We've been relaxing a bit around here, but we've also been tackling LOTS of projects. Since we'll be home in WA state for a big chunk of the summer, I've been trying to get all sorts of things done around here that I can't usually do when I'm working. James is not quite fully on a break - he's doing an independent study and working hard on a writing sample this summer. But let me tell you - having him work only from 9-5ish every day is awesome! Such a contrast from the 12+ hour days he was putting in for most of the year.
So yes, we are fully in Summa time mode!
Here's a peak at what we've been up to:
Summer softball. James plays for our church's softball team, and Madeline and I have been out to cheer them on a few times. Church of the Rez has a lot of artistic and musical people, not as many athletic folks - but even so, our team is doing pretty well.
Garage sales! Yes, it is that great time of year again where treasures await you all around for mere pennies. I often stop at garage sales as I see signs on Friday and Saturdays, and this season has been no different. At one sale I found all of these cute little outfits, pajamas, and dresses for 50 cents each. Killer deals, right?
And lots of children's books - all 50 cents each as well. Seriously, kids books can get expensive really quickly - especially when you need lots of variety for the bedtime routine so you don't go crazy with the same little rhymes night after night!
Did ya'll read the Beatrix Potter books when you were little? I loved them! The illustrations are so sweet - so glad I scored a set of them at one of the garage sales.
And a book for myself - I love Ina Garten's recipes. If you've never used one of her cookbooks, you should! Today.
And here we have some chairs that I scored. Folding chairs for 50 cents each (noticing a pattern here?), and the two patio chairs for $2.50/each. I am going to spray paint the patio chairs white -we really needed some new patio chairs and it may seem like a lot of work to paint plastic chairs. Why not just buy some white ones? Because they are around $18.00-$20.00/chair new at a place like Target or Ace Hardware. Not. Worth. It.
These trays may be my favorite score of the season thus far. Two breakfast in bed trays at $4.00/each. I LOVE breakfast in bed. I indulge in this pleasure as often as I can on Saturdays and Sundays, even with little Madeline lying down right next to me. I've been trying to find a breakfast-in-bed tray for years now, but whenever I find them in some home decore store they always cost around $30.00-$50.00, a luxery not quite worth the cost. But at this price, who could pass them up? I've already sanded down and painted the wood white, and now I'm just trying to decide what to do with the actual tray. If I can find some cool contact paper I'd love to cover it in a fun print. Or perhaps modpodge on some fabric or paper? I'll have to show a before/after photo when I finish these. In the meanwhile, they will probably get some good use this Father's Day!
Playdates. We had our friend Judah over for a playdate recently, and Madeline loved hanging with this cool little guy. He can even sit up on his own, doesn't need a Bumbo! Someday Madeline...
She did, however, have to learn to share her toys. Already trying to grab things from other kids at such a young age!
And I made some new burp-cloths for Madeline, cuz this girl still makes a mess every time she starts moving around. It must be the bright colors, because she loves these things. The simple pleasures in life!
Well, if you are still reading this congratulations. A blog post list of all the mundane things in our daily lives this summer, not too thrilling I realize. But really the everyday things sure do make up a wonderful life, oui?
