Graduation Day!

Phineas is a now an official Puppy Training Graduate!

I want to put him in the Intermediate class, but I think I'm going to work a little longer on the commands we learned during puppy training. He will sit without a treat, but we still have to work on stay. He also HATES to ride in the car, and I am just not ready to go through trying to get him out of the store and into the car again! Although, the bigger he gets, the harder it will be to carry him out of the store in my arms! (He's 30 lbs already...imagine walking through Petsmart carrying a 30 lb dog!)

Punkin's Trick

For some reason, Punkin likes to climb onto my back when I come in the kitchen door. She hasn't done it in a while, but last night, she was determined to get out of Corey's arms and climb onto my back. Once she got there, she stretched out and settled in.




I can usually get her off by getting on my bed, but the camera spooked her, I guess, and she dug her back claws in. Ouch! Corey had to pry her off of me!

Bugs and Flowers!

Bumgenius Giveaway!

One of my favorite blogs, Baby Cheapskate, is hosting a Cloth Diaper Week and will giving away 12 Bumgenius diapers! You can enter the giveaway here.

We started using cloth a year ago, an we all - Corey included - love them. Bumgenius is one of our favorites. They run about $17-19 dollars and can be used for babies 7 lb - 35lbs! We do not have the new version 3.0, but we are very interested in trying them.

Here's a pic of Logan wearing a cloth diaper for the very first time.

July 19

I know it's been a while since I posted anything. The kids spent a week at the grandparents', and I went to Nashville for a conference. Since we got back, we've just been busy doing nothing!

Tonight, N and Corey went camping in the backyard. It was really a modified camping trip - Corey made hotdogs on the grill, but they ate inside. We ate microwave-made s'mores before they headed outside to tell scary stories and go to sleep.

Lo and I just hung out in the house before she crashed. You can tell she has sleepy eyes in this pic:

I hope you are enjoying your summer!

Jen is having TWINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How awesome are those sweet babies?!!

Yesterday I was too excited to do anything but grin and ramble, and it looks like today is about the same. I have to say that I have known it was twins all along. lol Every time we emailed about her being pg, I would always type "babies" automatically. I'm not going to make a definite guess about the genders, but I think that it was no accident that I saw a set of twin dolls - one girl and one boy - yesterday on clearance in Target. I offered to buy them for her so they could practice. She's going to laugh when they show up on her doorstep!

I know a lot of you have been thinking about Jen and Joel and praying for them, even though you don't know them. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. They are awesome people and will make even more awesome parents.

If you're interested in her story and experience with IVF...and her experience with being pg with TWINS, you can read her blog.

Our Fourth of July

Last night we went to the Northpark Mall Balloon Glow so we could see Chris Young and fireworks. I went for Chris Young; Corey and N went for fireworks...Lo went because we did.

(If you don't know Chris Young, check out his myspace page. He won Nashville Star three years ago. I LOVED him.)

The performance stage was on a hill, so it really wasn't feasible for all four of us to go up there when Chris came on. N didn't want to go, so I went by myself. Here's how far away they were from the stage:

Since there weren't many people at the stage, I was able to get a great view! If there'd been rows, I'd have been 3rd row center. Of course, Chris did a WONDERFUL job!

Afterwards, Chris went along the fence to sign autographs and take pictures. I was afraid he wouldn't do that since he'd had a fan club meet 'n' greet already. My camera barely had batteries, but I was able to get a picture with him! He put his arm around me, and I put mine around him. After the picture was taken, he kinda squeeze-pinched my arm as he pulled his arm back. When I said thank you, he looked me in the eyes and said, "No, thank you." It was great! He really knows how to get to his female fans!!

Of course, I look HORRIBLE in the picture. I'll save the whole description of how bad I look , but this haircut is horrible. I call it a mom-cut. And I should really change the title of this blog to "Tales from Momma Whale." Anyway, here's the picture, and I promise that it's me!

Lo did great being out all that time, and she and N really enjoyed the fireworks. I wish I had some pictures of them, but I used all the batteries on Chris. oops.

A Haircut 7/3

Nason desperately needed a haircut! He was quite shaggy!

BEFORE






AFTER





Btw, I got my haircut too, but it is way too short and not very attractive. I'm glad I have time for it to grow out before school starts back!

Let's Fold Laundry!

Help CARA!

CARA, the local "no-kill" animal shelter, is in desperate need of funds. They operate totally from donations, and they have recently been in the news because of the possibility of having to close down from lack of funds. That means that over 400 animals would be in need of home, and those not adopted would be put down.

There are many ways that YOU can help!

1) Make a donation directly to them.
-Send a check to 960 Flag Chapel Rd., Jackson, MS 39209, or call (601) 922-7575 or (601) 946-7956.

2) Search the Internet using GoodSearch. CARA will receive 50% revenue generated by searches through GoodSearch done in their name.
- Type "Community Animal Research and Adoption" under "Who do you GoodSearch for?"
- Double check that it says ""Community Animal Research and Adoption - CARA (Jackson, MS)"
- Be sure to read the FAQs so you can make the most of your searching!

3) Buy magazine subscriptions here.

4) Play bingo at Northview Bingo.

5) Shop using iGive.

You can also sponsor specific pets for $15 a month or provide items from their wish list.

Whenever you decide that the time is right to add a pet to your family, please consider adopting one from an animal shelter. Our wonderful Phineas came from the Serenity Animal Rescue in Cleveland, MS. He was one of nine puppies that Serenity rescued from being put down at the Cleveland Animal Shelter because the shelter did not have room for them. I found him through Petfinder. Even though he is totally not what we were looking for, the series of events that caused us to get him made it obvious to us that HE was meant just for US. Of course, I would love for you to donate to Serenity too. They are also in desperate need for donations as they are a new organization!

What I Should Be Doing

Shopping Posts Moved

I moved all the shopping-related posts to a different blog, Momma Duck's Deals. Please check it out!

What We're Doing Right Now - 7:35 on Wed., June 25

Punkin is sleeping.

Phin is watching me.

N and L are playing.

Shoes.com Coupon Code

Use code MCSHOESALE08 to get 15% off your order. It expires on June 30.

I just bought L these:


They were originally $29.99, and I got them for $25.49.

Free shipping, btw!

Summer Fun - 6/20!

N is such a great big brother! He loves to play with L! He had as much fun splashing with her in her little bitty pool as he had playing in the family-size pool!

Welcome!!

Yes, I have become a blogger! I don't expect - or want - my blog to be read by lots of people, but I do think that a blog is a great way to share information with many people. Of course, I love to talk about myself and my babies, so there will be plenty of stories and pictures of them. I also plan to share my latest hobby - shopping while spending as little as possible! You can call it couponing if it's easier for you. I do use a lot of coupons, but I also look for deals that will coorespond with the coupons I have and coupons that coorespond with the deals I see. I love to share the deals with my Babyfit mommas and my other friends, and it's hard to remember who is interest in what products and stores. It will be so much easier to put all the deals here!


The title "Tales from the Duck Pond" refers to my role as the mother duck of my four ducklings. Once when I was complaining about how Phin is constantly on my heels, my friend Reds (aka Jenn...aka Red Devil) said I was now a mother duck. Since L and N are always right there behind me too, the name really does fit. (I was definitely reminded of a mother duck and her ducklings after I pottied yesterday - L, N, and Phin all trailed out after me as I exited the bathroom!)

One more thing: I may teach English, but my grammar and mechanics will not be perfect in this blog! I will write the way I speak, and I do end sentences in prepositions in normal conversation. I probably do a lot of other things wrong, too!