Tropicanoe Cove...

I heard quite a few comments from cove go-ers regarding my bravery in bringing my 4 boys *alone* to the area water park/pool (I replied back with I'm just dumb;-)...it wasn't all that bad if you don't count that I: forgot the camera, forgot Griffin's t-shirt and sun hat, forgot Owen's shoes and sun hat, busted my 44 oz soda all over shortly after parking, reloaded the kids to trek back home to get the necessities I forgot the first time, get another soda, and drive back. We were in the park less than a half hour before I realized I forgot Griffin's formula (thankfully, only in the van). It was an adventure:(|)

Really bad terrible no good mommy day...

But not as terrible as this poor momma...please pray.

Happy 3 months today Griffin!!!!

Boy oh boy...could there really be any better a baby? I'm so not bragging...Griffin is just.so.good. So good. He loves to be held, but in an enjoyable cuddly way and not in a demanding, manipulative way.

I just weighed him and with a onesie and diaper he was 10.4 pounds ---he's really a chunko monko these days.

We have been very busy (or very lazy) lately.

We've had a garage sale, taken a very quick trip to WI to visit/fish, been to the fair, the park a few times with this seasonably cool weather, recent hair cuts, done lots of yard work, and done lots and lots of bargain shopping-YES, with ALL 4 boy in toe or is it tow???.

Back to the baby Griff -he is sleeping better through the night-though not in his cradle-he has a weird aversion to it;-) So about 6 hours is the norm. Taking 5 ounce bottles every 3 hours when awake and sometimes longer stretches. He still will drink any formula I offer him (which is SUCH a huge blessing). We have started him on probiotics because his poo is soooo stinky! No noticeable difference yet but it's still early (I think, I hope).

He's on the verge of talking-I just know it. He looks at us talking to him so intently and tries to make his voice work. We've heard definite "h" sounds and it's so stink'n sweet. He's still wearing size 1 diapers. He has COMPLETELY outgrown his newborn size clothes. I have him in the few 3-6 month outfits and onesies we have for him.

He takes a binkie but if it's not in his mouth and he needs it, he shoves his fists in his mouth and makes loud smacking sounds. He still sleeps alot but has definitely begun to find his hands and bat at toys hanging and such. He also will cry if he is alone and wants someone to come-he will open his eyes every so often to check to see if anyone is watching;-) If you start to talk to him, he will calm down and even smile around his cries.

Ok, now for the photo recap:

The 4th of July in their Old navy tees:


not everyone wanted to pose:


the baby wearin' mama:


love'n lake MI:


love these boys (minus one of course):



Patriotic fam:


TJ's kinda gross, kinda cool fish skeleton:


TJ's first big lake fish:


Griffin lovin' fishin':


Brave fishermen return:


There's no small fish with Owen around:


Grampa helping the boys catch from the "so safe" rocks:


The boys enjoying the ducks:


Wow Griff:


Party on dude:


Pre-hair cuts (aka shaggy ville):


Post-hair cut fine lookin' boys:


Dr. Jake:


Dr. TJ:


Dr. Owen:


My DH-nice shirt:


The crazies about to go on the "storm":


Swimmin' in a baby pool wears this baby out:




Hopefully, I will get back into the swing of posting...that is, if I have any readers left;-)

This tea's for you!

I know it's been a while...no good excuses-been busy and then just lazy too. But, today is free tea day at McAlister's Deli (all locations)...enjoy a Free cup with no purchase nor coupon necessary. And mark your calendars! 99 cent kids hamburger happy meal day is coming (at least to Lafayette Area Mickey D's) in honor of the Happy Meals 30th birthday! It will be on Sunday July 26th...enjoy!

Lastly, in honor of Griffin's 3 month birthday tomorrow, a real post will be coming to update you on him (and the rest of the family). On the edge of your seat?

Do you SWAG?

If not, you should be!

What's swagging, you ask? Ahhhh...I'm glad you asked!

Simply click the banner, sign up for an account and begin earning "search" points for every search you do.

What? Why would I search through swagbucks instead of google, etc?

From swags site: www.swagbucks.com features a best in trade search feed, which includes results from Google & Ask.com. If you're already searching the web, why not win prizes, while continuing to receive the same great results you are accustomed to?

So, frankly, you should use it simply because swagbucks pays you to search and it's just that easy!

I've been using it for about a month (very mild use as I have little to search nowadays) and have earned my first amazon gift card...and there are lots of prizes but gift cards are my fav.

How will you remember to swag search? Great question! They've thought of it though-just upload their toolbar and click it everytime you want to search. You'll be awarded approx 1-5 swag bucks every few searches- so, in my case, in one year of swagging, I should easily have $60 in amazon gift cards-simply for clicking a different search browser than I used to use.

Go ahead, try it! I dare ya!

My life-updated.

I don't even know where to begin...

I guess I should say, nothing profound will be shared herein-just normal boring life stuff-which is good-I don't want to have profound things to share;-)

Griffin had his 2 month check up. All is great with him. He's a terrific baby! Seriously awesome baby! He weighed 9 pounds 14 ounces and was 21 5/8 inches long. He plotted in the 10th percentile, which humored me, since I think he's such a chunk;-) In my defense, if you plot him his height v weight, he is 50%tile which is perfect!

He is wearing 0-3 months clothes. He eats 5 ounce bottles of whatever formula is on sale about every 3 hours. He does bless us with some 4 and 5 hour stretches and has slept from 11pm to 6am a handful of times;-) He smiles and coos-he seems to be catching on the being social. He has found his tongue and often sticks it in and out over and over *so cute*. He's wearing size 1 pampers cuddlers (the only way to go in my humble opinion;-). He's a quiet baby and usually pretty content in his swing or bouncy seat-but he LOVES to be held. Especially lying on his tummy on Tim or I's chest;-)

That's about it for the Griffster's boring (but beautiful)baby life.

As for the rest of us, it's been ridiculously hot here. Today is a cooler day finally but I have no desire to go outside at the moment. In fact, there are 2 neighbor girls (with Jake) and 3 neighbor boys (with TJ) inside right now playing(read destroying) my house.

Owen is back to normal from his surgery...next task-potty training (someday).

Jacob is mean right now-yes, you read that right-he's mean. We are working on it but it's a battle for sure. Yesterday was spent with him "grounded" all day from playing outside or electronics so that meant for punishment for the parents too;-)

TJ is enjoying his summer thus far with 3 boys from the neighborhood. They enjoy fishing in a nearby pond (don't ask, it makes me nervous) and playing the Wii, etc inside when it's too hot outdoors. He's been wanting to do the workreation program where he volunteers for an hour to earn a free pass to the pool, but 1) it's soo early to take him and 2) it's been so hot and Owen wasn't cleared for the pool -until now.

Tim is busily working at Wag. I have him sucked into my new couponing lifestyle. We hardly ever buy anything not on sale/with coupons. He's all about the deals. He's even instructing a portion of a local couponing class tonight in regards to Walgreens customer loyalty program called register rewards. He is also busy with his volunteer work of mentoring/counseling others in regards to finances including a new project with Habitat for Humanity...oh and I almost forgot-he's on a team for a book review for a book our Pastor is writing...busy fella.

Me-I'm just enjoying the boys and the summer break. I'm totally into couponing now as a way of life. It's been an amazing blessing for our family to not only save money but also get to try out things I never would've bought before. I don't think I'll ever pay for newspapers, shampoo, soaps, toilet paper, toilet bowl cleaner (and some other cleaning products), tooth brushes, tooth paste, and more AGAIN! It's amazing once you get the hang of it. And fun. And it really fulfills my shopping bug. And that's about it for me and for all of us I guess. Here are some pics from recent adventures:

All of the boys (except Griffin) have been sick recently-here's pics (Owen was already over his when I took the pic of him:-)






The 2 middle boys playing dress u:







Flowers from my garden:

Happy 2 months old Griffin!!!

A big post will be done later but this will have to do for now (2 month check-up Friday;-)