Saturday, May 19, 2012

The Week that Was...

It's been quite a week since my perfect, super calm, non dramatic, did I mention perfect Mother's Day.

No really - my Mother's Day was absolutely wonderful.  The hubby got me a card (and actually signed it this year) and my favorite gift:  Money.  I told the kids that their gift to me was to take a long nap.  They bought it and they did just that. 

Now, at work I have this little toy that sits next to my computer - it came from a Happy Meal and it has two buttons:  When you push one it says "Yaaaaaayyyy!"  and if you push the other button it says "Booooo!" I need to find another one that can go in my purse, because if any week warranted a few Yay's and a few Boo's, it would have been this one.

Monday:

Monday was appointment day for us.  We had B's four year well visit (with no shots) in the morning and then preschool screening in the afternoon.  Grandma and Grandpa had Em for the day so it was just the two of us.  My boy was over 42 Inches tall and weighed 39 pounds.  In the afternoon I took him to his new preschool for screening.  He did great, except for the following things:

1.  He refused to copy shapes.  Just flat out refused.
2.  He cannot hop for 5 seconds on either foot.  He could stand on one - just not hop.  Oh well - they let him in anyways :)

Monday = Yay!!!!!!  


Tuesday:

Tuesday was B's actual birthday.  I took the day off of work because that's one thing I promised myself I would always do.  As a working mom, I am completely aware that I've missed some pretty important things.  And it sucks, however from the day he was born I made a promise to him and any future children that they would A.  Have some kick ass birthday parties and B.  Have my full attention on the actual day of their birth. 

We partied hard on Saturday at the park with a "Messy Birthday Party".  I filled his room up with balloons Monday night after he went to sleep.  They eventually made there way to the living room which was perfectly fine.  I downloaded all of the new games he got on his new video game thing he got for his birthday.  I made him his favorite breakfast.  We went to see The Avengers and we came home and made pizzas and ate cake.  It was a great, great day. 

Tuesday = Yay!!!!!


Wednesday:

Wednesday was my first day back to work from a 4 days off.  It wasn't so bad - I only had 12 voicemails and 505 emails to catch up on.  It wasn't really that bad, but the day was prety uneventful.

Wednesday:  Yay!!!!!! For being uneventful and Boo!!!!!! for having to go back to work!

Thursday:

Thursday came in two parts.  First of all, we bought a new truck which we got to pick up later in the evening.  It was supposed to take an hour.  It took more like 3.  Oh well, it's nice, my husband is happy and we all love it.

So - Part one Thursday = Yay!!!!

Part two (which actually came before Part One) was when Em (who is 2) broke her wrist in two places.  It's in a splint now - it's getting casted on Monday.  A long story short, she was standing on a chair looking at our fish tank.  (Sometimes it sucks being extra short).  She turned around and fell off and landed just right (or wrong) and broke her wrist.  My husband felt like crap because it was on his watch.  But it could have happened to anyone.  Last week she was standing on the same chair playing with her brothers legos, while I was cooking dinner and she fell off.  I was lucky in that she didn't break anything.  I (along with anyone else that knows our family) would have placed money that B would be the one that would have broken the first bone - go figure.  As I said, we're casting on Monday.  And that cast is going to be bedazzled out the wazoo.  No daughter of mine will have a plain cast.  On a side note - she calls the splint her "puppet".  It's pretty dang cute!

Part Two Thursday = Boooo!!!!!



Friday:

Friday we celebrated my dad's retirement with a big bash in my sisters and cousins backyard (they live next door to each other).  I don't have any pictures but it was fun - I love a good party - especially one that celebrates not having to go to work anymore. 

Friday = Yay!!!!!!!! 

Saturday:

We did nothing today and it was beautiful.  I took a nap and I had a 50% success rate with getting my kids to take a nap.  My husband went and picked up dinner for us so I wouldn't have to cook.  I pinned on pinterest, laundered the laundry, and played some Legos.  I watched Finding Nemo with my kids.  And I put them to bed - they are both fast asleep.  My treat for the week? See below.  I'm ending Saturday with a 100%:  Yay!!!!!!!

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Garage Sale Survival 101

Hey friends!  Sorry it's been a while (yet again!)  I'm beginning to really take notice just how busy we truly are.  I don't think we had any sort of down time until today - and looking at our calendar for the next 3 months....it's only going to get worse busier.  Oh well - I will continue to write when I can and post when I don't fall asleep before 11!

Today, in our little community, was the big City Wide Garage Sale.  Every year, the first full weekend in May, hundred of families join forces, set all their crap in their drive way, and try to sell it.  Some sell their stuff for next to nothing (we like those people.)  Some try to sell their junk stuff for a small fortune.  We don't like those people.  Now,  we have lived in this small town for a little over 5 years.  I can say with 100% certainty that I have never been out on City Wide Garage Sale Saturday....I had a garage sale a couple of times, but never went out myself.  And for good reason, I'm not big on the massive amounts of traffic this time of year brings to our normally not busy streets.  I'm not big on sweating.  And I'm not big on hauling around two toddlers in and out of the car.  Normally, we wouldn't go, but recently Brayden (almost 4) has taken a serious interest in garage sales.  It may be because we've been watching endless marathons of Storage Wars.  It may be because he will end up being on hoarders some day.  It may be that he inherited some of his Great Grandpa Beasley's genes (he loved to go garage sales on a nearly daily basis.  It may even be that his Grandparents have rubbed off on him.  Whatever the reason - I told him we would get out this morning and go to a bunch of garage sales and that we did!

He was mad because he left his cup inside.  (P.S. - I went in and got it)

She was happy - because she had a dress on, pink sunglasses, and lip stick.  (Calm down - it was just chap stick)


I admit, I had second thoughts about going after I felt how flippin' hot it was outside.  I promised though and Brayden was SO excited.  I should not, could not, and would not disappoint.  So we went - and had SO much fun together.  And with that I present my survival guide for going to garage sales.

DO bring cups, filled cups and Don't forget yourself!  And extra water.  As I mentioned earlier, it was hotter than Heck outside.  And between the heat, walking around, and getting in and out of the car - the kids needed liquid.

DO bring cash/DON'T bring big bills.  People don't like to take checks and as a rule don't take credit cards.  There is nothing worse than paying with a $50 bill for 75 cents worth of goods.  We got our money from the grocery store and asked for small bills.  People like small bills.

DO expect for your kids to embarrass you.  Brayden saw a big, scruffy guy sitting on a couch at one house.  And he yells "Yikes!  There's a big, scary, monster!"  Of course it was loud enough for everyone to hear.   And Brayden also asked every house we went to if he could come inside and look.  (Don't ask me why - because I have NO idea.)

DO set a time limit.  Unless the weather is perfect and you know a bunch of people that can end up being potential bathroom stops, don't keep the kiddos out all day.  We left the house at 9 - and we were back (with some good deals and lunch) by Noon.  

DO bring a stroller if your younger child is under the age of 2.  Brayden is perfect walking around by himself.  Emma likes to run - so it was easier for her to ride.   If my husband were writing this he would say Don't bring a stroller.  He doesn't know what he's talking about though :)

DO check out if any local churches or organizations are doing some sort of snack bar.  We did just that and it bought us an extra 3 sales.    We bought two cupcakes and a diet coke.  Were the cupcakes messy?  Yep, but it kept the kids occupied for the last few houses we went to.  (The Diet Coke was for me)

DO jump on a good deal.  After several of so-so sales, we landed on a gold mine.  They had Brayden's size and Emma's size for 50 cents a piece.  All name brand, all hardly worn,  way cute stuff for next to nothing.  I bought 3 stuffed bags of clothes and a talking Eeyore for my new little niece who should be born any day now!  Don't give up - we didn't find this sale until the next to the last house we went to.  We were finding nothing but junk before that one.


I can't state enough - my babies were so good today.  Emma has always been a good shopper, but Brayden - that child didn't beg, kept up with the walking, and was just a doll the entire time (except for the embarrassing parts - but I've come to expect those).  Today was a good great day. 

Do you garage sale?  Do you have them or just go to them?  What are your tips and tricks for holding  the best sale or finding the best deals?