More Gifts?!

Austin was super spoiled this christmas!  Grandma and Grandpa Landi came to visit and brought an SUV-Full of fun for him.   Then, right around the corner he has a birthday.  I wonder if he understands it yet?   I think when he's older I might celebrate his Half Birthday in July to spread things out? 

Here he is opening a few Birthday presents from Bob and I and the other Grandparents.

Not wrapped as nicley as Grandma L's, but it does say Happy Birthday on it. 

Whats under that blanket?

A tool bench?  (See the mass of toys behind him?  I told you he was spoiled)

Hurry up Dad!  (Kristy, it was a lot of plastic, but look at the design precision needed to injection mold all of this and it still snap and clicks together!  Thank you Aldi! :>) 

I think this drill was his favoirte part.  He would not put it down all day.  He was drilling the floor, the couch, my knee, the air....you name it.   I had to convince him it slept in the drawer so he did not take it to bed with him. Sure enough...first thing the next morning he makes a b-line for that drill before we even make it to the kitchen for breakfast.   It even came to Target with us.   I wonder if he'll still like it when the batteries run out?  It might take me a while to find more :) 

All in all, I think he enjoyed his Birtday.

More Birthday pictures

Austin received this Lion when he was born and its neat to see how much he's changed these past two years.

This is 2011

and here is 2012

Bob and I had a little 'party' for Austin for his second birthday. He picked out the hats and Dad picked out his outfit for the day. 

He even blew out the candles without spitting on the cake too much!

Yes...we all wore hats

And yes, I let him eat cake!

Forget the fork and spoon!   I need to eat faster! He really enjoyed it.

I think he wanted more!

Birthday present!

I am more excited than Austin is about one of his birthday presents from Grandma and Grandpa.   He got a light table!!    For those of you not sure what that is....stay tuned and I'll be posting more about the fun activities we are doing around our house.  But first, here is my very handy Husband building a case to put over the light table to help protect it from little hands and the messy stuff we are planning to do with it!

I was recently introduced to a blog playathomemom3.blogspot.com  and found awesome things to do....most of what you see here, I found on their site so check them out! 

This is the light table!

We bought plexiglass at Lowes and had it cut to about 2 inches larger than the light table on each side.

Found some trim that was a right angle and we used as an edge to drop the plexiglass into. (It needs to be removable because I am sure ill need to be wiping it off and cleaning it)

Trusty old miter mix

Predrilling holes with a jig for the frame. (Good thing Jennifer talked me into advanced woodworking in Highschool!)

Frame complete, just need to add edging on top.

Dont forget a hole for the cord!

predrilling the edging to be nailed on top of frame

Setting nails so plexiglass lays flat on wood.  (Such a handy guy with tools!)

Quick coat of sealant to keep wood looking nice and easy to clean off.

And here is Austin sprinkling baking soda into vinegar and watching it bubble.

Lets put in more dad!

When he gets up from nap time, I found some blue stones to play with that hopefully he'll like.  Then when I get glitter I have another fun activity.   Did I mention I think I like this more than Austin will? 

Thanks again Grandma and Grandpa!!!!!

Space Place!

I recently bought a super saver pass to the local space museum here in Columbus.  Austin and I headed over there today to check it out and get our official membership card.   There were a lot of neat things with lots of buttons to push, so Austin enjoyed it.  They also have an imax theater and play four different movies all day long.  We did not make it to the movie this time, but I look forward to spending more time at this place.  Here are some pictures from our fun.

This is Austin trying to land the space shuttle after it comes in from a space misson. (He crashed both times in case anyone is wondering)

We got to stand in front of a green screen and be the weather man and chick.

Some flight simulators that make you feel like watching Top Gun when you get home.

   I suck at the driving games on Nintendo and the only choice i have is left or right.  I suck even more when you add two more directions and make my seat move when i try to change directions. Watch out Joe and Bob.  I have a feeling when you visit in November, the two of you will be in these simulators the whole time.

This was a fountain across the street from the museum.   I am beginning to realize the kiddie pool we had at the apartment complex might not have been a great idea.  It looks a lot like the pool of this fountain. Austin ran right up to the edge, sat down and tried to get in.  Austin and I had a few talks about how this was just to look at and he was not to touch the water.  We practiced walking with our hands behind our backs so that we were not tempted to touch the water.

You can't be mad mom......I didnt touch it with my hands.....and you no longer have to blow my nose.  Sticking my head in that stream of water sure cleaned it up.

Timing is EVERYTHING

I am trying to get back in the swing of things here in the new house.   We had a very busy last two weeks.  We had both grandmas come visit to help unpack the house last week.  Then Austin and I headed to Tifton for a short trip to see some friends and attend a women's dinner at our old church.   It was SO good to see old friends and catch up.  I just want to remind everyone that the house right next to ours is for rent, and the one across the street is for Sale....if anyone is looking to relocate to the Columbus area.  

In the mean time I'll leave you with two of my favorite pictures from last Sunday when Mom and I ran to Walmart for a quick trip to pick up a storage basket for the kitchen cabinets. 

Papers around her are $1.50 on Sunday....a big increase from my $0.75 that I was used to in Tifton.  My sister in law showed me a store in Chicago where she got them for $1 and I have been on the look out here now that I am in a 'big town'.   I happened to be looking at the paper stand in walmart and found this on the very bottom rack.   SCORE!!! 

And this pile of candles, candle stands, room spray, bubble guns, and other yummy smelling things was the best haul I have ever had.  It was all about timing.  I happened to be running to find my mom somewhere in the store after standing in line at the return register. (Like I said it was a quick trip and so we spread out through the store to accomplish things faster)  I speed walk past three carts where a lady is hanging a sign on them that says 'Wow, everything in buggy 25 cents'  (down here they call a cart a buggy)

So....of course I stop and start looking in the carts.  I pick up a few square candles and the silver tray while others deal seekers start heading my way.   I scoop up as many as I can hold, then go to find mom feeling pretty good.   We finish our shopping and head back up front and what do we see?  That lady is bringing out a fresh buggy filled with even more goodies.   So....everything you see on that table I paid $7 for!  One Blue candle crock rang up as $7 so i got everything else free!!  Pretty fantastic timing on our part!

Unpacking and Grandmas

Sorry for the no posting.   We have been moving into the new house and unpacking lots and lots of boxes.  I am realizing again....I have too much stuff.  Time to sort and purge. 
We have 95% of the boxes unpacked, and about 60% of it put away.  We have reorganized the kitchen about 3 times, been to lowes, target and TJMaxx five times, and Grandmas are enjoying time with Austin.
Here are a few photos, and I'll post more later.

Waiting at the airport....

Did we mention its still hot here?  Been in the upper 90's all week.

It's like Christmas all over again!  Toys he had not seen in 3 months!

We did make it to the Atlanta Aquarium for some fun before the unpacking.

Sometimes, I feel like I am stealing

Even though I have nowhere in this apartment to keep a stockpile of goodies, I can't pass up a great deal.  Kmart will advertise once a quarter that they will double any manufactures coupon under $0.99.  (they used to double any!  that was a much better deal)   I never shop at Kmart except when their sale prices match up with a coupon doubler.   Here was my take home today.

This pile includes over $65 in sale priced 'stuff'. (Probably over $80 in retail price)   I was able to take it home for $18.61. There are 22 items, so I paid about $0.85 per item.   At that price....I'll find a place to stash an $0.85 package of paper towels or Toilet paper.   

Can't wait to fill the new house with my normal sized stock pile (Not like those crazy people you see on TV...I promise...there will be no BBQ sauce stored under Austins bed.)