Soapbox Moment

You may notice the Walmart logo. This story has NOTHING to do with Walmart - I just refuse to give any potential advertising to the store which I am about to refer...it happens to have a red logo made up of a number of circles. I have had bad feelings about this store since 2003 when we married. I had slowly let myself actually go there and purchase a few things now and then - but apparently that will no longer happen.

For Easter my grandma bought the kids darling swimsuits - she called and asked me sizes and just before Easter a package was delivered. Brody is a 3T (unless it goes over his head and then it is a 4T) - I told this to Honey (the name we call my grandma) and she did exactly what I had asked. BUT - Brody's shorts were mismarked and were actually a 4T. Right away I tried to exchange them but because I couldn't find the exact pattern (I tried 3 stores including one in CA) but I wasn't able to unless I took store credit for an amount less than Honey paid. Im not willing to let the store profit off their mistake so I kept the shorts and we will just pin them up and let Brody grow into them.

That bugged me, but at least I could still use the swimsuit.

Ella's was an 18 month cute little swim suit with pink and white stripes and a frilly skirt. Very cute. Honey had also sent a white tank top to go with. I told her Ella's size. I just didn't anticipate my baby having a huge growth spurt. I put a dress on her on Sunday and I thought I was looking at Cindy Brady. Little bottom totally showing. I went up to her closet and pulled out a 2T dress which fit her. I didn't have much hope for the 2 swimsuits that she has that are 18 month. Sure enough I tried them on her Monday morning and neither one went high enough to cover her little nipples. So...I thought I would take it back and exchange it. In my previous trips to return Brody's I had seen Ella's suit and knew that I'd be able to just get a bigger size. I went in on the way to my mom's for a Memorial Day BBQ/swimming. The store clerks informed me that I would only be able to take store credit and then go back out on the floor and re-buy the time. The catch was I wasn't going to get enough store credit to go back and buy the bathing suit unless I paid more money out of my own pocket. I wasn't about to do that. When I said that this was unfair and it would be wasting money the store clerks response was (I kid you not...) "Its not your money, its just your grandmas."

That just about did it for me. I was so ticked off. I had no bathing suit for Ella, and I wasn't about to patronize the store. I realized why Brody is always rude in that store. Its because I HATE that store so much I am always angry when I am there. I really hate that store. We ended up driving out of the way to Walmart to buy Ella a swim suit.

So, in the future...the best gift anyone could give to me is anything that is NOT purchased from that store. If you haven't realized what store it is - its Target. I only say that so that you are all aware of where I DONT want you to shop.

And now I will get off my soapbox.

P.S. - Consequently, Im going to give the cute pink swim suit to Natalie if Alexis or Halle need a swim suit and if they already have one or enough then it will be given to an unknown friend at a baby shower someday that will have a girl that will fit into it. It isn't the swimsuits fault that the store that sells it is stupid. So Natalie...let me know if you want it and it is yours.

First Fathers & Sons Weekend

Brandon braved Fathers and Sons with Brody for the first time last night. They are still gone. Brody was very very excited to go camping with his daddy and that Ella and mommy weren't going. We don't do much one on one stuff with the kids yet, we should we just havent.

I went out to dinner with a friend and I forgot how easy it was to only have one kid. Ella was wonderful in the restaurant and the food was great! Afterwards we met up with some more of the girls and watched Bride Wars. Very cute movie. I got home at 11:00, Ella still awake. I got her put to bed and saw we had phone messages. I had the CUTEST message from Brody at the campout calling to say hi! I went to bed and didn't wake up until 9:00 - this is huge these days. Ella is still asleep and the house is quiet. I did miss Brody crawling into bed with me and asking me to turn on cartoons for him, but he is having a great time with his dad.

These are a couple of the photos Brandon took of the campout - none of them actually had both Father and Son in them. I will have to give him a bad time about that. They had a great time. Brody played and they enjoyed being outdoors next to the Lake. The only glitch was dinner wasn't ready until after 9:00 pm - so Brody especially was pretty hungry and tired by then. It was a half mile walk to the group area so by the time they got back to the campsite after dinner Brody told his daddy he wanted to go to bed. He went right to sleep and didn't wake up until after 7:30. They were home by 10:00, much earlier than I had thought. Brody was really excited to see Ella and tell me all about their camping trip.

Blastball Update

Tonight was game #2. We were going into a 7:00pm game without a nap, so I was prepared for the same fiasco as Tuesday, however I was very surprised. He got right up there and on his first at bat he made contact and hit the ball pretty far on the third try. He is a really good runner, so getting to the base wasn't an issue. He really was trying to get the ball when they were in the field, but with so many boys it did make him cry. They decided to take turns running after the ball which worked out much better. Hit #2 he got it on the FIRST try!! Hooray!! I'd post pictures, but I forgot the camera.

Tonight was MUCH MUCH better & I think he enjoyed it more too. Now I feel less like I am a parent that is pushing there three year old into doing something they don't like.

Its Ours!

It is official...we made the last payment tonight and finally we will have the pink slip to the Volvo!

Hooray for one less car payment!

(This isn't our car - it looks like ours but ours looks nicer...you'd think in the five years we've owned the car that we would have snapped a few photos, but eh...we can't find any)

First Blastball Game

After being delayed by Texas' bout with the swine flu and torrential thunderstorms, tonight was our first game....and our family decided it was probably good it was delayed. Brody had fun, and he did as well as you'd expect a three year old to do, but he would have been happy to go home after the first inning (he told us so). He is a younger member of the team, and being the oldest hasn't been exposed to older siblings play so he doesn't really get it yet. But...it is fun to watch and it is neat that both teams can cheer each other on because there is no winner or loser. Hopefully Brody enjoys it more as the season goes on.

His First At Bat...

His Second At Bat...

He saw a train up close right when we got to the field. This very well could have been his favorite part.He did okay fielding the first inning - getting in there with the other 10 boys trying to get to the ball.But then he got bored. And just sat there.He even wandered out to the field and sat there when his team was at bat. I think I heard the name Brody called out more than any other name - by both teams. The situation digressed further...here he is laying in what is primarily weeds...He spent some time blowing dandelions...And ended the second (and last) inning in Grandpa's arms. He is a good sport for going along with his parents signing him up. He did tell me he wanted to play again - but not today.

Just Pictures

Mothers Day with my Kidos

A Sunday night treat wouldn't be complete if it didn't make dirty laundry for Monday!My pride & joy - my first harvested potato! One of our plants died and when I pulled it out it had still produced a potato. This prompted me to peek under the soil at some of our other plants and I am SO EXCITED about what I saw!
Our latest home improvement...more trees for the backyard. We are hoping these four Bradford Pear trees will eventually shade the yard in the summer months and provide a little more privacy from one of our side neighbors - a Red Bull storage warehouse. We actually like them, but want the privacy in case in the future the land is used for something else.

My Freaky Friday

It started off really pretty good. We got up, got dressed did some chores around the house and the kids and I were excited for Brandon to come home in the afternoon. I packed a lunch and snacks and got in the car to do some errands. I walked out into the garage to see this...She now climbs into the car by herself. This photo is of the second time I saw it - the first time she was standing on the console inbetween the driver and passenger seat waving at me. She was very proud of her accomplishment.

Back to our day...My kids are conditioned that if we are in the car they eat. Not a habit I am fond of - but I give snacks because I don't like the crying as the alternative. So we were off...at the bank the kids walked in and up to the teller to deposit the $10 they got from Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Mullin for Easter. They have little piggy pal accounts and whenever the kids come in to deposit money they get to pick a treasure from the treasure chest. Brody had a ball - and was so cute with the teller. It made Tammy's day to have a conversation with a three year old.

Back in the car we went to Lowes and then on to Walmart. It was 11:20. My kids were screaming for more food so we had our lunch in the car in the Walmart parking lot. They were much happier after a little pb&j. We went inside and did our shopping, got back in the car and were home by 12:30.

An hour later the kids were napping and I did the usual stuff I do the day Brandon comes home (vaccuuming, laundry, etc.)

The kids were both awake at 3:30 and we were all playing upstairs in the playroom. It was a nice day, and I knew Brandon would be home soon so I thought why not wait for him on our balcony. The kids would love watching him drive up and wave to him. So we were out on the balcony for a few minutes. I turned my back for one second - and turned back around to see Ella just about ready to step off the balcony on to the drive way below. She had squeezed herself in here...

My kids have big heads, but not big enough to keep Ella from getting between there. I yelled Ella No (in hindsight I probably shouldn't have - it may have enticed her only to move more quickly in the wrong direction) - but I was able to grab her and we immediately went inside. I was so scared. I clutched Ella in my arms and was just shaking. She was giggling like she normally would - but all I could see in my head was her falling off the edge. My mind keeps going back to "what if" Brandon got home a few minutes later and I started crying hysterically. I still can't get the image out of my head. I already felt like Ella was more curious and adventurous (and thus a little more challenging) then Brody at her age - but now it is confirmed.

So my mothers day present this weekend is that I am still a mother to Ella. She IS alive and I guess I have to just keep telling myself that every time she lives through another day of her toddler-hood.

As a side note...she only ate out of the toilet twice today. And once it was clean water...and as another side note this doesn't happen because I am completely inattentive. Brody opens the door to go to the bathroom without telling me and while he is trying to pull up his pants, she dips clean toilet paper into his pee and eats it. So I have one child I need to get into the bathroom and the other I need to keep out.

By Request...

Overview of beds #1 & #2 The peppers, tomatoes, beans haven't changed much this month :( I just got some organic disease spray - I think we have some powdery mildew growing. And the beans I think are rusty (if thats possible) so I am going to take out the worst and replant some more. The peppers haven't grown much - but they are showing signs of budding so that is progress!

Bed #3 - Our potatoes are still growing well and the corn is getting taller. We replanted some cucumber to replace ours that was lost in the wind. The grapevine has finally started to grow more since the ground has gotten warmer and the cabbage looks really good too.

Our first tomato fruits!! Hooray - it worked! I think these are roma tomatoes and I just saw them this morning. I went around and thumped the flowers and low and behold I think it worked. I will be on the look out for more!Pretty potato blossoms. This is a red potato plant and it is the furthest along. From what I know when the blossoms die and start to fall back you dig up the potatoes. We have a few other potato plants that are looking close to blossoming too.Our peas are definitely the winner this month on how much they've grown! We saw one pea pod one day and every day we are seeing more and more. It has been fun to watch these guys climb and sprout. Now we are getting to the fun part of all of this - EATING THEM!

Bubbles, Trains and Bathrooms...

Kind of a random subject - but it sums up the last week or so...Brandon's parents got in on Thursday night and we had a fun time visiting with them. The kids loved playing with Grandma and Grandpa and showing them all their toys. Brody loved playing trains with Grandpa - a special thank you to Grandpa for being a good sport! They both loved playing in the back yard and blowing bubbles.

Saturday night Grandma and Grandpa got to see a really good thunderstorm that left our fence filthy with mud and our garden well watered! Mike got some pictures of the storm that we'll have to get from them.

We went to the mall on Monday and made a stop at a toy store that happened to have a little train to ride in. Brody was in heaven of course, and Ella had a good time too.

We decided to do a project while the Burtons were here - so we painted our powder room. I have been wanting to do it for awhile, but hadn't gotten around to it yet. So Brandon and his dad did the base coat and then Theresa and I went over it with a glaze the next day. It turned out really nice and we topped it off with some art work I found at Kirklands Home (not related to Costco - but had surprisingly good prices). I wanted a cabinet for over the toilet since we don't have any storage in there for toilet paper, etc. We looked at several stores with no luck and then looked at pottery barn online on Saturday night and found this one...

We lucked out and the store had one in stock so we went down on Monday and bought it. I had been given a gift card awhile back and FINALLY found something to use it on.

Why the picture of the toilet you ask?? Well...my handy husband hung our nice new cabinet on the wall over the toilet. About 2 seconds later it fell off the wall and landed on the toilet tank - shattering it and spilling 1.6 gallons of water all over the floor. It wasn't Brandon's fault - it was just bad luck. The cabinet hangs on a metal lip and he thought it had caught the little lip it was supposed to hang from, but it really just was hanging by the edge of the wood so it slipped off. So...off to Lowes went Brandon and his dad, they came home with a new toilet tank and got it all installed. You just have to laugh because who would ever think that a toilet tank would break (by the way - the lid didn't break, just the tank beneath it!)

Here is a picture of the finished product (kind of) The bathroom is a really awkward angle under our stairs, so I couldn't get a good photo of the whole thing. I still need to get some towels and something to dress up the back of the toilet. I just have to think about it a little more and come up with something that Ella won't eat. She has a MAJOR fascination with bathrooms. Maybe she'll potty train easier!

So all this plus a lot of junk food and game playing sums up our weekend with Grandma and Grandpa. We loved being able to spend time with them. Thanks for helping paint while you were here!