Filed under: Green
Rob and I decided about a year ago to simplify our lives, to go a little greener, spend less money, and enjoy the simple things about being a family. I’ve got a group of girlfriends who are like-minded, and we’ve had great conversations and shared lots of ideas. I thought it would be fun to see what we are doing now and how that changes and progresses over time.
Here’s a list:
- We compost all food scraps
- We garden to grow our own food, and shop at local farmer’s markets
- I use canvas bags at stores
- We don’t go out to eat, and I make dinners double-batch and freeze
- We cut our call waiting, weekday newspaper, and magazine subscriptions
- I make my own household cleaner: Vinegar and Water 1:4 ratio cleans EVERYTHING
- We haven’t bought new clothes unless NEEDED, I’ve been rummaging for the boys, and saved tons of money on pants/shorts/winter gear. Shoes, socks and shirts are best new.
- We’ve been spending days outside planting and improving our yard as a family. Everyone has a great time and is tired by the end of the day
- We’ve started having money come out every month into various saving funds, and I put half of all over-time away. We’ve got to splurge a little!
- We haven’t really bought any new toys, and if so, only those NOT made in China, and they have to be really awesome toys like Noah’s bike.
- We forage for freebies like the boys sandbox, bricks, chairs to decorate the yard, plants from Grandma Carol aka “green thumb”, our fusball table and entertainment center
- We take walks every evening
- Rob drives the moped to work 3 days a week
That’s all I can think of now. My biggest weakness’ are paper towels, the boys and household stuff. We have a big house and little to decorate it. I just did the mantle for under $30, after almost 2 years… Catherine is even giving cloth napkins a go. I’d like to get a laundry line so I can run the dryer less, and I’d like to work on energy and water consumption. We’ll see how it goes. I’d love other ideas!
Filed under: Family
For Noah’s 3rd birthday, we decided to get him a fish. He’s been really into fish, and wants to hold and pet them. Our fish is a boy, a beautiful red Beta. He is, as of yet, un-named. We will take your suggestions and let Noah choose.
Filed under: Family
Puddle Stomping
We got a lot of rain. Everyone loved stomping. We laughed and splashed for almost an hour. Only Noah has proper puddle stomping boots, and his have been wore so much that they have holes in them. No one stayed dry.
Filed under: Family
3 years have gone by so quickly. I remember the day you were born. I was so excited to have you and hold you. I don’t think I put you down for 4 months, and that was only because your Dad made me go back to work.
You add so much to our lives. Here are the top 10 reasons we love you:
10. You are sneaky, and you’ll admit it gleefully
9. You love bugs and frogs and monkeys, and everything nature
8. You are orderly. I love it when you tell Grandma Barb that she’s putting the dishes away in the wrong place, and I love how you stack wood (just so that you don’t put it on my flowers)
7. You are snuggly, and love to touch hair
6. You share with your little brother, and when he’s sad, you try to soothe him
5. You are an adventure junkie like your Dad. You love to ride your bike down hills, swerving at the last second. You love to jump and balance.
4. You are stubborn, which makes parenting you a challenge, but I’m confident that it will serve you well into adulthood
3. You love to read, you are so smart
2. You are an observer, and I love that about you because it means you are a thinker like you Dad. I love that about him, it leads to wisdom.
1. You are ours, and every day you make your Dad and I love you more and fill our hearts with joy
- Noah at three
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOAH!! We love what you are, we love what you do. WE LOVE YOU!!!
Filed under: Family
This past weekend, we hauled yet another load of wood. For some strange reason, Noah gets a huge kick out of this. Rob cut some of the wood, and stacked it in the way back. For Noah and Harrison, this is a dream come true. Rob tried giving them a “practice pile” of about 8 logs, but NO WAY did that satisfy them. They have spent the better part of today moving wood around my yard from one spot to the next. They are now using both their wagon and my wheelbarrow. Here a look:
Getting an arms load
Harrison scoping out his next load of wood
A wagon full, ready to move out
Filed under: Uncategorized
Compost Pile Gone Wild
My Mini-Gourds
Filed under: Family
- Ranger Wrestling
Poor Ranger, he’s got such a kind soul, and has such gentle eyes. He is now Harrison’s favorite target. Ranger cannot take a nap when Harry is around. He is always at risk for being pummelled. I always let Ranger know that if he does not want to be “hugged” he can get up and move. He rarely takes me up on it. Secretly, I think that he and Harrison have an arrangement… If Harry sneaks him food at meal-time, Ranger will act as beanbag. We’re so lucky to have such a wonderful dog, and we all love him!
Filed under: Family
The boys take after their father. Whenever I’m away, they (meaning Rob), dream up some new scheme or adventure. It’s not uncommon for me to come home and find a tree down, a huge stack of bricks in the driveway, or some crazy story about running around town escaping a killer bee or woodchuck.
Once in awhile, they let me in on their “dad and boys days of fun” I was given a rare glimpse as we took our daily after dinner stroll. I promise to post video if I can get them to re-create, but here it is in words.
Picture Noah on his bike, sans helmet, with a huge grin going REALLY fast. Harrison would be right behind him screaming for joy while grasping the handle to Noah’s bike. Rob comes next pushing Harrison’s stroller right up to the back of Noah’s bike. His head is down to the wind, and he’s RUNNING. Ranger is next to Harrion on the leash, held by Rob, threatening to swerve everyone off course at the site of a squirrel or rabbit. Oh, and did I mention that they are doing this on the rocks next to the road, on un-even terrain, to push the adrenalin rush to the max, I suppose.
I cannot imagine what they will think of when they are 34, 4, and 6.
