptions, eye doctors, dentists, counseling and therapy all apply.  But NOT orthodontics. Bummer, cause Hockey Player is suppose to start that process next year and we would just have to start him this next month if they were only covered. 
The year, I try to NOT go to the doctor.  The year I am constantly reassuring hubby all will be fine, they don't need to go to the doctor.  This year we meet our maximum out of pocket and qualify for the catastrophic clause.  We have a month left + a day.  Do I give the kids permission to go crazy? 
Guess this means I can quit playing the do we or do we not get the flu shot.  I hate paying for the flu shot and then we are all sick 3 months later with it. 
So now, when I can't figure out what to buy for Christmas for the kids or my husband, I get to try and figure out if there are any medical things we should get taken care of while we can.  Maybe the 2 topics can overlap and I will have both taken care of.... allergy medicine for the stockings!   Dental xrays all wrapped up in pretty gold filling paper.  Hee hee!
I don't know if I should be some what mortified about our medical expenses this past year or ecstatic that there are no more expenses the remainder of this year.  For now, I will just celebrate in having no more payments for a month! !  WOohoO

SunButter ! ! ! YUMMY!!

On our drive home from Colorado Springs we stopped in Colby at the Kansas Country Store. 
Everyone was in need of some time to stretch their legs and take advantage of the facilities.
The folks there were wonderful and hospitable.  They overheard me tell Flutter Nutter to not go touching all the food stuff since they had nuts and such and offered us samples of SunButter.  Oh my goodness!!  It was so yummy.  It made my mouth do the happy dance it only gets to do when Flutter Nutter is not around and I have a chance to eat a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.  Sooo happy !!
The other children were overjoyed at the possibility of cookies and sandwiches. 
No nuts,  no cross contamination! 
Yummy !!!
Happy Mouths and Happy Tummies !!! 
Now I am doubly excited, cause the first thing I had to do was check Amazon and see if they offered it online. 
They do!! 
Our lives are forever changed for the better!

KitchenAid on Cyber Monday and those pesky little words...ON SALE and Rebate too!

oooh my goodness! !! Isn't this pretty! ! !!  !!
I just put it in my store.
It is on sale.
ON SALE!!!
oh how my hubbby hates those 4 little words.  "It is on saaaaaale!!!!"
He has been making fun today.
Pretty cinnamon color.
I have always talked myself out of a KitchenAid, but I am caving.  If only he could find the value in my having one. 
He told me I already got my Christmas when I bought a Vitamix last month.  It cleans itself!  How cool is that.  The KitchenAid doesn't do that, but it is pretty and would make cookies, frosting, cakes, bread, and so much more....
I am in love or is it in envy???  Ahhhh, **big sigh**
Did I mention there is a 50 dollar rebate? 
And if you don't want the magazine subscription you can request the 24 dollars to be refunded to you.  All in the print.  Sooo pretty!
So, so pretty.
Oh, by the way it is on Amazon.  hee hee, should have told you that. 

State Quarter Collection

So Little Princess developed an interest in the state quarters earlier this summer. We suprised her with a State Quarter Collection Book for her birthday!

She has taken her collection very seriously and has almost completed the series. On one of our recent hockey tournament weekends, she mistakenly put a five dollar bill in the quarter machine. It proved to be worthwhile, because she was able to add a lot of quarters to her collection!

You can find this book at Amazon. We actually discovered it at a Borders store that was closing.  Saw it and knew immediately it would be a great gift for Little Princess. 
Now we have a younger brother who would like to start his own collection.  Hint, hint Grandmas and Grandpas!  He put his allowance in the quarter machine at the ice rink this week to help start his collection. 

I also wanted to let all of you dear friends, family and readers out there know, I am creating a tab/page specifically on behalf of Little Princess.  This page will list the remaining quarters she is need of to complete her collection.  If you happen to come across one and choose to share it with her, she would be thrilled!

New Perspective on Bedtime!

Flutter Nutter just rushed downstairs with sooo much excitement and announced, "I get to go to bed! I am soooo happy! Daddy says I can go to bed. Now I don't have to be tired. I love him soo much, infinity beyond zero and all around the earth millions of times!"

Now I know, instead of saying "Go to bed." I need to say, "You can go to bed now, so you won't be tired."

Mystery solved.

Random Conversations!

The girls are loom knitting. A lot of loom knitting is happening here. Aunt Sharon has ordered 26 hats and scarves. So when they aren't sleeping, eating or doing their school work, their fingers are busy. We were in the car tonight and a discussion was started about making hats for babies at the hospital for next summer. Patterns, designs and colors are free for the imagination while their fingers are busy. This particular idea was about babies born on the Fourth of July and having patriotic hats awaiting them. Little Princess didn't want to exclude babies that were already in the hospital. What about the babies born on July 2nd or 3rd and maybe had wet lung?
Wet lung? Yes, she knows about wet lung. She has heard about her birth story and the day and a half she spent in the NICU. However, she doesn't know what wet lung is and asks me. But before I can respond, Flutter Nutter excitedly announces, "I know what wet lung is!"
Fun Mom, a lot quicker than her mom, responds with, "Tell us what it is Flutter Nutter!"
His response: Wet lung is when you take your shirt off and get wet all over!
Quietly, my shoulders shake and quiver and I compose myself before telling him, not quite. I then proceed to answer Little Princess's question. But I get his logic and I really enjoy learning about the world through his eyes.

A Sweet Present!

So I have been posting about my birthday.
And I got the sweetest present ever this year. AND it wasn't even candy. I do like candy, but this was better than that!

Sweet and talented Sarah suprised me with one of her crocheted creations.

According to her and my slightly jealous daughters (only slightly, cause it isn't nice to be jealous.) I am in style now! The girls lovingly finger it, but know better than to ask for it or to borrow it. Can you see me twirling and dancing around the room, singing "I am in style"?
What busy mom doesn't want to be a bit in the now and fashionable every once in a while? So I loving gaze down at my wrist and say, "Thank you, Lord for a friend who loving thought of me and twisted and twirled this yarn into a thing of beauty for me."

She makes lots of really cool hats and has her own Etsy store! I am amazed by her creativity and wonder where she finds the time with her busy children and home. But she does and she is so talented!
Check her out her creations at TaeTaesCrochet.
I absolutely love this hat:

The sock monkey hats make me giggle. The ones with flowers make me oooh and ahhh.

Flutter Nutter's Present

In my bedroom, when I hear Flutter Nutter yelling, "Mommy!!  You got a present!" 
"You got a present in the mail!!!"

Fun Mom is laughing hysterically. "Mom, you got a present!"
This was my present:

Turn it over and....

Oh MY! If only the company knew the humor they provided my family with for my birthday this year. Fortunately, for me, Fun Mom was the only one at the time to get the humor.

Birthdays

I am not big on my birthday.  My birthday date is a bit unique.  A bit controversial.  October 31.  AKA: Halloween.
I have experienced the gamot.
When I was little, my siblings shared their candy with me.  Consider the sugar possibilities !  ! ? ? ! !  Cake, ice cream, and candy! !   My birthday is shared with deer hunting season, so celebrations had to be scheduled around school and the hunter Dad's absence. 
Then as I got older, I heard things like, "Aren't you a witch!"  Excuse me, HELLO! !  It is just a date. 
That was in response to securing my driver's license number and expiration date for a check.
Then there was the look of horror on the faces of fellow Christians when they discovered I shared my birthday with the horrible holiday Halloween.  I even heard from one person that birthday costume parties were only acceptable for people without Halloween birthdays! 
Oh well.  So I tend to be reluctant to share my birth date.  Here I am announcing it to the world on my blog!
But as I have gained wisdom (i.e. not older), I don't dread it so much. I actually look forward to it.  My only request is I don't have to cook on my birthday.  A logical request considering the need to get children costumed up and answering the door to hand out candy.  I look forward to not cooking.  I look forward to greeting the little princesses, lady bugs, puppy dogs and other cutely dressed tots.  No, I don't look forward to the zombies and other blood encrusted children. 
But the smiles and sweet "tank ewes" I do enjoy. 
Occassionally, the familiar face of an adult I haven't seen in years is a delightful treat.  I really do love children.  I really do believe they are a gift from the Lord.
If I can bless them and love on them this way, then I will. 
And then, I will share in my children's sweets after they go to bed. Then I go shopping on Nov. 1 to get the clearanced candy, cause afterall, I like CANDY ! !

Suprises in Shakespeare's MacBeth

I remember reading MacBeth in high school.  Vaguely.  I remember trying to figure it out.  Discovering Cliff Notes.  Listening closely in class to the discussions, wondering where I was when God dispensed the abilities to understand Shakespeare.  Then, this weekend, I curl up to read MacBeth once again.  Shook my head a couple of times to get rid of the "flusters".  Grabbed the dictionary and slowed down my reading.  I understood it!  I really was enjoying the intelligence of the writing.  The wit and humor weaved in the poetic style of writing.  A depth and complexity that challenges one to think as they read, but rewards the reader with humor and suprises. 
Suprises, in deed, because this time around I am getting what I am reading.  Jaw dropping that causes my curiosity to peak, what will my students have to say about this book. 
They have much to say.  Crazy, incomprehensible (my word, not theirs).  Lady MacBeth is EVIL! Crazy!  Psycho! 
To which, I have to agree. 
I never remember reading this in MacBeth before:

"I have given suck, and know
How tender 'tis to love the babe that milks me:
I would, while it was smiling in my face,
Have pluck'd my nipple from his boneless gums,
And dash'd the brains out,"

WHAT ????

I was completely into the story anticipating the murder of King Duncan and then I read the above.  Shock rippled through me and I laughed.  I know I have read the story.  So many of the lines are familiar.  I even remember my awkwardness when reading some of the passages.  But this one, somehow escaped me.  It did not escape my students.

But the highlight of the week's reading....Hurlyburly
as in, "When the hurlyburly's done,"
Isn't that such a fun word, especially, in light of Lady MacBeth dashing a baby's brains out. 
Hurlyburly, meaning uproar or tumolt

My kids are in the midst of a hurlyburly.  :)
No more hurlyburly! !