Let me introduce you to....SWAGBUCKS!!!!!!!

Ok, so I've become a coupon, deal catching....maniac, junkie, geek, etc....  It's true!!! I started cutting coupons and looking for sales in the paper.  Then, I discovered some cool blogs, websites that tell you how to get some 'really good' coupons, lots of free stuff, etc.  I first saw this thing called swagbucks on Kristina's blog one day and thought "I don't really know about that".   The more blogs and websites I visited about saving money, getting coupons, etc...I kept seeing it over and over.  Finally, I decided I would try to figure out what this 'swagbucks hype' is all about.
Swagbucks is a website/ search engine that you earn points for doing something we do on a daily basis at our house......search the internet.  You can accumulate points seriously by using their site (or just download their toolbar & use it to search) and you randomly earn points! You can also earn points by going through swagbucks to make online purchases (which we also do A LOT of in my house).  The points can be used to buy things in the swagbucks store such as electronics, gift cards, etc.  I've only been doing it for a little less than a week and I already have enough points to get stuff.  Unfortunately, I can not download the toolbar on our computer because we don't have ANY more space left but, as soon as I get my new computer...swagbucks will become our main search engine.  (On a blog that I keep up with, there were several ladies who paid for most of their Christmas gifts last year with swagbucks!)  So, I'm willing to try!!
Maybe you should give it a whirl!! If you do, please sign up under me and we both can benefit from it!! :)  I'm going to put a button on the side of my blog or you can just click here!  You can earn 3 points just for signing up!!!  Happy Swaging!! :)

VaLeNtInEs DaY!!!

 We had a nice Valentine's weekend!  Troy and I decided that we wouldn't get each other gifts since we're going to Sin City next week and I'm sure we'll find some things out there that we like that they probably don't have here in Lynchburg. (that is an understatement!)   Friday night we went to one of our favorite local restaurants, Mangia, and had a nice dinner.  Of course, Charlie went with us and he enjoyed himself as well.  I was a little skeptical taking him to a nice restaurant on Valentine's weekend while people are trying to have a 'romantic' dinner but, he behaved quite nicely.  :)  (and I enjoyed having both of my Valentines with me)  
 Saturday, Troy had to work then he came home and watched Charlie while I was going to run errands but that only lasted about 30 minutes because he got called out again so, Charlie and I ran a couple of errands and then I decided that to get an infant in and out of a car seat to run into a store for one thing at 3 or 4 different locations is just not worth it so, we came home and played! :)  
 On Sunday, we went to eat brunch with Nat and Sandy (Troy's parents) and friends, Mike and Libby.  Charlie was a trooper.  He saw a little girl (probably about 6-7 months old) and he couldn't stop looking and smiling at her.  (poor little guy is only around adults)  After brunch we came home and watched the Daytona 500 that lasted ALL day!! It was a nice and relaxing day and great way to end the weekend! 

Charlie's Valentine gifts!

Checking out his monkey, Dynamite!

Looking at his card before he tried to eat it! 

Troy and Charlie before going to brunch!

Charlie and I after brunch (it wore him out!)  :)

Being so cute & lovable takes A LOT out of you!!!

BTW: Can you believe Charlie was 10 months old Monday?

On the Prowl!

This has been an eventful week at our house.  Charlie is still into everything...now more than ever!  Charlie has been pulling up on everything, standing and looking.  Then of course, he started 'cruising' around.  Then, this week he started pushing his little 'push car' around like a champ.  Seriously, on Tuesday he pushed it a few times with little interest.  On Wednesday morning, I decided to raise it up into the 'push' mode.  At that point, he got up behind it and off he went!  I was so excited! He of course was ever so happy!  It's so cute to watch him just walk around (of course, it is now a very fast pace.....seriously, does this child do anything at a slow speed?) and he is all smiles pushing and looking around. Smiles and excitement until he comes to a screeching halt and he can't turn it around then, it's crocodile tears & verges of hyperventilation.  That's when Troy or I have to turn the car back into a clear path and the smiles come flooding back! :)  Below are some photos of Charlie on the prowl!

I think he's getting in touch with his hippy side in this pic! (notice the peace sign)  :) 

A man on a mission! (check out that face)

He takes time out to pet & play with Kode! :)

Don't look at the background..... our living room is the 'play room'

He's standing alone for longer periods now.....those first solo steps are soon to follow! 

Same Story, Different Day

Yep, you've got it!! We had snow once again!! :)  It started Friday and ended Saturday.  This snow was not the fluffy, soft snow we had last weekend.  This was the yucky, wet, icy snow!  We had snow, sleet, freezing rain and everything in between! So, our weekend involved being indoors until Sunday....we finally broke free for a little while!
 On a positive note, we only got 6 inches of snow!! To some of you....that seems like a lot (and it is to me since I'm from GA) but, considering in December we got 16" and last weekend we got 12"....this wasn't too bad!  Oh! but, don't worry, our fun is not over....we're getting more tomorrow!! I think I'm going to jump off a cliff  So, how much longer until I will be in the desert?!!?! (14 days, but who's counting?!)
 Since we were inside...I just let Charlie eat away at 2 teething biscuits and didn't worry about him being messy....then he went straight from the highchair to the bathtub! :)

His crusty face! :)

Check out those teeth! :)  He literally had biscuit everywhere...face, hands, ears, nose, etc...

Today I let him have a sippy cup with some water.....

Sometimes he got it in his mouth without help.....

....other times, not so much! :) 

***Winter*Wonderland***

Well, it happened again! This weekend we had another snow storm! (This global warming thing is killing me! (insert sarcastic laugh)!)  We woke Saturday morning to a blizzard! :)  Yes, blizzard!!  Seriously, when we woke up it looked like fog and you could barley see the street because it was snowing so hard...and it snowed ALL day!! A total of 12" at our house!! I was NOT looking forward to the snow again since it finally just melted after being on the ground for a month but, this snow is nice and powdery!  We stayed inside on Saturday because it was snowing....I started getting a little cabin fever! (Why is that you can't leave your house, you start to get stir crazy but, when you can leave- it's no big deal?)

 Troy did venture to work on our driveway and sidewalks!

On Sunday, we decided to take Charlie out in the snow for the first time.  We bundled him up and we made our way through the foot of snow out to the front yard!  

Checking it out!

I think he liked it!! :)

Kode tagged along.....it's almost as deep as he is tall! (He found a shallow spot here)

Snow Baby!!

This is part of the creek in front of our house! 

While it was fun...it would be nice for it to hurry and melt (I don't think that will happen anytime soon) because they are calling for freezing rain Tuesday and another snow storm this weekend!!! :)  Anyone want to come visit?!!?