A Day In The Life Of . . . Jonathan

Not too much new to say here. Mr. Jonathan got a new bed this week. The bottom bunk of of the set of beds Becky and I shared when we were little. The top will be soon to come. Both of the kids love climbing and playing on it. We thought it would be a good time to get rid of the night time Pull-Ups, Jonathan has been potty trained during the day since he was 2 1/2, but we can't seem to stay dry overnight. The first night went okay, we got up and took him to the bathroom at 10, 12, 3, and 5. Stayed dry. The following 3 nights though he wet the bed, I guess we need Pull Ups a little longer at night. He has been wanting to learn how to spell EVERYTHING, and he can read a few words. Did a great job helping me make French Toast this morning, he pretty much did everything. Following these pictures, I found him in his camo pants, a Detroit Lions jersey, wearing his Lightning McQueen backpack (filled with his camera and playfood), wearing his guitar, pushing a pink shopping cart filled with his Linus Blanket. I love this man.

A Day In The Life Of . . . Lilah

My little gymnast. Today, she has been obsessed with the kitchen table. Seriously, I can't hide all 5 chairs. She will climb up on a chair when I am not looking, and from there on to the kitchen table. I have rescued her from the laundry basket, a stool she got up on in the bathroom and couldn't get down, climbed up on the toilet and could not get down, climbed in to a very small plastic bin that holds her Legos and could not get out (3 times today), standing on her rocking horse and could not get down, and she climbed under her brothers bed and could not get out, and tried fitting in her baby stroller, on top of the baby. I really do love this stage though, good or bad she is learning so much.

Using Upromise

We have really been trying to find new ways to save money this year, and earn money. As most of you know, I am an avid coupon user. I get coupons from the paper, print them from online, and even tie coupons to my Kroger card. I have also had a Upromise account from before either of the kids were born, and it is attached to my Kroger and CVS card. I had it tied to a friends account, and when I purchased certain items, it would make a contribution to her kids college funds. I have since added my kids and I am still using it. Little by little, it helps to save for their college. I want to be able to pay for at least half of the kids college without having to take out any loans or use credit cards.



If you do not already have a Upromise account, or do not want to set one up for your family, please sign up to help us save. There is no committment, you do not have to buy anything special, but little by little when you do purchase items that qualify, a small deposit will be made.



I have a link you can click on to sign up and tie your shoppers card to(Kroger, CVS . . . ).



http://upromise.com/guest/2427436130

Double Bedtime Trouble

My kids go to bed at 8:00. Just about every night. It's now 10:32 and this what I am dealing with. Somehow I went from two kids sleeping in their own beds, to two kids not sleeping in my bed.

Through His Eyes

As I mentioned in my previous blog, Jonathan got a camera for Christmas. I think he has been watching me because he was setting up shots and really getting in to taking pictures. As you can tell, with his camera the pictures are pretty grainy, but I think I like them that way. Did some minor color editing but these are all pictures he has taken with his camera. It's so interesting to see what he sees. I think I might have to use his photography skills for some regular blog posting.

Total Slacker

I have totally been slacking on posting blogs and pics for a few reasons.

It doesn't seem that anyone has missed postings so I don't feel too bad. Not quite sure what I want to do with my blog right now. I haven't been taking many pictures lately, I have got a ton of good deals but by the time I get to blogging about it, it's too late, and I am not sure how much I like sharing about the kiddos. Every now and then I get very umcomfortable and right now is one of those times.
So to hold you over, if anyone is reading this, here is a brief update.

Kids are doing great. Jonathan got his first "report card" . Very exciting to see what he is doing great it and what he could still use some help with. Like using Scissors. He really struggles with that. I think because he is left handed, he complains that it doesn't feel compfortable holding them the right way. I think I need to get him some left scissors. He really enjoyed Christmas. Got a lot of fun presents that he has been playing with non stop. A Scooter he has been trying to play with all weekend (I promise we will put it together soon), his BatCave, and a digital camera. He has been taking a ton of pictures. He even sets up shots to take. I would guess that 80% of his pictures on the camera are of Lilah. He loves her to bits! I think I am going to have to set up a Flickr account for him. Or post a pic a week or something. One of his new favorite new words is "Yummylicious". He uses it if he likes something a lot. The pizza I made for lunch yesterday and the peanut butter and jelly pancake sandwiches we had for a snack both received a Yummylicious review.

Miss Lilah has been battling something that involves a runny nose and a fever. She has had it for almost a week now. It comes and goes. She weighs 20 lbs and is 29 inches tall. Still likes rearfacing in her carseat and I am hoping to keep her that way until she is at least 2. She really enjoyed Christmas, even letting Jonathan open up most of her presents. Loves playing with her babies and her new cradel and changing table. Pushes them around the house in her shopping cart or stroller playing house with Jonathan. Likes playing with her Little People house. She's really in to her books and making animal noises. Her favorite is when you ask her what a Lilah Bear says. Go ahead and give it a try, ask her.

The Coffey Cabin

I am so excited for next summer! This fall, my parents bought a cabin up north. It's just north of West Branch. Perfect location if you ask me. An hour and 45 minute drive, about 20 min outside of West Branch, near Clear Lake. Close enough to go away for a night or so, far enough to get away. I guarantee we will be spending a ton of time up there next summer.

My great grandparents owned the cabin from 1940 - 1969 and then sold it. The woman my parents purchased it from is the niece of the woman that purchased it from my great grandparents. We have the deeds all the way back to the 1800's. My dad started vacationing up there when he was 5 and has a lot of great memories.

It's an older log cabin and a few additions have been put up. There is a bedroom downstairs, and two upstairs, with 6 beds total, and a couch that pulls out. It has a lot of work that needs to be done, but it has a great view. It's right on the lake and has a sunset view. There is also a small sandy beach just a few houses down.

We went up over the weekend and met my parents and sister. We got a lot of yard work done, some unexpected roof repairs (done by Mike and Becky), and got the cabin closed up for the winter. Can't wait to open it back up!