Hub's Work Party

Party at Boulevard Brewing in downtown KC followed my cocktails at The Cashew- good times

2013 Flipgram

2013 year in review on Instagram....thinking this over, probably should have waited to do this next week.  Oh well. This was a lot of fun, wish you could make it longer than 15 (there may be a way, but I sure couldn't figure it out).  And, it goes newest to oldest,would have liked it to go the other way.  I only used the pictures of Charlie, if I used all the pictures, it shoved 73 pictures into 15 seconds and was NOT fun to watch- whoa.  Hardest part?  Picking the music. This started loud on my computer, so watch the volume!

Feeling Frugal

We get hand me downs from several places.  We've been aweseomely lucky.  We haven't had to buy boots, winter coats, and most of our every day wear.  Outside socks, underwear and the special occasion outfit, we just don't have to buy clothes.  We are so very grateful for all we get.

However, boys will be boys and I've noticed as he gets older, the clothes are sparser because, well, they just wear them out!

We are thin on every day shirts, and WAY thin on anything to wear to church so, off to the thrift stores we went.  My town is the third largest city in Missouri behind Kansas City and St Louis, so there is a huge population that ranges from the very wealthy to the extremely poor.  This makes for amazing thrift store conditions.  Great donations and a plethora of stores due to the need.  We hit four thrift stores and put about 6 miles on my car.  

We found such great deals, we even got to go out to lunch together (kids eat free on weekends, even BETTER deal!)  I was totally on a roll this weekend. Why would anyone NOT shop at thrift stores when it comes to kids!?!

7 long sleeve shirts, 2 hoodies, 1 windbreaker, 1 Champion zip up fleece, 1 Champs chambray shirt, 2 sweaters, 2 khakis (GAP and Children's Place), 1 pair sweatpants and 1 tee shirt.  Total spent $43.  That is 17 items for less than $50, about $2.50 each.  Most are in amazing shape and are name brand.  I just wash them with hot water, soap and a little white vinegar and they are better than new!

Gymboree and Children's Place (I actually got the sweater right before Christmas, but was so cute and from a thrift store, I had to include)

My much-looked-for-at-a-reasonable-price chambray shirt, and a little GAP cardigan, look at those elbow patches!!

Cleaned them out of KU stuff, heck of a lot cheaper than the bookstore!

Mamma son lunch date of grilled cheeses and a malt at Steak and Shake!

Charlie's First Pagent - Our Little Donkey

Waiting to perform

Couldn't resist playing with the sheep

Meg sat down and read them a Christmas Story, adorable. Total chaos and lots of noise, but adorable.

SO MANY FACES

'He was born where???'

McAuley Christmas

The firetruck folds open and it has ramps, tunnels etc, very cool and a BIG hit

Charlie's present from Chad-another big hit.  Charlie worships his cousin Josh.  'Josh my fwend' 'where's Josh?' (at odd times around our house) and 'MY Josh'

Oh boy, because we don't watch this thing enough times on Netflix, now we can watch it on road trips!

spaz

spaaaaaz

Where Charlie gets it from

Look at my giant diamond!!  Pretty mistletoe/ornament thingy from Matt's parents (everyone got different colors, mine was the best one!)

What is this and why can't I play with it?

Off to Church!

He's already read the book like, 25 times

Home to Minnie

I love being home...good food, good wine, good company...we don't get there often enough

Charlie really like making funny faces in Grandma's mirrored dresser

Narrating Planes scene by scene to Grandpa

My sister and her fam- my favorite people

Trying to get a cousin/fire/PJ pic.  Charlie was less than cooperative

Present time!  Our gift opening is short and sweet, a little something for everyone, lots of fun stuff for the kids

Giant soft Monsters Inc blanket - sooo cozy

A hush falls over the room as they are all occupied with toys...Elise liked Charlie's Lincoln Logs.  They may be a bit old for Charlie right now.  We played with them when we got home but all he wanted to build was cars (all boy that one)

Sledding time! Grandma and Grandpa's house had SO much powdery snow.  Such good sledding conditions!

Pudgy can't get up the hill with all his snow stuff on

Elise is so good with Charlie, she loves playing and playing and playing with him, it's a huge help, especially as she gets older (here Elise, watch Charlie so mom and auntie can have a beer)

Almost easier to hold his shoulder (closer to his center of gravity)

Crying because he couldn't get up the hill the girls were on.  It was way to steep and he kept sliding back down....poor Charlie

For the 659th time - STOP EATING THE SNOW OFF YOUR GLOVE, you'll freeze your face!

Cousins!

Grandpa and Grandma with their grand-daughters and grandson.  So cute

Not sure why Charlie looks so disheveled in this picture.  The girls are all perfect and he looks like he just came out of a bar brawl

Girlies

My three favorite gals

Headed to Aunt Louise's for the annual Christmas party.  Always a good time and so fun to get the kids together

besties

They all changed into comfy clothes and ran wild.  They have a weird obsession with playing in Louise's shower.  So this is them hanging in there.

Sad to leave, but in much need to get back.  We saw Sun Dogs on our way out of town.  They only show up when it's bitter cold and it was bitter cold.  -5 degrees

We have tinted windows so I never bring the screen cover, but sun was bright.  This is how poor Charlie had to watch his movies- bad mamma