A Family of Four

Monday, August 16, 2010

Fed Up with Fed Ex = Fabulous Finds!!!!

We have been so blessed the last two and half years to have recieved Wonderful hand-me-downs from my dear friend Courtney and her daughter Davery. Davery is just over a year older than Sierra and so the clothes and seasons have lined up perfectly! Not to mention Courtney has way better style and taste than me... so Sierra has been dressed in good fashion, often looking cuter than me!

When Sierra and I traveled out to California last month for a vacation Courtney gave me a ton of clothes to go through for Sierra for the next year!!! Hooray! There was everything from blue jeans to sweat pants and shirts, long sleeve tops, PJ's, slippers, rainboots, tennis shoes, sandles, dresses, hats, gloves, and Sierra's favorite... cowgirl boots! I didn't know how I could handle getting from the baggage claim to the shuttle and to the car with three suitcases and Sierra... so I oppted to ship it all... which we've done several times before! So Grandma shipped the box Fed-Ex a couple days after we left.... and after a week had gone by we figured something was amiss. After going through some hoops we found out that the package had never left California! They put out tracers and details on the contents etc. but have finally come back and said that they can't find it... file a claim. Well... we opted out of the insurance thinking it wouldn't be a problem... it's just a bunch of used clothes! Bummer... but we should at least be getting $100 compensation. I am trying to keep a positive mindset on it and hope that who ever winds up with it/took it needs the clothes more than we did and can put them to good use. (Nevermind my memory that keeps running through all the cute stuff that was in there!)

So, once I got past the fact that I cannot will the box here, I started figuring out just what we will really need! Realizing that replacing all of those clothes brand new will cost me way more than $100... and that with Sierra starting preschool soon the clothes she wears will be subject to paint, sand, mud, etc on a regular basis I went thrifting! There is a nice Goodwill near our house that we've done lots of donating to... and I decided it was our turn to do some shopping! So a couple of nights ago Sierra and I made an evening trip and came home with a bag full of goodies for only $20!!! We grabbed up three pairs of stretch waist pants for (important for potting on her own at school) and some long and short sleeve tops. While we were there I realized that I was also going to be needing some clothes that I wouldn't mind getting paint on, holes in, etc. for working at the preschool! So our $20 purchase also included a pair of pants and four long sleeve tops for me... plus a cute sweater I liked!

This morning Sierra and I visited the local children's consignment store in town, Recess! We hit the jack pot again! This place was great.... they had chalk out front for the children to color with, a play room in the back so that you could shop in peace... and dum dums for bribing the kiddos! Perfect! So with plenty of time to sort through all the girls clothes in Sierra's size I walked out with 13 items for only $54! Including some gap, and osh kosh jeans, several long sleeve tops, a cute cardigan and two hats for the winter! Love it! If you're in the Springs you've got to go check this place out!

From there we shot down the road a few blocks to another Goodwill. They didn't have much in Sierra's size but she did find a Disney Princess shirt for $.50. I again hit the jack pot finding another pair of pants and four short sleeve tops for work. Sierra also found a fun game called Don't Spill the Beans! We walked out with only spending $12!

We came home with full bags in tow with a total purchase price for all three trips of only $86... and that's clothes for Sierra and I both.... Hip Hip Hooray! And even better... we came home to have our new washing machine installed! Now I'm washing all these new things... and my house isn't shaking!!!

Here are some photos of our Fabulous Finds!!!

My new work wardrobe!
Sierra's Goodwill buys/school clothes

A couple of tops from the consignment shop (Sierra loved the half priced Elmo one... and the hooded top is Old Navy)


Her Cute new sweater and a darling top with leggings from gap



Sierra's new Osh Kosh outfit with hat, Gap jeans and Children's place top with hat, and another pair of jeans and great play shirt!

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Jumping for Joy!

So this weekend, I stumbled upon a great $3 find!!!!

We were going for a family walk Sunday morning before taking Cole to post. (Daddy has to spend a lot of time this month eating MRE's and sleeping around a bunch of stinky guys!) When we turned up around the corner I saw a neighbor having a yard sale... on a Sunday... odd. Their daughter was jumping around on a small exercise trampoline. I had considered getting Sierra one before as her gross motor skills are not the most coordinated! She's spent far more time developing her fine motor skills and language abilities than she has growing into her super long body! I figured it would be a good thing to help her exercise and build coordination! So I wondered over to ask how much they were asking... $3!!!

Wow... what a jackpot! I didn't have cash on me but said I'd get it when we went on post! So on the way back from post we stopped and loaded it up in the truck. Sierra couldn't wait to get it home. She's had the opportunity of jumping on a few large trampolines this summer and new what it meant! She helped me to wipe it down and got busy JUMPING! She of course asked for some music to jump to as well! It's one of the first things she does in the morning now... and here and there thoughout the day, and it has to go outside in the afternoons to be shared with the neighbors (which has brought about a great lesson in taking turns and sharing!). Not to mention that tonight she asked for extra time on her clean up timer when she was done to "JUMP!"

But shhhhh! Don't tell her that she's also fitting in some good ole exercise while she's at it and wearing herself out! She's a typical girl... likes to play dolls, tea party, grocery shopping... but that exercise stuff... that's hard work! So any way I can sneak it in and have fun! I'm al for it! And for $3... You can't beat that!!!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

California Vacation Post 2

So here's my final attempt! I got several pictures from our trip downloaded... just not in order!

Mel, Sarah, (the bride), me, Behtany, and Katie Gray (preggers)

Josh and Sarah Slayton... and me
Brian, Bethany, and me before the wedding

A play date at the park with Brendon

After dinner with the Morris crew!
EJ, Sierra, Zach, and Max after Max's baseball game

Down at the beach with Zach and Max... checking out the cold Pacific ocean

Wore out after a day at the beach and in the pool with Zach

Sierra and the pool at Grandma Jeanette's house

All the cousins and auntie's in the pool!

Andrew, Cooper, Crystal and Sierra... Sierra loves her cousins!!!

Sierra and Cooper eating rock candy suckers in Grandma's garden!

Grandma Jeanette and all her grandkids

Reading a story with Mimi Dorothy at the hotel in Pismo beach

Fun in the sun at the beach!

Cooling off under grandma Lulu's umbrella (love this picture!)

Having fun with Great Great Aunt Jo... Grammy Jo

After breakfast with Uncle Mike

On a sugar high with Aunt Rita and Uncle Chris... thanks Uncle Chris!

Having a blast with Uncle Chris and wearing off the sugar high!

Sierra and cousin Cooper sharing a grocery cart

Sierra watching the surfers on the peer

Mommy and Sierra watching the waves from the pier and enjoying the cool ocean air!