Catching up

I think I may have a few minutes here while the girls are waking up to begin catching up.  I have nearly the whole holiday weekend off work!  Just 4 hours tonight, but yesterday off and tomorrow off :)  So, here goes...

We had good friends from Chicagoland visit us last month, (yes, I"m that far behind).  We showed them the beach, the island, and Washington D.C.  I only have pictures of DC, but here they are.

The Washington Monument.

I can't remember what this monument was, it's newer, not one I remember growing up with.

Walking down the reflecting pool.

Posing in front of the White House.

The "kitchen garden" at the WH.  Not sure that this will feed everyone all year...

Troy worked a little, here he is, working, don't know what Beau is doing...

They climbed the Lincoln  Memorial.  I waited at the bottom.

We spent most of the day at the Holocost museum.

That piece of art in front of the museum is a swastika all torn up.

We also ate really well while they were here.  Old Mill for crabs one night, a local mexican restaurant that was awesome another night, and, believe it or not, our hotel had awesome food in DC.  (They're chefs and foodies, so when they get together with Troy, half our conversations revolve around food...)

Frugality

I am short on time, and short on money.  We have rented for a year, while trying to save up for a downpayment on a house purchase.  When we sold our house in Illinois to move to Ohio, it was in the middle of the housing slump.  So, although we have owned 3 houses and improved each one for equity, we're once again saving for a downpayment.

So, I try to be frugal.  I don't go crazy at the supermarket as I would like.  I don't buy clothes unless they're on sale.  We try to not purchase big items that we don't need.  We don't go out often - maybe we should do that more often ;)

So, when the need came up for me to get a haircut, I put it off and put it off.  For one, I didn't have much time, but I was not looking forward to paying $40 for a trim.  So, I put it off too long.  My bangs were hanging so low over my eyes I was shaking my head constantly to move them.  Or, parting them to the side.  So, after a few weeks of this, I decided to give a bang trim a try.  I did good!  Here's how they turned out!

Pretty good, huh?

Hi

So, we've been so busy around here.  I'm working, like I've complained about before, a lot.  And, add housework to that, plus playing with the kids and trying to entertain the family.  So, I've given up on making a great post, and I'm just going to take it a step at a time.

We have a beautiful cherry blossom tree in the front yard.  Here's what it looked like when it blossomed:

And, a picture of Camdyn enjoying the springtime:

Even though it's out of order, I have time to post a picture of Averie's baby dedication at church a couple of weeks ago.  We took a trip to DC in between, but that will have to be my next post...

Busy

Please, don't be angry at me and stop reading my blog because I'm not posting.  I have a good reason, really, I do!  I am working so much - this week, I'm pushing overtime.  Then, when I'm off, I try to take care of the girls and clean the house since Troy has to do it so much.
I did get lots of cleaning done this week.  I have taken all my seedlings off the starter shelf.  2 trays of them are already planted in the garden, and one is getting ready to go out while sitting on the front porch.  So, the shelf is gone back to the garage.  I took the chance to re-arrange the dining room now with it gone.
I cleaned both bathrooms.
I got out my maternity clothes.
I did laundry.
I straightened and swept the garage.
I put away laundry.

I am looking for a nanny - I hope I find one soon!