A coupon clarification...

When I said "I'd get a job" I was not insinuating that staying at home is not a job- it is, as far as I'm concerned (and to quote Oprah) the hardest job in the world...

The previous post was intended to highlight (once again) my various shortcomings in a comedic fashion and was in no way making fun of anyone but me. I stand in awe of you ladies who can do it all, when it seems that I all can do most days is bathe, and keep my kid from strangling a dog. please take no offense- me and my big mouth just seem to get carried away.

Playing with Daddy

Touchdown !!!

A word about coupons...

So, it seems that coupons is the hot topic right now- I keep seeing stories about them on blogs, the Today Show and Oprah... so I thought I'd tell a story of my own.

Today Laney and I went to Costco with Jess and Emers. Yesterday I had taken out my Costco fl yer, cut out the coupons I would use and put them in my wallet. Today, at the store I took them out several times to make sure I'd bought the items I had coupons for. Then I went to checkout (and in all fairness, was too busy giving the box lady the evil eye for being rude to notice anything was amiss) I paid my bill (YIKES) and waited for Jess to be done. I was standing there, in the afterglow of my shopping venture wondering why I didn't have that content feeling that comes for using coupons to save $5 on my $200 (give or take) Costco bill... when I realised... THE DAMN COUPONS WERE STILL IN MY POCKET!!! Yep- that's me- forget to give them to the checker. Nice work!

And while we're on the topic- a little food for though...
I'm all about coupons- when they're convenient. I go through the Sunday ads (which usually ends up costing me money "hey and dvd player for the car for $115- don't we need one of those?") I clip the coupons we will use and usually remember to use them. I probably save a buck fifty a week with coupons- but hey- I can tell my husband "We had a coupon" to justify the need for a dozen donuts... Anyway. I hear about people who are saving hundreds of dollars, doubling coupons, shopping around (my friend Jodi just went to Kmart and actually left with the store owing her money) etc.

I'm impressed but I just have to say- in my world- if I could get it together to clip coupons from 3 different papers, go to 4 stores, double my coupons, buy in bulk, organize everything the I'd bought to make sure I didn't buy it again next month, feed my kids, plan meals for a month and keep my house clean, I'd get a job. With that kind of drive, organization and energy- I'd be CEO of a company and pay someone else to buy my damn groceries (and cook them for that matter!) I'm just saying...

Busy Weekend

whew- we had a BUSY weekend! Here's a quick rundown if you're interested... Friday Fran, Jess and I convinced our husbands to watch the kids and went to the quiltfair and craft show. We accomplished so much without strollers, snacks, Binky's, drinks and diaper bags! Then on Saturday we all took the kids out to the Mercantile for Bunnies and Chicks. Annette Oliveri was taking pictures with real bunnies and chicks- let me tell you- she is one patient photographer, and the first one to get Laney's real smile captured on film! Check out some of the pictures on her blog (http://olivieriportraitdesign.blogspot.com/2009/03/bunnies-and-chicks-everywhere.html) That girl's got talent. It turned out to be a pretty long day- we were there from 11:30-3! Laney, Emersyn and Gracee pretty much made the place their own- and got into lots of stuff.

Then on Sunday, Ryan made a big dent in his honey-do list and got me some wine barrels to use as planters and filled them up with gravel and soil- it took him most of the day- but I'm pretty excited. We also put together a slide for Laney- which she loved- until she discovered the dirt.

I thought this was all fun and games until I planted the strawberries and she kept digging!

This is my girl, not afraid to get dirty, but still kind of a princess when her hands get dirty- she would get dirty, look disgustedly at her hands then walk to her daddy and have him rinse them off with the hose.

More birthday fun...

This was the year that the birthday celebrations just kept coming! On Sunday, my parents and Ryan's family came down and we went bowling. We had a great time- I even beat Ryan one game!!!! Then we went back to our house and ate pizza, pie and cake. Trina made Huckleberry pie (my favorite) and my mom made Angel Food cake (okay, turns out I have a lot of favorites). Yummy!

Then on Monday night Bobbie came down and made Ryan and I dinner, it was asparagus chicken enchiladas- VERY YUMMY!!! She even let me use a knife for a minute!

Which brings us to the new love of my life... The Kindle 2. My parents had originally ordered it for Christmas but it didn't come so they surprised me with it for my birthday. For those of you who don't know it is like and IPOD for books. You can download books instantly... I LOVE IT!!! I'd sleep with it but with a kid, and two dogs our bed's a little full.It has, however, resulted in this...

A giant pile of laundry I have yet to fold. I just have three questions....

1. when did we get all these clothes?

2. When did my evil twin decided to wear them all...

3. and when is my house elf going to appear and fold it all for me?????

Happy Birthday to me....

Today, I'm one step closer to 30... hmmm, 27's not old right?

I had a really nice day- We started out the morning at Laney's playgroup where she had a breakthrough. For the first time she held onto another little girl's hand during ring around the rosie. She might turn out to be social after all...

Then after a beautiful day (maybe spring is finally here!), and an afternoon nap Ryan and I went to Anthony's for dinner. Fran was nice enough (and brave enough) to offer to watch the Laney Bug so Ryan and I could go out. We had a great dinner (yummy huckleberry slump for dessert) then came home to a clean baby, with jammers on, ready for bed. Fran says no tears were shed, so all in all I think it was a pretty great birthday!

Thanks again Fran!

St. Patricks Day

Happy St. Patricks Day!

Laney went to the doctor yesterday for her 18 month well-baby (I know, we're a little behind!) She weighs 25 pounds and is 32 inches tall. No shots- so we left without tears, but much to laney's disappointment we also left without a sucker.

Happy Birthday Ryan!

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Ryan

Happy Birthday to you!

Love you,

Amy and Laney

Laney's week

Wearing a hat- she will dig through her drawers, find a hat and wear it around all day. That day she even found one and put it on her baby but I missed the picture. It cracks me up to see her in jammers and a pink hat!


A few weeks ago, I was desperately trying to get some sewing done so I put a tv and dvd player in the sewing room trying to keep Laney entertained- it never worked. Then this weekend I moved her little chair in there and now she won't leave! I spend all day trying to convince her to do something else. So, I made a fort out of a few sheets and our kitchen table and she moved all of her dolls in there and played for most of the morning...


But by the afternoon- she was right back in her chair! I finally just shut the door and everytime she walked by it she threw a temper tantrum... me and my bright ideas!
We have joined a play group of sorts on Fridays- at first Laney wasn't so sure but by about 10 minutes in she's running around like crazy! She particularly loves the balance beam and the paracute, but she's not so sure about sharing all these new toys with the other kids... can you say only child?

Here she is crawling and growling like a bear- she's been practicing this one.
And going through the tube- She's turning around tell the other little girl "no"- she really doesn't like to share!

My dad, the famous photographer

My dad took this picture last week at the farm. It is a storm rolling in, not fog. Anyway- he sent it in to th e news for their weather pictures segment and made it! Pretty cool- nice job dad!

A good recipe idea...

Ryan and I have had this a few times and we both REALLY like it (which is saying something)
so I thought I'd share the recipe...


Herb Marinated Loin of Pork

Grated zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (4-6 lemons)
1/2 cup fresh olive oil
2 tbsp minced garlic
1 1/2 tbsp minced fresh rosemary leaves
1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
2 tsp Dijon mustard
Kosher salt
3 pork tenderloins (about 1 pounds each)
Freshly ground pepper

Combine ingredients in a gallon bag, add tenderloin, seal and toss to coat. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours but preferably overnight (I let it go overnight and I think it makes a big difference). Then grill, browning all sides for 15-25 minutes (ours takes longer more like 35 min) until the meat is done according to your preference.

Hope you like it- it might be the only recipe I ever post! :)

Viva Las Vegas

Ryan and I just got back from our trip to Vegas- we had a really great time! It was the first time that we've left Laney for more than one night, but it was good to get away and have some time together without a munchkin and a diaper bag. I had a hard time saying goodbye but thankfully Jess called right when I was really feeling sad and was able to talk me off the ledge with a funny cat story! My mom and dad kept Laney and she had a great time- I don't really think she even missed us at all! A big thanks to them for keeping not only our daughter but our two dogs!!






We stayed at the MGM Grand. It was nice but it was kinda far away from everything so we spent a lot of time on the bus. The picture above was the view from our room. The weather was wonderful, it was about 70 degrees everyday which was a nice change from the 40 degree weather we'd been enjoying in Hermiston.

Here are the lions that they kept in the MGM- I am always amazed at how BIG the hotels are in Vegas- 5,000 rooms and they still have room for a lion habitat. I did discover that my sense of direction (or lack thereof) is a tragedy in Vegas. I spent the entire time lost. The one time Ryan and I separated it took us an hour to find each other again because I got so turned around!

While we were down there we saw two shows, Ka and Carrot Top. They were both amazing! This was the second time I've seen Carrot Top and he's hysterical! And Ka is a Cirque show and I have to admit I was a little skeptical but both Ryan and I loved it! If you're ever in Vegas I would highly recommend both of these.

And here is a picture of my winning combo at a slot machine. We were just playing while we watched the end of the coug game and all of a sudden my machine started to go crazy- and I turned up a winner- who knew?!