My dad used to say that sometimes the difference between brave and stupid is determined by the outcome. I guess we'll know in a few days which is the case for us.
We're going to Chicago this weekend. Woohoo! We've been wanting to do the museums and such for awhile, and we wanted to go before the weather gets bad or we have to haul baby food for Rinnah. So we're going this weekend! I snagged a cheap hotel on Priceline that even has a kitchen, so food & lodging costs will be kept to a minimum. We're going to the Museum of Science and Industry, the Shedd Aquarium, and the Kohl Children's Museum. Once we get there, I think Ian will LOVE the museums. And we're excited about that part too. It's just the car rides that we're worried about-4.5 hours to/from Chicago, plus 15-45 minutes to get from the hotel to each attraction. Our plan is to go first thing in the morning and stay until Ian is pooped, probably around 2-3:00. Then go back to the hotel for a nap and find easy entertainment for the rest of the evening, like going for a walk. Hopefully Rinnah will be her usual easygoing self.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Seat Check Saturday
Today was declared some sort of statewide child passenger safety day, so there were 93 checks held across Illinois. I helped at the one in Sprinfield. Ian spent the morning with Grandma Fox, and Jeremy and Rinnah came along to the check. Jeremy was able to help with directing traffic and passing out clipboards while Rinnah slept in the sling. I got to check seats. I really enjoyed it-I love educating people about carseats and it was great to do something other than just the mommy thing. It's the first check I've done since Rinnah was born.
I brought some seats that we've had at home from other checks hoping they could be used or go to someone else who does more checks than I do. I'm glad I did, because we had a 2 yr old boy with Down Syndrome come in. He was very close to 40 pounds, and came in with an old seat with twisty straps that he can wiggle out of. One of the seats I brought harnessed to 65 pounds, which he really needed. He's definitely not ready for a booster yet. It was great to see that seat going to good use to keep that sweet little boy safe.
This afternoon I finished painting Rinnah's room. Well, except for a little touchup that needs to be done on the ceiling. It's a pale pink, and on Monday we have some rose-colored carpet coming. We got brown curtains and I found some ribbon that matches the carpet, so my mom is going to sew that on the curtains as a little border to tie the room together. I think it will look nice.
We're also getting new carpet for the playroom. That will be great. Once those two rooms are done we'll have redone all the floors on the main floor of our house except for Ian's room (kept the hardwood) and sort of our room (we pulled up carpet and left the hardwood).
I even managed to get Ian's outgrown clothes consolidated into plastic storage bins and labeled with the sizes. It was a very productive day!
I brought some seats that we've had at home from other checks hoping they could be used or go to someone else who does more checks than I do. I'm glad I did, because we had a 2 yr old boy with Down Syndrome come in. He was very close to 40 pounds, and came in with an old seat with twisty straps that he can wiggle out of. One of the seats I brought harnessed to 65 pounds, which he really needed. He's definitely not ready for a booster yet. It was great to see that seat going to good use to keep that sweet little boy safe.
This afternoon I finished painting Rinnah's room. Well, except for a little touchup that needs to be done on the ceiling. It's a pale pink, and on Monday we have some rose-colored carpet coming. We got brown curtains and I found some ribbon that matches the carpet, so my mom is going to sew that on the curtains as a little border to tie the room together. I think it will look nice.
We're also getting new carpet for the playroom. That will be great. Once those two rooms are done we'll have redone all the floors on the main floor of our house except for Ian's room (kept the hardwood) and sort of our room (we pulled up carpet and left the hardwood).
I even managed to get Ian's outgrown clothes consolidated into plastic storage bins and labeled with the sizes. It was a very productive day!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
93 bottles of Robitussin on the wall, 93 bottles....
Ever wonder what 93 bottles of Robitussin would look like?
We made a sweep of the Walgreens in Springfield on Saturday morning. Final total:
-90 bottles of Robitussin
-3 boxes of Kleenex
-5 bags of Robitussin cough drops
-25 votive candles
-toy ball for Ian
-toy boat for Ian
-6 packets of seeds
-2 Dove chocolate bars
-$300 in Shell gas cards
-countless funny looks from cashiers
All for $99.99, of which $50 was covered with prepaid visas from a previous Walgreens deal. And if I can come up with 5 addresses, I can even get $10 back in Robitussin rebates!
We'll be keeping a few bottles, giving a few bottles to family & friends, and donating the bulk to an orphanage in Romania.
A big thank you to Walgreens and Wyeth for teaming up to pay for gas for our car for the next few months!
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| From Robitussin |
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| From Robitussin |
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| From Robitussin |
We made a sweep of the Walgreens in Springfield on Saturday morning. Final total:
-90 bottles of Robitussin
-3 boxes of Kleenex
-5 bags of Robitussin cough drops
-25 votive candles
-toy ball for Ian
-toy boat for Ian
-6 packets of seeds
-2 Dove chocolate bars
-$300 in Shell gas cards
-countless funny looks from cashiers
All for $99.99, of which $50 was covered with prepaid visas from a previous Walgreens deal. And if I can come up with 5 addresses, I can even get $10 back in Robitussin rebates!
We'll be keeping a few bottles, giving a few bottles to family & friends, and donating the bulk to an orphanage in Romania.
A big thank you to Walgreens and Wyeth for teaming up to pay for gas for our car for the next few months!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Party!
Yesterday was Ian's birthday party!
It was a lot of fun! A few people couldn't make it because their kids weren't feeling well, but we still had a good turnout. The rain held off for awhile, it just sprinkled and had that threatening it-could-rain-at-any-moment look outside, so we were able to sit outdoors for awhile. When it did start raining we went inside and it was good that not everyone was able to come because we just wouldn't have had room for everyone.
We had a cookout (well, a cookin in the garage) and everyone brought side dishes. We were able to use some of the free hot dogs, cheese, & lemonade I got awhile back. We also made hamburgers and cake. It was a really good meal. I was hoping that we would be using up some food, but I think we actually have more food now than we started with because of the leftover side dishes.
The kids had a good time, and Ian really enjoyed playing with everyone. Some of the bigger kids were trying to show the toddlers how to play bocce ball, which was amusing. He was very excited about the new toys his friends gave him also-a toy drill that talks, a pig in a car that makes noise & drives when you shake it, and a toy dog that walks with a little remote control leash.
Here are some pictures from the party:
Some friends
Eating at his outside table
Uncle David, Grandma Fox, and Uncle Daniel
Learning to play bocce ball
Opening a gift
I think he had fun. We sure did!
It was a lot of fun! A few people couldn't make it because their kids weren't feeling well, but we still had a good turnout. The rain held off for awhile, it just sprinkled and had that threatening it-could-rain-at-any-moment look outside, so we were able to sit outdoors for awhile. When it did start raining we went inside and it was good that not everyone was able to come because we just wouldn't have had room for everyone.
We had a cookout (well, a cookin in the garage) and everyone brought side dishes. We were able to use some of the free hot dogs, cheese, & lemonade I got awhile back. We also made hamburgers and cake. It was a really good meal. I was hoping that we would be using up some food, but I think we actually have more food now than we started with because of the leftover side dishes.
The kids had a good time, and Ian really enjoyed playing with everyone. Some of the bigger kids were trying to show the toddlers how to play bocce ball, which was amusing. He was very excited about the new toys his friends gave him also-a toy drill that talks, a pig in a car that makes noise & drives when you shake it, and a toy dog that walks with a little remote control leash.
Here are some pictures from the party:
Some friends
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| From Ian's 2nd birthday |
Eating at his outside table
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| From Ian's 2nd birthday |
Uncle David, Grandma Fox, and Uncle Daniel
 |
| From Ian's 2nd birthday |
Learning to play bocce ball
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| From Ian's 2nd birthday |
Opening a gift
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| From Ian's 2nd birthday |
I think he had fun. We sure did!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
But I'm one of your best customers
There's an awesome deal at Walgreens this week. You can make $7 profit for every three bottles of Robitussin you buy with the right coupons. On Tuesday I went in and did this deal twice, and the manager followed me out and asked me not to buy anymore!
I have mixed feelings about this. I understand not wanting to run out, but the shelves are stocked full and bottles are stacked on top that won't fit. I offered to wait until Saturday or take a rain check for the sale price and come back next week-he turned me down on both. But he said he doesn't want to lose my business. *scratch head*
With that deal though, I think it's worth a trip to Springfield. We'll see what we can do tomorrow.
I have mixed feelings about this. I understand not wanting to run out, but the shelves are stocked full and bottles are stacked on top that won't fit. I offered to wait until Saturday or take a rain check for the sale price and come back next week-he turned me down on both. But he said he doesn't want to lose my business. *scratch head*
With that deal though, I think it's worth a trip to Springfield. We'll see what we can do tomorrow.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Monday
Ian had his first speech therapy appointment today. Right now, she's just playing with toys with him trying to get a feel for where he's at and build some trust with him. He had a blast today, especially with the bubbles. He kept signing "more, please" so she'd do them again. :)
We're working on Rinnah's room right now. We got carpet ordered. That was a fiasco, but it's done and we ended up with a good deal in the end. Now we're getting the room cleared out so we can start painting. The carpet should be in next week, so we don't have much time!
And Ian's birthday party is this weekend! It's so hard to believe he'll be two already. On Saturday we invited over all the little kids from church and their families. We're going to have a cookout and play some games in the yard. It should be a fun time.
We're working on Rinnah's room right now. We got carpet ordered. That was a fiasco, but it's done and we ended up with a good deal in the end. Now we're getting the room cleared out so we can start painting. The carpet should be in next week, so we don't have much time!
And Ian's birthday party is this weekend! It's so hard to believe he'll be two already. On Saturday we invited over all the little kids from church and their families. We're going to have a cookout and play some games in the yard. It should be a fun time.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Weekend
We had an awesome weekend with Laura. Didn't go anywhere terribly exciting, but we had a nice time catching up, sharing pictures, and playing with Ian. It was wonderful to have a visitor since it seems like it's gotten so difficult to leave the house for more than a five minute drive.
Things have been pretty busy getting ready for the benefit concert. My brother Michael had the idea to do an outdoor concert to raise money for leukemia research in honor of our dad, and we're also doing a silent auction. Mom has taken things on with her usual obsessive gusto, so she's been eating, sleeping, and breathing concert & auction prep for the last few weeks. I wish I could have been more help, but running all over town to talk to businesses about donations was just not in the cards for me with two kids in tow. And the things I have offered to help with she has wanted to stay in charge of. Oh well, I tried. Hopefully the benefit will go well.
We did order carpet today. We're going to fix up our office/guest room as Rinnah's room, and while we're at it we're recarpeting the playroom. Between getting lousy service and discovering that Lowe's would be cheaper, I managed to haggle several hundred dollars off our total at Home Depot. And of course I had a coupon. ;) So the end total wound up being almost $500 less than they originally were quoting us. Very exciting. We should be getting the carpet installed in a few weeks.
Things have been pretty busy getting ready for the benefit concert. My brother Michael had the idea to do an outdoor concert to raise money for leukemia research in honor of our dad, and we're also doing a silent auction. Mom has taken things on with her usual obsessive gusto, so she's been eating, sleeping, and breathing concert & auction prep for the last few weeks. I wish I could have been more help, but running all over town to talk to businesses about donations was just not in the cards for me with two kids in tow. And the things I have offered to help with she has wanted to stay in charge of. Oh well, I tried. Hopefully the benefit will go well.
We did order carpet today. We're going to fix up our office/guest room as Rinnah's room, and while we're at it we're recarpeting the playroom. Between getting lousy service and discovering that Lowe's would be cheaper, I managed to haggle several hundred dollars off our total at Home Depot. And of course I had a coupon. ;) So the end total wound up being almost $500 less than they originally were quoting us. Very exciting. We should be getting the carpet installed in a few weeks.
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