Phoning it in- May- July edition (with bold and italics...living on the edge here)

 

Ok, ok ok...

 

I need to catch you up on the randomness of that which is my life.

 

 

So- baseball league for A.

 

I parked where I did- because there was room for about 1.5 cars when I pulled up.

 

I thought "hey!!!  this time I won't get parked in!!!"

 

Yeah...some moron decided that was a good parking spot.

 

Moron.

 

(my PARKED IN van is the one with the door open)

 

 

 

 

 

ambidextrous baby girl.

 

Waiting for the doctor to come in for well-child check up.

And then shots.

I hate shots.

 

 

This is what happens when this crazy toddler of mine finds the marker stash.

I should always know to double check when I hear her say

"colour papah"

 

 

 

Oh, Kate.

 

MOPS Steering Team retreat.

I sat next to her during this session

and had the pleasure of witnessing her snack.

Mind you, all three items were served in separate bowls.

 

I can tell you that I reached over with my (clean) hands and mixed it all up.

 

More than once.

 

 

 

Hottie boy Dave

 

Stylin' the sun hat.

 

 

What happens when your fridge doesn't fit the graduation cupcakes?

 

You put them in your bathtub on top of ice.

 

My friend, Leah, is a resourceful one.

 

 

Baby L. loved Leah's hair toys.

 

There were tears when we left.

 

 

 

When you leave behind a sun hat at said friend, Leah's, house..

 

...the middle child finds you in the nursery at church to return it.

 

God Bless those special middle children. 

 

 

New deck.

 

New screen awning(the perfect size for our deck!)

 

One week.

 

Big winds.

 

Big storm.

 

Bad awning.

 

 

Cleaning out the boys' backpacks from last school year.

This pencil was less than 2"

LESS THAN!

 

This is also where I tell you that there were 5 unsharpened pencils at the bottom of the bag.

 

Baby L. was eating some Keebler cookies at grandma's house.

 

You know- the ones with the cookie and caramel with coconut and chocolate over top?

 

I asked her for a bite

(even though I can't due to gluten content)

because I wanted to see if she had a generous personality.

 

With a BIG smile on her face and a

"Heeer ou doe, mama!"

 

This is what she gives me

 

Yeah...a giver, that one.

 

 

 

Again...with the middle child.

 

Reminds me of a movie line

"You're not cool if you don't pee your pants!!!"

 

The middle child is always...always cool.

 

 

Celebrating Father's Day with a little Spoonlickers.

 

 

 

(Big brother not pictured- he was camping with grandma and poppa)

 

 

 

Baby L's hair is *just* long enough in the back to curl up under her fedora.

 

too cute.

 

 

 

Look what I found at Wal-Mart.

 

A bit of nostalgia!

 

And fourth of July dessert goodness.

 

 

 

 

Came home from swimming.

 

Warm towel.

 

Kitchen floor.

 

Crashed.

 

 

 

 

Throw back.

 

Fourth of July last year.

 

Oh my heart!

 

 

 

July 5th barbeque at the Bethesda home.

 

My kiddos were awfully quiet,

so I went to search for them.

 

Found them sitting quietly on the swing.

Chatting the afternoon away.

Hi mama.



 

Library fun

 

 

We've been outside a bit this summer...

 

can you tell???

 

Family trip to Chicago (within budget!!!)

We decided that this was the year for a quick family trip.

 

 

Just the 5 of us for a short period of time.

 

Away from home

(because if we had a staycation, the Mister would have spent it working...)

 

 

But we had a small budget.

 

So, I went to work-

 

looking for the best deal

 

within a reasonable driving distance

 

that would have something for everyone to enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I landed on

 

Chicago.

 

 

It was about 4 hours from home

 

(short enough of a drive that Baby L wouldn't freak)

 

But far enough away that we felt like we had gone somewhere.

 

We made it a quick trip.

 

(By quick, I mean ONE night).

 

 

 

We left early Monday morning

 

and got into Schaumburg just in time for LEGOLAND to open.

 

 

(Budget note:  The Lego Magazine has a BOGO admission coupon in it.  The subscription is free)

 

Kid friendly note:  Pay the extra $5 for the scavenger hunt lanyard. 

We got one for the boys to share and that worked out just fine.

 

 There's a little something for everyone at LEGOLAND.

 

 

Cute photo ops.  :)

 

 

Play time for little minds and hands.

 

(Note:  my creation is at the bottom; with the horns.)

 

 

 

The boys were given extra jobs around the house over the past few weeks as an opportunity  to save some money for souvenirs.  Combined with a gift from grandma (thanks, grandma!), they each purchased a Lego set and keychains in the gift shop. 

Earlier this spring, I found a groupon for a suite for $99.

 

The boys were geeked to stay at a hotel!

 

(Yeah...we don't get out much...this was C's first hotel.  oops.)

We spent about an hour here at the hotel on Monday afternoon

hoping Baby L. would chill enough to take a nap.

 

(ha!!....yeah, no)

 

Later that night, when D took the boys swimming,

I pulled the sofa out to a bed and set up the pack-and-play for Baby L.

 

It was lovely.

 

Although very little sleep was had.

 

 

Monday evening, we headed over to IKEA for some shopping and dinner.

 

 

 

 

For $25, our family of 5 enjoyed some food and Loganberry pop.

 

 

We looked at furniture and accessories.

 

The kids got a little crazy in the bedding department.

 

But we figured out the kind of bed I want Dave to build for A's new room...

 

so there's that.  :)

 

 

And also...this is about the time that Baby L. decided to not be constipated anymore.

 

That was lovely.

 

 

 

Our total bill at IKEA totaled $52.17.

 

This includes a birthday present for Baby L (children's table and chairs),

under cabinet lighting for my friend Abbie (see you Thursday!),

a side lamp for C's new room (Go Tigers!),

and a few packets of picture frames for a project I wanted to do.

 

Not too bad, I think.

 

 

We got back to the hotel just in time for a storm to roll in.

 

And a delivery from somewhere close to home. (truck)

 

 

 

 

Tuesday morning, we got up early,

 

enjoyed our "hot continental breakfast"

(read: powdered eggs, dehydrated sausages, and make-your-own waffles).

 

This gf girl had yogurt and fruit.

 

But hey...it was free, right?

 

We went back upstairs and packed everything (and everyone) up...

 

 

 

And headed into the city.

 

 

 

 

We spent $15 for parking below Millenium Park.

 

 

Had some fun at the Bean:

 

 

Took a family selfie,

 

(nice smile, A)

 

 

 

Stood directly under the bean and shot straight up,

 

And enjoyed watching my kiddos strike cute poses.  :)

Hello Chicago!

 We walked over to the Crown Fountain-

 

Where I got to watch the full spectrum of my kids' personalities on display.

 

Without a second thought, C pulled his shoes and socks off and jumped in full steam ahead.

 

 

Baby L stayed on the side.  Went in tentatively at first and then really seemed to enjoy herself.

 

 

 

 

A. was content to sit and watch.

 

PUCKER UP!

 

 

After walking around a few streets and more of the park, we headed over to Shedd's Aquarium.

 

Paid $19 for parking and walked around a bit.

 

It was here at this park that I truly realized that I am most at home when I am near water.

 

We stopped for lunch (read: hangry kiddos) at a stand just outside the aquarium.

 

Sandwiches and drinks for $40.

 

This was our most expensive meal throughout the entire trip.

 

Since we only had a short time at the Aquarium,

 

(read: we weren't sure about our children's attention spans)

 

we asked if there was a condensed admission

 

(read: cheaper than $40 per person)

 

the girl told us that if we just wanted to walk around the top floor, it would only be $8 per person.

 

SOLD!

 

We figured that if we wanted to do more, we could go back and upgrade.

 

 

This turtle from the Amazon was my favorite.  :)

 

 

Just a few minutes before this picture was taken, there was a diver in there.

 

And again...nice smile, A.

 

 

 

The seahorses were another one of my favorites.

 

Can you see him?

 

(A. wants me to tell you that "it was actually pretty cool.")

 

Tuesday was also the FIFA game.

 

Go USA!!!

 

(although, we all know the outcome of the game by now...booooooo)

 

Since Dave is a big Bears fan, we walked over to Soldier Field.

 

The FIFA viewing event was going on here, and the doors opened 30 minutes later.

 

Admission was FREE.

 

Dave and the boys were pretty darn excited.

 

 

 

 

 

Once in line, we were told "no strollers." 

 

So, I sent Dave and the boys in while Baby L and I waited outside.

 

(people watching in Chicago right outside an event is HILARIOUS)

 

Dave took a few shots inside

(but you only get one)

 

 

After heading back to the car, we were trying to figure out where to go next,

 

and Dave just started driving.

 

 

I was talking to the boys brain-storming ideas

 

when I realized that Dave had started heading home.

 

 

Well, I guess that settles it!

 

 

We stopped in Michigan City for dinner on the way home

($25.13)

 

And then at TCBY when we were within a few minutes of home: $15.11

 

(Dave promised them ice cream sometime on our trip.  He kept his promise)

 

And also, Thank you TCBY for having non-dairy frozen yogurt!!! Baby L was happy.

 

 

We pulled into our driveway by 9pm Tuesday night: just in time for the kiddos to head to bed.

 

 

36 hours.

 

One tank of gas.

 

One groupon

 

2 BOGO coupons

 

$364.11 total spent

 

 

Priceless memories for our kids to remember for years to come.

Crap I've made: Patriotic Dress

 

 

 

I'm a pretty crafty person, by nature.

 

Most of the time, it comes out of necessity:

 

the desire for specific things within a tight budget.

 

Other times, it's just for funzies.

 

Either way, I wanted a fun way to share them with you on this here blog.

 

 

Hence, a new series is born.

 

Let me introduce you to:

 

 

Special thanks to Michelle at ememby designs for the logo.  :)

 

Go check out her blog...I'll wait here.  I'm sure you'll love her as much as I do!!!

 

 

Anyway, I was inspired by a pin on Pintrest

 

(which I was totally ready to embed here and share with you...but apparently we can't do that anymore?????)

 

 

 

And I thought,

 

There's no way I'm paying that much for a one-three day dress!

 

 

Then, I decided to make it.

 

 

I started with this:

 

 

A tank top found in the toddler/boys dept. for $2.88 at Walmart

Clearance fabric $3/yard (I got 1/2 yard of it)

Red Rick Rack$1.29

Semi-transparent blue ribbon (I had this in my craft bin)

Total of less than $6

 

 

I found a round object that was the same diameter as the t-shirt

(It just happened to be our Folgers bulk canister)

Then measured out 9 inches from the center of the circle.

Here's the shape of the skirt!

 

 

(Forgot this picture...sorry)

Pin the skirt and the shirt inside out.

Sew together.

 

 

(sorry...forgot this picture too)

I folded the hem under at the same time pinning the red rick rack to the bottom hem.

I wanted the red on more than just the chest of the dress.

 

 

 

 

I pinned 4 rows of rick rack to the front of the dress.

The top two rows are shorter than the bottom two.

The edges of the rickrack will fray a bit...I'm totally ok with that.

 

 

 

I made a bow out of the blue ribbon and sewed it on.

 

 

 

 

Place on cute baby and watch her accessorize it with her brother's fedora.

 

 

 

 

And dance, dance, dance the afternoon away!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After watching her, I decided I wanted to add some rick rack to the arm holes as well...

 

 

So, here's a pic of the during, but not the after

Because I just didn't think about that.  :)

 

 

 

 

Happy Crap Making!!!