I do not like it when...

. . .people call and assume I have caller ID and I know who they are...I can't stand it! I feel so phony when I'm faking being nice while trying to figure it out while not wanting to be rude and admitting I don't know THEIR voice even though I don't know who THEY are. I just had a phone call that I swear it sounded exactly like one of my friends from way back and I got all excited, but then they asked about something in the ward, so I knew they were from my ward, but I hung up not even knowing who I had spoken to. Oh well, I answered their questions.

So the moral of the story is, not every one has caller ID...please just say "Hey, it's so and so..." I love talking on the phone, and I feel as though gabbing to old friends is a talent of mine, but it's a much more genuine response if I know who it is when I'm talking on the phone. So go ahead and call anytime, just let me know who I'm talking to...please.

Did you know...

that there is a redbox in town? It's at Dismores. Once I found out there was a Redbox near me I was SO excited - I hate paying $4.99 to rent a movie at Blockbuster and I don't want to lock myself into any monthly committment either because sometimes we just don't have time to watch movies. With Redbox it's just $1/day and I love it...and now I love it even more because each Monday there is a promo code for a FREE rental! I'll post the free code for today, but it expires it at midnight. If you're interested in the code each week just let me know. I'm all about a deal! Here is the info...

Redbox Code 12/15/08

Redbox distributes a code every Monday that you can use for 1 free rental. The code expires tonight at midnight.

The code for today is: 47J2L8

To use the code, do the following: on the first screen select "Rent With Promo, enter the code, choose your movie and swipe your debit or credit card (this is in case you don't bring the movie back. They will put a $1 charge on your card to hold the movie, but if you return the movie by 9 pm the next day, the charge will be removed).

You can use 1 code for each debit/credit card that you have, so to rent multiple movies, just do the above process with each card.

To find the nearest Redbox, click here.

Stage 1: The Envelope Stage

Being on the very tight budget and with our student loans looming over our heads I have finally decided to start using coupons. I have thought of doing this for years, but have never really understood how? So I found some blogs...The internet is so amazing isn't it? Anyhow it's kind of exciting, BUT it's amazing how crazy some people go!!! Like this for instance. . .Am I way off base to think that I can't imagine carrying THIS into Safeway? I bet her weekly budget for groceries is like $20, and she probably manages. Maybe one day I'll get to this point, who knows, but for now I can't imagine. I'm still at Stage One: The Envelope Stage.

Do any of you go crazy over coupons? I excited to see this start working, and reducing our grocery budget. Some of my favorite blogs I check regarding coupons are:

http://frugalisfab.blogspot.com/
http://saving4myfamily.blogspot.com/
http://www.moneysavingmom.com/

November 2008

I have started this post so many times, but then I don't finish, and it times out, and so I start over, but don't finish, and then it times out...you get the idea.

Lucy had her birthday party on the Saturday after her birthday. Since we have a very small home we just invited her closest friends that are her age. All of her Aunties, Uncles, Cousins and Grandparents were very generous and kind! A birthday party is always good fun. I made my favorite lasagna dish and the traditional Mower Birthday cake...Yumm! It was a great time.

Oh Lucy gave me a great gift for her birthday - she potty trained herself. A long time ago my friend Amy Harper was asking another friend Jenny about how to best potty train her daughter. Jenny said "Wait till their three!" I have have given little attempts at potty training but kind of held onto that information. Once Lucy turned three I would work on getting her potty trained. Well, the day after she turned three she wanted nothing to do with diapers and would only wear panties. She had 5 accidents total and 4 of them were all within an hour and a half when it was just Daddy at home?!?!?!? I don't know what happened! She still wears pull-ups at night time, but their dry in the mornings. Have I mentioned that I have a perfect child?

Oh I had another proud moment recently too...At our craft day at church we had a great lunch and we were using cups from McDonalds for our drinks. Lucy pointed to Ronald McDonald and asked “Who’s that?” I was so proud that she had no idea who Ronal McDonald is. I know it’s silly, but hey, I take pride in the little things. I guess I'm a little proud of the Mom I am too when my daughter doesn't know what McDonalds is. Of coarse the exception is her little friend Claire who spent a month at the Ronald McDonald house visiting her preemie baby sister in the hospital, but lets hope that we never have to take advantage of the hospitality of the Ronald McDonald's House.

TOYOTA: Moving Forward

I have many things to blog about BUT, Nick is at work so I can't download any pictures off the camera...Yes, you heard right, Nick is at WORK! Most of you know that we have been trying to find a job here in Pullman - no easy task. It's a small University town, and the University is on a hiring freeze.

We have been very blessed though with a job at James Toyota. If you're not currently living in Pullman then you don't know how beautiful this dealership is! They had a dealership in Moscow for many years, but have been building this new site and it just opened a couple weeks ago on the Moscow Pullman Highway.

If you haven't had a chance to go see all the beautiful cars - then do it! I mean who wouldn't WANT a new TOYOTA!! I love that Nick is selling something that we totally believe in. I have always loved Subaru's and Toyota's. I'm waiting for him to do well enough that I can get my dream car - a LAND CRUISER - Aahhh... A new one, an old one, one of each? Please??

So if you want/need a car whether it's new or old, trade in or not...
Go see Nick.
He's the nicest guy in the world, and he'll treat you well.

I'm so proud of you honey!!

Happy Birthday to my Sweet Thing

Today is Lucy’s birthday BUT we’re having a small party on Saturday so we’ll have the BIG celebrations then. I’ll post pictures and a birthday blog when she gets her yummy traditional Mower Birthday Cake and gets to open her presents. We had her open one present today, which was a Belle Dress. Of coarse she hasn’t wanted to take if off since then. I wouldn’t let her nap in it, but she wanted it NEXT to her while she was napping – too cute.

In ways I can’t believe it’s been 3 years, and in other ways I can’t believe it’s ONLY been 3 years. Lucy is one of the snuggliest, cuddliest little girls around. She’ll just kiss and hug on Nick & I until her heart is content, and we don’t mind one bit! I just can’t even imagine my life without her in it. I love, love, love her! Happy Birthday Sweet Thing!

Welcome Fall

Lucy & her best friend Claire - two cute ballerina's

& Lailie the chicken

I can’t believe I haven’t posted pictures of Halloween yet – I mean does anyone even care anymore? Lucy & her (best) friend Claire were both ballerina’s and were A-DOR-ABLE! Seriously! My sister Amanda had come down from B.C. to spend the holiday with us and it was so nice to have her here. She certainly spoiled little Lucy for her birthday with a ton of really cute clothes! Most of the outfits she bought Lucy I want in my size, they are so comfy cozy! Thank you Auntie Amanda, we love you and miss you!

Lucy & Auntie Amanda

my sister & I

Lucy in her new dress from Auntie - one of my favorite pics of Lucy

Oh, Another first for me happened recently…I canned without my Aunt Sonya!! I know this may not be a big deal for many of you, but it is for me. I have canned most summers for as long as I can remember, but I've never done it without my Aunt. My Aunt is a serious canner…she cans everything! If you think you have your serious canner in your family, double their obsession, and that’s my Aunt! Her life revolves around canning and genealogy, and nothing else. I had acquired 2 boxes of yummy apples (thank you Matt) and knew we had to make applesauce. I basically know how to do canning, but I’ve never felt confident doing it without my Aunt to tell me what to do. I asked my best girlfriend here in Pullman to do it with me, she’d never canned either. So we borrowed what we needed (thank you to Rachel Ritter!) and I brought all my jars & lids and Bekie & I CANNED apple sauce. It is so yummy too – I love it!! The experience actually helped me realize that I really do know what I’m doing. Bekie was a great canning partner and I can’t wait to get a good start next year.

Nothing like welcoming fall with fresh homemade applesauce.

Goodbye Summer, We'll miss you. See you next year.