It's been a busy week! But here are new pictures of our Katie-girl

Stimulating the Local Economy on Valentine's Day

Yesterday we helped out a couple local small business owners. First, (once Bryan returned home from work), we went to the local gormet chocolate shop in downtown Waukesha, Allo! We bought an array of truffles that were so rich we could only nibble on them!

Next, we ordered a pizza from Papa Murphy's --a papa's favorite (discarding the mushrooms and adding pineapple). While we enjoyed our pizza, Katie did some pilates.

Dave Ramsey Pick-Up Lines

You look familiar ... didn't I deliver a pizza to you last week?

You're so hot you could melt my debt snowball!

When I saw you, my jaw dropped like the value of a new car.

You look so good, I could sell you on eBay!

For those of you who don't know Dave Ramsey...check out his financial concepts at www.daveramsey.com! Here, you can also listen to free archives of his radio broadcasts. (I like to listen to his show as I'm cleaning up the kitchen or playing with Katie.

HT Ruth

Happy Valentine's Day, Bryan!

I would have written "Love You," but I ran out of candy!

Learning Optometry

Hard at Play

Heading Out- Again!

Today, all 4 of us went on the walk!

Three Things That Make Ashley Smile in the Morning

These 3 mugs are made by Sonoma Home, and they are my favorite mugs for hot drinks! They definitely do their part in making my 8 O'Clock Coffee more enjoyable. I need one more in winter decor to make a set! So if you see one this summer at a rummage sale, please pick it up for me!

Drink of Choice

Consumer Reports shares its best cup of coffee...8 O'Clock Coffee! I'd also like to add that I buy this coffee for about $1/bag due to Pick N Save specials and double-coupon Wednesday. Also, the company that sells the coffee offers Accumu8 Rewards (similar to frequent flyer miles).

Little Feet

Good Girl!

Lost our jobs...

According to Nancy Pelosi, everyone in America including Katie lost their job during this recession. Take a peak at the wonderful House Speaker we have. Go here for the article.

Sweet Potato and Play

She had a great time eating and playing with Dad.

Afternoon Frolic

The temp rose to 40 degrees today, so Bryan, Shadow and Katie headed out. Mom read a chapter of the latest Nicolas Sparks book while enjoying a cup of cappichino.

A Good Cell Phone Is Hard to Find

...but it's hard to get rid of once you find it! I think this was Sprint's best-selling phone in 2002.

Fruit Spread

Katie found some yummy-looking fruit at the grocery store yesterday!

Flower Power

Is it spring yet?

Brrr--cold

12 degrees outside. 68 degrees inside. Shadow has cuddled in old brown all day long. Katie likes her pink fleece jacket! Bryan likes his cappuccino! Ashley likes her morning coffee--and the automatic starter on the coffee maker!

Tonight would be a good night for chicken and dumpling soup. Too bad we don't have any celery around the house...maybe I'll make some soup on Friday!

Money Tips from 1948

We got a kick out of watching this video this morning. Nanna, Ruth--I think you'll enjoy this 10 minute clip. Mom--you need to click on the video twice to make it run.

Bryan encourages everyone to check out the sweet camera at the end. In our story, a new MacBook Pro is the camera.



(HT: Get Rich Slowly)

Love is in the Air

Staying Real

Shots from around our home today (after Ashley's work, after the grocery store...it's been a full day!). And dinner is still in the oven. On the menu for tonight is hamburger hashbrown casserole.

Bragging Rights from the Grocery Store

It's double-coupon Wednesday! I saved $20.94 while only spending $15.77!! And I bought 20 items! This must be due to Obama being in office...

Don't Waste Your $3.28

I thought I was something this morning...I went to my boss's office at 6AM so I could finish his Operational Plan (Ava, who I helped Jim hire FT before I went on my maternity leave is in Hawaii this week). Since Bryan was able to be with Katie this morning, we were saving babysitting money. So, I decided to treat myself to a Starbucks vanilla latte. Yum!

Well, when I went to enter the office building, I had problems opening the exterior door. Utimately, I placed my purse and latte on the ground so I could use both hands to pull the door. After 5 attempts, I finally opened the door. And knocked over my latte.

I salvaged about 1/4 cup of it.

An Untimely Report

Only 9 hours ago, ABC reporter Peter Cave wrote that "Reverend's Benediction Touches on Race."

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2470658.htm

Seriously, Peter Cave? It "touches" on race? And you just realized it almost 24 hours after the speech was delievered? Watch out, I might swipe in and take your job!

The Benediction

Did anyone else notice the glib racisim in the inaugrigation benediction??

“We ask you [God] to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to give back, when brown can stick around, when yellow will be mellow, when the red man can get ahead, man, and when white will embrace what is right,” Lowery said.

What?

No "white" is embracing "what is right?" At all? Not even Billy Graham and Mother Theresa? Blacks shouldn't "give back" just because they're black? No "red men" can get ahead?? I'm thinking that all those "red men" who own casinos are rolling in way more money than I will ever see!

Green Beans

Right now Katie is eating green beans. She isn't making the "I want to puke face" each time we feed her a spoonful of beans. Katie tried a sippy cup this past weekend, but she really didn't know what to make of it.

Happy Birthday Grandma

Thanks for spending time with us yesterday, and feeding me peas. I hope you have a great birthday.

Impacting Others

Bryan thinks it's funny that one of our friends emailed me for advice:

Hey Ashley,

What are the rules for Double Coupon Wednesdays at Pick 'n Save? What's the highest price coupon you can use? How many coupons can you use?

I'm thinking of working harder at coupon-clipping, because now that we're down to 1 salary, plus whatever I can make, we're trying to cut back.

Happy Birthday Uncle Jimmy!

I hope you're enjoying the Florida weather! It's -4 as I write.

I Love My Doll

Just Another Day at the Park

Thanks, Ruth, for sharing about your fun time playing at the park...in the 60 degree weather. It's 8 degrees as I write. We're staying inside.

Fuzzi Bunz Katie

Summer Thoughts and Plans

We're thinking about gardening...carrots? Peas? Tomatoes? And, we're thinking about Girl Scout cookies. Our neighborhood resident girl scout came by today and took our order!

Introducing...Peas!

I'd look the same if peas were my breakfast.

Breakfast Conversation

Ashley: Honey, do you want me to sprinkle some flax seed on your oatmeal?
Bryan: No thanks.
Ashley: Where are you going to get your omega-3s?
Bryan: From the sun.

Waiting for Spring Training

Luther vs. Bryan

See Todd's post on how Martin Luther came into our conversations on Bryan's birthday. Cheers!

Our Six Month Supermodel

This picture is a reminant from Halloween. Yesterday was Katie's 6 month checkup! She is tall and skinny: 27 inches in length (80 ish percentile) and 15 lbs, 4 oz (30 ish percentile! Her head is still tiny--also the 30ish percentile. Since we went over the 15 lb mark, Katie officially started her fuzzi bunz! Thanks Uncle Jimmy for the pretty diapers. I will post a picture of Katie in her red diaper soon.

Happy New Year!