Swim Trunk Save

We use a lot of hand-me-downs!

(Thanks Domino Family...

)

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Eli has two pairs of swim trunks from the cute kiddos above, but the elastic went brittle on both of them.

Which means while swimming they just fall off.

Here is Eli at the lagoon wearing the required rubber shorts sans swim trunks...

Hot Hubby was not happy his son looked like a total dork!

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Off to Jo-Ann Fabrics to pick up some wide elastic... only $1.29 a yard. (I used way less but I always get extra when I do a project so I don't have to make another trip!)
I just added elastic to the back inside of the trunks.

Here are my figures:

After I finished the first pair I made some changes to the elastic length on the second pair.

The second pair was better.

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Fold the elastic in half and put a pin there to mark your spot.

Find the center on of the back of the trunks and line them up with the pin.

Hold both centers.

Pull the elastic taunt.

Sew.

Do the same with the second half.

When you are done the trunks will curl up a bit. You can prevent this by ripping out the old elastic... but for me, it just wasn't worth the time!

DONE!!!

Instead of spending $10 (minimum) on 1 new pair of swim trunks I spent under $2 reviving 2 pairs!!

P.S.
Mending things is a GREAT way to save money. I've been known to mend jeans, tees and even underwear!!!

The OC Super Fair

As faithful OC residents we made our annual trip to the OC Super Fair! (If you haven't gone yet you have till August 9th!) There is loads of fun stuff for us city folks to do!
We visited the petting zoo (complete with new baby piglets!)! But most of all we ate... ...and ate...

...and ate...

...and ate...

...and ate...

...and the Grand Finale was...

Chocolate covered bacon!!

We weren't impressed.

But at least we tried it...There is a mini circus with showing every hour or so... all 5 kiddos were mesmerised!

(Dear Lord, Please don't let the kiddos inherent my nose!!)
Family self portrait on the way out...

(Hot Hubby- I would like a back yard someday with a giant tree that we can to this to. Thank you.)

My Birthday!

I'm 29 today!!
I'm not one of those people who cares about getting older... especially since for most of this year I thought already was 29!Hot Hubby let me sleep in and woke me up with freshly baked chocolate chip waffles and snuggly kiddos. We all ate waffles in bed with no regard to where and how many crumbs were ground into the sheets.
Then I watched my little family leave the room and close the door so I could lounge in bed and read... ahhhhh. I heard my children and husband playing. Inside Out started playing on the iPod and I couldn't help thinking how thankful I am for my family and my Faith.
I'm Happy.
When I felt like emerging from our room I came out to cheers from the kiddos and a tired looking Hubby. I sent him to take a nap and set the kiddos up with stickers (thanks Nana... or is it Nannie now?) at the kitchen table while I swept the downstairs and vacuumed the couch. I even smiled when the kiddos knocked over a glass and the sharp shards spread across the floor (in the manner that glass usually does) everywhere.
Why am I so content?
I mean I am cleaning on my birthday, the kiddos shattered glass and my hubby is taking a nap!
Because this is everything I have ever wanted.
I'm a wife adored by her husband.
I'm a mother needed by her children.
I'm a woman who takes pride in her home.
I'm the daughter of The King.
Now, my dear invisible friends, my sweet little family it taking me out to lunch.
Sending you wishes of bliss on my birthday!

(my 1st birthday with my parents... notice the awesome homemade b-day cake and the flowers lovingly embroidered on my dad's shirt by my mom!!)

P.S.
I stumbled upon Blog Hop '09 and decided to add this post to the blog hopping F-U-N!
Head on over to Penseive... magically delicious to join in too.
P.P.S
If you are Hopping from Blog Her please click on my header to see my whole blog! I jumped the gun and just added the link to this post... oops!

Green Apple Afternoon

A green apple by itself is no good.
Too tart.But with melted chocolate chips...
Divine!!

Add strawberries and a good book...

...and you'll get the perfect afternoon!

(during nap time, of course!)

$3.00 Shipping

Shipping costs $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

Shears for All!!

I started using nice kitchen shears to cut up kiddo food quickly (hot dogs, green beans, grapes, anything, really!)

Shears soon became one of my most useful kitchen tools!

Using them to cut raw chicken for casseroles is a HUGE time saver!

Water Fight!

It's Hot!
Be a the Cool Mama and have a...Throw on the play clothes, get out the hose and bubbles and get messy!!

Sans diaper!! It was gross.

I just hosed her off... really!

The best bubble wand EVER!! (from Big Lots)
This wand just keeps blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing and blowing

Snack time... Then Nap Time!

(mommy included!)

Don't Fall - Wordless Wednesday

For more Wordless Wednesday fun go here.

Do you know where the Easter Bunny lives?

I do!!
We were off to the lake to feed Cora... I mean the ducks...

Suddenly, in the middle of our pirate pretend silliness, Eli gasps and says...

It's true!

See...

Cora Jane also had a bit of a reality check...

Don't fret my dear... with those legs you can get away with anything!