5 Tips & Tricks for Bedtime!

1: ROUTINE!! We have a nightly routine ... pick out tomorrow's clothes, go to the bathroom, brush teeth, put PJ's on, read a book, tuck kiddo(s) in!

2: Books in bed - I let my older son (J) read in bed for 20 minutes each night, and then I put the book away and turn off the light.

3: Movie Time - Friday and Saturday nights, my older son gets to watch one movie in bed (after the routine and in place of #2).

4: Cry it out - My younger son is only one, so we are transitioning to going to bed with no bottle and without rocking him to sleep. We do the routine with Brother, but after we tuck C in, we let him cry (if need be) for about 5-7 minutes. If he is still crying, we tuck him in again, and repeat.

5: Middle of the Night Wake-Ups: For C, I rock him until he goes back to sleep. For J, I make him try to go to the bathroom, and then I tuck him back in and tell him I'll be back in five minutes IF he closes his eyes. I head back to bed and J is back asleep before I am even in my room!

www.DramaU.net

My Black Friday Plan of Attack

Mostly, I am blogging about my plan because of TwitterMoms ... but I do think it's a really fun topic!

I remember when I used to wait (impatiently) for the Black Friday ads - ahh, the days before they were available early AND online ... then, the last couple of years, I would scour the ads (online) and have my list ready weeks in advance. This year, I guess I just haven't been motivated. I have really only looked at the Target and Old Navy ads.

This year, I didn't see much. But Target has some great sale items, and that will be my first stop! I am going to get the $3 Sandwich Maker, Disney's UP ($13), 4 pack Disney Cars ($7.49), 10 pack of frames ($12) ... I am sure I will find much more when I am in the store, but those are the things that grabbed my eye in the ad. I am REALLY excited about (possibly) getting the Marcel Wanders reusable shopping bag!! It's so pretty! (One per guest, 500 bags per store.)

I will be going to Half Price Books. The first 100 people get a $20 giftcard! I am going to get some board books for Colin - he loves them and James told me that's what he wants to give Colin for Christmas!

I will probaby head to Old Navy. www.gobblepalooza.com says: Prior to store opening on Friday, November 27, customers will form a line outside the store, and a store associate will pass out one wristband per person aged 16 or older, starting with the front of the line while supplies last. Wristbands correspond to console platforms (Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Wii), customers must choose their platform from available wristbands. Wristbands are good for one Lego Rock Band video game in the platform listed on the wristband with a qualifying purchase of $20 or more. Limit one game per person, family or household.

I plan on being home (with breakfast in hand) by 10am. And, I want to have half of my list taken care of!

What's your plan of attack?!

James Needs Votes!!

Would you please take a minute out of your day and vote for James?

http://apps.facebook.com/ivillageapp/contest/entries/browse/315

You will need to become a fan of iVillage to vote. We are trying to get the most votes and need help! Thanks so much!! :)

Sara & James

Beat Cancer!

For Larry ...

LOL ... This is for Larry ...

Crazy!

Life seems to be moving at an UNREAL speed! Colin will be one in just a few weeks - we are almost at the half-way mark for this semester in school - James is really starting to read.

Larry and I took the boys to the Peanut Festival ... Mom & Dad went with us. It was pretty fun, but I really don't need (or want) to go back for the next couple years! LOL! Plus, they didn't have any boiled peanuts - and that was the whole reason I wanted to go!

We are going to visit Becca and Brandon next weekend. The plan is to go to the Fair - I guess it depends on the weather. Also, the Target by her house will be having a grand opening, so we will be going to that!! :)

We are planning a trip to the Ford Family Farm in the next couple weeks.

Have a great week! Happy Columbus Day!

PICTURES!!

Just pictures! Enjoy!

Colin hit James with the gourd.

Colin weighs 10 lbs. less than James!

James in his school shirt.

Colin in his booties.

Frank likes to eat baby food and Colin thinks it's great fun!

I'm back, but not with pictures!

Well, I didn't get around to posting those pictures. I will make it my goal to get it done by Friday!

I came to tell you all that I won Taylor Swift tickets!! :) (No, Kanye won't be there.) I am so excited!! Larry said Becca would enjoy it more (it's in Dallas), so if she can trade her shift at work, she will go with me!! Otherwise, I guess it'll be Larry and I!!

Have a great day!
Sara

Trying new things ...

I was at the grocery store this week and found these scones by the cinnamon rolls: http://www.immaculatebaking.com/cinnamon.php

They looked so good, so I thought I would buy a roll (8 scones for $2.50) and bake them for Saturday's breakfast!

They were SO good! (The can says you can add a sprinkle of sugar before baking, and that's what we did.)

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Colin and I went shopping the other day (James was in school) and I found the cutest booties (made by Carter's) and today I got them out to show Larry. The second Colin saw them, he wanted them. I cut the tags off and put them on his feet and he's been wearing them for the past hour! Colin has started to GRIND his teeth - YUCK!!

If you go to http://www.youtube.com/ and search "Doodle741," there are at least a couple videos of Colin! :)

James is really enjoying school!! But, if you ask him what he did, he'll tell you that he only went to recess or had lunch. James won't talk about the other things he does at school. While Colin and I were shopping, we bought James a new (3-pc) pair of Dinosaur PJs! (He likes them, but he wanted them to be for "daytime.")

Larry and I are still adjusting to a new school routine and working on figuring out how to fit in homework for each of us. Mom is taking care of Colin for us on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which we really appreciate. I am sure she is enjoying it!

I will be back to post pictures in a bit!
Have a great day!
-Sara

August

Colin LOVED the corn!!

James went fishing with Grandma and Geez.

James and Colin!

Colin turned 9 months old!

James with a (SHOCK) Dinosaur at the Witte Museum.

It seems as if August was just a blink of a month!!

Yesterday, we went and met James' teacher - Mrs. Triplett - and I think it's going to be a great year! (From what I hear, Mrs. Triplett is the best there is!) I signed up for the PTA, we bought James' school shirt, got the bus number and all the rest of the fun school stuff.

Becca and Brandon drove down for the weekend to celebrate Mom & Becca's birthdays. (They got here this afternoon.) Mom and Dad took all of us out for dinner tonight - Janitzio's has such great Mexican food! Tomorrow, we are going to have a birthday party for Becca at Mom & Dad's house - Dad is going to make fajitas.

James has been OBSESSED with Dinosaurs lately - so we have been learning lots about them. He even got a new book - DinoTrux.

Colin has been having a rough couple of days - he is working on his 7th tooth, and it's giving him all kinds of problems. Hopefully it pops in soon and the rest of his teeth won't be so bad.

The next two months are gearing up to be even crazier than August ... dove hunting season starts, Larry has a company picnic, I am going to have a Party Lite candle party October 2, etc, etc.

I hope this finds you all well! :hug:

Much love,

Sara and family!

Freebie Fun!

I just love my freebie forum(s)!!

I found this link: http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/christmascaroltraintour/#/map/
AND, the train will be in San Antonio, so I am planning on taking the kids and maybe mom!! :) It sounds like a blast! (We will go Friday and be there before 9am, since I think it'll be packed!)

I have been winning quite a bit lately - $100 from Sunkist, 2200 Wii points from Pepsi (I am trying for Rock Band, but no luck yet), a whole bunch of stuff - Books, Toys, etc. - from Enfamil, $100 for MLB.com from One A Day, $15 for Best Buy from Coke, some other $25 giftcards from Coke and Huggies (5 or 6 of them) and some movie passes from Coke and Huggies! It's so fun!

I am hoping for a really great sweepstakes win (a trip or cash) ... but my time will come, eventually!! :)

James is gearing up for school - he REALLY wanted a "Prowl" (Transformers) back pack, but they don't make those. So, Mom and I bought a neutral (blue) back pack and called it Prowl! (He bought it - Hook, line and sinker! :)) We have gotten some of the supplies, but we are doing good job of looking for the deals! We are going new shoe shopping next week - I have already told him he can't have shoes with characters. (I know, I am such a mean mom! But, I think they are so dumb!!)

Larry is almost registered for school and I have registered for my classes.

Have a great week! :)

July Already?!

I can't believe my last post was in MAY! Crazy!

Well - let's see what's been going on ...

James is FIVE and I think he is starting to lose brain cells! LOL ... he didn't really go through the terrible twos, so I think he is going through the funky fives! He asks "why?" for EVERYTHING! (Ex: I say, "James take off your shoes so you can get in the bath." He says, "Why?") He has "forgotten" how to talk and listen to people. He is becoming more and more bossy! He still LOVES dinosaurs, Transformers and Penny & Pongo (stuffed puppies). He is very ready to start school! We are starting to get the little things - glue, pencils, etc. Picking out a back pack may prove to be a chore because James wants a Prowl Transformer bag and I have only seen Bumblebee and Optimus Prime. James enjoys swimming and he has an insane tan! (He and Grandma go as often as they can!)

Colin is NINE months old and eats as much as you'll give him! (One day looks something like this: a jar of Oatmeal and Applesauce for breakfast, some of Mom's cereal, Puffs for snacking, Veggies for lunch, Puffs for snacking, Turkey (or Chicken) and Rice for dinner, some of Mom's food for dinner, Puffs for snacking ... and quite a bit of "milk" throughout the day!) He is crawling all over the place as fast as he can get there and can't wait until he can keep up with James! (James is not overly impressed with Colin's obsession with him right now.) Colin LOVES to play with James' toys (so we have to be very careful), he enjoys attacking the cats ... he pats them in the cutest way, and if he hears the water running - I can promise that he will be climbing your leg to get to it as soon as he finds you! (When James takes a bath, he tries to climb in with him!)

Larry is not working at Best Buy anymore ... the discount (and the extra money) were great! But, the hours were horrible and for the last two weeks before he left, they scheduled him for 30+ hours each week, ON TOP OF the 40 hours he was working at the San Antonio Water System (SAWS). Needless to say, enough was enough and he left.

Mom and I took the boys to Garland to visit Becca (and Hailey) one week, so Larry went to UTSA and re-applied (he had been out for more than 3 semesters, so he had to re-apply) and now he just needs to register for the fall. He has about 30 hours, about 10 classes, before he can graduate. After he registers, I will find the classes I need (hopefully they are offering them when I can take them) and I will register. I only need a couple of classes and student teaching. I will also have to take some Saturday "classes" so that I can take the certification test. Teaching is not what I want to do ... but, it's the only thing I have wanted to do since I was a child, so I don't know what else I would want. I will just finish my degree and see where to go from there. I thought about doing degree only - and still may.

While in Garland (near Dallas), we went to the Fort Worth Zoo (always been a favorite), the Dallas World Aquarium (a first for us, but definitely recommended!), and the little Harbor by Becca's apartment. It was fun, but it was nice to get home as well! :) When we got back, James had Bible School for the week. Then, Larry's Aunt Tonna and cousin Tasha flew in for a quick 4th of July visit. While Tonna and Tasha were here, we went to Mission San Jose, the Alamo, Memories by the Yard (Quilt Store), and Mom & Dad fried fish for them! Tonna taught us a new card game - NUTS! - and it is AWESOME! (We need more couple friends so that we can play cards more often!)

Oh yea, and I cut off a LOT of my hair! :o)

Ok ... I have written a novel! So, I will post this, add some pictures and let you be! :) Hopefully, I won't wait as long before my next post!

Fun new game ...

Maria Grimes ... I LLOOOOVVEE her beads and now she is hosting a fun new game. Here is the link: http://www.gardenpathbeads.com/pages/Game.htm

Good luck! :)

Chocolate

Well, if you get a coupon in the mail for a FREE Mars Chocolate candy bar - it's from me! :D

Every Friday, you can register to get one at (only 4 per household for the entire promo) www.realchocolate.com. It starts at 9am EST.

Good luck! :)

I'm baaacck ... :)

Colin playing the drums!

James turned 5!!

James on the beach!

Grandma with the kiddos!

Colin's "bed" at the coast!

It's been a long time since I last posted ... life gets in the way of keeping you all up to date with what's going on! Pretty ironic, I think!

James had his shots (4 of them) and now he is completely registered for school. We have to wait and see if we finished "early enough" ... if we didn't, he will be bussed to another school, rather than being at the school right across the street. He is getting so big! He has started helping more and more with Colin - today he asked to feed Colin! A few days ago, James had been throwing up (for about 3 days) and not keeping anything down ... so I took him to the Pediatric Urgent Care and they gave him an IV and some medicine to get him to stop throwing up. We were 'only' there for about three hours and we went home. He was MUCH better the next day, and hasn't stopped talking since.

Colin is growing so fast! He is 6 months old already!! He is eating more foods, sitting up on his own, and trying to get his knees under him so he can start to crawl. He is still not sleeping through the night, but in the past week he has gotten a little closer!

I won a Playstation 3!! It was delivered yesterday (to Mom's house) and I picked it up today - Larry claimed it as soon as I told him I had won! (We haven't played anything yet. It came with one game, but first we need to find room for it.) Larry downloaded Scrabble, Battleship and Sorry on the XBox, so we have been playing games in the evening after the kids are in bed!!! :) (Sometimes, during the day, I will play a game of Battleship with James while Colin naps.)

The last weekend in April was interesting ... Larry and I knew we were pregnant (about 13 weeks), but we hadn't told anyone ... needless to say, I miscarried that baby (and we will NOT be having anymore). I lost too much blood, so Larry had to take me to the hospital and they kept me overnight. Mom took the kids to the coast with her ... Larry and I drove down Saturday afternoon and we came home Sunday (with the kids) ... Sunday night is the night James started throwing up.

Misc. Stuff: We are having a garage sale with Mom & Dad this weekend ... hopefully we make some money! :) Becca got a job in Dallas and has moved up there with Brandon.

Until next time ...

All our love! :)

Product of the Week!

I have decided that I am going to start (TRYING) to post my favorite product of the week!

This week: Smashies (www.smashies.com)

We got a sample (or 2) at the Baby Expo - Colin got to try a sample while we were there and he LOVED it! They are in the cutest packages and they taste good! The downfall - I haven't found them in a store here yet, but their webiste says they are about $1/pkg.

See you next week! ;)
Sara

WOW, time flies!

James laying in bed.

James and Colin on Valentine's Day.

I was taking naked baby pictures!! :D

Colin sitting in the chair ... he loves sitting in the big chair!

Colin's first time with rice cereal.

Hey all! I didn't realize it had been a month since I had posted last!! So, so, sorry!!

Larry is enjoying his new job - even though it's the same thing he was doing as an intern. His benefits start on May 1st. (And, I can't wait!!) I won a coupon (from http://www.oldnavyweekly.com/) for $75 off $100 for Old Navy, so I will be going to get Larry some new work clothes this week! Larry has really started to take an interest in geo-caching - so next weekend we are going to go to do our first trip! (As a family!)

James has been hunting bugs ... roly polies, these weird bugs in Mom's back yard, and crickets. He really wants to catch spiders, but I told him no (since you never know which ones will bite)! He is CRAVING school ... he asks at least once a week if/when he will start school.

Colin is growing by leaps and bounds! He had a 4 months check up last Thursday and he weighs 15 lbs. He eats rice cereal, green beans (1st veggie) and carrots. The doctor thinks that Colin's excema is caused by a milk allergy, so we are trying Nutramigen (milk-free) formula to see if it helps ... so far, I am not convinced. Colin has started rolling over - but he can't get back! :) So, he doesn't really LOVE this new-found freedom!

Mom, Colin and I went to the San Antonio Baby Expo last weekend and got LOTS of great things!! Colin's favorite - Apple Smooshies! He taste-tested it while we were there and LOVED it! My favorite - the FREE gas medicine coupons from HEB. Mom's favorite - these cute little fabric (reusable) HEB bags.

I know there is a LOT that I am missing ... but since it's been so long since I last posted, I am not sure what all I need to write!

For now - see you next time!

Sara

As Promised ...

I promised some pictures, so here you go! :)

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Enjoy the pictures!

James and Colin - ready for bed!

Colin's new bouncer - He LOVES it!

I actually wasn't aiming the camera, so I am glad I got this!

One morning - we were just hanging out in our bed!

We were going to dinner for my birthday. James was wearing Geez's sunglasses.


My 26th Birthday!


Larry and I - I am not a Halo3 player, but I am a supportive wife! ;)


Colin loves the "O-Ball."

James was sick.

Colin's first time with rice cereal - he ate it ALL! (2/13)

Tummy-Time. Larry said Colin was trying to roll over, so I stopped doing the dishes and came to watch. He didn't roll over, I helped him. But he is holding his head up so well! :)

Hope you had fun! ;)

Sara (and family)

You Could Win ...

http://www.extraordinarymothers.com/2009/02/gerber-start-healthy-stay-healthy.html?showComment=1234561200000#c8099238783776763740

Lucky!

I am very lucky to have the family that I have! I am very grateful for them, and I try hard not to take advantage of them!

My birthday was nice, even though we didn't celebrate on Friday. Larry had to work, Becca & Brandon went to Dallas ... so we celebrated on Sunday (2/8). Mom & Dad gave me some good stuff ... including a hyacinth plant! Larry and the boys gave me some great picture frames. (One says FAMILY and the other says LAUGH.)

Brandon got the job he applied for ... it's in Dallas ... so he and Becca will be moving. He starts the first of March. They are still working out the whole custody issue with Hailey.

James is getting over a cold. He is VERY ready to start school - he asks me when he can go on a weekly basis. (I can enroll him this summer.) It's strange to think that one of my kids will be in Kindergarten so soon! He has decided he wants a Transformers birthday party. So, we are slowly getting ready for that. (We buy a thing or two when we go to Target.)

Colin is getting SO BIG! I gave him this cool new ball: And, he LOVES it! He can grasp it better than any of his other baby toys. When you touch Colin's cheeks, he opens his mouth SO big. I always ask him if he is going to try to bite me!!

Larry is enjoying his "new" job at SAWS. (It's really the same job he was doing as an intern, but now he gets paid more and benefits will start April 1st.) He is still working at Best Buy ... but we hope that by the end of March he will no longer be there.

I have been winning some really great things as of late. Most recently, I won $20 from Coke and $50 from FTD. (Larry used my $50 to order flowers for Valentine's day. So, I know which flowers are coming because I picked them out, but I don't know what's written on the card!!)

I will post a few new pictures of the kids sometime this week! :)

Have a great week!!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you all! :)

Colin had his 2 month check-up today. He weighs 21 pounds 11 ounces! He got 3 shots (5 immunizations) and 1 oral immunization. He cried, but was better after I picked him up off the table. He is cooing and smiling all the time! I like to say, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy" (in different tones) and he talks and smiles after each one!

James is doing well - he is playing on his Leapster 2 all the time and getting really good at his math skills because of it! And, we are working on reading the clock. He has been able to read the numbers, but he would say, "One, two, three, four" for "12:34." It's interesting to see the progression in his skills! James is very verbal and he an enormous vocabulary! (Today at Target he said, "I want the one with the gentleman in the airplane." I was buying Cold-Eze and he wanted me to get Airborne.) He is interacting more and more with Colin, which is nice because I feel like he is starting to like him more!

I am registered for 2 classes and they start next week. I am anxious, but excited. I will have to take 2 classes in the summer and then I will student teach in the fall!

Larry is going on his annual hunting trip with (my) Dad - he leaves tomorrow and won't be back until Sunday (as long as they get drawn). It's a state sponsored (or something like that) hunt, so they have to get picked to participate.

Last weekend, we went to the Japanese Tea Gardens with Becca (sister) and Brandon (her bf). James had a blast! Colin was in the carrier and slept through most of it! It was pretty warm - almost 80 degrees - so we went to Freddy's for custard afterward.

Life is getting crazy, but it's fun! Hope all is well with all of you! :)
Sara

OH! I forgot to tell you - Larry was offered the full-time job with SAWS!! Next week they will start the background check and physical and all the other stuff that comes with it! (They just did a background check and physical in June, but they want to do it again. I think it's a waste of money, but I guess it's probably necessary.)

Have a good one!