My tech savvy life

1.  After two years and a few very unreasonable electric bills, I finally decided to program my thermostat.  I looked up the owners manual online and read their recommended settings for energy savings.  I liked what they had to say, so I followed all the instructions.  I was able to successfully program my heat at 68º for when we are home, have it automatically turn off when we leave in the morning, and automatically be back to 68º when we return home after work/school.  This slightly cooler temperature hasn't fared well with our visitors who have suggested that it is cold in our house.  I would like everyone to know that I am trying to save 33% in energy savings this year as promised by my Honeywell thermostat owners manual.  Please wear warm clothes to visit.

2.  For the first time since...well, ever, my blog got a new look.  I kind of have mixed feelings about this.  All I wanted was pretty fonts for my titles and dates.  Unfortunately, I couldn't do the pretty fonts on my existing blog template.  I had to make a choice: pretty fonts with a whole new look or same template with no changes.  Clearly, I went with a whole new look.  Let me tell you, after the process of getting the new fonts for titles and dates, I feel like I could write a whole computer program.  It was quite a detailed process!
In related news:  I updated my tech savvy résumé to say, "Thermostat Programmer" and "Pretty Blog Font Editor"

3.  I've been playing with one particularly amazing app on iPad2.  It serves absolutely no purpose other than pure amusement.  It looks like this (Of course, this is not me. My photos are far more embarrassing and laughable so I choose to show you someone else)

This photo was taken from here-CLICK

One of my favorite parts of this app is the thermal image camera in the top left corner.  I usually turn the camera around so it's not pointed at me and search my house for ghosts.  I haven't seen one on there yet, but I'm sure when I do...it will probably be the last time I use it.

Two great toy ideas

Technically, I guess one is really not a toy...
Saturday we took the girls to Toys 'Я Us so that they could each pick out a toy.  We wanted to celebrate Kinsey getting straight A's for three straight quarters on her report card and perfect attendance.  We also wanted to celebrate Kaitlyn for reading her second book on her own and not getting any time outs at her school.  We are so profoundly proud of both of them for their individual accomplishments and unique personalities.  
Kaitlyn chose this super cute pretend fruit pie.  She is a master at pretend play so this was a perfect choice for her.  Each piece opens up and it can be filled with blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, or apple slices.  She fully intends on feeding each and every one of her stuffed animals. 

Kinsey chose a headband kit which is very like her because she loves crafts.  It came with 10 headbands and all kinds of accessories.  We spent the afternoon making all different kinds of headbands.  Kinsey decided she would share them with Kaitlyn so they each took turns picking out patterns and accessories for us to put together.  They turned out so cute!  

I highly recommend either of these if you have children!  

This is why I stick to a routine

I could not wait until Saturday to go to the grocery store...alone!  I knew Jason didn't have to work Saturday so I was looking forward to a nice, peaceful shopping trip all by myself.  Believe it or not, there are some weeks when that is my only "me time."  When we woke up Saturday morning, I told him I was going to the store.  Jason decided that he wanted to go, too.  I tried to explain that it is very difficult to shop with two kids and a husband.  I know you all might find this shocking (insert sarcastic tone here), but I have a very specific way of grocery shopping. Usually, just the girls are with me so I have to contain Kaitlyn in the cart and Kinsey has the job of looking for all of the items I call off on the list.  I keep diligent track of my spending on my calculator, make sure I've used all of my coupons, mark things off of the list, all while pushing the cart with a smile and maintaining sanity.  Usually, Jason is not with us.  So when he came along, it threw everyone off of their shopping trip routine.

As soon as we got into the store, Jason wanted to push the cart.  I thought this was fine...one less thing I have to do.  Kinsey wanted to mark things off of the list.  She is a proficient reader so why not let her mark things off?  Kaitlyn wanted to hold the coupons.  That's fine right?  They are all stored nicely in my filer.  What could go wrong?  Everyone had a job; it was time to get shopping.

Aisle one.  

I start putting items in the cart and tell Kinsey to mark them off of the list.  Problem 1:  she can't find them on the list as quickly as I am putting them in the cart.  Result:  We have to stop frequently and abruptly to find them for her.

Aisle two.

I open a freezer and turn around to put the items in the cart.  Problem 2:  Jason has put bonus items, not on the list (like $3.25 ice cream), in the cart without telling me.  Result: My diligent calculation of all items is not correct because my husband wants to sneak ice cream into the cart.

Skip to Aisle five.

I don't have my list in my hands.  My six year old has it.  Problem 3:  I realize that I forgot items on the opposite side of the store.  Result:  I run circle around the store at least four times.  

Aisle six.

Jason sneaks brownies in the cart.  Problem:  He couldn't just choose the $1 brownies.  He had to have the hot fudge lava brownies that were $3.50.  Result: frustration.

Aisle seven.

Going through my list in my head, I know I am about half way through.  I ask Kinsey what has not been marked off yet.  Problem 4:  She informs me that she has marked everything off already.  I took the list from her because there was no possible way we got everything.  She was right.  She literally marked everything off because I was putting things in too quickly for her so she just marked all items off.  Result:  extreme frustration.

Aisle...lost count by this time.

Miraculously, I realize that I am under budget and ask if there is anything else we need.  We decided that we need new toothbrushes.  That is great because I had a coupon for toothbrushes so we go pick them up.

Checkout.

I give the cashier all of my coupons.  She scans them all and wouldn't you know it...my toothbrush coupon is expired and she wouldn't take it.  Go figure!

Next weekend, I might fight a little harder to go alone.

I promise...she really does have a bed!

Seriously, folks.  She's out cold.  Jelly face and all.  Just like she was here, here, here, and here.

The other day she wore herself out playing with her pool time Barbie.  In order to play with pool time Barbie, she had to get dressed up in her bathing suit (even though there was no water involved).  It must add to the dramatic effect of pretend play.

Kaitlyn also lives in anything but regular clothes.  It's not that we don't dress her.  We do.  Every single morning.  She is kind of like a little Houdini and can change quicker than lightening.  If you would come visit us unannounced, you would find her in either a) her pajamas b) dress up clothes c) her bathing suit or d) a party dress.  It doesn't matter what the weather is, these are her outfits of choice.  A few weeks ago, I snapped a picture of her in the playroom.  It got very quiet and of course, I found her sleeping in the middle of the playroom floor.

  I'm starting to get a little worried about how she'll handle full day kindergarten at the beginning of August.  She really can fall asleep anywhere, anytime.

Twin Day

We had our first spirit day at school yesterday.  It was twin day, where students could come dressed the same as their best friend.  This spirit day also meant that they were allowed (for the first time this year) to be out of uniform.  I would like to tell you that IT.IS.EXHAUSTING. to have students out of uniform!  They are such different children.  Everyone knows that I am a firm believer in uniforms, but I also love when they get so excited to be in "regular" clothes on special days. I kind of can't wait to see them on the next two spirit Friday's!

Kinsey and her BFF, Jalynn, went dressed alike.  We went and picked out shirts for them the night before and then they wore their jeans and Twinkle Toes shoes.  They looked so cute!

Team Scarlette

When I began blogging about our family in 2008, I also began reading lots of other blogs about other peoples' lives.  In March of 2008, I began reading the blog of Kayla Aimee and was so moved by her faith and perspective on life.  I have read the story of her life faithfully for the past three years (it's not really as creepy as it sounds) and watched the journey of parenthood unfold for her and her husband as her daughter, Scarlette, was born 3.5 months early.  The journey that they have traveled thus far has been, by no means, easy.  Although I don't know this family personally, they hold a special place in my heart and in my daily prayers.
They are participating in the March of Dimes for Babies this coming April.  They are looking for team sponsors or donations to their team.  Please take a minute to read about this incredible child and her fight for life and consider donating.  You can click on the badge below for further information on how to donate!