Katie has been wanting to learn how to ride her bike, training wheel free since last summer. She was very nervous and gave it a good try last fall. Well since we've been having some warmer weather...high 40's to 50 degree days,the bikes have been out. After several attempts TODAY was the DAY!!!
She was soooo excited!!!
Jason and I were SO excited to! We didn't think she'd ever get it! We both have fond memories of riding our bikes as kids so it's so cool to have a kid riding. Once again, we've had an AH-HA moment. WoW we are parents!!! We just taught our daughter how to ride her bike! I have to give 90% of the credit to Jason. He really stuck with her. I'm tickled pink by this, since my Dad taught me :)

St. Patrick's Day!

Le the Leprechaun came to visit! He was first spotted at Grandma's house and she gave him directions to our house. Lucky us. He made quite a mess this morning when he arrived! He has decided to retire at our house. The cat scared him, so he will be living outside in the flower gardens.
How do I know this? Well, he left a note of course!

Last night Katie finished making her Leprechaun trap. Her class at school, were going to try and catch one. She reported on the way home, that no one caught one. There was one on the loose at school and he got into a lot of mischief!




She decided to make her trap look like a shoe store. She learned that Leprechaun's are know to be shoe makers. She wanted to tape her voice that sounded like a fairy saying, "oh, I need a shoemaker, I need a shoemaker!" I bought a card that records your voice. That was the door. So when the Leprechaun opened the door, he'd hear the voice, go in and AH-HA! Sticky tape on the floor would catch him!

Now the mess we found this morning.

Snow Pictures

I just realized I never posted these cute pictures from our last snow storm!
Jason and I tried to build them a snow fort using their fort. That turned into a snow ball fight and Jason had the advantage of the shovel!

Snow day
So Cute


Katie starts to build the bricks


Ben's Snow Angel


Ben making his Snow Angel




And so It Begins!!!!





Now here are some really cute pics of them dancing together.
I think they may the next brother/sister duo on Dancing with the Stars :)

The Things Ben says...

So we (me and the kids) REALLY want to go to Disney in the near future. Jason is not as keen on the idea but knows at some point in the next couple of years he will need to give in. When the kids ask us to buy silly things I say no we need to save our money for Disney to help them understand we need to save.

I think...they are starting to get it.

Katie got some new clothes, from Nana. This is an FYI Children's Place near us was having a HUGE clearance sale and Katie really needed some pants, she had another growth spurt!

So last night we were talking and Katie asked again "When are we going to Disney?"
Ben responds, "Katie from now on you wear the pants that are to short. NO MORE buying new clothes. We have to save money for Disney! We can only buy food. That's it. OK Katie? NO MORE CLOTHES!"
I agreed and added, "Ben that means only one bowl of cereal for you in the morning."
Ben asks, "Can I have something else with it too?"
Oh Ben!

I am helping my Dad figure out how to center a picture! I know...he doesn't know how to do this?

Exciting TidBit

So I stopped at Stop & Shop today. I typically go to Shop Rite but I was in town this morning so it was easier to get what we needed today while I was out. Shop Rite is less I find and I stop on my way home from work and really couldn't wait until Monday, especially since we may get a storm tomorrow.

Anyway...I tried the new Scanner Program they have. When you enter the store you pick up a scanner. Someone is there to walk you through it and it was very easy to understand and then go do. I only got a little tripped up in the produce section, but figured it out on my own.
So the idea is you scan as you go and fill up your grocery bags as you go along. Then when you are done, you can go to any register and they scan your scanner and you pay and WaLa you are done and on your way!!! No waiting for slow baggers. No waiting in long lines, because you can go in Express Lanes and Self-Check Out lanes with the scanner!!! No more lifting heavy items in and out of your cart, taking all 10 cans out of your cart!
I loved it for all that and I saved money! Yes, really.
See when you start you tell them how many bags you want (they have new little hooks on the cart to help them stay open) and I said 5 thinking I'm not doing a big week of groceries. Well, as I got going I was very conscious of bag space. I was also conscious of the price of things, since I first had to look at the shelf and then look again as it scanned! Well I put a few things back, telling myself, "I really don't need that!"
So I bet your wondering how much I spent? I did not have to buy any meat this week, but everything else was pretty standard (milk, yogurt...).
I paid $68 and change! I typically spend around $100 for a non-meat week!!! I did great! Oh and they also have specials built into your scanner. So I did get grapes for 55 cents, I typically don't buy grapes in the winter. The trainer told me as I use it I will get more savings because it keeps track or your regular purchases since you first scan your Stop & Shop card and that keeps track!

Well, I thought it was great and just wanted to share!!!

My Dad's Blog

Okay, my Dad who I got to start a blog on all of his geneology stuff has won an award!!! I am so proud of him.
He has been researching our family's history for a few years. In the past two years he has really done a lot so I thought it was time he shared it! Well, now he's like a pro blogger:) I am soooo proud of him.
Check out his blog...the link is to the Left of posts and under blogs I follow.
It's called BitsandPieces.