Prime Purchases

IT'S PRIME PURCHASES TUESDAY!

I didn't participate in Prime Purchases last month due to it being the Tuesday after the Fourth of July, but mostly all of our purchases were FOR the Fourth of July so most items really wouldn't have been worth grabbing since the holiday had passed, but I'm back today with some goodies!

I'm still continuing my decluttering process over here and with that has come the getting rid of lots of clothes.  It feels nice to not have as much, BUT I really don't have many options for shirts.  I plan to sloooowly get a few new items here and there and I'm starting with this cute shirt!  I do a lot of blacks, blues and grey, but I hope to add some color here and there, too. 

GREY SHIRT

 

Jane's been waking up at all hours of the night lately.  I thought perhaps it'd pass on its own, but she's continued to wake up at 2:30 a.m., or 4:00 a.m. or 5:00 a.m.... *sigh*

That's a no for me, Dawg.

Haha!

I found this wake clock for her on Amazon.  It's on sale and you guys, GAME CHANGER!

Jane now knows that when the unicorn is sleeping the clock will be pink, but when the unicorn wakes up and it's green then it's time to officially wake up and then Jane's allowed to come up into our room.  

We're only on our second night using it, but Jane hasn't climbed out of bed once for the last two nights.  It's actually quite funny to us how we're pretty positive she's probably just in her room staring at it waiting for it to turn green.  It's absolutely amazing and I'll forever suggest this to any parent going through the same struggle!

UNICORN WAKE/SLEEP ALARM CLOCK

Henry wants to play games all day, every day.  He currently loves Stratego, Risk and Catan.  He was thrilled when Jon ordered him this Catan Seafarers Expansion set.  

I've been having fun playing with him, too.  Most of our games last well into the next day and while I'm terrible at most games, it's been fun to bond with him over what he loves to play.

CATAN SEAFARERS

We purchased this book for Eliza.  We're about five chapters in and so far, so good.  There aren't any mean characters or snooty "mermaid" girls, which is big for me.  I'll keep you posted on the rest of the book.

A MERMAID IN MIDDLE GRADE

I plan to decoupage some craft pumpkins with these napkins for fall.  I thought I'd give it a try and maybe make an IG Reel about it, but we shall see.  I have the idea in my head, but sometimes that doesn't always go as planned.  Haha!  ;)

BLUE AND WHITE NAPKINS

I've always used lunch box notes for the kiddos.  I wouldn't use them every day, since they took a cold lunch almost every single day for all the years they've been in school, and that would've been a lot of work for this Mama, but I do love to surprise them with the occasional note.  I love these sweet unicorn lunch box notes for Eliza...

UNICORN LUNCH BOX NOTES

...and these Facts and Funnies for Henry!

Lindsay posted about these and they just look so cute!

LUNCH BOX FACTS

AI've found that I don't have much jewelry and since Jane is getting a little older and not grabbing or pulling at things, I'd love to start to accessorize, but easy does it and I'm starting with black and gold.  These bracelets are a little funky, but classy.  There are some blue and gold ones that I'd love too, but I'm waiting for them to drop in price. ;)

BRACELETS

Lastly, I don't know about you guys, but since 2020, the kids' wardrobe has suffered.  The kids were only going to school two days a week back in 2020 and into 2021, sot hey got away with wearing the same things all the time, then they grew, then last year we managed to get a few items, but I was still so busy with Jane, so the kids truly didn't have much.  I think Eliza was down to just three shirts that she'd wear on repeat and Henry had maybe two long shirts for winter.  Shoes were rough, too.  I've been slowly investing in new and affordable clothes and shoes for each kiddo.  Taking them out of town isn't easy around here, so I've taken advantage of any opportunity that we venture to an area with more stores and making sure the kids are able to try on clothes and shoes.  It feels good that they feel good.

With all that said, look at this adorable cardigan for Jane!  I purchased the stripes with more pinks and purples to match her itty bitty "capsule wardrobe," if you will, BUT I absolutely adore this rainbow one, as well!

GIRLS CARDIGAN

Woohoo!  That was fun to share!

What have you guys been buying?  Any favorite purchases I need to know about?

Thanks, as always, for scrolling through.  It means so much!

Marie :)

I'm linking up with Tanya for Prime Purchases.

*This post contains affiliate links and I may earn a commission based on purchases.

Hello Monday

Hey there, friends!

We had a suuuuuper busy week last week!  I spent the majority of our time driving Henry to and fro to LEGO Robotics Camp in Indiana all week last week.  Add in laundry, dishes, chasing a toddler, cooking dinner, running of errands and attempting to stay on a nap time schedule and that left me with zero time for blogging.

I also went to see my Dad on Friday and then again yesterday (Sunday) - it's a four hour roundtrip drive.  I'm so happy we went to see him.  I went alone on Friday and Jon held down the fort on Friday.  Jon wanted to see him yesterday so we plopped the kids in the car and, boy, they were troopers.  The kids were also able to see my Dad.  Before heading in I was sure to inform them that Grandpa is still Grandpa...he's just sick.  I'm so grateful a nurse let us all go in.  We had exactly 15 minutes to say, "Hello," and to love on him.  

With all that heaviness on my heart (our hearts), we've been making memories and Jon and I have really been trying to be truly present with our kids.

I took the kids to the zoo about two weeks ago and my heart was so full of joy spending time with the kids.  I've already posted here and there about our little zoo trip, but this simple trip made me so very happy that I felt it deserved a place here on the blog.

Our last time visiting the zoo was in 2020.  Things were still very strange and Jane was not quite 11/2.  I remember the zoo being fun, but rather stressful...for a multitude of reasons.  We never made it to the zoo last summer, so I was determined to get there this year.

We had the best time and my favorite, the train, was up and running.  I love riding the train with the kids.  Henry and Eliza were still very much into it, too!  We started our day with pictures on some sculptures...

All three kids were trying to figure out where to sit on the big bear.  It was entire ordeal, but they eventually figured it out.

We loved this chalk wall and music garden.

That smile!

Love these kiddos so much...

FINALLY!!!!  THE TRAIN!!!!

This panda was the cutest.

The kids were all about the carousel, too!

Well, sort of...  Bahahahahaha!!!

We headed over to the giraffes and made sure to feed them.  I was, at this point, giving the kids the entire zoo experience.  We had the fed goats, rode the train, rode the carousel, ate lunch, fed the giraffes and ice cream was on the horizon.

This was so much fun!

Off we went to find the lions...

...and find them we did!!!!

Talk about up close.  We had even left the exhibit because the lions weren't out but rushed back to be this close when they finally appeared!

Seriously, so cool!

This was THE closest we have EVER been to a lion!

The kids took turns "driving" the school bus in Africa!

I received two points for the "Golden Apple" (AKA parent of the week)!  LOL!

Leaving Africa...

Completely exhausted...

This was the longest we've ever stayed at a zoo and while the kids were tired, I had to fulfill my promise of ice cream!

Eliza's so funny!

We stopped to see an owl and then another sculpture picture...

We were misted on our way out!  It felt great!

This pretty girl.  

We had the most lovely time.

I love taking these kids in...and slowing down...and being in the moment.  We had the most beautiful zoo day.

I hope you and yours are enjoying these last days of summer before school begins.

Thanks, as always, for stopping by!

Marie :)

I'm linking up with Sarah and Holly for Hello Monday.