I Promise.

I promise to update tomorrow or maybe tonight, but probably tomorrow. I will put Leah's first day of school pictures and pictures from our trip to Seattle when Jeff's sister Michelle came up for a visit. Of course I'll put an update on how we all are doing too...

Such A Big Boy

I am so excited to say that Owen is finally potty-trained (after months of battling and debating about where he should go potty)...it took me about 2 days this time and letting him run around naked from the bottom down, but he finally got it. Yay!!! No more diapers or pull-ups (except at night of course)!

Now an actual update

Leah finished up her first year of school on June 16th. She did very well on her final report card and ended the year reading at 2.0 level (I think this is considered almost 2nd grade level) is going to be in a 1st/2nd grade split class next year. I knew she was going to good in school but I had no idea she would take to it as well as she did. I wouldn't be surprised if she skipped a grade eventually. She is starting ice skating lessons on Monday and can't hardly wait for her first lesson. She is truly a girly girl right down to wanting her own make-up, but she thinks worms and snails are awesome.

Matthew is very excited to start school so in addition to planning our summer outings I am also going to be searching for preschools for him. He recognizes most of the numbers between 1 and 10 and is anxious to learn to write the alphabet. He has so many interests it is hard to know where to start with him; he enjoys playing video games, riding his bike and dressing up with Leah and wants to be a super hero when he grows up. Hopefully I can find a preschool that I am satisfied with and that is in our budget.

Owen lives in Owen's World and occasionally lets us in to enjoy it with him. If he wants something he better get it or else and by or else I mean full on screaming and kicking temper tantrums. Although when he is not screaming and kicking he really is adorable and is able to carry on fairly understandable conversations. He is very independent, I mean what kid isn't at his age, but he is almost scary independent between trying to cross the road without Mom or Dad's help and climbing up the dresser to get his own clothes and stuff.

Jeff has been enjoying his new earlier shift; it has been nice having him home for dinner every night...even though he has to work on Saturday's now. He has taken up the game of folf or disc golf (a mix of throwing frisbees and golf) and would like to go every Sunday but sometime life gets in the way.

I have taken up a new hobby of couponing and deal hopping. Whenever I try to "talk coupons" I am met with blank or confused stares but I don't get any less excited when I score free laundry soap and shampoo or conditioner for $0.33 a bottle; not to mention free salad dressing and BBQ sauce. It does take a little more of my time to put it all together but I consider it my part time job and Jeff is super supportive of my late night runs to the store and tries to understand all my coupon lingo.

I suppose that is enough for now...I hope you enjoy all the pictures I put up.

Multnomah Falls in May

From the bottom...

On the way up...
At the top...

Zoo Play

The Zoo in April:

Then we had to figure out where to go.

Of course, we said hi the animals.

Most of them were just hanging out.

Then Leah's school did a field trip to the zoo in May.

Some animals were shy.

Some weren't.

Leah with some her classmates.

Matthew (hiding under the Disneyland hat) is petting the starfish.

Because it's been a while...

Leah's first bike ride without training wheels.
We were so proud because she figured out how to do it with the help of her friend from school.The look on Mom's face when she saw her Mother's Day/Birthday present.
(We got her a Kitchen Aid Stand-up Mixer that she has been wanting for years.)

Me with Leah and Owen on Mother's Day.

Water Play!!!

Balloon fight; it was all the kids against Chellie.

Happy Mama's Day!!!

Here are a few of my favorite "Mom" moments.

Getting them all to cooperate for this picture.

Matthew chasing the ball at soccer instead of running away from it.
(I know it's blurry but he is the one in the white shirt in the middle.)

Leah roller skating for the first time.

Owen "reading".

My most recent "Mom" moment was watching Leah ride her bike for the first time with no training wheels. I haven't gotten the pictures from the camera yet which is why they are not posted yet.

Thank you Mom...
without you I would not be the Mom I am today!!!

Frustrating Times

There comes a time every so often when I get frustrated beyond belief with my kids...now is one of those times. No matter what I say or how I say I just cannot seem to get them to listen and cooperate.
My moment today was going trying to go to the store...now I know it's not fun for kids (especially when they don't get toys and treats), but I am all kinds of prepared and can make it quick and fairly painless if they cooperate. I couldn't even get them to cooperate enough to get ready to go, which makes very worried about the behavior I will actually get at the store. Now I am stuck waiting for Jeff to get home from work so I can go by myself. Part of me feels like making them go to the store just to prove a point (you know, the one where they can't get what they want by throwing a fit) but the sane part thinks it is better to just let them have their way and have one less "battle" today...any thoughts???

Getting Something for Little or Nothing

My new favorite thing is clipping coupons and scoping out the weekly ads and checking blogs to compare and find the best deals. For example, getting 2-24 ct. Excedrin Migraine for .79 (total) when they are normally 4.79 a piece at Walgreen's or a box of fruit snacks from Target for .52 or my favorite, a refill pack of wipes that is normally 5.99 for .99!

I only just started this a few weeks ago and I am already finding myself stockpiling (which I never really saw myself doing) and feeling cheated if don't save 50% or more every time I go to the store. It definitely took some time getting a process when I first started but I am starting to find my way.

I am still learning and finding new ways to save...but I am having tons of fun through all of it.

Not Much of an Update

So I know it's been a while since I posted and other than a quick (and I do mean quick) trip to Montana for my cousin Rhianna's wedding and a bunch of sick kids and adults there hasn't been much else going on.

We drove over to Montana a couple of weeks ago on a Friday, stayed Saturday and then came home on Sunday. My cousin Clay came back with us to visit for a week...we mostly hung out at my house since it rained or snowed almost the whole time he was here. We did manage to go into Seattle one afternoon and walk through Pike Market Place and have lunch at the restaurant where Tom Hanks had lunch with I'm not sure who in the movie Sleepless in Seattle. We met my other cousin (Clay's sister) in Spokane the next weekend so he could go home and we didn't have to drive all the way to Missoula and back.

We all started getting sick after we got home from that and one by one it hit us all and then we recovered. It took some (like Owen ending up with double ear infections) longer to recover than others but we are all either completely over it or at least almost completely over it.

We are heading south to California in about 2 weeks to visit Grammy and Mickey Mouse. The kids are super excited and Owen is practically 40 inches so he can go on a few new rides this time (hopefully...as long as he passes their height checks).

We are still waiting to hear if Jeff got the job he interviewed for a few weeks back...not sure what the hold up is, but we are all super anxious to find out.

Anyway, I gotta go check on dinner.