Unpaid Vacation

Lately all the buzz is about the recession and the economy. We have felt extremely grateful that we really hadn't been affected by it. Well our happy little bubble burst a couple weeks ago when our place of employment announced that certain upper levels of employees would be lucky enough to receive a 10% pay cut. How exciting that both Jeremy and I were part of the affected bunch. Maybe this is when the saying "don't put all of your eggs in the same basket" comes into effect! So we get a 20% pay cut for our household! However, we are allowed to take that 1 day off of work every 2 weeks (unpaid of course). So I immediately started dreaming and planning all of the fun 3 day weekend vacations we could take...until I remembered the minor detail called pay cut. I guess on to Plan B. I figured I could stick Anden out on the pristine streets of Anthem with a large donation mug or we break out the coupons/gift cards I collect but never manage to use. Considering the impeccable scenery of our neighborhood, a homeless little boy on the corner begging for money probably wouldn't be tolerated. So instead the frugal 3 day weekends begin. This past weekend was the beginning of our many to come unpaid vacations (as I lovingly refer to it). After unsuccessfully managing to score a free pass to the Zoo (story for another time), we opted for a matinee on Friday. We took the kids to Monsters vs. Aliens 3D!

We figured Anden's still free until he's 3 and ours will be matinee prices. So when I asked for 2 tickets and the teenage cashier said "That will be $18 (with a grin)". I about dropped my wallet. "Excuse me sir, shouldn't it be matinee prices?". He abruptly informed me "That is matinee prices. This is a 3D movie!!" (as if I had just insulted the 3D gods or something!) Geez, I hope the glasses he shoved through the window are made of gold!

No, the kids aren't picking they're noses. They're trying to keep those expensive glasses on their heads (or trying to eat them in Taylee's case). Clearly one size doesn't fit all!

Anden eventually mastered balancing his glasses on his little nose while still shoving fistfuls of healthy popcorn in his mouth.

Taylee, on the other hand, got the short stick. Not only did she have to be staring at the ceiling for her glasses to stay on, but she also wasn't allowed any popcorn. I know she was seething inside. About 5 minutes into the movie, neither child wanted anything to do with their glasses. I felt guilty that they might get a headache from the blurry image. So we spent the next hour taking turns shoving their glasses back on. Eventually we gave up and allowed their vision to deteriorate.

Anden loved the movie so much...he fell asleep.

Taylee managed to lose one of her favorite shoes (it's last picture alive is above). Her vision was so blurred she didn't know if she was eating one shoe or two. Little did we know it was the seat that ate the the second shoe.

Overall, we give the movie 3 stars! Or 3 and a 1/2 blurry stars for those that aren't wearing their glasses.


After the movie, we had a buy one get one free lunch at Sauce (compliments of me actually reading the junk mail and cutting a coupon) and then a free frozen yogurt at BerryGood (again, coupon!) I figured the food cost offset the movie cost! I've never understood the coupon craze until now. They really do save you money if you simply remember to use them! So if you see me in your garbage can with a pair of scissors, I'm salvaging your junk mail coupons for our unpaid vacations!