Massage...

We had quite a busy day!  Emma and I did a 3 mile bike ride (I pulled Noah in the trailer) this morning.  Then, I took Emma, Caleb, and their cousin Ethan to the park to play.  After "quiet rest" time this afternoon, the kids went swimming.  It was a full-of-activity day.  So, this evening, Noah was playing with two of his cars and decided to run them up and down my back.  He thought this was hilarious, but I thought to myself, "Hey, that doesn't feel half bad!"  So, Caleb went and got some cars too and the two of them had a grand time driving them all over my back.  So hey, it wasn't exactly a spa day or anything, but those monster trucks certainly weren't too bad.  =)  And people wonder if I am sad that we're having another boy!  Are you kidding?  I might need some more of these massages...they're the only ones I get!

Interesting Article

I think everyone has probably felt the increase in the cost of groceries and gas lately.  This was an interesting article on msn about a woman who fed her family of four on almost $100 for the week.  It is always a juggle, trying to balance out the cost of food, the nutritional value of what you buy, and the time it takes to prepare things.  I have found that I can save myself money, and then I usually have to make up for it in time.  But, fortunately, that is a trade off that we can and many times have to make.  Christine was so kind as to share some of her organic produce with me, which I immediately put to work on some yummy veggie kabobs.  This week I have also made whole-wheat banana carrot bread, bran muffins (with flax, crushed pineapple, and carrot), homemade granola, and hopefully some whole wheat bread.  Of course, I was so tired and overwhelmed by all my dishes that I did actually lay down on my daughter's bedroom floor this morning for 10 minutes.  But that's a whole different story.

Anyway, I have also found that I save my money by supplementing my regular grocery items (from Trader Joe's) with items from 99 cents only, Big Lots, or Target.  One week I actually got my grocery bill down to $115 (for five of us, and one is preggo, mind you!!), but I did fill in with some items from the other stores.  Often times, 99 cents only or Big Lots will have organic or all natural products.  Anyway, I am posting a link to this interesting article...but I thought all of us bloggers could share our own money saving, healthy eating tips.  So, how are you coping with the rising cost of groceries, and how do you save money?? 

P.S.  If you want any of the the aforementioned recipes, just let me know.

P.S.S. In the midst of typing this post, I can't find the article on msn that I was reading, so I can't post a link to it.  But, we could probably come up with better ideas anyway. =)

To the Crazy Pregnant Lady Running on the Bike Path in Pantyhose...

Oh wait, that was me.  Let me back track, and explain, and then I will get on to the star of my story.  So, about a month ago, we got up from watching a movie to put the kids to bed, and I couldn't walk or bear any weight on my left leg.  They ended up doing an ultrasound on my leg and found that I have a blood clot.  This is not DVT (or, a blood clot in a deep vein, which would probably mean hospitalization).  Luckily, it is a more superficial vein, so I just have to be careful not to stand too long, sit too long, and I have to wear compression pantyhose.  But, given the alternatives, I think I got it pretty good.

Anyway, so Emma has been practicing riding her bike without training wheels in our backyard.  There's not much room, so she rides one way, then has to stop, turn her bike around, and ride the other way.  She has been counting down the days until Daddy got off work so that we could do a real ride on the bike bath.  So, not knowing how it would go, Daddy and Emma went ahead, and Caleb was on his bike with his training wheels (he has been working on it too!), and I was with him pushing Noah in the jogger.  Well, Emma just took off.  She did a little over 2 miles, with Daddy RUNNING as fast as he could to keep up.  Caleb is already pretty fast, so I ran with him for, let's say 1/4 mile or so, before I had to stop and ask him to slow down.  I know that walking is really good for my leg, but with the running, I could feel all the pressure in my vein and I thought maybe slowing down would be a good idea.

Ben and I decided that we are going to have to invest or borrow a bike trailer because we are really past the point of trying to keep up with children on bikes!!

But the point is, Emma did her first bike path ride without training wheels.  And I know it is cliche and people tell you this all the time, but man...it sure is going way too fast.  

Fun in a Box...

Okay, now this box of fun did not contain a thing one or a thing two (Dr. Seuss, people!)...and it did cost a bit of money, but has already paid for itself in smiles, laughter, and all around fun.

We had this spot of gravel in the back yard, which I didn't like because 1) gravel ended up all over the concrete, and 2) it was wasted space in our yard.  So, we got one of those 12 ft. round pools and it covers the area perfectly.  Not only is the gravel contained, but the space is no longer wasted.  Now that's cool.