Retail Therapy

It's been a long while since I've been shopping alone. The hubby and I did a lot of spring/summer clothes shopping for our 3 kiddos with tax return monies. We weren't able to get much for our littlest because she is growing like a weed!

As you've read her birthday is coming up. I've been having fun focusing some shopping efforts toward her. (who doesn't LOVE to shop for little girl clothes?)

Since the hubs is gone, and today is payday, and I survived week #1 alone, I treated myself tonight. I took myself on a date.

First stop was the PX to get money from the bank there since it was after regular hours. Of course I wandered. I found a dress for Jace I had carried around last time I was there but couldn't buy... it was just too much... on clearance! Yahoo! I found a shirt for each boy on clearance for under $4! I found myself two pairs of shoes, only one was on clearance. The others are my summer staples, a good pair of dark brown leather flip flops. I live in them. They are a worthy investment.

My next stop was Target. Oh, how I heart Target! I love it the most when I'm all alone. I was there for two hours. Yes, TWO! It was wonderful! There were the things I needed, shampoo, paper towels, laundry soap (I don't heart laundry), paper plates, ziplocks.... you get the idea. I gathered those up first so I wouldn't forget. Then I hit the clearance racks in the toddler girl section. SCORE! Those little red price stickers get me every time! I'm a sucker for a red sticker I guess. I gathered up all the things I loved, then narrowed it down later. I also had to get a birthday gift. Let me say I'm much better at girl gifts than boy ones.

On my way to my last stop, I made a phone call. I had to check on the boogers to make sure they were good and had gotten their chores done. They said they were. SO.... I headed to Cold Stone! Really the cheapest way for us to eat there is the big family size bucket for $10. So I brought that home to them.

I sent the kids to bed after their treat and some snuggle time. Then I flipped on the puter and rounded out my shopping day with a few secret online purchases. More on them to come- I promise!

I put the dogs to bed (almost as much work as the kids) and now I'm sitting here looking at an ever growing pile of laundry on my couch. It's size is making it harder and harder to ignore.I'm also looking at the pile of new clothes for Jace and can hear my bow room calling my name.... tough choices I tell you. Just being honest!

But all in all I had a great day. I've needed this day! I wish it hadn't cost so much, but I did really well finding good bargains. I mean here is a little example:
for $50.00 I got Jace a new leotard for ballet, two new dresses, four cute cute tops, and two pairs of shorts. That's a little over $5 an item.

California- Here we come!

Well.... not for a few more weeks! I am just starting to really put things together and figure out what we will do while we are there.

#1 on my list is to visit and relax. Important parts of vacationing!

#2 Sightsee.... on an budget!

# Have a party!

There are certain things one must do while in California. They are things I think I took for granted because I lived there my whole life. Having been gone for so long, I miss them! Things like the beach and San Francisco.

So! On my list so far:

A trip to the beach, with friends! Who ever wants to come. It will just be a day trip, with picnics. I'm still trying to chose between half moon bay and santa cruz. I'm thinking the kids might really enjoy the board walk, but I might not enjoy hearing them whine when I tell them I'm not paying for rides, toys, crap.... you get the point!? So right now halfmoon bay is winning, and I love going to the tide pools there!

A night in San Francisco. I found a wonderfull hotel, the Marine Memorial Hotel. Long story short, because we are active duty military it is only $69/night! It's right in Union Square, and has cheap parking(well-cheap for SF). In order to keep costs down for this one, we will be doing more things like sightseeing, instead of lots of activities. Ofcourse we will ride a cable car, and see China town, Fisherman's Wharf, Peir 39.... and if I can find cheap enought tickets (doubtful) we might try alcatraz. The hotel offers a free breakfast, a real one, and we can have ff for lunch, maybe a nice dinner? It will be a blast, on still on a budget!

Old timing it in Cloumbia. Have you ever mined for gold? I have, my kids haven't. It is such a fun old gold rush town. It has big rocks to climb, and plenty of cute little shops to explore.

A BBQ at home! Again, all friends and family will be invited to come and visit. We need to work on the details of this one, but it is sure to be a fun time!

So that's it. All in two weeks. With three kids, by myself. A 12-14 hour car ride down and back. crazy? Umm.... hummmm.

fanciest invites!

When I chose fancy nancy... I mean when I convinced Jace.... when she decided she'd like a Fancy Nancy Party for her birthday I was excited!

But this is her party, so I wanted to really involve her as much as possible. This is kinda hard for me to give up controll. I even let her pick the colors for her invites!



Imagine my delight when she chose, pink, black, and sparklies. That I could totally do!



I busted out the Fancy Nancy Fanciest Words Vocabulary book and got to work on the wording of the invites using as many fancy words as I could fit on the page!



*I also experienced every crafters dream while shopping for the materials to make them with my hubby- He said he LOVES that I am crafty and like to make such nice things* (I KNOW!)

Incase you can't read it.... it says:

You are invited to

A Fancy Soirée

To Celebrate

Jacey’s 4th Birthday!

On Sat, May 15th

Please come dressed in your most posh attire.

We will have parfaits and glamorous manicures, along with other fancy things.

2-4pm at Jacey’s home.

Repondez s’il vous plait

I have purchased a few fun 'accessories' like boas and sunglasses, and am starting on something special for their hair. More pics to come I'm sure!

Rambling

I'm sure this post will end up all over the place! Warning in advance is always nice right?

I went back to the doctor today and long story short I still have no answers. Instead I have more questions, more tests, more waiting. I spent most of my day at the hospital. I think the only thing that makes this bearable is having plenty of people to talk with and complain to! Thanks to all of you!

Lately my house is overwhelming to me! I'm so tired and it seems like an impossible task to keep it up. I'm not even talking like "clean" clean... I can't even seem to keep i picked up! If someone came to my house right now i'd be super embarrassed. I cleaned the downstairs yesterday.... you'd NEVER know! I really wish I could feel on top of it again. I'm really going to try. Really. The hard part is to still be a decent Mom in the process.

In order to keep the house decent the kids have to not be such huge slobs, and I have to stay on their case to keep them in line. Then I feel like I'm just barking orders, and yelling. Then I get crabby. I really think it is easier to let the house be messy. But it drives me crazy!

I'm not cooking tonight. I'm cleaning instead. I don't see the point in cleaning my kitchen just to cook in it 5 min's later. Not tonight. Not when I'm this tired, and crabby. Definately a night to eat out.

Okay! I'm sparing you!

I've decided maybe not all of you enjoy reading my many posts about the dog(s). Yes Rocky is visiting for 2 weeks.

I'm starting a new blog. All about the dogs. And their naughtiness!

Enjoy!

Duke Did
dukedid.blogspot.com

The Dog

Last week Duke ate one of Gavin's adderall. I had to watch him like a hawk all day to make sure his little heart kept beating and didn't explode.

A few days ago he chewwed through the printer cable. Lucky for my I had printed out Jacey's invites earlier that morning.

TODAY.... stupid Dog fell! We keep a gate at the bottom of the stairs to keep him contained and better supervised. It also gives the cat a safe place to be and keeps the dog from playing in the litter box.

Jace went upstairs and Duke wished to follow. He was mid climb and fell. He rolled onto his back and was yelping and crying like crazy. He stayed that way for a few minutes. He wouldn't use his left front paw at all, and yelped with every hobble.

I've waited an hour. He is no longer yelping or crying, but is still limping. I don't think it's broken. I'll wait another hour. Rocky is coming this afternoon. If he is still not able to run and play we'll head to the vet.