Day 243

It was my friend BRANDYs' 30th birthday on Sunday, so as her friend {and visiting teacher} I threw a little impromptu BBQ.  I got this cake from Costco and didn't realize that they were wishing BANDY a happy birthday until I loaded it in the car.  Too hot, too lazy, so BANDY it will remain. This is the second time out of 2 times that the Costco Bakery has botched up a name: day 6 2008 picture of the day SKYTER, instead of Skyler. It makes for a good laugh!

Day 242

A typical Sunday night activity! {notice there are only 4 bowls...some how I got left out of this one, probably because there was no rocky road to go with my rainbow sherbet!}

Day 241

My best friend Mari is finally getting her girl after 2 BOYS! There wasn't a hue of blue to be found at her shower! It was incredibly girlie and pink! Having 3 boys of my own, I guess I will never experience the fun of another color...and I'm o.k. with that {even if shopping for a girl is so much more fun!} I can't wait to meet her little girl..any day now! {kinda makes you sick that she is so small for being 9 months! even though she thinks she enormous?}

Day 240

Jim is going to ABSOLUTELY kill me when he sees this post!  I was making some baby headbands for a baby shower tomorrow and I needed to gage the size.  Ryder was the closest thing I had. He thought it was funny and couldn't wait to see his picture.  I thought it was cute..please, he's 4!  I don't think this will scar him{well maybe if I use it as blackmail when he's a teenager}, Jim will think differently.

Day 239

WHAT?!?  We don't live in Vegas, or Arizona for that matter!  115 is ridiculous! {This was about 3:30 while I was waiting for kids to get out of school} side note:  the 1st pic. I took it was 107, then 109, 111, 112, 114 and finally 115, all in the span of 1/2 hour! 

I am so done with this heat!

Day 238

It was just one of those days!  I couldn't muster up any strength to cook dinner after Webelos, plus, it was still 100 degrees outside.

Day 237

If this doesn't get me into the GHETTO WHITE TRASH Hall of Fame, I don't know what will!

Here's a quick recap of events:

A few months back I somehow got into a conversation with an employee at Costco.  I joked about buying fitness equipment and how it rarely, if ever gets used.  I mentioned I bought a BOWFLEX machine for my husband {he just HAD to have it!} and shortly after he ruptured a couple discs, so the machine just sat collecting dust! The employee matter of factly said, "bring it back". I kinda laughed saying, "are you kidding me?" "NO!", she said. I said "I don't even have the receipt and it was awhile ago."  She said, "Doesn't matter..we can look it up on your card," "Really?", I thought. I kinda just laughed the idea off...UNTIL, last week when I was cleaning the garage and was thinking how nice it would be without that clunker around..so Tuesday morning I got a wild impulse and began taking it apart.  Had no idea what I was doing, just trying to get it into about 3 movable parts. I called my friend Julie whos daughter had a truck I could borrow {no a/c and it was at least 100 out}. She helped me lift it into the truck and I was on my way. I drove the whole way thinking, "I can't believe I'm doing this! How white trash do I look?" Got to Costco. Some workers helped me unload it onto a cart and rolled it to returns. I mentioned that I didn't want cash back, that I just wanted a COSTCO card {it was my way of justifying returning it seeing as I'd spend the money right back in their store!}. Minutes later, I was holding a Costco Cash card for $969!  What!  I didn't even realize I ever spent that much on that thing, apparently back in 2006! {I thought it was last year}.  Can I just say, I LOVE COSTCO! {sidenote: as I was leaving Costco, I called Jim to let him know what I had done! he forgave me when I told him how much we got back and that I had bought him a 2 year, 24 hour fitness membership instead!} It was my own version of CASH for CLUNKERS!

Day 236

We are beginning to catch a small glimpse into "money-free" FREEDOM.  Lately, when all the kids are in bed {or watching a movie}, Jim and I sneak out for a nice long evening walk.  It has been pure heaven!  In no time at all, Skyler will save us from the hassle of finding babysitters! A definite milestone has been reached!

Day 235

Before heading to the beach on Saturday, we made a little stop at the O.C. swap meet where I picked myself up this beauty!!  Don't even think for a minute I DON'T LOVE MY $1.00 HAIR WRAP! 

As the box reads, "Finally something more attractive, lightweight, comfortable, and easy..making the towel obsolete." I will have to concur, well except the attractive thing.  Jim seems to think I look like his NANA. 

Day 234

Jayden was building sand castles at the beach with his cousins and creating all sorts of "castle toppers".  He was so proud of this one that he brought it over to show us all.  After the initial disgust, and before I made him drop it and sanitize his hands, I grabbed the camera.  Of course he had no idea what the big deal was all about! He just thought it made a perfect feather holder. YUCK! {click to enlarge..you will see that it is indeed a tampon applicator!}

Day 233

Came home from a night out with the girls {time travelers wife} in which we took no picture, to find all the boys, including Jim, having a campout in the family room.  {It was a very last minute photo of the day..does 1 a.m. still count for day 233?  I'm letting it slide!}

Day 232

During the day they can't stand each other, but by night they can't stand to be apart and beg to sleep in the same room.  Tonight I caught Jayden reading a story to Ryder. It's these moments that help mend my heart from all their fighting during the day.

Day 231

Went to "Back to School" night tonight or as my parents use to call it, "Meet the Creature" night.  We are so excited about the teachers both Skyler and Jayden got.  They seem like perfect matches.  One thing that did perplex Jim and I was Skyler's take on his HERO.  Most kids listed their mom or dad, or even their teacher as the person who inspires them.  No, not my son!  He lists a person he sees 1 time a year (sometimes 2 or 3), and whom he doesn't even know her name.  In fact, he doesn't regularly see the same one every time!  I think he needs to reevaluate. Not that Dr.'s aren't great, but come on!!  Who cooks for him..cleans for him..makes sure he gets to soccer, helps with homework, gives him hugs when he's sad, who plays games with him? It's not his Dr.

{Do I sound like a disgruntled mother?}  

Day 230

Started a big project this afternoon-the "under the stairs" closet!  Been wanting to do this forever and finally, it was time! It wouldn't have taken quite as long if I wasn't so nostalgic and looking through all my memory boxes...pictures & stuff from middle school, high school, college, babies, etc.  I could have sat there all night reminiscing. {It feels amazing to purge!}

Day 229

Oh Happy Day!!!  The first day of school!  Jayden: 2nd grade & Skyler: 5th grade {and last year of elementary school}.

Day 228

I made these little goodies for the boys' teachers!  Was it necessary? Probably not, but I love doing it and I think teachers deserve the very best!  The water bottle tag says:  here's a little "smart water" to help "propel" you through the first day of school.  I love taking an idea and making it my own!

Day 227

Tonight we had an "adults only swim party" across the street!  No kids peeing in the pool..just grown ups enjoying their mock cocktails, some net less volleyball, and some good company. This is definitely something we will want to do again!!

Day 226

Ward temple night!  Yes, it was daylight when we got there, but after getting bumped from one session to the next, it felt like we'd see the dawn break once we got out!  Didn't get home till 12:30a.m. {felt totally bad for the babysitter seeing as we left at 5:30.  Our ward has a $20 babysitting cap on temple night}

Day 225

After finding out what teachers the kids have for the school year{picture didn't turn out}, a few girlfriends went to go see (500) Days of Summer. Liked the movie...loved the music!  The ending just wasn't the greatest!

Day 224

The finished product!  I like a project I can start and finish within a day or two! {the toughest part: hanging the curtain rod just right so the stripes I sewed on would match the stripes on the wall}

Day 223

The last beach day before school starts!  These 3 boys{crew, ryder, & jt} are like peas in a pod..it was so cute watching them on the boogie board.  They got so excited when the water came up and moved the boogie board {like 1/2 a foot}.  They just laughed and purposively made themselves fall into the water, as if it were the wave that took them down!

Day 222

Starting the week off right!!  A Monday night Date Night with the Trevino's to P.F. Chang's. {the dessert was to die for:   the great wall of chocolate, a 6 layer chocolate cake w/fresh berries and raspberry sauce - 1,400 calories divided by 4 is only 350 calories each}

Day 221

While in Orange County, made a stop to IKEA!

Day 220 {Happy 12th anniversary to us!}

Forget Italy, New York, Catalina, Hawaii...we'd rather spend our anniversary with our children!! {not}.  The boys had been begging to go to a hotel before school started {because swimming at home is just not the same}.  We figured, Skyler had a soccer tournament in Orange County so we got a room for the night in Newport..I will have to say, no offense to Jim, but it was probably the least enjoyable anniversary we've had! I'm ready for a do-over sans kids!!

Day 219

Date night @ the Padres' game with the Moody's!  What a game..the Padres were losing.  It was the bottom of the 9th. All bases were loaded and then the batter up hit a home run!  The crowd went wild, the fireworks started blasting, the game was over!  The Padres won the Mets:  5-2 in the final minutes. {and sweet baby milo was an angel the whole game!}

Day 218

Found myself with a free afternoon so after getting my hair done, I started a project I've wanted to do since last summer..paint a few stripes on Skyler's wall.  Very tedious and time consuming, but I love how it turned out.

Day 217

The boys found this frog in the backyard and begged to keep it!  After a long, drawn out lesson on how the frog needed to go back to its' family, the boys reluctantly let it go...but not without a few tears and sad faces!

Day 216

Even though we went to the beach today, it was the SKY that took my attention!  It was gorgeous!

Day 215

We went up to my parents house for one last WATKINS party (before my brother left).  My brother and kids are going back to Korea tomorrow and we're not exactly sure when we will see them next, so we wanted to make sure we said goodbye!  

Day 214

Here is the proof:  I truly am turning into my mother!

(I realized that all the cans from all our parties were in the recycle bin and had totally forgotten that we were having a recycling fundraiser for cub scouts so off to the bin we went to fetch out each and every nickel)  This photo was taken without my knowledge from my dear, sweet husband.

Day 213

6 weeks and counting...some good friends threw Jen & Jason a couples shower tonight!  Always good food, always good company, always a good time!