Saving some Cash

These are tough times for everyone economically. How to shampoo the carpet without breaking the bank? Follow these easy steps:
1.) Bathe children. Use extra shampoo.
2.) Rinse sparingly
3.) Towel dry
4.) Rub child's head vigorously over carpet.
5.) Let carpet dry!

This has been a public service announcment of the Aho "Save Some Cash" network.

Having to share

As if having to share with a brother isn't bad enough, Colby had to learn to share this weekend with THIS new friend, who insisted that he wanted to learn how to ride a bike without training wheels. We told him he first had to evolve legs to pedal, and then we'd talk.

First Ever Day of School

Well, it's happened. I am a mother of school-aged children. The boys have their first EVER day of school today. They are incredibly excited, and I could barely stop crying long enough to take pictures. Watching them climb on that bus and then turn around to wave good-bye -- UGH! The bus driver laughed at me and said "THAT would've been the perfect picture, but you're crying too much to take it!". YUP. Missed that moment. Shoot. Good thing I got plenty of pictures before the bus came, while I was still composed :). I have never seen the boys get ready as fast in the morning, or eat their breakfast as expediently as they did today. Backpacks, nametags, new school clothes. They were READY!!! They both assured me repeatedly, though, that "I'll come back, mom. It's okay." I know. They'll come back, just a little bigger boys.

Grandma's Birthday and Fall photo shoot

We went to church and to a Mountain Lodge for brunch today with Grandma LaVerne and Grandpa Al to celebrate Grandma LaVerne's 70th birthday. We were hoping to do a fall color tour, but it kind of turned in to a "late summer green tour", as hardly any of the trees have changed yet. We'll have to go "color touring" in about 3 more weeks. The boys kept their eyes peeled the entire time for red or orange leaves. An hour up, an hour and a half there, an hour back, and the first ones they saw were in our driveway. "LOOK MOM! There they are!" Figures.

Parade of Nations

Last day of summer, one last parade. It's just what we do up here. Every year, the local university hosts a Parade of Nations, where countries of all the foreign students

are represented. The boys didn't QUITE know what to make of the dragon from Malaysia. And we all wanted to jump in and join the parade when we saw that the United States was represented by a single little boy on a bike with a sign saying "United States". Like, oh yeah... I knew there was a "U" country we forgot! Still, a good time was had by all....

Our Guardian Frog

THIS frog has been living on the exterior door jamb of our front door for THREE SOLID WEEKS now. Without moving. EVER. I asked Rob to take him down, as I assumed he was "deceased", because he doesn't move at all, and obviously hasn't eaten or drank anything in that amount of time. Imagine my surprise today when I was looking at the immobile thing again, when it BLINKED. It's alive! I don't know what it's doing up there, or how it's surviving without moving from it's spot for that long, but... there it is. It's our own little "guardian angel frog", protecting the front entrance. Crazy thing.

Swim Lessons With Superhero Suits

We got wet suits to combat the frigid water temperatures at swimming lessons. The boys made it 30 minutes this time instead of 20 minutes. I had to physically leave the pool area (per teacher's request) to get them back in the water, as Quinn was CLINGING to me with a death grip. My boys NEVER cling. They are not clingers. Usually just the opposite - dashers. The teacher said things improved after I left. So far, for the $90 I paid for swim lessons, the boys have learned exactly this -- how to stay for longer periods of time in cold water. They already KNOW how to jump off the side of a pool, and swim with a noodle. They can swim WITHOUT a noodle, but that skill has yet to be demonstrated in class. So far, the only benefit to swim lessons, as I see it, is that it FORCES me to take them into water on a weekly basis, because I don't want to waste my money. I need to sign up next time for the pool at the next University over - I've heard rumors it's warmer. The highlight of swim lessons now, as far as the boys are concerned, are their new "superhero" swim suits, and getting to sit in the sauna afterwards to warm up.

Apple Harvest

The apple pickings in the woods out back are a little sparse this year, but we were able to find enough for tasting and a batch or two of some apple-themed desert (mom's choice = applesauce; boys' pick = apple pie). It's so fun tromping around in the woods and harvesting off the land. Good thing God invented grocery stores, though, otherwise we'd end up hungry this year.... the deer ate all my tomatoes, the plum trees didn't produce a single fruit, and the apples are few and far between. Unless we took up eating dandelions, which we have PLENTY of, we would be hard pressed to "live off the land".

Making Oatmeal Cookies

Since they were babies, Quinn and Colby have gotten into my tupperware cupboard and spilled the contents onto the floor. At four years old, this hasn't stopped -- just gotten more creative. Today I found an empty cupboard, and two little boys making "oatmeal cookies for the people" in a pitcher. Apparently these particular oatmeal cookies consist solely of water, for which I am truly thankful, given that my "baking" cupboard (where the flour and oatmeal is stored) was also mysteriously ajar.

OOOOOHHHH, wait. While I was typing the above, I heard rustling in the kitchen. The "water only" cookies' ingredient list expanded: water, cinnamon, oregano, Johnny's seasoning salt, and blueberry instant oatmeal. Better go disperse before the kitchen ends up in havoc. Uh oh. Too late.

Swing for Grandma LaVerne

It's a little early, but Rob decided to give his mom her birthday present so that she could enjoy it before the snow flies. The boys thoroughly enjoyed getting to help build the swing!

Fishing with Dad

While Quinn and I went to his audiology appointment today, Dad and Colby went fishing. Colby caught 5 fish and did a great job! Rob and I thought that giving the boys some one-on-one time with a parent was overdue, as Colby now copies EVERYTHING Quinn does, to the point of having to wear the same underwear, and have his jacket zipped precisely the same distance from the top. Ridiculous. After the audiology appointment (which was LOOOONNNG only because Quinn refused to participate until I told him the headphones had mosquitos in them... that's another story), I asked Quinn what he would like to do. I was offering a trip to the library, going out to lunch... whatever to make "Mommy-Quinn Day" special. His answer? Go fishing with Dad. So Mommy-Quinn day turned into Daddy-Quinn day, and Colby got to come home and be bored with mom:). I am definitely losing rock-star mom status. The boys are true fishermen, and true Daddy's boys!

Daddy's Home!

Rob has been gone for the past week hiking in the Beartooth-Absaroke Wilderness area of Montana. He had a fabulous time, albeit a chilly one (it snowed 6 of 6 days in the mountains, per his report). He came home 3 days early sporting a new beard and plenty of gorgeous mountain pics. The boys didn't quite know what to make of this grizzled mountain man upon his return, as they had never seen their father with quite so much facial hair before, but I'm happy to report that Robbie is now back to baby-bottom-smooth cheeks :). It's good to have the family back together.

Swimming Lessons

The boys love to swim. They love water. I was so excited for them to start swimming lessons last Thursday. It was a bust. Quinn made a dash for the high-dive, but was quickly lassoed by the instructor. Then both boys got out of the water after 20 minutes, complaining of being too cold. The water was reportedly 68 degrees, and given their blue lips, vigorous shivering, and the status of their respiratory infections, I can imagine that they really WERE cold. The swim instructor, however, didn't appear to buy that, and FORCED them back into the water, crying and screaming. They now don't want to go BACK to swimming lessons. I also got a lecture about "letting go" (their lips really were blue!! Quinn is on antibiotics for a sinus and ear infection right now!) . I bought them "thermal suits" for next week. Let's hope I didn't waste my money, and that the wet suits get here in time.

The last vestiges of Summer

School started today for most children in the area, which meant WE got to go to the beach! Yeah for late-starting pre-school! It was a very warm day, and tomorrow is supposed to be cold... I think fall is going to hit before we know it, so thought we would enjoy.