Crazy Busy Week

We have had some crazy busy weeks here at our house. Yesterday I took the kids to get their picture taken with their cousins for my mom's mother's day present, from last year, ah hem. I thought I would bring my camera along and take some of my own pictures, but the kids were very HOT after we were done with the photo shoot with the cousins so this is all we got.
Monk had his first swimming lesson on Tuesday of this week. We had fun, brought the camera like any good mom should, but forgot my memory card to actually take the pictures.

This little man had a bad fever, but that's all that ever happened with that. He needed LOTS of cuddles and a little ibuprofen.

Monk and I have been at Vacation Bible School all week at our church. Monk has been hanging out with the other three year olds there having a blast and loving the juice with the all the sugar and I have been taking pictures of all the chaos and lending a helping hand where I can.

Lastly we are the VERY PROUD new owners of a 1985 Prowler travel trailer (there will be pictures to post later). We have always been the tent camping folk, but since having kids and me being the nap nazi I am, we decided to get something a little more convenient. We have been cleaning it and getting it ready for camping. We are so excited! Anyone want to camp with us?

A Fisherman Junior

This little man received his first fishing rod yesterday from his daddy. It was a special day for both of them. Fisherman has been fishing since he was Monk's age and is so excited to start fishing with his son. As you can tell from Monk's expression in the picture he was so excited. He has been playing with it every chance he gets. My boys are so lucky to have such an active fantastick Dad in their lives. Thanks Fisherman!

Tripp Veggies and One Strawberry Plant

This sure looks like a winner garden to me. It's coming along nicely.

Beco Butterfly 2

The Sling Shack has added on my friends. I cannot say enough good things about this new carrier that I just got in. I have wanted to add a soft-structured carrier unto my store for awhile, but could not find one that I just loved and also felt that they were a bit costly. The Beco Butterfly carrier is worth every penny that you spend on it.

Every soft-structured carrier that I have tried out was uncomfortable and the straps cut into my skin. The Beco Butterfly 2 was so comfy I didn't want to take my little man off. I wore my 16 month old little boy in the carrier at the zoo all morning and never once felt like I needed to take him off for a rest. I loved it for a day at the zoo because it was so easy for me to switch him from my front to my back. In the Beco there is a safety seat making it easy to put baby in the carrier before you put it on or to switch them from the front to the back. When I had my little man on my back it felt just like I was wearing a back pack.
I felt like there was no chance of him falling out even when I was switching him into the back carry. As with all carriers that are sold at The Sling Shack, the Beco is ergonomically correct.

PRODUCT FEATURES
newborn to toddler (7-45 lbs/3.5 - 20 kg)
front and back carry
easy On and OFF featurs
high quality tested materials
machine washable
DVD instructions included
made in USA
PRODUCT MEASUREMENTS
body 13" wide x 16" tall
shoulder straps 23" (can be adjusted up to 22" LONGER for a total of 45")
waist belt 23" (can be adjusted up to 30" LONGER for a total of 53")
weight capacity of the carrier: 7-45 lbs
weight of the carrier: 1.8 lbs
INCLUDED WITH PURCHASE
Baby Carrier
Head Rest (Hood)
Infant Insert
DVD Instructions
Owners Manual

COME AND CHECK THE BECO OUT AT THE SLING SHACK

Dentist

Not a very flattering picture, but little Monk man went to the dentist for the first time this week Tuesday. He did so good while they cleaned his teeth with bubblegum toothpaste.
The dentist said that Monk's teeth look GREAT and that whatever we are doing is working, BUT, and here is where I admit a little secret at our house, he said that he MUST get rid of his pacifier. Yeah that's right, my 3.25 year old was still using a nuk and had it a lot. I just didn't have the heart to take it away. Monk often told us that he loved it when we talked about taking it away. This time I had to take it away and I had someone else to blame.

Monk did great and didn't put up a fuss at all. We should have done it a long time ago. Anyway the dentist was fun for everyone and I am glad that it was a good first experience. Oh and Monk went to the same dentist that I did as a kid, CRAZY!

Until We Cried

Here is an instance where I laughed until I cried. This happened while I was in ND with my cousin. I am pretty sure she laughed so hard she cried too. It may be one of those things where if someone else reads it, it isn't as funny, but man we thought it was HILARIOUS. We went shopping at their hometown mall. We paid for a couple of items we got at the make-up counter of a department store. They had some left over samples that they needed to get rid of so they threw them in our bags. These were the things that I received. I got some night creme and some foundation.

Here is what my cousin received in her bag. Let us take a closer look.
Apparently the sales clerk thought she looked African American rather than Caucasian.

Secondly she was given some creme to lift her neck. When this came out of the bag, I completely lost it. Neck lift creme! Poor girl not only looked a different ethnicity, but had a sagging neck as well.

Thirdly we both got these mascara brushes. Not sure what to do with those.

ND weekend

This past weekend I was able to pack my bag and when I say bag, I mean carry-on style. I didn't want to pay the extra $30 to check a bag. I had to make sure all my liquids were 4 oz. or less and that they were in a plastic bag. I flew to ND to spend some time with my cousins who moved there a couple of months ago. I was sad to leave my kids behind, but so excited that I was able to get to know this funny little man...
AND this sweet girl a whole lot better. I also got to spend some time with their parents too which I REALLY enjoyed and let me tell you, I was treated like a queen. I was put up in the best bed in the house and fed LOTS of fantastic food along the way.

I arrived Thursday afternoon to a nice summer kind of day. We took the kids to a really nice park near by pictured above.

Friday it was a little cooler and then on Saturday it snowed, in JUNE people! However, I was not there for the weather, but rather to enjoy the company of my friends so the weather did not bother me in the least.

We were planning on going to a play, but since the weather was so yucky and the play was outside it was cancelled. We spent some time in a little town called Medora anyway. It is the cutest little town. As you can see from the above picture it is cute even down to it's street signs.

The town is also right by the bad lands or Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We drove into the park a ways and got some pictures. It was hazy because it had just rained so the pictures were not the greatest, but the scenery was still breath taking.

I had the most amazing time. I wanted to come home to see my husband and my boys, but didn't want to leave my company. Thanks so much for my stay and for all the laughs that I had guys. And thanks to my loving husband who planned this trip for me for my mother's day present. I love you all!

Forty Months 06/08/09 - Monk

Monk the days are going by so quickly. I am really loving each new day with you because you are becoming more and more like a little boy. We carry on fun conversations and you are just loving life. Your dad and I are so lucky to have you in our lives. I often find myself in bed at night replaying some funny things you said throughout our day.
We were apart for 4 days this past weekend while you spent some time with Grandpa and Grandma while I went and visited some friends. When I got home late last night I picked you up, you put your little arms around my neck, and said in the sweetest little voice, "I'm so glad you're home." It was one of my most favorite moments in the past three years. I just love your sweetness.

This past month you have gone to the car races and to see a baseball game with Daddy. You are able to stay up late and have fun like this no problem these days. This enables us to have so much more fun than we ever could with this new freedom.

This summer is the first summer that you are 100% not scared of the sprinklers. You run into them full speed with no inhibition. It is so much fun to watch.

Here you are "rockin' the star." This picture shows what your style of dancing is right now. You pout out your lips a bit and jab your hands back and forth while holding one foot up on your tip toes. Oh how this makes me laugh little man. Monk you are the light in my life. No one could ever replace the joy you give me. I love you with all my heart.

Love, Mama

Sixteen Months 06/06/09 - Bebo

Bebo you are my heart. Every time you smile you melt me. When you smile your goofy little smile you can get away with pretty much anything that you want. Unfortunately the last month has been kind of a rough one for you and we haven't seen those cute little teeth as much because you have been FUSSY! MOLARS are making their way into your mouth. It makes me feel bad for you and want to rock you and want to pull all my hair out one by one at the same time.
Your brother started to take a nuk soon after he turned one. It was the oddest thing. I am finding you now with nuks in your mouth periodically and this started after you turned one as well. You are so funny when you put them in your mouth. It makes your dad and I laugh every time. Even though you enjoy a good pacifier suck every now and then your thumb is still your most prized sucking option.

I love your cute little toddler body in a diaper. Summer is making it easier for me to enjoy this. I chase you around the house telling you that I am going to get you and you turn around and look at me like the above picture.

You also like to show us your tummy when asked and think it's so funny. This is what you were doing in the above picture. Honking your nose is also a favorite when you are in the mood.

In the past month you have started to say shoes, ball, bubbles, and car. Seeing you discover so many new things has brought me so much joy. That is my favorite thing about the toddler age because everyday there are new and exciting things for you to learn and do. Bebo I love you kid. It doesn't get much better than this.

Love, Mama

Phone Tragedies

We have had some run-ins with our phones lately at the Tripp tent. We had a house phone that we had for years. A cheap little deal that made it through being chewed on by a one Mr. Angler James (our former greyhound who btw I miss). It also made it through Monk playing with it A LOT. It saw it's last days when Bebo dropped it a month or so ago. I went out and bought a new cheap phone because I just can't seem to spend a lot of money on a phone. Fisherman brought me home a shiny new $24.99 phone thinking that we would have a long relationship together. Two weeks later I was outside, called my mom, carefully placed the phone on the bumper of the car, and called to order some pizza. I am sure you can tell what happened to the phone. Needless to say I was out to buy another cheap house phone and I hoping this one lasts longer. Two weeks later my cell phone went through the wash. Apparently I thought is needed a good cleaning. Despite my efforts to dry it in the sun, it could not be recovered. Now those of you who know me well, know that I have NEVER gotten anything other than the free cell phones that come with contracts so I have never had one that is "with the times." This time The Sling Shack decided to spend a little money, not a crack berry, or an i-phone, but nice little gadget that I can TEXT with. Internet, I sent my first text message EVER yesterday! We are hoping to not have to purchase anymore phones over here at the Tripp tent for the next twelve years.