The last few weeks

Hi Friends!

I know. I know.

My blog has been sorely neglected the last few (um...3!?!?) weeks.

I've been so busy that blogging has been pushed to the bottom of the need-to-do list.

Tonight, though, it is at the top of the list!

Our housewarming/30th birthday party is this weekend and I am so looking forward to it! My Mom and Dad came to stay a couple of weekends ago and my Mom brought me the finished quilt for our guest/craft room. It is so gorgeous! I really is perfect in there!

 My craft room has turned out exactly how I wanted. Unfortunately, I am going to have to do something different with the drapes. We have a streetlamp right outside our house and the light really shines in through the half-round window. It makes it hard to sleep in there for our guests. I went to Wal-Martian today in search of some white black-out curtains to add length to the ones already there. I couldn't find any today, but I think my solution will work if I can find some.

Russ and I took Chloe Jo to the zoo a couple of weeks ago. I'm really glad we have season passes because it was lame the day we went. The temperature got up to 105 and the animals that were out were very lazy.

 I am sad that the zoo was so lame, but I'm glad that we were able to get in the family time.

 Even the otters, who are usually very playful, were just laying there. It was just too hot for them!

 At least the heat couldn't take away our sense of humor!

 The zoo did have 2 baby cheetahs that were out. Isn't it so cute!!! I would have snuggled with it if I could have! And then it probably would have ate me.

 Before leaving, we did Chloe Jo's favorite thing and rode the train.

 Poor girl. She was so sweaty.

After the zoo we went to McD's for some ice cream to help us cool off.

 I think we are about ready to retire the stroller. We took it to the zoo, but Chloe Jo ended up wanting to walk most of the time. I ended up pushing Miriam (the Cabbage Patch Kid) in the stroller. HA!

Last week was another busy one. Russ and I dropped Chloe Jo off at Aunty Chelle's and we went on a much needed date. He took me to Red Lobster (my favorite) and we had a great time. This date was to celebrate both of our birthdays (which are this week) and our anniversary (which is next week).

Then on Saturday was the Alzheimer's Walk. I will be blogging more about this later.

Today was busy with grocery shopping. I have also been hunting fabric to make curtains for our bathroom. I haven't found anything that I like enough to buy 8 yards of. I also haven't found any ready-made curtains. It is so frustrating because our bathroom gets so hot during the day. The search will continue. I'll just have to see if I can find anything I like in the city.

I did get a batch of dishwasher detergent made this evening. It is amazing how much money we save since I make our laundry and dishwasher detergent.

On the same lets-save-money thread, I also made a reusable swiffer duster. I made it out of fleece so it works great and I can just throw it in the washer after each use.

I sent some pictures to Reasor's photo lab to try them out. I hate our Wal-Mart photo labs here. I've tried two different stores and they were both horrible. One store wouldn't print part of my pictures because they were "professional". Some of them were, but they were school pictures of my grandparents from the 40's! How in the world am I supposed to get a release from a school picture that is that old?!? The other store didn't print part of my pictures and then argued with me about it. Needless to say, I had to find another option. Reasor's did a good job and I will probably continue using them. I am so loving the instastrip they do!

I have several projects I need to get done this week including Chloe Jo's Halloween costume. I know it is early, but I like to be prepared and who knows what all is going to come up between now and then??? I still need to add the skirt. I am loving how it is coming out so far, though!

I finally caught up in my Bible reading. I hate that I got behind, but at least I am caught up now! I have been taking my Kindle to church services to use as my Bible. Once I got used to it I really enjoy it. I'm definitely faster with my traditional Bible!

I am so loving this little girl. 3 has been so hard with the fits and tantrums, but also the most fun because her adorable sense of humor has been developing. She is a joy in my life! I thank God for her!