Grandparents are Great!

Nadia has really missed her Daddy. The last time she saw him was last Friday night, and she won't see him until Sunday morning (8.5 days later). Thankfully Paul's parents were here last Sunday and are coming up again tomorrow, and my mom was here from Tuesday afternoon until about 12pm today. It definitely has helped distract her some from missing her Daddy. I have missed him as well I wasn't even able to talk to him on Tuesday or Wednesday. That was tough! Today he toured Auschwitz. I can't wait until tomorrow night when I'll see him again! After my mom left, I mowed the lawn while Nadia was napping. My mom took this picture right before she left. He slept almost the whole time that I mowed the lawn.

Wednesday we checked out the thrift store connected with the recycling center that I've been taking things to lately. I will probably buy books there in the future, but I doubt I'll shop there for clothes, shoes, or toys. That night we went to Bonanza for dinner. The kids were great! Thursday we visited a consignment shop that just sells clothing, shoes, and toys for infants and toddlers. I was trying to determine whether to shop their in the future and also whether to sell things there or not. I found that the quality was much better than the thrift store. The prices (without any discounts) were higher than yard sales and the clearance racks. The prices with discounts (for example the summer clothing was 75% off) were excellent.  While there I bought Ian his first pair of sneakers, Nadia her first pair of slippers plus a pair of snowboots and a fall dress for Nadia. I would have shopped more, but Nadia had to go to the bathroom. Kudos to her because she held it until we got home where she promptly went #1 and #2 on the toilet. Good job, Miss Nadia! She's now averaging 2 accidents a week (always in her crib).

Before going to the consignment shop, we went to Toys R Us. I hadn't been there in over a year. We bought two new swings for the swingset. I went to the hardware store this morning and bought what I needed to install the swings, and they are already up on the swingset! We also bought a spare "doggie" - Nadia's beloved stuffed animal, just in case that one is ever lost (or becomes too bedraggled), and we got her some fingerpaint, fingerpaint paper, and a smock. I think she'll have fun with those! My mom was impressed with how much her coloring skills have improved over the past month.

Nadia was rather upset when she woke up from her nap today since Grandma and Daddy were both gone. I let her watch VeggieTales even though that is usually reserved as a reward for going #2 on the potty. I also decided to take the kids to McD's for dinner. It was the first time I put Ian in a highchair at a restaurant. Nadia enjoyed her happy meal, and I enjoyed my fish filet sandwich and real fruit smoothie.