Free stuff rocks, until sometimes it doesn't

When summer comes to our apartment complex many people move out, and this year our whole strip of townhouses was vacated, minus us of course. We got a free weber charcoal grill out of it, some alcohol bottles that were never opened came our way, and then we saw a mattress propped next to the dumpster so we decided to go for it. Our mattress is 10+ years, covered in baby urine, it dips in certain spots, there are coffee stains, and well, it is old. This mattress was white and the people who left it had only lived here for one year so it was new. Score!  Not wanting to rush into anything we propped it up in our entryway to see if it stunk or if there was stuff growing on it. After a week we thought-ok nice. So then we moved it to the middle of the living room to see if it was comfortable. The boys decided to test out the jump ability of it by using it as a trampoline, wrestling ring, and floor mat for dives off the couch. After all three boys played on it all morning it was time for naps. When Luke woke up he was complaining about his belly hurting, not a stomach ache but the skin hurting. Hmm...  I had him take off his clothes and there was a massive head to toe rash with welts. I checked out the other boys and nothing. Luke's skin is by far the most sensitive, he gets cold sores, rashes, welts, and hives quite often. Thinking over what we had eaten and played with the only new or different thing was the mattress! So while it was a lovely thought that we might get a newish mattress for free, it was not meant to be. Pete and Jack took it back to the dumpster.

Meg has decided that this week will be her week to accomplish quite a lot in life. She has the very tips of her first two teeth poking through the gum, she has learned to scoot, has started to eat rice cereal, and she can get herself into a sitting position.  Side note, the pink ball behind her-free because we found it on campus and there were no other kids around so we took it.

Thomas and Luke were sent outside to play today. They were not happy about it. Can't we just watch tv? Fine, I will just sit in bed. I want to eat. I forced them out. I gave them bowls with water, I gave them hulk fists, I gave them nerf dart guns, and I gave them little wooden catapults. After much pouting Luke and Thomas went for the wooden catapults. They are a little difficult to use and Luke quit almost immediately.  Thomas stuck with it. With just a little guidance from me, he figured it out and was pumped every time he launched one of the tiny bean bags. Of course, I heard him mutter, stupid toy, every time he didn't get it. He is so funny.

Luke decided he was going to use the hula hoop, another free thing we got when people moved away. He had fun getting it to go around once, and wasn't too bothered when that was the only time it didn't fall straight to the ground.

While at granny's we took the training wheels off of Jack's bike. This didn't go over too well, but I told him they weren't going back on. So today we will try again. Hopefully soon I can say he has it mastered. He and Luke both do Tae Kwon Do, and at this point Jack is the one who really loves it. He got his sparring gear recently and is now able to actually participate in the second half of class. He gets to spare with everyone- which means even 1st and 2nd degree black belts who are over twice his size. He can't always get the kicks or the hits in, but one thing everyone has said about him is that he is unshakable and persistent. The smallest boy in the class with the lowest belt rank and he is unyielding in his position and will often back his opponent into the corner.

Oh, and while at G and P's, Jack was given the task of using the punk to light fireworks. He loved it! I was nervous, but he did a good job. The boys also went blueberry picking. Luke learned that he loves frozen blueberries and refuses to eat them any other way.

I am trying to get Meg interested in the mother/daughter selfie, but she isn't very interested. She likes to be solo in her pictures.