Fun in the Sun

This summer has been SUPER HOT!

As you can tell by the thermometer in the Pathfinder. But we didn't let that stop us from having fun in the sun...
Jack, Nick, and I have spent many, many mornings, afternoons, and evenings in the backyard playing in his bucket, with his toys, and

swimming in his pool.

I even had some summer fun in the sun myself...Angela and I headed to the Gaylord Texan for a day by the pool, a night of eating, drinking, and being lazy, followed by another day by the pool before heading back to Dallas.

Sorry Jack...you can't go to college because...

Mom has spent all your savings this summer on STUFF. Nothing we couldn't live without, nothing we deserve seeing as neither Nick nor I had a summer income...but at the same time...helped to make the summer heat more bearable....in stores. :) Here is a sampling of the summer purchases that make us, (OK me), happy!

These wet bags are fabulous! Karen has some that she was using for Olivia's potty training (clean and dirty) in her diaper bag and I just had to have some. Turns out a friend had the hook up with a co-op so I bought 2 medium and a large for a bargain. Not exactly sure what I'm going to use them for since I had also bought 2 Vera Bradley diddy bags (similar concept.....fabric on outside and lined with vinyl on the inside), but they were a bargain so I'll come up with something. Like today the diddy bag was a camera cover at the Zoo because it was raining. And after swim lessons it was great for the suits til we could lay them out at home.
Here is the large one...I think we'll use this as a toiletry bag.
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the video camera baby monitor that we bought for the playroom. That way when Jack gets quiet we can check in on him without having to get up and run down the hall. We LOVED it so much that we purchased and extra camera for his bedroom. This way we can scan between the two rooms and the camera can pan the entire room so he can't hide from us. Watching him after we put him to bed has been great entertainment.
After a trip to the Arboretum with painted letters we put together picture frames for Papa, Bebe, Nana, and Gramps for Birthdays and beyond. Nick and I made one for ourselves too. The original idea was to turn the pictures black and white and do the letters in color but with the technical difficulties with the computer we scratched that and went with all color. While ordering those we also ordered some pictures for the frames in the living room collage and around the house. Which the picture frames, paint, and carpet weren't free either.

Vera Bradley had a fabulous sale. I'm not (or at least wasn't) a huge Vera Bradley follower....although I often obsess (I know me?!?) about not purchasing the first Vera styled bag I saw and fell in love with in Niece, France....but with the deals this summer as you will see....I couldn't control myself and made up for way more than that one bag I didn't purchase in Niece. Here is my teacher bag for this year and a matching lunch box.....hey-if it makes me smile and feel better about being a working mom....what's it to ya?!?!

This is a super happy diaper bag that I am using now as a carry all bag for Jack and I's adventures and maybe one day for a maybe Relle Clan bambino number 2....justified because I never bought a diaper bag for Jack....just used my purse filled to the brim.
So the original Vera purchase was for Mother's Day from Nick...a clutch wallet that I had been wanting. Luckily I have problems using new things for awhile after I purchase them, so I was able to return it and get all this instead with the fabulous sale....a jewelry book so my jewelry is safer than in a zip lock and doesn't get stuck together, another clutch with matching checkbook cover and small cosmetic bag to move from purse to purse, and they threw in this zipper ID coin purse for free with a job application (turns out I not only shopped a lot but must have impressed them with my unintential sorting of merchandise while obsessing over what to buy). Might need to mention too that I also bought 3 more zipper ID coin purses to put gift cards in for Miley and Jack's two teachers at Christmas, 2 diddy bags to have for baby shower gifts at some point, and another baby present for a dear friend-all wrapped and ready to go. I am attending a Vera party at the store in August in hopes to win free stuff and then I'm not going back for a LONG time...I think I'm well stocked. :) Do you?!?!

Other items on the Summer Wish List:

*desk for OC-CHECK

*toy box for Jack's room-CHECK

*weed eater-CHECK

*vacumn cleaner because the one we have isn't adjustable and won't move on the new carpet...must take care of it

*small digital camera because Jack dropped and broke the old digital....which although slow, it was always in my purse for catching everyday things on film

*couch because this one is KILLING my back

*shed to get that garage under control for good

*there is more....but I don't want to seem to spoiled/needy :O)

Til then....no more purchases and when college comes around...sorry Jack...hope you get a scholarship or Sallie Mae will become your "friend" too!

Summer Improvements

It all started with my frustration of our recycle cluttering up the counter space. A trip to the Container Store which we were told they couldn't help us achieve what we wanted....ended up to our satisfaction with my passion for organization and Nick's ability to measure and put my plan of action to life. Behold our cabinet recycle container...

Elfa drawer pull out with plywood drilled to it in the small cabinet next to the sink which remains unlocked...
so that the recycle garbage can can sit on it to collect the recycle trash rather than the counter and the never working can inside the garage.

From there I knew we were to have one upgrade this Summer using our tax refund money. With the computer on the fritz and with the couches unbearable...I was to pick one with the promise to not complain about the other...and in the end new carpet was the choice. After the housekeeper came for the last time I realized that even a good cleaning crew would waste the money because our bedroom carpet was done. Even though the other bedrooms were in great condition, when people enter our room is in sight and it was just gross. Thinking back to the wood floors while we were both working I knew this had to be done while we were both off...

Jack's room before

Playroom Before-Can you tell he spends a lot of time in here now that he is "off" for the summer?

Our Room Before

Filth and this is only a small sample of it.

The process which made me grateful we did it on a day Jack was at school and we were off to be able to get it ready, be there while they worked, and put it back together not after work hours.

It was a good thing Nick had just cleaned out the garage...shame it was a Disaster again.

Work in progress.

Playroom After

Jack's Room After. Somehow I didn't get a picture of our room after and it was the main cause for the selection of carpet over the much needed computer (although it is doing better thanks to Patrick) and the couch that is probably the cause of this pain I am having in my back especially now as I type this post. It is a grayish color and the Frizee stuff...super soft and plush...I LOVE IT!

The new carpet prompted us to call in Angela for more improvements for the Summer of 2009. We took down our collage of photos and hung up one of the paintings from Grandpa.

Finally put the UpperCase Living above Jack's door...I just LOVE the saying, "Let him sleep for when he wake he will move mountains."

Moved some metal embellishments from the living room to the hall in the place of our wedding pictures to pull in some color....the walls in the hall and playroom were painted prior to the carpet being installed. Khaki color of course. :)

Angela helped us to add to the collage that was already there with more pictures of our little man, framing our last UpperCase Living saying on canvas, and adding some decorative pieces to finish up the wall. I LOVE how it came out! Thanks Angela!

And the final, but not last project, was to get the printer out of the living room off the couch side table by buying a desk, chair, and printer holder for our closet...that is right...Nick moved to the playroom closet, my stuff remains, but in the back there is a nice space for us to store the computer, do a little work, and get the printer out of the living room (which was it's newest location from under our bed where we used to plug it in to print). We have named our little office space the OC (Office Closet). We're still working on an organization system in here....before summer's end...I'm determined.

As for the rest of the list:

Paint Jack's table and chairs to move to his room, put together and paint a purchases toy box bench for his room, paint the bookshelf, mirror, and cubbie system for his playroom to make a dress up center, and get that garage under control which probably will result in a shed...but that HAS to be after the couch because I'm dying here. So....we'll get it all together finally and then it will be time to sell so that we have more room for any future additions to the Relle Clan...that is how it works right?!?!

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 5th Anniversary Nick and Jennifer!

It's hard to believe that we've not only been married for 5 years, but that we've been together as a couple since the Summer of 2000 in London where we met and never thought we'd make it this long. :)Nick and I, the happy couple, after an anniversary dinner just the two of us compliments of Angela hanging with Jack...

And a true picture of the couple plus the 1 that made it all REAL.

Past Playdates

There should be more but with sickness, Tues/Thurs school, trips to Louisiana, and us being plain lazy....this is all we have. Other than a recent playdate with Ethan and Jonah which has no pictures due to my playdate camera being broken by his truly.

The Friday before the 4th of July we had a spontaneous playdate with the Ashley/Nathan, Angela, and the McWilliams. Honestly I think Nathan and Jack would have had just as much fun playing with the fan in the living room (trying to circulate some air in this heat) than playing outside.
Nick had set up the backyard for fun...Sand table, horseshoes, Little Tikes 8 in 1, wagon, sink, bucket, and tons of toys. Here Olivia and Nathan and enjoying the sand and water table.

This was the first time that Jack really let go in the water...and I mean he let go...sliding forward, backward, and splashing around like crazy. Only a taste of what was to come at Ashley's a few days later and in Papa's pool on our trip to Louisiana.

Lunch was tasty hot dogs, chips, and 4th of July cookies.

And juice for the adults of course.

A few days later before our trip to Louisiana the Relle Clan drove on over to the Parnell's for a swim in their pool.

As you can tell Jack wasn't shy about his new love for the water at all. Thanks Ashley for letting us borrow your life vest...he now doesn't feel he needs it when jumping in which is why we are singing up for swim lessons asap.

Nathan was such a good host to share his awesome pool with us.

And Ashley made some fabulous grilled cheese sandwiches. We need to take advantage of the time we have left before Jack returns to school full time August 1st and another year starts up for Nick and I which means full steam ahead.

New Orleans Summer of 2009

After starting the Louisiana Summer of 2009 Trip in Baton Rouge we made the drive to New Orleans to spend some time with the Relles. Jack went straight to his favorite toy from Christmas...his bicycle. Water painting with Nana was one of his new favorites. Gramps fired up the grill and the whole family came over to see Jack (I mean for a Summer BBQ AND to see Jack). "Look at all the new faces. A variety of people to spoil me. How to I choose who to start with." "Hi Cousin Leslie. Wanna play basketball?" Good food, good fun, great family! What a great evening. Jack was fascinated with Gramp's fruit trees. TROUBLE So much that Uncle Frank joined Jack in time out. This is the life...pool to cool off and play in, Nana to play with, and Gramps to keep Jack shaded. Must be nice to be royalty! Fun with Gramp's water cooler (notice he didn't make it into his swimming suit before jumping in for the morning). Ummm....the picture says it all! Jack for sure wasn't short for toys to play with...or people to play with him. And that is evident in the pictures. Wrestling with Uncle Blake. Thanks for a great trip and Thanks to Uncle Blake for all the pictures...I took a photographers break because I knew that Blake would do a good job of documenting our New Orleans portion of our trip. So much of a break that Nick and I enjoyed some time laying out at the Garrity's pool, dinner at the Bourbon House, drinks at Pat O's, having our cards read, Cafe du Monde, and loosing some money at Harrah's. It was a great date night-with free babysitters!