11 ways we're saving money and the environment

I'd thought I'd share some of the things Russ and I are up to as far as our goals for saving the environment and money this year. Okay, so an odd thing to post about after just telling you about my new van, but still...
Living in Washington has brought more of the green out in us.

1. Replacing paper napkins and towels with cloth napkins and towels.
2. Using reusable grocery bags (and the savings comes in because the store will give us $.06 for every bag reused.
3. Washing and reusing ziploc baggies.
4. Washing and reusing aluminum foil.
5. Buying in bulk.
6. Replacing regular light bulbs with CFL's as they burn out.
7. Teaching our children not to waste electricity and water.
8. Using the Keeper
9. Buying used clothes (not that this is new to us)
10. Walking and biking whenever possible.
11. Using 100% recycled toilet paper (made from recycled regular paper)

Our new van!

Okay, not so new. In fact it's a 2000 Oldsmobile Sillouette. But it was kept very well and I love it. It's so good to finally have more room, and to say goodbye to the ugly gold wagon. The picture was taken on a very unusually sunny winter day. It was a nice break from the gloomy rainy Washington winter.

Ammon's Birthday

We had a very fun and successful pirate party for Ammon's 6th birthday. He had been looking forward to (and by "looking forward to," I mean obsessing over, talking about nothing else, and acting like a pirate maniac) his birthday party for a couple of months, and had been collecting anything that he thought was pirate-ish in a box. We made it a boys-only party, only because I had to limit the number of people he could invite, and that seemed like a good way. We had a treasure hunt, pinata, made personal pizzas, made balloon swords, and had skeleton cupcakes. It was fun, but we have decided that our kids are only going to get a party with friends every other year. On the odd years they will get to go out to dinner and get a bigger present. Ammon's present from us this year was getting to make a set of stilts with Russ. He loves them almost as much as his pogo stick, and I'm sure will soon be getting good at using them.

My little performer

My little BJ discovered the microphone on this little fisher price cassette player. He loves to stick it in his mouth and "ooooooo" and hear his voice magnified. He does it consistently every time I give him the toy. There is even a button on the microphone you have to push to make it work, and the way he holds it usually pushes it.

I have a lot more to blog about but this will have to do for now until I have time to get more pictures loaded.

Christmas Pics

The traditional hanging our new ornaments on Christmas Eve.

Somehow I haven't even found time to post pictures from Christmas yet.

We had a good quiet Christmas for the most part. No stress, except for BJ not sleeping Christmas Eve night. I tried to go back to sleep in the morning by telling the kids they could go open their stockings. It worked until I heard Sissy saying expressively "OOOh, baby's pacifiers!" Oops, wrong stocking. But we had a relaxing day and the kids have been pretty occupied with their new toys all week.

We are now busy looking for a new car. And getting ready for Ammon's birthday party. It has been quite exhausting, but fun. I feel really blessed. Our family is healthy and well. My heart and prayers go out to my friend Sasha and her family-- she was just diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma. I cry when I think about it, and pray for a miracle. I will write more later. If I don't get this posted now it just won't ever happen. (It's taken a couple weeks to get this far.)