Jaden's backyard birthday party

Going green - in baby steps

Since I quit working and got my first subscription to "Organic Style" (not around anymore) I've been trying to be more "environmentally conscious". I don't really buy cleaners at the store anymore. Once in a while I'll buy something that supposed to be "natural" like the new Clorox green line or Mrs. Meyers. But I usually just use the good ol' basics - vinegar, baking soda, and borax with a little liquid soap thrown in. I even try to buy liquid soap that is not made from a petroleum derivitive - so as not to support our dependence on the oil companies. These are getting easier to find in regular stores - by the way. I've changed almost all of my lights over to the enery-efficient versions. I try to use towels, rags, and cloth napkins instead of paper towels. I try to limit things like bottled water or anything else "disposable" that takes up space in land fills. With all that said, I've still got a long way to go but at least I'm moving in the right direction. (I'll list some vices so I don't look like a "goody-goody": disposable diapers - tons with two boys in diapers! -, baby wipes, I haven't gone down to the city building to buy the special bags I need to recycle, washing some clothes in hot water still, enjoying too long of a shower, anti-bacterial wipes in the bathrooms, and much more!)

Recently, I've made an investment in a retractable clothes line. Go ahead Mom - you have permission to laugh at me and say "you thought it was ridiculous when I hung our clothes out on the line years ago!" I did.

I have to say that I feel very good when I walk my little basket of wet clothes outside to hang with cute little clothes pins. And even better when I take them down all nice and neatly folded in my basket. I am proud that I used the sun instead of my dryer. Not only did I save money (esp. since I just found out we pay more than double what my mom does for electricity) and energy by not using the dryer but my air conditioner didn't have to run extra to cool down the house from the heat that would have been created. At least that's how I see it.

Just some pictures

Cookies taste soo good...

especially when you have them all over your face!!!

The joy of being a child

It's amazing to me just how much fun my kids have in the water and the sand each time we go to the beach. Especially Jaden! I try to soak in a little bit of his happiness as I watch him playing. He has such a good time and he never seems to slow down. :)
One of the good things about living where we do is the proximity to the beach. We can be at the water in about 15 minutes. It's close, it's free, it's good for the body, it's good for the soul. What more could you ask for?
We really need to go more often than we do. The kids sleep soooo good after playing at the beach!





Oh and most importantly - Luke made it to the water! Doesn't he look cute in his little swim trunks? (thanks, Dana!)

Strike two

I tried again to take Jaden's two-year-old pictures. This time we thought we'd try the beach. Pictures always come out nice at the beach, right?

As soon as he saw the water he was off! It was like he was in a daze and something in the water was calling to him. He didn't want to stop and splash a little in the water either. I'm not sure where he was going or exactly how far he would have went if we hadn't stopped him - physically. He disregarded all of our demands, pleas, everything!

This was Luke's first time at the beach. Poor thing didn't even make it out of his carseat!
Our next challenge turned out to be the weather. This is a shot of the impending storm cloud off in the distance. Then, the lightening started. We quickly headed out. It was just in time because the lightening increased and it got much, much darker. Driving down the road the winds picked up and actually blew the van around a little. It was pretty scary. The storm ended up being bad enough to knock out our power in the middle of the night.

I'm starting to see why people pay so much for photographers. It's really hard work - especially if your subject is 2!

To infinity and beyond....

Jaden's new thing is "A Toy Story". He is really into Buzz Lightyear. Aunt Kelli and Uncle Mike were big hits here last night - they brought down some old Buzz and Woody dolls and a Buzz Lightyear costume. He smiled from ear to ear the whole evening. This button is supposed to be his laser. Now he's shooting our new neighbor, John with his laser.

It's just hard to take a good picture of a 2 year old

I tried to get a head start at taking Jaden's 2 year old pictures because I thought that it might be difficult. I was soooo right! This is the first picture I took - Yep, nothing but tears.
I had bought this cute little cowboy shirt with a matching cowboy hat. They are so cute! Of course, Jaden wanted nothing to do with the cowboy hat. He would 0nly wear the baseball hat.

Here he is with Daddy after I let him get down - There's a smile! That's a happy boy!

Then, I decided to try bubbles. He had a great time. Me - not so much. It was really hard for this amateur to get this right. Sometimes he was in focus sometimes the bubbles were.
And he's off...

Three months old

There are good and bad things about having your own camera. The good things: you can take as many pictures as you want, you can take the pictures on "baby time" (they always seem to be cranky, tired, hungry, etc. at the appointment - at least that is true for my kids), you can try new things, it's cheap (well, except for the expense of the camera which can be pricey up front). The bad things: you can take as many pictures as you want - then it's hard to decide on which you like best!
I like to take pictures on the actual date that he turns another month old. I tried and the pictures were really cute except they weren't in focus! I was having technical difficulties. Since I was by myself I was nervous about not being able to be as close as I'd like to Luke (and had to keep an eye on the other two and the dogs) so I didn't check the shots until after. Then I realized I had something set wrong. It actually took me a little while to realize what I had done because it's a new camera. Two days later I figured it out! He's developing such a personality! He really enjoys hanging out with his big sis. He most certainly loves his big brother too but he is a little more nervous around him - I can't say I blame him. He's about as likely to get hit, poked, and prodded with Jaden as he is to be kissed an loved on!

Once in a while we'll let him watch a show with Anna and Jaden. He gets so excited. His little arms and legs go crazy and he really pays attention. Jaden had no interest in television until a few months ago (which isn't a bad thing at all). Luke seems to be a little more like Anna.

He takes in everything that is going on around him! He loves to look at his hands and feet (when they come into his field of vision). He tracks us with his eyes - especially Mommy. Aunt Clarice- prepare yourself for the "Mrs. Wonderful" phase. He's pretty into his Mommy right now and gets scared sometimes around new faces. He's so sensitive. His eyes get a little wider then his little lip starts to stick out then it's an all out cry!

He is very good at locking in your attention with his eye contact. He is so expressive with his eyes and face. I'm hooked!

I hope I don't come to regret writing this but he has been doing such a good job sleeping in his crib. He has been the easiest of all three children to put to sleep. I think this is the most I've used the crib in the 5 years I've had it! I guess I'm a slow learner...or too much of a softie.

I love, love, love his fat little legs. I could just squeeze them all the time! He is actually holding his head up really well in this picture. He has been holding his head really well sitting upright for a while now but hasn't when he's laying on his belly. We've been working on this. We try to take advantage of times when Jaden is sleeping. It's just too tempting for him if Luke is lying out in the open!

Now that's tired

Poor Jaden was so tired he fell asleep in the swing! One moment he was laughing, the next his little head was nodding.

He played hard today and didn't take a nap. I'm actually surprised he held out till 7:30.

Luke had been taking a late nap next to me but when I woke up so did he. I set him in his high chair while I fixed myself something to eat. He fell back asleep and is still snoozing away...