Garage Sale!

Last night on my way home from Walmart, I noticed signs for a "HUGE Garage Sale Thurs ONLY". They got me. So, this morning, I drug Macie and Maris with me. Can't help it, its in my blood... love garage sales. Macie does too. ANYWAY.... Look what I got. It is a Kenner Family tree house. My FAVORITE toy as a kid. (Well pre-Barbie and Cabbage Patch of course). I about knocked Macie down when I saw it there on the sheet for $3. Ha! I bought Macie some annoying knock off Weeble Wobble one a couple of years ago, it just didn't compare. I have previously seen these on Ebay for TONS of money. If you have time and are so inclined, check it out. I looked on Ebay again tonite and there were listings of the complete set ranging from $10-$250 (buy it now price). I am curious to see how high the bids go on the $10 one. OK, I know, I'm crazy. Of course mine has no people and is missing a wall I think, but still. I HAD to have it. I thought I would see if Ebay had the people or furniture. The furniture was about $3-$15 a piece. And, the people were $15 each. So excited, had to post it on my blog! Macie and Maris got toys too. Macie got a talking Dora doll for 50 cents (that will probably see the Goodwill pile next week) and Maris got one of those round toys that you point the arrow at the animal and pull the string and it makes the animal sound... 50 cents. Tonite I saw signs for an ESTATE SALE nearby. I think I will hit it on the way to Maris's Dr aptmt tomorrow!!

Summer!

We are having a fun and busy summer so far. I don't think anyone has been too bored around here. We had a great week with Sara, Lily and Natalie. It was so fun having them here. I think we packed in as much as we possibly could. Lily and Macie had Nature School in the mornings and they played and played the rest of the time. We got the big slide out again and went to a water park. Sara took pictures. We talked, cooked, schemed. We bought fabric and made dresses for Lily and Macie. And, Sara and I even got a babysitter for the kids and snuck away for 1 1/2 hours to a lovely antique store in downtown Arlington. We had tons of fun and gathered some stuff for more projects!!

We are off to OK for 4th of July tonite or tomorrow. (Macie is throwing up today, so don't know when we will leave.... ugh, life with kids). I will be posting lots of picts of projects and the 4th soon.

The BirthdayParty!

Wow. It was crazy. Somehow there were a million kids at my house. And, it was the hottest most humid day of the year. But, it was fun. Again, more random pictures. I had to make the cake twice, b/c the first one looked like crap. We ended up buying a high dollar inflatable waterslide for the party (and to use all summer). I tried to get it on craiglist for 1/2 the price, but the lady was such a flake. I just couldn't make it work with her. She lived an hour away too. So, Target sold it to me for the previous week's sale price and I got 10% off by applying for the credit card. I love doing that. I got the best deal from GAP. And, currently I have $60 in credit at Pier 1.... but I digress...

So, we had the crazy slide which was a hit. But, the kids went crazy for the treasure hunt, too. That surprised me. I thought they wouldn't want to get off the slide. Katy drew a map for me, I tore it in 4 pieces. The first clue we snuck into the pool at the bottom of the slide inside of a plastic bottle. They read the first clue which told them where the 2nd piece was located and so on. Then, they put all 4 pieces together to make the map and locate the treasure. I filled this small treasure box with candy and trinkets. They attacked that thing! It was funny.

After the party, John and I tried out the slide. It was fun. It was a pain to take down and clean and our yard was a swamp afterwards. But, we plan to get it out once every week or two during the summer. I hope it holds up. We read some bad reviews.

Oh, and presents galore! Ha. But, she got some really great stuff. A lot of art things and puzzles and games and stuff. I am definitely going thru her toys and donating some. The girl has too much stuff!! I'll admit it, she's spoiled. Ugh.

Our Trip to OK

Here are some pictures just randomly thrown in cuz I don't know how else to do it. (Sara, you are going to help with that next week, right?) There were surprises all around. The first surprise, which I knew before we got there, is that my Dad has moved back from Korea. Yeah! The other surprise was 2 dirt bikes and a 4-wheel truck thing that we are calling a Kubota, even though it isn't. Anyway.... They were fun. I even tried the dirt bike. I used to ride them when I was little. No fear back then I guess. And, there was a new baby calf, born just 2 days before we got there. They call the mom "Dolly". See why? Poor Mama!

Some updates

Maris is eating and sleeping much better! She has taken to eating without her hands and just diving face forward into her plate. Macie and I thought this was so funny yesterday when she got mac and cheese stuck to her snotty nose. It was really funny when there were two noodles stuck there, but I couldn't grab the camera fast enough. Unfortunately, she likes to eat that way off the floor too. She will dump her snack out and then eat them off the floor like a dog. Ha! (I know, it's gross and I do stop her). I guess that is why we have ants and also why I won't spray with chemicals.... so we still have ants.

I finally decided on Macie's birthday. I don't know why I was having such a hard time. Finally, it all just came together in my head. Thanks for all the comments on the blog & otherwise. We are going to have the party at home and it is going to be Mermaid and Pirate theme because Macie wanted to invite boys this year. It will involve our fabulous fort in the backyard, that is very soon to have swings and maybe even a tire swing, and some kind of water fun. We are considering buying or renting a big water slide. Macie and I made the invites, modeled after some ideas I found online and in Parents mag. The invitation is on blue cardstock, cut with wave scissors & blue glitter paint on top. The bottom, we dipped in sand. Then, I mailed them in a paper bag. The invite said to bring the bag for the scavenger hunt. I stayed up til midnite working on that Mon nite. I thought it would be regular postage, but the grumpy lady at the PO told me it would be 59 cents. I had to use two ugly stamps, one of a pitcher and one of James Michener in a Hawain shirt. Ha! Oh well. Cost more to mail them that make them.

About the gifts..... This was a hard one. I am going to just let people bring gifts. And, I think I will wait until she is a little older to try the no gifts thing. I still think she doesn't need anything else. Our house is full of toys, and you know what her friends fight over when they come play? AN OLD BROKEN CELL PHONE! Don't donate your old phone or recycle it, send it to me so they will all have one. Ha!

Now, I have to go clean up the sand that Maris dumped out all over the desk and carpet. I know, I was stupid for bringing it in the house.

Macie is out of school for the summer. I am looking forward to summer and we have a few trips planned. But, I think I will be ready for kindergarten. Macie is so bored already!

Birthday Dilema

Ok, again, I don't know how many people read this regularly, but I need some input. Sara, I already talked to you about this, but am still having some problems deciding. We started having friend bday parties with Macie at age 3. She has had 2 really fun backyard splash pool parties. This year, we were planning on another at home party. Possibly pirate and princess themed so she could invite some of her friends who are boys. I really enjoy the home parties and making the cake and all that. But, for some reason am tempted to go somewhere this year. Macie told me this morning she wanted to go to the princess tea room place. This is where they get to jump in a bounce house, dress up, have nails painted, get their own tea and teapot and cakes and cookies. You pay someone to do all that stuff. Problem is, I would have to limit the invitees cuz its pricey. This is probably the last year she will want to dress up like this. So, what do you think.... at home or fancy pants tea room? I really never thought I would go somewhere for a party, esp a place like that. But, really, I do end up spending a lot of money and definitely a lot of time getting favors and decorations and making the cake and decorating the house and cleaning up the house......

Next issue: Gifts. I really have been thinking that I want to request no gifts or donations to a charity. Macie wasn't too hot on the idea when I mentioned it once. Should I push it or wait until she is older? (For Maris, I think I will definitely start earlier, but Macie has had and has been to too many parties and seen all the gifts galore). Ok, any input would be appreciated.

Mothers Day

I had to share these things:

Macie made a Mothers Day card for me at school. It was a Mad Lib-style form letter and here is what it said:

All About My Mom by Macie:

My Mom's name is Stephanie. She is 37 years old, has brown hair and brownish greenish eyes. If my mom gets to go out to eat, she wants to go to Burger King and she likes to be with the family. Mom spends most of her time cleaning the house and her hobby is playing with me and maris in the bathtub. She would love to take a vacation to everywhere. The best thing my mom does for me is put me to bed.

Hee hee. By the way, I hate Burger King. She said she couldn't think of anything. But, I would like to go on vacation everywhere.

These pictures are of some more flowers Macie picked for me. She LOVES picking flowers. This little vase is a tiny syrup bottle from Cracker Barrell. My grandma was visiting last week and it was her idea. It is so cute and PERFECT for the tiny flowers Macie finds. And, what a great reason to go to Cracker Barrell and order the pecan pancakes! (You get a glimpse of my new kitchen in this picture too. I am currently making curtains, then I will take a picture. My mom helped me get started... I may never finish). The other picture is of some dead magnolia tree leaves. Our neighbor has a magnolia tree and Macie is always picking them up and making a bouquet out of them. This time, we brought them in and put them in a vase. Add some rocks from the front yard and its not a bad look.

Some day I am going to figure out how to make my blog look nice. Maybe when Sara comes to visit...... I have no idea where these pictures are going to come up on here. Anyway, one more thing to share. Last Saturday, I bought myself a mothers day gift. Maybe I will take a picture of it. But, it is two interlocking rings, one says Macie, the other Maris. I first saw the idea here at nelle & lizzy. But, I saw that a lady was selling them here locally and was engraving while you wait. So, got me one.

And, finally, I am adding the picture of Maris cuz I think it's funny. She is walking around the kitchen with a bag of Pirates Booty. Maybe that's why she doesn't eat dinner...... (actually she is getting much better)