Today and yesterday we had our garage sale. It was actually my first garage sale and my sister and I combined forces to do this since my neighborhood was having their annual garage sale weekend. We had a little iffy weather yesterday when I took the pictures... we kept most things inside the garage in case rain threatened but today we were able to move things out and spread out a bit. My mom and dad also came down to help out and that was a big help since my sister and I juggling Finley yesterday was a bit much. I learned a few things- garage sales are a lot of work and the work pays off!! Finley and I made some cash (the"we need new living room curtains fund" as I like to call it) and got rid of some things we no longer needed. I sold a lot of Finley's baby clothing and items. Nate and I came to a decision that we don't plan on having another baby any time real soon (lol for that one anyway) and even if we did decide after he was home for good it would still have to be a combination of factors to reuse a lot of our stuff anyway. Also for the fact that who doesn't want some new stuff for a new baby and there is always something new being made for kids. I feel like we were drowning in baby stuff around here anyway so it feels good to clear some things out! It was sad to see to see things go, but happy to know they went to new babies who were going to enjoy them!! Also, I kept all of my favorite things and most sentimental things of Finley's anyway. Selling your stuff is good therapy! The Garage sale was fun and we met a lot of nice people, mostly neighbors. I hope that others could find a good use in the stuff we no longer needed and walk away feeling like they got a great deal. I found some books for Finley at my neighbors garage sale so that made us happy!! Finley also got a new toy courtesy of my dad. Nate say's I might try to garage sale our entire household since I had such a good time...
Getting Set up on Friday That's a lot of baby clothes!! (and diaper boxes??) Finley had to be in his walker or he was all over the place
Cute pictures from Saturday afternoon. Ok? He found a nuk I was packing away...
I am just beat tonight after having my mom and dad here all day helping me get ready for the garage sale!! I decided to post some videos I took of Finley last week that I just actually viewed. He is just obsessed with the vacuum- sidenote: you see the vacuum in practically every picture or video, this is because my menagerie of pets never stop shedding and I literally vacuum everyday. It also is because Finley is love with the vacuum so it's an activity that puts him in a good mood too. I found him the other morning trying so hard to push it around any we he could. So funny to watch trying to figure the world out. He since picks up his play vacuum and copies me and follows me around when I vacuum. The other videos are peek-a-boo. There is never a bad time for a game of peek-a-boo these days! I love wear he just starts shouting things at the TV. I think it may have been his morning cartoons?
Finley and I had a pretty good Fourth of July weekend considering all things. I can't say I was exactly in the spirit of celebration due to things that have happened over the last few weeks but regardless we did some fun things and enjoyed our weekend. Holiday's really make me miss Nate even more as it's sometimes hard to see families enjoying each others company and knowing that a BIG part of your family is not there to share it with. Sorry being "Debbie Downer" but I speak the truth. We miss Nate and we miss our Sealy cat and that is just a reality. Finley and I started our holiday weekend on Friday and hung out with my sister (Aunt Chris) a bit and did some errand running. Friday night we were invited over to our neighbor's for dinner and a playdate. They have a little girl a few weeks older than Finley and Lisa'sf husband was out of town over the weekend. We enjoyed a nice dinner and the kids got to play a bit. On Saturday, the 4th, we kept it low key all day. Actually Finley was pretty sleepy and kind of crabby all day. We took a nice walk with Lisa and Anna (our neighbors) and then Patti and Greg came up to have a fun dinner at Ella's Deli. Finley LOVED Ella's Deli. For anyone that doesn't know, it's a crazy fun place full of weird and cool kid paraphernalia and everything is on a motor... basically everything around you is moving and the tables are fun and unique. You can't even really explain Ella's Deli but kids just love it. The fact that it has good food and ice cream helps too!! Finley was just in awe and took it all in while also enjoying his food. Afterward he got to play with his Grandma and Grandpa at home for a bit before crashing... umm, about 30 minutes before the big fireworks display near our house. If he had made it I was going to walk him down to see the fireworks but I know better than to keep a sleepy kid up. Maybe next year Finley!! (He didn't make it up to see any of Rhythm and Booms from the airport either). I tried. I actually watched some of the fireworks from my back yard though which was nice that I can see them from the comfort of home. Howie on the other hand does not enjoy our close proximity to a large fireworks display as he is deathly afraid of them. Poor baby! He hid behind the furnace in the basement pretty much all night. Today we had a nice day. The weather was beautiful. I started getting ready for my upcoming garage sale this weekend (it's neighborhood wide) and also cleaning up things that have gotten lost in the shuffle of things lately. We had a playdate with Lisa and Anna again, this time the kids splashed around in Anna's pool for a bit then played inside. Our theory is if we both have crabby kids that are awake might as well get the together to have some fun. It usually works and the kids end up in better moods. We then decided to take a picnic dinner down to the big park nearby and let the kids swing etc. It was such a nice night for a walk and picnic in the park, many others had the same idea!! It was so much fun Finley just plain wore himself out and fell asleep swinging. So a good weekend all in all. I decided that it doesn't matter what we do as long as it's a good day. I no longer worry about things like what we "should" be doing. If the day or week is uneventful yet we have our own fun, everyone we love is happy and healthy and my kid is content then life is good. Life's too short to sweat the small stuff anymore. Oh, and Happy Birthday America...
Pictures from our Weekend
Playing with the light... on, off, on, off. Oh what fun. We call this the "Shit Look" and everyone says he gets this from me... And this is just a big happy face Looking around at Ella's Deli With Grandpa Greg at Ella's Deli Carousel
Looks a little snug Cooper? Getting a package ready for Daddy Tasting what we are sending for quality control
I am posting this with a sad heart tonight. My Sealy cat was put to rest today after enduring all of the illness she could. Her little heart could take no more and it was time to let her go be at peace. Nate and I acquired Sealy as a tiny kitten back in our college days and she was our first cat together as a couple. She will forever be in our hearts. Her short life was the best a cat could ask for and we loved her very very much. I miss her so much already.
Some Favorite Pictures of Sealy
Baby Sealy, and yes that blurry little white rat in front of her is Ella...
She had a beautiful tummy that she hated anyone to touch!
My spunky girl
Giving her "Seal" of approval to our kitchen remodel
In Finley's closet exploring... before Finley was born She adored Finley's crib, with or without the baby in it
Finley has learned how to share his meals with the dogs these days. He is in love with feeding Opsec and finds it pretty much hilarious. At lunch today I caught him letting Opsec lick what he had in his hand, only to have Finley also put it back in his own mouth. YUMMO! I guess I have to watch very carefully now, no more rinsing dishes during meal time!
We are pretty sure Finley says Opsec. Actually it could very well be considered his first word besides babbling ba ba and da da.... You can hear him say it in video number 2. I don't know but it sounds awfully close!! Oh the irony if it is Finley's first word (those of you who know Opsec personally can agree here?)
