Thankful Tuesday

1. Ian has learned how to buckle his seat belt! When we were shopping at some yard sales on Friday, Ian spotted a Buzz Lightyear toy. It had been on his Christmas list, and I almost got it for him then. Our neighbor was asking $4 for it, and I told Ian that he could have it if he paid me back. He only had $2 in his bank, and he had already done another job for me (helped me clean the refrigerator) to earn 50 cents toward another yard sale purchase he made. I told him he'd only have to pay me $2 for the toy if he learned how to buckle his seat belt, and that was finally the motivation he needed to learn this skill. Now I only have to buckle Oliver!!

2. I had been contemplating buying Nadia some cowboy boots for the riding lessons, but I decided I'd only buy her some if I could find them at a yard sale. On Friday one of our neighbors was selling a beautiful pair of red cowboy boots (said Jessie on them from Toy Story). They are one size bigger than what she's wearing, but she could keep them on, and it just means they'll fit her longer. Sold! (for $1.50) It was perfect timing because on Friday her teacher let her have her lesson a horse for the first time (Ian was still on the pony). She loves her new boots and will wear them more than just for riding lessons to be sure.

3. Paul took the kids to Lowe's for a kid's workshop on Saturday morning. I figure we'll take advantage of those while we can (before soccer games start up again on Saturdays). It's so nice that these two hardware stores offer these free programs! This project involved hammering 12 nails. Paul says that the kids definitely need some practice with their hammering skills.

4. While they were at Lowe's, Oliver and I did a little shopping at

Target (for things like shin guards), a pet store (to entertain Oliver), and Dress Barn. I hadn't been in one of those stores in years. It used to be one of my favorites, and I quickly discovered as I walked around the store that it is still one of my favorites! Last summer I was intent on buying myself a new outfit for our family photo shoot, and I couldn't find anything I liked (and I shopped at several department stores). I should have gone to a Dress Barn. On a whim I decided to buy myself one new outfit. A

skirt and top really caught my eye. I tried them on, and I really liked the outfit. Many times I think a dress or other outfit looks great on the hanger but then I don't like it once I try it on. I honestly cannot remember the last time I bought myself an article of clothing that wasn't on sale or on a clearance rack (or didn't involve the use of a coupon). We'd have to go back at least 10 years and it honestly might be the first time I've ever done that in my life. It felt like such a splurge to pay "full price" for a skirt and top, but I did it, and I love the outfit. The solid brown skirt can be worn with other tops. I think all the yard sale shopping I do for the kids has also made it harder for me to pay retail prices. On the same day I bought that outfit, I paid 25 cents for a beautiful dress for Nadia at a yard sale, but I don't shop for myself at yard sales.

5. As is already quite clear, we shopped at a few yard sales last Friday and Saturday. I always spend at least $40 at one neighbor's yard sale every year, and she sells most things for $1, which shows how much I buy from her! Her daughter is one year older than Nadia, and she buys most of her daughter's clothes at stores like Gymboree so they are still in great shape. Nadia was thrilled with the princess snow boots for next winter for $1.50, a new leotard for gymnastics (the same style as the other one I got her recently) for $1, etc. We didn't have a yard sale, but I did make one trade with another neighbor. I traded Nadia's bike (that was too small for her) for a Little People Noah's ark toy set. I also put out a piece of exercise equipment I bought in 1996 (and haven't used in many years) on the driveway with a sign marked "FREE," and someone took it.

6. On Friday Paul met us after the kids' horse back riding lesson at Friendly's, which was Nadia's pick for dinner last week. Although sometimes I cringe at the cost of eating out, hopefully we're creating fond memories for the kids.

7. My parents got Nadia a new bike for her birthday! After Paul assembles it, we are hoping to finally get her riding a two wheel bike without training wheels.

8. Paul and I enjoyed going to a dinner and dance on Saturday night! The dance teacher who is teaching the Friday night class in our town set up this dance at a restaurant in Lewisburg. If you ate dinner at the restaurant, the three hour dance was free. If you didn't, the dance cost $20 per couple. We hadn't had dinner out (just the two of us) since February so we decided to have dinner and go to the dance on Saturday night instead of going to the Friday night class. I even splurged and got a dessert at the restaurant (which was SO yummy). It has been at least a year since I've done that. We had never eaten at that restaurant before. I also did line up a babysitter for three Friday nights this summer so that we can attend the dance class three more times in the near future! I love ballroom dancing with my husband! It brings back such happy memories for one thing. We did some foxtrot, swing, rhumba, tango, chacha, and waltz. I think I'm finally going to invest in some proper dance shoes because it's hard to ballroom dance in sandals that don't have a strap around the back of the shoe.

9. On Friday evening as we were shopping at Aldi's, Ian was sitting in the shopping cart (each cart has seats for two kids) singing "Standing in the need of prayer" all throughout the store. I love that kid, and I love to hear him sing!

10. Al and Millie came up on Sunday evening to have dinner with us and to take the curio cabinet back to their house. It was great to spend a few hours with them. Oliver kept picking out books and climbing up in Aunt Millie's lap. At one point when she and I were chatting, he said to her "read." I love that Oliver has taken such an interest in books lately!

11. The swimming pool opened on Saturday! The weather was very cool that day so we waited until Sunday afternoon to take a dip. The water temperature was cold in the main pool. Nadia swam in it, but Oliver, Ian, and I stayed in the baby pool, where the water was much warmer. On Saturday I discovered that I left my swimsuit cover up that I bought three years ago in the Poconos. I really missed it yesterday at Sesame Place. I am planning to buy a new one on Thursday. We went swimming again today. Our trip was cut short today due to some thunder. The kids love to go swimming!

12. Nadia and Ian had a great time at VBS on Sunday night and again tonight. Unfortunately they will miss two nights of VBS due to our trips to Sesame Place yesterday and Lancaster tomorrow, but three nights of VBS are better than none. This church (where the kids go to AWANA) does a fabulous job with their VBS every year!

13. The kids have been having a lot of fun playing with kids in our neighborhood lately, and now that we have the trampoline up, they are coming over to our yard to play at least once a day most days.

14. Yesterday we went to Sesame Place! I will write more about it in another post, but we had a great day. The weather was perfect for an amusement park that has a lot of water slides, and the lines were very short. The six of us (Pop Pop joined us) had a great day! The kids would love to go back, but the adults are only up for that adventure once a year.

15. On Saturday afternoon we took the kids to our town's annual Fire Department parade. In light of how chilly it was that day I would have skipped it, but we won't be around for the 4th of July parade. Oliver sat on Paul's shoulders and waved at each and every fire engine, tractor, ambulance, etc. that drove by. There were MANY fire engines (from all the neighboring towns). Ian and Nadia enjoyed picking up all the candy that was thrown in their direction.

16. My new camera lens was delivered yesterday. If it had come last week, I would have used it yesterday, I'm going to test it out tomorrow!