Sweet Little Boy

Though Nikolas doesn't like to take naps anymore, his little body still needs them. Some days, when I can't get him to take a nap in his room, I will put them both in the car and drive around the neighborhood. Other days, while I am putting Lukas down for a nap, I will come out to find Nikolas curled up with his "kiki" fast asleep.
He was so sweet looking curled up on a pillow hugging his kiki. He's still such a little boy, in spite of himself wanting to be a big kid.

The very next day the same thing happened, only this time I came out to find he had strapped himself into Luke's old baby bouncer. I was a bit amazed to find that he still fits in it. I don't think Lukas fits in it anymore......

Training Hard Working Boys

Tone' brought his truck to us on Thursday night and then he was picked up in the early morning to go to our churchs' Men's Retreat for the weekend. It was looking awfully dirty and since it was such a warm and beautiful day on Friday the boys and I decided to surprise Daddy and wash his truck for him. I know, I'm nice like that.

Here are my hard working boys My little water baby

I sure hope this continues on into his teen years!

Even little Lukas was helping. He washed everything below my knees, Nik washed everthing below my hips and I washed everything else. We're a great team:)

Nikolas is pulling a climbers move to clean the headlights. What can I say? I can see his climbing potential in anything!

Before I knew what was going on,
Nik was Naked!

He had been washing the truck one minute, I turned around and when I turned around again he had stripped off his shorts and unders and was jumping into the wash bucket! I had to grab the camera, of course, my fellow scrappers and bloggers understand. What a crazy kid!
Just to let you know, the truck ended up being only half washed. Lukas was needing a nap and it was getting late in the day so I had to just stop. So when Tone' arrives home on Sunday he will first pull in and see the back of the truck shiny clean, and then he will see the right side of the truck still dirty. The drivers side, however, was the side that was washed, so at least he will get to enjoy the clean side:) HeHe

Someone, Cut That Boy's Hair!

"Nikolas,", my good friend Angela said, "I'm going to take you on a little outing to get your hair cut, and I'll pay for it with my own money!"
Apparently, Nik's disheveled hairstyle was getting to her:) I have been trying to figure out how to cut his hair myself and save money and have figured now is the time to practice as he doesn't know his hair looks like it's been cut by a three year old. As you can see, I haven't figured it out yet. So, upon hearing that Angela, who never spends more than a dollar on little kids birthday presents, was even joking about paying for Nik's haircut, I decided it was time to just go ahead and drop the cash and pay someone who knows what they are doing.
So off we went to the most fun (and yes, the most expensive) kids salon around, Little Clippers.

Nikolas and his mop

Suddenly not so sure about what is about to take place.

Who wouldn't love getting their hair cut in this place? Nik chose the Blue Angel jet plane to sit in while he watched a Thomas the Tank Engine video.

Lukas looking on in wonder.

Why should big brother have all the fun? We found a tiny little convertible for him to sit in. He had a great time as he could even touch the pedal.

The finished product.
It actually looks much better than the picture shows. He really does look quite handsome now.

I'm Famous!

Okay, so maybe that would be going too far, but my picture did just make onto KATU's website on Monday. Check it out here. My good friend, Angela, and I were recently interviewed by a really nice lady, Nancy Woods, about couponing and our blog over at FrugallivingNW. KATU wanted pictures of us couponing for the article and since we didn't have any and Angela was out of town, Nancy met me on Sunday and we went to Walgreens so she could take a picture of me couponing. It was rather funny actually.

If you are spending more on groceries than you can actually afford then I would recommend checking our blog out frequently as we are constantly updating it with the best deals in the area. Here are a few examples of some of my grocery trips, and this isn't rare!

Safeway $3.15

No joke! That is all I paid out of pocket due to all the coupons and double coupons and store coupons that are all found in the Sunday and Tuesday paper and online.

Safeway: Profit of $.05!

Not Joking Again! The cashier actually handed ME a nickel. Once again, I used manufacturer coupons, double coupons and combined them with a sweet sale.

Albertsons $.04!

Have I convinced any of you that couponing really works?! How did I only pay $.04 for all this?
Okay, I'll tell you:
Oroweat bread on sale $2.50
used $1/1 coupon
used $1 Albertsons double
= $.50 for a loaf of pretty healthy bread

Barilla pasta on sale $1
used $.50/1 coupon
used Albertsons double -$.50
= FREE

VitaminWater on sale $1
used $1/1 coupon
used $1 Albertsons Double
= overage of $1! Which is how I ended up paying only $.04

We don't make any money off our blog, at least not yet, we are just doing it because we have had so much fun saving tons of money that we wanted to share it with others who may be needing to save money as well. I'd love to hear if this helped you at all:)

A Day At The Crags

It has been three years and seven months since I have been climbing on a regular basis and since then I have only climbed a handful of times. That is, one handful. So two week ago Tone' came home for the weekend with the idea that he would stay with the boys and I would get all my errands done that I am never able to get done. I was really looking forward to it, but then I talked to one of my climbing friends who mentioned that they were going out to a new to us climbing area in the Gorge and I was welcome to come. At first I thought, "No, I need to get things done while Tone' is here." Then, about 1.5 seconds later I realized that I could manage to go to the grocery stores with my boys later in the week, while I couldn't just go climbing any other time.
So off to the crags I went!

Rocks, rocks, beautiful rocks!

I climbed three easy routes in the most gorgeous weather we had had this year with an amazing view of the Columbia River Gorge surrounding me. It was so incredibly relaxing to be able to climb without worrying or thinking about another little person or two. I do so love my boys, but being a single parent as I have been the last two months has started to make me a little crazy. The experience has certainly given me greater sympathy for true single parents, especially since they have to work on top of it all.

This was a super fun route. It was 5.9, I believe, though it felt alot easier, and since I have barely any muscle anymore that means that climbing is very mental and technical. It's kindof like "riding a bike"; your body just doesn't forget. Though you won't see me on any 5.12's anytime soon.

Made it!!! and the person on top of the route happens to be Tim Olson, the guy who authored the "Portland Rock Climbs" book. He scrambled up the back way to get some pictures of me climbing. How nice:) Its always fun to meet a "famous person" in the climbing world. After coming home I pulled the book out and noticed that one of my close climbing friends, Dave Sowerby, has his picture in that book as well. Hey Dave!

Even though I was taking a break from my own children, I still was more than happy to hold my friends baby. Never too young to start climbing:)

Two days later I heard about the two people who died on Sunday while climbing in the Gorge as well, not too far from where I was on Saturday. No one really knows what happened except that they were both at the top of the route and suddenly they both fell. Tragedies like this are so rare in rock climbing that it is extremely shocking and terribly sad. I was asked by a number of people if I should be climbing since I have children and if I do climb am I totally safe. In response I will say: Yes, I am very conscious about safety and we all check our knots and anchors twice before putting weight on them, however accidents can happen but I refuse to live my life in fear of the "what if's". As far as whether I should be climbing still, all I have to say is: People still drive cars after they have children and we all know how safe that is. I suppose one could argue that people need to drive cars but we don't need to climb. Technically, that is somewhat true. Realistically, it isn't true for me and all the other climbers out there. I don't think I can explain the passion for climbing that most climbers have. If someone asks you to define yourself what words do you use? I would use: follower of Jesus Christ, wife, mama and climber. In that order. Maybe that gives you a little glimpse at how important climbing is in my life. Even though I don't get to climb much lately, I often am thinking of it and looking forward to the day I say to my boys, "Grab your gear, we're going climbing!"

Hopefully, I will be the majority of climbers who don't ever have any major accidents, but if that were to happen to me, don't be sad for me as my salvation is secure in Jesus Christ.

But someone needs to take care of my husband as I think the house would cave in should anything ever happen to me....

Hunting for Easter Eggs

Easter was a bit different this year. My family typically spends Easter over at my cousins house with many of my extended family, but this year she was just getting back from seeing her very first, brand new granddaughter and wasn't able to host it. Instead, Easter was at my Dad and Sue's home and included her whole family as well! It was a full house and we had a wonderful time. In fact, three sets of grandkids (my great uncles as well) made the Easter Egg hunt much more exciting!

Morgan and Nikolas searching for eggs. Nik found his allotted eggs quite quickly as everyone was being extra generous and helping him find them.

Lukas, that is one BIG Easter Egg!!!

My Ticket To Freedom

Once upon a time Tone' and I used to be avid mountain bikers. In fact, our very first "date" was going to look at mountain bikes for me. I had been wanting one and knew that Tone' was into it and so I asked him to come along and help me choose a good bike. He, of course, thought it meant that I just wanted to be with him. Perhaps both were true:) At any rate, after that first outing together I ended up with a mountain bike and a husband. Good deal!

We haven't been able to go on a bike ride together for exactly 3 years and 9 months. Every summer since I became pregnant with Nikolas I have looked longingly at my bike, wishing I could strap my helmet on, click my shoes into the pedals and take off for the bike path and Powell Butte. We have tried using the bike carriers, 3 different kinds in fact, but the fact of the matter is: my bike is a midget bike. Those would be Tone's words.
So the bike carriers just don't work for my bike or little ol' me. Instead, we finally decided to make the plunge into the world of bike trailers. Off to REI we went a couple weekends ago to use our 20% off coupon and our dividends. We came home with the Burley Honey Bee.
Now Tone' and I are finally able to bike ride together! We have gone a couple times already and it has been so much fun for us to be able to ride together and to have our boys along as well. Nikolas absolutely loves being out with us, though once in a while he wants to get out and run down the bike path next to us. That would be just fine if he knew the rules of the path and how to run in a straight line:} Instead I am constantly yelling out, "Nikolas, STOP!" "Don't move!" "MOVE!" "Get out of the WAY!" "WATCH OUT!". So that part gets to be a little stressful.
Lukas, on the other hand, isn't so sure about this new ride. The whole time he just sits there with his lower lip out, his head down and a pathetic look on his face, like he is having the most miserable time in his life. I know, we're just terrible parents.


Hopefully Lukas will begin to like it as Mama really needs to get out of the house this summer and this seems to be the best option. Last summer I nearly went insane from not doing any regular physical activity. I'm hoping this bike trailer will be enough to satisfy my need for outdoor adventure so I don't go crazy. Our home isn't very fun when mama is cooped up like a chicken all summer, and as they say:
"If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

Rub A Dub, Dub, Two Boys in a.... Rubbermaid?

Yes, that's right. I bathe my boys in a Rubbermaid container.
One makes do when one's house has no bathtub. In fact, I think I am cursed as far as bathtubs go. Growing up I took a bath in an old galvanized metal wash tub. The kind you see pictures of kids washing their dogs in. We lived in an old farmhouse and it just didn't have a tub. Going to Grandma's was exciting as we could then play in a real bathtub! Now my boys have that same excitement when they go see Grandma as that is where I take them periodically to give them a good scrubbing.

As cramped as they are in their little Rubbermaid container, they don't seem to mind it one bit. Nikolas has fun squeezing water all over baby, and Lukas has fun splashing water into Nik's eyes.

I suppose one positive is that I don't have to worry about one of them falling over and going under water. They are too crammed in like little sardines to even move, let alone fall over!

I'm not sure what I'll do when they get too much bigger or when #3 comes along.

A bigger Rubbermaid?

Never Wake A Sleeping Redhead

Or you might end up with a black eye!

Saturday morning Tone' came in to wake me, as he was leaving and the boys were awake. He leaned over me and said, "I'm going to pick you up and take you into the living room.". I sort of heard what he said, in my hazy sleepy state, but then all of a sudden I decided to turn over. I don't know what happened, but I swung my arm back as fast as I could and then I heard, "CRACK" as my elbow hit Tone's cheek bone with so much force that I sent him reeling backwards.

Truly, I felt really bad:( But then, once I knew I hadn't broken anything and that he could still see out of his eye and there wasn't any blood, well...... I couldn't stop laughing:} Isn't that terrible of me! In fact, I am having trouble muffling my laughter right now.

Maybe you had to be there..... but ,oh my was it ever funny.


Well, maybe not for Tone'. :}



The good thing is: he doesn't have to worry about me being attacked in my bedroom at night! I'll just whip out my deadly elbow and "hiyah!". They wouldn't know what hit 'em.......................

as Tone' can testify to.



Sorry babe!!!!! No, really, I'm really sorry.