The Sale of the Century?

In St. Louis there is a little sale called The Stork Lady Sale. It is an semi-annual sale held in the now vacant Macy's department store at Crestwood Mall. I'm a sucker for garage sales and have missed this sale for the last few years, but now that I'm a Stay-At-Home-Mom, I thought I'd check it out with Evie and Rebecca.

I laughed when I got to the door and saw a security guard bouncer. It must be crazy in there. Normally I would wait at the entrance for my friends, but I couldn't chance it.  I knew that every second that I spent waiting for them I was letting other moms purchase stuff that I wanted NEEDED!

I was so overwhelmed! Little Tikes, Disney and Carters threw up all of the place. I didn't know where to start. You have to be fast and early to get the best stuff, so let's face it, the die-hards got the good stuff already.

I got this tent for $2. I know you're thinking that I paid too much. If you have been subject to Aidan's obsession with making tents out of blankets and dining room chairs you know that was $2.00 well spent on my sanity. He is not exactly and engineer, it's more like the Three Little Pigs, his "tents" keep falling down, this one however just pops open and pops closed. Best $2.00 I ever spent.

I also found a Disney Prince Doll for Reese. She has Cinderella and Belle and a Disco Barbie Doll, but no male dolls. The girls always end up dancing together and kissing each other, not that there's anything wrong with that, I just wanted to give the girls options by introducing the Prince.

The organized chaos of stuff for sale.

I also snagged a Potty Training book and a Star Wars Attack of the Clones book (another new obsession of Aidan).

I eventually hooked up with Evie. This is the check out line. We stood in line for almost 20 minutes.  If I didn't really want my stuff, we would have bolted. Rebecca arrived a few minutes later than Evie and I while we were already in the check out line. We agreed to meet her, Brent and Jameson later for lunch because she hadn't finalized her purchases.

Reese had enough of all this bargaining and was ready for lunch!

Handsome Jameson at Fuddruckers. We had a delicious lunch and let the kids pretend at the game room. That's the beauty of the kids being so young, they are happy just to press all the buttons on the arcade games and they don't know that you have to add money to really make them work. I'll treasure these moments until they figure it out.

Egg Hunt #2

My nephews Guy and Levi were in town the week before Easter and we would not be together this year on Easter, so I thought I would take advantage of having all these cousins together and have my own little egg hunt. I filled plastic eggs with candy and money. I knew I would need something to get the older kids' attention, so I made sure to have lots of silver and some paper. I had a few dollar bills and there was one five dollar bill.  I threw the loot all over the backyard and called all of the kids to come outside.  My kids were all ready to start grabbing eggs. Levi couldn't wait to score some candy and Guy was less than thrilled to be included in this event, UNTIL... I mentioned the money. I guess now I have your attention. Ready, set, go...!

Levi and Reese filling their baskets.

Guy getting in on the action for a chance to find the $5.00 bill!

Levi trying to eat as much candy as he can before his mom stops him.

Aidan checking out his loot.

Yes, this Easter Bunny gives cash! Guy ended up with the $5.00 bill, but everyone else got quite a bit of candy and were able to contribute to their IRAs.

Don't know much about history...

We visited the Missouri History Museum with our friends Evie & Noah. I've always wanted to go to the museum, and I don't know why I never did. My former colleagues at Arcturis participated in CANstruction and this year the event was on display at the Missouri History Mueseum, so I thought, here's my chance to pay it a visit.

CANstruction has events in cities all over the country. When I was employed at Arcturis, I volunteered for this event and it hit a nerve with me. Team of local architects, engineers and students in this field make sculptures out of cans. The sculptures are on display and guests can bring cans to donate. At the end of the event all cans are donated to a local food bank. Brilliant idea, right? RIGHT!

Here are a few of the structures...I wish I had a photo of the Arcturis sculpture, but it did not turn out. They did a replica of the Planetarium, it was amazing!

After we saw the CANstruction exhibit, we headed to an exhibit of the 1904 World's Fair. I'm not sure how this started, but I've always been a little obsessed with the 1904 World's Fair, perhaps I've seen "Meet Me in St. Louis" too many times, I don't know.

Reese loved the ferris wheel!

I love this staircase!

Strollers have come a long way since the 1900's, I'm so glad, the one in the glass case doesn't even have a basket underneath or a cupholder.

Our crew. Isn't this doorway gorgeous? This definitely a place we will visit again.

Paging Dr. McNugget

There's a McDreamy and a McSteamy. I would like to introduce the newest person to enter the medical field... Dr. McNugget (aka Aidan).

My father-in-law was in the hospital twice over the last month for two surgeries on his prostate. Both surgeries went very well and his is recovering beautifully.  We spent a few days at the hospital and Aidan made a few observations.

The first surgery was outpatient and we were able to see Pappy about an our after he went to his recovery room. I brought Aidan back to his room to boost his spirits and give Aidan a chance to see Pappy. Aidan said, "Pappy, get yourself a bandaid, get your clothes on and let's get out of here!" Well diagnosed, Dr. McNugget.

During our time in the waiting room Aidan discovered that Reese's Princess Barbies' clothing can be removed and wanted to undress them in private and secluded himself under a few chairs in the waiting room. This fun observation prompted me to purchase the book "Amazing You."

At the next surgery, Pappy had to stay over night. We came by to visit him the next day and were there when the nurse was asking Pappy a few questions:

Nurse: Mr. Gourley, are you feeling dizzy?
Pappy: Nope. No dizziness
Aidan: I like Disney!

Easter Egg Hunt #1

This was our second year going to the Easter Egg Hunt at Ursuline Academy, my friend Lisa's high school (her graduation year has been omitted to preserve her youth).

Last year, we missed most of the activities because we were late, but this year I was determined to be on time.  We got there in plenty of time and watched the Easter Bunny arrive via Audi convertible. Turns out the Easter Bunny has not been affected by these tough economic times. Last year he was brought in on a tractor, so I guess the Bunny is doing okay for himself and has upgraded to the Audi.

Reese, Aidan & Finni holding hands walking to the Egg Hunt.

Nice ride, Bunny.

I didn't bring baskets for them, so we stole plastic baggies. I'm usually well prepared, but I didn't even think about baskets. Oops. Those plastic bags did the job - they got the candy, no harm done.

Checking out the goods. I was hoping to steal one Reese's Peanut Butter cup to eat and I was hoping for Tootsie Rolls to be used as props for my upcoming Potty Party (more on that later). I scored on both accounts.

Hanging with the Hippos

Another trip to the zoo and I had so much fun snapping photos of the kids with the Hippos. Aidan couldn't stop laughing at their "giant butts." We are working with him on what is appropriate to say in private and trying to get him to refrain from using the word "butt" in social situations.

They loved watching the hippos swim by.

Reese & Jude

Abe, Jude & Reese. Reese kept screaming every time the hippos came up to the glass.

Disney on Ice

We went to the Disney On Ice Show and sat in the AmerenUE box-THANK YOU LISA!  We had so much fun! As you can see from the photo above, Aidan has officially entered the stage where he has the awkward smile - this makes for excellent photos.

The box. I apologize for the out of focus photo. It was really dark and I do not know how to use my camera.

The show was amazing.

Aidan eating at $20 box of popcorn-just kidding, it wasn't actually $20, I think it was about $7, but still.

Shanna & Reese

Reese waved goodbye to the princesses. Once again, I must apologize to Lisa for wanting to stay until the end of the show instead of leaving 5 minutes early and getting ahead of the crowd in the parking lot. The so called, "grand finale" was not worth the 20 minutes it took us to get out of the parking lot.