So I know it has been a while, but is anyone interested in continuing the book club? I have about two weeks before I head to Maine for much of August, and I am starting to look for reading material. I’ve been on a biography kick lately, but after my choice last time I think I am going to hand off the choosing responsibility to someone else if there is still interest. Although there was this book that I tried to skim while chasing my kids at the bookstore eons ago.

Let me know if you want to continue and what book/type of book you would be interested in reading.

It’s raining. The water will never, ever, ever leave my basement. We are. so. screwed.

And the temperature isn’t even dropping.

Nuf said.

It’s too hot to blog. It is too hot to do anything but whine and flip PBS channels. I don’t know how my sister does this every day in Texas. It was 101 today according to my car, and when we ventured out to pick up fish and veggies for dinner we were pretty much the only people in town out and about. I have never seen the place so dead. At least it made for easy parking every place.

One of these days I will have something of interest to write about. But for now, a random C quote of the day.

As C was inspecting the pictures hanging in our living room…

C: “Mom, is that a picture of the city?”

Mommy: “Yes, it is.”

C: “The REAL city?”

Mommy: “What is the real city C?”

C: “New York of course.”

He makes a parent proud that boy (sorry Nana).

I think the thing that is killing me most about owning two homes right now, beside the “Oh my God, I will NEVER be able to save for retirement/private school/college/weddings” factor is the fact that I am missing out on the summer sales. Because, you know, everyone needs to start buying boots and mufflers in July. There will be no need for tee shirts and shorts in August or September…and if your child happens to hit a growth spurt or you know, color on themselves in non-washable marker, well, it’s almost winter, right?

Anyway, I have decided to share with all of you all the bargains I have found, so at least someone can reap the rewards.

First up, for the boys in your life, (and this one is good for fall too!) a long sleeved rugby by Polo in orange, white and blue. Originally $49.50, it can now be yours for only $19.99. Sizes are going fast, I think we are down to 2T and 3T. But it would look great on Evan!

Also from Polo, a color-blocked fleece hoodie. Available in blue or kelly green, in sizes, 2T, 3T 6 and 7 at last check. SO cute. And again, originally $55, yours for $19.99. For the girls at Polo, this pretty ribbed tank, in a variety of sizes and colors for only $9.99. If you prefer a tank with a wider shoulder, here is a nice one, still $9.99 and lots of color choices. Or this basic long-sleeved shirt. A steal (for Polo at least).

Unfortunately, we have missed the Mini Boden and Hanna Andersson sales, everything of interest flies off those sites within hours of getting the email. But sign yourself up both places so you don’t miss the winter sale, especially Mini Boden, their stuff is adorable, washes well, and the sales are great. I’m not a huge Hanna person, but others love their stuff, it is all a matter of taste.

Over at Gymboree, my personal favorite for boy summer clothes, they are at their 40% off sale right now. In a week or two it should be 60%, but the selection gets progressively smaller at each price point. With Gymboree, you have to play a guessing game as to what will sell out on which sales. I have gotten screwed more than once, so the stuff I really want I tend to get at 40%. Anyway, with no further ado, here are my picks.

A version of these shorts were C’s favorite last year. $9.99 in a variety of colors. And lots of sizes left, so my guess would be that you could wait until the 60% off sale. But don’t quote me on that. C LIVES in these shorts this year, I actually bought them early in the season with a promo code, and he wears them as fast as I can wash them. A bit heavy for the dead of summer, in my opinion, but he begs to differ. Only available in 2T and 3T for $8.99, so if you want them get them now. I love the color combo on this shirt for $7.99. Lots of sizes left. This orange and brown one would be great for early fall to replace all the summer stained shirts…

I am less of a fan of Gymboree for girls, I find it rather frilly and cutesy. But my sister swears by these shorts ($9.99) for Baby C. There are other colors available if you look around the shorts section. That is what I hate about Gymboree’s site, you have to dig through to find the color options because they group by line instead of style…I also think these shorts are adorable at a rather pricey $13.99, although I don’t know how comfortable. And we are all about comfort here at Chez J-E.

Here is a winter bargain alert for you. If your second missed the sizes on your older ones winter boots, or you need to by for your first, Lands End overstocks has some serious deals on boots right now, if you don’t mind some funky color combinations. Take these boots, only $14.99 if you like orange (which we do). And these are only $9.99, but only go up to size 8. And this long sleeved shirt is adorable for $6.99. C wore a Lands End small last year, but he is on the tall side.

Ah, I could go on, but it is time to start my day and think about breakfast for the troops. Enjoy, and think of me as you shop the sales this year….

Whoops, I almost forgot something for the grownups! These flip flops from Old Navy are the most comfortable, ever. I used a credit to buy myself a pair and I live in them. Only $4.99! How can you go wrong???

A: “I want my quiche hot. No, cold. No, hot. No, cold. Hot. I want my quiche hot.”

C: “A, you keep changing your mind.”

A: “I do NOT change my mind.”

No, the house didn’t sell. And yes, water is still seeping into my basement. But for the first time in several months, both my children are in their rooms, asleep. At the same time. In the middle of the day. This totally makes up for everything else, it really does. Excuse me while I go enjoy the silence…

In order to graduate, my alma mater insisted that I had to pass a typing test. It took me four long, long years. Via Cityslicker mom, this link proves I can still eek by, with a word to spare. And M, I don’t even want to hear your score.

M is still at the hospital with his dad, who made it through the surgery with no immediate issues, thank you all for your well wishes. So instead of having the tandoori chicken for dinner as originally planned, I have moved onto nachos and BBQ chicken pizza. Ahhh, I feel better all ready.

Have I mentioned that I’ve put on five pounds since we bought the new house? Swimsuit season can’t end soon enough for me.

Although it might be hard to tell over the internets, I have actually done a good job (for me) of keeping the stress over the whole house selling situation in check. I have (sort of) cheerily gone about my business tossing off lines such as “Nothing to be done” or “it will all be fine” to those dumb enough to ask how things are going. Our real estate agent has commented several times over how unstressed I have been.

Ever since we actually purchased the new house, however, my facade has been cracking bit by bit. My voice has starting hitting the upper registers when talking with the real estate agent. I have started crying at the drop of a hat; the poor man at the deli counter yesterday spent 20 minutes searching the back cooler for low-salt turkey breast after I burst into tears when he told me he only had honey roasted. I have started obsessing about minor and not so minor things, like the peeling paint on the kitchen ceiling or the water that seems to be leaking into the basement.

Did you catch that? Yes, water. In my basement. A week after the last rainstorm. Which leads to the unfortunate conclusion that the continued presence of water seeping in through the foundation is caused by some other source, namely a burst pipe of some sort. A buried burst pipe. Somewhere in my front yard. I spent most of the night sitting on the steps of my basement willing the water to go away. Unfortunately, it appears that a watched basement still leaks.

As soon as it got light this morning, I joined the cat on his morning prowl to see if I could somehow disprove my theory. Instead, I quickly discovered that the mulch in the front flower bed that we just recently had relandscaped was sopping wet. So I sat on the front stoop and stared at that, willing it to dry up. Again, no such luck. When M came downstairs to get ready for work, he found me pacing and muttering, clutching my suddenly queasy stomach.

He seemed much less concerned than I about this turn of events, but then again his father is going into the hospital today for another heart procedure, so a leaky basement is probably not all that high on his list of things to worry about. He did inspect the basement and front bed, nodded his head and said “Yep, looks like a problem. We’ll call someone to come take a look. There are much worse problems we could have. Don’t stress over it. ” Which is easier said than done for those of us who obsess over such things.

So as C whines about his hanker sore, and A races around setting up an early morning tea party, and M heads off to work and then the hospital to be with his dad, I continue to clutch my stomach and will the water away. And hope that someone, anyone, will come look at my house and buy it, unidentified leak and all. Excuse me while I go put my head down and cry.

Poor C has developed what I believe is his first canker sore. And I must apologize to him for his lousy genetics, he got it from both sides of the family. But as he was whimpering and showing me his mouth boo boo, I had to keep from laughing as he insisted on calling it a “hanker sore” instead of a canker sore. I really need to write down their cute sayings now while I remember them, because we have some doozies. Maybe tomorrow…