Thursday, April 12, 2012

Easter 2012


Easter this year was wonderful! We woke up to the kids bouncing around the house, ready to see what the Easter Bunny left. We all walked into the living room together, to see them become overjoyed to see Chipwrecked and three adorable Chipmunk t-shirts and their Thirty-One Mini-Utility Bin Baskets filled with goodies!


Following the Easter madness at our house, we all managed to get ready and head to church for Easter Service. Service was wonderful, one that left me thinking a lot.

After service, all of us headed home, changed clothes, loaded the truck and spent the day with Grandmama and Aunt Jeanette at Little Missouri Falls, Shady Lake, and the Cossatot River. Each one of us had such a great time being out.

We found a nice picnic area to sit and eat our lunch, that overlooked the river area and was out of the way. Before lunch, Kev, Bre, Nic, Aunt Jeanette and I hiked one of the trails and even walked a bit into the river while stepping on the rocks. Bre and Nic braved it more than the rest of us and walked further out into the river, only for Nic to fall in first - shoulders down ending up soaked! It wasn't much longer before Bre lost her step and ended up soaked waist down.



 Little Missouri Falls had so many trails and left us excited for the more pretty days that we can hike many more tails, fish, and play in the river!

Shady Lake was our next stop. It is such a middle of nowhere, beautiful and great place. The mountain water makes the lakes look very clear and inviting. Had it not been so cool outside, it would have been very tempting to jump in the swimming area! The lake is surrounded by a couple campsites and mountains all around. There is a designated swimming area that has a dock in the middle of the lake. Of course, that made me want to swim out to it even more and dive off! Oh how I cannot wait for the summer to get here! Outside of the swimming area is the area for small motorized boats and a dock for fishing. To those of you that know us, you know that this may very well be the PERFECT summer spot for all of us! Kev can fish, the kids and I can play in the water.

While we were there, the kids found a spot full of tadpoles and decided to catch a few to bring home. They are now living in a little Beta bowl (our Beta died a little over a month ago) and we are hoping they live long enough to turn into frogs. Which, at that point we will set them free into the pond across the street from us.





On the way home from Shady Lake, we crossed over the Cossatot River and decided to make a quick stop to walk across the pedestrian bridge and check out some of the hiking trails. The river below the bridge was beautiful and of course has us wanting to go back to walk the trails one day soon. By the time we got to the bridge it was already close to 7pm and we were all getting a bit tired.

Poor Nic spent the day tripping over his own feet or over absolutely nothing. At the end of the day his poor knees we bruised looking and scraped up, just as his elbows were. His last fall was in the parking lot near the bridge. He was running back to me from the restroom when he fell, head first - catching himself with his hands and knees. He instantly stood up, looking at his hands and said "Oh no, not again". Then the pain hit and he burst into tears. I felt horrible for him!

Nic and I


From our family to yours, we hope you each had a fabulous Easter with family surrounding you!











































Thursday, April 5, 2012

VAHomeLoans.Net





Many military veterans find themselves searching for the right channels and jumping through hoops when it comes to locating professionals with the knowledge of VA Loans. Too often, veterans end up in an office of brokers who do not specialize in VA Loans, leaving the veterans and their families scrambling for the answers when debating whether or not to utilize their VA Home Loans or to go with another form of a loan.

This is where VAHomeLoans.net can step in and work wonderfully for you and your family. VAHomeLoans.net has provided numerous veterans with qualified VA Home Loans with excellent quotes and interest rates.

A VA (Veteran Affairs) loan is a guaranteed loan which is offered to eligible veterans for purchasing a home. Though the VA home loans are given by private lenders such as mortgage companies and banks, the loan is guaranteed by the federal government, meaning that the lender is shielded against loss if the borrower defaults on the loan.

An amazing benefit of choosing to purchase your house through a VA Loan is the reduced closing costs, origination fees, and appraisal fees that lenders and contractors are allowed to charge. The VA also has strict guidelines on the house that they will guarantee a loan on. The house has to be up to certain standards with limited issues. It has to pass the inspection before they will approve the loan. Another perk, the VA does not have Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) fees that come with many other lenders. The VA does not allow lenders to charge PMI to homeowners and in return it results in significant savings to the veterans purchasing their home.

VA Purchase Loans are successfully accomplished everyday with VAHomeLoans.net. They have experts with track records that prove their success and ability to work with veterans and their families in qualifying and obtaining the loan that works best for their client.


To learn more, please visit their website, VAHomeLoans.net.

VAHomeLoans.net is a member of the BBB and have a clean record per the BBB website. Please click on the links above to find out more and to start your process into the VA Home Loans!

Happy 5th to Our Little Man

Click on photo to enlarge 

Last weekend we celebrated our not-so-little-man's fifth birthday... As I write this, I still feel as though I want to live in denial on him being five now! I mean, really, where in the world does the time go? Nicholas had such a good time at his party. We kept it small with people we are close to. We set up our table with his cake a a variety of finger foods for everyone to enjoy.


 Cake Time
Nic and Grandmama - She stayed laughing the whole time because of Nic
I love this photo... The most amazing woman in the world, my Grandmother with Nic




 Time to Open Gifts
From Aunt Jeanette and Great Grandma
From the Head Family
From Bre
Mrs. Nita reading the card to Nic from her and Mr. Don (ignore my messy office area in the back)
From Grandpa and Grannie
From Grandpa and Grannie
Shorts from Grandpa and Grannie
From Dad and Mom
From Grandpa and Grannie
From Grandpa and Grannie
From Mom and Dad
From Mom and Dad...His "Army" Boots
From Grandpa and Grannie
From Caitlin
From Caitlin
Sweet Riley



 Thank you to all that came and made sure that Nic enjoyed his day! He had a blast.














































Shop April in Total Style


 For the month of April, Thirty-One is holding one of our most amazing Monthly Specials we have! Spend $31 and you can purchase any purse for half-off!

Check out pages 42-43 of the Shopping Guide in our Spring 2012 Catalog for the purses available: 
  • Casual Cargo Purse
  • Demi Purse
  • 5th Avenue
  • Organizing Shoulder Bag
  • Pop Crossbody
  • Retro Metro Bag
  • Mini Retro Metro Bag
  • Skirt Purse
  • Elite Skirt Purse
  • Fitted Purse Skirt
  • Fitted Elite Purse Skirt

  • We have also released the Items that will be Retiring as of April 30, 2012 - so don't miss your chance on being able to purchase your favorite items before we no longer carry them! (Click Here to review the list)

    Our Fabulous Bundles
    There are so many more items you can bundle together!



     Shop my site at http://www.mythirtyone.com/bbiddle/
    Email me at: britts31gifts@gmail.com