Where is my camera anyways? (and other random thoughts)

So yesterday was a really crazy, fun day...Maybe not by others standards or opinions of what fun is, but I am weird and I thought it was great.

Started the day off bright and early for a Saturday anyways. Got up at 6:45 threw on whatever matched and being pulling stuff onto our driveway for my BIG garage sale. By 7:30 a.m. my friend Sarah and her husband Jon had arrived, we had set everything up, signs were up and we were ready for the (we hoped) crowds of people.

...and come they did! Originally we were only going to have the sale until 1 p.m. but ended up going until 2p.m. Steady all day and at times CRAZY BUSY! All in all we raked in almost $800! I sold $375 in Scentsy alone at the garage sale. I will be doing that again for sure! $25 for an add = $775 profit! I think that's pretty darn good!

By the time we packed it all in which was only 1 or 2 big items and 2 boxes of small stuff...I was hot and tired. Took a quick shower and changed into my pj's for what ended up being the rest of the day!

After naps I filled up our turtle sand-box (which ironically has no sand in it) up with water and let the kids go crazy with the water and hose in the back yard. Kale's diaper must have weighed at least 15 pounds after all that and so like any weird mom I let him run around in the nude for a bit. I took a pic with my phone of this whole scene, but not sure how to go about getting it off and Aaron said it's too blurry anyways.
So you will just have to imagine a 4 year old girl running around in her most favorite pink and brown swim suit brandishing the hose at her brother whenever he tries to get near with his naked little butt showing of his tan lines from previous swim days where he of course was not nakie. All this while running and laughing and just generally having a blast until their mom ruined it all by calling "bath time"

But then again bath time means more water and consequently more water all over my bathroom...oh, well they are only little once and my floor got a much needed mopping in the process. Then snacks and and all kids were tucked in bed by 7:45p.m.!

So what did I do? The usual: check facebook, read blogs and the best part a HUGE bubble bath while watching "Monster-In-Law" and eating popcorn and occasionly texting...

And that my friends was a fabulous day to me.

Couponing

So I have heard for a year or so now about these CRAZY women...who clip millions of coupons, carry binders and get their groceries for pretty much free...Well...Thanks to my mother and a local lady who has a web site: www.athriftymom.com I am now one too...

I haven't exactly mastered it yet...I was just nervous asking for another ad at Albertson's today so I could do my 3 transactions all with double coupons. So I did and I didn't mess up and I got: 2 gallons of milk for 50 cents each, 2-32oz. containers of yogurt for 79 cents each and 8-8oz. bags of shredded cheese for 50 cents each! WAHOO!

Let the savings and obviously freezing begin...

Random Pictures of the Kids

Soleil at a park in Missoula...Kale in the car (pretty sure Soleil took that) and Klayton on the changing table...all of these places make my kids happy...no idea why.

Sometimes we all just need a good cry!

This post really has nothing much to do with Klayton...but this picture represents my feelings over the last few days...

So ever since Thursday night when I found out my dear friend Amber (and her family) are moving back to Minnesota, I have been 2 seconds from tears and have cried many times... I am sure she felt bad since she had only known for a couple of hours, but really ONE WEEK? That's all I get to adjust to this news? So as she is telling me I burst into tears right in the middle of Gymboree and proceeded to burst into tears several more times that evening.
Then Aaron gets home at 1 a.m. Friday morning and of course I am still up facebooking and then creating this blog. He knows immediately that something is wrong. We crawl into bed and I blubber like a baby about how much I am going to miss her and how shall my life go on. He tries to comfort me the best he can, but I sob and sob.
I do pretty well until Sunday the day Aaron always has to leave to go back to work in Montana (UGH!) Someone at church asks me how I am doing and poor un-suspecting woman sees me burst into tears again and cry about how Aaron is leaving. Of course Sunday afternoon just gets worse when he REALLY does leave...so I cry myself to sleep for a nap. Today is not much better...I realize he has to have a job, but WHY WHY WHY ... It has been more than 8 months and I honestly don't know how much longer I can make it... SO I am waiting and praying and seeking the Lord's guidance. Can I just have an answer Lord...I want/need/crave to be with my husband and weekend visitation rights just aren't cutting it.

I said all this to vent and YES I know it could be worse...he could be overseas in the war and for this I am thankful that he is here, he is safe...I just want him HOME...

Kids!

Do every just look at your kids and wonder "what are they thinking?" Take for instance this lovely shot of Soleil. She seems to think it is great fun to grab the camera when mommy is busy and take pictures of anything and everything. This includes about a million self-portrait shots including pics of her tonsils, ear, foot and any other part of her face she can get it close to. I have also found in looking through her photo "art" some rather interesting pictures of my butt, stomach and other non-flattering angles. Stay tuned for more of her work soon.

Kale always thinking up trouble and doing as boys do, getting into trouble and getting dirty...and learning new words "NO!" is what he shouts most often. One thing is for sure he is one determined little boy. He is for sure giving us a run for our money!

Klayton...sweet and laid back. The perfect baby to have as a surprise if you weren't planning another. Sleeps through the night, has since he was 2 months. I mean 8 - 9 or even 10 a.m.! How blessed am I? When we are sitting just the two of us on the little couch in his room...nursing and snuggling...it just doesn't get any better or more peaceful than that...of course until Kale bursts in...

So since it seems to be the thing to do, not to mention a good way of letting off steam... Here it is the debut of the Patterson Family Blog...