Some good bargains

I am all about finding a bargain and saving some money! This past week I have hit the jackpot. First of all I went to this new thrift store that just opened up. While looking through the clothes I spoted two girls winter coats. They were adorable, one red and one pink. They were Hannah Andersson size 90. I wasn't sure what size this was, but it looked about like Millies size for this coming winter 3T. I asked about the price $4.99. I bought the red one. When I got home I looked on ebay and they were going for around $50. Bargain. I am going back to get the other one to put it up on online. According the the Hannah Andersson website a size 90 is about a 3T. Even better.

After washing it, I hung it off the ironing board to dry and Millie spoted it. She had to try it on and didn't want to take it off. It was 90 degress out and Millie is sporting a winter coat.

Bargain number 2.

While on a recent trip to the outlet mall I ran into The Children's place to look for dress clothes for Levi. Well not much there for Levi so I went back to the girls section and spotted this black and white dress. I checked out the price, $6.99 with and extra 25% off. They had two and both were 3Ts. On my way to the register I spotted the coordinating hat, $.99 with an extra 25% off. Bargain.

Millie's new black and white dress prompted a whole family coordination ensemble on Sunday.

The best thing though, A couple of months ago I made a black and white bow with a white button with black wiggly lines on it. I was organizing her bows and I thought to myself, Millie needs a outfit to match this.......I think it was fate. Millie loved the hat and kept it on, so maybe we need another b and w outfit. :)

Lets go swimming!!!

Last week the pool finally got warm enough for Millie to get in. She absolutely loved it, as long as Scott or I were holding her. Her suit is a one piece with floatation device built in, but it made her go face first into the water so we put arm floaties on her and she stayed upright. Now she could barely move, but she was floating. She splashed and kicked and jumped. It was fun. She hasn't asked to get back in, but she has been telling everybody, "Levi water" (Don't worry mom and Uncle David we are watching her and are very careful about locking the doors and making sure she doesn't get out without us around) Pool safety is #1 in our house!

Big Potty News!!!!!

It has been almost four weeks now since we started potty training, and we are making progress. For the most part Millie is potty trained with a few exceptions.

1. Before we started this whole training process or "breaking her" as all the older ladies I know call it. Millie would wake up completely dry in the morning. Now she is always wet. She gets up and goes potty so I am not for sure why she is peeing during the night.

2. The whole number 2 deal. Number 1 we got down. Millie will come to me and tell me when she has to go. As for number 2, she just goes right in her pants and then comes and tells me. Before training she would make a big ol production out of it and you knew exactly what she was doing. Now she doesn't even get red in the face or make a noise. BUT tonight while I was on the phone Millie came into the kitchen and was taking off her pull-up. I wondered what she was doing, but I had to concentrate on the phone call. I helped her take it off, because I saw that it was wet. I threw it away and went to get another one. When I came back Millie was on the potty and gues what she did!!!!!!! She went poopy on the potty!!!!!! It was a very exciting time when I got off the phone. So we are making progress.

Some training adventures!!!!

1. Millie is not too fond of public restrooms, nor am I, or she just wants to sit there and flush the toilet over and over again. So this has prompted me to purchase some portable potties. We now have one at church, and one in the back of my van. This way we can go where ever we are. Putting the groceries in the van while Millie goes potty. This is called Multi-tasking.

2. A couple Wednesday nights ago, we at church and the service was over and I was talking when I heard laughter, I turned to see what was going on, when I saw my precious little darling running from the alter to the door, with her dress up and pull-up off, saying "I potty, I potty" She had to go, whats a girl to do"

For the most part it is going very well. Her birthday is next week and I bought her some Elmo panties, so hopefully this will help us all along. She loves Elmo.

More Coffee Please

The other day I was washing dishes and Levi was playing the piano leaving Millie to entertain herself. She was sitting at the counter and had her cup, saucer, and spoon from her tea set from Aunt Sara and was saying, "More Coffee Please" then she would get up get the tea pot pour the "coffee" with sound effects, you know, "pshhhhhhh" then go back and sit down and say "thank you" she did this over and over again. It was too cute. I would of put a video on but all you would have heard was the piano.

Thank you Aunt Sara, we love the Tea Set.

Under the Sea

It it that time again for the switch of themes for my Sunday School class. This quarters them is Under the Sea. I loved decorating for this. I went to the Dollar Tree and bought party streamers, blue table clothes, fish cutouts, and I found sea shells at Big Lots. I also ordered blow up sea creatures from oriental trading company. They are a big hit with my girls.

Our treasure chest with gold coins around it. (Party favors from the dollar tree)

The girls swimming in the ocean.

See the waves above us?

The sea shells - only $4!

Just so you know all animals are made out of construction paper - not bought. I thought about putting pictures of my kiddos faces on the animals, and I have even taken the pictures, but I just haven't printed them out yet. When I do the "what a catch" slogan will be more appropriate.

My goal for the Sunday School Department - set your standards high and others will follow.

Bow Making

I got inspired again to make some bows. While I am out shopping or when Hobby Lobby has ribbon 1/2 off I go and buy some and put it in my bow making kit. When I get inspired or have time I get it all out and make up several bows at one time. The other night I set up, listened to a book on cd, and made bows until 2 am.

I am a night owl, just like my dad. On a side note, my father has also passed on restless leg syndrome to me. This was made very appearant the other day when I pulled the blankets back on our bed to change the sheets and saw that I had somehow kicked/ rubbed a hole in our sheets where my feet lay. I told mom about it and she said that dad has done this also. Weird. So I got new sheets. I bought some that had a high thread count and were double woven. So hopefully it won't happen again for some time.

Back to bow making, I have apparantly made over 100 bows because I had to go and buy some more clips because I ran out, and they come in packs of 100. Now before you start laughing at my daughters bow collection and thinking she is only 2, not all of the bows were for her. I made some for my new neice Anna Grace. So Susan I hope you wanted some because she has a few coming her way. As soon as I find a box to ship them in.

Millie wouldn't say cheese for this pic. She was ready to head out the door for church.

The three rows on the left side are for Baby Anna. Susan if you need a color that you don't see here let me know and I will do what I can to keep our little sister supplied with bows to match her outfits. And don't worry about size....in my world the bigger the better :)

Our Little Musician

Since school has been out Levi has taken more time to play/practice his guitar. He has even started writing and playing his own songs. Well this week he started sitting down at the piano and playing. I was getting ready for church the other night and he was playing the theme song to Shark Boy and Lava Girl. He picked it out all by himself! Then yesterday I was playing "Revelation Song" he was watching and when I got up he sat down and started to play.

At the piano there is a chord chart with all the chords with pictures of finger positions, he is looking at it and then at the lead sheet. I am pretty impressed and I think you should be too! One day this boy is going to be a great musician. He can keep the beat on the drums, doing well on the guitar, is playing the piano, and can sing.....in tune! I am proud!

I know that Levi is in his under-roos but that is just how he rolls. They boy doesn't like pajamas or clothes. When he was three we would come home from the grocery store and he would walk in the back door, take his shoes off and then sit down and take all of his clothes off down to his skivies. Hey it is just how he rolls. As you can see Millie has her pj top on, but no bottoms. It is just easier with her when we are potty training. Plus it was Saturday, and we had nothing to do....which is very rare for us. So we all stayed in our pajamas for most of the day.

Happy Birthday Cousins

Instead of heading south from the campground to head home on Friday we turned the van north and drove up to grandma and pap's house for the weekend to see Aunt Sara, Uncle David, Judah, and Gideon.

Sara Jane decided that since this would be the only time we would all be together for the summer we should have a mass birthday party for all the cousins, because of all their birthdays being during the summer. So we celebrated Gideon who will be 1, Millie who will be 2, Judah who will be 3, and Levi who will be 8. Next year we will add Baby Anna Grace and will have a 1, 2, 3, 4, and 9 year old.

It was a great party complete with a rainbow cake (Judah picked it out) fourth of July poppers and growing worms (you know the little things you set on fire and they grow) Millie watched it for a minute, laughed, and then called it poop. What can I say, she calls it as she sees it.

All kiddos got to open presents. Gideon received a little people school house, Judah got a new garbage truck, Millie got a pretend cleaning kit and green, made in the usa tea set, and Levi received a Harley Davidson helmet from Pap and a Legos galaxy battleship set with 720 pieces. (Thank you Aunt Sara)

The little ones were handed their presents to open, but Mr. Levi had to work for his. Thanks to Uncle David Levi was led on a scavenger hunt which included running to the bike rack, skipping to the sidewalk and crawling through the mulberries. Levi's hands, legs, and feet are stained. :) But he had fun and that is all that matters. It will eventually wear off.

After all of the excitement of the birthday party we headed home, and not 15 minutes into the trip I turned around and this was what I saw. They are both exhausted, and I am very thankful that we will be home all week next week.

This is the year that Levi will finally be able to go out riding with Pap. He can hardly wait and is super excited for July 25th to come so that he is the legal riding age in Indiana. He picked out a helmet with flames on it, you know the cool stuff. He was pretty proud of it, and it was the first piece of news he gave daddy when we got home this evening. Daddy was up on the laddar doing something to the side of the house and Levi jumped out of the van and said "Hey Dad, I got a Harley Helmet!"

It is now 11:15pm I am in bed updating my blog, Millie is fast asleep and Levi and Scott are downstairs putting together the Lego ships. They have been at it now since 8:30. :)

and this is only part of what awaits me on Monday.....we have church tomorrow and I do not work on Sundays......well at my house that is.

Levi's Solo

On Thursday evening Levi had a solo singing part for the camp choir. We were very proud. Although we are not for sure what he is singing, we are proud just the same. Levi was super excited and not one bit nervous.

Although the services were geared toward 8 and 9 year olds, Millie had fun and enjoyed them also. Here she is getting into the song. If you didn't know Millie has been diagnosed with M.E.S.S it is a fairly typical disease with young children. :)

Home at Last!

The week is finally over and we are home!!! Although it was a very good week with lots of good times and memories I am very thankful to be in my own bed with my own family right here at home.

We arrived at camp on Sunday evening around 10:30 pm and I unloaded three sleepy children into a cabin with three excited teenagers (well two 14 year olds and one 11 year old) and lets just say the party began and didn't stop until Friday evening. I would just like to mention that I am getting old and staying up until the early morning hours is getting harder to do. Well the sleepy children woke up and the excited ones got even more excited. So a recap we have seven people in a cabin at the campground (for those of you who have never seen them...they are smaller than a hotel room.) As you can see from the sleeping arrangements that we were crowded. I felt like the "Waltons" when I finally got them to go to bed around 1 am. Millie included. "Goodnight Emily, Goodnight Adrian, Goodnight Christopher, Goodnight Trevor, Goodnight Levi, Goodnight Millie."

Yes I did sleep in a full size bed with Trevor, Levi, and Millie. Chris slept on the couch and I moved Millie to her bed sometime. But there was not much room to spare.

On Monday morning I took the boys up to get registered and settled into their dorm. They were both excited. Levi brought Ellie -a stuffed elephant that mom bought for him when he was two. When we got into the dorm and Levi looked around and saw that there were no other stuffed animals he asked me to take her back. That evening around 10pm the Dean , Bro. Addison called Scott and we had to take a trip up to the dorms to deliver Ellie and calm Levi down. He was homesick. Ellie stayed for the rest of the week.

These three boys (Levi, Mason, and Trevor) were called the three muskateers, because they were always together. Who says three is a crowd. These boys figured camp out real quick. On monday for lunch and dinner they were always the last in line and had to wait "forever" to get their food. So on Tuesday morning, when I went to check on Levi before I left for work, I found the three of them waiting at the cafeteria doors at 7:30 am for breakfast that would be served at 8 am. This way they explained they would be first and would not have to wait in line.

Levi loved camp and is ready to go back next year. In the van yesterday on our way to Grandma's house he said he liked camp because he was "pop-a-lar" (popular) and all the girls wanted to marry him. Hopefully next year it will be more spiritual for him. :)

Millie was a trooper. She was off her normal schedule, didn't always get a nap, and was in church every evening for most of the week and she was a happy camper. Her favorite part was taking a bath in the sink and being able to climb out of her bed onto my bed and jump.

As for me I also had a great time, I love my nieces and nephew and love being involved in their lives. I have always said that I want them to grow and remember me as their fun aunt. The twins are always good and fun to be around. I met many teenagers and I am very thankful that i am past that stage of life. The girls are very beautiful inside and out and very popular. So popular in fact that some friends thought it would be funny to bring us the snake they found on the campgrounds. I was not very excited to see it.

As for Christopher, he went all week without his medicine (he has aspergers) and not one problem!!!!! I also got an education about presidents. The boy can tell you anything you want or need to know about presidents...from where they were born (all of them) who their running mate was, who the opponent was, years of the elections, terms, parties, assassinations.......it is truly amazing to listen to him. He is like a little professor.

It was a good week!

Levi is going to Camp!!!

The application has been signed and the check has been written and so tomorrow evening we are off to Fortville, Indiana for Levi's first ever time at church camp. I am a little nervous, so I am going to be staying out there in a cabin with my nieces and nephew for the week, just so I can keep an eye on things. Such as taking showers, changing underwear, wearing an outfit that actually matches, and making sure that Levi does not wear his crocs or shower flip flops to church.

Grandma McCoy was telling me today that she would go and pick up Uncle Joe and Uncle David from camp and when she would unpack their bags all of their clean underwear and socks were still in the suitcase untouched and maybe half of their clothes were still clean and neatly folded. "Boy did they stink" were her words. So they survived so I am sure that Levi will too.

Being the mom that I am I went out and bought Levi a little plastic basket to put his shampoo, soap, and other items that he will need in the shower. (This is assuming that he will actually take a shower. This is what counselors are for right?) So that he can just carry the basket and not drop anything on the way to the shower. Well I was very proud of my purchase until I got home and Scott said that kids would make fun of him for having a shower caddy. Levi liked it so I am still sending it. We shall see.

So please pray for Levi this coming week, that he will see this time not as just something that is fun to do, but also see and experience the spiritual side of camp.

Adventures in Potty Training Days 2,3, and 4

Well potty training is not going so well but, we are starting to see some more action in the toilet and not as much in the pants so we are still working on it. Millie has got up everyday soaking wet, except for today when Grandma Nancy got her up right away and she went in the poty!!!!! We were all excited! She also went number 2 on the toilet today, but then she dirtied her diaper twice for Pap and once for me, boy she went alot today, at least we know she is healthy. :)

While at Pap and Mamaw's Millie found the pair of boots that mom bought for Judah and put them on and wouldn't take them off, not even to go potty. Hopefully there won't be too much fighting over them next weekend when both Judah and Millie will be there together.

Also if you notice the band-aid on Millies leg, please don't worry too much. There isn't an actual boo-boo but Millie had to have a band-aid on and freaks out when it falls off or you take it off to give her a bath. Trust me folks, she is a true mess, but a cute one at that.

Weekend Highlights

It is now 10:30pm on Saturday evening and everyone is home safe and sound. Matthew, our youth pastor, just walked in the door, so now we can relax and go to bed. He is a little directionally challenged so we always worry when he is driving the youth around. In case you didn't know Matt stays with us on the weekends because he lives so far away.

This weekend I went up to Marion for Josh and Bri's wedding with Millie, and Scott and Levi headed over to Cincy for some father and son bonding time.

On Friday evening if you were watching the Reds vs. Cubs game you saw Scott and Levi on TV. I have received several phone calls and text messages about them being television stars. They got a hotel room and spent the night so that they could meet up and go to Kings Island with Matt and the youth group on Saturday. They did this because Scott didn't want to drive home late and then get up early to drive back over (we only live about an hour from Cincy) and he thought that he could sleep in a little. Well Levi woke up at 6:30 this morning bouncing off the walls ready to go to Kings Island. They had a blast and are both sun kissed even though Scott applied sunscreen to Levi twice today.

Here is what an 8 year old(almost) looks like after a weekend of fun! Exhausted and sunburned.

So while they were father and son bonding I headed up to Marion for a little Pap and Mamaw time with Millie. On Friday evening while Pap was out on his charity cancer run on the Harley mom and I helped Tammy out with the cooking and preparation of the wedding. When we got home at 10 pm Pap was in the garage cleaning the Harley so we popped in.

For those of you who do not know Millie is a Pap's girl through and through. On Saturday morning we just hung out in the living room in our pj's until it was time to get ready for the wedding. I think Millie enjoyed being the center of attention.

Around 1pm I put Millie down for a nap at home with Pap and Mom, Grandma McCoy and I headed to the wedding. When we arrived Jacob greeted us at the door. Isn't he one cool dude in his tux?

When we got home Millie was up and she and Pap were playing outside and Pap let us know that she dirtied her diaper not once but twice. We are still working on the whole potty training issue. So Pap had to change two diapers, something he has not done in a very long time. Thanks Pap your the best. Hey I had a great time at the wedding being kid free.

It was a good weekend!!!

Counting with Pap

Millie Bug is getting smarter everyday, today she was counting with Pap and I caught her in action. She can also count to ten in Spanish, thanks to Levi. He is doing a great job at being big brother and teaching his little sister.

Adventures of Potty Training - Day 1

I have been waiting for this day for sometime now. For the past month or so Millie has gotten up in the morning with a dry diaper. I knew that I had to wait for school to be out to potty train because there was no way I could do it while Millie was at CMO. So today as soon as I heard Millie I was in to get her. What did I discover......a soaking wet diaper. Well this should have been my warning sign but I pressed on. At first Millie enjoyed our trips to the potty she didn't actually go, but had fun with me reading books and singing songs to her. Then after about the 10th time she was pretty tired of it sitting up there and would cry and insist she have her "Kye" aka blanket. Then there is the whole underwear episode.....watch video below.

As you can see Millie was not very excited about the new undies. This ended with Millie laying on the floor crying "I wan diapers, I wan diapers" over and over again. I just ignored her...eventually she stopped and went and rode her bike.

We woke up at 7am and at 11 am Millie still had not gone to the bathroom. Now we had sat there plenty of times for her to go. I was in my room picking up when she came to me and just stood there with a sheepish look on her face...I knew. So we had this long discussion (well I did all the talking) about how that was yucky and big girls don't potty in their pants. Pair number 2 of training undies. At noon we sat on the toilet...no potty. Millie took her nap woke up at 1:50 dry. I sat her up there and at 2:00 still no potty. I let her down with strict instructions not to pee in her underwear and off she went to play. At 2:05 here she came......wet undies and all. Another discussion about big girls and how yucky dirty underwear are. We have to go get Levi so I put on her first pair of pull-ups. (By the way I am not a fan of them, but I didn't want to have to deal with pee everywhere in the car) Millie was happy that she had a diaper. At 9:00 pm Millie was still dry and still had not went potty (Maybe she went in the bathtub...who knows) It is Wednesday and we had church tonight and I took her three times while at church and no potty there either. We come home and I sit Millie on the toilet wanting her to go before she goes to bed, not one minute up there and what do we have............YES MILLIE POTTIED ON THE BIG GIRL SEAT!!!!!!!! It was a whole family celebration including dancing, singing, clapping, and of course M&Ms.

Tomorrow is a new day.

Levi is a Second Grader!!!!

Our two favorite teachers Mrs. Tam and Mrs. Deweese!!!!!!

Today was Levi's last day of first grade! Finally after two years Levi has been PROMOTED to second grade. The first time around of 1st grade was one rough year for everyone involved. We are very grateful to Mrs. Deweese and Mrs. Tam for their love and concern for Mr. Levi and suggested we hold him back a year just to let him grow and mature. We took their advice and repeated first grade which has proven to be one of the best decisions we have ever made. Levi has soared this year, and has proven himself to be "the real McCoy" being mathematically minded. He did OK in reading, but has grown to love and comprehend mathematics.

Summer birthdays were celebrated on the last day of school! Here Levi is walking out for the last time as a first grader with his birthday hat on.

To celebrate the beginning of summer we took a trip to dippin dots! Yum Yum (I don't know if this was for the kiddos or for me.)

So finally summer has arrived and we are off with a bang. This weekend Scott and Levi are heading to Cincinnati for a Reds game and a trip to Kings Island. Then on Monday Levi is heading off to church camp for the very first time. Then the following week is vacation bible school. Always on the go.....this is our life.