Photo Challenge #1 SAVE

My friend Heather created a photo challenge. This weeks challenge is to post a picture(s) of ways my family saves money.

My first SAVE is Carson's gardening project. We have a small yard with no room for a garden, so this year we decided to plant tomatoes and peppers in pots on our deck. Carson has been doing a great job watering them, pulling weeds, and watching them grow! He loves to eat tomatoes and we often cook with jalapeno peppers so this will save a few dollars off our grocery bill this summer.

My second SAVE is my personal "gym" in our basement. I have opted not to spend extra dollars on a gym membership (& a babysitter!) so I have been working out at home in the evenings after the kids go to bed.

Tubes

Collin and I arrived at Heartland Surgery Center at 6:15am on June 9th. He underwent surgery for Myringotomy Tube Insertion at approximately 7:00am and I was holding him in my arms 20 minutes later. He did great and experienced no problems. Since the procedure, he has been babbling and squeeling more than he ever has before. I think he can finally hear clearly! It has taken him a few days to get use to the ear plugs he has to wear when in water, but other than that, things are looking up!

Collin's 1st Birthday

Collin's first birthday cake was made by Daylight Donuts. It was a white cake with cream cheese filling and buttercream frosting. Everyone thought it was delicious.
Carson enjoyed helping Collin open his gifts.

If only I could touch that candle!

This cake is so good Collin thought it was much quicker to use his mouth rather than his hands!

I think he looks alot like Carson did in this picture.

Time to clean up!

Collin's first birthday party was held exactly a year after he was born June 6, 2008. I can't believe how fast this past year has gone! My little baby has grown up way too fast. Collin now weighs 17 pounds 14 ounces. He recently started saying "up-u" for up and "uh-oh". He signs milk, all-done, more, and night-night. However, they all look very similiar at this point. It's a good thing I can usually tell what he wants! Collin has been crawling for several months and also cruising furniture but he has not had the desire to walk independently yet. He enjoys going to daycare at Krystal's house and I've heard he really enjoys playing with Brynleigh who is just a few months younger than him. They follow each other everywhere! He is a very easy going boy as long as he is feeling good. He has been sick so much over the past 7 months with croup twice, bronchitis, RSV, and 4 ear infections since February. He is scheduled to have tubes placed in his ears on Tuesday June 9th at Heartland Surgery Center.