John is sitting here with Cherith, and he started saying the nursery rhyme "Ba Ba Black Sheep" only then he said "have you any soul?"

Apparently the sheep need to be playing some Jazz.

I received an email today from Borders Books, of whom I am a member, that advertised a members-only event today. A preview of the Black Friday Sale.
I looked over the sale and found Monsters vs. Aliens for $8.99 and Barbie of Swan Lake for $2.99. Natalya has often checked the Barbie one out of the library, and the last time we checked it out the disk was damaged and didn't play well. So, for $2.99 I was willing to get her her own copy.
So I rushed right out to Borders. Right? Ok that's not what happened. I was busy cleaning my house and making dinner because we were feeding the sister missionaries tonight. But after they left we bundled the girls up and drove 30 minutes to the closest Borders store.
They were sold out.
I foresee the future. No Black Friday! Ok not true. K-mart has the Crayola Crayon Maker on sale. And one of the wholesale clubs has a toaster oven. (Seeing as our had a quiet death awhile back for no reason what so ever. Reasons not to buy the cheapest one.)

Now what am I doing? Prepping for Thanksgiving, of course. The fruit salad is made. The strawberry pie is made. The stuffing is done, except needing about 5-10 minutes more in the oven to finish it off, that we'll do tomorrow. The yams are boiling and almost done. The table and counters are clear, and once the dish washer stops, it will be unloaded, loaded, and run again.
Tomorrow we do: Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, rolls, and make the yams into a casserole. (Though I might do that last one tonight, depends on how I feel once they're ready.)

So after vowing not to go to stores again (and I purchased several things last night to help with that goal), I wake up this morning to find that my girls have gotten into, and eaten every banana but one. Please note: I bought 2 bunches yesterday. One for them to eat, the other for fruit salad.

Now I must go to the grocery store again! 2 days before Thanksgiving! Help Me!

Okay, it is MONDAY! The week of Thanksgiving. But it is MONDAY, not Friday!

I had to go to a couple stores today. One the grocery store to pick up the perishable items I need for Thanksgiving. I expected that to be busy, but not as bad as Tuesday or Wednesday. Especially since it was 2 pm. Past people's lunch breaks, etc. But it was packed! There was actually a worker there who was directing people what checkout line to go to. (Not that she was very good at it, but still.)

I also went to Target today. I had a couple coupons and a 10% off reward thing that were expiring in the next few days. I might have tried to hold off and use it on Black Friday, but they don't have anything on sale that's on my list. So, again, I thought I'd try and get things done before the madness hits. THE PARKING LOT WAS FULL! What is up with this? I did get some things for Christmas done while I was there, as well as picking up diapers and granola bars. (The world will end when there are not diapers and granola bars available.)

Anyways, after today, I decided that I don't want to go back out into the madness again. I told John I don't want to enter a store again till after New Years. Good thing we have a good food storage supply.

So I am re-vamping everything to see if we are able to NOT go out on Black Friday. Keep your finger crossed. I've got it down to 2 stores right now.

Sometimes something happens and I realize that I've put my husband in a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situation. I try to realize that I've done this and not get angry when there is no real way to make me happy.

Last night was one of those times. I am a night owl person, so John almost always goes to bed before me. The last few weeks he's been leaving our lamp on for me. When he does this I feel bad, and guilty because I know he's not getting as good of sleep with the light on. When I went toward our bedroom last night it looked dark, and I realized that I felt hurt that he hadn't left a light on.

I stopped and pondered this. On one hand, he leaves me a light on and I feel loved but horribly guilty. On the other hand, he leaves light off and I feel sad and hurt. Well, that's a crappy situation. So I decided that since there was no good solution, and I'd rather feel hurt than guilty. Well, maybe. Not every night. You get how this goes.

Then I walked into our bedroom to find that he had left the lamp on, just dimmed so it didn't interfere with his sleep.

How can you not love a man who can find the solution to the problem before he even knows that there is one.

I had a very strange dream the other night that I can't seem to get out of my head. Maybe if I write about it, it will finally pass.

It started with John and I living with my parents in the home I grew up in (that's NEVER going to happen). My parents were hosting (as in providing a place to sleep and transportation) a popular boy band-like group. They were very popular but were having problems and were failing due to the poor economy. (Seriously, even my dreams think about this!) We got to go to the concert for free, and when they got on stage I had an 'aha' moment and knew the three members. The lead singer was Jolinar. (For any Stargate SG-1 fans you can know that I've been watching re-runs on Hulu, but why I made Jolinar a guy, I don't know.) The other two were brothers, Bart and Bret, that I knew and worked with when we were teenagers.

(It is really weird because I haven't thought of Bart in years, and I don't think I've thought of Bret since I worked there since he was several years younger than me.)

After the concert we went back home and went to bed. I woke up to find that there were these horrible bugs crawling around, rhino beetles, head were sky blue and looked like a rhino, but with big sharp teeth. I woke John up and he killed all the bugs. Then the band members woke up and complained that they found these thing everywhere they went. They had missed the deductive reasoning that they were bringing the bugs.

After I woke up I told John that I was thankful that he was willing to be woken up and kill scary bugs for me even in my dreams.

Recently I've been having to go to Google Maps to find my way to the homes of new friends and looking for different businesses. I've realized that almost all of these directions include going on 2 freeways, an expressway, and the occasional thruway.

Now it is not these complicated and convoluted directions that surprise me; but rather, that I expect it and it seems normal.

Seriously I thought only California was set up and accepted like this.

Heaven:  Hell:

So last night I found on TV an old favorite movie of mine. And I would kill for one of the dresses worn in it (and the body to match).

But it has a great line in it.

Prize for anyone who can name the movie.

"All's fair in love and war, and this is revolution!"

Eek! Am I really writing this! No one should even think about Christmas before December! It is insane the Black Friday sales. Really people should be at home with their families during Thanksgiving break! And don't get me started on the amount of Christmas stuff that went up BEFORE Halloween!

But the truth of the matter is, if you don't have alot of money you need to plan, prepare, and shop around for a long time.

So here are the things I've been doing to prepare:

1. Deciding on what things to get my girls. (Bunk beds, Dress Up clothes, Opera, Play Dishes)
2. Deciding what to get John (Not listing! Hah! No peeking for you!)
3. Trying to think of things I want. (Not much luck there. At least not under 4 digits!)
4. Going over our budget to see how much money we have for Christmas.
5. Contemplating gifts for various family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc.
6. Going over the Black Friday ads
7. Finding new things to add to list from adds (eep!)
8. Going over budget again.
9. Picking up items on our list when I find them cheap. (Some dress-up accessories I've picked up for $1 like wings and tiaras. Actually got the bunk beds at Aldi's. They sometimes have the most random stuff, short term there. Some things at yard sales.)

Anyways, what does this all come down too? I will probably have all my Christmas shopping done by Black Friday. And seriously, something seems wrong about that. Oh well, gives me more time to make homemade gifts for neighbors if that's the way I go.

Hmmmm. Maybe I should start making and freezing sugar cookies now. Or maybe orange rolls. Or banana bread. So many possibilities.

No, seriously.

As I've said before he is severely allergic to milk. He has recently had a few poisonings in a row. (Usually it's only about once every year and a half.) So he is even more sensitive right now. This Halloween he had reactions from being in the same room as our girls ate their chocolate Halloween candy.

It is sad to say, but one day milk will kill my husband.

Cherith was the most nasal voice! And she is picking up quite the accent. So being funny John has taught her to say "I can't stand it" because she sounds like the show "Singing in the Rain."
Now when we does it I start laughing, so she does it again, then after I stop laughing again I tell her to do it again and start out into giggles all over again. ("Mufasa! Mufasa! Mufasa!" I feel like the hyenas in "Lion King.")

Last night Cherith had one of those wake-up-screaming nightmares. When we went in to find out what was wrong and hear what she was screaming she was still half asleep. This is what she said:

Don't you wish hair problems were your worst nightmares?

I had the strangest dream last night. I dreamt that I was learning a line dance to "Mambo Number 5".

I know it is only October, but I have small kids and a small budget so I feel justified at looking ahead to Christmas, so no complaints!
Just wondering if anyone knows where to get some cheap (maybe even free) opera recordings. I'm looking for them for Natalya. Yes, I am that weird that I'm looking for Opera for a 4 year old. She goes to bed every night listening to the classical station. (She loves the pretty music) but once a week they play (her words) "the prettiest music" and that is opera. She loves the classical type music with singing. She especially likes when the "girls" sing, but it's okay if it's "just one boy" singing as well.
The sad part about asking is that I don't know what form I want it in. Her CD player died a horrible death long ago, and the mp3 player she got last year is proprietary to Fisher Price and it's a bugger to get anything on there. The only thing we've even been able to convert is the Children's Songbook. And we own those CD's, yet unable to convert other CD's we own. So whatever form we get, we also have to get a player (since I'm not about to put a computer in her room). So suggestions would be great. 

And side note, she really is a weird child. Her Christmas wish list currently is a toy bunny cage, and a yoga DVD. When she gets up early in the morning and cartoons aren't yet on, on PBS she watches and does yoga.

John and I have been contemplating getting some type of e-reader. We keep looking at the new things that Sony and Kindle are putting out and deciding what we want in one. We have been reading on our pocket pc's for about 6 months, and I have to say there are some perk to it than a standard paper book. We still read our paper books too, and I have no desire to replace those right now.
Now Barnes and Noble has come out (or will in November) an e-reader called Nook. This has some things that we wanted, though I still would want to try on in a store before deciding to order it. (I think that's why I keep leaning toward the Sony over the Kindle.) Anyways, we keep putting off buying one because:

1. They are expensive, and to be happy we would really need two.
2. They are still developing. We don't want to shell out a lot of money to just regret it the next year when a new one is introduced.

So we are in a conundrum. Do we buy an e-reader for Christmas this year, or hold off for longer.

Any opinions?

I like reading author Richelle Mead's blog. In fact I think I might like reading her blog better than her books. She writes three different series. The two adult ones: Georgina Kincaid--a series about a succubus, that I know refuse to read, Dark Swan series--fairies and shamans, etc. So far it's okay. And then her young adult series: Vampire Academy. Which as I'm sure you can guess is about teenagers and vampires. I really have liked that series, and yet, I haven't read the fourth book yet, even though I've had it in my possession for well over a month.
But I digress. As I said I'm a fan of her blog. It's a great place to find out absolutely stupid things (like the commercial for Batter Blaster). So in reading her blog today I found out that her YA series has been banned at a school district in Texas.
I find it amazing how quick people are to ban books. Plus many authors see being banned as a great accomplishment and turning point in their career. I mean how many books did we read in high school and college that are considered classics were originally banned books?
I grew up with my Mom being very vocal about not censoring what her children were reading. But she also knew what we were reading. (Using those superpowers that Moms have.) Which is why in Jr. High my brother read Stephan King's "It" and my sister was reading Harlequin Romance books. What about me, you may ask. Well in fifth grade my Mom was called in for a parent-teacher conference to find out if she was aware that I was reading Danielle Steel books. And yes, she did know. And didn't care. These were books from early in her career, and were in our home. They were based more on plot than sex. And honestly at 10 most of the bedroom scenes went right over my head.
Should my mother have censored my reading so I didn't read romance books when I was that young?
What I remember most about that time, and those books, was reading one entitled "Star". It is set during WWII. Why do I remember this one? It set off a fascination in me about reading true stories of Jews during WWII. I was thrilled to read Anne Frank's diary. I immediately checked out books like "Number the Stars" and "The Upstairs Room."
So I think that I agree with my Mom on not censoring. Though I also plan to make sure I know what they are reading. Honestly some of the young adult fiction books are racier than adult romance books (Traveling Pants Series, Alice Series, and more).

Hah! Four posts in one day! The world must be coming to an end.

Actually I could have sworn it was last week, when I was craving chocolate. (For those in the know I am not a huge fan of chocolate.)

But just wanted to say, 4 in 1.

As you know, Natalya started pre-school this year. She loves going to school, and I love having her out of a house for a few hours, and Cherith loves taking her nap in a quiet house.

Anyways, every week there seems to be some new thing we are "supposed" to buy/get. In the beginning it was simply the basics: backpack, tissues, glue sticks, and something else I don't remember. School clothes and shoes. (Seriously Natalya didn't have sneakers before, but has to have them or not allowed on the playground, etc. Even if they are good shoes that don't come off when running and playing. Must be sneakers.)

Then there is snack time. I have to bring in snack once every ten days for ten kids. A juice box and *healthy* treat. Amazingly several kids have started being absent on their snack day.

I signed up to be a Room Mom (or Class Representative as the new PC term is). What do I do? Bring in special treats on holidays. They don't need another adult in the room. They have two teachers for 10 students. So yes, it costs money to be a Room Mom.

Don't know if this is true everywhere, but in our school district, there is a membership fee to be a part of the PTSA.

Now, there was the t-shirt sale/fundraiser (oh and by the way we have school spirit days once a month were the kids need to wear their school shirts....or at least the school colors).

School photos, and of course the yearbook.

The regular fundraiser which our school is doing 3! catalogs of them. We have the standard knic knacks and wrapping paper one, frozen cookie dough, and magazine subscription. (If anyone wants to order anything let me know.)

Tonight there was the Scholastic Book Fair and Ice Cream Party. (You had to pay for the ice cream. Like any parent gets to say no to their kid in that kind of setting.) Today during class they told the kids all about the book fair, and to "remind your parents about it, and here is some of the really cool stuff you can get. Like this pen with a frog on top that when you squeeze his eyes bug out. And it's *only* $3.00." Is she going to school or is this Marketing for Pre-Schoolers.

So it's only October and I'm wondering how much more they are going to nickel and dime us to death. (Though that phrase really doesn't take inflation into account.)

If you add it all up how much does it cost?

So this year in an effort to economize I decided to make the girls' Halloween costumes this year. Awhile back we were at Wal-Mart and picked up a pattern for Super Heroes. This is a generic, not name brand, which I liked because the girls could choose their own colors and personalize it. Some of the fabric needed I have on hand, and I have some great face paint that dries so you don't have to worry about smudges, so we are painting on their masks instead of making them. Yet with all that on hand, the cost of (cheap!) fabric, velcro, elastic, etc. is the same cost as having purchased costumes.
So I have not saved money, and spending a ton more time on costumes this year.
The really sad thing is, when I looked, it would be cheaper to make costumes out of colored duck tape. Guess what I'm doing next year?!

Hopefully I will get their costumes finished this week so they have them for all the events they have to go to.

4) Only Vikings and Scotsmen can time-travel forward in time to present time.

5) If you can time-travel, or have lived a horrendously long life, you have in your personal collection an item saved from the fire and destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria.


Also, just an observation. If you look at writing, especially romance, you get certain ideas. These books say this is what people want, they may not be able to have it, but it's what they wish would happen. With that in mind: Women would like some higher form (God, Fate, Destiny, etc.) to choose for them who to marry. It's an amazingly common theme of a woman being a man's pre-destined mate. A perfect match, etc. Funny I guess we do still want arranged marriages.