Horsing Around!!

http://www.5minutesformom.com/5397/horsing-around-photo-contest/ This site is sponsoring a "Horsing Around" contest.

The horse that is up for gabs is available from this site:

http://www.a-rocking-horse-to-love.com/

The one is particular is named Henry Horse and he is really cute! Couldn't you just imagine Owen riding on him when he's a little bit older??

All you need to do to enter is post a "Horsing Around" photo and then there will be voting. I chose this picture because, obviously, they are all horsing around!! But I love it even more because this was taken on December 19, 2008...during the power outage caused by the big ice storm. We had no power for 3 days and had to be creative with ways to stay busy. Playing together as a family was a big part of it!! And the smiles on their faces proves that it was wonderful!!! What's better than everyone climbing on top of Daddy? And then having to stay there while Mommy gets *just the right picture*!?!

I would love if you visited the site mentioned above to vote for my picture. Owen would really thank you if he won a horsey!!

Another update! 1-21-09

Another week with no update. I'm so sorry! To say I've been busy is an understatement. And on Monday I came down with a stomach bug that I'm just now feeling a little better from. Oy! I *really* hope the kids don't get it.

Like that top picture? That is Nick, Sami and Colby.... they were "dog piling" as they call it. And Sami's tooth fell out while they were doing it- it was quite funny!!

Let me tell you what we did this week...

Last Wednesday Art and I spent 3 hours in the boys' room cleaning. They're not very good at cleaning it themselves, and I'm the first to admit they have way too much stuff. So we decided to go in and clean it for them- while they were at school, of course. We were able to get rid of so much! A lot to the garbage can, some upstairs for Owen, and some we just put away somewhere else.

We also took the toybox out of their room and put the desk that was in our room into their's. Will loves that!! And they each havea drawer to themselves for special things... you know, like pokemon cards and secret toys and such!
I hope you appreciate the before and after photos... they are the same area, the toybox is gone now... the pink didn't really match anyways!!

On Thursday we did Owen's room. We finally put up his crib- not that he sleeps in it, of course... but it's nice to have up and maybe he'll eventually nap in it? We also got rid of lots of stuff in his room... so hard to believe he's already outgrown so much!! Luckily I was able to pass on a bunch of gender-neutral stuff to my brother and sister-in-law for my new niece (due in May). I still have lots of boy stuff I need to find a home for. But now Owen's room is nice and clean too!

On Friday we took a break from the instense cleaning!!

On Saturday Samantha did something else that we are SO PROUD OF!!! She was in a concert at Lansingburgh High School. She was in the All County Chorus. It's a chorus made up of 100 kids from 10 or so different schools in the county. I think there were 7 from her school?? We got to see an orchestra, a senior chorus, a jazz band, and the elementary chorus. There was also a band but we left before they came on. I was AMAZED. I thought the concert was wonderful. And Samantha had to audition to make it so we are proud that she had the guts to audition and then made it as well!!

Random picture of my 3 boys!!! (love the wallpaper)

On Saturday also, after bowling, the boys were in the Pinewood Derby with cub scouts. I coudln't go because I was at Sam's concert. But Art went and they had fun. They didn't win, but Colby was able to get the trophy he won last year but forgot to take home! bonus!

Will also had a basketball game that day that I missed. But Art says he is improving a lot, and even his coach took me aside to tell me that. Go, Will!!

On Sunday we just stayed home and did nothing. Fun and exciting, huh?? On Monday I brought the kids to the Y where we met Grandpa Bill for some swimming! Samantha wasn't there though, she went snow tubing with a friend all day.
And on Monday night I came down with the lovely stomach bug. Grrrr....






Owen is getting SO BIG!!! On Friday he ROLLED OVER for the first time!! And now he does it a lot-- he was so frustrated in the beginning because his arm kept getting caught, but now he does it perfect. He goes back to front, to the left always!

We have been playing lots of games as a family, and a new favorite is Rummifun. Will really enjoys it!! Of course Art is ultra-competitive in that game, but that only makes it more fun for me! Colby doesn't really get it yet though.

What else is going on with us??
Oh yeah, on Sunday Sam had a basketball game (I guess we didn't just sit around!) they lost... bummer... her team is good but apparently they need some practice!!

HAPPY WEDNESDAY

Howdy!

Time to show some more pictures of my FABULOUS, ADORABLE, BEAUTIFUL, AMAZING children!!!

Look at Mr. Blue Eyes sucking on those fingers! Isn't he just so sweet?? He loves to eat those fingers!

Here is a picture of Samantha and Owen!!!
Samantha just adores Owen. I can tell he's goin to be a very spoiled little boy, especially by her. She always wants to give him love.
(But she still won't change diapers, and spit up makes her run away)

And another smiling Owen picture!!! He smiles all the time. He just loves everyone, loves the attention! He has the sweetest little laugh and he loves to laugh and smile lot. Lately, if you go "Blech" really loud in his face, he laughs and laughs!!

Last night, out of the blue, Will offered to read Colby his bedtime story. cool! They read down by the fire (the best place in the house!) It was very sweet. These too are so hot and cold lately... they're either best friends, or worst enemies. Obviously I'd rather see them getting along! So this makes me really *smile*






Ha ha ha! Colby took a bath last night and made his hair like this! He was so proud of himself, and he really had me laughing! Sometimes I just need to step back and stop what I'm doing to just laugh and giggle with him. He's such a fun little guy!!

Art is still working evenings and it's really been hard on all of us. Of course it's hard for Art- his hours are all screwed up... he can't sleep in for too long... he misses the kids... it's tough. And the kids don't get to see him either and that's hard on them. And me... well, sometimes I feel like a single mom! Art leaves for work before the kids get home from work... and wakes up after they leave again. I'm juggling tae kwon do and basketball and Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts... making sure dinner is done and cleaned back up...being referee when the kids fight constantly... all the while trying to take care of a 3 month old who doesn't like to be put down!! But I know it's not permanent and we'll have him back soon. I just hope it's REALLY soon!!!

I forgot- a month or so ago Samantha auditioned for All County Chorus and made it! So this weekend she has a big concert... kids from all over Rensselaer county will be there. How exciting! I'm so proud of her- not only for making it, but also for having the guts to audition!! Go Sam!!

And I also forgot to mention that we lost Midnight a week or so ago... you know, Midnight the hamster.... It was sad... he just died one night... Sam took it pretty hard, but even when we offered to get another one she said no. So we no longer have a hamster in the house.

I better go do what I can while Owen is still sleeping. :-)

Sunday January 11

Here is a cute picture of Owen. I put him in the corner of the couch, to pose him so that I could get a picture of him in this outfit (because it is now just too small...) and this is what Owen does-- he arches his back and tries to move! It's pretty funny, considering he really doesn't care where he is... he doesn't care if he's on the couch or on the floor or whatnot...but now that he has the ability to arch his back and "move" he does it whenever he can!!!
Same place... and a BIG smile and laugh from Owen!!

Here is Colby and Owen... they were snuggling on the couch in the basement one day, watching TV. It's amazing how the TV attracts Owen's attention so much!!

We got lots of snow last night, about 6 inches or so. Here is a picture of Will outside helping Daddy carry in firewood so that we don't get cold.

And here is my best news--

I went to CVS today, I bought this stuff, and I only paid 81 cents!! Yes, CVS is my new obsession. Every week it's a new game to see what I can get, and how little I can spend. This is probably one of my best weeks.

How did I do it?
Well, this is what I paid for everything:

Hershey chocolate bars: 2 for $3.00

CVS brans mouthwash: $2.99

Kotex pads with bonus pantyliners: $3.27

Johnson and Johnson dental floss: $1.99 *BOGO*

Listerine Smartrinse: $4.29

Nature Valley Granola Bars: $6.99 for the 2 pack

Johnson and Johnson First Aid Kit: $.99 cents

Johson and Johnson Buddies soap: $1.19

(The Kotex were supposed to be $4.99, but rang up at $3.27-- cool!)

And then....

I had coupons!!!!

$1 off Kotex pads, 1 off dental floos, $1 off smartrinse, 2 $1 off coupons for granola bars, $1 off the first aid kit, and $1 off Buddies soap, and $3 off any CVS brand item. ($10 in all). Plus, I had $20.97 in ECBs that I redeemed.

So basically, $31.70 worth of merchandise cost me 81 cents!!!!

What else happened this weekend??

Well, Samantha and Will both had basketball games...Will had two, actually. They all lost :( Samantha got hit in the lip at her game... but Will is improving a lot...

The boys had bowling on Saturday morning. Will did awesome-- scored a 134 on his first game!!! Plus on Saturday we *got my van back* which is nice. It is so much nicer driving that than the little bambino car!

We're cooking dinner now (baked ziti, yum!) and getting ready for tomorrow. Art is still working evenings so he'll be home during the day tomorrow. We plan to get Owen's 3 month portraits taken and then do a little grocery shopping. Along with my CVS "game", I'm also trying to stick to a grocery budget. So far we're about $50 over, but I bought some stuff that I won't have to buy again for a few weeks, so hopefully I'll come out even at the end of the month. And if not, at least it will give us a good idea of where our money is going. So far we've realized that we spend over $25 a week on MILK!!! and if I had my way, we'd spend about $15 a week on ice cream... :) ha ha ha...

Off to enjoy the night with the family. Happy Sunday.

I REALLY want this!!

Another blog I follow, http://www.mysentimentexactlee.com/ is having a give-away. They're giving away a breastmilk pendant.
Everyone who knows me knows that I thoroughly enjoy breastfeeding my babies. I am grateful to be able to do so, and I cherish the bonding it forms between me and my babies.
And if you take a look at Owen, you can see that I have some hearty breastmilk! Ha ha.

I love the idea of this necklace and I think it would be a great keepsake. Head on over to her blog to enter yourself. I did!

My little monk!

It's so hard to believe how quickly this little man is growing!
I bought this outfit on ebay months before Owen was even born. It's a Gymboree romper, my favorite kind of outfit, and it is so soft and warm. It is size 6-12 months, and I really had no idea he would fit it so early. I tried it on this day...and wow! It fits! It's a tad big, but just the way I like it. And I love the hood! I think he looks like a little monk!

It's been so long...

Look how big Owen is getting!!

Here is a picture of him just mouthing his fingers. He is doing this a lot lately. And drooling. I wonder if he is "teething"? They say that babies teeth for months before you actually see a tooth, so it's possible. Hopefully there are no teeth coming soon-- ouch!

He absolutely loves his fingers...

Here is Owen with his new gym toy he got for Christmas. I just love this picture because I imagine him thinking "Wowzers! How cool!" just by the expression on his face!! And can you tell he is standing all by himself? That's a fluke really. He loves to stand, prefers to actually, all you have to do is wrap his little fingers around yours and he will hold himself up. So here he is, Art was holding him and let go for a minute and Owen is standing! cool!

My Dad and Becky came to visit the Saturday after Christmas. This is a photo of my baby brother Zarek, who was 6 weeks old, and Owen was 11. What a difference 5 weeks makes!! Zarek is a *baby baby* and Owen seems like a much older baby! Zarek doesn't hold himself up or anything yet.
And Owen is getting a little baby attitude... he HATES his swing and now when you try to put him in it, he arches his back and cries. OY!!

Here is Kaden in all his cuteness. Eighteen months old now.

And here is Owen, mouthing a toy. He was sitting in his Bumbo, and we put the toy in his hand. He does not do this on his own. And it does not last very long. He gets upset easily if he is not being held!!

The kids went back to school yesterday after winter break, and Owen is much happier back on his "schedule". Even though we hardly have an exact routine down... but he gets upset when it's too chaotic and busy and loud... and when he doesn't get to sleep at the right time. Which stinks since Art is working nights, and I can't sleep until he gets home...so Owen is up a bit later still.

Not much else is really happening here. :-)