I'm gonna complain now.

When David was 2, I taught at Mother's Day Out. I taught the oldest class, PreK age. David's class was right across the hall. Since I was teaching, his registration fee was waived and his monthly tuition was half price. I really can't remember, but it seems like I had to pay about $15-25/mo, and it was deducted from my paycheck and I still came home with a paycheck. This was 4 years ago.

We got a boxholder a couple of days ago from a local MDO program. I know Elizabeth would love going to it. I looked into it. At $140/mo, plus registration fee, plus supply fee, the total for a year comes out to be $1402.50. Yikes!

So I called my friend who lives elsewhere & asked what she paid for the 2 day a week preschool her girls have gone to. Theirs was $75/mo.

While yes, she would love it and I would enjoy a little bit more time with one less kid at home to help, $140/mo just seems ridiculous to me. Am I just behind the times? This is a one-stoplight town - does it not seem expensive to anyone else?

Stars & Stripes

Welcome July

Well, we made it to tomato season and we're on our last jar of salsa that I made last year. This year, I planted more plants because I want to make one more batch to make it last a little bit longer and be able to give some away also. I also wanted to freeze some pasta sauce.

But if gardening went like this every year, I probably wouldn't be a gardener! My tomatoes are having a terrible summer. I have less than half the amount needed for one batch of salsa. I went to the farmer's market yesterday and bought the rest of the tomatoes needed for one batch of salsa. I'll give my plants a chance to grow some more, but I'm probably heading back to the farmer's market for the rest of the salsa, too.

My peppers are doing pretty good, though. At least I didn't have to buy those!

Lego Star Wars Draws a Crowd

It's kinda hard to see, but Rebekah & Elizabeth were both standing in there watching David & Dad play Lego Star Wars!

Lunar Eclipse

5:30 am - Dad woke up for some reason, looked outside, and noticed the eclipse. As he was climbing back into bed, Rebekah started crying. I sat up wondering what was going on. He told me about the eclipse. I grogily fixed a bottle for Rebekah because she wasn't going back to sleep & gave it to her. She fell back asleep. As I was laying her back in her bed, David sat up & asked what was going on. I told him nothing, go back to sleep. He tried, but couldn't, so I took him out on the back porch to see the eclipse. We watched it until it went behind the trees at about 6:20 am.

First Belly Shot:

I just realized I never posted this. I emailed it to immediate family & I guess I thought I'd blogged it, too. This was taken on May 24.

Estimated Due Date: December 31, 2010. This month I heard the heartbeat. The next sonogram will be in August.

Yes, I'm Bragging...

I usually don't photograph my groceries, though I read plenty of other blogs who do. They photograph all of the groceries they bought in a week's time and tell how they only paid $23 for $352 worth of groceries... or something like that. Well, today was just good enough that I found myself arranging items on the counter and running for my camera.

I got all of these things above at Walmart. Absolutely free. Yes, that's $0.00. Nada. Zip! Whoo-hoo!!! Happy dance! How, you ask? I spend a few minutes every day on those grocery blogs signing up for free samples. I've gotten all kinds of free sample products in the mail. And that's how I ended up with coupons for all these items absolutely free. The coupons were delivered right to my snail mail box. In case you can't make it out, that's Kashi Heart to Heart Cereal (one of David's favorites), DiGiorno Deep Dish personal size pizza, Ritz Crackerfuls, Oscar Meyer Deli Fresh Shaved lunch meat, Kraft 100 calorie packs of cheese bites, and Oscar Meyer Selects Bun Length Angus hot dogs. Not to bad, huh?

I think I did pretty good at Walgreen's, too. This is everything I got at WG. Bottom line, I spent $24.85 out of pocket. Sales, discounts, and coupons saved $35.05 off the bill. I took home $13.00 Register Rewards to use on my next purchase. I've heard others come out less OOP, but I was happy with it! The next trip to WG ought to be less OOP since I now have the RR's.

The Father's Day Collage

My sister started this tradition. I liked the idea & jumped in, too. This is our 6th Annual Father's Day Collage. Dad was really looking forward to it.

Now, my questions for my sister - Are y'all still doing it? How many have you made? Where does he display them all???

Happy Father's Day!

Once again, I have no photos to share of me with my Daddy, but I did wish him a Happy Father's Day today. I took this picture last Sunday when we had lunch together.

My kids loved what their dad chose to do for Father's Day today...

(I think Rebekah was putting a rock in her mouth.
David & Elizabeth were probably trying to catch minnows.)

Another fun Father's Day
and I love you both!

Kindergarten Show and Tell

Today we hosted a small gathering that we called, "David's Kindergarten Show & Tell." I had the idea at the beginning of the school year, remembering the PTO Open House that we had when I was in elementary school. I don't know if it was more important to David or to me... probably me! I've done a lot of work this year!!!

I used the bar area to display David's
notebooks and some other work.

Language Arts/Reading, Handwriting, Science

Math & some holiday stuff
(note on the Mayflower, it's being bombed
and there's a blue shark in the water)

Folder from Dinosaurs A to Z class at our homeschool co-op
(which I also taught),
Clothespin Stegosaurus and paper Laura the Giganotosaurus

Artwork displayed on the back windows

Other little booklets he made throughout the year

Blue Crab in clay

Family looking at his work

I really intended to take more pictures, but I always forget when I'm hosting something. After family looked at the displays, David loudly sang 2 of his Bible verse songs that he's learned this year. He declined to read the book that he had selected. Then we moved out to the front porch where he presented his science demonstrations.

Displacement of air

and a volcanic eruption.

(sorry, we were out of red dye)

David was also in charge of serving refreshments and even planned his own menu: mayo & cheese finger sandwiches, Fritos and blue corn chips. The dip was my idea.

Elizabeth was not to be left out!

We had her notebook of coloring pages on display
and her Fun with Numbers book.

Ladybugs in clay

OK - on the top one, I made the head, shaped the body and rolled out the black spots. She assembled & made the legs. She did the bottom one completely on her own.

Elizabeth also took her turn in the limelight by singing 2 different versions of the ABC song very adorably. And she thoroughly soaked in the applause. : )