good deals

love shopping online on target.com because they always have good deals going on. Well their new thing is daily deals, which is really neat. Every day there is a different item on sale. Sometimes it's a big discount, and sometimes it's not, but it's always cheaper than regular price, and best of all, there is always free shipping on the daily deal, with NO MINIMUM PURCHASE. YAY!!!!!! Anyway the other day I snagged this scrapbooking tote on sale:

It retails for $34.99 and I got it for $12.99 with Free shipping. Yipee for a good deal!!!!

finally!

After living in our house for 4 years I finally bought curtains for the living room. It's ridiculous that I waited so long, but the windows in there are so weird it was/is hard for me to decide what exactly to do with them. We put up blinds when we moved in because it is sunny in there all day long, and that is how it has stayed for 4 years. I finally got tired of looking at it like that and went to work shopping for curtains. I bought online and hated them, then tried the curtains I had bought for my bedroom that I hated in the bedroom, and hated those in the living room as well. So I returned all those (14 panels if you want to know), and tried to shop again today, but Megan decided she wanted to be a pain in the arse, so I ended up being the mom leaving the store empty handed, well in one hand was my screaming toddlers arm, but you get the idea. Tonight after I put Jackson to bed I went back to the store determined to find something I liked that would work on the rod we have up already since I made Sean change that once already. I walked around the drapery department looking pretty lost for a good 20 minutes at least. The sales lady came and asked if she could help. I told her all my thoughts, concerns, and ideas and wouldn't you know it she led me over to some panels I really liked. Of course they were the most expensive ones I considered buying, but they also seemed to be just what I was looking for. So I bit the bullet and bought them anyway. I came home and put them up right away. So far I like them, I'm just hoping I'll still like them tomorrow. I really don't want to have to return any more curtains for a long time.
Before:

After: (Sorry the pictures aren't so great. The morning sun is so bright in there)

curtains closed

close up of curtains

Jackson updates

I've been a total blogger slacker this summer, so here are just a few updates on Jackson
~He is sitting awesome now

~He pulls up and can stand while holding onto something

~he crawls like a maniac, even though it's the "army crawl" he is super fast and is getting into everything

~he is still super tiny despite nursing a ton most days. The pediatrician suggested starting solids, but I have been hesitant to do that. I did give him some finger foods the other night though, which he seemed to enjoy. I'm thinking we'll probably stick with giving him things like that at dinner both to get him started onother foods and to keep him occupied during dinner since he's becoming increasingly difficult while I try to eat and he's just sitting there.

~he has two teeth on the bottom, but that's it

~I can't wait to see what's in store next!

anxious

That is probably the best way to describe the mood in our house this morning. Emma did awesome though, and I couldn't be more proud of her. Plus, I didn't cry at all, not one little tear, which was quite impressive. We walked down to the neighbors house this morning and there were four families of kids there, so I think that helped both of us. Nathan was so excited about starting school and he did great getting on the bus. Honestly I wasn't worried about him since he's such a social kid. Neither kid ate much breakfast though because of the excitement/anxiety. I just hope they settle down a little by lunch.
As usual I took my camera out to take the traditional picture, but this year both kids gave me "the look" about it. You know the "come on mom, are you seriously going to take my picture in front of everyone? I'm so embarrassed" look. I told them to pretend to be happy and deal with it. Little do they know if I have my way I'll be taking their picture on the first and last day of school unit they graduate high school (or maybe even college if I can). Anyway on to the pictures:
Last year:


and this year (yes I could only get them to take one picture together)

getting on the bus

weird

Emma and Nathan went home with Sean's mom yesterday and today has just been weird. Even Megan didn't know what to do this morning when she woke up and she couldn't find them. She keeps asking where Nathan is, which is funny since she and Nathan fight more than anyone else in the house. The house is super quiet today too. Right now the two little ones are napping and it's nice not having the older two in my face about everything. Don't get me wrong, I love and already miss them, but they are a little much sometimes. Not to mention running errands with two kids is so much easier than taking all 4 out.
I really hope Emma and Nathan are having a fantastic time with their grandma, and most importantly, I hope they are behaving and not driving Sean's mom and step-dad crazy. We're going to get them back on Friday, so for the week I'm going to try to enjoy the small break.

Sad Sad Sad

We are all so sad. Vacation is officially over. Emma and Nathan go back to school on the 19th and so we came home from cloud 9 yesterday. :( We all had such a great summer and none of us wanted it to end. Last night at dinner Sean was asking the kids if they had a god time and if they liked our camper and Megan yelles, "I WANT MY CAMPER!!" Obviously she did not want to be home either. Today I'm trying to catch up on laundry and a few other chores around the house since Sean's mom is coming to visit this weekend.
A couple exciting things happened while we were gone. Jackson has learned to sit, crawl and has his two bottom teeth now. He's incredibly tiny still, but he eats and sleeps well, and is clearly meeting all his milestones, so I'm trying not to worry. The pediatrician mentioned at his 6 month checkup that starting solids would maybe help him gain weight, but I think the best thing is to just continue nursing him right now. I may start him on some things soon, but I'm in no hurry, so I'm preparing myself for the doctor not being happy with me.
Megan still won't use the potty, at all, but I'm hoping to work on that once the older two are in school and we have a better routine again.
Nathan is so freaking excited about starting kindergarten. He can't wait. Emma on the other hand is very nervous and we are trying to talk with her about her fears so that hopefully this year won't be as hard as last year.
I have to be honest and tell you I didn't take very many pictures this trip, but I will find some of my favorites from the summer to share.