Clipping Coupons!

My latest obsession is clipping coupons. It's another reason to get up early on Sunday morning- check out the deals in the Sunday paper. I clip all of the good deals for the foods we like to eat. Thanks to my mom, I remember when I was little and she would plan a food menu for the 2 weeks. She would ask us what we would like to eat and plan those "favorite" meals into the routine. Funny how we take on things from our past and make them ours. So, I repeat the cycle :) and ask Isaac what meals he would like, line up the coupons and make my grocery list. So...a couple weeks ago I saved $19 in coupons!! Yesterday, I saved $12 in coupons...now it's like a fun game I play. So on the menu this week is fajitas, chicken curry salad, tortellini with peas and Parmesan, quiche with spinach and tomatoes, brats, grilled veggies and LOTS of fruit. Eliana is a fruit eating machine- not bananas and peaches, she likes berries. Unfortunately, her cute little outfits do too :)

Friday the 13th.

I just finished the Mission Kilimanjaro video for Climbing for Christ. Check it out!



Well, back to doin...

Why didn't I think of this?

with all the rubber band guns I made growing up, I wish I had made one like this! The video is a little slow getting going, but this would really be fun to have whipped out at your friends when you got together for a rubber band gun fight.

I was thinking we could get this for Milo when he gets a little older?

Milo's 1st Birthday

What a party!

Here are some photos from the night. If you have pictures you can email me, please do.

Campin at the Interstate Park

Most people (from Minnesota) know this place as Taylor's Falls- but we were on the Wisconsin side.

We were glad everyone showed up- except the mosquitoes crashed the camping.

I can't believe I learned how to play cribbage.

We can all write a little about the weekend. My favorite memory was eating breakfast- it was a killer breakfast!

Anna- how about sharing that recipe with us?

What a wonderful group!



now, I am going to itch my ankles while I try to go to bed.

Blood, Sweat and No Fears

Saturday is almost over. I still have 10 fingers that mostly function. My hands are a little worse for wear from handling the pavers, plate compactor and shoveling all day. I am glad I got my ring tattooed or else it would be really rough now.

The patio on the back of the house is DONE! Yes, it did take a few weeks too many- but now it is done, finished and open for business! Tomorrow we finish the pavers around the fire pit.

Funny story. I was working outside finishing up the patio when I hear Eliana start to cry. We had put her to bed about 45 minutes ago and I thought she was sleeping. Strange, she was getting up on the stool in front of the window above where i was working. But we didn't let her out of her crib... SHE CAN NOW GET OUT OF HER CRIB!

Nicole and I were curious as to how she does this, so we put her back in there and stepped back. She gripped the top with her hands and started to shimmy up the vertical slats with her feet. She threw her leg over the rail and pivoted on her stomach until both legs were over the side. She lowered herself as far as her arms would stretch and then she dropped to the ground and wanted some raisins and her bottle.

Looks like we need to re-think how we can put her- and keep her- in bed.

Simple things that make me happy

I was talking with Nicole on the phone last night about being home late because of work obligations (she graciously accepted this) and then she started laughing. I asked her what she was laughing at- it was our blog. She was reading through the Sunday night postings.

I have always said there are two things in this world that can always make me feel right as rain: the first is hearing Nicole laugh. I love to hear her laugh. There is something about her laugh that just makes me smile, inside and out. And to hear her laughing at something I did (because the thought it to be funny) really made my day.

The other thing is hearing Eliana laugh- that is my newest favorite sound. I just cant get enough. Last night we were playing with the exercise ball and I was pounding on it like a boxer does with a speed bag. She just had her hands resting on the ball. As the bouncing got faster and faster her hands bounced around the ball like one of those football players from the old vibrating game of our previous generation. She laughed and laughed until my arms grew too tired to continue and I would start to loose the rhythm and slow down. Then she would smile and start hitting the ball with her own hands, wanting me to do more. Neeless to say, my arms are quite sore!

Love, Laugh (a lot!) and Live!