Buddies

I mentioned a few posts ago that we suspect that our son Cole whose 3 may have Autism.  Though he likes his baby sister, he's not usually the most interactive with her or any other kids for that matter.  Most typically Kendall (now that she's fully mobile) gets into his stuff or goes somewhere she shouldn't, and Cole just repremands her ("No Ken-all") or blocks her off at the path to his room.

Lately however, they seem to tolerate eachother more.  Cole has actually let Kendall into his room on occassion, and the other day he even went through a bin of his cars, passing each one to her after he had looked at it.

So here are a couple of snap shots of the kids hanging out together.  I'm sure one day they'll be great friends.

Reading together in their chairs

Why is it when you're about to get a good picture, someone scratches their eye and then walks away?



Kendall hamming it up for the camera.

Why Extreme Couponing Gives Me a Headache

"Extreme Couponing" is a show on TLC.  It's a reality show where they document people who use couponing to buy massive amounts of groceries for barely nothing.  Seriously,  these people spend around 40 hours a week researching store sales online and clipping coupon flyers, and in the end they pay one or two dollars for $600 worth of products from the store.  These savings lead to stock piles that fill whole rooms of the house and garages.  Now here in Canada we just don't have the same coupon policies that make this kind of savings possible.  However, I admit after watching the show, I've gone from tossing my flyers away to actually flipping through to see if I could save a buck on something I would normally buy.

What they mention in passing on the show, but you don't necessarily feel the full effect of while sitting in front of your TV, is the sheer amount of hours these people spend checking out in the grocery line.  They're buying hundreds of products over several separate transactions (as to not max out the number of items allowed by the tills), each item in return being accompanied by 1 or 2 coupons in order to get their extreme savings.

Now enter my reality (not seen on TV).  This show has caught on (remember I admit to clipping a coupon or two).  I've begun to see people being price savy at my own grocery store.  Not with a file folder full of hundred of coupons, but we have begun to take note of what we're paying and taking store policies seriously.

Direct example was Sunday night at Walmart.  Dave, the kids and I hit Walmart to get a few groceries (milk, cheese, bananas, an avocado, jarred fruit and cereal).  It was evening and it was Walmart, so there were only a few cashiers open.  Dave got into line behind one other woman.  I took the kids over to the mechanical Mickey Mouse golf cart which, Cole loves and has yet to realize actually moves since we never put money in it (why wreck a good thing if he enjoys just sitting in it?).  It took us at the very least 20 minutes to check out (seriously).  Why?  Because the woman in front of us was having the store price check all her items against other store flyers.  You see its Walmart policy to match a lower price from another store so they won't be under sold.  Good policy.  But this lady had done her research.  EVERYTHING she was buying she had found cheaper in other flyers.  Good time to jump to the line next door you say?  The lady in the next aisle had her written out list and was doing the same.  Did they come together or was it coincidence ... I don't know. 

Now times for some are tough, and I can't blame anyone for wanting to get the best deal for their money, but here's my suggestion for our new found couponing society.  Mickey Mouse is fun and all, but my 1 and 3 year olds get ancy doing their most favourite thing after 15 minutes.  If you would like to price check EVERY item of your purchase PLEASE just go to customer service - they have a till there.  In fact, the manager who is working in customer service is going to have to come over and help your cashier authorize every adjustment to the price of your items.  And if you would like to save a buck with a friend, please share a cashier.  That way us, and everyone else wanting to buy milk, cheese, bananas, a avocado, jarred fruit and cereal while totting along our preschoolers, can pay and leave in the normal 5 to 10 minutes.  Thanks for your service, have a nice day :)

Meeting Celebrity

Today was Customer Appreciation Day at our local Loblaws.  They had a free BBQ, pony rides and other animals to pet.  That stuff was all good but the real reason our family went was for the guest appearances of some of our kids most favourite celebrities.

We arrived right after lunch (we didn't take advantage of the free food because feeding 2 toddlers in public is just crazy).  Minutes after we arrived, Elmo, Dora, and Kung Fu Panda made their appearances.  All the kids were thrilled.  There was much hugging, high five-ing and picture taking.  Funny are the things you would have never gotten excited about before you had kids. 

Kendall spotted Elmo right away.  We snapped a couple of pictures and she let Elmo hold her without panicking for "Ma ma" (not usual).  She spent the rest of  the time we were there saying his name and keeping him in her sights. 

I wasn't sure how Cole would react to the over sized renditions of his favourite characters, but he was thrilled.  He wanted to see Elmo and especially Dora.  He let them both embrace him and let us take his  picture with both.

I felt sorry for Kung Fu Panda.  I know he was just a Loblaws employee in costume, but while Elmo and Dora had throngs of adoring fans, he hardly got acknowledged.  Cole almost gave him a high five but he, along with most of the 5 and under crowd really didn't know who Kung Fu Panda was.

As we left to walk next door to Toys R Us, Elmo was getting onto one of the ponies for a ride.  Kudos to you Loblaws for making the day of some small children.

Wedded Bliss

I won't be blogging over the next few days because my husband is whisking me away to a hotel for the weekend for our 9th wedding anniversary.  Well I wouldn't quite say "whisking" since the kids are spending the weekend at Grandma's.  This involves packing everything 2 preschoolers would need for 5 or 6 days.  Oh, and my dad is coming back with us for a visit, so the house needs to look like it didn't explode while I engaged on my packing endeavour.  But when we check into that hotel all those hours of prep will all be worth it. 


We have nothing planned but that's the whole joy of it.  2 whole days without the kids.  Sleeping and eating when and what we want, and time to do whatever else we'd like at our own pace and without objection.  Its going to be wonderful and I'm going to spend a lot of time in a large jacuzzi tub.


Thank you husband and thank you Grandma.


Now for a trip down memory lane.  I can't believe its almost been a decade!

Sticky

Sometimes I'm not sure if I spend more time making meals for the kids or cleaning them up afterwards.

This particular meal included yogurt.  Cole is partial to the strawberry type but has still yet to master a spoon.  He's better at the fork, but he usually boycotts its use.  When you have a picky eater who is temperamental when it comes to actually eating, you tend to give way on the dinner etiquette in favour of him actually getting some nutrition.

Kendall has proven to be a good eater.  We let her feed herself, but by the end of the meal her hands or sticky cup inevitably end up in what little hair she has.  Her current routine is a bath every night before bed.

So as cute as they are ... I recommend you wait to receive any hugs or kisses until after the meal is over.

Oh, and by the way ...

Why do children instinctively reach for the camera when they're covered in pink goo?  Another one of life's great mysteries.