Spring Break Fun

This was one of the most enjoyable school vacation weeks ever! We didn't go away on vacation, and we spent very little money. Instead, we had several play dates, with old friends and new friends. We relaxed and talked. We did our usual chores, but took our time. There were very few squabbles, but many laughs.
Sunday was Easter, which we spent at my parents' lake house. It was a gorgeous day and we all had a terrific time.





Monday, we met friends at the park and had a picnic lunch. NCH packed up his own sports equipment and asked how he could help get us ready to go. (He cleaned 2 bathrooms that morning!) NCH cuddled on the couch and watched a dinosaur documentary while the younger ones napped. NCH also went to a neighbor friend's house later in the day.
Tuesday, NCH and CAH worked together to straighten and vacuum their rooms. NCH also put laundry away for the family. He went to a friend's for the afternoon and had a wonderful time.
Wednesday, we met old friends at a park and had another picnic lunch. We weren't prepared for the extremely warm day - wow, it was hot out! It was so nice to visit with my old friend and see how her children have grown.
Thursday, some very old friends came to play. We ate at our table outdoors for the first time this year. The weather was amazing, and everyone enjoyed the time playing and visiting. (This was a friend I grew up playing with - what fun to see our children playing together now!)

Thursday night, I decided it was time: time to change over the clothes! So the kids helped me haul bags and boxes out of the attic...


You would have thought it was Christmas for the kids, though...they especially loved trying on their "new" jammies!

Friday, we went to the Saugerties area to visit my sister, her husband, and their Leonberger puppy, Takoda. Although the day started out rainy, the skies cleared and NCH was able to do some target shooting with Uncle Paul's pellet gun. (Not sure if that's actually what it's called.) He had a ball! They also chopped wood - a very manly day. I loved catching up with my sister and seeing how they've continued to make their new home lovely and charming.
Saturday was a slow, relaxing day...hubby worked on our pool fence (he had replaced the fence awhile back, all but 2 panels...but when NJH scaled that part of the fence the other day, we knew the replacement pieces needed to go in ASAP!) NCH was a cleaning machine before bed time, decluttering and straightening the family room, kitchen and bedrooms!
Today is Sunday...we went to Sunday School and the late church service. I finished changing over the kiddos' clothes and took the older three to AWANA, grocery shopped and then took the older three out for pizza.
Here I sit, reflecting on the week as I get the gear ready for back to school tomorrow...so thankful for the time with my sweet children. What a blessing!!

Poor Henry...No, Poor Liza!

I was in the van with the herd, listening to a kids CD, and the song, "There's a Hole in the Bucket, Dear Liza" came on. When it ended, the kids asked me to repeat it again and again...then they started making comments about it...

KBH: "Poor Henry, he doesn't know how to fix anything."
CAH: "No, it's Poor Liza. She's sick of all his questions - she has to tell him how to do everything!"
NCH: "Henry's kind of dumb. What's the matter with that guy?"

The funniest part is that song has been a long-time joke with my mom...when our hubbies (or other people) are acting a little dopey/helpless/clueless, we would call each other and hum that song. :)

There's a hole in the bucket,
Dear Liza, dear Liza
There's a hole in the bucket,
Dear Liza, there's a hole.

Then fix it, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, dear Henry
Then fix it, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, fix it.

With what shall I fix it,
Dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I fix it,
Dear Liza, with what?

With a straw, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, dear Henry
With a straw, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, with a straw.

But the straw is too long,
Dear Liza, dear Liza
But the straw is too long,
Dear Liza, too long

Then cut it, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, dear Henry
Then cut it, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, cut it.

With what shall I cut it,
Dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I cut it,
Dear Liza, with what?

With an axe, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, dear Henry
With an axe, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, an axe.

The axe is too dull,
Dear Liza, dear Liza
The axe is too dull,
Dear Liza, too dull

Then sharpen it, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, dear Henry
Then sharpen it, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, sharpen it.

With what shall I sharpen it,
Dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I sharpen it,
Dear Liza, with what?

With a stone, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, dear Henry
With a stone, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, a stone.

The stone is too dry,
Dear Liza, dear Liza
The stone is too dry,
Dear Liza, too dry

Then wet it, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, dear Henry
Then wet it, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, wet it.

With what shall I wet it,
Dear Liza, dear Liza?
With what shall I wet it,
Dear Liza, with what?

With water, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, dear Henry
With water, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, with water.

How shall I get it,
Dear Liza, dear Liza,
How shall I get it,
Dear Liza, how shall I?

In the bucket, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, dear Henry
In the bucket, dear Henry,
Dear Henry, in the bucket.

There's a hole in the bucket.

TOTAL SAVED

So I got to get out for a little bit tonight...I had a hair appointment and I figured I'd run a few errands while I was out without the kids. I am NOT a shopper - I actually avoid stores, preferring to order via phone or internet (getting a UPS package is always fun!) Here are my shopping issues:
1) hangers pressing into my hands
2) people in my way
3) listening to other people either on their phones or talking loudly to one another (can't I just enjoy the muzak?!)
4) scratchy tags when I try things on
5) limit on articles I can bring in to try on (do I want to get dressed just to get my next 5 items only to have to undress all over again?!)
6) nothing ever looks "WOW" on me
7) I have ZERO fashion sense so I don't know how to put outfits together (usually I copy what's on the mannequin!)
8) if I do find something I like, I probably don't have shoes/accessories to with it AND I probably can't afford any of it!
9) I always have to go to the bathroom when I shop (issues, I know)
10) I'm usually limited for time and end up rushing around
11) I can't stand when a store lures you in with great "sales" and then circles "TOTAL SAVED" on your receipt, as if they've done you this great favor. It's like gambling - wow, you won the jackpot (but how much did you spend getting there?)

I did find a few things tonight on my little shopping "spree." I needed to get new boxer briefs for my 8 yr old, white sandals for my 4 yr old, a dress for myself, and possibly a tie and/or shirt for my 2 yr old. I ended up at Kohl's first (I had a SAVINGS coupon!) and there I found a new gymnastics leotard for my 4 yr old, and 3 pairs of cargo-cropped-ish pants/long shorts for me (in the juniors dept!) I also found a fabulous dress - one size too big and one size too small, but none in my size!! The customer service lady called the Colonie store and they said they would hold the dress for me there.
So off I went to Target and got the boxer briefs, white sandals, and the cutest preppy shirt/cardigan/pants set for my 2 yr old.
The preppy outfit on my 2 yr old:


Next I was off to the other Kohl's, or so I thought, but no - it's NOT located in Colonie Center, but around the corner and a few miles down Central Avenue! Oh well, since Bed, Bath & Beyond was right there, I stopped in to get a shower gift for someone special. While I was there, I don't know if I was being "hit on" by this guy, but he came over to ask me about salt...kosher salt versus sea salt. He was very friendly and kept smiling at me even though our conversation was over and I was paying for my items...odd.
Anyway, I finally found the other Kohl's and they did indeed have my dress...and several other items caught my eye! (For a non-shopper, this was quite the night!) I ended up getting the dress I had called about, as well as 2 more dresses, a pair of black capri leggings and a pair of shorts (all in the juniors dept!) I won't tell you how much I spent, but Kohl's is telling me I "SAVED" $169.26 and I "earned" $30 in "Kohl's Cash."
Here's "the dress":

My last stop was at Stewart's for milk and seltzer for hubby, and I caved at the last second and got myself a Cadbury Creme Egg (naughty, naughty!)
I gave hubby a fashion show when I got home and he seemed to think everything looked ok. I started telling him about my excursion, but he looked sleepy...hence this blog post!