Write a check!

When I think back to when I got married one of the best things (besides getting married to the man I love) about the wedding was opening all the gifts that we received from our family and friends. I remember the stack of envelopes that we got that were either filled with cash, gifts cards, or checks. Those gifts helped us buy so many different things in order to start our life together.

This past weekend my friends brother-in-law got married. The day was wonderful, and many friends and family attended the reception. It wasn't until the end of the evening that they were aware of what had happened. Some time during the reception...someone came in and took the basket that held ALL of those lovely envelopes! The basket was found discarded in a woman's yard. All the envelopes had been opened. They had removed all the cash and gift cards...but left the checks. Luckily one of the checks had a home number on it, and the woman contacted that person. After a few more phone calls they were able to get what was left over to the bride and groom's family.

As my friend was telling me the story...it made me so sad for the happy couple! What has this world come to!? I can't believe that someone stooped so low as to going to a reception and stealing the 'money basket'. One thing is for sure...the next time I don't have time to get a gift, I won't get a gift card or give cash! WRITE A CHECK!

Lions, and Tigers, and Bears...oh my!

Yesterday, I was selected to participate in a study, and went to go pick up the product that I would be using. Delve is located down the street from the Phoenix Zoo so I thought that we would go there while we were there. It was so much fun...I just wish that I would have brought my camera!!! The last couple of times that we have done things, I have forgotten it and have missed out on some great pictures!

I actually ended up getting a membership. I had gotten one a few years ago, but when the renewal came up I just let it expire. Now that Sydney is a little older she can really appreciate the fun that comes with visiting the zoo. It was a little hot, but not too bad. The zoo even has a little water area that the kids can play in. Caden didn't want play in the water this time, but hopefully he will in the future.

We spent a good part of the day there, and got lots of exercise walking all over the zoo. I really am looking forward to going there more often. I know it sounds crazy here in AZ where it gets so hot, but as long as we keep hydrated we can have alot of fun. It was so fun to see how excited they both were when they found the animal in each exhibit. It was like playing "I Spy".
We didn't get to see every animal, but we did see a fair share of them. It will be something to look forward to.

We also bought a Family Season Swim pass for the local pool. My kids have always been a little leery of the water, but with alot more exposure I hope they will like it a little more. We have signed up for swim lessons so they will be spending alot of time in the water! Maybe this year I will actually get a tan! I know it is not the best for you, but I look so much better with a tint. :)

I am trying to get some sort of routine down for me and the kids. I have decided that we really need to go do 'something' each day. You see, I am pretty boring. Besides getting out of the house to go the gym...we pretty much stay home. I have come to the conclusion that the reason why my house always seems like a train wreck is because we are home ALL THE TIME. I want to set something up so the kids always know that " Hey its Monday! We are going to _____ today. I figured we could go to the library, swimming, zoo. I am trying to think of other things, but would like to have one specific place where we will go each day. I figure that if we spend some time each day out of the house...it will make it a little bit more manageable.

What are some fun things that you do with your kids?

Kid Swapping

About a month ago, our family got together with The O. Family for dinner at the park. Justin and Shawn are good friends from high school, and we have always tried to continue to nourish the friendship. They had Kent a few weeks before Caden was born and we were determined to make them be friends. :) Every time we would get together we would plop them next to each other and take photos. The Boys always seem to have fun together, but we wondered if they actually remembered each other between our visits. Over the years, the Olson's have moved around. They were gone for a while to Virginia, but they recently moved into a house close by.

As Karyn and I were chatting away at the park we some how got on the subject about how hard it is do get anything done while we have the kids. I joked around about how nice it would be to have a robot that I could have around when I wanted to make a quick errand without the kids. That is when she offerred to do a kid swap. She would watch my kids for 3 hours at a time, and then I would watch hers. She had been trying to do the same thing with her sister, but it wasn't quite working out. So she said to call her if I was interested, and we would go from there.

I went home and looked at my calendar...lo and behold I had an appointment that I needed to go to the following week. So I called up Karyn and took her up on it! Let me tell you it was wonderful! I was able to go to my doctors appointment and then do some shopping --- ALL BY MYSELF!! It was very refreshing! When I was all done it was so nice to go and see our children playing together. Karyn also has Mallory (2) and Eldon (will be 1 in August).

When we got back from our vacation I was able to return the favor for her...and we have agreed this is the best thing ever!!! After a few tweeks we have decided to take a plunge. Only instead of watching each others kids once a week(which equates to 2 times together--once for each of us) for 3 hours at time we will switch back and forth on Mondays and watch them for 6 hours! I know it sounds crazy, but Karyn did it on Monday for me! (THANK YOU!) It was fabulous! There is alot that you can get done in 3 hours, but 6 was even better.

Our theory was this...sometimes it takes a little bit to get going. With having 6 hours you really can get alot done, and the kids only are going 1 place a week. We really hope that it will work out. I have to tell you it has been great to have this opportunity. It has been something that I have always wanted, but hadn't found someone that it would work out so well with. If you can find someone...do it! It is such a blessing!

The great thing about it is that Caden and Kent are really starting to develop a deeper friendship than the "plop me down and take a photo" induced friendship of their parents. Hopefully when they get older they can look at all the photos from when they were babies, and see that they truly have been friends for life! We hope that Syd and Mallory will be able to say the same. Here is a slide show of all the fun that these kids have had together through the years!