Weekend with MOM

Ben and I spent the weekend by ourselves.  Dad and Gabe went to Iowa to be with Kevin's Dad and so Gabe could wrestle in the Durant Junior Classic.  I am happy to say Gabe got a medal (don't tell him I told you, but everyone got one!!)  Kevin said he is getting better every meet.  Meanwhile, Ben and I had a "bad for us weekend.  We ate HORRIBLY- McDonalds, Dominoes, skittles popcorn and  frozen waffles. We did nothing productive, TV, Wii, DSI, computer games and we had no guilt about it.  We stayed in our PJ's did not shower and slept in late (That was just Saturday)  Sunday we snapped back to reality We went to church, picked up the house and then Ben was invited to a nerf gun battle with some friends.  So-off he went and I did the grocery shopping and some errands.  Monday will arrive before we know it and it will be back to reality!!!

Science Night

We had a great time at science night at Ben's school on Tuesday and also our "follow up" project tonight (which was the one science center we did not get to spend very much time at.) It was great to see the boys going from center to center with great anticipation of what would be next.  They had this science guy who made the kids laugh and learn and have a great time all in the name of science!!!!

WEATHER

What a difference a few weeks can make!!!  The last of the snowfort melted away today.  The boys were sad to see the last memory of Megan's visit fade away.  We built the fort the first weekend of this month and now 3 weeks later it is gone. According to the forecast, we will be able to build another by the middle of the week!!!!

PENN TOURNAMENT

We have A winner.  Ben got a second place medal at the Penn Tournament today.  Gabe wrestled his little heart out. He was in 2 matches and lost both 7-6 and 10-7 we were glad he held his own.  He was by far the youngest in his bracket.  We were proud of him at his FIRST tournament.  Ben wrestled hard and even pinned his first opponent in 16 seconds(He knew this after because he looked at the timer!) Glad to be home from another long day!!!!

FAST SLEEPERS

I Just had to show this.  The conversation goes like this

Me:  "Boys(all 3 of you) I am going down to add a post to the blog, I will be right back"

Boys:  "OK Mom."

Kevin: "OK the best wife anyone could ever wish for." (or maybe he said OK too- I can't remember)

15 minutes later I walk back up the stairs and this is what I see.

I guess I will do the same- Good Night everyone!!!

Northwood Wrestling Tournament

We made it! The first wrestling tournament of the year is done.  We left the house at 7:30 AM and arrived home at 7:00 PM Gabe and I had a short break at home where he smashed his lip(see previous post) But returned to pick them up at the end of the tournament.  If Gabe and I would have stayed he would have eaten himself sick(notice all of Gabes snacks?) Ben did great and even got a pin during his second match(of course after I left!!)  Nothing planned for Sunday after church.  We will re-cover all afternoon!!!!

Are You Kidding Me??????

Poor Gabe- The kid can't catch a break!  We came home early from Ben's wrestling meet and he fell into the coffee table while playing.  Thank goodness neighbor nurse Sarah has determined stitches will not be needed!!Just an ice pack and some love!!!!!

Love Is In The Air

Hard to believe we are thinking of Valentine's Day. But yesterday was Jan. 14. so we have a month. We got out our mailboxes yesterday(Dollar Spot at Target!) The purpose of the boxes is to write notes to each other. The boys are really having fun! Gabe has been learning to write, so he has given Ben A LOT of hearts with Ben's name written on them. I gave Kevin a "love note" today to tell him I would "love" to have the shelves put up in our bedroom- do you see how this works?

GREAT GAME

I have no idea why it is upside down- but- this is a great new Wii game that came out recently(at least in our world) We LOVE to Wakeboard and have intense family wakeboarding competitions. Just look at Gabe's face, even I was scared of him. If you need a new Wii game this game is worth the money. Last week, Ben had a archery competition with friends. We have canoed, competed in bike races, and jumped out of airplanes and we actually NEED to MOVE. We needed a new sports game for our Wii (you can only bowl and play baseball so much!) We feel Sports Resort has been great!! Another family game night at the Kahl house. We really know how to get wild here!!! (NO- I did not get paid by Nintendo to write this!)

Gabe likes his "guy" to have a beard becuase it makes him look tough. What is with this child?

100th POST (Maybe 101)

I have said it before and I will say it again- if you do not shop at garage sales and Goodwill you are insane!!! I frequent our Goodwill on a regular basis- Garage sale time is my favorite time of the year and I know when Target is marking 75% off- I am usually standing by the clerk. They know my name I know all of theirs. If I didn't show up for awhile I am very sure they would send someone to check on my well being. At garage sales, I am the person who gets there early and is waiting at your door. That is how I get the GREAT DEALS. When Ben announces in front of the church that his mom will find it at the goodwill, I am not embarrassed, I am proud. When I run into people"just dropping stuff off" at the goodwill, I make sure I tell them they should stay and shop- I am a regular. The following is a list of 100 deals I have gotten

1. This patio sectional(Sorry about the cushion mess, I do have 3 boys in this house with me.- I ordered it online for 340.00 and free shipping- not my best deal- but a steal in my eyes.

2. Pottery Barn Bedford desk collection- Goodwill 30.00. This is actually the only piece I have resold on Craigs List for 350.00.

3, Pottery Barn Jordan quilt Set new in package Paid 25.00

4. Blues Clues Chairs- I took these off a friends hands. These chairs are selling for 250.oo on Ebay- but I do not do ebay so we sit on them.

5. Pottery Barn wine Shelf-20.oo- Online for 69.00 each- I had been wanting these for a LONG time and Kevin said to me"Mary I have faith you will find them at a garage sale- he was right!)

6. Magnavox 19" LCD T.V- 20.00 I bought this without the cord thinking I would just go buy a cord at Best Buy- Well that's not how it works- I thought I would just return it to the Goodwill, but a week later they called to say the guy who donated the TV brought the cord. The fact that they knew I bought it AND they knew how to contact me disturbed Kevin greatly- but hey he has a great TV for the bedroom)

7. Fisher Price MP3 player Gabe LOVES

8. A whole set os Sausilto Pottery Barn dishes 20.00

9. EMU Boots 15.00

10. Another pair of Emu boots- different style 10.00

11. Black Uggs(new in box) 25.oo Hey- I like boots!!!!!!

12. Storage table

13. Plasma Car

14. Side tables for master bed set(Pottery barn)

15. Gears Set

16. 7 for Mankind jeans

17. Ellie Tahari jeans

18. Gold Sign jeans

19. Big Star Jeans

20. Joe's Jeans Yeah I like jeans too. All these jeans retail for close to 200.00 I never paid more than 10.00

21. Anthropologie Raincoat

22 & 23 J Crew Pea Coats One blue one black- A girl can never have too many!

24&25 LaCoste Polo shirts ( given to my sister)

26- Juicy Couture lounge wear(given to a friend- who said she would like to have it as long as Juicy was not written across the rear- I am with you!)

27- Land of Nod kids table and chairs

28- Ben's Game boy with a ton of games. He used to play with this at his shot clinic every Monday now it has taken a backseat to the new DSi for which I am very sure I will find games.

29. Legos- boxes and boxes and boxes of Legos

30-34- Columbia Coats for every member of the family

35. Gateway Flat monitor computer screen.

36. Pokemon Cards (we could end this list here if I counted those individually)

37. Bakugan- believe it or not I am already finding these treasures.

38. Screamin' Green Machine (Ben's only request last garage sale season- found at sale # 1- when I nearly shoved my neighbor Trish out on the sidewalk to claim it)

39. Littlest Pet shop and My Little Pony items galore(Ben says"these were of course for girl cousins")

40. Whole book collections(Boxcar Children, Magic Tree House. Garage sales are the perfect place to find these. Once my kids are done reading the book I will sell ours. Because of Ben's allergies I have to be very selective when it comes to books)

41. Quantum Leap Globe

42. Lego Train (Not available anymore- could retire on what it gets on e bay)

43. Pottery barn library Shelf

44. Restoration Hardware curtain panels (New in package)

45. Pottery Barn Kasey stripes Crib Set- (used for Gabe- sold for triple what I paid)

46. Prada purse

47- Kate Spade Purse

48- Coach purses(authentic and readily available at the goodwill here)

49- Leather Ottoman

50. 2 Storage ottomans(This was my craziest deal as I almost (I said almost) dove into a dumpster for them- Did you know stores throw NEW things away????

51-100

Now I know this last half is kind of cheating- but any of you who have been in my basement know there is way more than 50 items down there and unless they were a gift full price was paid for NOTHING!!!!

Now for those of you who are think I am a CRAZY lady who buys too much. I am not a hoarder, I have no attachment to anything- I have two garage sales every year. I make A LOT of money at my sales- I know- we kept track last year of spending and what I made from the items- It was SHOCKING TO SEE!!! Last summer we were able to buy a new 42" TV with money from the first sale- something we view as a luxury. For me- I have decorated my home, clothed my family, and laughed all the way to the bank!. I do not have to shop at garage sales and Goodwill (I am sure Kevin would like that to be said. He has a GREAT job and provides for this family beyond measure!!!)But he happened to marry ME- who loves a deal and doesn't care what people think as long as my family is happy and well cared for.

Happy 100th post to me!!!!!- I think I will go celebrate at the GOODWILL