Treasure Hunting

I love finding good deals. I have been getting excited for spring because that means garage and yard sales. So I felt like I hit the jackpot today when I went to good will and found a mint condition pottery barn kids kitchen cupboard. Not even a scratch, and I paid $19. I also got two huge bags of Lego's for $4, and a few other great items. I have been on a thrifty find high all day, wahoo!!! Squid loves the kitchen and it goes perfectly with the Velcro fake food she got for her birthday. She played with it all afternoon. I think it is so much funner to find a deal or make something yourself. I get so much more satisfaction from something if I have some emotional investment. Its also pretty satisfying to take something that someone thought was junk and turn it into something beautiful. It is pretty crazy the things you can do.

the little one is turning three today...

Squid woke up a little bit like a T-rex today on her fabulous birthday. I think she stayed up too late last night, most likely the culprit. Anyhow, we had a little tea party planned with just a few of her little play friends in the neighborhood. We wanted it pretty small and quiet so the girls could just play and pretend. Two of her friends came and two were sick. I had made them little skirts out of toole and ribbon, and a flower head band to tie around their hair. Squid refused to wear her skirt or headband because Trex was still hanging around, but hey what do you do.
So I finished making the cake just in time to cut it up. Its pretty hard to cut up a cake you spent time on, but its gotta happen. I had way too much fun making the cake.
So we played musical chairs for a game, and the girls really like that. It was fake musical chairs because a chair was never taken out. I got the heads up from my friend Rochelle that small children don't react well to getting out. They didn't know the difference, and they were still excited. Thanks for the tip Rochelle. We sang some songs and they played with the toys and that was the party.

garbage day

So it doesn't happen every week, but maybe every other week. I am lying in bed, but still slightly awake after the hubby leaves for work. In a half comatose state I hear the garbage truck rumbling house to house. I remember that the trash can is still on the side of the house. So I jump up throw on some pants a jacket and whatever shoes are by the front door and run to beat the truck. Today was that day, I have yet to miss the garbage truck. Knock on wood. At this point I only dream of being on the ball and remembering on wed. night and not Thursday morning. Ha, and then at six a.m. I would still be dreaming.
I am sure no one else has this problem of momnesia, forgetfulness brought on by being a mom, ha ha. See you can blame everything on someone else. It is the babies fault I forgot to take out the trash. . . hmmm. . .

Toy Box, Toy Box, Oh how you taunt me!!

So We have this toy box that holds everything that doesn't have a current home. Or everything you don't know where to put. Let's just say its the Junk drawer of the Playroom. Hmmmm... so today I took it on. It has been staring and taunting me every time I walk out my bedroom door. There it sits oozing a pile of toys needing to be sorted and donated or thrown away.
The only problem with taking this on is that the owners of the alleged items are lurking and waiting to pounce on any toy that might need to be saved. Not only that, it is toys that they haven't seen for ages, so they are so excited to find their long lost love. .......
Rule #1- Don't ever clean the toy box with children present.
Rule #2- Don't ever let a child see you dispose of a toy.
Rule #3- If they don't see it again, they won't remember ever having it.
Rule #4- If you are crazy enough to do it in the presence of children, don't disclose the destination of the different piles.

H is our fashion guru

Regardless of what it may look like, H can be very picky about what he chooses to wear. So when he brought me his red plaid shirt and asked if he could wear it, I assumed that is was instead of what he was already currently wearing. Ya, I was obviously wrong. He was so proud of himself and that he buttoned it all by himself, How could I deny him his chosen outfit for the day. He is lovely isn't he. Let us pay particular attention to which button is buttoned to what shirt. . . hmmmm. He is my tender teddy bear.
After four kids I am obviously losing the clothing battle, and perfectly okay with it. If they are happy with what apparel they are dawning, then so am I. I do have my occasional gentle persuasions, but like on Sunday when H wanted to wear his tie even though he was not wearing a white shirt. . . His polo shirt(white and blue) looked fab with his yellow striped tie. I wasn't up for a battle. I chose Peace.

so Just click on this and check it out

http://kuvaton.com/kuvei/loading.jpg


This totally reminds me of my Dad, not that he ever did this, But a large part of my life was watching him on a backhoe working on a job site. And I have seen him in some precarious situations on a backhoe.

Trampoline flashback

So it has been quite rainy, meaning the grass is soggy. I have been worn out telling the kids to remove shoes when they come back in covered in mud. And currently the only attraction in the backyard is our little trampoline. So I moved the tramp next to the backdoor stoop so the kids can skip walking on the muddy grass. Is it safe? . . . probably not.
But it threw me back to when I was a kid and we were living in "Hill's House".(we moved alot so we usually refer to a house by who moved in after us) We had the tramp butted up to the kitchen door. So we could just jump right out the door. Funny thing, all I ever remember about that tramp is when Quinn fell on his back and had his head stuck between the springs. Mom was in doing cub scouts, and Quinn was yelling for help.
The world has definitely changed from the days of no trampoline enclosures, and no car seats. I distinctly remember as a kid riding behind the seat in the storage area of a black El Camino, ha ha. Those were the days. . . care free. I always have grand visions of giving my kids the childhood I had, but we don't live in the middle of nowhere so we will have to think of something else, hehehe