Shawn the Sheep, aka Baaa

Somewhere along the way, we discovered Shawn the Sheep. Its a 4-5 minute cartoon that makes us (me and Ep and MemaNana) laugh. Until last week, Kale could not have cared less about Shawn the Sheep.

Then he learned to say Baaaa.

So, now he knows that he can watch Shawn the Sheep by pointing to the tv and saying Baaaa. I guess asking him to say Shawn the Sheep is just a little much.

Current Kale translations:

Baaa=sheep

Cack cack cack=duck

Mmboooo=cow

Eiei=old mcdonald's farm

Heck i ca ca = helicopter or airplane (for the moment, all motorized things that fly)

Oooo = Goose (our dog)

Emmo= all things Sesame Street (they are all considered to be Elmo at the moment)

eyehair = high chair

Ok...gotta get back to the grind.

apple, eat, and baaaa

MemaNana got a new dvd this week for Kale. Not sure if its rented from the library or if its an ebay find. Its entirely devoted to sign language and is geared towards kids and for words they would most likely use as a baby/toddler.

Last week, before this video emerged, Kale started signing for hat. To me, that is funny because he absolutely despises wearin a hat for more than .001 second. He will occassionally grab one of Ep's hats or one of mine and put it on (or at least try) but then its quickly left behind as he moves on...

Somewhere along the way, he has learned to say Baaaa for sheep. Its quite cute.

Well, this week, the new video has him saying apple, eat, and a few other non-descript words. He seems to have learned them from the signing video, but isn't signing when he says them. O well.

We are still waiting for him to say his two favorite snacks---cracker and oreo. However, when he wants either of those, it is VERY clear what he wants!

Walgreens...uh oh, again

Oh my, I think I nearly got thrown out of Walgreens yesterday. There is a store that Ep had asked me "can you please just not go to that store because there are many other Walgreens to shop around here". He said that in fear that I might actually get into trouble at that store because he knows that I truly butt heads with the manager there.

So, how did I end up at that store? I went in search of a highly valued coupon. She spied me and was apparently watching me. I found the coupon I wanted (tearpad type) and was actually going to go ahead and buy some other stuff in her store. Before I could even go look for the other stuff, she stops me to ask if I plan to use all those coupons today. I told the truth and said no, but would be saving them for a sale on that item. I also said, you know I coupon shop but also wait for sales to save the most money. She starts asking me for the coupons back. We went back and forth a few times until I told her that I was just going to leave her store, taking the coupons with me, and that she wouldn't have to worry about me anymore because I wouldn't be coming back to her store. As I am walking out, she tells me to go ahead and call corporate about it because she would be the one returning my call when the complaint came down. I laughed at her. Yes, I know, not very nice. Still, I laughed at her and told her that she wouldn't have to bother because I wasn't going to call because her DM does not return my calls and she lies to corporate and tells them that she has made the customer happy (last time I called, they said she reported that to them...she had never even called me in the first place, much less made me a happy customer!)
I left and went on my merry way. The coupons don't belong to her. They are produced by the manufacturer. They are sent or put out with promotional items on displays. They have a value of .001 (anybody got 1% of one penny laying around?) and nowhere on the display or coupon does it say you have to use it the same day you found it! They hope you will, but its not required. Any shopper with any bargain sense is going to wait to use the coupon when the item is on sale unless its a "gotta have it now" moment! Duh!
Ok, yeah, I went on my way. I went down the street to the other Walgreens and bought the stuff I needed (which all ended up being free thanks to register rewards and gift cards). I then made my way down the road to Kroger and then made one quick run into a third Walgreens. As I round a corner at the back of the store, I nearly freaked out. Guess who is walking down the aisle towards me? Yep, the manager from the other store. My first thought was Holy Jeepers, she is following me! I nearly busted out laughing. Instead, I just said hello and then crouched down to check out an item for Ep. She went into the back of the store and then came right back out. As I am in my freaking out crouched down position trying not to laugh or let my eyes bug out, I spy a very valuable coupon for the product that Ep likes. YEA! I got the coupons, left the product (he still has some at home but now I know where to buy more in that flavor), and headed for the door. I have no idea where the "manager from the hot place" went, but she must have warned the cosmetic counter lady. As I neared the cosmetic area on my way to the door, the cosmetic lady gets right in my face and says "can I help you" in a stern voice with a not friendly face. Ack! I told her no, mumbled something about my husband can come pick it out, and got myself out of there pronto! I am still laughing.

So much for Ep's idea of just avoiding her store...now I really might call corporate and to find out what other stores she might be "managing" when she isn't at her store. I might have to mention her comments while I am at it. I am sure that they will love to know that she is running off customers over a coupon with a value of .001!

And yes, I know I am crazy when it comes to coupons...

Just to even the score

Ok, so to even the score, I now have this classified ad to post:

For sale or trade:

Woman--very opinionated, very vocal, can get emotional at the drop of a dime (sometimes to her frustration), gets cranky when awakened early (from night of sleep or nap), doesn't refill ice trays, hates taking out garbage and vacuuming, is picky about how laundry is done, is addicted to her iPhone, gets awful headaches, wants things done her way, is stubborn, will argue (and win), can be aggressive and competitive (about insane things). She also loves reading, loves gardening, loves couponing, loves getting things for free (even when she doesn't need them) or for cheap (only things her household will use), loves bargain shopping but has expensive tastes, would always prefer to be barefoot or wearing flip flops, knows that business attire is not her thing, has a lot on her "want to do" list but rarely gets any of it accomplished, and has a deep deep deep love for her family. Please know that if you insult her or her beloveds, she will chew you to pieces in a split second.

Ok, let the comments begin...

For Sale or Trade

For sale or trade...one husband (man) and one son (little boy). I get them during the day, but at night they are all yours! What a deal!

Disclaimers:

Little boy likes to sleep in your bed with you. Will kick the fire out of you. Will leave toe bruises on your legs. Will even run his feet down the back of your underwear if you don't watch out, and as of last night, giggle while he does it in his sleep! Talks in his sleep and will entertain you with a "roll call" of all his words and some giggles throughout the night.

Man will snore. Its apparently not an optional feature and has not turn off valve. Saying his name loudly will make it temporarily stop, but then you risk disturbing above mentioned little boy. Man will also say all kinds of thing when the little boy kicks him. Apparently he has no volume control at night either. If upset during his sleep, he will turn over in a manner that causes the entire bed to bounce so be ready to cling desperately to the bed or be prepared to hit the floor. Man also has history of laying his hand above your head and then jumping in his sleep, which results in your head getting smacked. He will have no recollection of it in the morning, or so he will say anyway. Man also has the ability to quietly sneak out of the bed/house first thing in the morning.

Any takers?

Ok, I truly do love both of them will all my heart...just feeling a little sleep deprived at the moment...and needed to give myself some comic relief.

Saturday morning hoorah

On Saturday mornings, we have somewhat of a routine. I get up and go to garage sales while Ep and Kale hang out together--usually watching tv, playing with trucks, or whatever fancies them.

Last week, I hit some pretty good deals. I got Kale an outside toy chest for $8, some stuff to re-sell on ebay, some clothes for Kale (yes, I realize he has a full closet but I couldn't refuse the plaid pants), some toy trucks for Kale, a pair of shoes for Kale, two Pier 1 wicker baskets that still have the tags attached...and I don't remember what else. I just remember it was a good "score".

This week, ahhhh, I had another pretty good week. That doesn't happen very often back to back! I got a wooden stool for our bedroom (closet), two deck chairs in Kale's size, a seemingly brand new Tonka dump truck AND bulldozer for $5 ($2.50 each), a wicker basket, some clothing items for me, a cute hobo bag, a few books, some more little trucks for Kale, a few more "play" items for Kale's kitchen, a collander (because we already have two and Ep can't ever find one), and a plastic pitcher. There was probably m0re...I just don't remember. The Tonka trucks and little deck chairs were my best finds this week. One of the deck chairs might stay inside and serve as a "time out" chair pretty soon.

This morning, Kale went to the gym with Ep. It was our first stab at using the nursery. He liked it! Yea! That is good news for everyone!!!

For the record, Kale was ready for a nap. I fixed him a bottle of 1/8 milk and 7/8 formula. We went to his room where I changed his diaper and started his "birdies". I covered him up and told him I would be back. I wanted to see if he would be willing to fall asleep on his own. About 7 minutes passed and there had yet to be little feet running up the hallway. I went in to check...sure enough, he was out! YEA!!!!

I don't have a title for this one

Man, what a week. The much anticipated week of "terminations" has started at my work. I have been informed that all cuts to positions in my overall group have already been made. I still have a job. For the past 6 weeks, we have all (at work) known it was coming. I had been told that my position was fine, but trust isn't just real wide spread at work right now. So, in the back of my mind has been the lingering fear that maybe someone was lying or just not fully informed. So, while I breathe a temporary sigh of relief, some of my colleagues are getting meeting requests. The code at work right now is "Jane Doe got a meeting request", which translates to meaning that Jane Doe is losing her job because she got a meeting request from her boss or human resources. Only a small group was immediately dismissed, while most everyone else affected can choose to stay until June 26th. There aren't any announcements or a list going out...its all word of mouth....and everyone knows how that can go. Its basically print an org chart now and then compare it to the one that will be release next week...and that is how you can fill in the blanks about who lost their job. Fun times, let me tell ya! I found out that colleague had been cut because I went to her desk to ask about a joint project. She and all of her belongings had vanished. Not a fun way to be notified. Rather shocking, really. At that point, someone pulled me aside and whispered a list of names...and thus it began. That was on Monday. Today, a woman came to our floor and was saying that her boss was in the meeting right now and that she was next and wanted to take everyone's picture. It took us all a minute to figure out what she was saying/meaning and by then we were all posed as a group. I am sure the looks on people's faces in that picture are just jolly, right? The cop blood in me says I should have politely excused myself from the picture. Ugh. I didn't though. And then a new list was verbalized. I currently have around 50 boxes of 8ct pop tarts in my truck. Yes, thats 400 pop tarts. Its a coupon/movie ticket deal thing. I better go donate them quick because this stress is going to lead to a pot-tart binge! Ack!

On the home front...Kale is very left handed. Although this is not news for many in his life, I have finally conceded that he is indeed left handed. Good thing his daddy and Mema are too because now they can teach him to write!

Kale is also a morning person, unless he is snoozing in the bed with me. He came running into our room this morning at 5:45am. If he was able, I am sure that he would have jumped up on the bed and proceeded to pounce us. He was quite happy and ready to see us. I was ok with it all until I realized that it was 5:45am and not 6:45am.

One last Kale moment. I just got off the phone with my mom. Kale thinks all phone calls are for him and that if he can't hold the phone, he must yell so that the person on the other end can be sure to hear him and his displeasure of not holding the phone. If you give him the phone, he hangs up on the person. Its a no-win situation. I needed to give my mom directions to the park. As I am giving her directions (and noticing that Kale is suddenly quiet in the background), she says "WHAT are you doing?" in her very motherly tone. Of course, being her child, I automatically think she is talking to me. But before I could respond, she tells me that Kale has decided to remove his diaper. The boy loves to be naked. She tells him that he can't run around naked and has to wear his diaper. I don't think he cared much for that idea. So, if you hear of a little boy running around a LR park without his diaper...there is a good chance you know him! For the record, our parents tell us that Ep and I equally enjoyed the naked look when we were his age. One of us still thinks clothing should be optional while the other one of us is very fond of clothing in front of other people. Let the guesswork begin....