Our Big Splurge!

We never buy the newest thing, when it's the newest thing. Our budget conscious and frugal sides just can't seem to be able to part with a huge amount of hard earned money for something that we know in a year or two will be much cheaper. That being said we finally splurged on something while it is still new! We bought a Nintendo Wii!

With part of the money from the stimulus check from Uncle Sam we went ahead and got a Wii and the Wii Fit. (The rest of the money is going towards Erik's Writing Boot Camp he will be attending the last week of July. Did we mention how proud we are of him?)

Yes, we could have spent that money on reducing our debt or some other worthwhile cause but we decided for once to spend a little on us. We will have had our Wii for a week tomorrow! And let's just say we are glad that we spent the money on it!

Not only is it more interactive than most video games but with the Wii Fit we can track our weight loss goals. We have been exercising everyday a little more diligently now that we know that our weight and BMI is going to be taken everyday and our progress charted.

For those of you who are worried about everyone seeing your weight and such on the Wii Fit, you needn't worry. You can password protect all your info so no one else can see it. None of us opted for that. The girls, well they just don't need to worry. I don't know Erik's reasons. And me? I figure that if you can't tell just by looking at me that I have ballooned up this last year, you won't be able to see the numbers on the screen anyway!

Mia playing the Wii Fit!

Emma playing the Wii Fit!

Mia playing her favorite game, bowling!

Emma playing her favorite game, boxing!

So, if anyone is wondering about the Wii come on over and give our Wii a test drive!

More of Michelle's Pictures of the Girls

I think everybody who reads this blog, also reads Michelle's blog, so you know she snapped some pics of my kids.

Dustin dropped them off the other day, along with a DVD of them set to music.*

Let me tell you--the pictures are amazing. These are the best pictures of my kids I've ever seen. I feel guilty taking them. I've paid money for pictures that were no where near the quality of these pictures.

Every one of you who has kids, you should go, right now, turn off the computer and get to Michelle's house NOW and make her take pictures of your kids before she comes to her senses and starts charging for these things.

Seriously.

She's going to come to her senses soon and you don't want to miss out.

Want proof?







* - If you read her blog, you can also guess what music was on the DVD. ;)

Making Dirt Dessert

Today the girls and I made Dirt Dessert. Actually, I supervised and they made it! They did a great job and it tasted great as well. Yummy!

Swimming!

We are so lucky to have a swimming pool at our apartment complex! It is a lifesaver during these unbearably hot summer months we have ahead of us!

I also love the pool because my girls have been in the water since they were babies. They do not fear the water or swimming like I use to. Okay, I admit, I still have some fear, but I have overcome a lot of the fear while taking the girls swimming.

Mammy has agreed to come and teach swimming lessons to the girls! Maybe she can teach me as well! We start next week!

The girls are doing great with what little I was able to teach them but it is definitely time for them to get some formal teaching! They don't even use their floaties at all anymore! Go girls!

Here are some pictures of them swimming yesterday!

The girls getting ready to jump in! They really have no fear!
Mid-jump
Emma swimming
Mia swimming

Emma doing the dead man's float, her favorite float!

Mia floating on her back

Emma touching the bottom

Mia touching the bottom

Brandy's Birthday Party!

For those of you who don't know we have a cat! Yes, a cat. Yes, Erik is allergic to cats. But he lets us bring in a stray cat that sort of adopted our family when her owners abandoned her when they moved. She has been with us for more than a year, and inside for a year.

Isn't Erik a great dad and husband? He let us move her inside even though he is so allergic and now has to take an allergy pill every day. What a sweetie! We can't possibly thank him enough.

The girls wanted to have a birthday party for Brandy, the cat. So we told them to pick a day in June, since that was the month that she moved in with us!

So join us on a picture journey of the birthday party!

The girls with the birthday cat!

Emma wanted Brandy to wear a party hat but we were able to convince her that it wouldn't be fun for the cat!

The opening of the presents!
Mia held Brandy while Emma opened the presents! Brandy got two new cat toys and homemade kitty "cookies"

The girls set the table with party ware!

The presents all wrapped up!

The cards/pictures that the girls made for Brandy!

Babysitting!!!

Miriam and Emma can't wait until they are old enough to babysit other kids, especially their cousins. And Auntie Michelle has been kind enough to agree to let the girls babysit her kids when the girls get older!

Today the girls got a "practice session" in babysitting as we watched Christian and Chloe so Michelle and Dustin could attend a funeral. Sad circumstances for the adults but fun for the kids!

Christian followed the girls around, especially "Ma!" (He can't say Emma, so he calls her Ma) Emma and Christian watered my plants for me, chased the cat until she went into hiding, and just all around had fun! Both girls helped me feed Chloe and hold her!

All four kids played really well together, in the living room. They brought out all the cars we have, the Dora and Diego toys, the dinosaurs, and a bunch of balloons! So much for picking up the girls' bedroom so they could all play in there!

When Chloe went down for her nap the girls and Christian watched a Leapfrog video we have, called Math Circus. After the video was over the three of them played quietly until Chloe woke up.

The girls and Christian also had a ton of fun playing with the chalk and water on the patio. And don't forget all the fun to be had while jumping on the bed! Poor Chloe, was feeling left out during all this fun and tried to follow along behind, you'll be playing with them soon enough Chloe Bear!

After Michelle and Dustin picked up their kids, Mia told me "That was the best day ever!" And Emma said, "That was so much fun!"

So thanks Michelle and Dustin for letting us watch the kids for you. Our home and kids are always there for you!

Here are some pictures that I snapped of the kids. Not as good of job as Michelle would have done, but the best I can do with our little camera. Have I mentioned that I am so jealous of Michelle's camera?

Playing with balloons!
More balloon fun!
Mia and Chloe
Emma and Chloe
Christian playing with cars. We have this car shooter that shoots the cars out.

Christian loved it, and played with that for a long time. He would laugh and laugh

every time the cars shot out! He had both Mia and Emma helping him get the cars in right!

FREE Movies At Victoria Gardens

More FREE Movies!

Movies in the Park will soon be here! The summer movie series will include 6 weeks of family entertainment. The City of Rancho Cucamonga, will sponsor a series of family movies in Chaffey Town Square each Tuesday evening July 15 through August 19. Victoria Gardens invites families to bring their lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy a movie under the warm summer nights. Each movie will be preceded by games, activities, and prizes. Movies in the Park will begin at dusk.

The movie schedule features:
Chicken Run (G) on July 15
Nancy Drew (PG) on July 22
Arctic Tale (G) on July 29
How to Eat Fried Worms (G) on August 5
The Water Horse (PG) on August 12
Ant Bully (G) on August 19

For more information please contact Guest Services at (909) 463-2830.

Again, maybe we will see some of you there!

FREE Summer Movies At Select Regal Theaters

We LOVE movies at our house! And what can possibly be better than FREE movies? The Regal theaters are once again having their FREE Family Summer Film Festival. All movies start at 10 am. If you live close to me here is the schedule for the theater in Ontario:

Ontario Palace Stadium 22 & Imax

4900 East 4th Street

Ontario ,CA 91764

909-476-1525

06/17/2008-06/18/2008
Charlotte's Web (G)
Surf's Up (PG)

06/24/2008-06/25/2008
Clifford's Really Big Movie (G)
Alvin And The Chipmunks (PG)

07/01/2008-07/02/2008
Jonah: A Veggie Tale Movie (G)
The Martian Child (PG)

07/08/2008-07/09/2008
Adventure Of Elm In Grouchland (G)
Water Horse: Legend Of The Deep (PG)

07/15/2008-07/16/2008
Doogal (G)
Shrek The Third (PG)

07/22/2008-07/23/2008
Everyone's Hero (G)
Open Season (PG)

07/29/2008-07/30/2008
Carebears 2 (G)
Bratz (PG)

08/05/2008-08/06/2008
Pirates Who Don't Do Anything - Veggie Tales (G)
Monster House (PG)

08/12/2008-08/13/2008
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium (G)
Bee Movie (PG)

If you want to check and see if a theater near you is having this event check out the website.

Maybe we will see some of you there this summer!