When the kids go to bed...

I think I've mentioned in previous posts that I like to use coupons to get goods deals on groceries. I also like to use coupons to get treats for my family for little or no cost. That being said, I went out the other night to do my deals. I often put the kids to bed with Jason and then head out by myself (sometimes I need to be able to concentrate!). Anyway, after a particularly successful trip to CVS, Jason and I were laughing at my candy haul. We had pulled everything out of the bags and it was sitting on the living room floor. At that point, Ethan decided to get out of bed and come act like a child who's supposed to be in bed sleeping but really doesn't want to be in bed sleeping. You know, acting like a kid. Well, he walked into the room and saw this:

You know the expression that talks about someone being caught with their hand in the cookie jar? Well, the look on my face and Jason's face reminded me of that. It was all we could do to not burst out laughing. Ethan was looking around like "so this is why they want us in bed".

Now, before you think that we're going to eat all of that candy, know that some of it will go to work with me to treat my coworkers, some of it will be consumed on game night, some of it will be shared with the kids, and a lot of it will be consumed while watching the Olympics (seriously, could the swimming be any more entertaining? I was almost standing up cheering and screaming during the mens 4 x 100 relay last night. Now that's how you win a gold medal).

Are you wondering how much I spent on my candy haul? Well, I set all my purchases together in the pile you see in the picture below so you could get the full effect.

The candy, spices, medication, and cleanser cost me a whopping seventy-seven cents. Thats right, $.77--I even had that in my loose change. Did I mention I love shopping at CVS?

Sleepover

I'm on my own tonight...well, sort of. The house is quiet at least! Since it's a nice, cool August evening (and neither of us have to work tomorrow), Jason decided that it would be a great night to "camp" outside with the boys. So, with one air mattress, three sleeping bags, four pillows, a crew of stuffed animals, one flashlight, and a few blankets (because the mother can't help it) my boys are tucked in for the night. I'll probably wander out the front door and sneak into the backyard in a while to see how quiet it actually is in the tent. I have my doubts about the 2-year-old going to sleep, but Jason is a good dad and wants to give him a chance!

Micah thought he would try hanging out with his brother in Ethan's sleeping bag. I can guarantee that NO sleeping would take place if he stayed in there!

Jason has the pleasure of sleeping in between the two wiggle boxes. I don't think he's too keen on going to bed at 8:30, but I'm sure he'll need the extra sleep because he'll probably be up early!

Ethan's trying to pretend to sleep...but he's too silly to keep a straight face.

One of the cutest parts of the night was when Micah was saying his prayers. He will echo us as we say "Now I lay me...." Tonight he said "Now I lay me...in the tent...." and continued on with the rest of the prayer.

I think Jason will have earned a nap tomorrow. :)

Cottage fun

We're finally starting to get back into a regular routine following our time at the lake, so I thought I would post some pictures of the fun we had. I could post tons of pictures, but since I don't think Blogger would cooperate, I tried to keep it to a few favorites.

Here are some pre-picture highlights (in bullet points, because I'm a bullet point kind of gal):

• Number of squirt gun fights that the grandkids had with grandpa: at least 2 that I witnessed...picture grandpa on the dock with a squirt gun and 4 giggling kids running around trying to squirt him.
• Number of paddle boat rides with my boys: 2, one of which our destination was the lily pads and the turtle's favorite resting areas.
• Number of turtles spotted on the paddle boat ride: at least 8
• Number of fish that Ethan caught: 2
  
• Number of times I was thrown into the lake with my clothes on: 3
• Number of nights we slept over: 11 (I think, I kind of lost track)
  
• Number of times I performed the Heimlich: 1 (OK, one unsuccessful attempt and then one more successful attempt that was decidedly more emphatic)
• The weight I gained while eating junk food for 3 weeks: I didn't even check because it's vacation...though a certain relative of mine actually had the nerve to LOSE weight while eating junk!
  
• Number of meals per day that were followed with dessert: Usually 3!
• Number of people who slept who slept in one bedroom many nights: 6
• Nieces and nephews that I was able to hang out with for an invaluable amount of time: 4
• Books read: Sadly, only one! I guess I was busy watching kids play in the lake!
  

Ethan became very comfortable in the water...more and more each day. By the end of our time at the lake, he would happily swim under water!

Micah and Daddy having a squirt gun fight...the bigger squirt guns were used on grandpa.

Ethan caught a fish! He wasn't so sure about it, as evidenced by his grip on grandpa's shirt.

Micah had to keep looking at the fish. We kept it in the bucket so Ethan could show Jason. Micah almost dumped the fish back into the lake a number of times. I guess he's a catch and release kind of guy!

The boys, playing in the water. It's amazing how much time the could spend scooping water!

My goofy goggle boy. He thought we was pretty cool wearing these.

Micah and I in the kayak. I think I enjoyed it more than he did.

My niece, Kathleen. She celebrated her first birthday out at the lake.

My nephew, Charlie, chilling out on Grandpa's lap. By the way, grandpa was off limits for the squirt guns if Charlie was on his lap. Smart grandpa.

Ethan and Micah with my niece and nephew, Rachel and Evan. They played for hours together!

Grandpa was trying to take a nice kayak ride with Rachel and Ethan. Ethan had other ideas.

Where I've been

In case you haven't noticed, it has been a while since I updated my blog (again). We've been busy lately doing a whole bunch of relaxing. You see, every year in the month of July, my parents rent a cottage for a few weeks. The cottage is close enough that it is easily driven to, but far enough away that it really is a vacation. My parents allow (and even encourage!) all of their children and grandchildren to stay overnight as often as we like, so Jason, the boys, and I have been crashing at the cottage off and on for the last week and a half. We've come home for a few days when I have to work, but then we head back out to the quiet life. Jason doesn't have any vacation days, so he just drives in to work and then comes back to join us when he's done for the day (I know, he got the short end of the stick on this deal!). Anyway, I'm not going to post all the pictures right now, simply because I have to figure out a good way to post the good ones from the 200+ pictures I've taken already. Plus, after I work a few days, we're going back to the lake again! So, no promises of pictures in a timely manner!

To keep your attention, I'll give you a glimpse of this past Saturday at the cottage. Jason had to work from 9-noon, so he didn't have a relaxing morning like I did. In fact, when he came back to the cottage after work, he found that I was still in my pajamas. With a large amount of encouragement from our firstborn (and a HUGE dose of encouragement from my siblings), I went into the lake fully clothed.

As you can tell, I tried to put up a fight. Unfortunately, I'm not as strong and determined as the rest of my family, so I got wet. At least the water was warm.

4th of July

What a busy, fun day we had! We have a unique opportunity on the 4th of July. Our city's parade goes right by our house. What fun we have with that! We began our day with a big breakfast (OK, we actually began our day by staking claim to our spots in the yard!). Many of our family members were able to come and feast with us. Then we all lined the yard and watched the parade go by. My personal favorite is alway the flyover that happens each year at the beginning of the parade.

Jason and I were really able to enjoy the parade this year...neither of the kids were scared of the fire trucks, motorcycles, or any of the other loud floats. The boys had an awesome time...how can they not when all they have to do is wave and handfuls of candy are tossed their way! They also have major candy funneled their way since the aunts, uncles, grandparents, and great grandma all contribute to the candy bag. They each ended up with a gallon zip-lock bag full. That may last us until Halloween!

I finally came from behind the camera to actually get a picture of me with the boys. I often forget to do that!

Micah is waiting for the parade to come...like I said, his bag was full of candy by the end of the parade!

Chillin' out by some of his uncles. I think he received an education surrounded by all of them.

A picture with Colin at Colin's first parade...the other cousin in attendance, Charlie, was hanging out in the house for a bit (plus he's kind of little for Micah to be holding!).

Daddy and Micah, waiting for the next part of the parade.

Picking up a Tootsie Roll (one of many...the candy of choice for the floats!)

Uncle Tim making sure that Ethan's candy bag is full to the brim!

Being silly before fireworks. Poor Jason is trying to take a nap.

Ethan giggling with Grandpa before the fireworks. Being up past his bedtime makes him just plain silly, which is much better than just plain crabby!

Little Colin

Ethan's bedtime prayer tonight:

"Dear God, thank you for this day. Thank you that we could play outside. Thank you that we could play with Emma. Thank you for the birds in the trees. Be with Colin when he has his shots tomorrow. Amen."

Mr. Colin, even your cousin knows you won't have a fun day tomorrow! :)

Fun-in-a-jar

Yesterday I had fun mail (my favorite!). My mailbox had a free recipe magazine, a free sample, and a MOPS magazine. I didn't even grumble as much about the bill that was in the pile, too!

I started reading my MOPS magazine right away. I flipped open to the index and saw a special summer fun section. Perfect. Sometime I just need extra ideas for fun ways to entertain my kids!

One of the suggestions was to have a "fun jar". The magazine included a bunch of ideas for 5, 10, and 15 minute fun things to do with the kids. I think this sounds perfect! Later this week I plan to make a jar with the kids (hopefully pictures will follow) and then fill it up. I don't have to work on Friday afternoon or Saturday, so that will probably be the perfect time, especially since there is some rain in the forcast.

Here's what's going in the jar so far, ideas courtesy of the MOPS magazine.

5-minute ideas...

• Blow up a beach ball and volley it to each other, trying to keep it in the air
• Jump rope (I think I'll leave this one out since we don't have a jump rope!)
• Have a free-throw contest: Line up empty buckets, toss in wads of paper, take a step back, aim and shoot again!
• Blow bubbles. See how many you can catch without popping one.
• Twirl in circles.
• Have a laughing contest: loudest, softest, silliest.
• Play tag in the yard.

10-minute ideas...

• Lie on the grass, gaze up at the clouds (or stars)
• Catch fireflies.
• Flip through a scrapbook together.
• Share one of your childhood stories.
• Make an ice-cream shake.
• Take silly-faced photos of each other and email to friends.
• Have an indoor picnic complete with blanket and plasticware.

15-minute ideas...

• Turn off the lights, use a flashlight to hunt for stuffed animals hiding in the house.
• Dress up in mommy and daddy's clothes-take pictures!
• Write a silly story together.
• Take a summer walk. Run through a sprinkler!
• Tell a story by candlelight.
• Videotape your child giving a tour of his bedroom.

Those are the ideas that will go in the jar to begin with. Those ideas won't take us too long. I need you to help me think of more! They don't have to be 5/10/15 minute ideas, just fun or silly or just plain entertaining ideas (preferably ones that don't cost a thing and can be done in our house, backyard, or at nearby parks or trails). I expect the comment section to be bursting with ideas!! Maybe I'll try and post pictures of us doing the activities that are posted in the comment section. :) Yes, I'm bribing you to comment.