Going Green

Lately, I've been making an effort to try to be more environmentally conscious. I still have a LONG way to go, but I think we need to start somewhere. So, I recently bought the reusable bags at Kroger, to cut back on all of the plastic bags that are used. I will say that for 2 weeks the bags sat in the back of my gas-guzzling SUV (I'm not quite ready to buy a hybrid yet). I just kept forgetting to bring them into the store with me. However, just the other day, I finally remembered to bring them in and when I left with my 4 bags, it felt good! Kroger even gives you 3 cents off every reusable bag you use---so, while 12 cents isn't much, I'm saving money and being environmentally conscious! You should try it!

Our family also tends to leave things plugged in the wall when we aren't using them. For example, our phone chargers, the toaster, can opener, razor, hair straightener, etc. are all plugged in the wall 24/7. I've been hearing about how much energy can be saved just by unplugging them after we use them. So now, those items have been unplugged and I'm trying to work up to bigger items like the electronics, but we'll see how that goes.

We also recycle and are slowly replacing certain light bulbs with energy-saving light bulbs, but there's lots more we can do. Some of you might be wondering, "What does going green mean?", while others of you may be laughing at how little we are doing to be environmentally conscious. I don't mind putting myself out there to show I'm trying to learn and be better. What about you? I'd love to know some things you and your family are doing!

4 months old!

Last week, Charlie turned 4 months old. I really can't believe it was 4 months ago that we were in the hospital welcoming our new little boy into the world! And yet, here we are, pretty well adjusted now--if you can ever be well adjusted with 2 kids! :)

I was incredibly nervous about Charlie getting the 4 month shots, since his 2 month shots didn't really agree with him. Fortunately, this time, our little baby took everything in stride! No problems whatsoever! He's definitely a smaller baby than Luke was. Charlie was 24 inches and weighed in at 13lbs. 11 oz. He's trying to give us a break since those bucket seats weigh enough on their own!

Charlie thrives on attention. Anytime he gets eye contact with anyone, he's all smiles. It's adorable! He's definitely a hand sucker/finger sucker---still hasn't found the thumb, which is fine with me. We've just introduced him to the Bumbo seat, the exersaucer and facing outwards in the Baby Bjorn, so his world is full of new fun things! We are still so amazed at how the Lord has blessed us and continue be thankful and sing His praises!

Here's our little smiler at 4 months old!

He likes being propped up on the Boppy!

The Elvis smile---Auntie Jan--I put this in here for you!!

All Aboard. . .the Potty Train!!

Yep, we officially started potty training this weekend! We've been telling Luke for a couple of weeks now that we were almost out of diapers and that when we run out, it's time to be a big boy! I told him about a Potty Train chart I made him (thanks Lisa!) and that he could put stickers on it when he peed or pooped (sorry for the potty talk, but you knew it was coming). He's been excited and has even squealed out of joy--though I think mimicking me--as I have tried to do back flips to get him pumped up.

I have been quite nervous about starting this process. I mean, I don't mind changing diapers and I've just heard it's such a long process. Why can't I just snap my fingers and have it be done?? But, on Friday night, when I saw that we weren't going to have enough diapers to make it through Saturday, I had to suck it up and tell Luke that tomorrow was the big day! Well, as Chad and I were about to head for bed on Friday night, I remembered that I needed to get out the stickers for the Potty Train chart. We searched for an hour and couldn't find them and finally had to go to bed as it was well past midnight--thanks to the Olympics.

So, I wake up Saturday morning and start second-guessing our decision to potty train since I don't have the stickers I wanted and we have a birthday party to attend. However, Luke woke up and was SUPER excited about wearing his big boy underwear! So, ready or not from my end, we are all aboard the potty train!!!! Oh, and I did find make-shift stickers and ended up buying more of the ones I wanted. Luke, of course, doesn't even know the difference!!

Luke and his Potty Train chart--so excited!!

Olympic fever!

The Olympics have been on for almost a week now and we are loving them! Everyday Luke says "Go USA!" and will ask for different events by name. "Mommy, I want to watch some diving." Or, after performing somersaults he gets up and says "I'm doing gymnastics! Let's go watch some!" I really don't know what he's going to think when the Olympics end.

For the opening ceremonies, we headed over to our friends the Jacobus' house for a big celebration! Luke and his girlfriends each got medals to wear around their necks like the Olympic athletes, and Luke hasn't wanted to take his off since! We ordered pizza, made cookies and got ready to camp out in front of the TV for the big event. You wouldn't know it by looking at the cookies (although we were pretty proud of them), but they took forever to make. Missi and I actually missed a lot of the ceremonies making the cookies, while the kids and dads ate pizza mesmerized by the spectacular events. Thank goodness for the DVR, or I would have been sad! We did have lots of fun making it special for the kids and us too! GO USA!!

Proud to be Americans!

The Olympic rings

Looks like Luke enjoyed the cookies--nice shade of blue lipstick!

Luke and the girls amazed at the opening ceremonies!

Sunflower traditions

Something that has become a tradition in our family every year at the beginning of August is to take Luke and now Charlie to the sunflower patches near the Agricenter. Each year the patches have grown more and more popular. People pull over on the side of the road to get their families out for awesome photo opportunities. You have to do this quickly and plan for it, because the sunflowers are only really pretty for about 2 weeks.

Anyway, I love them. They are beautiful! I get so excited at the end of July each year as we watch them grow daily and finally bloom. This year, Luke has been mesmerized by them. We drive by everday and everyday he screams out, "Momma, there are the sunflowers! I want to run in the sunflowers! They are really pretty!"

So once again this year, we headed out. As you know, I love to take pictures---I try to have my camera everywhere. What good is scrapbooking (or blogging for that matter) without pictures? So, I was thrilled when I finally got a couple of good shots of my boys together! Here are Luke pics from each year and now Charlie pics begin too! Enjoy!!

Luke at 10 months old!

Luke at 22 months old!

Luke, this year, at almost 3!

And, the tradition begins for Charlie--almost 4 months old!

Sweet brothers!

My three boys!