Painless Swimsuit Shopping...... Really!

If you are in the market for a new swim suit you may want to check this out.

Having the perfect swim suit body, I waltz right into just about any store and the first 3 suits I try on leave me in indecision because they all look SO good.

YEAH! O.K. If you can do that, we Mommies don't like you and you should leave this site immediately! For those of us with real bodies check this out: Lands End Overstocks Or you can shop their regular store too. I just love the overstocks prices.

I look for any dark color or pattern in a style that'll hide as much as is humanly possible and still leave me a little boyant. I like to order several options that I think might do the job and then, and here's the good part, I order them all!!
Wheeeee...

Hold on...Don't judge me. I don't KEEP them all. I have them shipped to my home and I try them on until I find just the right one.

THEN.... I carefully put the bad ones back in the package and drop them off at Sears next time I'm by there!!!! They will put your $ right back on your card right there at the store.

Notes:

1. I did this last year, so check the site to be sure you can return to Sears
2. Suits seem true to size and are made very well. Mine is a trick to get on, but wheeww once it is on it does a good job, so I wouldn't trade it for a different size.
3. Don't be afraid of the Mastectomy Suits. They can be a Good bargain. They just have a thin pocket for a prosthesis. Just ignore it.
4. I'm not even in the market for a suit this year. Mine is still in excellent shape and I love it. Mine is similar to this except it is a navy blue pattern. I paid around $30 for it because it was an old pattern. If I had to choose this year I think I'd be trying this one on. Oooo, loving this one too.

Just wanted to let ya'll in on my little secret!

So enjoy your suit shopping this year, but don't wait too late or the good stuff will be sold out!

Now that's Painless Suit shopping!!!

Has anyone else ever done this?? Any other suit tips?

A Turtle and a Rainy Day

The boys enjoyed checking out Sammy the Turtle Thursday night. Tiffany brought him. I was hoping he would survive an evening with my two wildcats! I love Gabe's introspective face. I think he must have been thinking the same thing I was. "I thought turtles were bigger than this!"

Thanks to Cody for letting Sammy come over and play.


I was getting down tonight because of the rain. Has it been 40 days and 40 nights yet?? It sure seems like it. I stuck the camera out my back door and shot this picture for proof of the weather for those readers who might not believe me. I was feeling so dreary about it all.


Then 5 or 10 minutes later THIS happened and I had to ask God to forgive me for complaining!

This is my "doing dishes" view. I am so blessed.

Getting ready for Soccer

Ok, this is a post that I would not be posting if G was any older than 4. I wouldn't want to embarrass him to death. I just asked him if it was ok to put it on my blog and he said, "It looks funny, like I don't have any pants on." Poor fellow is a little fashion challenged. He is posing with his new soccer ball.... and without his pants.... and wearing my heels. I believe there's a juice mustache involved too. Don't ya love 4 year olds!

When Little Boys are Perfect Angels

Ahhhh , perfectly behaved, well mannered, obedient boys. Are you ready to see them???



You'll have to scroll down




and down




and down




Ahhhh here they are:

This one looks especially sweet. Just don't try to take his sippy cup of water.

This one is apparently at Disney World.

This one looks easy to get along with. "Sit still." "Hush." "Don't talk back to me." See! Obedient.

Now this one? .... looks a tiny bit on the naughty side... but seems harmless enough with his hands incapacitated in socks. How did he do that?

So for those of you Mothers who don't think your children have an obedient, cooperative moment in the day. Think again! They generally have 8 or 10 hours of it!!!!

Gabriels room Before and After

Would you believe this is Gabe's room before!

Some Pastors used this for their study. This is the bookcase that was in there.

Here's what it looked like when we first moved in. Note how little Gabe is. I'm so grateful that it was painted. It's an airy, beachy, lovely room.

Here it is now. If you haven't read about the transformation to toy room you can read it here.

Can you believe that's the same room!!

Organization

I did it! I tackled the Giant Monster in my life. TOYS. With some help from a gracious Hubby I tackled our outgrown, overabundant supply of toys this week. I threw in some rearranging for good measure. Are ya ready for this??? (Don't forget you can click on a picture to see it larger)

Here we go. This is Gideon's room. He's 4 and I had taken the sides off of his bed and he fell out 2 nights in a row. So, they are back indefinitely.



Here's the other side of the room. I painted an old dresser navy blue years ago for him. I love it. There's a few ribbons on the wall that I clothespin his artwork on to.


Here is his bookshelf and toys. Just before he was born my Mom helped me cover those 4 cardboard boxes with batting and fabric and add the plane and star to the front. They are holding up really well. A good friend snagged the wall shelf/airplane at a yard sale and I painted it.


Here's what Gideon's room looks like now! It is Both the boys room!! It's a hair tight in there, but we will bunk the beds as soon as they can handle it. And the room is now just for sleeping and getting dressed. NO MORE TOYS!!! Wheeeeee



Here's Gabe's (old) room. This picture was taken when we were transitioning him to a "big boy" bed. Thus the pack-n-play.


Here is Gabe's (old) room Now!!!

Ta Da! The new play room!!! Toy central. Warning: toys removed from this room are at risk of confiscation.


Here's the other side of the room. For now the changer stays. We are very close to potty trained...but not quite. So, it stays. That's Gabe's artwork on his ribbons.



Here Gideon is Drilling his brother's neck as I try to get a nice picture.


I want you to see the labels that I worked so hard on yesterday. See 'em on the boxes?


I just love these blue "recycle" bins for toys. They are sturdy enough for boys and stackable so they can actually get to the stuff in the bottom. About $8. each at Lowes Home Improvement.


Here is a picture label up close. I just print it in a wallet size on cheap paper and use packing tape to affix it to the proper container. Little guys can easily put toys back in the right place with this system.


Train track label.


The boys are Loving their new play room and cleaning up is so much better than before.

Does anyone have any other toy organizing ideas that have helped you? It is still tricky to find a place for some things.

St. Patrick's Day

Here's the boys after school on St. Patrick's Day.
Gabe made this Leprechaun.

Gideon wanted to close his eyes for his picture and would only hold still for 2 shots. The other one was worse than this... if you can imagine.

At Pre-school they had a "tasting of the greens." The boys enjoyed tasting all the different green foods from Broccoli to sherbert which Gideon says was sour.

Gideon told me that a leprechaun got in his class room while they were taking a walk. He messed up their room and stepped in green paint and had footprints everywhere. Then he jumped out the window! That naughty leprechaun. Gideon just loved recounting that story for me.

Azalia Bushes or Hybiscus or Flowering Bush of somekind It's a Camelia Bush!!! Thanks Lynn!

Last Week!

Today.

I'm amazed at how early it is blooming! Is this normal?
And what's it's name?
A little help here.

the race

If you missed "the car" click here to read that post first!

The Team (minus Daddy)

The Field

The Track

The Prizes

The Crowd

The Race

Look at 'em go

Justin did a great job... winning "Most Unique" for his awesome idea

We got second place in our first heat.
It was all down hill from there.
I think we only made it past the finish line that first time.
I'm going to have to spend a little more time on the "function" part next year.... perhaps a little less time on the "form" part!!

Two happy little boys.

What a great event!

the car

Today was a fun day. It was Pinewood Derby day! Red Hill hosted for neighboring churches.
Rodney was supposed to make a car, but just didn't have the time to do it. So, I volunteered my expert services! Ha!! This was my first one actually.

I began with a perfect rectangle....which I neglected to photograph. I got this far with my mitre saw and a drill. (There was the same amount of wood in front of the front axel as there is behind the back one.... before I lopped it off with my big saw.)


Then I made a phone call and borrowed a dremmel and a sander. Here I finally got the shape right and a few coats of paint on.



The front view in all it's tinfoil glory.


new windshield


glueing the lettering on




Finally finished!


Making the church bus was Rodney's idea. It was so much fun!


I clipped the actual license plate from a picture. The font size on the back door is a size 6 and 4.



The real bus


Our bus


Tomorrow: the race