JBF Consignment Sale Time!

It's that time of year again, the leaves are turning colors, the morning air is nice and crisp and dollar signs are floating in my mind. That's right, it's the fall installment of the Just Between Friends consignment sale. This is perhaps the greatest event for any parent looking to save money.  From clothes, to furniture to toys and gear, this sale has everything!  I purchased my $200 jogging stroller for $40 last fall, which was a fabulous deal, but not an unusual one.  In the past I've gone pretty crazy getting toys and clothes for Tysen.  I think last fall I spent about $150 which got me 35 clothing items and 15 large toys.  This year we're pretty set on toys, though I do hope to add a few hotwheels to his collection.

I have attended the sale four or five times in the past few years, and I started consigning at the last sale that was held in the spring.  Last spring I was definitely more organized, I had everything done a few weeks prior to the actual event.  This year I've somehow lost that organization and I have only a few days left to get everything on hangers and tagged before the drop-ff on Thursday.  If you've never been to a JBF sale, I urge you to check to see if there's one in your area.  They typically happen twice a year, and are located throughout the country.

Saturday Dilemmas

Aww, the weekend.  For many, it starts at 5:00 Friday evening.  Sadly, I am not most people and am forced to endure an additional agonizing day of work on Saturdays.  This Saturday posses fun new challenges beyond the regular work related few I must face.  In comparisons to world peace and ending hunger, these are really low on the scale, but for me, they are mind boggling!

Tonight is a book signing for one of my favorite blog authors, Jen from Cake Wrecks at a local book store.  Not only will I be able to get her new book signed, there will also free cake!! Who doesn't love cake!!  Sadly, I do not think I will be attending this wonderful event, which I have been looking forward to for months, by the way!!  There is a football game tonight, which I should probably attend,  at 7:00.  I am saddened that I will miss out on all the fun and hilarity that I am certain will ensue.

I'm contemplating skipping the football game, which I promised I would take Tysen.  Would a tiny person really remember that he was supposed to be cheering on his daddy's team and not eating cake?  I doubt it.  Thus my dilemma...

Blog Redisgn!

new design preview

I have decided that I am going to tackle the art of blog design!  Actually, for the past couple of days, I think the art has been tackling me.  I know that I must be making it harder on myself than it needs to be, but I feel as though I'm learning more that way...Or at least that is how I justify all the time it's taking me!  I've always loved Photoshop, so that part has been pretty easy.  The hard part is all the coding, which I haven't used in years!  Though I did minor in computer science in college, I feel as though I'm only remembering about half of what I learned.  It's a slow process, but I'm enjoying it, and hopefully the end results will be worth it.

I Love Fall

Fall is my favorite season for many reasons.  The beginning of fall means my birthday is right around the corner, soon we will be heading out to the pumpkin patch to select the perfect pumpkin.  Also the leaves have just started changing, bringing a whole new color pallet to the Pacific Northwest.  Also, candy corn will be hitting the store shelves in mass quantities.  Who doesn't love a big bag of candy corn? No one I tell you!

Yesterday was the first day of fall, and here it was ushered in with a 95 degree day.  Though I did grumble a little about the heat because we don't have AC, secretly I was loving the warm temperatures.  I am not quite ready for the rain and grey skies of late fall and early winter.

It's getting to be that time when Justin and I have to figure out what our little man is going to be for Halloween.  Last year he made an adorable bear, all soft and fuzzy.  This year I think he'll be dressed up as something a little "tougher" (as Justin has put it).  We are leaning toward Harry Potter, though I think Draco would be a better choice due to Tysen's bright white hair.  Though, I just can't see myself hugging a Slytherin, so I suppose Harry Potter will win out in the end (doesn't he always).

I hope to pull out my camera as the leaves start changing, and capture some nice fall photos.  I've had my Nikon D40X for about two years, and I always forget to take pictures of the fall leaves.  I'm forgetful that way.  This year I plan to be better!!  You know what they say about the best laid plans though...

Do The Puyallup-The Big Fantastic

This last Sunday we "did the Puyallup" as locals can be heard saying at the Puyallup fair.  Of course we ate too much fair food, but that is to be expected! The fair is huge and I think we probably covered all 160 acres!!  Though Tysen was too small for almost every ride, we did sneak him onto the train that runs through the kiddie area.  Technically children are supposed to be two years old to ride, but try telling that to a train lover like Tysen; he wasn't going to let age stand in his way of riding that train!  Her are a few  photos from our day.

Justin and Tysen waiting for the acappella group, The Coats

Riding the merry go round, one of his favorite stops anywhere

Playing carnival games

Today I woke up with a horrible migraine, which I am just now recovering from.  Otherwise, I'm sure there would be a witty review of all things fair related.  The best I can say is that the deep fried Twinkie did not live up to the hype, and I should have caved and purchased a Sham-WOW.

The Family We Create

Candy and Tysen in February 2008

Growing up, my mom had several close friends who treated me just like family.  One of the greatest women in the world, Candy, was such a friend, she was in essence a second mom to me.  Her daughter Jessica and I were quite close growing up and had quite a few happy times.  I recall many camping trips and sleep overs, birthday parties and dinners that were filled with happiness and love.  Candy has always been the type of person who embraces other people, always making room in her heart and her home for others.  I remember the very first holiday my mom, sister and I spent with Candy and her family when I was 11 or 12.  We had been planning a trip to Eastern Oregon to visit family there, but at the last minute, I no longer remember why, we were unable to make it.  Candy welcomed the three of us into her home as though she had been planning for us all along.

We spent many holidays after that with Candy and her family, often with as many as 20 other people. That's just the way Candy is, she is such a giving person, always thinking of others long before herself.  Now that my mom has passed away, Candy is the closest thing I have to a mom, and I am truly blessed that she is a part of my life.  Candy's husband Bob actually married Justin and I, fore he is also an amazing person.

Candy and Bob, are visiting us this weekend, hence the reason for my reminiscing.   We are separated by miles and miles, but I know that should I ever need them, they are just a phone call away.

Sickness and Sleep

Awww, sleep, it's a wonderful thing.  When I get enough sleep, I wake up refreshed and ready to take on the day.  There's a bounce in my step and a lightness in my heart.  When I don't get enough of this precious commodity  however, I tend to get a little crabby.  Tysen came  home from school with his first cold yesterday, and it quickly overcame him. On a normal day, Tysen is a great sleeper, goes to bed at 6:30pm and wakes up at 6:30am, it's a beautiful thing.  Last night he did not want to sleep, or couldn't sleep, and around 8:00 we moved him into our room for what I had hoped would only be a few hours.  As it turned out, he spent the night with us, though I would hardly call it sleeping.  He tossed and turned and coughed and wheezed all night long.  It was a rough night, and though he did wake up in good spirits, is staying home with daddy.

I on the other hand, did not wake up so cheerfully.  I am worn out from a night of too little sleep, and reminded of the days when Tysen was an infant and woke constantly throughout the night.  It's quite possible that  Tysen is making his case to remain an only child.

Now, on to greater things, reality TV!  I was quite disappointed in the finale of America's Got Talent.  I was a big Barbara Padilla fan.  Not only does she have some serious pipes, but she also overcame cancer and is pursuing her dream.  How can you not love that story?  Apparently some didn't, and voted Kevin Skinner, the shows winner.  I have yet to finish watching all the other fantastic reality TV my DVR has in store for me.  I am caught up on Glee, and love the campy style it has.  Hopefully this one will make it!

Perhaps too much of my time is devoted to the crazy world or reality TV, but someone has to watch!  Think of all those advertising dollars that would go to waste if I wasn't tuned in every week?

I've got a fun filled Friday all lined up, so I'd best get to it!

Back to School

Justin finally started school this week after two weeks of being on strike.  It was a stressful time in our house, but I full supported him in taking a stand.  There were members of the community who were angry with the Kent teachers for delaying the school year, however there was a great deal more support than anything else, for this I am grateful.  It is often hard to stick to your principles and fight for what you believe in, in this case, education.  The situation was made tolerable by the parents who understood that their children were the driving force behind the teachers' strike.

But enough about that!  With the start of the school year came the return of Tysen to Little Conks, the daycare at Kentwood, where Justin teaches.  Tysen loves his teachers and his friends at school, but that wasn't enough to make the transition back a smooth one.  His first day was a rough one; didn't want daddy to leave and refused to let anyone take him to the potty.  Tysen has been working on potty training for about two months now, and has almost mastered it.  I had anticipated that returning to school would mean a step backward, so his refusal to go on the potty wasn't a big surprise.  On his second day, today, Tysen let the teachers take him to the bathroom without any fuss; a big hurdle conquered!

I've got a relaxed night planned, lots of good TV viewing ahead.  Several of my favorite reality TV shows are on, I'm a reality TV junkie.  I'm not sure how to fit it all in, we've got Top Chef on Bravo, Toddlers and Tiaras on TLC, America's Got Talent (or so they say) on NBC, So You Think You Can Dance followed by Glee on Fox.  Thank goodness for DVR!!

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog.  This being the first post, I thought I would take some time to introduce myself.  Most readers probably already close friends and family.  However, for those of you who aren't, here is a little about me and my family:

I met my best friend, Justin, in 1998 at Linfield College in Oregon.  We were married in June 2003 and our son Tysen was born on November 24, 2007.  Tysen is the light of my life, he makes me want to be a better person.  Justin is a teacher and I work for a library.  It seems as though there are never enough hours in the day to accomplish all that I have planned.  I'm surely not the first mom who has ever felt this way, nor will I be the last. 

I love to craft and scrapbook, though I currently have no room to do much of anything.  I have big plans but very little space.  Hopefully that will change and I will be able to be as crafty as I imagine myself being.