Tag Archive | garage sales

Weekend Ends Before It Does in Canada… BOO

With yours truly getting over a cold… well for the most part, I am still hacking away… and the motivation level low for a Sunday we really had a do nothing sort of day. My latest garage sale finds filled a definite need for the kids and they were more than content to play with the new toys (army themed… I know I cringe, so very against what I usually look for but… they are happy and no one is getting hurt). That freed Ken up to hang with Echo and me to sleep in a little longer (much needed).

Ok, totally the night before but that is the toy car we got with the dolly, she almost fit loll.

Baby brown eyes

But, once we got our lunch started (steamer and rice of course) it was time to make a run out to Target (some school supplies) and Cub (for Pepsi). I was in need of glue and this time a proper duotang with the prongs for the paper’s holes, not just a folder. I am trying to piece together what we need immediately as the plans to send Ken and his dad up for the rest of our things are not concrete. I miss my workbooks and fun games and items that we have collected over time. BUT we will find ways around the gaps and create something out of next to nothing, I have done it before… 

On the way back we stopped at another park… this is one we visited 3 years ago with Steven and Quinn. It was a lot of fun, there was a pair of girls there already (that looked to be twins) to play with a little and the day was nice and not too hot. 

Echo put got that far and realized the bar was ROUNDED and that was that

Emanuel on his own!

Zander showing off

Then it was back to the house for lunch and naps. And by the time we woke up from our naps (those that did) Nana and Baba with Joe’ family in tow were back from camping. Joe and Faith stopped in for a bit and then left Gabriella and Zachary here for an overnighter. So of course the kids had to take advantage of the time spent cleaning out the tent trailer to have a go at playing in it. 

Babies

Sitting around hanging out

My girls

So a slight alteration in our homeschooling plans for Monday morning. Concentration is always compromised when there are extra kids in the house, especially ones who do NOT homeschool. We DID try to mail our letters on Saturday BUT the post office nearest to the house is only open until noon and we got there 45 min too late. 

Oh and don’t forget the two HUGE garbage bags of outgrown boys’ clothing Darcy sent home with us after the baseball game. It is the reverse of how things were in Canada and a big change… to not have to worry about clothing for the boys! YAY! Thank goodness in storage there is a stockpile of gifted items for Trinity to grow into! We just need to get them down here… Logistics and time! 

Ducks in a line

Having Fun as a Family

August 2-3

If you have 5 kids and a free hubby (DONE DONE DONE his contracts) what should you do? Well if you are a homeschooling family… you start like you did the day before – breakfast and then right into the review books and letters to the people who have stepped up to be our pen pals. Right now they don’t really understand how much work they WON’T be doing once we get all the first letters out but we are working down out list quite doggedly. Some even people the boys have never met before!!

Hard at work at a letter/picture (Gavin)

Now with the schooling out of the way, the kids dressed and the husband not tied to the computer beyond his morning’s job hunt (go Ken go!!) what to do? Well there was this promised LONG awaited outing… Victoria Secret and my first proper bra fitting and purchase of a proper NON nursing bra in over 9 years!! We had coupons that had come to the house in the mail recently and I ended up SAVING 120.00 while spending well under 100 and within the allotted budget… how so? Well we ended up with close enough to the target amount to get this really nice travel bag… which is also ALL of Lisa’s Secrets you will see… Victoria lets hers all hang out, me… not so much!

The bag!

In front of the store. All Trinity wanted was the bag it all came in!

After VS it was time to drive around and keep an eye peeled for MORE garage sales… check back at an old haunt and show the kids more of the beauty of the area. I have decided that next week or so we shall start collecting pictures of interesting street signs… trust me there are some REAL giggles. 

So now I have TWO new books to read… AND a list of suggestions (I had already read some but so neat how Barnes and Nobles does that!).

The two newest acquisitions

Suggestions

We had to make a stop off at a gaming store we remembered from years back that had moved to a NEW location that was HUGE so that the kids could each get a die. They do love having dice around! At 1.50 a piece certainly no hardship. Oh but don’t forget about lunch – TACO BELL!

Taco Bell

YUM!

This marked the beginning of our solo weekend. Nana and Baba headed off with Ken’s brother Joe and his family to camp for the weekend. We opted to stick around here so that we could work on some discipline issues, enjoy each other’s company and sort through a few more items we have laying around. Ken’s folks picked up some storage for our bedroom so I was able to further organize… and everyone knows how happy that makes me!!! 

Echo checking out from the inside out

We had a slow start to Friday as I finally have a more minor version of the rest of the family’s cold. But we did get out the door in the afternoon… for the ever magic garage sales (more squinkies and a spelling boardgame) and then the main attraction for the day – once we found it (two parks named the same on different streets in the same town???) – Andrew’s baseball game. The first of the tournament.

Andrew action shot

Another very hot day so the kids were a little fussy but we had a blast! Ken took pictures, Echo played with her Anthony and the boys played at the park. We always have fun with the Novaks. 

Watching from some shade

Echo and her Anthony

Andrew’s team won! And on that positive note we said see you LATER (that still brings a smile to my face) and headed off down the backroads home. We lucked out on our travels and came across ANOTHER garage sale… this one with everything for 25cents!! I picked up a zipper up sweater (just needed a wash), a push/ride car that we had up north and sold (seriously a QUARTER!) and a car that came with dominoes that turned out to be a gem. You fill the car and then let it go and it sets dominoes in a line!!!

She was so excited she wouldn’t let me put her pj’s on before she got onto it!

Don’t forget a stop off at Sam’s Club and an attempt at Slurpee in the form of a Coke flavoured Icee… head’s up… it is NOT the same thing!!!

Not quite

In the end the kids were pleased, we got to spend the day with friends and that night Ken and I sat around and did nothing! I just hope the rest of the family is having as much fun camping!!!

Cheering for our best boys!