Busy day

pic taken by Jenni W

New photos of our day on Wednesday! We went to the pumpkin patch to buy our Jack 'O Lantern punkins, played in the backyard with our neighbor buddy Cooper, went to lunch with Grandpa and Great Grandpa at "Chuy's House", AND went to a pumpkin painting playdate! Whew, busy but VERY fun day! :)

notice the lack of one shoe? I didn't notice it was gone for about 15 minutes... oops. :)

picture taken by Jenni W.

music of our lives

I was driving yesterday and several of the songs on the radio brought back very vivid memories, of events I have very a lot or very little emotional attachment to. I kept thinking about how I can place myself in any year of my life by the music I listened to. I am always amazed at our power of memory, and the physicality of the stored memories and emotions in our bodies. When I heard this song you are listening to, (Black Velvet) I immediately think of the first time a boy asked me to ice skate in a couples skate at the indoor rink in my hometown. His name was Jonah and he had curly blond hair (actually he kinda looked like Justin Timberlake, in hair at least) and I was wearing my ripped in the knee jeans and a Washington State Univ sweatshirt. I was so nervous, I said no and was too embarrased to skate the rest of the session . Just hearing the song brought on those flushed cheecks and the crazy crush anxiety, wacky huh? I will never forget that feeling, even though I had no real encounter with him, and it will ALWAYS be tied to this song.
The Pat Bentar song had different meaning until I watched 13 going on 30, and now I will only think of this movie and "Love is a battlefield". Jennifer Garner is cute, but I have a secret crush on Mark Ruffalo. ;) (the song is set to play after Black Velvet in case you are jonesin for some Pat Benetar)
Pictures couldn't do this post any justice, since these memories are all in my head... enjoy the tunes! :)

crappy economy

This sucks! The economy that is. Everybody is going to be better about spending (hopefully) but that means they are cutting out things like taking care of their health (ahem... massage). That is painful to our household economy. So it looks like I have to tighten our spending even more to be able to afford "school" for the kids 2 days a week. sigh. That means ... a budget... blech... I said it. Now I have to follow through and actually make one... and attempt to stick to it. SO I am officially announcing it to the universe now, I can't take it back, it starts today.
AND don't forget... Massage gift certificates make GREAT gifts! ;)

oh, and I posted a bunch of recent pics of the kids on their blog :)

Its all TOO MUCH!

THAT'S IT!!! I am clearing my house of baby STUFF! No more giant boxes of baby clothes! Out go the baby toys/equipment and all the stuff my kids use very little! I am over it all! I would love some space in my house and better yet, I would LOVE to have LESS stuff to clean up! My tornadoes of clutter start spinning at 6am when they wake and never slow down until they crash into bed at night. All I ever do is clean up the aftermath of these Tasmanian devils. SO.. less stuff, less mess.

I was listening to Suze Orman on Oprah talk about how people who value the things money can buy take care of them in an organized way. ooooo, that hit home, big time. Dang Suze and her valid points! ;) It is so true though. This is why we are clearing out, buy only things the kids will play with and take care of what we have. The kids stuff isn't the only thing to go, but its a start. I still want to do my kitchen, who needs 5 mixing bowls anyways? and my closet, but those are HUGE projects in themselves.

I am going to do a Craigslist sale here at the house... two days where people can show up and buy all this stuff!! A large chunk of our proceeds will be going to the Austin Habitat for Humanity. I chose this non profit because we are lucky enough to have a house to fill with excess while many have no home at all.

So, if you live in the area and need ANY baby stuff... stop by THIS Friday or Saturday October 10th or 11th. I will start at 9am and go till 5pm. Come by anytime!

What I have (this isn't everything):

Exersaucer,

playmats, toys (baby and toddler),

pool floatie for infant

baby boys clothes Newborn to 12 months starting with fall/winter stuff,socks, shoes (Robeez)

toddler girl summer clothes mostly 2T

colorgrown cotton cloth diapers and cloth diaper covers

diaper/burp rags

bath accesories, tub and pillow

potties

blankets

bibs

Baby Legs

XL maternity clothes (cold weather)

cloth storage cart

BPA free glass and plastic bottles

and MORE!!

If you are a friend of mine and would like to haul your kids stuff over here to sell (as long as your willing to share your $$ with Habitat) feel free. Just email me and let me know! The more the merrier!