What a bargain!

Now I'm not much of a shoe person like some women are, but I do like flip flops. I like comfy everyday ones and blingy going out ones. Another thing I really like is a bargain and so when I can combine both of them, I'm on to a winner!
The other day I was in Kohls with my $10 gift card and came across these two beauties. The pink pair was reduced from $20 down to $4 and the blue pair from $28 down to $5.60! A total steal! That didn't come to the $10 that I had on the card and so I bought a Playtex bra that was reduced down to $15 (no pictures of that!).
The end result...a happy lady!

Jordan and Britney in Sedona

On Monday, Jordan and Britney went to Sedona and a miracle happened...they had some photos of the event! I find it really hard to believe but it's true!

I haven't been to Sedona myself in over ten years and so I think that will be something for next springtime when the flowers are in bloom.

Constitution Fair

While Michael was away yesterday on exercises, the rest of us went to the Constitution Fair at the Civic Center in Gilbert. It's held every year to commemorate the signing of the Constitution in September 1787 and there are all sorts of activities with Constitution and service to country type themes. There are fair type stalls, people dressed in 1700's clothes, a man who looked a lot like George Washington, a woman on a pedestal dressed as the Statue of Liberty, a Vietnam helicopter, a replica of the USS Arizona, a memorial grove to the fallen military from Arizona (very sad and touching) and lots of other things.

I didn't have my camera and my phone isn't that great at taking pictures in anything but perfect light, but here is Katelynn and Christopher next to the Liberty Bell and in front of the US flags that encircled a blow up replica of the Washington Monument.. They have balloons tied to their wrists!

There were mini concerts held throughout the and the final act was David Osmond, who I thought would sing just a couple of songs but he actually performed a full concert of modern and patriotic songs. He was really good and of course the evening ended with fireworks, as all good American events do!

Happy Birthday Michael

Yesterday was Michael's birthday and he spent it in Flagstaff on Army exercises. Michael has been in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps for the last few weeks and this was his first time away with them. He had a good time, but as usual came home wanting a shower and his bed!

A River Runs Through It

On Monday September 9th, it rained like I've never seen before. All morning long! When I went upstairs and looked out my bedroom window, I couldn't believe what I saw...a river!!
There is usually a green belt behind my house, a bank sloping down behind my wall, a path and then a bank sloping up to the houses on the other side.  They were almost totally under water.
The views below are taken from my window looking directly ahead, to the right and left. It was raining at the time. Water everywhere!

When it stopped raining at about lunch time, I went to the garden wall and took these photos. The water had already begun to recede, and it actually was quite pretty, but around here I always worry about standing water and the possibility of mosquitos. I shouldn't have worried. By mid afternoon the water was completely gone.

The park at the bottom of the street took a hit too. A lake instead of the children's playground. Not sure when I'll see it rain like that again. It was fun to watch and glad to report there was no damage done.

Birthday Girl

Birthday Girl Danielle got her ears pierced yesterday for her 6th birthday. Here's a close-up of her pretty diamond studs. She was so excited about them, although she did tell me that it hurt!

Here is she is in her purple T shirt with her purple cake! A gal after Grandma's own heart!

Laundry Room Knick-Knacks

Last month I had fun decorating my laundry room with some knick-knacks.
This sign on the door that leads into my laundry room from the kitchen is one that I've had for quite a while. It's tin and I re-vamped it from it's original red (which didn't match any of my decor) to its current blue.

This wall was quite plain and begging for something to be on it! Years ago I was given this shelf which was then a lavender color with scrapbook stickers all over it.It staued in a closet until I decided to scape off the stickers, paint it white, take off the wooden knobs and replace them with some cute ones I got from Hobby Lobby. I love it on this wall and think it fits perfectly. I had so much fun with Brent one day as we went thrifting to Goodwill, Savers and Deseret Industries to find cheap item to decorate it with.

Can you see the replacement knobs? I think they're pretty. The pitcher on the left cost me about $2 and was a rusty tin color filled with artificial flowers. I pulled the flowers out, which was no mean task as they had been secured in the pitcher with a combination of builders foam and stones! My trusty white spray pain came to the rescue. The rope covered vase was my first attempt at glue gunning twine to a glass vase. I think the next time I would use thicker twine. I found the blue glass container in one of my kitchen cupboards and the little blue milk jug was a thrifty find. I really like the white cup/challis looking thing in the middle. It was originally mint green but I really liked the lace like pattern on it and immediately visualized it in white. Spray paint!!!

The vintage blue jar wasn't so vintage, the sea glass in the jar I had laying around in my bedroom closet and the letter G (for Gwynn) was simply decorated with scrapbook paper. Out came the white spray pain again for the glass bottle and the last item on the shelf was another larger blue milk jug, The blue tin buckets under the shelf cost 50 cents each (you can't see it, but they have cut out stars in the front of them( and the stainless steel ones were $1. Cheapo  Frugal!!!

Queen of the Laundry??? That's how I often feel!

The light is shining a little on this one, but I liked the modern feel to this art work...Fluff, Fold and Put Away!

Likewise with this one...Lather, Rinse, Repeat.

My bag of clothes pegs which I never use, hang here.

And this is on the top of one of my cabinets, the one actually above my washer/dryer. I started off with the stainless steel bucket on the left, then accidentally found the one on the right for $2, followed by the milk churn. I already had the white plate and the blue speckly one was $2 from Marshalls. It actually looks better close up, but I couldn't be bothered to haul in the steps to take a close up shot, but trust me, it does!

I also decorated the top of the other cabinet with a fern arrangement and a couple of plates, but the one thing I still have to do is to change the light fitting. I really want a bright sparkly chandelier. Yes, a chandelier in the laundry room. I think it will look just perfect!

At the Park

We took the kids to Desert Mountain Park the other day. It was hot and sunny. Granddad and I sat under the ramada (in the shade) while the kids ran around on the play equipment. They LOVED it!!!

Christopher was practicing his photography skills and took this photo of us both. Not bad! Notice the BIG sippy cup? It is Arizona you know!

Can you see how sweaty they both are?

We had the entire park to ourselves. There wasn't another soul there! 

Christopher being a good Arizona boy and drinking his water. Gotta keep hydrated!

Here's another two portraits by Christopher!

Grandma and Granddad...

...and his sister Katelynn pulling her funny face (and showing us the current state of her teeth!).

And here's the artist himself pulling his funny face!

Joshua aged 4 months

Joshua went for his 4 month vaccinations and here are his latest stats:
Weight: 15lbs 3 oz
Height: 25 inches
Head: 16 inches
That puts him on the 50-75% line on the growth chart, so he's officially...PERFECT!!!