Why?

Some many wonder why in the heck we went with the car we did. My sister even called and told me she would pretty much disown me if we bought the Flex. Well...we did it. Can I still be your sister? Will you still claim me when you see me pull up in this car? Can I still be friends with you minivan moms?? We did look at a minivan again last night before we made out final decision. We looked at the used Odyssey, and with the interest rate they were willing to give us, and the price and the taxes and fees, with no incentives, it was nearly the same price as a brand new Flex, or even a brand new VW Routan, so we didn't think that was worth it. We could have gotten the Routan for about the same price as the Flex. They were having a good incentive that you got a rebate, but the incentives and the bells and whistles that the Ford place had pretty much took the cake. Not only did we get a smokin deal, we have navigation, a very well built interior, more room, and mood lighting! The Routan didn't feel as nice. It felt a little cheaper than what I would expect from a Volkswagon. It was very nice, however. Very roomy. But we went with the Flex...it seemed a cooler car, I guess! I was ready to do the minivan thing, but the prices and payments just favored the Flex. You do what you got to do, right? I am happy with it. Although, I nearly passed out and threw up as we signed the papers. I have never made such a big purchase in my life. It was scary. In the state of California there is no "cool off" period. We're stuck with it now. But I like it. And I think we'll be making a road trip here in the near future. We have to try it out!! We would love to go to Seattle...however, my cousin is getting married in Salt Lake, I think we'll try for that!

So, if you can get past the look of the Ford Flex {I like it, but I think it's a really like it, or really hate it kind of car}, it really is a cool car, and very well built. Good job, Ford. {I never thought I'd say that!}

We did it.

We went with the mood lighting...

Ford?

I love my car. I won't take a picture of it right now, because I don't want to admit that it's very dirty, there are stickers on about every window, and there is drawing on the back windows {it will come off, it is with a "window marker"...don't worry}. But I will just TELL you about it! It's better to tell than to see it! But, I drive a navy blue 2006 Honda Accord, with dark tinted windows, and love it. We bought it just over a year and a half ago, I guess we weren't anticipating the birth of another child so soon! Our Jeep Cherokee went kaput on us, so we HAD to buy a new car, and at the time, we did not want to "sell out" and get a minivan, and the gas prices were skyrocketing, so the Accord was our best option. Yes, we didn't really look at anything else. I knew what I wanted, and we got it. It was a good deal.

And then Jacob was born. Having three children in carseats really dampens your style. Yes, we do fit. Everyone has a seatbelt. But, Noah sits in the front. Which, is actually preferable for me. I can sit by the baby and he doesn't get attacked by his siblings, and I can pump bottles and fee him on long trips, as was evident on our recent trip to Seattle, we shed a lot of time off of a potentially LONGER drive. But "fit" was just it. We barely fit in the car. Our trunk was filled to the max, there was little to no room to move around and get comfortable. The position I was in, was the position I was in when we got there. The kids are in carseats, so really, it doesn't matter if they have the extra room or not, because they are already confined. But, they didn't have much extra room for their things, or easy access to anything, and I couldn't help out much since the Jacob's car seat is giant, and I can't reach around it much. Like a can of sardines, we did make it to and from Seattle. So, it's inevitable...we need a bigger car.

My sister and brother in law just bought a minivan. They took the plunge first on my side of the family. My parents never owned a minivan, they had four kids, we did just fine. But, they didn't have as strict of car seat laws back in those days. So, Alison was the first. And they love it. It's spacious, leather, and a DVD player. And I'll admit, I was a little jealous as I was sitting, crammed in the back seat, that Alison would be driving in luxury on her next trip. And that is when I starting thinking more about it. At first I was fine with my little Accord. It's like the Christensen clown car, we just keep coming out of it. But, when I really think about it, we need a bigger car. Not only for us, but for when we have family in town. We just need extra space for the grandparents to visit. But, can I do a minivan? I've tried talking myself into it, and I just don't know if I can fit the "minivan mom" mold. Can I? We haven't driven many. We did take a drive in the VW Routan last night. I just feel so old in it! I looked over at Adam driving it, and realized how old my husband is! {haha...he'll always be 5 years older than me, so I can say that!} A few days ago we looked at this:


The 2009 Ford Flex. It seats 7, and is Ford's alternative to the minivan. In fact, they are no longer making minivans because they couldn't ever get theirs just right. So, they are making this instead. It take a little bit to get used to the idea of the body style But, now I kind of like it. It would make me feel like a "hipper" mom. It looks a little more along Adam's style as well. The first thing I asked the salesman was what he "felt" about this car. He said, "I admit, I didn't like it when I first saw it. Then I drove it, and now I love it." And it does have a nice ride. Another added plus is all the bells and whistles. It had leather, navigation, power everything, mood lighting {because we all need that right?}, like 4 different sun/moon roofs, and just about everything. They are going to give a steal of a deal for it since it was the dealer demo car, so it has a few miles on it, so we're getting pretty much a brand new car at a cheaper price, but with all the new car incentives. But, here is the big question. Should we get a Ford? I really want to know you opinion on a Ford. The guy told us that Ford did have it's downfall about 10 years ago when the cars were having problems, but they have improved. Like Honda they have come out with a Service Plan, which helps you to know when and what needs serviced on your car before it becomes a bigger problem. Is the phrase "If you take care of your car, it will take care of you" legit? Can we actually like an American made car? What is your opinion? We love the car. The kids love it. It's a good deal...more than we are paying now, but it's really inevitable when you look at bigger cars anyway. If we went used, we'd have a higher interest rate on the loan. Oh, the joys of car buying.

But really...Ford? What do you think?

4 months.

Better late than never, right? Jacob has surpassed the Christensen record in weight. Weighing in at 20 pounds 12 ounces and measuring 26 3/4" long, he is definately our biggest! Macie was only 16 pounds at 4 months, I believe. Just look at the pictures. Macie still has impressive thigh action and many many rolls, but Jacob is built tough...very thick and solid. Macie, however was in a size 4 diaper already. Jacob is still in a 3. Maybe girls just have bigger bums. Poor Noah, he still looks so tiny in comparison.

But, at 4 months, Jakey is getting teeth and chewing on everything he can. One is almost through. Yay. He rolled from his back to his belly last Sunday. He hasn't done it again, however. Fluke, maybe? He sleeps pretty much all night, if I hold him. He talks and giggles ALL of the time. Even in his most upsetting times, he'll give the best smiles! He's overall, a VERY good baby. And for that, we are very grateful.

Long winded...

I'm sorry for the two previous posts. They are very long. We just have a lot of say, I guess. But, if you know us, you already know that anyway. If you don't read them...don't worry, we understand! ;-)

A Seattlite's Second Opinion

For my credentials as being a Seattlite, this fourth generationer will state only that we came straight from Norway and indeed, my Grandpa was a Captain on the Bremerton to Seattle Ferry Boat, and yes, I once owned a pair of Birkenstock's. I don't feel it necessary to admit whether I wore them with socks on. My Scandinavian roots are more then a sufficient admission.

Emmett Watson, a popular Seattle Times columnist started the influential "Keep the Bastards Out" (KBO) organization, whose aim was summed up in a cartoon that featured a bridge presumably over the Columbia river, with a "Welcome to Washington" sign and an exit on the bridge that read "California Residents Use This Lane" that came to an abrupt stop over the water. I bring this up for a bit of education to those outside Washington. During the 80's I saw my little hometown north of Seattle (Edmonds, of which we didn't have a palatial mansion or a view or anything) turn from a small town with a ferry dock, into a thriving mecca for retirement condos. I've even seen as late that the local swimming pool I grew up next to, and whose woods I mountain biked in about everyday after school, is now in threat of being closed - no business. Perhaps it has something to do with the economy, but I think it's because there aren't traditional families with children to swim there anymore. It's too expensive, so the opportunity for living there can be had only at the price of a dual income and no kids. When the demographic of Edmonds is the retireds and yuppies, perhaps they should open it up as a "Doggy" pool, their profits would sky-rocket! Emmett was right about this much, the growth has really changed the landscape for the worse.

Well perhaps Emmett, now deceased, is laughing in his grave for what has happened to the Emerald City, but I'm afraid the scar tissue is marred and grafted back with a good dose of collagen and implants. On an impromptu trip to visit my Parents, now living in Lynnwood, we were excited that, despite our fears, my Father was able to play tourist with my family (now not just a term my siblings know all to well when Disneyland just wasn't an option for the summer...).

We had a great time, absolutely one of the greatest vacations I've ever had, but the irony of Seattlites snobbery really made me laugh. Because the damage is done, and because we are currently residents of California, I will bastardize myself for a minute, and tell you some secrets of Seattle we hold dear, that makes us unique and defensive of our urban culture. You won't be able to keep this bastard out, I'd love the opportunity to move back one day, and perhaps my nomadic occupation might permit.

Secret #1 - you'll never experience it, you might be able to see the reruns, but for longest time Seattle had their own "Saturday Night Live" that would come on at 11:30 pm on Saturday's before SNL. You could even see the live tapings for free (which I was able to do once). For an education of the many (accidental-pop) cultures that exist, there was no greater source.

We laughed at the weird Ballardinians that were not too far (geographically and um politically) from the Fremonts (not to be confused with the Native Americans, these are more of the Bohemian Americans). We poked fun at the Bellevuians (the rich snobby type) being so close to the Kentians (I should be careful what I say here, I have a sister who now lives there!) only separated from the twixt Rentonians, who were a confused bunch, part money and part Nascar crowd. I don't remember them ever making fun of Edmonds, but nearby Lynnwood was a favorite butt of the joke with girls' big bangs and hair. They made fun of the "lazy B" (A.K.A.: Boeing) and the espresso stands that dotted the land like a herd of wild Buffalo.

Long live John Keister and the rest of them, who despite their best efforts were not able to make "Louie Louie" our state song. BTW - this is where "Bill Nye the Science Guy" came from. Really there is no distinction of my recent feelings of irony as of late, just a little education.

Secret #2 - Seattle has a Troll, but don't tell anyone. If you're on I-5, go west from the 45th Street Exit (North of Seattle - parallels UW; stop by Dick's Burgers and order a Dick's Deluxe, if Cheese is sticking to the wrapper, you know you've caught a good one!) until you hit "Fremont" street and go south for a few minutes (we measure distance in time)until you almost get to the water, then take a left and under the bridge you will see the Troll that, this Halloween,will mark 20 years of protecting the Aurora Bridge. I'm not sure if this is really a secret, or if we think we're cooler for having it, but the faces of contempt for everyone was as if to say "you tourist slime". So a secret? Not really, but prepare yourself for the evil eye from some beatniks that are cooler then you, elitist tree-huggers, which brings me to my next secret which I never knew until I came to Seattle as a Californian Tourist...

Secret #3 - Seattle, especially the Fremont/Ballard area, is, um Left to the point they have a giant statue of Lenin in their downtown. No, I don't expect to see a statue of Adam Smith in every major city, and I'm grateful for a little leftist education that we were indoctrinated with from teachers who are more then likely still into "expanding their minds". It even helped me be more open when in College, an economics teacher told a group of conservatives that without a little Keynesian sprinkling of socialism, through Government intervention/spending and deficit making, a purely Capitalistic society will not survive. (Enter our historical lessons learned from the Great Depression, but combated against by our current situation of over-doing Government control - all roads lead to greed, right?) Was Lenin right in a few Utopian concepts? Well, this is a whole other topic, and hey, I'm making fun of Seattle right? So the irony with the statue is that nowhere else in America, other then Seattle, could one find a 16 foot statue of Lenin, the father of Communism.

Secret #4 - Only buy Salmon fresh and never buy it if it's farmed, but most importantly do not think for an instant that a fish that get's thrown around (as you've seen the commercials) somehow tenderizes it like a mallet does to a steak, it ruins it - and don't believe the hype when you see the guys on TV and think this is where all Seattlites buy fish. Any local grocery store in the Northwest will have fresh fish, simply ask them what days of the week they get deliveries. That said, I had Halibut at least once a week, and when we had Salmon, it was like Christmas. Heck, we barbeque our Salmon in the Northwest!

Secret #5 - Now that I'm talking a little about Pike Place Market, here is where I got the original "outsiders" observation that inspired this blog: after leaving "Pike" I threw out to my Parents and Lindsay that Seattle really has a funny slant and disdain for anyone not from Seattle. Sure it's Pike Place Market, and I still get annoyed with everyone who stops to watch the flying fish and pay way too much for it just for a photo, but I concluded that perhaps with such a heightened climate, the Seattle snobs really come out in personality, amongst total strangers. Lindsay concurred citing that she had heard people over emphasizing that the vegetables they were buying were going into their dinner at their (overemphasized) "HOME" and that they had their Pike Place Market bags et all. Well here is my opinion of that in a blog segment I like to call "Really?!"-

Really? Your going to your "HOME" huh, and where would that be, in a crappy Apartment on 3rd and Virginia? Yea right, your home probably resembles my upbringing, safely tucked into the suburbs where your only seafood is a frozen Jenny Craig meal that has freezer burn.

Really?! This is where you do all your shopping? You probably live a few blocks from a grocery store where you don't have to pay $10 to park at either, and your real Seattle snobbery comes solely from the fact that you've lived there long enough to remember the Rainier Beer commercials.

Really? You think your hip for buying those vegetables from the guy who sports piercings on his eye lids? Little do you know he thinks your a tourist too.

Really? Your overemphasizing shows how phony a "true" Seattlite can get, when, placed in a circumstance that shows outsiders how cool a City can be that can still maintain a public market amidst seasoned urban growth, you have to show that we can still be jerks as well. At least your recycling with your $20 hemp sewn grocery bag with "Pike Place Market" silk screened on the side.

Please don't get me wrong, I love Seattle. It is my home. Yes, I might be a traitor on some weird level for living in California. But hey, it's not L.A. and despite what Washingtonians think, there are other green places on the coast. Here in Santa Maria, it's so green it's neon green! If your so Seattle, go live in Forks with Edward or something, and I dare you to tell why we don't vacation on the Peninsula. It's too rainy.

But do go visit Seattle, and here's some clues to two great secret destinations I won't give away so whimsically:

Clue #1 - Seattle makes some great mini donuts just footsteps from some flying fish of the not Seattle-locks persuasion.

Clue #2 - There's a Cuban restaurant without a marque in the Fremont district that serves up the best Chicken sandwich I've ever had - it's on the way to the troll, and the line is always out the door, but you'll be surprised how big the door is.

Long live Emmett Watson!

Here it goes...

{disclaimer: this is a very very long post. I didn't think Adam was going to post a novel prior to mine, so I'm sorry for all of the writing. I know you just like the pictures, right? Well...there are those too, but there are lots and lots of words as well.} Are you ready for this? I don't know if you are. I'm going to do just one big ol' post, rather than lots of little ones. That way you get to have the pleasure of seeing it all, and not being confused. It's been a while. Three whole weeks. A lot has happened in those three weeks.

PHASE 1
Toward the end of March, Adam received an e-mail from his mother. His dad, Bryan had been in the hospital, and his numbers weren't the best. He hasn't had the best medical luck for a while. He did, however, receive a kidney transplant in January of 2007. Which has been such a blessing. He had been going to dialysis twice a week for like 4 hours at a time, and that isn't fun. Who enjoys that? We lived with them for a summer, and I learned very quickly how to read the door opening and closing after he returned from a dialysis session. There was a definite difference in the good days versus the bad days. So, the transplant was greatly needed and very welcomed. He also suffers from diabetes, among other things. Let's just say I think he takes more pills in a day that I have taken in my entire life! {well...probably not, but there are a lot!} But...back to the e-mail from Adam's mom, Carol...the e-mail just told of the unfortunate event of the hospital visit. He had been no stranger to the hospital, and had been there many times within a very short amount of time. This doesn't bring out the best in people, and it isn't the most pleasant time. So, Carol just really explained what was going on, and asked to call him every so often to help lift his spirits. The doctors were going to be putting him on a new medication that they had hoped would help him out. But, hearing so many bad things and reading that his health was taking a turn for the worst with not much hope that it would turn back around, we both decided that we needed to make a trip up to Seattle. We decided one day, and a week later, we were on the road. We had planned to come in June, but this seemed much more important, and we didn't think we should wait any longer.

Adam asked for the time off of work, and they really couldn't say no. So, we left. I usually sit in the back seat with Jacob, and Noah sits in the front. We do pretty well with three kids in a Honda Accord. The first night we stopped in Medford, OR. It took us a little longer than expected, however. Macie threw up a few times, which isn't fun. And we had to stop for food. {we stopped at Taco Bell, by the way. And I am NEVER eating there again. I know that it was a Taco Bell in random who knows where in the middle of nowhere land California, bu there was a cockroach. Who knows if it was just that one that has them...but maybe it was transported in the food or something. And for that reason alone, I am not eating at Taco Bell again...} As soon as we stopped at the hotel, the kids were wide awake. Especially Jacob. Noah and Macie eventually went to sleep, but Jacob decided to stay awake until around 3. And he was so cute. It made Adam and I mad that he was being so cute. We wanted to be mad at him for not going to sleep, but he was cooing and laughing...it made for a LONG night. In the morning, we were able to swim for a bit. Jacob LOVED it.


Fortunately, we were able to leave for Seattle around 9:30. I had a terrible sinus/cold thing, and was miserable, but we made it. We got in around 6ish. The Kim and Geoff and the girls were there to greet us as well. It was great. We used to see them everyday when we were both in Rexburg. Oh, those were the days. It was so fun to see the girls, and spend time with the whole family. We got to watch Conference on Saturday and Sunday with the Christensen/Schwiermann family, and what we were able to actually hear was great. I still need to rewatch it all. Maybe when things slow down here!


But, our trip was not anything that we expected it to be. Sadly, we left our house thinking that this would be one of the last with Bryan. That is not what we left Seattle thinking. We were able to do so many more things with Bryan than we ever have. There were no hospital visits, no 911 calls, no scares...just a lot of fun! We did quite a bit. One night we were able to go down to the temple. Carol is an ordinance worker on Wednesday evenings, so we went down with her. I did a session and then drove the kids home, and Adam stayed behind and did a session and waited until it was time for Carol to come home. It was a good time. We went to Edmonds Beach. We went to Meadowdale Beach. We went to Paseo's, which is probably the best place to eat ever. They have the best Chicken sandwiches ever. I think they are Cuban. Oh, so good. We went to Pike Place Market and ate the best donuts and bought the ingredients for Stone Soup {we didn't actually make the soup, but Noah had fun getting the stuff for it!} We were able to spend lots of time together with Adam's parents. It was fun. We ate teriyaki twice. I don't know what it is, but the teriyaki in Seattle tastes the best. We're still trying to figure out why it doesn't taste the same here in California. We saw the troll under the bridge. And the Easter Bunny even found Noah and Macie and left them with lots of candy and toys! We even got to see the Shuler cousins for a little bit. They unexpectedly stopped by on Saturday before Easter. It was fun and Noah LOVED playing with the boy cousins.


We are very glad that the medicine is working for Bryan. The doctors also changed his insulin schedule, which is helping out tremendously as well. We are grateful for the time we were able to spend with Bryan and Carol in Seattle. We look forward to many many more visits with them. Did I mention that the new medicine is a Canadian drug? Gotta love Canadian drugs! ;-) Thanks for the great visit!!

PHASE 2
We made it home on Monday the 13th. My sister, Erin, was scheduled to fly into the Orange County airport on the 15th. My cousin Kyle was getting married in Chino Hills, so she flew in for that, and to see baby Jacob. So, I had enough time on Tuesday to unpack the cold weather clothes, do laundry, and then pack up the warm weather clothes. We were going to be gone for an entire week, and wouldn't have the convenience of laundry. And...I had to pack the big double stroller. We were going to also go to Disneyland on Monday, after the wedding. The car was pretty packed. There was just enough room for Erin's stuff. I left on Wednesday morning at 7 to give myself enough time with traffic and things to pick Erin up at the airport by 12. We were almost there. It was around 10:30. I thought we'd have time to go to IKEA or something while we waited. Jacob was screaming because he was overdue for a feeding. So, I kept telling myself that I had 7 more miles until the IKEA exit. And then I heard the dreaded noise. The noise of a tire popping. But, it couldn't be MY tire. That just doesn't happen. So I kept driving. It just HAD to be someone else. Nope. My car sounded like an airplane. I freaked out. And immediately cried. Here I am, alone with my 3 kids, on the 405 ...5 lanes of traffic, right at an interchange. TONS of traffic, and I have a flat tire. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't get a hold of Adam. So I called my Mom. I knew she couldn't do anything, but she may be able to console me. She was with my Aunt Laura who used to live in California. She said that she thought the Highway Patrol came by every so often. Well...I was there for over an hour and half, and there were no Highway Patrol's going by. BUT...before I waited there too long, just after I got off the phone with my mom, I had an idea to call our friend Tim. I knew he'd be at work, and probably couldn't help me, but he could probably give me an idea. He did. He called his wife, Anniece, and she drove to meet me on the freeway and called AAA, and they came and changed the tire and we were on our way. It looked pretty easy, but I was a little overwhelmed with 3 little ones.

And, yes, we were late picking up Erin at the airport. After getting her and a new tire, we spent the day in Newport Beach, eating at Daphne's Greek Cafe, devouring Sprinkles cupcakes and enduring a windy beach trip! It was a fun day after all. My kids were so excited to see Aunt E and she was so excited to see them. I think she held Jacob about 90% of the time she was here. The other 10 he was eating!

The next day, Mom and Cory and the rest of the gang got into town. We didn't see much of the others, they had Wedding rehearsals and such, but we were able to see Momo and Cory, that was fun. Erin, the kids, and myself decided to head to LA one day, and it was an experience. LA always is. Lots and lots of traffic. We stopped at a Taco Bell {for the kids...remember, I'm not eating there again.} and it was just off the Crenshaw exit. What ever you have heard about Crenshaw, is probably true. Not the best place. We walked in, and not only did we stick out like a sore thumb amongst the sea of black people, the Taco Bell workers were behind glass and you had to pay to use the bathroom. We turned right around. Call me a chicken, but I was scared to death. That night we had a bonfire at the beach with the Alldredge clan...it was a lot of fun! We even roasted hot dogs with bamboo sticks. {pictures to come...}

And then that brings us to the wedding. My cousin Kyle and his lovely Stephanie were married on Saturday in Chino Hills. It was an amazing set up. They had it at Stephanie's brother's house. It was a gorgeous backyard. And Stephanie was, of course, gorgeous as well. I regret that I don't have any pictures of the wedding, however. I thought I had lost my camera. I was so upset, but then soon after returning to the hotel was very embarrassed that it was just in the bottom of the diaper bag. Those dang diaper bags. I'll update them as soon as someone makes me a CD of their pictures. It was fun, though, to see so many family members. Jacob got to meet his great grandparents, and they loved him. Noah and Macie couldn't wait to see their Great Grandpa and Great Grandma, Myrt. They were SO excited. It was funny at the wedding someone made the comment, "Poor girl, she has three kids and no husband." Sad. One of these days Adam will get to go with me somewhere! Jacob was quite the hit at the wedding. He's just so cute! Macie was excited to the see the princess {or Stephanie}! It was very cute. I'm glad we were all able to be together for the wedding. It was a way fun time that ended too quickly.

PHASE 3
Yeah, we were gone for a VERY long time! On Sunday, everyone left. We dropped Erin off at the Airport, and headed to Anaheim. Mom and Cory were already at Disneyland, but me and the kids couldn't go yet. With our passes, we were blocked out until the next day, due to Spring Breaks and things. Which was probably a good thing. It was like 105 degrees. It didn't get any better the next two days, however. It was a scorcher. But not busy, so it was fun. The kids had their moments, they really wanted their Daddy. At this point in the game, I really wanted their daddy too. There is a reason I'm not a single mother. And this trip away from him for a week reaffirmed that! I love you, Adam. You really do do a lot!! ;-) But, Disneyland was fun. A little hot, like I said, but still fun. Macie was so excited to see Minnie. She talked about it for weeks. Even in the line she could hardly contain herself. And then as soon as we got up there, she froze. She hated Minnie. It was pretty funny. That Macie is a brave girl. She loves the Matterhorn. She is about two inches too short for everything, but can't wait to go on the big rides! Noah is getting scared of them. It's kind of sad. Jacob was a trooper. He cried maybe once. And he was teething. He's such a good baby!!



And then Wednesday was time for us to trek back so we could see Adam, and Mom and Cory could travel to St. George for another cousin's wedding. My cousin Megan and Blake were married on Thursday in St. George. I wasn't able to make it for their wedding. Sorry, guys. I hear it was a beautiful reception and seemed perfect. I'm sure it was!

We did make it home, and Macie and Noah were so glad to see their stuff. It was all new to them again. It was fun to be with family for so long, but so good to be home and sleeping in our own beds with a better attempt at our "normal routine". Three weeks is a bit long to be away from home. Luckily, we still have heat, electricity, water and cable...all the bills were paid! And now we can focus on other things...like this blog, maybe!

Oh my goodness.

Yes...we are still alive! It's been like 3 weeks. We've done a lot in those three weeks. I'm still working on putting the pictures on my computer. Apparently I have taken way too many pictures in the life of our poor computer. It's filled to it's max. I'm hoping it really isn't it's max, but that's what it is telling me. I think I need the technical support of my husband. So until then, I'll just leave you in suspense of wondering what we have been doing! Because I know that you all care, and that SO many people check my blog daily just waiting for a new post, huh? Good things take time...

$2.46

{This post was edited. I was so excited to share my great deal, I kind of forgot the best part of the story...the reason why I was telling you that Macie was sick...}

Who doesn't love a good deal?? I LIVE for good deals. Today, I needed a good deal.

Macie woke up sick this morning. Throwing up all over our bed. She didn't have a fever, I thought it was a fluke thing, and gave her breakfast. Not such a good idea. She threw up EVERYWHERE. In the living room, the toy room, her bedroom, her car seat...pretty much everywhere. We even missed storytime, she would have to be pretty sick to miss that. She loves storytime! Poor girl, but since she was throwing up so much, I thought I should go get her some Pedialyte, to avoid dehydration. We got in the car for the second attempt, and she was fine. We made it to Target, and things were going well. We were in the pedialyte isle, which is right next to a clearance section. I grabbed the pedialyte and glanced at the clearance stuff. I spotted some nursing pads, marked down to $1.24 from $6.99. So I got a few...but that wasn't the best deal I found. There was an online return sticker on a Hotslings sling marked fown to $2.46! And, the best thing was, it was my size.

I've mentioned MANY MANY times how big Jacob is. I can't carry him in the Bjorn, because it KILLS me. The sling I used to Macie is too small for his chubby self, and it is pretty girly. I put this new cheap sling on and he fits. Quite comfortably, actually. I'm excited to use it and see if it will help in any way!! I love Target.

But, Target doesn't love me. I didn't have a screaming child, no one ran away or got lost, but we did hear

"Attention Target employees, we need janitorial assistance in Department 5 {I don't know the exact number they used.}"

"Janitorial assistance" is the nice term for, a child just puked by the diapers. Yes, Macie threw up everywhere. Well, just on herself, the car and the floor...not the merchandise, thank goodness! I've had too many interesting experiences at Target, but it just means I love it so much that I have to keep going back...

Carts.

I have a very BIG pet peeve about shopping carts. It bugs me to no end when I see carts just left randomly around the parking lot. They have cart return places for a reason! And, what makes it worse, is when I see people who are alone, no kids...they take their stuff out of the cart, and just set it to the side and leave it there. That cart could hit my car...that's not cool. I, on the otherhand, usually have at least one screaming child, and two others, but I will ALWAYS take the cart back to it's designated area, no matter how far away it is. I'm not bragging by any means...it's just common courtesy. I mean, come on...how hard is it really? What makes me the most upset about it, is when there is a shopping cart in the parking spot that I want to go into, which is usually very near the cart drop off place. Not only is it in the parking spot, but the thing is RIGHT THERE! I usually end up taking multiple carts back the corral thing. Yes, I do not work for them. And I know people get paid that could do it, but they put those cart places in the parking lots so people will use them, so why don't they? Anyway...enough rambling. But, think twice next time before you leave your cart randomly somewhere. Your car could be next...