Nerd Convention

Last week was the annual Nerd Convention at the elementary school. Nerd Convention you say? AKA--Science Fair. I can call it the Nerd Convention because my kid was there. And he's a Nerd. And all the other kids, his friends, are nerds too. But that's okay with me. I am most grateful to have a nerd child and sincerely hope that my other children will be nerds too. It's an easy life for a mother--and I like the easy way!

This year, they decided to make the kids do the entire project by themselves--which I think is great and a big relief for us lazy nerd mothers. And I was surprised and proud of the great job Andrew did. Who knew that the seven year old I coddle almost continually, was capable of putting together such a nice presentation? Well, now I know and I shall put that knowledge to good use.

I got this great shot of Andrew in front of his project. Doesn't he look thrilled to be there?

"Hurry up Mom. Take the stupid picture so we can show Dad what he missed. It's 6:10 and I'm late for soccer practice. I've already been at this school for 8 hours today. And people keep walking by and smiling while I pose for this stupid picture. And...what's that smell???.....Oh, that's me....come on, let's get out of here!"

Deep Thoughts...

How to properly get lost

We spent our weekend in Tennessee, because we really needed to get away from the grind. I honestly can't remember the last time we left town for the weekend. It's been too long. Anywho, we went to Chattanooga  Friday night and stayed in the Choo Choo hotel- the kids loved it and our trip was too last minute to find a camping spot.

We had planned Saturday to drive to the middle of nowhere and hike into a cave. Unfortunately, when we arrived at the state park, the old, rather crotchety, lady said we could hike to the cave, but we couldn't go in because people were disturbing the bats that live there. She gave us some crappy maps, and some awful directions and sent us on our way.
An hour later we pulled over at some hole in the wall convenience store and attempted to ask directions from the local rednecks. I couldn't understand a word they were saying other than, "we ain't never heard a that befo." and "y'all most to McMinville."  We called the state park back, and Colonel Mustard was chastised by the crotchety park ranger-- "You can't go in those caves- I told you that you can't go in there." Finally, she informed us that we had driven an hour in the wrong direction. Yeah for us!
Now we were an hour out of our way, somewhere between BeerSheeba Springs and McMinville (wherever that is) and it was already lunch time. So, we did what any redneck family of five stuffed into a Honda accord would do.
First, I told Colonel Mustard "I told you so," and "we drove all the way out here for nothing." And he replied, "whatever," and didn't say anymore because he knows that being silent annoys me more than anything. Then we drove up the road about a mile, at which point I expressed that he'd better pull over and let me drive, cause I couldn't sit in the passenger seat through that windy mountain road again without tossing my cookies. Then we looked on the map and decided we could salvage our day by going to some of the nearest outdoor attractions and hoping they weren't lame.

And lame they weren't. I do believe that I would be happy to be lost in Tennessee anytime. 

Picture taking- hanging off a cliff at the Stone Door.

The Stone Door. Narrow steep staircase between rock cliffs- very cool.

Greeter Falls (upper Falls)

Greeter Falls (Lower Falls)

Foster Falls

Bridge to Foster Falls

Pictures cannot truly capture how beautiful and majestic these sites were. (and I've seen a lot of waterfalls!) I can't wait to go back and get lost again!

Real and Imagined

Ava is at the age where she's starting to really embrace her imagination. This of course is wonderful for me, as it means she will play in her room for more than 2 minutes without crying for me or a movie. This morning she was running around the house, circling the bedroom as Colonel Mustard got ready for work, squealing with delight. She stopped briefly in the kitchen and I asked,

"Is Daddy getting you?"

"No, it's an animal. An animal is getting me!"

And a few minutes later, it was a dinosaur...and then baby Elmo.

Now I won't say that my boys have lost their imagination, it is still very much alive, but as they grow, they are increasingly more aware of reality.

Take for instance, Ethan a couple nights ago. We were in the kitchen eating dessert, and Ethan, comes sauntering out of the bathroom wearing only his pajama top. NOTHING else. He walks right into the kitchen and says,

"Mom, where's the butt wipes?"

Yep, that's it. Keepin' it real.

I would've posted a picture, but.......you can use your imagination!

Doctors are people too

I don't know why, but most people put doctors on a pedestal-- like they are not subject to the normal human infirmities. I wish this were the case. Then I could see a doctor and be assured they would know exactly what to do, and how to fix it, and everything would be as it should be. Unfortunately, that is not the case.

The allergist's office called today to give me the results of Ava's blood work and wouldn't you know-- they failed to test her for the one thing that precipitated the testing in the first place. Now I don't know if her numbers are low enough to trial chicken- since they forgot to check, and all the other numbers may or may not mean something....or nothing at all. In which case, we continue on in the same fashion as we have been for the last year and a half. Lost and confused.

And Ethan, with his recurrent ear infections joined in the fun by making me visit yet another specialist, that may or may not know what he's talking about. After all--"I would guess his adenoids are large, I can't see them, but judging by his symptoms..." You think Doc??? I could have diagnosed that myself about 4 years ago. But no one believed me because I didn't have a piece of paper stating:

Kristin R Peacock M.D.

So next time you put all your faith in your doctor, just remember they are just a human, making an educated guess because they have a piece of paper that says.

"Hey look at me... I'm a doctor! And I come before you, to talk behind you, to tell you a story I know nothing about!"

Coupon, coupon- my inner struggle

Okay, I'm one of those annoying people who takes fifty coupons to the store every week when the new sale starts. I know I'm not the only one who does this. Couponing is huge in the south. Everyone does it!

So here is my problem. People are always saying how much money they save and how little they are spending, but it just isn't working out the way I'd like it to. Sure, I never pay for toothpaste or toothbrushes (except tax), and almost never pay more than pennies on the dollar for body wash, shampoo, deodorant, and a host of other things. Yet each month, my grocery bill is still out of sight.

How?? Does my family eat enough for 20 people? How are you couponers surviving on $100 a week or much less?? What on earth are you eating???

Forgive me, but my trip to Costco alone each week averages $50-$100. My shopping list to Costco usually looks something like this.

eggs
milk
butter
apples
lettuce
peppers
cucumbers
carrots
spinach
oranges
ham
turkey
olives
and. a diet coke at the food court adds a whopping  $.59!
 If these things are cheaper elsewhere- I buy them elsewhere that week.  Is this an unreasonable shopping list?
Add to this Costco list my trips to Publix and CVS for sales and other necessities, and I'm easily spending in one week what some claim to spend in an entire month.

So tell me honestly you couponers. what do you eat? Cause I'm pretty sure it's not what we're eating. And I'm not sure I'm willing to give up the pounds and pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables we consume each week just to save money. Is it worth it? 

I have a unwritten and unspoken rule in my house that fresh fruits and vegetables can be eaten any time of day in however large of quantities you want. Is this ridiculous? Should I be rationing these foods that my children so readily eat?

I'd love to know other perspectives as I recognize my way is not the only way to do things. What do you do? How do you save money on your grocery bill? Is it impossible to truly eat healthy (not anorexic) and not spend a lot of money?

Quick Update

Just a quick update for any who cared to know- Ava's scope last week was clean!!! We get to keep corn in her diet. I'm soooooo happy!