Of all the places in the world, I'm so glad that we live next door to a park! It's become like an extension of our backyard... without dog *** and mean neighbors who won't return balls/frisbees from over the fence. Also, Caleb has made friends with a little boy three houses down, and a girl from his 1st grade class (and Kindergarten & 2nd). So he is getting socialization. He is using his "heely" shoes to the most fun possible over on the concrete, which is better than my living room floor. Jockey gets to go with, but not alone. That is the divide of age-related responsiblity/proviledge relationship. I can see the park from the front windows of our house and I can check up on them and make sure they are behaving without them knowing.

This week has been park, park, park, tennis, tennis, library, grocery shopping, and more park. Next week is VBS at the preschool that Jockey attended. It is soccer themed and should be very attention capturing, and energy draining. Yipee.

Nathan is definately standing on his own! He is working hard at it, he practically holds his breathe. But he gets the most adorable look on his face like he is so proud of himself. He is just now, today, seeing a brief beauty of the tummy time he's receiving. He has taken just two decent naps this week, each at 3 hours each... on different days. Other than that, he is the 20 minute cat-nap expert with a difficulty winding down at the end of the day because he is soooo tired by 10pm and fighting sleep hard! He is still running hot and living in onesies rather than cute outfits. And he is cute while grocery/coupon shopping. And (*TMI warning) he had his first big, major diaper blow out... and was a complete rockstar by being happy and smiling NOT crying! He only cries for food, in which case he can go from zero to hungry in about 5 seconds! Literally. He loves being talked to and will hand out smiles constantly. He brings such joy when you arrive at his bassinet and say "hi Baby Nathan" and he lights up with a huge grin. He's also starting a little type of laugh, like an amused "Hmmm". Cute. Mostly it's the responsiveness that is so fun. The CJ Brothers (Caleb&Jockey Brothers) really like it when they can get a reaction out of Nathan, and they are so eager to interact with him. Caleb does really well, although I have to draw the line at carrying Nathan while wearing his Heely/wheel shoes... too slippery. Jockey is still a little too rough and untrained in the appropriateness of his affection.

Jockey expressed the need for his own attention from me this week. So he and I spent time learning the camera functions, and craft type things in the office. He really likes to "do craft projects" while I'm in the office. Which was a benefit today because I had to spend a significant amount of time working on MOPS decor in the office. Lots of left over scrapbook paper for Jockey to play with. And I let him help me a little with my things too.

So, it is off to salvage a slight bit of the remaining part of the day and plan my couponing. I fully intend to get a full supply of peanut butter stocked and Capri Sun for the next couple months (for school lunch). Of course, for a great price! Until next time..... Good night!

I find the boys in the garage looking at stuff 9"the stockpile" and talking.
"Guys, what are you doing?"
They say: "Shopping."

I love it!!! (Except when I get multiple opened packages at a time...)

Scored big on hamburger/tuna and all varieties "helpers". ELEVEN that's .11 cents a box. And for a non-gourmet cooking... wonderful! Especially since I have lots of tuna.

It might be too early to call this.... but... I think we might have another early walker!8 WEEKS OLD TOMORROW!

So Monday we spent 3 hours at two different parks, including a new skate park.

Tuesday was get errands done day. But we also got bike rides and walks in.

Wednesday was Movie day as we trekked up to Everett and saw "Gulliver's Travels". I was a bit nervous about how Nathan would handle it all. He woke up to poo, fed, and I had to bouce/hold and jostle him a bit and let him suck on my finger a while, change him again and then he finally fell asleep. Good thing it wasn't a first run movie in a packed theater filled with people not wanting to miss a glimpse of the film because I got up and down alot... But we made it!
I did an errand in Everett, Toy'r'us for MOPS. And I have to say that with adamant warning not to ask for toys, the boys did great at following that direction. They rode the line by saying this is so cool or that would be nice to have or I wish I could have... but no hounding and begging or asking to get or tears! So, I felt good going to play "Free" bowling with them next. Another good time with them.

Thursday I worked, Mike watched the boys until he left at 2. We just kept close to home that night with the help of a backyard campfire including marshmallows!

Today was a bit of errands and school clothes shopping. Thank goodness I had worked and gotten some $ because Kohl's had awesome clearance! Can you believe 6 shirts would have cost $105.34, SIX shirts only, luckily.... I got about 83% off that! And the boys are thrilled with their "Tony Hawk" shirts since they are fascinated with skate parks now. Then it was home to rest a while (feed Nathan AGAIN) and they skated, biked and walked the rest of the day away. Now they are on to "movie night" here at home, a tradition that began with Grammy Bishop.

The boys are having a great time, but they are now under the impression it is my sole job (to the exclusion of everything else) to keep them entertained from one activity to the next. It's not by the way, and I'm exhausted by the last couple weeks. My next response to "what are we going to do?" is either going to be NAP or Read a BOOK!

Thank goodness next week is VBS in the mornings and that will keep them busy for 3 hours a day! During one of the days I will be teaching a friend where to start with couponing! I'm kind of excited. I like being useful and needed in an area that I love (crafts, coupons, scrapbooking, bible study all at the top of the list). I hope to be helpful and make a realy impact on their family by planting the small seed of "how to coupon". And even better both her and my "big boys" will be at VBS, so we will get pseudo-undivided attention to the subject!

Until then...
Wedding Saturday for as long or in whatever manner Nathan allows for.
And the boys/Mike are crabbing Sunday. I SINCERELY hope to get 2 Fair-worthy, new baby themed scrapbook pages completed... and a nap, and grocery shopping done, and and and... but who knows.
Ok, off to make really really cheap but yummy popcorn for the boys' movie night!

This weekend, Saturday, we drove up to Camano Island and dug for clams. It was nice to take the kids on an adventure, but they took the adventure to heart... meaning they explored the beach WAY more than they actually dug/retreived clams. It was tough to keep them on task with the tiny crabs and various cool rocks and starfish to look at. I held, changed and fed Nathan... and took pictures, which are to follow at a later time.

Yesterday, Sunday, I scored some great coupon deals/shopping, and took a nap with Nathan. Mike watched the NFL network and napped.

Later in the evening, it was off to the skate park.

Today, Monday....
I worked briefly, then it was off to the splash park about 2 miles off of HWY 9. Then I told the boys I had a surprise for them. Of course, on the way there, I had to drive by the library and say "we're here" about their surprise to tease them. Then I drove the two blocks to the Snohomish Skate Park that they had never been to before and didn't even know exsisted. They had a good time. Nathan slept when he wasn't eating, and then it was my turn to eat. Picnic in the park. Nice.
Then it was home for a bit of a rest, then bike riding, cleaning the house. When the housework was done... I created with the boys Balloon rockets (toilet paper rolls with balloons on top that shuttle back and forth on a string.)

Tomorrow, I don't know for sure. Last week it was a lot of Skate Park and bowling, I don't know if we'll keep that up, or if we'll try going to a 10 am (YAWN and tough getting out of the house on time) movie. We'll see. I try to get the boys out of the house to 1) burn their energy and 2) prevent the house from becoming a disaster.... Well, #2 is only half effective since things still go on while I'm gone. I take them away from 9:30 AM to 3PM and it is still messy when I get home. sigh. I still keep trying though.

ok. Pictures to follow soon.