Airplane to Mexico

Tonight while tending to the garden with L (doesn't that so cool!), we were having some fun conversations. One of them went like this:

L: "Mom if I were an airplane, you could ride me all over"
Mom: "Where would we go?"
L: "We could go to Mexico [somewhere she has never been]"
Mom: "Sounds fun - let's go! What would we do there?"
L: "Drink Beer"
Mom: (acting quite stunned - we are not beer drinkers on a regular basis) "Oh yea - why would we do that?"
L: answering quite seriously "Because you can't drink the water in the Mexico!!"

Now where did she come up with that???

Pulled Up!

I had to hop back on and post about Baby J pulling up to standing on his own today. I was on the computer editing photos and L was playing Wii Fit (my latest sensation) and Baby J was cruising around the house like he does now. J had come out to visit me and L screamed for me to look. Well what to my wondering eyes would appear but a 7 1/2 month old baby standing up on his own holding on to his toy chair thing. It was CRAZY!! L didn't crawl or do anything physical like that until 10 months or so, S was crawling by this time but not pulling up and here #3, my baby, possibly my last baby, is already pulling up at 7 1/2 months. SLOW DOWN Baby J!!!!!

Hodge Pdoge

I was downloading pics from our fun day (more on that a minute) and remembered these pics from a couple days ago. Both boys were just up from naps and were snuggling in Daddy's chair. I grabbed the camera and snapped a few pics. From the playroom I heard this "Mom - what are you doing?" I replied with "Taking some pictures of the boys, L". She came back with "Well I am out here, why are you taking pictures without me???". I told her to come join in the fun but she was mad by this point because I was taking pictures of the boys and had not included her. I did explain that I was only taking pictures of them because they were impromptu hanging out in the chair together. It didn't appease her one bit. Here are those cute pics though : -)

Fresh from nap and not at all happy I dragged the camera out.Okay now they are warming up to the idea.

Baby J still a bit sleepy from naptime.

Oh what a smile my baby has and look at those teeth (he has 4 now)!!

Now the smiles are abundant but not at the same time ;-)

Yesterday we went to a local museum (where I talked about the coincidence or what is it?). The museum was so much fun as always. I have some pics from there too (I know surprise, surprise!!)

Baby J in the baby crawlers area.S popping out of one of the bubble type of chairs in the reading area.

L & S in the dark room area with a black light on. They loved how their clothes glowed.

More modeling of the cute hats in the black light room.

Baby J watching the puppet show put on by L & S.

Puppet show from 2 of my favorite monsters!!

Today was a trip to the Zoo! I'll post about it later though because laundry is calling my name (and loudly too!!)

Coincidence?

Is it a coincidence that this morning at the museum a lady approached me in the parking lot asking for money and this afternoon Daddy Piper has work?

Back to the beginning...

This morning we pulled in the parking lot at the museum (the one we weren't going to until a last minute change this morning sent us here) and a lady came over on a bike and told me she and her son was down here helping her husband who had just been in a horrible car accident. She needed to buy her ticket to get back home. I have no idea if this was a story or the truth but I gave her money. I usually say no or try to turn my back when people approach me like this but today I felt led to give her money. She was overcome with emotion and very appreciative. I told her to pay it back to someone else someday. I almost instantly regretted giving her the money since this came from my grocery budget. I let the feeling go and we went about enjoying our morning. This has come back twice today in a good way. First when I got home, I opened my electric bill to find it had been lowered by $65 a month - a huge savings to us right now. Later in the day - Daddy Piper got the call for work tomorrow. I am just beyond convinced that these things weren't mere coincidences but rather the work of someone bigger than myself and I am so grateful!

Fun Day (even with DOOMSDAY coming tomorrow!)

We had a fun family day today. The weather was so wonderful which enabled us to spend most of it outside, together! I snuggled in bed with Daddy Piper for a bit and he snuck out to let me get some extra sleep. Only 30 minutes later I was wide awake having felt so great like I slept for a month. Sometimes naps are like that for me - the 30 minute ones are usually the best. I got up and started my coffee and we walked out to tend the garden. It is looking amazing after the rain and cooler days we have had lately. We have onions that have sprouted along with some other things that I am not sure of. They might be weeds growing but who knows. I am not real good at this gardening thing yet : -) I was able to sit outside and read my paper (no coupons - so sad!) and enjoy the fresh air and family time.

For lunch we had the yummy pizza I already posted about. Goodness that was yummy. I finished it off with some peach cobbler : -) I got a little nap in this afternoon while not one, not two but all three of my babies were down for rest time. J napped in his crib instead of the queen bed he is loving these days. He has rolled out of the bed once though and I wanted him in his crib. Unfortunately, he sleeps way better in the bed.

Tonight was more outside time including the stone laying project, gardening and in general fun time for us all. I enjoy the outdoors now as an adult and want my kids to enjoy it as well.

More to write but not tonight - my own prince charming is awaiting my assistance in a screen rolling project thing for J's window!!

The kids spent some time running through the sprinklers this morning and were cold so they chose to lay on the warm sidewalk to warm up - clad only in their undies!

Warming up quite nicely!

S was contemplating the meaning of life when I caught this look on his face or maybe he was just looking up at the military jets that kept flying over our part of the world this weekend. Daddy told them the jets were up there to remind people (possible bad people) that our military was alert and ready to protect this holiday weekend.

This handsome boy is my son. I am amazed and delighted by him more and more each day.

The babies of mine (2 of my wonderful 3) love to dig in the dirt. They were a big help to Daddy today spreading out sand and delivering more sand (more pics on that in a minute).

The beautiful girl is not into my picture taking these days so she gives me these horrible faces in hopes that I will quit taking her picture - not happening sweetie!!!

Daddy killed a scorpion while laying this stone in the backyard. I would feel bad but those things are horrible little creatures that hurt when they sting you!!

S helping Daddy by delivering sand from the sandbox.

I got a kinda smile while she was loading up her dump truck.

"It's too heavy Mama". Well honey - drive the truck instead of trying to carry it! Of course Mama ran right over and picked it up for her but only after taking a picutre : -)

L dumping her sand for Daddy.

J freshly awake from his nap and ready to play outside!!

J can now stand on his own. He has cut another took for total of 3. His diapers are more wet these days thanks for pumping extra milk and the introduction of formula, which just kills me. He only gets about 2 ounces of it a day but still - WAHH!! I don't want to quit nursing. He may be my last baby I get to nurse (not if I have anything to say about it though!!).

Last Day of Being 29....

This impending doom otherwise known as my 30th birthday is looming closely - like TOO closely. It's tomorrow; making today my last day of my 20's. I am bothered by this. I don't want to say goodbye to my 20's. They seemed so full of hope 10 years ago and now they are gone. Now what's left??

BBQ Pizza

Today for lunch I made the best BBQ pizza from scratch no less! And the kicker - it cost $2.63 for a cookie sheet full of pizza : -)

Pizza Dough - Free awhile back from couponsense.com
BBQ Sauce - better than free with coupons and catalina
Cheese - $1.00
Chicken - $1.50 (chicken tenders on sale from a few weeks ago)
Tomato Sauce - $0.13 for 1 can

TOTAL - $2.63 of yummy lunch!!!!

Garden Update

We are slowly starting to get sprouts. The squash, corn, and onions have all sprouted. I think the green beans have sprouted too but it may just be a weed. My cilantro has died. One of the tomato plants has a flower. I tilled up some of the areas that weren't growing and replanted some cauliflower and broccoli - wonder how that'll grow?? It has been wonderful having the garden. It is so nice to have an outdoor area growing nourishment for my family. It does bring me piece of mind. I enoy watering it twice a day and the kids are enjoying it as well. It is a twice daily trek out to see what's happening out there.

The kids had made these cute signs. I had taken pictures of them so we could remember them. Unfortunately, I had the kids use washable markers so the signs don't look nearly as cute now :(

Peach Pickin'

We went peach pickin' today!

I was up with the sun (and Baby J, of course) and was anxious to get out of here at 7:30 to get to the peach place to pick those peaches. Daddy Piper decided he wanted to join us and that put us leaving here at 8:30. The extra hour was not wasted though - L and S got their room cleaned : -) S choked on his medicine during that hour too. It must have gone into his lungs some how and he stopped breathing for a second or two. I was so scared. It took a long time for him to get his breathing back to normal.

While snuggling with Daddy Piper this morning, L came in to get me because as she put it "J was into the milking stuff". What stuff I wondered? Oh I quickly found out - my pumping stuff. Guess I am the resident cow around here : -)

We picked 22 pounds of peaches. I had no idea it was that heavy! The kids so enjoyed picking those peaches. The day was perfect for it. Very rainy and cloudy - a nice change for these parts. The hardest part was getting the kids to understand to check for ripeness before plucking the peach off the tree. Baby J got his first taste of a peach. Daddy gave him some right off the peach. Of course when I did it, he bit off some. We were told to eat as many as we wanted and enjoy the experience so we did! We came home and I made peach freezer jam.

Later this afternoon, we went to Lowe's and purchased a much needed BBQ grill. It wasn't money that needed to go out right now but our 12 year old grill needed replacing. This is my birthday gift and I couldn't be happier. We (I!) use our grill at least 3 x week so it'll be fun to get used to a new one. We christened her tonight with rib-eye steaks and boy were they good (although honestly they tasted about the same coming off the new one as they did the old one!!).

Tonight to go with the steak dinner, I prepared my first peach cobbler. L helped with this. It even included 1 farm fresh egg from our neighbors. Peach cobbler is something I remember from my childhood thanks to my "adopted" mom. She made frequently in the spring. I would beg for it constantly. I hope to instill the same type of memories into my own children.

I read tonight on a wonderful woman's blog the saying "Start as you mean to go". I LOVE this. I think I am going to print it and hang it up to see regularly. What a great way to live life, especially when raising children. Another great point to the day was talking to a dear friend from MN for a bit. I was so lucky to have worked with her for a few friends and we have remained friends, despite the distance. I had really thought we would be back in MN by now, damn economy get better already!!!!

Also tonight I ran some peaches and some of that wonderful cobbler over to our neighbor as a thank you for the eggs. It was nice conversation. I am really trying to enjoy life these days.

As it is now getting late and Baby J has been sleeping for 3 hours, I suppose it's time to wrap up. I just finished getting some peaches ready for the freezer - why did we get so many peaches??!?Oh I wanted to record that Baby J is now taking formula too. He is doing great going back and forth from nursing to a bottle. His u/s came back normal today so we are to increase his liquids and hope that makes up for the dry diapers.

Okay now off to bed!!

Baby J is CRAWLING!

While I was gone this weekend (I was gone for exactly 24 hours!), Baby J began crawling on all 4s. He is now fully mobile and into everything. He will not come onto the wood floor into the kitchen all the way though - stays right on the edge. I think it hurts his knees. So he will just sit and whine in the living room until I get him : -)

Pool Time!

We hit the pool for the first time this season. It is so wonderful to have a pool right out our back door! Baby J enjoyed the fresh summer air and cool pool water. He was lounging and grinning for the entire hour and half we were in the pool. L took right to the water right where she left off last year - diving and swimming like mad. She can now reach the bottom in parts of pool, which means she has grown about 3 inches since last summer. S was leery of the pool at first but after some patient instruction from Daddy Piper, was able to put his head under water all the way!!!! He became super comfortable in in the water after only a few minutes. I thoroughly enjoy pool time with the family. I have said it before but it such a nice time for us. We enjoy each other's company without a TV, computer or cellphone intruding. Wonderful time for us all!

Baby J relaxing in sun.

Mommy watching her baby boy enjoying the water.Mama and S doing some swimming with a noodle.Mama and her babies - all 3 of them : -)

Mama and her boys.

Daddy and Baby J. Baby J was so cold towards the end of pool time. Daddy pulled him out of his floatie to find goose bumps covering his arms.
Poor Baby!!

On a side note - Daddy Piper has work tomorrow. WOOHOO!!! What a great blessing this is, especially with the testing Baby J has to undergo now. He'll have an u/s tomorrow and hopefully will avoid the VCUG. I am praying and praying for no VCUG.

Okay off to put kids to bed (they are staying up late and watching Transformers with Daddy).

Vegas Baby or not.....

I was supposed to be in Vegas this weekend with my sis but that plan busted with Baby J being sick. I just couldn't leave thinking something might happen. So being a wonderful big sis, D agreed to stay in town and postpone our trip. We ended up getting a hotel in a town about an hour from us. We did some coupon shopping, had a scrumptious dinner out (with mojitos and dirty martinis!!), and time by the pool (at midnight, nonetheless!!). It was a treat to be on my own schedule and not answer to anyone else's needs - if only for 24 hours. I was disappointed when she was up at 6 on Sunday morning ready to head home. I was home by 8:30 AM : -(. The time together with my sis was amazing and much needed. Next trip - alone with my hubby!!

Chickens

In an effort to be more self-sufficient around here, the talk has come up more than once to get some chickens for egg purposes. I am completely and adamantly against such an act yet a chicken from next door has decided to make Daddy Piper's tire pile a nest and lay her eggs there. L and Daddy found this out yesterday. I found out today. L took me over to show me the chicken and her eggs. She followed that up by suggesting I get the camera and take a picture for our blog : -) Sadly we didn't make it out there before sundown (Dancing With The Stars was on - give me a break!) but hope to get out there first thing and get that picture!

In other news - our seeds are sprouting!! Corn and squash have sprouted. I hope some of the other stuff comes up soon as well. I don't want to spend the summer eating corn and squash only - some carrots and tomatoes would be nice as well.

Off to do laundry - my boy has no more undies!

Mother's Day 2009

Today was a wonderful day!

We went last night to a local pottery painting place where we painted a family fruit bowl which included all of our handprints . The kids had fun painting and I had fun knowing it was a family outing and the result will be a very cool bowl (with exploding paint no less!) on our table filled with fruit and veggies, hopefully fresh from our garden : -) We followed up this fun family time with a dinner to my fav Mexican food place. The dinner was slow coming from the kitchen but didn't disappoint when it landed on our table. Even J enjoyed some refried beans. S declared himself "FULL" and we were ready to go.

This morning Daddy and the kids cleaned the playroom, made our breakfast and did the dishes - I wish everyday were Mother's Day!

The rest of the day went well. I talked with my sis some (she had a coupon emergency : -) ). We talked alot of our upcoming weekend. A getaway with just us!!!!! The only negative to the day was the situation with my mother but that ended okay. I just didn't play into the drama. I had a fun conversation with a good friend, got Daddy some lemons for his ice tea and headed home.

Now I am so thankful for the family I have been given, the home we are filling with love, the yard we are trying to grow a garden in, the friends I have made along the way and the life I live on a daily basis.

Baby J Accomplishments

Baby J is just developing and getting bigger and more advanced all the time.

He can now push himself to sitting up from laying down (first time today!). He is now sitting up. This kinda all happened all at once. He still isn't fully crawling but is trying and sort of army crawls to get where he wants to go. He is still only saying "DADADA" over and over. No "MAMA" yet. Hopefully soon though : -)

Downside: possibly kidney problems like his brother. Baby J hasn't been having nearly enough wet diapers. I thought it might have to do with my period or his teething but after 10 days of 1-2 wet diapers a day, I called the dr yesterday and they wanted him in right away. We headed up there. He isn't dehydrated, which is what they thought but instead might have a blocked kidney. We need to do a renal u/s and a VCUG. He has lost some weight. I am supposed to push the milk and try to introduce formula to get his liquids up. We did try the formula twice over the weekend since I was worried and he is just not taking it. So I started Fenugreek and pumping like mad. I am so scared of the VCUG again. This was the worst experience with S 2 years ago. And the cost - HOLY COW! And it stinks that the cost even has to be a factor in my worrying mind. Of course he'll have it done, without a doubt, but I am worried about the additional impact on our already strained finances.

DONE

The final product! Another shot of the final product.

Now hopefully this stuff will grow....

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