Treasures from our trip!

Graig likes to joke that my family does two things when we are together-eat and shop.  My last trip home was no exception we ate A LOT and we shopped A LOT!  We had a great time!  I want to share some of my treasures that I got on this trip!

My sister and Vicki kept talking about this store called Stuff.  It's a consignment store that sells upscale items. Usually I don't like consignment shops however after visiting Stuff I have changed my mind!  It's a great store and we got some great things!    Twice a year they have a 50% off sale and last Saturday was the day of the sale!  We went on Friday to scope out what we wanted.  Then we went back on Saturday morning and picked out some amazing things!
First I got 3 pairs of sandals for work.  They all look like brand new!  I also got the two pairs of flats at the outlet mall.

I had my eye on these dishes.  I got a whole set (4 plates, 4 salad plates, 4 big bowls and a huge serving bowl) for $15!  They sell this set  at Target.  I looked and a set of plates cost $15 so I was SO lucky to get the entire collection for $15!

I have a weakness for vases and planters so I got this yellow one for 1!

We also went to several antique stores and I picked up a few things

These darling salt and pepper shakers.  I love the color of these!

A 2 quart mason jar.  I have been looking for one of these and I'm so glad I found one! 

A cute little wooden box. 

We went to TJ Maxx one day while my sister was at work. To be nice I got her this flowered platter and she HATED it-ha ha!  So I took it home and put it on top of our fridge. 

Speaking of TJ Maxx one just opened in our little town over the weekend!  I am SO happy.  Ava and I went in there today and I got a pair of dress pants for work and this adorable colander.  I think I'm going to spend a lot of time and money in that store!

Shelby and I always like to go to Hobby Lobby when we are together.  The only thing I found  this time were these little  monogrammed hooks hang up in our front entry. 

Shelby gave me this little coach wristlet.  I LOVE it!  Thanks Shel!

My Dad also got us a beautiful blanket which is currently being washed. I will show pictures of it soon.   It was made at the Amana woolen mill in Amana, Iowa.  We had a nice time visiting there! 

I also got ALL of Brock's back to school shopping done in Iowa.  This is the first year that Brock has actually wanted to go school shopping so it was fun to shop with him!  Ava has SO many clothes that I want to go through all of her clothes before I buy her anything for back to school. 

While we were gone Graig surprised me by re-doing the floors in our office.  We had carpet in our office and it was nasty and gross.  The wood looks SO much better.  I love, love, love them!

Tomorrow is a big day for Brock he is having his tonsils taken out :(  We have to be at the hospital at 6:30am

Tomorrow is also my sister Shelby's birthday!  Happy Birthday!  We love you so much!

Family photo shoot

This morning before we left Shelby's house we decided to do a little photo shoot.  Shelby and I had grand plans for this photo shoot but Ainsley was tired and a little fussy and my Dad was anxious to get on the road so in the end we were happy that we got any pictures at all!

This picture is actually from last night.  We had pizza and ice cream cake to celebrate two birthdays-Brock and Shelby!

PaPa Bob with Brock, Ava and Ainsley. 

This is from this morning Ava, Brock and Ainsley.  Poor Ainsley Brock and Ava fought over her all week.  The both wanted to hold her all the time!

Sisters with their girls!

Vicki, Ainsley and Shelby

Ainsley and Ava!

Brock, Ava, Ainsley and me

 We had a great time visiting our family!  Thanks Shelby and Ryan and Dad and Vicki for your wonderful hospitality :) Tomorrow morning we head back to NY!

our week at Shelby's!

Monday morning we left my Dad's house to travel to my sister's house in Iowa. We were excited to see Ainsley and to see their new house!  Warning-this post contains A LOT of pictures-ha ha!

Ryan, Ava feeding Ainsley and Brock

Brock feeding Ainsley.  Ainsley is just like Shelby and LOVES to eat. 

I love this picture of Ainsley.  Shelby always has the cutest bows in her hair. 

This is the best picture of Brock and Ainsley!  He looks SO happy and she loves hanging out with her cousin Brock!

Brock was so good with Ainsley he loves holding her and playing with her.  Brock and Ava fought about who got to hold Ainsley all week. 

One day while Shelby was at work we took Brock on his first college tour at the University of Iowa.  The campus is beautiful!  Here is a picture of the old capital on campus.  It  was 100 degrees on the day of our tour.  We decided that in the future we will only visit colleges in the spring or fall when it's cooler!

After leaving campus we headed to the mall to eat lunch and do a little shopping.  While we were there Shelby and Ava took Ainsley on her first carousel ride!

I love this picture of the three of them.  Ava looks SO happy to be holding Ainsley!

Ava on her horse!

Brock, Vicki and Dad

Here is Brock, Ava, me and Shelby

We also took Brock and Ava ice skating.  Ava didn't really like it but Brock loved it!  Here is in on the ice!



We have had a great time visiting with my family!  We still have a few days left before we head home.  Brock is getting his tonsils out net week so we are trying to squeeze out the last bit of summer fun before his operation.  Happy Friday!! 

Visiting Family!

This week Brock, Ava and I have been in Illinois and Iowa visiting my family.  It's been fun to spend time with them.  We have been doing a lot of eating, shopping, hunting for antiques, swimming and loving on little Ainsley. 
Here are some pictures from this fun week.

These are pictures from when we visited EIU. The University where my Mom, Dad, Shelby attended and where Shelby and I met our husbands!  It was fun to go back and see all the changes. 

Graig couldn't come with us this time but he asked me to take a picture of Brock on this hill at EIU that Brock loved playing on when he was a baby
As you can tell Brock is thrilled by taking all of these pictures!

About 5 seconds after this picture.  Brock tripped Ava and she fell down the hill.  They drive me CRAZY sometimes-ha ha!

We also visted Taylor Hall where we lived when Brock was born.

Here is Brock and Ava by our old front door

Here is Brock peeking in his old room.  They are doing construction on our old apartment and no one is living in there now so it wasn't creepy that he was peeking in.

These pictures are all from last Sunday and Monday.  I will show our pictures from Shelby's tomorrow.
Have a great night!

Ava's ballet camp

For the past two weeks Ava has been spending her days at ballet camp.  Friday was her last day and the studio put on a little show so we could see what the girls have been learning at camp.  It was a cute show but SO hot!  There is no AC in the studio and it was about 95 degrees outside on Friday.  As soon as the show got over we got in the car and I turned the AC up to high and we drove to get ice cream right away to cool down.

I took about 50 pictures using the action setting on my camera.  Ava knew I was taking her picture and didn't want to smile-ha ha!  She is such a stinker sometimes!

Ava's "cousin" Eliza came to the show to see her.  Ava was thrilled that she and her mom Sabrina  were there! 

After her recital we had to go up to campus so I could go to a reception.  Ava went with me and she was THRILLED when she saw her favorite student Marissa!   Marissa is an education major and is SO good with Ava.  She always makes her feel so special.  They have fun together!  I love this picture of them. 

 We are visiting my family in Illinois and Iowa this week.  I love, love, love being in Illinois.  Even though we have lived in NY for 12 years I still feel like Illinois is my home and I am so happy to be back!

A new table

A few weekends ago I went to a yard sale and found a beautiful old table for $10.  I wrote about my table in this post.  I left it on our deck for about a week and then I decided to bring it inside because it was just too nice to be outside.

We have an office with a computer desk but Graig and the kids use that desk all the time.   I decided that I needed one of my own so I put the table in our living room and made it into a little desk for me.  I think it's just perfect in our living room.  I already LOVE having my own desk and space to work on projects and write my blog posts. 

I also have another little table in our living room and while I was putting my desk together I decided to do a little rearranging on that table too.  I just love the succulent plant I got at Lowe's. 

We're off to Illinois today.  I can't wait to see my family!  Have a good weekend.