Ada's First Sport

Ada and I watched this video, and she is SO ENTHUSED to take this up! She couldn't watch it enough!

All this for a Twank!

Twank (adj): slang for twenty dollars ($20). *I may be a High School teacher, a couponer, & mother to a baby (aka: a baby mama), but I've still got some street cred!*

This includes: seven 24 packs of Nestle Pure Life water (2 are not pictured- they will be redeemed at a later date when the free rebates come in!), five 12 packs of Dr. Pepper (well, 3 are Diet. And those are for Casey- I'm so screwed when I'm no longer nursing Ada, I will have to switch back to Diet and I won't be happy!), & a bunch of bananas (those weren't on sale, so I didn't get a lot..just a bunch. Ha haaaaaaaa!).


That comes out to a whopping average of $1.53 each. It almost costs that to buy only one bottle of water or one can of coke!


To see how I did it, go to www.southwestcouponclipper.blogspot.com. Now, part of the deal was via a Randall's promo which ended last night- but you can still print some coupons for the water and the Pure Life rebates (2 free cases w/ the purchase of 5!).


*2 strollers and vehicle not included in purchase.*

HiLaRIoUs HoUsEWoRk!

Friday is my housework day- every week I pray that Ada is easily entertained for the few hours it takes me to exercise my inner-clean freak..... Not only was that prayer answered this past week, but God gave me a little *extra* gift- Ada's entertainment was the housework!

As I dusted the blinds (yes, I dust the blinds every week- I'm telling you, I'm abnormal), Ada began giggling uncontrollably. She cracked up as I dusted, as we walked down the hallway, as we hunted the video camera; and you can even hear her excitement heighten again as we turn the camera on and walk towards the blinds in the office. I think its safe to say that Ada inherited the "clean gene"- I just hope she finds housework this hilarious in about 15 years! :)

Enjoy her sweet giggle!

P.S. No, I'm not pregnant. I'm slunching backwards, holding a chubster, and wearing a sloppy t-shirt... just thought I'd clear that up for any of you that might be getting ahead of yourselves!

Peek-A-Bug!

Here is Ada Bug playing Peek-A-Boo behind the couch... we caught the very tail end of her newfound game! Please, please, PLEASE mute your speakers! ;)

Fushia Girls

Here are some more pictures from the other day. Some of these will be printed in Black and White for the Black and White Wall!! (I need to post a photo of my Black and White Wall! It's my favorite thing in my house. Other than my countertops. And my bathtub. And Ada's room. And the people in it!)

Summerisms

Before Cirque du Soleil with MiMi- it was AMAZING!

Here are some pictures from A) Father's Day, B) MiMi's birthday (she's 28 this year! ;) ), C) 4th of July, and D) Cirque du Soleil! (I went with MiMi). Summer is only a little over half way over, so there will be more to come, I'm sure!

Note: I added the Fushia Family pic at a later time- and I'm so OVER trying to get it formatted- along with all of the other pictures. So patchwork it will stay! :)

Four Generations: MiMi, Alicia, Grams, and Ada Bug

Father's Day

Ada's Firsts

OK, so I got this video recorder for my birthday (26th, OK!?!?!?!?!?) in December 2008- so Ada was *almost* 3months old. Of course, I started filming her right away. I want to post some of those clips, because I look at this blog as a diary for The Bug to be able to look back on when she's older to catch a glimpse into our world before she can remember it. This clip is of Ada at about 5 months old. She is sitting in her Bumbo (which she is no longer allowed in, because she was on the verge of figuring out how to crawl out of it at about 7.5 months old- it is now in the attic waiting for #2- which won't be for a long time... so don't even call to ask!)- and cracking up at her mother. Who is acting like a total idiot. Which is nothing new.....



She started smiling big about 5 weeks, and laughing at 5 months. So this is a glimpse at one of her firsts! More to come, but I'm going to try to pair them up with current videos, as well.



I love you, Ada Grace Dowell!!!! (Watch for Murphy in the background! He runs for cover a few seconds into it.)

Bug Moments on Video

Well, I had compiled all of these clips into a really cute "short film," but the file is so huge, that I eventually gave up on it ever uploading! So, here are the videos as individual documents- with no titles, captions, or special effects. Boring, but proven effective. :) Enjoy!

This first video is of Ada realizing her favorite TV show, "Yo Gabba Gabba," is on- witness the sheer excitement!

This one is of naptime- Ada style.

Mealtime with The Bug.

And a quick snippet of a dance party- hosted by the Buggy Boo.

Remember- if you're getting this via email, you'll need to actually visit the blog (http://www.thedailydowell.blogspot.com/) so you can play the videos!!

Oh yes I did....

...get $90 of stuff for $38 (in multiple places, on different days)!!!! After getting some beginner's tips from Tiffany, clipping coupons for a few weeks, and following these blogs and websites-

southwestcouponclipper.blogspot.com

hip2save.blogspot.com

www.mommysnacks.net

www.dealseakingmom.com

-I am able to match my coupons to the best sales in town to get things dirt cheap! So far I'm mastering CVS (where you earn Extra Care Bucks), and Kroger (where they double and triple coupons). Right now, I'm building a "stockpile" of non-perishables- but I'm already starting to see some savings! Once school begins in August, I won't be able to be chasing deals as often, but I will hopefully have enough in my stockpile and pantry that I can just snag what I can on our weekend grocery trips. :) Here are some pictures of my steals! (Not pictured: 2 free boxes of Kashi cereals from Target- "purchased" using coupons!)

Museum of Children (ie Children's Museum!)

We hooked up with Sara and Rory last week for a trip to the Houston's Children's Museum. It was a fiasco parking, and it just so happened that every daycare, preschool, stay-at-home Mom, school teacher with summers off, and orphanage also decided to make the trek to the Museum District that day... but after clawing our way through the exhibits, we made our way up to the "Tot Spot" and low and behold, it all became worth the headache! Think: bright colors, padded toys, and ample children to watch and screech at! Ada was in hog heaven. Here are some pictures of that sweet pea!