RSVP's

So, whats up with people not RSVPing these days?  My son was suppose to have his 10th birthday party this afternoon but only 1 kid has responded and I only think his mom called because we live across the street.  Its quite frustrating.  This happened on his 8th birthday too.  I always assumed it was because the teacher never handed out the invites, but apparently its just because he goes to school with a bunch of rude children with rude parents!

OK, rant over.  We are going to have pizza and cake tonight with family and go to the movies tomorrow.  I think he's more fine with that than I am.   That's why he's a good kid and my favorite son.

Yellow Bug

I used to drive around town in this yellow bug when I was in high school.  It belonged to Megs, my bubbly, cute and adorable best friend.  If you weren't careful you could lose a shoe through the hole in the floor board, but it got us from point A to point B and when you're 16 that's all that matters!

Megan's family asked me to stop by their house this weekend and take their family's extended family portrait.  (That was an adventure in its own.)  While I was packing up my gear I turned and saw my handsome hunk of a husband and 2 of my 3 favorite children leaning so picturesquely against my favorite yellow bug I had to snap a picture.  My husband HATES having a camera in his face so this is the only one I got, but I LOVE it!  I tell him that he really did marry the wrong person if he has a problem with cameras, he disagrees.

Best Friends

These two can't get enough of each other.

Goodwill

Yesterday I stopped into the local Goodwill store to see if I could find my 5 year old some pants she should would actually wear.  3 minutes into digging through the jeans I decided I didn't really feel like buying her more pants that she wouldn't wear because they are too "tight" (that's a whole other post).  I started browsing the side isles and found a painting that I really, REALLY liked.  I wasn't quite sure if I loved it so I decided to let it go.

24 hours later I ended up in the Goodwill parking lot because I was picking up something from the shop next door.  I decided to walk in and check if it was still there...and it was!  Not only was it there, but they had marked it down from $30 to $20.  I love saving $10!

Old Navy Rocks!

Are you a part of Crowdtap?

If you aren't you should be.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to sample an Old Navy dress!  I was sent 2 coupons for one free dress each!!  One for me and one for a friend!

I really wanted to go with my friend to have a girls day but schedules didn't mesh.  I handed her her coupon and I took my 5 year old daughter on another day.  We both LOVE our new dresses.

I tried on several dresses and went with 

a long navy maxi dress.
You can see it HERE

I added this cute tan colored cardigan to finish off my new outfit.

We had a great day shopping and found way too many things that I loved!
The only thing I would have changed is putting an Old Navy much closer to my house.  Right now Manteca is the closest at about an hour away.  The cashier told me that we're getting an Old Navy in Turlock (about 15 mins from me) but I've been hearing that since my senior year in high school.  So I'll believe it when I see it!

Toddler Management

When we first moved into our new ward  (congregation) at church I was surprised at the lack of reverence in Sacrament meeting.  Over the last year or two it has improved, but there are still some families I want to shake and say "PLEASE stop sending YOUR toddler to every one else's bench.  Sit with your own child I already have my own to watch!"  or "Please put your buffet lunch away until later!  I'm tired of the crumbs and the noisy wrappers!"  or "The pews are NOT jungle gyms!"  But...I don't want to offend and really its not my place.

When I read this post today over at The Idea Room I wanted to broadcast it to the world ...or at least my ward!
So, if you have toddlers and are getting frustrated at church when you spend more time in the hall than the classroom go over and read "Toddler Management 101" and be inspired!

By the way, I'm not saying that my family is perfectly reverent, we have spent our fair share sitting in empty classrooms or in the hall.  I have broken out the candy when I just could not take another second of whining.  My kids have crawled under benches faster than I can grab their little ankles.  But we are trying and as they get older it gets easier....except for the moody pre-pre-teen.  But that is probably a whole different blog post!

The Funeral

My grandmother was a BEAUTIFUL person.  Her funeral was just as it should have been.  I feel like I should write about that day, but to me it felt like such a sacred day that I'll probably save my thoughts for my personal journal.

My mother gave the euology.  It was perfect.  I learned so much about her.  I had no idea that grandma was the family photographer.  Photographing the family for events and yearly pictures.  She turned her bathroom into a dark room and printed copies for all who asked.  I always assumed it was my grandfather's darkroom enlarger that they had given me, but it was my grandmothers.

The other day, Sarah, my 4 year old said to me, "Mom, I wish Grandma never died."
"Me too." I replied.
"I liked her."
"Me too, Sarah, Me too."