School Pictures Cost More Than A Gallon of Gas

The same guy comes to Avery's school a couple of times a year. He sets up somewhere and they parade the kids in to him. It is a freakin' cash cow. You set up one time, he's there for a couple of days, and they lead them to you like sheep. He pulls the same "stunt" every time. He zooms in to one or more of the pictures and passes them off a a whole "separate" pose.

Don't get me wrong, I know school pictures are a must, but the prices? Seriously? I hope the school is getting a cut, but if that is the case, I haven't been told. For 7 digital images (2 of which are the same picture, and it is just a cropper version of another pic) I would have to pay $75. For 5 digital images. He puts them on a CD with Avery's name handwritten. It isn't anything special. I bought it last time, and I accidentally deleted one. It wasn't even write protected.

This guy isn't scouting locations, waiting for the perfect pose, or getting the kids in their own elements, but he is comfortable charging these prices. I do think Avery's pictures are really cute, but I think the price is OUTRAGEOUS and UNREASONABLE. I wish I could get $75 for 5 digital images. Trust me, my camera bag would be much fuller, and I would own some cool software.

So get a load of these prices:

Package C

1 8x10

2 5x7

4 3x5

8 wallets

$44.95

Package B

2 8x10

2 5x7

4 3x5

16 wallets

$54.95

Package A

1 10x13

2 8x10

4 5x7

4 3x5

24 wallets

$69.95

Or make your own package:

8x10 $15.oo

2 5x7 $15.00

8 Wallets $15.00

4 3x5 $15.oo

1 10x13 $20.00

CD of all 7(5) digital images only $75. What a deal! This guy has got quite the gig! Oh yeah, did I mention that I will be charged $5 if I don't return these negatives with the word PROOF written in the middle of them. SERIOUSLY?

My First Traffic Stop

Well, I am 38 years old, and I experienced my first traffic stop last sunday. I am very happy Avery was along with me for this little adventure. He loves the lights, so he wasn't overly scared.

Here's is how it went down, and I will keep my "opinion" out of it as much as possible. Avery and I had made our weekly trip to the grocery store. When we were pulling out, Greggie pulled in so we chatted with him for a minute, then Greg pulled out and I followed.

If you've ever been to the Lowe's Foods/Just Save in Pilot, you know that pulling out can be a bear. You are basically pulling out in front of people coming up a giant hill, hence you can't see what's coming. Anyhow, Greg went and Avery and I waited. We got out a couple of cars later, and as I pulled out, I saw headlights coming. Not just any headlights, but the headlights of a police car. Mind you, I hadn't done anything wrong, but I was aware that five oh was behind me so I was extra careful, especially on my speed. Well, you go through two stoplights to get home. The first is a left with no arrow. I pull in to the intersection, wait, and low and behold, the light is about to turn and I am in the middle. Blerg, this cop is behind me, and I am not sure what the law is here. Generally I would make the right on yellow, or even red, the second the coast is clear, but this cop on my heels made me nervous. Well, I went for it because I was really in the middle of the intersection. I heard a weird nose, and realized he went for it too. At this point, I felt sure I was in trouble. He 100% ran the light, and it wasn't necessary. At this point, he has been behind me for about 1/2 a mile.

Avery can be a handful in the car, and I totally own being turned around backwards, wiping a noise, finding a sippie or passie, or pulling off a pesky stuck sock (Avery loves naked feet), but on this evening he wasn't making a peep. So, back to the cop, he follows me all through town, we are talking a total of no more than 3 miles he was behind me. We take our next right at the light, and just before we leave the town limits, BLUE LIGHTS. Avery immediately starts saying, "lights mommy, lights!" I pull over, tell him everything is fine, and assume I am getting a ticket for a left on red.

Get ready for it, and I will tread very lightly here. I know I have three friends who are married to police men. I know their jobs are hard, and I know they don't get paid what they should. I know they don't all SUCK. Now that the disclaimers are out of the way, let me get on with it. This guy comes up to the window, shines the flashlight in Avery's eyes, at which point Avery acts like a vampire melting at the very sight of light and screams, while covering his eyes like his life depends on it, "Light, eyes, AHHHHHHH!", then he says to me, the cop that is, "Do you know why I stopped you?" I pause for a moment, and think, hmmmm, just in case he isn't sure, I am not giving him a reason. I say, "nope!" This is where it really gets good, he says "you crossed the yellow line 5 or 6 times (at this point I am irate! was it 5 or 6? )." I am certain I rolled my eyes at him. I said nothing. I am telling you, I knew this joker was behind me, and we had been no more than 3 miles. I would think pulling me for a left on red made more sense, and I thought might have a tail light out. Anyhow, at this point he asks me if I have been drinking. Drinking? Are you kidding me? If anyone has been drinking it is you DS! I crossed the yellow line 5 or 6 times, are you kidding me. BS. Is this something they say to potential drunk drivers to get them arguing? And which was it 5 or 6? You were behind me for about 3 whole minutes. Did you lose count or does it get iffy for you after 3? GRRRRRRRR!

Anyhow, even though he suspects me of Drunk Driving, he doesn't give me a sobriety test or a breathalyzer and he lets me go. That made me even more mad. If you think someone hauling a toddler around is drunk, should you do more than ask them. Guess what, if I had been drinking my answer would have still be no!

8 Weeks After Swimming Lessons Began ....

My Awesome Computer

Last night my routine was the same as it is most Friday nights. Home from work and school, deep sigh of relief that we made it up 52 intact, cook dinner, wash clothes for swimming lessons, fall asleep in Avery's floor, wake up, stumble in to the living room, open up unpredictable laptop, but wait, it didn't open to Facebook. Nope it was a word document that said (in a font that filled the whole screen in all caps) I WISH I WAS A MAC LIKE THE ONE UNDER THE COUCH. I was baffled. My laptop doesn't have office and I hate that word pad. I don't remember even opening it. Wait, what did that say? I stand up, look under the couch, and there is my very own Mac Book Pro.

I love you Greg Linkous! You and MAC = My Awesome Computer

No is not a word I am good with. I am a people pleaser. It is very difficult for me to say no. I say yes a lot, even when I don't want to. I say yes to everybody, yet I hear no a lot. I am going to start practicing my no. Are you ready?

2 Shots, Zero Tears, That's Right Suckas!

I am so proud of Avery. Today was a big day for me. I finally broke down and got Avery the MMR shot. I have been hiding from this shot since the day Avery was born. It petrifies me. I won't go in to why, and I won't bore you with my logic. I will just tell you that it scared me to death. That's really all that matters.

So I get a letter from daycare saying that is Avery doesn't get both the MMR and the chickenpox shot by March 30th he is kicked out of daycare. UGH! So, I wait, and I wait, and I wait, and today, we go for the shots. I literally cried all day at my desk, and I will be honest, I don't think a soul noticed. Meghan actually busted me wiping my tears, but I didn't say a word, and she didn't ask so I kept my mouth shut. It didn't help that Avery's teacher told me before 8 a.m. that Avery has been scratching "his friends". Blerg. Part of me wanted to shout, "hells yeah, at least he didn't bite anyone!", but that seemed oddly inappropriate. It kills me. I don't want Avery at school Edward Scissorhandsing the other kids. That is not cool, and the last thing I want is the teacher's being frustrated with him. I remember what happens to the pain in the cuss kids. Nobody likes them, and they end up weird-o loaners with dead flies taped to their jackets and manifestos in their back pockets. For the love of Pete, I don't want Avery to be that kid.

Anyhow fast forward to the doctor's office. I am pretty sure they all think I am a flake because I ask a million questions, avoid vaccinations, and ask for the shot side effect sheet. Yes, I am a worrier, a nerd, and slightly, if not wildly, neurotic. The super sweet nurse, who looks really familiar to me, but I don't think she went to my high school, tells me to put Avery on my lap facing me, and that the shots will go in his arms.

She inserts the first one. Chicken pox. Side note, does this come from chicken's? What a weird name for an itchy rash virus. Anyhow, I slightly cover Avery's eyes, and I had let him have the safety sucker which I don't take away from him. He doesn't flinch or make a peep. He even takes a look at the needle coming out. Trooper.

So, super sweet nurse tells me Chicken pox is the easy one, but MMR really hurts and Avery will most likely cry. In goes the needle, Avery flinches, squeezes me slightly (just like he does in elevators), and keeps sucking his sucker. Not a peep out of his mouth, not a tear, not a swat, nothing. My boy took it like a champ.

Now we have an up to date shot record. Insert cheesy finish line music here......

By the way, these pictures have nothing to do with this post. I took them on Avery's second birthday. Greg and I took the day off to spend it with Avery. We went in to his room together and sang Happy Birthday to him. These pictures are of his reaction. It didn't cost us a dime, but I wouldn't take a billion dollars for the memory. Remember when you used to say a million? Inflation!

Hello Sunshine, Welcome Back Old Friend

Time change you suck. Really. Try explaining daylight savings time to a 2 year old. They don't give a cuss. Really, the DO NOT. Not even a little. I am very excited about the additional hour of daylight, but not overly, or even a little, excited about getting up an hour earlier.

Today we saw the sun. Legitimate big bright sun, with minimum wind. Unfortunately Greg was feeling pukey so my day wasn't quite what I had in mind, but we did get to play outside a little. We let the sun shine on our faces, got our pants dirty, and stretched our legs a little. It was glorious.

I don't want to go to work tomorrow. I want to stay home and pick flowers with Avery. He's so darn good at it!