Updates

We have been keeping busy!  My days have been full of taking care of Jack, the house, the meals...but we have managed to throw in some other things as well!  Last week, we took a family trip to the flea market.  We purchased Jack a Christmas present that we have been working on ever since (more on that later!).

Jack learned a new trick.  I went to get him up from his nap and found this...

Sitting up!

He has been on the go ever since!  He is even more of a "Curious George" now. :-)  I have done some light baby proofing but he still manages to get into things I didn't think were possible!  He even chases after me as I vacuum.  I shot this picture while I was vacuuming as proof that he just lights up once that noisy thing comes out!

Do you think he will be this happy when it is his chore?!

Fun with Dad!

I also have started clipping coupons again!  When I was growing up my Mom always clipped coupons.  So, naturally after I got married I also clipped coupons.  Well, once we started making changes in our diet, making our cleaning products and some toiletries, the coupons didn't have much to offer me. Recently,  I have discovered LOTS of money saving blogs that are full of tips and coupons.  Of course, I still need to weed out what isn't necessary but I have found some great deals.  For example,  the back- to-school sales have been great (they always are!).  The past 2 weeks I have picked up some really useful items for super cheap.

Would you believe me if I told you I got all of this for $3+tax after rebates and coupons?!  I saved over $100!!!  The Swiss Gear backpack (which will hold our new laptop) is free after a rebate in the form of a staples gift card.  The reams of paper and pens were a penny each.  The mechanical pencils, gel pens and 60 count photo paper were a quarter each.  The scotch tape was $2 for 6 rolls!

Finding the deals does take some time but, I believe it is worth it as long as you are still being a good steward of your time and money.  I'm sure I will need 1,000 sheets of paper to print out all my money saving coupons and that Staples gift card will come in handy when I need to buy more ink!  Which by the way, return your old ink cartridges and they will give you a $2 gift card for each one!

I added some money saving blog links on my side bar for all who are interested!  Happy Saving!

8 Months!

8 Months

It's that time again, Jack turned another month old!  He has been a busy boy.  He is moving around a LOT more either by "inch-worming"or rolling.  He really picks up his speed when he has something set in his sights!  Of course, with all of this movement comes hunger.  :-)  He has become a champion eater.  He eats all of his fruits and veggies from applesauce to zucchini with plenty of meat and plain yogurt in between.  He has taken to eating just about anything in chunk form with no problems.

Jack loves to listen to me read.
Monkey books seem to be his favorite right now. :-)

Speaking of "monkeys"...check out this little guy's moves!

Yup, he is busy!

Dyeing Playsilks

You may be wondering why I bought Kool-Aid and why in the world I would take a picture of it!  Well, I used it to dye silk scarves, other wise known as playsilks.  I have been wanting to try this craft for a while now since Jack is at the perfect age for a game of peek-a-boo.  As many of you know, I prefer open ended, natural toys.  Actually, toys that light up and make noise cause me to cringe!  A playsilk is a perfect imaginative toy.  It can become a cape, blanket, belt, headpiece, decoration, streamer, fort... really anything a child can come up with!  It really is a fun process (well, maybe except for the rinsing and rinsing...) and older children will enjoy helping you.

I purchased 3 different sizes (35x35, 22x22, 6x24) from www.dharmatrading.com and they included 1 (8x54) free with my first purchase!  There are lots of tutorials on the web which I found very helpful.  I do recommend pre-washing the silks first.  I only did that for one of mine and it took the dye the best.  I also used gloves and I highly recommend them especially if you don't want rainbow colored hands!  As a side note: kool-aid dyeing also works on wool but I haven't tried that yet.

 The silks soaking up the dye.  The big metal bowl was for the blue silk which I did at a later date.

Jack was part of the process minus the Kool-Aid!

 The finished project!

In my experience, kids play more with their toys when they have a proper place for them and when they can see them.  For now, ours are in a basket, crib, carseat...

 He seems to really enjoy them!

Well, metal mixing bowls are fun too! :-)

I see many more of these in our future!  I think I am ready to try out the fort sized one but maybe I should wait a few more years!

Baby Jack

Click here to view this photo book larger

When I registered at Target for my baby shower they gave me a free gift card to make a baby book.  I thought I would share it with all of you! 

4th of July Weekend

The holiday weekend was full of family, friends, food, fireworks and fun!  On Saturday, we had lunch with Seth's parents.  It was such a yummy lunch and I'm so thankful for the leftovers :-)  

Yum!

Jack seemed to enjoy all the festivities.  He always likes it when someone is paying attention to only him!  After his nap, we braved the heat to check out Grammy's garden.

 

Saturday night after Seth and I put Jack to bed we headed out to the backyard for a fireworks show.  We saw the city's display and then we saw the ones over the mountain!  We kept joking how being just a few feet outside of the house without the baby felt very much like a date!  Hey, new parents will take them in any form :-) There was no church Sunday evening so our friends Joe and Sarah came over for our second cookout of the weekend! We are so thankful for Christian friends and we always enjoy their sweet fellowship.

"I'm just hanging out!"