Five on Friday - Happy Birthday, James!

1.  Let's start with the most important news of the day!  We are celebrating in the Armes house tonight!  Happy Birthday James!  Robert is a little upset that it's not HIS birthday, but sweet Daddy told him that he could have a birthday, too.  So, I will be wrapping up one of the games I bought last night (see #2 below) and giving it to Robert tonight....for Daddy's birthday.  

We are so incredibly lucky to have James.... It's difficult to put into words how lucky we are!  The last few years of our lives have been C-R-A-Z-Y, especially the last 16 months (since beginning the church appointment).  We rarely have any "just us" time, and it often seems every single second of our day is scheduled with something (commuting, studying, working, churching, sermonizing, etc.).  We are blessed this weekend to have a special guest doing the preaching at both churches, so we will have some actual FAMILY time (free from worrying about getting home to prepare for church or study) tonight.  Robert has been asking for a return to the movies, so we are going to take him to see The Lion King in 3D late this afternoon, followed by a dinner out - Daddy's choice!  Not a bad way to spend a birthday, in my opinion!  I, for one, am planning to enjoy every second!!!

Happy Birthday to my sweet baby James!

2.  Yesterday, I visited the Brentwood United Methodist Church's KidSale, a semi-annual kids consignment sale in the area.  I have attended this sale frequently since we moved to the area, but this time I decided I wanted in on the presale by being a consigner (if you are a seller in the sale, you get a special pass to come a day early and shop before the general public).  I have done this before at other sales in Jackson, but this was my first experience with this sale.  I had very little time to consign, so I went to the website and determined that I needed a minimum of 10 items to participate.  So, I went to Robert's closet (full of outgrown stuff I'm going to be posting on a clothing swap website soon) and picked out exactly 10 items.  I felt kind of funny showing up at the drop-off with my little basket of 10 items when there were people literally with hundreds of things that they were selling!!!  Anyway, I got my pass and showed up last night for the presale, which started at 5:00 p.m.  I showed up at 4:30, wondering if I was getting there a bit too early.  When I entered the building, there was a sign directing me to "wait in the sanctuary in order of arrival."  I walked into the (gorgeous) sanctuary and found at least 100 women who were already there waiting!  It was insane.  A lady directed me where to sit, and as I sat down, I noticed a huge digital clock that was ticking the time (down to the seconds) so that we would know exactly when it was time to start.   My mom called shortly after I sat down, and I told her that I had hit the BIG TIME and that I didn't know if I was qualified!!! 

I made SO much fun of that clock to the women sitting around me!  Anyway, it was finally time to go ("IN ORDER, PLEASE!") back to the sale.  And apparently 75% of the women who were there have little boys who are in size 4T/5T clothing.  IT. WAS. INSANE.  I found some playclothes and pajamas for $1 a piece and bought the cutest little gray wool blazer that I'm hoping to somehow incorporate into our upcoming family photo shoot, but otherwise did not score the gems that I'm used to finding.  Little boys are HARD on their clothes!    I came away with a basket of clothes, a few games, and one LARGE toy dinosaur (I will have to post a picture soon).  And most of all, I came away exhausted.  I don't think I will be returning to the presale (unless, that is, we have someday have an Armes #4 on the way).  But, I'm glad that I had the experience.... And seeing Robert's excitement over that $3 dinosaur made it worth the drive!

3.  While I was at the sale, Daddy and Robert had some male bonding time.  They went to the Dollar Tree and bought a sword and shield (what else?!?!?).  Then, they went to the "Pumpkin Store,"  one of those inflatable temporary stores that pop up for halloween -- the one in our town is shaped like a giant jack-o-lantern.  They had fun trying on hats and masks.

4.  Robert has finally seemed to settle into his new preschool.  We haven't had tears in a while now.  They have settled into a routine where James signs him in, hugs him, and heads out the door.  Robert goes to the window to wave at Daddy as he leaves.  So grateful that we seem to finally be over this hurdle!

5.  TWO.  MORE.  WEEKS. 

It can NOT come soon enough.  I am ready!  After a week filled with a big joint worship and BBQ, 2 nights of revival, a (surprise) evening of shopping for school pictures that I didn't know were scheduled, and a night of consigning, I am really really REALLY looking forward to taking the commuting time out of the schedule, at least during the first part of the week.  TWO.  MORE.  WEEKS!


Happy Friday, Y'all!  And Happy, Happy Birthday, James!  Love you more than apple butter!!!