shame on you

for not blogging to distract me from my horrible no good bad day.

i'd tell you all about how i've been wronged by the ugly fence and mean neighbor but i'm emotionally drained by the subject at this point.

so since you all didn't write volumes to distract me - I have kept up with the drah-ma over at Cjane's and I loved it :

to ultrasound or not to ultrasound?

lds moms - are we doormats if we stay home, are we neglectful if we leave for the workplace?

were you offended by Sis. Beck's talk? I wasn't. I do think I need to read it everyday.

thanks cjane - your writing is soothing, and the comments are distracting. just what I needed.

Do not even say.

Do not even say:

"but at least its a nice fence"

"at least she is paying for it"

"at least its cedar"

"it could be worse - she could not even take care of her fence"

or anything like that.

I fought so hard yesterday, the police did come but they did not arrest me. A lawyer showed up but I did not get sued (yet).

But I am not done. This affects the value of our property. And despite the fact that ownership is still in question, no one will stop and let us figure this out. And if the HOA is right (which they are not) I don't own the second half of the back either, so its not in my power to replace the rest to match if I wanted.

So don't comment unless its to agree with me. Because everyone thinks I am crazy to be so mad. and I may be. But its my right to be mad, and apparantly it may be the only right I have left.

I might get arrested today

do

you

ever

get frustrated?

really

really frustrated?

I

do

and

its

bad.

Like should this be part of anyone's calling:

Factor* =

sum of

minimum

column C

points

needed to

meet rank

in category.

Default =

yeah that's just a sneak peek at scout speak for ways to praise 8 and 9 year old boys, or in other words how to calculate badges for cub scouts. I think its a little (or a lot) ridiculous. But I love my boys and they love to get awards. And now there is a new Den leader assistant who is going to help me with this area. THANK GOODNESS!

about the getting arrested part:

my neighbor behind me is ripping out a quarter of my back fence. the fence that we painstakingly stained, and that I have loved since. Now it won't match at all. AT ALL

different fence, height, color.

She didn't have the courtesy to talk to us before - NO I found out when they started tearing away my fence.

I fought them all day yesterday - I yelled, took pictures, made calls, yelled at people on the phone, and generally bugged them until they left.

The HOA has not helped me and she won't answer her door. So the plan is when the workers show up today I am spraying them with my water hose if they touch my fence again. And I won't stop until they leave, she comes and talks to me, or I get arrested.

Before you come to bail me out Kyle delete this post.

tomorrow's just a song away...

Cora and I like to dance. But I have to admit she's a better dancer than me.

she's got mad moves:

want more? go here

For your calendar

Ella Marie Oyakawa

will be Baptized on December 12, 2009

She would love for all her friends to be there

Love it.

Benjamin goes straight to the source for homework help:

Divison

	Inbox		X

Reply

Oyakawa Family to Becky

show details 4:06 PM (16 hours ago)

can our homework can have remainders?

From,Ben

Reply

Forward

Reply

Becky Sharp to me

show details 5:52 PM (14 hours ago)

No, there should be no remainders on your homework.

Mrs. Sharp

>>> Oyakawa Family <oyakawa@gmail.com> 11/11/09 4:07 PM >>>

Awards and homework.

Cora and Maiya were both napping a little while ago when Benjamin and Ella came home from school. It was so nice to sit there and fold clothes and watch them do homework. I had a sweet moment where I realized how much I love my life. I am doing exactly what I want to do with the people I want to be with.

Its nice to be grateful for a moment in the moment.

Here is Ella getting a Soaring Eagle award the other day - excuse the pics I was a mile away.

that is her by the principal - she's still tiny.

And in case you were wondering this is what "homework" looks like:

Benjamin over my shoulder trying to gross me out by wiggling a loose tooth, all the while begging for a calculator to do his homework.

(I try to help with said homework, but really I need a calculator to do it)
Ella reading while playing with her hair, and sticking pretzels up her nose. Is that something Ramona Quimby would do?

Halloweeeeeeeeennn

Ben and Ella ready for the annual Prosper Sock Hop

Mrs. Pocahontas ready for her preschool party

at the sock hop with Ben

then at Maiya's preschool party (mrs. Janette, or sis. Church, or teacher lady - all of which Maiya calls her) made the cutest halloween snacks.

back to the school for Ella's sock hop... at which Cora walked the WHOLE TIME!!

doing the hullahoop

For Halloween Ella wanted a broken leg. She loved people trying to figure out whether she really had a broken leg or not. ($2 crutches from the thrift store and plaster gauze from the craft store: super easy wish come true for her!)

broken leg, good, broken leg and two arms, even better.

Clone trooper (I hate store bought costumes but it was alas another dream come true - for Benjamin, not me)

not in the mood for a photo shoot

actual conversation:

neighbor "hey little indian girl"

Maiya: "I am NOT an indian girl"

"I am POCAHONTAS"

what its all about

Aunt Meg came to trick or treat with us!!!

hope you all had a happy Halloween!!!

Lady with the Giant Purse UPDATED

As I looked at all the cute tiny purses I sighed, resigned to the fact that I am one of those giant purse ladies. Well maybe not as bad as Lindsay Lohan:

Yeah my purse may be that big after all.

it's got to be big enough to hold:

• diapers, wipes, and changing pad - (a big purse is still cooler than a purse + a diaper bag)
• toys to entertain the kids and me
• lotion
• gum
• Keys
• wallet
• cell phone
• advil
• calculator (one of my best money saving tools)
• and my absolute best money saving tool: THE PRICE BOOK

What is the price book you ask??

I will tell you since I am in the process of recreating mine. Maiya decorated it and then Cora tore it up. I was devastated I tell you. I haven't jumped at putting one back together. But I am getting back on the wagon. Without my trusty price book I am seeing my grocery budget swell up and that is just not cool.

salvaged page from my previous price book - are you humming taps?? I am.

A price book is what you use to keep track of prices on ALL of your regular purchases.

You will soon realize with this one little tool that you are being tricked. Coupons are not always worth it. Sale fliers are bold faced liars. And what you used to think was a fabulous deal doesn't seem so fabulous anymore. And prices that didn't knock your socks off will now have you stopped dead in your tracks.

The second half of this little chunk of frugal heaven is that when you have a good price book, a good price book takes a while to come to fruition - but keep with it ( just keep your kids' grubby little fingers off of it) you start stockpiling. You stockpile because 1. You are building food storage. ( you are right? tell me you are - lie to me if you have to) and 2. When you realize you can get something for 50%-75% less than usual you buy enough to last a long, long time. At least until it goes on sale again.

No matter where you shop, no matter what your diet is, whether you clip coupons or don't, the Price book will change the way you shop and leave more money in that Grocery envelope of yours. If I didn't explain the virtues of the Price Book very well:

Read this (Price book 101)

or this

or this

or this, if you are a military mom

UPDATE --

Food Storage price (a price so low you can stock up!)

World Market has Extra Virgin Olive Oil 7.99 for 2 liters --cheaper than sams club