Ergo

This is my fourth attempt to post this. Each time it has gotten a bit shorter. To make a long story very short. We thought we lost our baby backpack which Jeremiah used a lot. We ordered the Ergo, which we decided to buy a long time ago and never got around to ordering. It has gotten many rave reviews. It deserves them. 

Our $150 Couch

Until now, our family room was just a huge room with some toys in it. On Sunday, some friends from church gave us a beautiful entertainment center that was in perfect shape (it just wasn't big enough for their new tv). Yesterday, there was a sectional couch in the paper for $150. This is perfect for our downstairs. Besides fading and few little tears, this couch is in really good shape. Why spend $1500 + for something when you have four small boys? Eventually, I will make some slip covers for it. Now our downstairs has been transformed into another living area. The boy's toys are behind the couch (there is still another half of the room behind there), but I'm going to be doing a lot of re-arranging. I think I will move my sewing table there, and move all their toys into the den and make that a playroom instead. 

Reaction of Unkown Orgin

Today we were taking a ride to look at a couch that was listed in the classifieds when Sammy started crying about his eyes. We thought he was crying about wind in his eyes or something, but when we got there they were swelled completely shut. Good thing the couch belonged to a woman who ran a daycare center and could provide us with benedryl. This picture is a good 20 minutes post benedryl. I thought it would be cruel to exploit his reaction on my blog, but when I heard him yelling out the window to the neighbors "hey, look at my eyes!", I figured he won't mind. We still haven't figured out what caused it. 

One for the Dog Lovers

Believe it or not, none of the boys did this! She climbed in on her own. 

The Whole Gang

Watch out for this pack. 

It Was Only a Matter of Time...

With all the boys riding bikes in our neighborhood, it was only a matter of time until the ramps were built. They are already getting higher. 

1st Grade

Isaac's first grade materials finally arrived a few days ago. Yesterday, I sat down with the included lesson planner to plan out the year. Administration is one of my strengths so this was big fun for me. We are starting school Sep 5 and ending May 31. Isaac's week will look like this:

Bible, Math and Phonics/Reading - M-F
History, Handwriting - Tues and Thurs
Science - Mon Wed Fri
Art - Wed
Spelling - New words on Monday, test on Friday.

Each day will be approximately 1.5 hours of work. Since the phonics is basically a review of last year, hopefully we will get thru that fast so that can become just reading time. Every other week will include an enrichment day with the homeschool group where classes such as drama, foreign languages ect. are offered. Which reminds me that we bought a 1st grade Spanish workbook that I forgot to add.

Life with Boys

This morning I heard Sam making some whistling noises as he walked up the stairs (from his mouth, not his lungs.) When he got upstairs I said "Sammy, whistle." Without missing he a beat he runs and jumps on Jeremiah's back. "No Sammy, whistle not wrestle!" I said. Apparently, my boys are trained to wrestle on command.

What's Going on at Planet Boy Story

First, Jeremiah has been nagging ...errrr... reminding me to post a picture of Elijah on his bike since I did post one of Isaac (second child syndrome you know). Of course, we are just as proud of Elijah now that he can ride his bike without training wheels too.

Jonah's first words...Mama? No. Dada? No. His first words are "good girl" followed by "ga gye" (buh bye). This isn't really too surprising since he loves his "gaaa" sounds.

I recently finished my very first quilt. My sewing blog gets little traffic so i'm mentioning it here.

We are awaiting Isaac's first grade curriculm to come at anytime. I feel like a little child waiting for Christmas! This is the first curriculm we have ordered and I can't wait!!

On Sunday, a friend and I went to see Lady in the Water. It's not a scary movie, if thats what you think. However, I did get to hold her two month old baby girl, so it wasn't a total loss.

Fall is right around the corner. While I love Autumn, this has been such a great summer and I'm a little sad to see it end. The boys have had such a great time playing with the neighbors and going to the lake. It's been a storybook summer for them. 

A Meme of Fives

Sweetisu tagged me for this fun meme. Be sure to comment if you decide to do it!

Five things in my freezer:
1. Chicken.
2.Broccoli (and lots of it).
3. Ice Cream.
4. Frozen Blueberries.
5. Frozen pizza dough.

Five things in my closet:
1. A bag of maternity clothes.
2. Most of Jeremiah's clothes.
3. A box of extra flooring panels.
4. A lantern/radio that you charge by cranking.
5. A box of photos.

Five things in my car:
1. Four carseats.
2. My rollerblades.
3. An umbrella stoller.
4. A map of the region.
5. My good comb (that I keep meaning to bring in the house).

Five things in my purse:
1. Sam's epi-pen.
2. Coupons.
3. Checkbook.
4. A dandelion that Isaac gave me yesterday.
5. JoAnn Fabrics sales flyer.

Five people I tag:
1. You
2. You
3. You
4. You
5. You (yeah, you)

Fun

For those who wondered, Jonah did finally smash into his cake.

"Look Mommy! The Water melon is Yelling!"

The only one slower than Sammy going around the track...


...was Jonah.

"One"

Jonah is a year old today! Our sweet little guy with the brown eyes and big smiles has been here a year already. Right now his world consists of three older brothers who he adores (and who adore him), one new puppy who he wishes would leave him alone, one mama who he doesn't like out of his sight, and one daddy who is growing more fun everyday to him :D

I had to hold those little hands tight because he wanted to dig into that cake! 

Books

I snagged this book meme from Dr. Flea. It looked so fun I wanted to do it even if I wasn't tagged.

1. The Book That Changed My Life - I'm in fourth grade, I finish my work early. I wander over to the book shelf and pick up a plain yellow copy of Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary. I'm bored so I open it and start to read. Next thing I know, i'm in the playground with Beezus and Ramona, totally caught up in a story. Wow! Reading is actually fun?? I have not taken my proverbial nose out of a book since.
2. A Book I've Read More Than Once - All my books by L.M Montgomery. I have probably read the Anne of Green Gables series at least 4 times.
3. A Book I'd Want With Me on a Desert Island - My Bible for sure. Second choice would be some sort of survival manual.
4. A Book That Made Me Laugh - The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn. This book is not only chalk full of ways to save $$, but she is also an entertaining author. Also, I'm reading Ribsy by Beverly Cleary to the boys right now and her books are always good for a chuckle.
5. A Book That Made Me Cry - Let's Roll by Lisa Beamer. She lost her husband on Flight 93 on September 11. For some crazy reason I read this book when I was pregnant.
6. A Book I Wish Had Been Written - More about Anne or even her children, or maybe a sequeal to Pride and Prejudice.
7. A Book I Wish Had Never Been Written - Babywise by Gary Ezzo
8. A Book I Am Currently Reading - Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe
9. A Book I Am Meaning To Read - Seven years ago my parents and I traveled to Missouri to see Jeremiah graduate from basic training. A tour guide in Branson mentioned the book Shepherd of the Hills by Harold Bell Wright which is set in the Ozark mountains. Supposedly, it portrayed the region in such a positive light that it drew many people there. So I purchased the book...and have been meaning to read it since.

Happy Birthday Sam!

Three years ago today, Samuel tried to enter this world face first and has kept us on our toes with his health since. In fact, this is his very first birthday cake! The recipe comes from this book, and I must admit that I remained skeptical the whole time I prepared it. Seriously, it has no eggs, sugar or butter in it. I just kept reminding myself that Sammy has never had cake before, so he won't know the difference. It turned out okay though (especially if you like cocoa).

As for the birthday boy, he is our sweet heart. If you gave all the boys their favorite treat, than asked for a bite, Sam would be the first to share. He also has a great sense of humor and we have several running jokes that he loves to participate in. He absolutely loves animals, and is always the first to pet or touch one. Yesterday, I said "Sam! Your gonna be three tomorrow!" He looked up and said "So, your gonna keep me?" For sure my sweet boy, for sure. Happy Birthday!