Monday Morning Reflections....

Emily was baptized this past Sunday. The pastor came over to meet us as agreed last Thursday, and that was pretty interesting… Rachel, (our 2 year old) kept saying over and over again "I don’t like that man." Then Laura (our oldest) said she wanted to show him her gun. (My dad bought her a pink .22 rifle for Christmas last year. Yes totally inappropriate but that’s my dad in a nut shell) I am quite sure this pastor will never forget our family.

As for the baptism, he would not allow for a private service, so we all headed to church Sunday. Emily just wanted to get down and walk, and being her christening dress was super long it was impossible, so Dave and I took turns trying to wrestle her in our arms, stepping in an out of church service until it was time for baptism. After she was baptized, Dave took her to the car and the poor thing was so wiped out, she took a nap while they waited for church to be over.
Sometime this week I am going to take her to have her portraits done in the gown, and hopefully she will be in a better mood! I am still proud of her.

Obviously we had a busy weekend. I did knock out some Santa shopping for the kids which I am pretty proud of. I got Emily’s main gift which I am was sure was going to impossible to find something for her, but I found the perfect item for her at Costco (gotta love it!). I got some great bargains at Target as two items Laura and Rachel wanted were on sale, and they were running coupons on the items, AND they gave me a gift card for spending over $50 on toys, so all in all I got an amazing deal. I need to get everything out and look and see what I have for them so if I can see if I am almost done Santa shopping…I think I am getting close though!
Tonight I plan on setting up the girls Christmas tree in the playroom. We do a real family Christmas tree so I have to wait until they are for sale. I also have been collecting some beachy ornaments to do a beach theme tree this year, but I don’t have a tree yet for that… I think I want to get a white tree for it. Guess I have to do some bargain hunting for that…

End of week wrap up...

Today I went to a craft show and it wasn't that exciting... I didn't see anything that I had to have. We did however see Santa... The Salavation Army was there and had set up an area where they would take your photo with him and the fee for photo would go to chartity. Rachel didn't have a problem, and promptly told him she wanted lots of toys. Laura was terrfied, and only did a photo if I held her. Santa looks to be about 90 years old BTW. All these years must be catching up with him!

The time change has me tired. It's getting dark so early, that by 6pm I am ready to go to bed. It's everything I can do to stay awake. Momma needs some Red Bull or something cause the diet coke isn't cutting it....

Emily is getting Baptized Sunday at church. I'm peeved the new pastor wont do a private service as we have done with the others... It's a new pastor, and I see his point as this is her joining the church, etc.... but being a man he doesn't understand that my three kids do not feel like sitting still and quiet during the service, and we have some older relatives attending that have a hard time sitting comfortably in pews. Yeah I don't see this going well. Also, he's coming to our house tonight to meet with us about it, so I am rushing around now trying to put away my creepy halloween decorations before he think's we worship Satan. Ugg I wish he just would have done a private cermony. Totally bitter....

We went last week to see about a new car, as they had sent us this letter saying our trade in was at peak, and the number they gave us was high... HA! When we went in they gave us a crappy trade in offer, below what the letter said, and they gave us this speech about how a different organization handles those letters and their numbers are not realistic... Umm no thanks then. Our car is still in excellent condition with very low miles, so we passed on it. Not any easy choice after we freaking drove the new loaded model which I still have dreams about still. Oh well.

My kids have become obsessed with books. We have read everything in the house, so I got a great idea to head to the local library and check out the kids section. Why didn't I do this sooner?? They have so many books, they are free, and I love how I can bring home a "theme". For example, I got a bunch of halloween books last week. Love it! We have several library branches in our city, so I have just been going to one that is on my route home from work. I also have found a few things for myself to read, and even though I love my Kindle, you can't beat free... I also love how I can go online to reserve books, have them sent to the library branch where I want to pick it up back, and I can even recheck out books if I need to keep them longer by going online. Love it! It doesn't take much to excite me lol. I just completed Tori Spelling's book Mommywood... it was cute. Good lord she has some momma drama though... I am about to read her first book she did sTori Telling.

Our weekend is going to be busy, Laura had a birthday party to go to for a school friend, then the pool we belong to is having a fall festival, and then of course Sunday is the big baptism.

In between that, I am trying to knock out my christmas shopping for the wee ones... wish me luck!

Dream House

Sigh... My dream house is for sale. This is a house on the next street over. Whenever I have gone for a bike ride, walk, or a short drive I always gaze at it and think to myself how much I love that house. When I saw the for sale sign I gasped. I can't believe anyone would ever want to move and leave the house, but I am pretty the sure the owners are in bad health and that is why... It's prices at 685,000 but seriously it's a steal at that price because everything inside is custom and perfect! There is a view of the river, two kitchens, it's just perfect in everyway.

I had to share the link because you can take a virtual tour, and the insides of the house are awesome.... I love their furniture, their decorations, etc etc. I would kill to be able to afford this house, and for this lady's taste. Seriously, take some time to check it out!

http://vt.realbiz360.com/MLS-238373.html

Halloween 2009

My girls were all girly bugs this year. Ladybug, Butterfly, and Bumble Bee. They were so cute in their little costumes! Halloween is my favorite! There is just something magical about it.... I love the smell of pumpkins once they have been carved and have a candle going in them. I love seeing kids dressed up in costumes, and I love decorating for halloween!

We carved pumpkins the night before, and the girls loves playing in icky pumpkin guts. They were so excited about lighting the pumpkin that night, they ran and got my parents (they live next door), and made them come out and look. It is my mission to make my girls love halloween as much as I do, and I think I have accomplished that!

Ann Taylor Loft Sale...

Run to your nearest Ann Taylor Loft cause they are having 40% off everything on sale, and ALOT is on sale... I ran by yesterday and scored a crazy amount of stuff. Love that store and love their sales! Sale runs through Sunday.

Happenings....

*I got the flu shot today at my work, will be getting the H1N1 too as soon as it comes in. As for my kids I usually do the regular flu shots for them, but I am still on the fence with the H1N1. The H1N1 has already hit my children’s preschool, but so far knock on wood, they have been fine. One day I say I am going to get it for them, and then the next day I read about someone having crazy complications from it, and it scares me off.

*So excited that Halloween is almost here! My kids have Halloween parties at their school this week, and Halloween costume parades. Tomorrow I am taking off to attend Laura’s school party, and see her parade in her super cute lady bug costume. Friday we do the same with Rachel. The girls are going to be so cute dressed up in their frilly costumes! I am already itching to take pictures!

*I am toying around with the idea of a new car. I am on the fence with this decision as well, as my car payment is super low, it’s almost paid off, and it’s the only car payment we have going on the three cars we own. It’s still is good condition being a 2006. There is a really good deal going and we could get a awesome trade in… but of course our payment would go up, and then we would have a payment going for a while instead of just a few more months... However, the car we have found we are obsessed with… it’s the same kind we have now, but new and has all the bells and whistles…Seriously, it’s the nicest thing I have ever sat in…I love it. But is it worth it? These decisions are so hard when you have three kids. You just never know what unplanned expense is going to come up. But on the other hand, it we would have a nice warranty, and not have to worry about car repairs, and if we wait, down the road our payment would be a lot more since our trade in would not be as good… I’m not going to lie, I want this car super bad, but it wont kill me if we decide to hold off. I still have a super nice car that has plenty of room for my family, and for that we are blessed. I just wish I had a crystal ball to see if it’s the best decision. Mean while at least this has inspired my husband to clean up the car really nice to get top trade in…

An attempt to be trendy...

I forced the husband to take me to the mall last night, because I had a mission. I NEEDED this sweater dress, and decieded I needed to be trendy and get leggings too....The dresses are on sale currently in store (old navy) for $25 (all the other styles too). Totally wanted a crazy amount of them but I was good and just got one... The leggings I got at Macy's and they are by HUE. They were not on sale and apparently their stuff runs a tad high.... They do feel like good quality though...they were $25 too, but I loved how this brand didn't have lace on the ends like a lot of the more affordable brands and stores have the leggings...

Ok, so this outfit is very Lindsay Lohan like....but I love it! I rocked the leggings in the 90's and you have to admit, that was a very comfy style. Hey I could also wear these suckers like long underwear when we go on our vacation this Jan. because they are very warm. I am now impatiently awaiting for the weather to get cooler so I can wear this new outfit, because the last few days around here have been warm... That's Virginia weather for you though!