Graduation Cookies!!

I found the pictures of the cookies!! These were the ones we had made for Parker's graduation party---aren't they adorable?! Of course, I had her make up some in UW-P's colors, because at THAT time, that's where he was headed to college!!!

New Year, New Start?

To keep me accountable, I feel like I need to do my annual "resolutions" post =) I did pretty well last year--there were some goals met and very good attempts made towards others, HA!!
So, for 2012:
**USE that nursing degree/license I worked so hard to get!!! Lots of inner turmoil here, but it's time to get my heiney moving on this one.
**Keep decluttering. You wouldn't believe what's been taken out of the attic recently! Well, Parker would! He "gets" to make trips to the Thrift Store as I fill boxes up. Plenty of eBay listing going on too--might as well make some bucks where I can as I go along!! My "mantra" is: "if we moved next week, do I REALLY want to take _______ with me?" If I don't love it enough to move it, why am I storing it?
**Get a card sent out for appropriate occasions. I have to admit, I don't think I sent a single card out last year. Pretty sad considering I really do enjoy making them =(
**I need to get back on the meal-planning bandwagon. What a difference it makes. Really. Truly.
**And last but not least, I HAVE to figure out what the problem is that photos aren't uploading easily to my blog!!! I have not abandoned "TueschYouWereHere", honest. We still do fun, interesting things, as well as "everyday" things that I've been known to blog about, but by golly, they're more interesting with photos to go along with the tale!!! I AM going to get it worked out, I promise!

UGH

Yep, that pretty much sums it up. I've got several posts I've attempted to put up, but *&%^$@# blogger doesn't want to upload my photos. And really, what's a blogpost without photos of my darling children?
So please be patient (you know how I am) while I keep trying!!!!!

There's an APP for that....

Before I went to Boston, I bought an iPod Touch. For a variety of reasons and I love it!!! Internet access wherever there is a WIFI signal (yes, I know a "smart phone" will do the same thing, but I'm too cheap to pay for a montly data plan--HA!) Anyhow, just like an iphone, you can download an app for practically anything! Her are some that I'm enjoying =)




This one is da bomb!! You can scan the UPC code of ANY product and it will pull up what that item costs are area stores! For example, if I see a lego set at Target, but want to be sure that the best deal is in front of me, I can scan the UPC code on the box and it will show me what those legos cost at Walmart, Shopko, Kmart, even online options! I am going to LOVE this one with upcoming Xmas shopping!!



This one is a "knock-off" version of Scrabble. I usually have several games going at once with many different people. Did you know "xi" is a word? Or "qua"? "Jo" is a great way to offload that J!



And this image is apparently shy! It's an app where you can make lists of gifts you need to buy, or have bought and keeps track of budgeting too!! I'm excited to play with this one b/4 I head out for my big shop trip in a couple of weeks =)

What I'm Reading....

Several months ago, I came across a blog (shocker, right?) about an anonymous teacher who was eating the school lunches being served to the students in her school and was blogging about it. Mostly how NASTY it is/was. Fillers, over-processed junk, stuff that has sat on shelves for Lord only knows how long. I'm not a fan of school lunches: They are disgusting and I don't like that my kids like them. Well, to a point. Parker is not a fan, but it's not cool to be 17 and bringing a lunch from home---go figure.
Anyhoo, "Mrs. Q" was approached by a publisher and her wonderful blog and all her research and thoughts associated with it has been turned into a book. Which I had to have. And now do.
Fed Up With Lunch. By Sarah Wu. I highly recommend it. Just saying....

Calling the Tooth Fairy!!

So while I was away for those couple of days, Beckett lost his first tooth!!! It's been loose (just like it's neighbor!) for a while, so I knew it was just a matter of time =)
BUT, there was nothing to leave for the tooth fairy. He was at Grandma's and in Beckett's own words: "a chicken nugget grabbed it and took it down!" There are hand motions to go along with it, mostly him showing the path that little bitty tooth took from it's nesting spot in his mouth, down the GI tract and landing in his belly.
Luckily, ol' TF is a VERY understanding gal and accepted the reasoning behind no tooth in the pocket of the pillow. Plus, if TF reads my blog, she can see the gap in the 6 year old's smile, HA!

Saving 2nd Base

October is breast cancer awareness month!! Unless you live under a rock, chances are you knew this already. Pink, pink, pink as far as the eye can see: the NFL dons pink shoes, wristbands, gloves and towels (even the refs have pink whistles, I love it!), I've seen fire department personnel swapping out their usual navy Tshirts for pink ones, and pink ribbons are everywhere!
My local hospital is offering a free manicure at a downtown spa for anyone having a mammogram in the month of October. This saturday in fact, the spa will be set up at the hospital and you can get your boobies scanned and then have your nails done, all in one stop! I walked away with a gift certificate since I'm not doing it on the big day.
Have you had your mammogram this year yet?

WIN-SCONSIN

I've seen this logo floating around a lot on facebook. And while I'm no big-time sports-nut (ask anyone who knows me in real life, unless it's my son's golf meets!), it is a pretty cool Fall that we're having here in the land of cheeseheads! The local HS football team is undefeated so far as well, but that's not worked into the above graphic---HA!

Absence make the heart grow fonder..

Kurt was never far from my mind while I was in Boston =) Brigette and I had to chase down Boston's famous Rescue 1 to get directions to "the Big House" so we could buy tshirts!

FOOD!!

LOTS of eating got done in Boston! I had Thai for the first time, tried deep fried alligator (super good!), I was introduced to bubble tea (2 differnt varities, but both had the needed big balls of tapioca at the bottom!), went to the Cheesecake Factory for the first time and introduced a couple of the girls to the Melting Pot. We also got a pastry at Mike's, which is a "must do" in Boston!
We had IHOP for Anna (no IHOP's in Canada, which makes one wonder what part of international IS this house of pancakes?!) Dunkin Donuts are everywhere and push carts sell practically anything edible. I was hoping to try falafel while I was out there, but it just didn't happen =(

What $800 looks like

Disappointed? I'm still in the shock phase!!! Parker sees a dermatolgist for his areas of psoriasis and she is always changing up the creams, lotions, sprays, potions and miracles in a tube. We have a whole bin of these tubes. And dermatology drugs are flipping expensive!!
His dermatologist is sweet enough to send home coupons that bring down the cost of our copay for them, which is helpful to be sure. The other day my cousin who works in the pharmacy we use told me that Parker had an Rx there to be picked up (something Parker neglected to tell me). She went on to say that she was surprised that insurance paid for it and to my puzzled expression she said that it's REALLY expensive and not all insurances will cover it. Um, how expensive you ask? She said our carrier paid over $800 for it. ULP!! And he has 3 refills on it!
We did have a $35 coupon that would have zeroed out the copay, but you need to be 18 to use it and he's not quite there yet.
He IS noticing a difference, so I guess it's doing it's job!!

SCORE!

Not that I'M headed back to school this Fall (yay!), but when the BTS coupon from Maurices arrived in the mail, I thought I'd at least take a look in our local store. I found jeans that I liked, kind of pricey, but I thought if I tried them on and liked them, I could talk myself into them at 20% off.
WELL, tried them on, liked them, went to purchase them. The tag said they were $77.98 (no WAY would I pay that!), BUT they rang up at $9.95!! Then take off the 20% and all of a sudden they were down to $7.98!!! And yes, we (the clerk and I) looked around to see any more were going to ring up that way. No dice, but I was DANGED happy with my bargain =)

Yummmmmm?

You've seen the ads: Red Robin!!! (pause) Yummmmmm! Yeah, in the words of this reviewer, not so much.
This weekend is tax-free shopping in Iowa (note, not MY state), so Parker and I went to finish back-to-school shopping for him this morning. We found some great deals too between the sales, lack of tax and coupons!
Well, shopping can take a lot out of you, even non-monetarily, and I was with a growing teenage boy. Clearly, sustinance was required to keep us going. It was my idea to try Red Robin, I admit it. When we got close we noticed that Buffalo Wild Wings was right next door, so I gave Parker the choice. Neither of us had been to either place, so he chose RR.
At best, the meal was mediocre (strike one occurred right away as they serve Coke products!) but the best was yet to come with the $34 bill that was slid to me at the end. $34 for LUNCH for TWO people. One of whom drank water! We did split a $5 dessert, I readily admit to that, but even still. To put it in perspective, on Wednesday evening when FOUR of us ate out at Olive Garden, the tab there was $38. And that food was GOOD!
Long story short, I will not be seeking out Red Robin when the signs of hunger are approaching....

Surgery for Papa

Yesterday my Dad had surgery to relieve the blockage in his carotid artery that was found last week. My sister, her 2 boys, and Parker spent the day doing a LOT of waiting at St. Mary's and I went up after work to visit for a while. Thankfully, all went well and they kicked him out today (at the insistance of nursing staff, I am quite sure!)
Now to get him all recovered so work on our bathroom can commence!!!

The FINAL Harry Potter =(

My Mom and I saw Harry Potter Deathly Hallows part 2 this morning--in IMAX 3D, HIGHLY recommend catching it this way!!!
VERY bittersweet to see the end of the series actually happen, I will miss Harry and all of the others =( I am in the camp that hopes JK Rowling WILL write more Harry related books, either prequels OR what happens to everyone after Voldermort's demise, either way! I think they did a wonderful job with the movie, even with the liberties they took with the screenplay vs. what was written in the book.
Two thumbs up!!!
I've put a few of the movie posters up---my how the kids have grown up over the course of filming 8 movies!!!

Paging Dr. Dorian...

Egads! Too many hospital/clinic/Dr's visits in the past couple of days!
First: My Mom calls on Wednesday night, they've been camping in Eau Claire (pronounced Oh Claire, unless you are the voice inside of Tom Tom, then it's E-A-Uclaire) and my Dad had 2-3 mini strokes and was currently admitted at Sacred Heart hospital--hence the photo of the cast of Scrubs. My sister was camping with them, so she was already there, but my brother and I had to make the drive on Thursday to help pack up the campsite and bring them back home. It's about a 4 hour drive and my brother doesn't believe in stopping for bathroom breaks. Dad has a partially blocked carotid artery and will have surgery on Tuesday to remedy the problem.
Second: Beckett has had a little bit of a rash on his thighs, slightly itchy and starting to get a little "welt-y" so I wanted to have it looked at. I got an appointment for him on Friday afternoon, and as I'm getting ready to take him to it, Parker calls....
Third: "Um Mom? I'm at work and I kind of passed out and fell into the pool". YIKES! Healthy 17 year old boys don't pass out and fall into pools of water! So guess who got to tag along to the 5 year old's appointment? They've decided that he has a bladder infection and are treating him accordingly. Beckett got a prescription for steroids and antihistimines for a possible exposure to poison ivy/oak/summac/something.
Yeah, they're loving us at the pharmacy....