Swimming, cleaning and Enjoying Life!

I've been sadly remiss in keeping up with my blog, which I knew would happen, but here we are again :) Emma has started her second session of swim lessons, more for the entertainment and for something to do than for the lessons themselves. She was in the same class last week, but didn't quite master all the things they want you to master in order to "pass the class." So we put her in the same one and she absolutely loves it...she is now one of the advanced students! Austin is making great progress in everything, it's amazing what his little mind comes up with... I mean the words he' saying and the stuff he manages to get into! It could drive a momma crazy sometimes! But we have at least made advances toward the potty and that is a good thing! Sometimes he will randomly go into the bathroom, pull up his shirt, back up to the toilet and say "Poop" grab some toilet paper, wad it up in a ball and throw it in the toilet and flush...then he has to wash his hands before he can leave the bathroom. Maybe he will be an easy potty trainer and be done before his second birthday? :-D In two weeks? LOL! Jackson is eating solid foods now, mostly he loves fruit with rice cereal mixed up, I'm not sure if it's the texture, the thickness or the flavor he likes, but it fills him up better that way too! Eddie thinks it's hilarious to watch him do it but never thinks to actually put him on the toilet when he sees it...lol! Eddie MICHT be getting a job in Sac...same company, different terminal, hopefully more pay... if so we might be moving up there!!! Yay!!! I want to move from this little town so bad! Well, I'll leave it there and be back later if anything more exciting happens! :-D

A new week.... And old chores ♥

So, This week I'm supposed to be getting back into the groove...you know the cleaning, shuttling my kids to and fro and getting dinner on the table at 5 on the dot groove... Sigh... I do not forsee this being an easy transition back into the groove. I've also got a cold..((mini pity party here)) which makes it a bit more difficult. However, I have a friend! FLYLady...have you heard of her? SO awesome! It is a motivational website, encouragement, help cleaning your house, help feeling good about yourself, advice on good dinners, advice on life kind of thing, and I've noticed each time I actually listen, things actually get done! So this week we are back to the basics of picking up, and de-cluttering. Just a little here and a little there until it's all done! With all that said...I'd better get started before the babies decide to get up and play! :-D

A few pictures of the Buzzies

Jackson simply coudn't stay awake any longer ! :)

Emma and Austin setting off Fireworks on the 4th!

Emma holding Jackson..She is such a BIG help!

My three munchkins!

Summer Fun...For Free!!!

So we have spent the last week finding places and things to do that don't cost anything, or don't cost much. Keeping three kids occupied and happy is a job all in itself and sitting around the house all day just won't work. So I took to the internet and found a multitude of things to do that are budget friendly! For those people who have a Bass Pro shop near them, every Tuesday and Thursday from Noon to 6pm there is a "summer Camp" for families where the kids can practice casting, shooting at the arcade, and make crafts, all for free! They also have it on the weekends at a different time I think, but I think all the stores have the same schedule. We have a mini zoo near us that doesn't have very many animals, but the kids don't seem to mind much and right now they have an exhibit where they can feed the lorekeet birds, which they think is awesome and it's only 2$ for Em and nothing for the boys, 3$ for me and we take a picnic lunch! We also have a water park here at the library so we make an afternoon of it and go over to the library and then spend quite a while at the waterpark, there are several different ones near by and they are all free. Mcdonald's...I know it sounds weird, but even if you go and get a 1$ sundae and share it with the kids, they get to play, take a good book and let them run free... Several times over the last couple of weeks, we go about 11am, I get them a burger kids meal, or if they want chicken instead of a toy they get a mini meal for 2.99$, then they eat and go play, each time we have been there until about 2:30 or 3pm. They get to play with other kids and we usually see a lot of the same people so they even make friends, it is also air condidtioned... To further save money I have been leaving the air conditioner off opening up a few windows and leaving for the hottest part of the day, so I try to pick places where it is cool and then we aren't wasting money on A/C. For some reason when we are home, the kids think they HAVE to be INSIDE. So I have made a concerted effort to make them play outside for a while each day. The kiddie pool has been an awesome addition and after the sun isn't beating on the slide they love that too. I was amazed at some of the simplest things that the kids enjoy doing that take up time and not money. Since everyone seems to be in a race to save money and not spend it anymore, I thought I'd add in my tricks too!