Garage Sales......

When you say "Garage Sale" it brings up different feelings for different people. I use to love to go to garage sales with my hubby on Saturday mornings, before we had kids. My husband loves to have garage sales. I have convinced him, through our eight years of marriage, to use a plastic container to store the money in instead of his black fanny pack he sported at his mom's garage sales. I believe he got his love of garage sales from his mother, who still goes every weekend. We have garage sales every year (two sometimes) and I feel as though we are getting a neighborhood reputation. In fact one of our neighbors came over and asked when we were doing our garage sale because she wanted to do one with us (I have never met this neighbor so I was mortified). My sister Catherine also jokes about our yearly garage sales. So this year I told him we would not be having a garage sale. I just wanted to get the stuff outta my garage. (my garage is the running joke with my sisters and my father in law) Lets just give it away I say. Well this weekend I was suppose to go to my sister Catherine's house. That fell through so Gregg decided that a garage sale was in order. I get very stressed out, people looking at your stuff, trying to buy items in your garage that are not for sale, having to be friendly, the people who drive by at 7am, the man that every year drives by and says "got any old toys or tools", the eBay ladies with their gadgets. Well this year was no different. We had one lady who told us our kids clothing was to expensive (25 cents an item) and then drove away in her Mercedes Benz, the little girl who had to go potty so bad that she pulled her pants down in the middle of our sale and peed then announce she still had to poop, the ladies car that wouldn't start in our driveway and then could not understand how come my husband could not tell her why it wouldn't start, and Madison selling dandelions for $5 a bunch. So the end to a garage sale day, my garage is clean, we made some money, and we don't have to deal with it for another year.

Space Camp!

Here are some pictures of Madison from school today. She has been learning about space this month. Today they had space camp at school. She made her outfit.

Catching up!

OK so apparently when I got home from Arizona I got so busy I haven't kept everyone one in the loop. We made it home, obviously, late at night Sunday and woke up Monday to start our week like we had never been on vacation. The next weekend both Emma and Mommy got sick, I think it had to do with the fact that it snowed.
Madison is learning about SPACE at school. She is excited because tomorrow they are having space camp @ school. Emma is enjoying story time on Mondays, toddler time on Tuesdays, and Dance class on Wednesdays. The girls got their pictures taken at school today, so if you are reading this blog you will probably be getting pictures. The girls have had a hard time going to sleep so I have tried to implement a new night time routine. It consists of three books, prayers, and the night night song. It has not been an easy transition but we are getting there. Madison seems to think that Daddy needs to sleep on the couch and she needs to be sleeping with mommy in her bed, and Emma needs to hold my hand when she falls asleep. Since there is only one of me this is difficult.
Gregg's classes are less stressful this quarter so we are enjoying having him home more. Mommy, well she is trying to balance it all...and wishing for sunny Arizona and cocktail hour with the old folks.

Look out Hannah Montana...........

Madison entertained us all with her singing and Emma danced to Grandy's chimes.

Emma also helped Grandy make OJ from the oranges in Grandy's back yard. Nummy. Another day in the pool and in the sun.

I am enjoying being able to be with the girls and enjoy playing with them. Grandy made clothes for the Madison's bear and Emmas doll. So much fun.

Bathing Beauty....Sleeping Beauty

Today we started out by playing on the front porch, and building things with playdough. Emma and I went for a walk around the neighborhood and looked at cactus. Grandy, Madison, Emma, and I then went swimming in the pool. The girls love the water and it is so sunny. Madison has also enjoyed the sun and has become quite the bathing beauty.

Emma misses Cleo (our cat) and so has adopted the very large stuffed cat to sleep with.

Elephants, Tigers, Pink Pony's and Bikes...........

Today we started out with breakfast on the porch. It is so wonderful to be able to be outside anytime during the day or night and be comfortable. Grandy took us to see Horton Hears a Who. She got each person their own personal Horton and put a flower on each Horton. It was wonderful for the three of them.

We then ventured to the mall to have lunch and ride on the indoor, two story Cariwsel. Of course the kids wanted to be on the top story (who wouldn't). Madison found a Pink Pony, Emma found a tiger, and Jayden got the horse. Jayden would not let go of Grandy's hand the entire time that we were on the ride.

After having kid drama on the way home, we decided to go for a bike ride. Yes Sasha you read that right, I went for a bike ride with my kids. Its what the old people do.....they all have three wheel bikes. It was alot of fun. In three days Jayden has learned to petal, Madison is ready to take her training wheels off.

Snakes, and Princess', and Thrift Stores.....OH MY

It amazes me how friendly people are. Everyone just walks around the neighborhood and drops by. Today Madison and Jayden went to see the desert and to a snake/reptile farm, with Bacha.

They had tons of fun and came back with fake reptiles and stories of seeing a train. Emma, Grandy, Nanny, and myself hit lots of thrift stores in search of the perfect treasure.

The kids dressed up in costumes, made us all where funny things, they then went around to the neighbors and showed off their attire.

We then came back to the house for "Duggan Happy Hour".

First Full Day in Arizona

We had fun the first day. The kids rode bikes around the neighborhood. All the neighbors came out to say hi and wave.....it was like we were in a parade. We then spent lots of time in the pool. We played with bubbles, decorated the sidewalk with chalk, set up a doll house, and got sun burns. Vacation is great! Madison is a fish in water and had a great time diving off the floating device and being "safety girl". Emma got brave enough to use water wings and started swimming . Jayden was terrified and made aunt Allison look like a big meany making him go in the water and then by the end he was master of the pool.

Flying..........

So after lots of prayer and Lorazepam mommy was able to make it on the flight to Arizona. The girls on the other hand were absolutely excited. They each had their blankets and their stuffed animals. The girls did fine. The poor mom in front of me also was traveling with two smaller children. The kids had a screaming contest....lol....began hitting each other....and threw some things. She ordered a bloody mary and if I wasn't rationing out my Lorazepam I would of offered her one. We made it to Arizona in one piece. It is 86 degrees and beautiful.