Sept 8-16

Sept 8


Baby Belle began preschool today.

She was so excited to have made a butterfly
for the cover of her farm number book
and stamped circle paper.

There was no drama, just walked right in.

Such a brave little big girl.


Sept 9

Dancing Princess Leia and Mom
spent part of the evening in the ER today.

Leia was playing with the dog and
ended up with a sliced lip.

Fortunately, there was free wifi in the hospital
so Mom could make updates.

But only when Leia wasn't passing the time
playing games on the iPod.

Leia ended up with 4 stitches.

Bringing her total up to 13.

2 per year of life.


Sept 10

Belle is silly.

She wore this chair for a necklace today.

And yes, she IS wearing her Cinderella jammies.


Sept 11

The girls had their first soccer games today.

Leia and her Lime Green team
played the Kelly Green team.

I'm sure the colors had no affect on their playing.

Leia is the one poised to kick the ball.

Both girls had fun.


Sept 12

Rex read about a LEGO competition
so he designed a model for submission.

This is one view of it, the only image taken in focus.

The LEGO plate looks like you're driving down the highway
past farmer's fields and looking down the rows of plants.


Sept 13

"Mommy, take my picture because

I'm a fancy girl on the phone."


Sept 14

These two could be twins.

This was taken outside of Target
while mommy was chatting with a friend
and the kids found something entertaining to climb upon.


Sept 15

Thick fog and a brown cornfield.

Fall is upon us.


Sept 16


Check out this pair of friends.

Everyone has their own priorities.

One wants to get around when he gets there.

The other is worried about hydration.

HAHA!

Sept 1-7

Sept 1

The dog went crazy when we got home from the bus today.

She ran back and forth from the kitchen to the family room.

And this is what we found.

Our little 11 pound puppy was so hyped up
that she slid across the floor on the rug,
gave it a 90 degree rotation and mounded it up.

Silly puppy.


Sept 2


An image of this place that makes us smile.

How do you suppose they decide what color bucket
they should use for their mailbox?

And do you really need the decorative finial
on top of a mailbox planted in a bucket?

Sept 3


This is the totally cute lunchbox Leia is using this year.

She says the only problem is that it is not red.

But the red one was not nearly as cute.



Sept 4


Mommy wants this in her mudroom.

She will settle for something else, but she wants this.

Stay tuned for what actually happens in there.

Oh, and the race is on with Uncle Jack.

It's his bathroom vs. our mudroom.

Sept 5


Mommy!!

What?

My cupcake!!!

What?

Come see!!!!

Just tell me!

My foot!!?!!

This can't be good.

My baby can catch with her foot!
(How do we market that talent?)

The situation turned out better than expected.

Instead of having to clean up creamy pink frosting from the floor
we just had to clean it off her foot.

And the puppy got to help!



Sept 6


Leia asked us to take off her training wheels.

She's been riding in the backyard (grass for cushioning) to practice.

And she has had a perma-smile on her face.

It is so nice to get this real smile on camera,
since the staged pictures look like constipation ads.

Mommy and Daddy are proud.

Good job, sweet girl!

Sept 7

Happy Brazilian Independence Day!

In honor of the occasion, we dressed Belle in yellow
and took her to her first soccer practice
with the ball we bought in Brazil.

She had a great time and actually kicked the ball in her first scrimmage game.

Wo-hoo!

September Sketch Challenge

I found a new blog yesterday
(when I was supposed to be doing something else)
that has monthly scrapbook layout challenges.

I decided to have a go at it.

The layout was presented in 12x12 form,
but since I am old-school I adapted it to my 8 1/2x11 lifestyle.

Here is their template:


And here is my page:

The fibers on the title did not behave inside the scanner.

I really like it.

note: I guess I didn't pay attention to the part about using 75% of their products,
but I still feel accomplished by getting it done.

Pennance

I'm a bad blogger.

Not a surprise.

But when I take a month and a half off to vacation/play with family and friends, my picture-a-day really suffers. I have not given up, in fact I have WAY TOO MANY pictures from every day to decide on just one.

I am very far behind.

So I decided to start from today and move forward.

I'll catch up (whoda thunk?) later, but I gotta start with now, for now.

June, July and August happened (for sure) but September pictures will come first.

Stay tuned (I'm still not all that together, yet!).

Flashback

It was a year ago this week that we
closed on, painted and moved into our house.

That week was exhausting.

Just ask the girls:

Aug 20, 2009

We are having a much more relaxing week
playing with friends and doing some school work,
mixed with a little Super Mario Bros.

We made it to the beach, too!
(Thanks to Auntie)

We may even go bowling today.

We've come so far.

But I still have a todo list longer than my arm...

It's a deal!

Money spent: 53.33

Money saved: 139.81

This is what I got:

28! boxes of cereal (avg price $.34)
12 boxes of Eggo Cinnabon frozen pancakes (12ct)
2 boxes of Fudge bars (20ct)
2 Pilot gel pens (turned out free after coupon)
2 12-packs double rolls of toilet paper
6 fajita size tortillas (2 wheat just for fun)
8 boxes of brownie mix
4 cans of Parmesan cheese
2 dozen eggs
2 packs bun length Ball Park Angus hot dogs

1 bag cheez curls (to appease the beasts who went with me)

Here's the details:

I went to Weis (a local grocery store), loaded up my cart and then made the poor cashier do five consecutive transactions for me. (I got the information to pull this off from one of my new favorite blogs For the Mammas.)

Transaction #1

4 Frosted Flakes @ $2 each
3 Corn Flakes @ $2 each
3 Cinnabon @ $2 each

Total: $20

Plus the following coupons:
$1 off 3 Kelloggs cereal
$1 off 3 Kelloggs cereal
.75 of Cinnabon cereal (x2) doubled up to $1
.75 of Corn Flakes cereal (x2) doubled up to $1

Coupons: $6

Amount paid: $14

AND the register kicked out a $10 off and a $7 off coupon for my next transaction

They ended up paying me $3 for these cereals. Avg price : -$.15/box


Transaction #2:

4 boxes Apple Jacks @ $2 each
4 boxes Froot Loops @ $2 each
2 boxes Rice Krispies @ $2 each

Total: $20

Plus the following coupons:
$1 off 3 Kelloggs cereal
$1 off 3 Kelloggs cereal
$1 off 2 Kelloggs cereal
$1 off 2 Kelloggs cereal

Coupons: $4

Amount paid: $16

AND the register kicked out a $10 off and a $7 off coupon for my next transaction

They ended up paying me $1 for these cereals. Avg price : -$.05/box


Transaction #3:

12 boxes Eggo Cinnabon pancakes (12ct) @ 3/$5

Total: $20

No coupons : (
But I did use a set of $10 and $7 coupons from a previous transaction (you can only use one at a time)

Amount paid: $3

AND the register kicked out a $10 off and a $7 off coupon for my next transaction

Avg price : $.25/box


Transaction #3:

2 Cottonelle 12 double roll @ 4.99 each
4 Life cereals @ 7.50 total

• Side note: there was a sign posted 4/$8 AND a sign posted 4/$10. The first cereal scanned at the higher price, so I made a fuss. My awesome cashier, Chris called over the manager. The others scanned for the higher price, too, so I got one of them free. A bonus savings of $.50!

2 Multigrain Cheerios @ 2.50 each
2 Shredded Wheat @ 2.50 each
2 Pilot G2 pens @ 1.00 each
2 Blue Bunny Fudge bars (20ct) @4.99 each

Total: $39.46

Plus the following coupons:
$1 off 1 Cottonelle
$.50 off 1 Cottonelle (doubled to $1)
$.75 off 1 Multigrain Cheerios (x2) (doubled to $1)
$1 off 2 Shredded Wheat cereals
$1 off 1 Pilot G2 pen (x2)
$1 off Blue Bunny Novelties (x2)

Coupons: $9

And I used a set of $10 and $7 coupons from a previous transaction

Amount paid: $13.58

Cottonelle 3.99/pack: $.33/roll

Life $1.88 each

Multigrain Cheerios $1.50 each

Shredded Wheat $1.50 each

Pilot pens FREE

Fudge Bars $3.99/box $.20/bar

Needless to say, I am very excited about these deals.

I will be going back for more cereal tomorrow, hopefully with more coupons, too!

June 1-10

June 1



Daddy gave Mommy an iPod touch for their
ANNIVERSARY last week.

Mommy LOVES it.

The kids love it.

Daddy wants one.

And just might take Mommy's away since she
uses it so much.


June 2

There is an extreme closeup setting on our camera.

It makes for good pictures.

Especially of pretty flowers.


June 3

Mommy likes flip flops.

So she bought herself a necklace.

And supported breast cancer awareness.


June 4

Leia had her kindergarten fashion show today.

Every kid wrote a blurb about what they were
wearing and doing
using words that start with the
same letter as their name.
Too bad we don't say her name on the blog.

Needless to say, she was the cutest one out of all the classes.

They also sang lots of songs complete with actions.

It was a great way to finish off the year.



June 5

The family went camping.

We had a great time

cooking

hiking

scaring a raccoon from camp

making biscuits in the fire

roasting marshmallows

sleeping amidst a thunderstorm

and hiking some more.


This picture was taken along the Little Falls Trail
after we broke camp in the morning.

Since we obviously survived and
thoroughly enjoyed it,
we'll be camping more in the future.



June 6

Leia returned from playing at a friend's house looking like this.

Bright blue eyeshadow and ruby red lips.

But the funniest thing is the
paused image on the TV behind her.

We're trying with all our might to
figure out what mom was watching.

10 points to whomever can identify it.



June 7

It's not quite clear what is going on here,
but it is quite possibly related to the
little LEGO guy who is
standing on the pet treat box
next to his tiny LEGO frog friend.

Captain Rex left this on his bed when he went to school.

Imaginative little boy, he is!

June 8

These cute little eggs were found
(along with the angry mama bird)
in a bush in our front yard.

They're about the size of a dime.

So cute.

I hope they hatch before we leave on vacation.



June 9

This is mommy's packing mess.

It always looks worse before it gets better, right?

Three kids for one month
three stops along the way
means a lot of planning.

Especially for this mommy.


June 10

Daddy doesn't get a lot of blog time.

So even though there are lots of interesting pictures for today
we are dedicating it to Daddy and his birthday.
(which we celebrated early because of the vacation)

The most exciting (and useful) gift was the brownie pan.

It makes the crustiest brownies.

Thanks for the idea, nother-one-grandma and grandpa!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

May 26-31

May 26

The new favorite dinner location
is the picnic table on the playset.

Complete with table cloth and all!


May 27

This is NOT zesty Italian salad dressing.

This is freshly made maple syrup.

In the fifth plastic bottle of the month.

Mommy keeps pouring it in too hot.

And melting the bottles.


May 28

INTRODUCING...

DANCING PRINCESS LEIA!!!

There was a dance recital on the fireplace stage.

And she busted some sweet moves.


May 29

Today was a race car at Lowe's Build and Grow.

The stickers and American flag were the best parts.

And maybe a little confusing to Leia.


May 30

The neighbors had a deck party this afternoon.

The kids had a great time playing
on the trampoline, hide-n-seek, and kickball.

The grownups liked chatting with neighbors.


May 31

Mommy is trying her hand at gardening once again.

Right before a month-long vacation.
(keep your fingers crossed)

The kids picked and planted seeds
which grew SO WELL
and were SO READY to go into the ground.

It was quite a production.

And mommy got very dirty.

May 20-25

May 20


Hubby brought home a recently live lobster for dinner.

While we enjoy an interactive dinner,
cleaning out the lobster for so little reward
may not happen again too soon.

But we enjoyed playing with the poor guy.


May 21


SPA TIME!!!



May 22


Mommy and a fun friend went to a scrapbook convention today.
(Thanks to Daddy for watching the kiddies)

The plans for the event were cut
from a weekend to overnight to a long day.

It was a small show,
but they both found fun treasures.

Caught the scrapbooking bug anew.

And had a great time!


May 23


Once again, mommy's camera was hijacked
by one of the kiddies and
it turned out an artistic result.

Or at least a different perspective.


May 24

Rex is waiting for the bus.

Under the pine tree.

On the corner.


May 25


Rex earned his Bobcat patch and pin at scouts tonight.

There was no hanging him upside down or anything,
but he was excited to receive an award.

We are all proud of our Cub Scout.

May 10 - 19

May 10

THE SWING SET IS DONE!!!

And everyone loves it.

Mommy is partial to its festive coloring.


May 11

This isn't a very good picture,
but because of the rain on the windshield
the other pictures were out of focus.

We took a slight detour on the way home from the airport
and found the quintessential
SNOB HILL.

The house on the right tops a hill.
(delineated by the red dirt)

It is the only house on the hill.
And it is big.



May 12


Happy Birthday AMBER!!
(her name was not changed)

A new toy and some fancy food
celebrated Amber's 9th birthday.


May 13

Belle was excited about the new Dora Popsicles.

She ate a green star first.



May 14

As part of the Mother's Day celebration,
my sweetie got me my favorite tree.

A fingerleaf Japanese Maple.

It is so pretty and sits on the deck
just outside the family room window.



May 15

The boys went on the father-son camp-out this weekend.

Rex had a great time camping and exploring with his friends.

My sweetie caught the camping bug
and is determined to turn it into a family affair.


May 16

Silly puppy thinks she's people!



May 17

Belle is posing with beautiful flowers from our yard.

We get a new bouquet and have a wedding every day.



May 18


We signed up for "free" bowling for the summer.

We only have to pay for our shoes.

And what festive shoes they are!




May 19

Apparently some of the bushes in our yard
(which were in danger of being ripped out last fall)
are a form of the Dogwood.

I love them.

The flowers are beautiful!

Even if they have big red berries that the birds love and
then poop purple all over our cars, yard and house.