Rylie 3m

I can't believe it has been 3 months already... Every time some one asks me her age I promise I get it wrong and tell them wrong. Just yesterday I was thinking she would be hitting the TWO month mark today. Where is my head?

~Rylie~

• Can hold the bottle herself for a few minutes
• Is very ticklish but don't tickle her feet!
• Makes a serious face all the time but loves to smile and talk
• Has nails that grow super fast
  
• Cannot stay still
• Is TEETHING! She gums on her hand and bottle and likes it when you rub her gums
• Loves her bath but hates the cold air while getting dressed afterward
• Is very aware of her surroundings following everyone
• Loves to get tickled and talk to Daddy
• Thinks her brother and sisters are funny until they scream and scare her
  
• Blows spit bubbles
• Spits up her milk less than she used to (Woohoo!)
• Sleeps through the night sometimes
• Still prefers to be swaddled to sleep but she's getting too long to do it!
• Is too long for her 0-3 month sleepers but 0-3 month onesies still fit :)
• Her 0-3 month socks are too small, all her other siblings had small feet but she doesn't LOL
• Imitates the 'M' & 'O' letters with her mouth
• Still has blue-gray eyes (for now at least lol)
• Weighs around 11lbs
• Would rather talk than eat after half the bottle is gone.. especially in the middle of the night

I'm playing the CVS game so..

I had to share my scores today :)

ECB= Extra Care Bucks= free money to use at their store on your next transaction

Transaction 1:

• (4) CVS Paper towels at $1 & BOGO Free

• (1) Huggies Snug & Dry Jumbo Pk 8.99 + 1.50 Coupon= $7.49 + 1 ECB

• Eucerin products (minus Aquaphor) Spend $20 get $10 ECB- this is the only lotion I will use since I can't stand fragrance and have really dry skin (2) Intensive Care Plus Hand creams 3.99 each + (2) $1 off coupons and (1) Intensive Care 16.9oz lotion 14.29 + $1 off coupon = 22.27-$3 (coupons)= $19.27 + $10 ECB

Total= $36.11- $6 ECB from last time= $30.11 after tax and $11 ECB for next purchase

Transaction #2:

• (3) 9 Lives canned cat food 4pk 3/$4 =$4
• (1) Crest Pro Health Mouthwash $3.99 + $3.99 ECB
• (2) Kleenex Tissue $1 each= $2
• (1) Scott Mega roll Paper Towel $4.77 +$1 off coupon= $3.77
• (1) Scott Toilet Paper 12pk $6.77 + $1 off coupon= $5.77
• (1) CVS Green Bag tag $.99 Bring your own bag and every fourth visit you get $1 ECB

Total= $22.55- $11ECB from Transaction #1= $11.55 + $3.99 ECB for next time


So how much did I save all together?

Spent $41.66
Saved $42.79
So I saved over 50% + I still have $3.99 ECB for next time!

Busy Day

Just this past week I started couponing and shopping loss leaders at several different stores. Usually I only shopping at Walmart getting two weeks worth of groceries at a time making sure I don't forget anything since I only return for milk or bread to keep from spending more. Because I'm now buying what's on sale and in (semi) bulk however, means that I actually have to start cooking ahead like I've been planning for the longest and not just a double batch of something here or there.

So after I dropped Alyssa and Ty off to school I ran by Hill's because they have Split Chicken Breast for $1lb. So, I got 9.5lbs of it. I'm not a butcher, and I probably don't have the right knife for it but I managed to cut out (butcher up) 9 chicken breasts and 4 tenderloins out of the meat. I didn't do the best job of it and there was still meat left on the breastbone so I threw them in the crockpot with spices, carrots, onion and some water. I'm sure there will be more to shred up for BBQ chicken or fajitas plus the broth. After that I took my cut chicken and made 3 different marinades to freeze. That means I get at least 4 meals out of less than $10 of chicken! I managed to finish just in time to go pick up Tyler.

Another great deal Hill's has today is Totino's Pizza Rolls & Grands Biscuits for $1 each. I had (3) $.50 off 6 pizza rolls and 2 coupons for 4 cans of biscuits. So of course I had pizza for lunch and while it cooked I rolled up my left over cookie dough from yesterday into a log to freeze for later.


Next up? Bacon. ($1.50 each)
I love it, but hate cooking it on the stove. All that popping grease flying everywhere gets on my nerves so I'm trying to bake it in the oven. I will then put it in the freezer and pop out pieces as we need them.

Now I have 3lbs of sausage waiting on me (3/$5) to make a double batch of sausage balls and 1 batch of patties to freeze for a quick breakfast. Other than laundry and all the dirty dishes I've created, I think I'm done for the day.


Update: Here's my reward left over from the bones plus have a breast gave me 3.5 cups of shredded chicken! :D

Getting Ready....

I have been knitting up a storm, though not for the shop but of course woolies for the new baby. I haven't decided if the outfit I am working on is small enough for a coming home outfit since I have teeny tinies. I am still looking for a button for the top and this is not the best of photos on most of these things but I plan for better ones later :)





I hope to have quite a few wool covers this time so I don't have to wash every day.
Here's my rainbow!


Most of those are size small but there are a few nb sized ones.




Trying a couple new things this time..

Curly Purly waistband with Sheepy Pants bottoms and a new pattern called the Vanilla soaker (below) that I didn't have last time :)


Also I have tried crocheting a few longies and every time it reminds me why I don't crochet more things... lol I just don't love doing it as much plus for some crazy reason these all came out larger that I thought they would. I do remember crochet doesn't stretch as much and therefore needs to be bigger for each size but, I think I just like my knitted ones better :P

Some monkey pants in the LadyBugz Farm pattern "Dragonfly Longies"


and starting on a pair in the Wigglebunz pattern


Now, if only I could figure out where to put the baby bed?

more about school

Starting next week they don't allow you to walk your K5 student to their class & Alyssa has been scared about going alone, so I have this week to wean her. I walked her just to her class door this morning and saw a little girl behind me. Afterward I started back to the car (Kailey & Tyler in tow) and the girl was still following me. I turned around and asked her if she was lost. She nodded & I asked her if she was in kindergarten. I received just another nod. Luckily everyone has their name on their backpack so I was able to lead her back to the K5 hall and look on the lists of students on the wall to find her teacher.....

When I tried to talk Alyssa in to letting me drop her off this morning she said " But some one will steal me" I told her there is a teacher outside and it is the same place she sat on the benches with the teachers just yesterday waiting for me to pick her up (that story coming next lol). She still wouldn't budge and tomorrow is the last day I can walk her in.


So, how did school go yesterday?

She came home excited telling me about how she bought her own lunch with chocolate milk (I'm hoping she doesn't pick that every day, we are going to have a talk on it), hot dog, & a star cookie. She also loved P.E. and the jumping jacks she did lol. I couldn't help but laugh at the simple things it takes to excite a 5 year old and make them happy. I know that soon enough even 5 year old's get homework (dun dun dun) and she has never liked writing things over and over.

Picking her up yesterday was crazy to say the least. I live less than 2 miles from the school so it is mandatory that I pick her up (grumble grumble). I got to the school early hoping to pick her up as soon as the buses left and I wouldn't have to wait forever. Only one problem.. that lecture from the principal I sat through (with all 3 kids in tow... bad, very bad day) didn't exactly say where we were supposed to be to pick up students. I parked in the parking lot which seemed to be half full already even at 2:40... So I waited... and waited.. there was no sign of where I was supposed to go. Ty said he had to pee... great right? I told him he would have to hold it. Finally at 2:50 I saw a line start to form.. the one I needed to be in! Parents were getting out of their cars left and right, picking up their kids and already coming back! Well remember that lecture from the principal? Supposedly ppl on foot were going to get their kids last and the people in the car pick up line would be attended to first.

It didn't happen that way.

I couldn't get in to the line so I had to leave the school, drive all the way around the square that is about .5 miles long back to the school entrance which of course was now backed up. It seems there is also a one-way road coming from somewhere that ends in the pick up line also. It took FOR-E-VER (imagine the sand lot kid saying that). I didn't leave with Alyssa until after 3:30. There was only one student left in her class still sitting on the bench waiting and maybe 20 or so students in total still there. Remind me again why the school won't let her ride the bus? Oh yeah... Jefferson Co. doesn't know how to budget their money or keep the people they hire from stealing it and so the schools (and teachers!) suffer.

I hope Ty's first day goes well Monday!

a first

Today was the first time I took one of my kids to 'real' school. I didn't cry. I didn't panic. Thankfully, I had help too! I needed to walk Alyssa in today and it would have been much harder if I didn't have Jennifer to sit with the other two so I could peacefully do so.

I arrived at the school early and they had all the K5-3rd grade sitting in the gym in a line. Alyssa was starting to squeeze my hand tightly so I told her we would go to the office first then come back. After dropping some paper work at the office they were still sitting in a line. I tried to coax her to join the other 40+ K5 students sitting all indian style (or criss cross apple sauce as Alyssa says) on the floor but she wouldn't budge, not even long enough for a photo.


Soon a teacher came and told the last kid they were now the line leader. Alyssa loves to be the line leader when we go somewhere (yes I have enough kids to do a line lol). She literally clung to my leg. I was hoping there wouldn't be a meltdown here soon. But as we got to the class I think she loosened up a bit.


Every student had their picture taken at this wall so that by the end of the year we could see how much they have grown. :)



She remembered where her seat was from when we came on orientation.



I have to pick her up and drop her off since we are less than 2 miles from the school. I can't wait to hear about her day and I am hoping she loves it and will be less scared tomorrow. Next week, I have to drop her off at the door!

Also next week is Tyler's turn for a 1st...... 3K!

WIP

Just off of my needles are these two:






And currently on my needles.......



a few other nearly finished items that I am testing out a pattern with yarn on hand for some one I still need to go get the yarn I really wanted to do this in. Aren't they cute though? It's a headband :)






I also have a gift in the works for some one but I can't post it yet or she will see it!