$39.43

What a fun and exhausting day. We headed to Gurnee Mills mall, with really only one purchase in mind to help us reach our $39.43 budget... Jibbitz. (In case you are unfamiliar, they are the little doo-dads you put on your Crocs)

By the time we got to the mall it was lunchtime so we spent our first several dollars at "Subway - Eat Fresh," as Reese says. A kids meal, a 6", a diet coke, and two cookies set us back $11.18



Then we headed to the Carousel, which must have been an old retired Gravitron before the conversion into a carousel. The $2 ride sent us spinning, Beckett and I slightly terrified.

We then set out for a little something for me from Archiver's. After all, I did have a coupon. It would have been simply foolish not to use it. Adding $8.15



As we continued our quest for the Jibbitz. We ran into our neighbor, Sam, who babysits for us and whom Reese just adores. (me too) It was so nice, and strange, to see a familiar face in a place where we don't know many people. Sam wound up being a great asset as she accompanied us, first, to the Disney Store, where Reese picked out a little Belle doll and Becks got a little Micky Mouse soccer ball. Bringing our Disney total to $6.43. Good deal.

Are you keeping track??

Next, I asked Sam if she would make the ultimate sacrifice to assist in our cause and join Reese and I for an ice cream cone. She gladly took one for the team in the way of Black Cherry, Reese - Mint Chocolate Chip and myself - Mocha Almond Fudge. A delicious $7.13 well spent!! Beckett was watching, not very fond of our ice cream merriment.

At this point we were running out of money and I knew when we started that this would be the point when it would get challenging. We headed to Bed, Bath and Beyond... who can't find something they need/want at BB&B?? Well, for the first time EVER, us. We looked and looked and the trend was $4.99. It seemed that everything was $4.99. Any of these items would have been a fine purchase if I had just brought my (35+) 20% off coupons. But without them we would have certainly been over budget. When a few little puzzles had almost been decided on, a $3.29 Littlest Pet Shop Frog, was chosen. "Did you say $3.54?" I asked the cashier. Indeed, $3.54 was the total with tax. This was my ideal situation. The hope I had when I walked into the mall, and spotted the gumball machines, was to be left with a small amount of money that was evenly divided by quarters. I knew exactly what to do with 4 quarters.

Sam, Reese and I enjoyed a few cranks on the ol' gumball machines and spent a total of $39.43, "no more, no less"

Lunch at Subway - $11.18
Carousel Ride - $2
Scrapbooking supplies - $8.15
Disney Store - $6.43
3 Frozen Treats - $7.13
LPS Frog at BB&B - $3.54
Another day of Igou Family Fun - Priceless.

We never did find the Jibbitz, in case you were wondering.

And So It Continues...

We have been pretty busy since the last envelope. We have been having a lot of fun enjoying the summer. But, now, let's get back to it!

Yesterday we opened a doosey. Reese was so excited to open another envelope, but when she realized they weren't all going to be thrilling, she lost a little bit of her enthusiasm for this game.
The note read:

"Get a babysitter for 5 hours ... and clean house." (Wha-whaaaa.)




I was had mixed emotions about this one. I was looking forward to doing something fun, but I often think to myself " I would get so much done around here if I just had a few hours without the kids." Reese on the other hand had different thoughts. As I went to grab the camera she said, " I am just going to stay here and be disappointed for a while."

Well, unfortunately (and maybe a little fortunately) I could not get a baby sitter on such late notice. So I am going to schedule one for later this week and have a make up day.




Today's envelope has quite the opposite effect on us. Today is super fun. Although, preparing me and herself, Reese tells me just prior to picking the envelope, "now it could be a dud."
But a dud it was not.

"Go to the pool - OR - If it is raining: Go to the mall, take $39.43... spend exactly this amount. No more, no less."

HOORAY!!!! I say again, HOORAY!!! It is not raining at the present moment, however it in the 70's and gloomy looking. So, I think we have quite a challenging, and fun, task on our hands.

We'd better get to it!!

Kohl Children's Museum

Reese, Beckett and I had such a great time at the Kohl Children's Museum in Glenview. And I am not so sure we would have had as much fun if one morning I woke up and decided that is where we were going to go that day. This envelope game might be just as much, if not more, fun than it is for Reese.


I am sure we did everything there was to do at the museum and had a blast getting to it all. much has changed since we were there last, which was just a few months ago. We usually go in the winter, as it provides some relief for the victims of cabin fever, so we have never been able to enjoy any of the outdoor activities. I am not sure but it all look brand new. And it was such a beautiful day to experience it all.


Reese typically locks herself in the "doll daycare" and refuses to have fun anywhere else, but yesterday she would do any and everything to do in one area and then would say "TIME TO MOVE ON!!" I was so funny. We went grocery shopping at Dominick's, played in the car center, got soaked in Water Works, got creative in the Art Center, and explored in the seemingly new Camp Grounds.



One of the best parts about this museum, is that at most sections for kids Reese's age and older there is a small enclosed baby area with different textile objects, peg boards, block and, Beckett's favorite, mirrors. He is so funny when making faces at himself and then laughing about it.



My favorite part was returning to the face painting table hours I after I had painted Reese's face so that she could paint mine!! I loved it. It was so sweet.



The kids were so worn out they fell asleep within minutes after getting in the car. When we got home I checked the mail and sat in the driveway and read it all while the kids got another 30 minutes sleep.



If you have never been to the Kohl Children's Museum, or if you haven't been there in a while, it is definitely somewhere to experience with your kids. And please, before you leave, let them paint your face.

We did not open an envelope this morning and will not tomorrow morning. I had to get some laundry done today if anyone wanted clean undies and we are headed to the city tonight to have a little sleepover with Aunt Tracy and Parker and spending a day in the city tomorrow. This is not against the rules. If we had plans for a certain day then we were not to open an envelope. Spending the day in our old stomping grounds is an adventure in itself.

My neighbor, Danielle, made a good point this morning when we met at the park. "If you are doing an envelope everyday, you are going to be exhausted," she said. That got me thinking... this might very well be Chris' motivation for doing all of this. Chris is out and about all week and all he wants to do is stay home for a day or two, and I am at home with the kids all week and all I want is to get out and do something. When the weekend finally gets here and Chris is home for the whole day, I am begging him for us all to do something, anything as long as we aren't in the house. I believe he may very well want me to be so tired of going out that all I want to do is stay home.

Stay tuned we will be opening another envelope Monday morning.

Envelope Adventures Continues

Yesterday we headed to the Library. I forgot how much I enjoyed going to library and watching Reese explore the books, bring me one she thinks looks interesting and either sit there intently or get up a few pages in to find a new book. When we walked into the library and Reese said, "THIS is my FAVORITE place." Which, of course, made me smile.



We read several new books we had never read before. One was Would I Trade My Parents?. I asked Reese if she would trade her parents and she said yes. "What would you trade us for?" I asked. And if you know Reese her response will come as no surprise to you, "SNACKS!"

We practiced rhyming with a few tools they had, put together puzzles, learned about some of the different creatures that live in the ocean and read about whale, sharks and sea horses. Beckett help in there for a little while before he melted down, tired and hungry. So home we went for lunch and naps. Over all a nice visit to the library.


We woke up this morning excited about our new journey. Reese, again, picks the envelope on the top even though they are all fanned out. (Signs point to the possibility she might become a rules follower like her mother) The note a little more adventurous than the Library.

We hare headed to the Kohl Children's Museum. I love this place, and Reese does, too. We have only been there once since Becks was born but he was much too small to enjoy any of what the museum has to offer for wee babes. This should be a good day!!

Envelope Adventures

Chris informed me last night that he had started a little project for me and the kids. I was a little skeptical at first. My first thoughts were how can I possibly add anything else to my plate with these two energetic kids and trying to get them fed, napped and entertained all while trying to maintain the cleanliness of this house.

If you don't know Chris, he travels a lot. Three days out of every week it seems. This leaves me to do a lot of the kid stuff alone. He works hard and secretly loves it. His work ethic allows me to stay home and raise our children, Reese 3yrs old and Beckett almost 8 months, the way I want to raise them. This is important to me. Although, there are many days that I would give anything to head into the office.

His project, you ask? I woke up this morning to find many sealed envelopes stacked up on the kitchen counter. The note on the first envelope read:





*Each day pick 1 envelope
*You must do the task on the inside
*You must bring your camera to all the places to take pictures of your adventures

Bring my camera... Adventures... Well, this rules out envelopes holding "do laundry" or "clean the bathrooms" as possible tasks. Phew.

I get the kids dressed and fed and let Reese pick and open the first of many adventure-filled envelopes. She is excited, thinking adventures!! Will we run into Swiper the fox? Will we need to rescue baby jaguar? Her reference to adventures is limited to Dora and Diego.





So here we go... the envelope reads..... "Take kids to Gurnee Library"





Hmmm. The Library? Reese is a little disappointed, to be honest with you so am I. I was hoping for something a little less quiet and a little more outside. But we will do as instructed. After all, we haven't been to the library in a while and I have been trying to get Reese to find her love of reading again. Ok, I am getting excited.

Let's GO!