Da Plane, Da Plane

The boys have entered a really fun stage. They have started talking and asking that wonderful question, "What's that?" Imagine that in stereo, because there is always someone asking those two words. We absolutely love hearing it. :-)

Several weeks back, Jason had asked that question after hearing a rather loud airplane pass overhead. And, living so close to an actual airport, albeit small, means that there are plenty of opportunities to hear airplanes. Now, unfortunately, any loud sound outside is accompanied by a shocked, "Oh! What's that?" and followed by "Airplane!"

A siren is heard in the distance..."Airplane!"

A car backfires..."Airplane!"

Isaac mows the lawn outside...yep. You guessed it. "Airplane!"

This past weekend, the boys were inside eating their lunch when they heard Isaac start up the lawn mower. Both boys pointed outside and started telling me they heard an airplane. I explained to them that no, it wasn't an airplane, it was daddy outside. But of course they didn't believe me. So that meant we had to go over to investigate things a little further.

See guys, here is daddy.

It is daddy! Hi daddy!

What are you doing out there, daddy? Where's the airplane?

Can we come out there with you? Whatever you are up to looks like fun!

Do you see him, mommy? There he is!

Oooh...Jason's glasses...I'm getting distracted...must get to brother's glasses...

Isaac played with them for a bit and then went back to mowing the lawn. The boys were fascinated and watched for the longest time. (I tell you, this lawn mowing stuff is better than television at our house!) It was really sweet.

They even learned the new word "lawn," although it remains to be seen if Isaac mowing the lawn next time will still be "lawn" or go back to "airplane." :-)

I'll leave you with my two favorite pictures from this moment...

Jason's hand in daddy's.

Shawn's hand in daddy's.

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Regarding the last post: Did you notice that the boys' shirts changed? On Father's Day, Shawn was wearing the green and navy striped shirt while Jason was wearing the shirt with the smaller white, blue, and green stripes. In the walking pictures, they are wearing the opposites. The pictures were taken on two different days, and it was just coincidence that the shirts were the same. (I do like those shirts. Ahem.) Too funny!

Happy Father's Day, Isaac!

This is a little late, but the feelings are the same.

Happy (belated) 2nd Father's Day, Isaac!

Can you believe that our little guys looked like this on their first Father's Day?


And now, they look like this!

Here is daddy with his big boys!

Look at those handsome mugs! I am one lucky girl.

We had a wonderful day!

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Footprints

"Walk a little slower Daddy,"
Said a child so small.
"I'm following in your footsteps
and I don't want to fall.

Sometimes your steps are very fast,
Sometimes they're hard to see;
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For you are leading me.

Someday when I'm all grown up,
You're what I want to be;
Then I will have a little child
Who'll want to follow me.

And I would want to lead just right,
And know that I was true;
So walk a little slower, Daddy,
For I must follow you."

--unknown

Isaac walking with Shawn.

Isaac walking with Jason.

I would be very proud if Shawn and Jason grew up to be half as wonderful as you, Isaac. Thank you for all that you do for all of us. We love you.

With love,

Shawn, Jason, and me

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P.S. Just wondering if anyone noticed... :-) I'll let you know what I am talking about in the next post.

Another Secret (Because I Am Helpful Like That)

First off, I plan on getting back into the posting mode starting Monday of next week. I am giving myself a week of "summer" vacation with nothing to do before I get back into the swing of things. Usually, the posting will be at night, because frankly, that is the only time there is extended time of peace and quiet. Well, it's that and Jason loves to hit the keys on my computer while I am trying to type and makes things challenging. :-)

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Anyway, I have another secret for you. This one is called Swagbucks.com. Swagbucks.com is "An online portal dedicated to helping you earn digital dollars called "Swag Bucks", which can be redeemed for exclusive swagbucks.com merchandise." (from their Swag Store page)

There are a few simple steps to using Swagbucks.com:

1. Search the web by clicking here and receive results from Google & Ask.com. The results are pretty similar to what you would get through Google searches. What I did was add a swagbucks toolbar to the top of my Internet browser and just started to use the swagbucks search bar instead of my old google search bar. You can find one here if you are interested.
2. Earn Swag Bucks periodically as you search the web. The swag bucks are awarded randomly, so you'll never know if any given search will earn you a swag buck. The trick is to always use the swagbucks search bar when you are looking for information on the Internet. If yours is a winning search, you will see a large Swag Bucks immediately above your search results. You will never be directed away from your search.Your current total will be automatically updated and displayed like mine is on the right hand side of the blog. (as I post this, I have 15 Swagbucks)
3. Redeem your swag bucks for prizes in the Swag Store. Prizes include a $5 amazon gift card available for 45 swag bucks, a $10 Barnes & Noble gift card available for 115 swag buck, and a $20 Target gift card for 220 swag bucks among many others!
4. You can also find what is known as "swag codes" on the SwagBucks Twitter and Facebook pages. These are codes you can use to earn even more swag bucks!

You can find answers to any other questions you may have here on their frequently asked questions page.

So are you ready to join in the fun? If you haven't already clicked on one of the links above, here's another chance. Come on! You have nothing to lose and loads of "bucks" to gain! :-)

P.S. "This referral link (and all the ones above) featuring my Swag Name makes it easier than ever to introduce Swag Bucks to my friends and family. Every time you win Swag Bucks, so do I!"

P.S.S. Information I've used for this post was taken from the Swagbucks.com website. :-)

A Little Secret

Actually, this post is not exactly about the boys. Well, it sort of is, in a very round about way, but you have to stretch a little to connect them to the little secret I am going to tell you about.

Are you ready?

I have discovered the secret world of coupon shopping. I am totally jazzed about it, too!

Ahem. It started with this little baby, here...

And ended with an armful of loot! Check this out:

4 shirts for me +

6 pairs of pants for the boys +

6 shirts/onesies for the boys =

$105.00 + tax = $114 and some change -

$75 off coupon (whoot!) =

$39 and some change!

( I'm not sure why it is turned this way.)

I got 16 things at Old Navy for under $40 bucks. Not too shabby! That's an average of $2.45 per item. I was simply giddy! (contented sigh)

Old Navy has started a coupon promotion. Once a week, on Thursdays, the site is redesigned, and new coupons are "hidden" throughout the page. Usually, there are different frames depicting the different Old Navy mannequins doing various activities. The coupons can be found in these different scenes. For example, this week there were coupons at these places:

$75 off $100 - First click the ball in Wesley's hand, it will drop, then click his golf club. That will be the $50 off (or scandal). Close that. The golf ball will roll into the hole....wait about 30 seconds or so and a gopher will appear with the golf ball & throw it(you'll start to see a little dirt coming out first)--click on the golf ball before it rolls away. If you station your mouse just slightly to the left of the flag in the hole, you have a better chance of catching it.

$50 off $100 - Click the ball in Wesley's hand, it will drop, then click his golf club

$20 off $100 - Catch the surfer on the waves and click on him

$15 off $75 - In the video - still trying to figure out where? Just start clicking everywhere

$10 off $50 - Find the blue shirt under the item of the week and move it onto Enrique (on the top picture--surfer guy).

$5 off $50 - Vote for Enrique on the top and Wesley on the bottom >The mannequin in the white tank top hid a 30% off coupon, revealed when you clicked on her hair style twice.

(Thanks to Thrifty Northwest Moms for the locations)

At the top of the screen, there is a scrolling marquis which tells the number of coupons available and the different values of each. Obviously, the greater the value, the harder the coupon is to find. I just tend to run my mouse over the screen a few times and look for my pointer to turn into a little hand with a pointed index finger. I don't really have any tricks, per say, to finding what's available.

The fun for me is that I get to try to find the coupons throughout the week until the site is redesigned the next Thursday. Plus, I am a sucker for a bargain. And, well, a challenge--no matter how slight--keeps me coming back for more, too. :-) The only downside is that you have no idea when the new week's coupons are set. You just have to keep checking throughout the day until you see the new scene. Last week, I happened to get lucky.

Anyway, Old Navy was the start of my new passion for the coupon. Here are a few other links to blogs who will help you on your bargain search:

Thrifty Northwest Moms (savings on loads of stuff and uploaded several times a day. I also like this site on Thursdays because they have a chat room that actually gives hints to the locations of the Old Navy coupons!)

It's Hip to Save! (savings on loads of stuff! updated several times a day)

Freebies 4 Mom (family savings)

Baby Cheapskate: Saving Big Bucks on Baby Stuff (baby/child savings)

Deal Seeking Mom (savings on a variety of things)

Not only do these sites (especially the first two) tell you what and where the deals are, but they actually tell you what coupons to use for the best deal! And get this. They even link you to the coupons you need. This is my kind of lazy coupon shopping!

Hey, I am a mom of twins. Who has loads of time to clip coupons? And this is my connection to the boys--heh heh.