IKEA Love

So..my birthday is coming up.  A big one.  So we decided to take a small trip to the Big D.  To shop a little (although we have no more room for ANYthing!) for the house and to make some plans.

Plans for a sofa in this space out back...

Plans for Clay's room and bed and a new chair...

Plans for Mary Claire's bathroom...

Plans for medium gray shutters to cover some of the colorful brick..and dark stain for the front door and cedar trim.

But before we left..Ethan got to have a play date!  With Gabe, a friend from school.  They had fun riding bikes, making pizzas, playing with the geotrax, and lots of other toys.  He doesn't get to play with other kids as much lately.  With the moving and all.

And then I find out that this was Gabe's first play date.  He has diabetes like Mary Claire, so it's hard to let your child go away with another mommy.  I know a-l-l about that.  The scare of lows and highs and excitement and using more energy and all that.  But he did just fine.  Sweet boys.

Plans for more time for play dates...

Plans for the entryway..a table, mirror maybe?

Planning on standing here and seeing the morning sun come up as I wake up the kiddos for school : )

Plans for watching this sweet blankie-hugger grow up.

Peek-a-boo!  He just loves this old blankie of Ethan's.  It's his "Addy".

He has plans to put this chair in his new room..to read and play games. ; )

This is the CUTEST!  It's a toddler chair for the table, but it's like a high chair.  Did I mention cute?!

A FARM SINK for only $299.  A darn good deal.

Plans to put this somewhere.  For only $99!

Need a pair of these on the patio : )

Plans to buy tons of these!  20" feather pillow fillers for only 6.99.  Best deal I know.

Planning to buy some of these-wall shelves for 14.99.

Need these cute dividers for storage..maybe in Ethan's room? They are $119.  Pretty sure they were 4x4 boxes, but it was about 5' tall.

Planning for Mary Claire's room..  American Girl storage?

Second Best Deal.  Can I have a few?  Beautiful to display Lego creations on. ; )

This big unit with glass shelves is only $70!

These are great, and all for $89.  Yes, please.

They came in other colors..only $49 so planning on these too!

Or these for the bar!!

So..I consider myself pretty traditional, but I really like these!  They are 6.99 for two.  Please and thank you.

Drawer organizers.  Only 2.49.  Other stores, take a lesson.  This is amazing.

Clay says he wants this too.

Perfect for organizing the pantry.

Two for nightstands for Mary Claire's room?

Fuzzy picture, but he loved the little furniture!

I also visited Cost Plus World Market, but IKEA was still cheaper on dishes.

These would be gorgeous on my open shelves!

..and wouldn't these be adorable on there as well?  (Yes, get me a job for this year..I'm too busy spending)

Baby loved this kitchen..and the pots and pans!  So..we bought the pot set.  He is taking them EVERYwhere.  Seriously.  Still.

Who doesn't need glasses for 59 cents?!

Big kids both want a map.  Who can argue with kids that want a map?

Oh yeah.  Poolside. : )

Here again with his pot and lid.  Happy.

Oh and Target with the pot.

Lord, can I be happy with a little pot?

Let me be as easy to satisfy as this sweet angel.  No, I didn't buy all of the above.  I had no room in the van, and have no room in the house or storage!  But, yes, I love it all and had an amazing weekend!  We visited not only IKEA, but also Restoration Hardware, and Cost Plus World Market, Performance Bike, American Girl, and a few more.  We needed our Dallas fix. : )

Maybe I can decide exactly what is needed and go back in a couple months.  With a trailer! : )  if I get a job and can get off work..haha!! ; )
 

Bed Resting (& Shopping)

I write to you from Bed.  My big, comfy bed.  Yes, yes, I almost always write from my bed.  I gave up computing from my desk about the same time I switched to a laptop. ; )

But.  The reason I'm in bed this sunny (cold) Saturday is some bedrest. : (  I  had some horrible pain (ripping/stabbing about two inches below my belly button) strike me this week, and again Thursday night.  By Friday morning after some (bad) Google-time, I called my doctor's office.  They told me to come right in.  I waited around for Ches to get home from Mass (in Rogers), but it was taking soooo long, so I left.

They checked my abdominal muscles for hernia (no), cervix (closed), my fetal fibronectin (tells if you will go into labor in the next 7 days, negative), my blood (just trace bacteria they are culturing now), temperature (normal), urine (normal), and an ultrasound.  It was also "normal".  Carter is moving, good heart rate, he's up to 2 lbs. 4 oz, and his placenta does not seem to have pulled away from my uterus (the concern).  It's hard to determine for sure, but there is no pooling liquid (blood) behind it, so it's most likely fine.  When I told the ultrasound tech where the pain was, she checked, and there are his knees, all bunched up against my tummy, right below my belly button.  Umm..I'm telling you-the pain was nowhere near kicking/pushing pain-it felt like something was ripping.  So..

The doctor asked if I worked (paid job?  No.  Work really hard at home?  Yes.), and said then she couldn't tell me to quit.  She just said to go home and rest, and to come back Monday for a recheck.  Hopefully no more big pain (none yet), and lots of Downtime. (i.e. internet maternity/baby shopping, Kindle shopping/reading, visiting your blogs, Girl Scout cookie tallies, movie rentals, getting stuff ready to turn in for taxes..)  I know it's only been a day, but I think I could do it.  Even if it's lifted, I think I'll take it easy for the next few weeks.  All in the name of Healthy Baby. : )

So..shopping..I have now found a Beaba baby food maker that I must have (plus its accoutrements and recipe books).  I made all Clay's baby food (purees), and some of Mary Claire's.  Poor Ethan got boxed rice cereal and jar food.  I feel bad, so this baby shall get homemade food. (and Clay is such an amazing eater now!)  I just have to have all the cutesy stuff (I know, I did it with no tools last time..but the Beaba blends, steams, purees, defrosts all in one little unit.)  Magical. ; )

And I found the cutest little paci thing last week, a Wubbanub, and had to order it.  It was smaller than I thought it'd be-about the size of a small beanie baby (remember those?):

Ok, and please reassure me it is not a girl paci.  Ches promised it didn't look girly.

The pacifiers are the ones given out in the hospital, made by Avent (my fave), and now, they have these adorable little creatures sewn onto them, to help baby hold on to them!  We picked the lamb, so it wouldn't interfere so much with his clothes. ; )  The giraffe was cute, but so busy visually!  All the pictures on Amazon.com are of the babies cuddling the animal, holding on to it.  I don't think we'll try it right away to avoid nipple confusion, but by a couple months, we'll try it out.  I do love a paci at church. ; )  The only weird thing about these Soothie pacifiers..is you can see into baby's mouth when they are sucking since the nipple is hollow/uncovered.  Weird.  I also bought some orthodontic Avent pacis just in case he is not loving the lamb on his chest. ; )

I also found a baby bathtub and a swing that we'll need.  We can find the stretchy insert for Ethan's baby tub, but can't find the actual tub it fits into!  And..our swing (and our other baby gear for that matter!) had been loaned out so many times, it has really taken a beating.  Not to mention, that most of it is 11.5 years old.  (No, we won't discuss the fact that I'll have kids at Hunt Elementary for 17 years..we'll all be best friends!)  Anyway, the pack-n-play is still going strong, and our good baby furniture was a great investment.  And all those tiny onesies and baby Keds?  Still white and pretty perfect. ; )

Ok, obviously I have time on my side today..I'd better finish up all the linking (heehee, sorry!), and maybe finish one of my new books?

Hellllooo! : )

Hey, ya'll!  It has been busy, so I've been neglecting my little spot on the internet. ; )

Everything is good-I'm still healthy, baby Carter is still healthy..and we're at 26.5 weeks now!  Almost third trimester..a few days to go.  I'm feeling bigger and a little more awkward, but still trying to finish up his baby room.  I'm almost done. : )  I hung some stuff on the walls, painted an end table to go by the rocker, bought a box of diapers (!), and got more new burp rags (cloth diapers) washed so I can monogram them. ; )


Last weekend I went to Branson with my friend, Angie, and we shopped for baby clothes.  She'd just had surgery about two weeks before, so we both took it easy.  We'd never gone that slow or finished that early!  It was wonderful to have t-i-m-e.  We chalked it up to us both not trying on clothes.  I guess buying for ourselves really takes up a lot of time.  Huh.  I got the kids some spring/summer clothes, and a little bit for next winter (the sales were amazing!  I got Clay and Ethan Tommy Hilfiger jeans for 8.49 each!), plus some baby clothes and jammies for Carter.

And...I found a diaper bag!  I'd been looking for one online (since that is the most comfortable way to shop lately!), and had narrowed it down to a Petunia Picklebottom (Afternoon in Amsterdam) bag I'd found on Pottery Barn Kid's website.  I was pretty decided (and in possession of another 15% off coupon!), until this weekend.  I found a bag with -get this!- NiNE pockets!  I absolutely love to be organized, and this bag was calling my name.  It even matches the stroller, car seat (and his room, if that counts!) so much better than the PB taupe/gold I was loving on.  So, I got it.  It's all blue/turquoise/navy/silvery bronze, and totally goes with my bronze purse & wallet I'm carrying for winter.  So, I can slip in my wallet and still be all matchy for spring. ; )  Oh, and it was on sale, of course.  Cheaper than 'ole Petunia!  Wanna see a picture?

While I was gone, Ches registered both boys for spring baseball.  I know we'll be a little busy, but I hate for Clay to miss a season, if that is the sport he's liking the most.  He really enjoyed playing catcher, and as they get older, they have to narrow it to a sport (well, that's my requirement!  We can't do it all.)  And Ethan?  Wants to be like his brother, and Ches wants to coach his team again.  I think they are done with playoffs by the first of June, so we'll still have our summer free.

We are trying to decide if we can plan a summer vacation or not.  I keep getting the sale flights from Allegiant (our favorite for Orlando!) and AirTran-and there are some mighty good deals right now!  (We like to fly to Orlando when they have tickets $39 each way for each person..that's the best!)  But..we have no idea about Carter's temperment, or if we can drive to Ocean City, or if we'll need to fly.  I hate to miss a great deal, but I think it may be a last minute decision this year.  Or some place really close?

Ok, I should get these kiddos to bed!  Mary Claire is having a friend over, and all the kids are still up.  They have been watching High School Musical 3-even the boys! and mama is about to declare Bedtime.  I'm tired!

Hope you have a great weekend (and find some great sales too? Even today I got two pair of jammy pants at Target for $4.48 for Mary Claire, woohoo!)! ; )

Hollister, right outside Branson

Let's see..where did I leave off?  I had an amazing time in Branson, spent a day at the outlets, then a day down on the Landing. : )  Excellent girl-bonding time!  We adopted some friends a few years ago, and they live in Branson.  So..whenever we are there, we call them up and spend some time together!  We took Dina to lunch and did some shopping at a little purse/wallet/watch/jewelry boutique next door.  (It was overwhelming...even to me!)  It was full of stuff wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling!  And the colors..turquoise, orange, red, black and white, purple, leopard, and tons of silver.  A real girly-girl place...and they were getting ready for Christmas!  Ornaments and MORE color.

Down at the Landing we went to a bunch of stores that aren't at the Outlets (some of them are though, strangely enough).  And I checked out another "cool" store, at Dina's request.  Her son shops there, so she's in-the-know!  It was Hollister (please ignore the kissing couple on the website).  I know a million people already shop there, but I'd never been in.  I thought it was just a man's store, or for teens.  After all, the shopping bags look like Abercrombie, all chesty guys with low pants!  How on Earth could that be for ME?

But, aloha!! It was for me. ; )  It was first of all, Dark.  Second, it was 9 or 12 little rooms..trying to remember.  The employees (guys leaning on tables with no name tags looking "cool") couldn't leave their Rooms.  (hahaha!)  So, when I wanted to try a shirt that was on a mannequin, first he told me to check the back room (Sale).  Then, when nothing resembling the shirt I wanted was back there, I went back to His Room.  He yelled to the next room (over the super-loud music!) to ask someone else (Manager, maybe?) if he knew where a shirt was.  Let me tell you, it was a creamy white shirt with some ruffles and buttons.  They had a table full of about 8 designs of creamy white shirts.

Mangager Man came, and they looked all over.  (kinda funny that they work there, and don't know where stuff is!  Maybe it's because they aren't actually looking at the stuff in Other Rooms?  Or they are too busy looking cool to actually work?)  (And I have to tell you..there are two young guys parked in the big leather chairs in the entryway.  They.  Never.  Moved.  There when we went in, there when we came out.  Are they paid employees too?)

So..back to my shirt.  I finally found it..Myself!  (Yes, they are only paid to look like they are hanging out there.)  It was cute, and I found some shorts to go with it.  BUT you can't take accessories into the dressing area.  I had to come out, try on the belt (Braided is Back, BTW!!  Do you remember it from the late 80's, early 90's?  I had a homecoming date wear the matching braided Polo belt and braided suspenders in the Fall of 1988!)  Crazy!  Anyway, I took it off, went and tried another pair of shorts, and retried on the belt.  Weird rules.

Then.  The checkout.  We had gotten in a hurry since Angie's husband called to say that her dog had fallen down the stairs, and he might have broken his hip!  She had to get home fast (it was already 7pm!)  We found a Manager Man, and he came to ring us up.  I loved the smell in there so much...I bought the perfume at the counter.  It's very light, smells store-y, and very fresh.  Not musky, not too floral, but perfect.  I also got the little old-fashioned squeezy ball that mixes the perfume with air as it comes out.  It even wheezes a little. ; )  Very Audrey Hepburn.

I have to thank my friend, Leigh, for keeping me in the game.  I've had some really Off days lately.  Mary Claire is now in the school choir, and has to be at school at 7:30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Ethan has to be in Rogers by 7:55am (25 minutes north of here), and my van is getting the hail damage repaired, so we are sharing a van till Friday.  It means everyone leaves at the same time, so we are getting up really early!  We've also had boy and girl scouts, and the boys' baseball/t-ball teams are just starting up.  Overwhelmed yet?  Add to that the JDRF Walk (and tshirts!), planning a baby shower, I'm teaching PRE this year (helping my friend Tiffany with the First Communion class!), getting ready for our school's Husky Hoedown, and finish our Bible study's book group book (Come Be My Light, by Mother Teresa..she's SO humble, and begging to help the poor, and they won't let her yet-it's slow, but good reading)..none of it is too big, but all together = A Lot!  Trying to Keep Calm and Carry On.

And Mary Claire gets her braces off Thursday! and we see our endocrinologist on Friday! : )  Pray for a great a1c! : )

I have some other stuff brewing...but it's not time to talk about it yet. : )  We'll get there, slowly but surely.  God is good, and He hears my heart.  He knows I'm trying to take it day-by-day, and I'll make it.  I just have to keep my expectations lower (like Homer Simpson) so I can reach them easier ; ) haha!  ..I'm a virgo, it'll never happen.  Oh!  And my birthday is coming up, and it's a dilemma!  I have about 4 choices of what to do over Labor Day weekend, and do I:
a.) grow up and do what they want me to do on my day/weekend?
or
b.) enjoy my day and do what I want to do?

Growing up sux.
And to answer your question: Hollister is a real city just south of Branson, in Missouri!  So, I always thought it was stuff from Missouri, didn't know it was a Store. ; )
And to answer your other question: 38.


Sending you hugs!  (and S.W.A.K. mail!)  Hoping to get caught up on thank you notes today!! : )

Yelling and Whispering

Hey ya'll!  I'm coming to you L-i-V-E from...Branson, Missouri! : )

We've shopped till we dropped, and we've dropped at the hotel for the night.  We always take a shopping trip around my birthday..woohoo! : )  We found some good deals (Polo was 30% off the entire store, and then I had a coupon for 20% off my purchase ; )  Good thing..since Ches asked for 4 white polo shirts!!  What?...Yep.)  It's been a great day.  We also got to see our friends Dina and Sara who live here! : )


I've accepted that my kiddos are growing up..I made my maiden voyage into...Aeropostale!  The music was sooo loud-it was like being at a concert.  I actually had to yell at the employee and lean my ear to listen.  I wanted a size chart, and they didn't have one.  I had NEVER been in there, but heard from the "cousins" at the shore that it's a cool place to shop.  And it was, but there was a learning curve.  (for my fellow unexperienced Aero-shoppers, they only carry juniors sizes!) (so..your young child, 9 or 10-ish, will wear an X-Small, FYI).  I was totally asking if a Medium was 7-8 or 8-10.  They couldn't figure out what I was talking about...now I know why. ; ) haha, what an experience.

And tonight we went to the IMAX to see Tornado Alley.  It was not as emotional as I thought it'd be (especially seeing it with Angie, my friend from Joplin).  It brought up so many memories, both of tornadoes we've lived through, and the ones that have taken lives in ou lifetime.  They are still doing research to give us a 15-20 minute lead time to take shelter.  I'm thankful for the time and energy the TIV and VORTEX2 group has put in for our safety.  And thankful for the National Science Foundation for giving them a grant to continue their research.

and Tomorrow, more shopping! : )  I'm so thankful for our families, and the time they gift us with each year.  It's a restful, recharging, verbal catch-up : )  I love it, and need it.  I'm praying for you to have a recharging weekend too!  Call, visit, or email a friend and talk about your life.  Sometimes we have to share a whispered secret. ; )  ..maybe I'll share one with you?  heehee  Sending you big hugs! ; )

Prescription for Quiet

I don't like to use OMGosh, so I won't ...but what a couple days we've had!

On Friday, we were going in all directions.  I had an appointment at the new Premier Dermatology and spa (ahh-mazing decor..very beachy with silver!) for some treatment (we already had the talk, so I won't go there.  Second verse, same as the first!), and I got a new piece of furniture delivered!  Just beautiful.  I'll try to take a picture. ; )  It's the one I showed you a picture of back in early June I think?  Love it.  Very big though..I totally visualized inaccurately!  And now?  I need other new furniture..it's a cascading effect. : )


This weekend in Missouri and Arkansas it's Tax-Free Weekend on school supplies, clothes, and computers.  I was really going to skip out, but yesterday around noon...I decided I really should take advantage. ; )  A girl can't miss a sale.  We loaded up in the van, and went to Branson!  It's only a couple hours away, and it gave the stores a chance to thin out (along with the sizes..but that's another story).  Ches and the boys went to the movies, and Mary Claire and I went to shop!  We went so quickly through the stores.  (and I called my sweet friend, Dina, and we got to see her too!)  We got some new clothes for the kids, some shoes, and me a jacket (super cute with a neck ruffle..you'd have to see it!)

I've been so worn out-can't imagine why-and now I've lost my voice.  I was supposed to teach Children's Liturgy in church, but I had to tell the priest I couldn't talk. (and I couldn't talk to tell him.  Irony.)  I was really hoping to trade days with someone, but no one emailed me back! : (  I guess three hours before is not enough.  I wish I'd known yesterday that my voice was about to vanish.  The hardest?  Not being able to freak out when Ethan was using his bean-y napkin to wipe his face, to be able to talk at lunch, or explain things.  Apparently I talk a l-o-t...I'm really missing it!

And the next worst thing?  I went to the store to buy some Advil Cold and Sinus (since it clears up drainage after you forgot your Zyrtec for a few days..), and Get This.  You can't buy it without a prescription now!  That Sux.  I hate that we have all these meth makers that have ruined everyday life for the rest of us.  Now it requires a trip to your doctor, an extra copay, and my valuable time.  Pfffftth.

Glad I can type about it since I can't rail on about it aloud!!  Haha!

Saving Money and Tooth Fairy Money

Can I just say 18 times that I *love* my friends (and family and husband)? : ) 

Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends, Love my friends!
heehee, I think I like the number 18-my old post office box when I was growing up, my old phone number growing up (ended with 1818), the number of times I got parking tickets...just kidding! : )


Anyway, yesterday I was sitting in the floor folding clothes telling Ches that the kids needed spring clothes-you know, those clothes you wear between winter and summer (seriously-not sweaters, long sleeves, and closed-toe shoes, but not spaghetti straps and short shorts with sandals)  Like..capris that fold up and button, and short sleeves and little sweaters and stuff.  And..guess what my magical, perfect, God-chose-him-for-me-husband said?  Ok..guess!


"I think you need a trip to Branson."  (the most wonderful words he speaks..besides I love you, heehee)  I looked at him, and wholeheartedly agreed. ; )  He said I should go tomorrow (today!).  I said that sounded great! (Yipee!)


I cleaned the kids' closets all day yesterday pulling too-small clothes, and making Mary Claire try on scads of clothes to see if they'd make it another year.  She has a love/hate relationship with clothes (where I'm concerned)-she loves them, she hates to try them on.  Anyway, I made a list of what they needed, printed coupons, gathered mailed sale ads, and set my alarm.  I had to shower early, get the copies at the school made early, and head east (well, northeast!), since it's a two-hour drive.


I made great time, and got started.  I met a friend for lunch (the manager at Gymboree-we met years ago at Gap-literally, like maybe 8 or 9 years ago?  I don't even remember.  Anyway, she had this superbly awesome pen-a Bic fine point accountant pen..they used to have blue lids and a little silver clip, I'm assuming to clip to your shirt, haha!  Ok, so anyway, I made over her pen, and she gave it to me-so sweet! and helped me find my new favorite jeans that lasted almost five years.  She also sent me to find my next favorites..Lucky's! : )  We've been friends-and sharing our fave pens and clothes-ever since!)  Anyway, I shopped the day away, didn't bathroom break from 10:30am till 10pm, so I think I was busy. : )


They had AMAZiNG sales.  Really, I caught store sales, and I had printed out coupons for all of them, so in some stores I got 30-40% off the entire store, and then I had 20% off my entire purchase (Cha-ching!).  Really...in Tommy Hilfiger, Coach, Gap-it was awesome!


I guess you have to be flexible and plan around the sales.  And, I'm pretty flexible.  I can apparently plan and leave in a day's notice.  I did plan to be home by 4 or 4:30, but I move into a time machine in Gymboree, and it takes me hours to plan matching outfits, and if they don't have all my matching sizes, we have to call other stores to get stuff shipped to my house.  Fun stuff.


Okay, so I get home, the kids jump all over the bags, open and sort clothes, tell me what they like the best, we read bedtime stories (so glad I made it!) and then Clay tells me he's lost a tooth again! (I think this is the 14th)  Ches tells him it's his last, that the tooth fairy quits coming when you're ten.  He gets all sad (yes, I think he fully understands the Process), and I feel so sorry for him, give Ches the eye (but he did let me go shopping today..), and I tell Clay that he should just try it.


He asks to write the tooth fairy a letter, and disappears into my bedroom with the computer.  The next time I see him, he has a mistake-free (spell-proofed!) letter, edges scalloped with a punch, and the letter is so grown up.  When did he go and grow up on me?  In the last 20 minutes?


I took a picture, since sometimes the tooth fairy takes the tooth/letters since she was told to remove things a couple years ago. ; ) He went to bed with hope that she'd leave either a $5 or an Easter egg hunt help (umm..what?) for him.  I sure hope she doesn't let him down-he has big expectations.

Here is the text if you can't read it (since I am so tech-saavy I can copy from Word!):

Dear Tooth Fairy,

         This is my last tooth that I will have you handle. I am sincerely sorry, but your job is done for me. I wish you luck on your never-ending journey of taking children’s teeth, while giving them money. All Tooth Fairys started out in Europe, then came to America somehow. When I grow up, I may not believe in you. I will pass you on to my children and my grandchildren. I will always remember the  magic, and fun of the Tooth Fairy, meaning….. You!!

Sincerely,

                                                  Clay Jones

What to do.  What to do.  And he wants her to write him back. Cough, cough.

Shop Till You Drop

More..ShoPPiNG!  Today we got breakfast, and then were hard at it again.  Lots of hunting/gathering for our families-it's hard work (ok, and fun!).  We look for sales, use our coupons, print internet/email coupons and sales, and generally get great deals!
I found shirts at Carters for $3.99 that were 30% off (2.79) in the store, then at the end, we got to use our book coupon (10% off over $50), which made them $2.45!  If I had a camera, I'd show you my receipt-it is totally awesome!  It reads:
(3 sets) pajamas...$3.67 each
Corduroy pants.....$2.45
Active pants (wind pants)...$2.45
active pants.........$2.45
(2) shirts..............$1.83 each
playwear fall active....$3.06
single bib...........$1.22
fall toddler girl knit...$3.67
Ok, you get the idea!  I got 20 items for $77.01!  Isn't that amazing?  (yes, that's $3.85 an item, including tax.  Not Bad.)

I have had similar deals-including at Gymboree.  I got little girls' shirts for $3.99, then got to take off 15% off (if you spend over $75), and then 5% off with my Gymboree visa (making them $3.22 each).  I am buying clothes for a friend's children, so I'm looking for stuff on sale.  I have found the cutest stuff!  I'd love to show you pictures, but alas...camera problem again. : )  They just had a baby girl, and they had two girls and a boy already.  I just want to to get them some clothes to help out this spring-they'll be busy for a while!  (and...I like to buy little girl's clothes!)  I even found a hot pink dress at Carter's that had four layers of tulle at the bottom from the waist down..A-Dorable! (and it was...$3.67!).  Best Shopping Day this year! : ) heehee


We also got a deal at Stride Rite.  I got three pairs of shoes for $25, and Angie added a pair for $13, so we got a half price pair of Tommy Hilfiger plaid (Keds-type shoes) for $6.  So..we got to use our 25% off of $75 or more, S-C-O-R-E! : )  Adorable Easter shoes for Mary Claire, navy Tommy shoes for Clay, and khaki Tommy shoes for Ethan (well..that makes two pair!).


Ok, enough of my garbage-I got amazing deals (if they aren't amazing, I don't buy them!).
Did you get any amazing deals this weekend?  (Remember to shop in January for clearance winter and September for clearance summer-or that's when we go and get the best deals!).  We may have to start Sale Tours to the outlets, and show you how we get precious clothes for bargain prices! : )  It's called Planning.


Planning involves coupons, watching sales, having a list, measuring your kids before you leave (and I even make little foot cut-outs to slip into the shoes!), knowing what brands you like (the knees in Tommy jeans last the longest, and I can get them for $10-like today!), and having an attack plan-we shop one side of the outlet mall at a time, take our bags back to the van, and keep going.  We don't stop for dinner till 9pm when the mall closes, so we use our time wisely.  And, we get delirious, so we have the Most Fun together!  We make the sales people laugh, we are crazy!  (But we are totally Good Hunter/Gatherers!)
(and we got Hot Now's for our 7pm snack to sugar us up so we could make it till dinner!)  Can you tell I'm still sugared up?  And I didn't have Coke all day-till our dinner around 9:30pm, and only maybe 2 oz-I'm distancing myself-and growing increasingly fond of my favorite green tea from Panera! : )


WooHoo-Shop Til You Drop-not just from exhaustion, but from sheer fun: laughing till your sides ache, running around till you know all the sales associates on a first name basis (and go to lunch with them!), and till your car is full.  Lovely days in the sun.  Thank you, God!

Branson, Books, and a Birthday

I did indeed shop till I dropped on Friday!  My friend called me at 5am to see if I was leaving yet (ha!), and I told her I wasn't leaving till 7!  Once we talked for a while, I was awake, got around, and left town!  I was in Branson meeting her by 7:40.  It was the Best Sunrise and a great drive-there were no other cars, it was so peaceful.  I wanted to stop to take pictures of the sunrise, but I didn't want to take the time-Shopping was waiting!

We started at the sales that ended at 8, then 10, then 12.  That pretty much determined our path-they should get together and decided when to end based on location-it's total work to shlep from one side of the outlet mall to the other!  We did really well (40% off the entire Tommy Hilfiger store, plus an extra 25% off before 10am! and 50% off all of Banana Republic, got big jar Yankee Candles for $11 each, Bass shoes were buy 1, get 2 free and $20 off before 12, etc.).  I just love outlets.  I feel like I get more for my money-this is why I don't shop at the mall.  And it's nice to have the time-I Really Appreciate my husband understanding this need to hunt and gather!  I feel like it's my job to spend my husband's hard-earned money wisely. ; )


Saturday was a HUGE catch-up day: including no make-up and some deep (room) cleaning!  We worked on Mary Claire's room (to some pureNRG music!)-it was SO messy.  I only clean it for her 2-3 times a year, then she has to maintain it-very hard for her.  She loves to read and play, and it just gets out of hand.  She had dirty clothes in all kinds of places!  In her doll tub, dress-up basket, under her desk and bed, everywhere!  So that's where all her fall clothes had disappeared to.  We straightened up her desk, her dresser, closet, book shelves..I pulled about 2-3 bookshelves worth of picture books from her shelves and moved them to Ethan's room.  He hasn't read a lot of them, and it's his turn.  He inherited the twenty-something Arthur books, and all my old teaching picture books.  She'd even smuggled a few of his Curious George books into her room!
This meant I had to find room in his room for all the new books.  I had to clean out his armoire-So Hard.  I cleaned out baby blankets, onesies, old jammies, socks, crib sheets, waterproof liners, shoes, etc.  I allowed one tub of memories to pack, and the rest will go to someone else's house.  Ethan got to pick two blankets to keep, but there were so many!  I will say, it looks awful nice in there now.  I need to take pictures, because it won't last long!

Ahh..time for my first baby to turn the big 1-0.  I can't believe it's gone this fast-I always hear that, but it's true.  We had his birthday party a couple weeks ago for the new movie, Megamind, but tomorrow is the Real Thing.  He got to pick a restaurant for his birthday dinner, and he picked PF Changs.  He wanted to go today, since he has basketball practice tomorrow night (and he's going!), and didn't want to have to rush.  He's so grown up. : )  He was so cute-he kept asking about dessert-they like to get the little mini desserts-all chocolate!  I like that they don't have to share, and they all get the same amount! : )

Mary Claire wanted me to take her picture so she could use the Megamind app: it puts your face on Megamind's body, then it changes your look-hilarious!

Happy 10th Birthday, Clay!

And the wiggle worm!  He kept playing with the little boy behind us! (the Best reason to get a booth!) : )

Mmmm...dessert.  Chocolate Mousse.

Ches also ran into William-Sonoma to get me a set of pans that were (Very Much) on sale for me for Christmas.  No, I haven't looked at them, I just made a short Christmas list including pans, gloves, new tires, and some new curved-tip embroidery scissors.  I'm not real picky.  Sometimes I can be high-maintenance, but there's not that much I need! : )  I can't see buying junk for gifting purposes, it seems wasteful!  Especially when there are things I'd like to have, and I'd use!

Then we went to Target-I'm feeling lazy.  I got a gift card for Mary Claire's teacher, in case I don't get her anything made.  I'm not feeling crafty, even though I have so many new things to applique!  I think I'm still tired from Friday.  I went to bed last night after I read to Clay (a really good new book: My One Hundred Adventures by Polly Horvath), at about 8pm!  And today, I got a nap!  Such a good one, I was asleep when the crazy decision was made to let Mary Claire skip Girl Scouts for playing in her (clean) room!  She's decided she really likes it in there, so she didn't want to go, and Ches being so nice, said ok!  When I got up to go get her, I discovered she'd never left. : (  I guess we all need a break now and then, so I'll let it go.

We read more of the book tonight-and that girl (Jane) is positively adorable!  I like that she prays, and that she's a normal little girl, watching for signs that God is listening to her.  She does have adventures, and sometimes the chapters end with a surprise!  (most times, they do!)  Sometimes I know books for my kids are going to be good, or I've read them before, but this was a happy accident.  Such a joy!

Great weekend, and time with family.  We are blessed.
And now for Clay's real birthday tomorrow!  He's requested a breakfast birthday dinner since we did his eating-out birthday dinner today.  I'll try to make him happy! : )