on events of an eventful day

i knew i should have never clicked on craigslist last night to view garage sales for today. once again, i did not listen to my inner no-no voice and woke early to hit a "must see" sale. these gals had been in the daycare business for sixteen+ years and were closin' shop. everything had to go. why did i think i needed more toys? i didn't...i'm just obsessed beyond my reasoning. i read on their advertisement that they had a play kitchen for sale. this is something i've been searching for as i will be purchasing one for jess before the end of the year. i really wanted to check theirs out. the sale started at 9:00 a.m., i was there by 9:04.

the kitchen was already the property of someone else. being whisked away, i saw it in passing. this probably being a good thing because honestly, i briefly stole a peak at the price tag and hmm-mm, it was over-priced. i would have kept walking anyway.

i did find an adorable dollhouse for only two bucks. i just need to find the little people to go in it. these are easily found for pretty inexpensive at any local toy aisle. also, i added a few more dr. seuss to my...i mean, jess' collection. she also had some vintage playskool disney and sesame street wood puzzles i picked up. the smell of them quickly flashed me to my childhood memories. good times.

onward home we went to turn around and head out again. this time, we were on our way downtown for "kid's day". the girls and i went with our neighbors and had a blast meeting elmo (jessa actually hugged his fluffy-furry, giant costume) and watching cookie monster and trash gordon. isn't it a great idea to shove hundreds of kids, loads of sugar, clumps of balloons, loud music and sparkly stuff in a realm of about five acres. let's not forget the sticky humidity produced by the incredibly hot sun. brilliant. it really was a joy to watch jessa and myah's face as they sung songs, danced and truly believed that tv had come to life on stage. oh to be young again.

after a couple of hours of downtown, i took the girls home for quick naps. after giving jessa a scrub down in the bathtub for the second time already, she got about a 45 minute rest before being awoken to our next destination. miley also was not pleased to have been rudely awakened from her sleepful dreams for the second time today. but this next trip i would not have missed for all the starbucks in the world. true story.

we like to call them papa ken and grammy judy (aka jud'). they are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary tomorrow. their family sneakily planned a surprise party for them today...and everything went just as planned. it was so fantastic. everyone that is super close to them was there. i felt it an honor to be there with the girls. i know judy from working many years at the scrapbook store. most people thought that judy and i were mother and daughter and co-owned the store together. i guess you could say that was a logical assumption with our similarities and always working shifts together. papa ken and grammy judy have always been there for us. they were there when we got married, judy being our beautiful florist. they were there when jessa was born. when miley was born. at birthday parties. and anytime in between. they put family as their highest priority. people are drawn to them, one of their best qualities being 'others oriented'. we love them dearly and are grateful and blessed to be called family. ken and judy, here's to your happiest years yet and the memories of your best ones made! we love you!taken 03.25.08

we arrived home well past the girl's bedtime, but at that point, it didn't matter. their whole 'sleepy schedule' was thrown the minute they woke up in the morning. it was a packed day of memories in the making and sleep can be caught up. some of my favorite highlights are...
jessa jumping on a trampoline for the first time - that was a sight to behold.
i had some of the best flank steak and chocolate cake my taste buds have ever experienced. holy cow! and i literally mean that the milk that came from the cow that helped make the cake had to of come from heaven that morning!
finding more yard sale bargains with my girls.
jessa and myah prancing around downtown in their princess tiera's and wands.
sipping cold lemonade with my neighbors...happy birthday kristi! :)
realizing how much i need jacob at events like today - your other half cannot be bought. i treasure your pair of hands and missed them greatly today.

it was a fabulous day. and now my head is ready to hit my pillow. goodnight.