Teeth Suck

First off, we talked to Ray's brother last night and Aiden is doing much better. He is going to the doctor today, so they will get more updates on his progress. He is on albuterol breathing treatments, steriods and such, but making progress. Thanks for all the well wishes.

While we were in Northern Virginia this weekend, Audrey decided she would stay awake most of the night both nights and run a fever. She was otherwise fine (besides yakking all over Ray's brother's kitchen floor after Ray shoved Tylenol down her throat, her gag reflex is a little touchy), just tired and cranky. She is cutting all four incisor teeth (I call them eye teeth, anyone else call them that?) and has Ray's lack of threshold for pain.

Sunday night at home she did much better. She only got up once. Last night was a different story. She was up for a good part of the night again. I just wish the teeth would come through already.

Fun Monday - Your Refrigerator Post

First off, a big thanks for Pamela who set up the blogroll just in case I didn't make it back from our last minute trip to Virginia. My nephew is doing better...he was released from the hospital, but now of course has to see pulmonologists and such...thanks for all the thoughts and prayers.

Onto this week's Fun Monday.

Here is the assignment:

We saw everyone's kitchen one week (just can't remember which week). Now I want to see INSIDE your refrigerator. And DO.NOT.CLEAN.IT.OUT. We want to see it in all its glory. However empty or full. And if you don't have a refrigerator? Show me your cooler, or whatever container you use to keep things nice and cool.

And here are the participants (and if I forgot you or something is wrong or anything, just shoot me and then send me an email).

Julie
Sallad.net
Lil Mouse
Melanie
Fianna
MJD
Kaytabug
Pam
Tiggerlane
Christine
ChrisB
Lisa
Wolfbaby
My4Kids
JoyT
Rachel
Sayre
Bethany
Willowtree
BS
Beccy
Hannah
Arkansas Songbird
The Other Bear
Happy Working Mom
Karina
Susan
Vicki
Lisa's Chaos
La Bellina Mammina
Swamp Witch
Beckie
Nikki
Robin
Jennie Boo
Jenni
Pamela
Debi
Robin
Donetta

As for my pics...here they are in all their glory...


We weren't home until late Sunday and did not do our usual Sunday run to the store...
I will be very glad when we don't have to buy two different types of milk..Ray, Ashley and I are on skim, Audrey is on 2%.

Every fridge should have Princess Yogurt Smoothies...

Next Week the fabulous ChrisB...please go sign up for whatever she tells you to!

Friday Pictures...

We are on our way to Virginia to be with Ray's brother Sean and his wife and their 5 month old son Aidan. Aidan was hospitalized on Monday with what everyone thought a bad case of bronchitis. He wasn't getting any better, in fact he was getting worse and has now been transferred to a much better hospital than the one he was in (and the hospital I used to work at). Ray's parents were actually supposed to come down to visit us this weekend, but we are making the trip instead. Please keep my nephew in your thoughts and prayers.

So with having gymnastics for Ashley last night, band practice, and having to pack myself and two kids, I still didn't have time to upload the pictures from the party. But I do have the pictures that we had done at Portrait Innovations.

So, here ya have it.

Blogging has its benefits...

A few weeks ago, I got an email from Greetingflix.com saying they would give me a free pro account if I tried them out. And they fixed the bug that was not allowing me to post what I created on my blog, so I am finally getting around to doing this.

The site is great...you can load pictures into templates of "movies" set to music. Once you do that, you can email "your memories in motion" or post them on your blog. I found the site easy to use and set up well. Go visit and play around, you will get sucked into creating some cool stuff.

I am not going to Blogher, but I wish everyone who is the best of luck in your travels. And I want to hear all about it when you get back. Pretty please.

Fun Monday - I am hosting next week!

Yea! I get to host again! I am super excited.
Want to know your assignment?

We saw everyone's kitchen one week (just can't remember which week). Now I want to see INSIDE your refrigerator. And DO.NOT.CLEAN.IT.OUT. We want to see it in all its glory. However empty or full. And if you don't have a refrigerator? Show me your cooler, or whatever container you use to keep things nice and cool.

I could have picked your medicine cabinet, but I thought that was taking it too far.

Email me at amy underscore trice at yahoo dot com or just leave me a comment here if you want to participate. I will leave this post at the top all week...newer posts below.

Everyone wants to know about the party...

If you recall, last week Ray flew to Denver on Wednesday. I was in operation single parent mode until Saturday morning. On top of that, we had friends coming from out of town Friday to stay with us, and it was Ashley's birthday. Friday I decided I would take the girls to get their pictures done and then off to a kids museum. We ran around like crazy all day on Friday. Our friends showed up and we had even more fun. But for the second night in a row, Ashley did not go to bed until well after 10:00pm. That did not bode well for her birthday...

For the first time in her life, Ashley slept until 8:45am on Saturday morning. We were up and out of the house around 10:00am to stop by our friends house and then off to Ashley's party. Ray had made it home around 9:30am (with the Harry Potter book AND a new skirt for me)(and no, I am not done with the book, I have kids/school/work that keep getting in the way), but he had been awake since Friday morning. One word - GRUMPY TIRED.

Everyone is asking me about Ashley's party. I had high expectations for it, and it didn't really live up to my expectations. The lady/owner that ran the party was sort of abrupt. She tried to get the girls to sip their tea and act all ladylike, and then she told the parents we needed to be quiet. I think the girls would have been happier just runny around playing. Then the girls played Disney bingo which tired Ashley was not interested in. They attempted karaoke, but none of the girls were really interested in that either. In the end, I think everyone had fun, I just wish it was done a little better, more geared towards four year olds.

After the party, we said goodbye to our friends who stayed the night with us and headed to downtown Raleigh. Ray's coworker and the lead singer of Kickin Grass was playing at a free concert in downtown called Raleigh Wide Open. Ashley is a HUGE fan and we knew Jamie was going to wish her Happy Birthday from the stage.

It was priceless. Right before one of their last songs, Jamie wished her Happy Birthday and said she was his biggest fan. The look on Ashley's face was great, it was a mix between happy, shy, excited and embarrassed. I just wish I had captured the moment on video.

Look for pictures on Friday...I have yet to upload the pictures from my camera. Damn Harry Potter.

Ashley Turned Four

On Saturday, Ashley turned four. In the midst of the craziness that was that day, I didn't post my usual post I normally do on the girls' birthdays. So I am doing it today...and I am doing it in sort of retrospect...

Leading up to your birthday, I was nervous that it was going to be a really hard day. I could not believe you were turning four. It seems like yesterday you were a toddler like Audrey is now, running around, laughing like crazy.

And the day came and went, and I didn't cry. Not until Sunday night late, when I realized you were no longer my little girl. Then I cried.

You tell me to leave you alone sometimes. You get upset and you will retreat to your room. I know you need space and are trying to work things out on your own sometimes. You are so much like me it's scary.

But...I really shouldn't cry. You are such a happy kid. You love your family, all the grandparents, all the uncles. You love your friends. There isn't a day that doesn't go by that you don't mention Hayden this or Hayden that, or you tell me that you had fun playing with Audrey and Avery at school. Because they are your best friends.

You smile that goofy smile and Ray calls you "Old Grey Tooth" since that front tooth is discolored from the trampoline accident. You constantly ask us to have dance parties in your room. God, I hope you learn to love music as much as I do.

And you and your sister...when you wake up before she does in the morning, you get so excited to go to her crib when she wakes up. Only you can make Audrey hysterically laugh and make that crazy face she does. At the dinner table Audrey copies every time you tilt your head, and you love watching her do everything you do.

And as much as you are like me, you are just like your Dad. You and Ray can spend hours together just being together. Your love for him runs deep, and I know you will always be a Daddy's girl.

You are so funny, you hate sleeping with a blanket or comforter on you. Every night before I go to sleep, I go in your room and cover you back up. And sometimes I do that a few times a night.

You love to snuggle and hate sitting on the couch without someone to snuggle with. If I lay in bed with you for a few minutes at night, you grab my arm and wrap it around you.

Your smile melts my heart. Your "I Love You's" melt my heart even more.

Fun Monday - Best Friends

This week's task....

Tell us about your best friend. Particularly things like: where you first met, how long you've been friends and why you think you are best friends.

The rules also stated that it couldn't be your husband. Well, I am totally going to cheat. And yes, I have other best friends, but the one friend who is really there through thick and thin, day in and day out is Ray. I would be cheating myself if I didn't say he was my best friend.

Where We First Met:
As most of you know, we met in college. But let me back up just a little. We probably met when we were tiny babies as we were born 4 days apart, in the same hospital, by the same doctor. We also had the same pediatrician growing up until that pediatrician was killed in a plane crash (the one that crashed into the 14th Street bridge in DC). Our Moms went to high school together, my Dad went to high school with Ray's aunt.

My first two years at Virginia Tech I dated my high school sweetheart as did Ray. By both of our senior years, we were single again. Ray and I were both in a coed business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi. Our senior year, we both held positions, he was controller and I was the treasurer. The week we both turned 21 we hung out and officially started dating. I am pretty sure we went out every night that week. By the spring semester of our senior year, I had pretty much moved into Ray's apartment as he lived by himself. The rest is history.

**side note: the guy I dated from high school ended up marrying a girl Ray went to high school with...small world**

How Long Have We Been Friends:
I guess I answered that above, we started dating October 1996...damn, it's been a long time!

Why We Are Best Friends:
We compliment each other. Ray grounds me most days. He's a great listener. And most importantly, he is an amazing Father to our girls.

Okay, so go now and see the rest of the participants...

Friday Pictures - Stuff from last weekend

Her hair was getting out of control...
So much better...
At a free concert in downtown Raleigh...
Listening to a guy sing a Michael Jackson song. He was really, really good.

Dude, this kid loves Mexican...

And M&Ms...

One night down, two to go...

Sleep has always been an issue in our house. As I have mentioned before, Ashley was a horrible sleeper. As a newborn, she was up multiple times a night for months on end. We took part in a sleep study with John Hopkins, did all the things we were supposed to, but she just didn't want to sleep. And honestly, she still probably doesn't go an entire week now without waking up once or twice at least one night a week calling for us or having a nightmare and needing some assistance. Lucky for us now, it mostly just requires retucking her in bed or finding her stuffed animal of the day to snuggle with.

At 18 months, she miraculously started sleeping through the night. That must be the magic number.

Audrey is finally having more nights of sleeping through the night a week than those where she wakes up. And if she wakes up, a little bit of water or a pat on the back cures all and she goes back to sleep. And guess what? She was 18 months old yesterday.

One thing that worries me when Ray is away is the nights. I worry that both of them will all of a sudden be awake all night long and I will be so tired that I can't handle it. Of course, I am sure I would be able to handle it if that did happen, but I am a perpetual worrier. I worry about everything.

Last night was a piece of cake. Audrey slept fine as did Ashley. Of course, it probably helped with Ashley that she slept in bed with me, but hey, it's almost her birthday, it's a special treat. And she liked the slumber party, as she kept calling it.

Only one mishap yesterday...Audrey fell in our driveway and scraped her cheek and chin. It was like slow motion when she fell and she was only a few feet from me.

Only two nights to go...and a million things to worry about.

I'm Here...

I am here, but I am a single parent until Saturday. Ray left this morning for Denver for a conference. And Audrey had her 18 month appointment, and it seems she is growing taller, finally.

Weight: 24 pounds, 48% percentile
Height: 32 inches, 75%

Ashley was always off the chart for height and weight, so we are hoping Audrey catches up at some point. And it looks like she might be headed that way.

Oh, and today you can find me here, here and here. So I am here, just not much written right here...Go visit, tell myself I sent you...

My Kids Now Have Two Ants, I Mean Aunts

All last week I was sick with some crappy head cold. By the time Saturday rolled around, I was feeling better, but producing enough snot to lubricate the entire state of North Carolina and my voice just wasn't all there. That and Ashley had a makeup class for gymnastics, I wanted to get her hair cut, and Ray had to go show houses. I also really, really needed to go to Target. My point in all of this? I wasn't feeling myself and was dragging around a very active one and half year old and a very tired from Mommy and Daddy letting her stay up late the night before almost (AAKK, she's going to be four on SATURDAY) four year old.

And my cell phone rings just as Ashley sits in the chair to get her haircut. I see it's my brother.

"Hey Mike, what's up?" Cause something had to be up for him to call me on a Saturday.

"Guess what?"

"What's up?" Note to everyone, I really, really hate guessing games. Seriously. Just ask Ray. Do not ask me to guess. I don't like it.

"Jen and I got married."

Now, I assumed from the start of the phone call this was going to be about marriage. I thought he proposed. Nope, they really did get married, but they promise to do the big ceremony (again, I have lost 60 pounds and would really like to be in some sort of really pretty dress). There was something about the immigration thingy or something with Jen. (She's Canadian, not from Mars). I am just happy he's married and it's Jen and they are happy.

Maybe a beach wedding? OOOHHHH, I got it! Get married in Disney!

Okay, back on track.

So I told Mike to call Ray and got off the phone. I may not have seemed that estatic because I was a)full of snot and my ears where clogged and HOLY CRAP Audrey just pulled an entire necklace display down and b)Ashley was in the middle of getting her hair cut.

So Mike and Jen? We are very, very happy. Congrats. No, Congrats!! We love you guys!

And we have taught Ashley that Jen is now Aunt Jen. She kept repeating it all day.

Fun Monday - Show me your ride

Today's Fun Monday is hosted by Tiggerlane and she wants us to show you our cars...

Funny that today is about cars as I saw this one on my way to work this morning (well, not this one exactly, but you get my drift). It's not everyday you see a Lotus on the highway in Raleigh.


A couple of weeks ago, everyone saw my beloved van with the missing side mirror. Update? No replacement yet.
I forgot to take a picture of what Ray drives, but here is a stock photo (It's a Honda Civic, and yes, we are partial to Hondas). A little tidbit on it? It gets amazing gas mileage which helps since he drives all over showing houses every day. But his license plate is his cell phone number. Kind of clever for a realtor, huh?


And this is an example of what my first car ever was. A 1979 Chevy Impala, equipped with a stapled gunned ceiling and enough room to fit 15 teenagers in it.

Friday Pictures - A little bit of this and that

This is what she wore to pick up pizza the other night.
Sleeping Beauty
Her Sunday Best
Audrey LOVES rides...
Yes, I made Ray ride this with them...someone had to take the pictures, right?

100 Days, or I am fully aware I am a freak

Our Disney vacation starts in 100 days...can you tell I am a little excited about it?

Ray and I spent part of our honeymoon in Disney World...Ashley has been three times....We sold our souls a few years ago and purchased a Disney time share so that we could guarantee a trip there every year...I played in the Magic Music Days in high school...we stopped off at Disney World when I was a senior in college on our way to the Orange Bowl to see Virginia Tech get killed by Nebraska.

My guest room in my house? Disney comforter. Disney lamp.

I have brainwashed my kids. Audrey now points to the many Mickey's we have in our house and says his name.

And yes, I loved Disney and Disney World prior to having children. But now? The look on Ashley's face the first time she saw Mickey Mouse or had breakfast with Cinderella? Absolutely priceless. I have been known to get teary eyed when watching my kids witness something for the first time in Disney.

And a big part of what intrigues Ray and I about Disney is the amount of planning and thought that has been put into the Disney World parks and resorts. The attention to detail is unreal, the service has always been spectacular, and since we never go in the summer, we have never had to deal with many crowds.

And just to prove what a nut I am, I am going to provide you with some lesser known Disney World facts.

• The buildings on Main Street start out at scale size and then the second and third floors are smaller in size than the first floor to create the illusion that the building is actually taller than it really is.


• The smell of fresh baked goods as you pass by the bakery on Main Street, USA in the Magic Kingdom is artificially produced and mechanically introduced to the outside air by fans.


• Walt envisioned Magic Kingdom as a movie. The reason you have to go left or right under the train station is to obscure the view of the Castle, the main show. You pass under the tunnel and see the attraction posters, the previews. As soon as you enter, you have popcorn vendors, like the consession stand. As you walk up Main Street, you see the credits of the folks who helped build the park in the windows of the stores, like the credits at the begining of a film. The street also has a slight incline up so the Castle slowly enters your field of vision. And finally, the Castle, the movie itself.


• In the main street credit windows, only Walt Disney's window above the Ice Creamery faces the castle.


• Walts hand is placed over top of Mickey's in the famous partners statue symbolizing his hand over everything he created, as opposed to Roy's hand which is placed palm side up in his statue with Minnie to symbolize being the financial element (think of money stacked in palm)...also Minnie is sitting in the middle of the bench because in early times it was improper for a girl to be at the end of the bench..this also leaves a spot for Mickey to theoretically come and sit. And the ring on Walt's raised hand is a little different...its a Mickey ring.
  
• In the jungle cruise one of the natives Says I love disco.....

Contest from 5 Minutes for Mom

For all the scrapbookers out there, check out this cool contest on 5 Minutes for Mom...it's a scanner that is extremely portable and I think would be great to scan in artwork or pictures that you don't have digitally. Plus, we could use it to quickly scan in receipts for tax purposes (cause you know we haven't filed our taxes yet...).

Here is the link.

Go sign up for the contest and good luck!

Hump Day with some Real Randomness

The summer between my junior and senior year in college, I had an office job working for the Federal Government. It was a sweet deal, I was paid well and the work was easy. My best friend in college also had an office job, and every Wednesday we would spend most of the day faxing each other funny cartoons or drawings to celebrate "Hump Day". It helped the time go by fast and gave me something to look forward to on that day smack in the middle of the week.

This Hump Day? Nothing to look forward to. I guess I am just feeling blah. I feel like I have a cold, but I am guessing it actually might be allergies. Since I haven't had allergies before, I don't know though. But Audrey's eczema is flaring right now and her nose is a faucet. Ashley's nose is actually a little runny as well.

It's just one of those days.

And someone Ray tried to help in the real estate business has turned out to be a complete BITCH. And it pisses me off.

Audrey hasn't bitten anymore at school since our meeting. They moved her up to the older toddler class where the toddlers seem to better understand personal space, and she hasn't had one incident.

Ashley has moved up at school and actually moves up again in August to the Pre-K room where she has to wear a uniform. Yup, you read that right, a uniform. Not really sure how that will go over. I guess we will find out next month.

Think my boss would notice if I shut my door and took a nap?

Myrtle, Awards, and a New Blogger...

At one point during the week, Mrs. CPA's husband (I am going to call him TM) asked us whose crazy idea it was to get 6 adults and 5 kids under the age of 5 together.

(Yes, my oldest has her pjs on...don't ask.)

To totally copy CPAmomva, here is the dish:

The Good: Friday we spent time at the beach in the morning, everyone took monster naps that afternoon (including all of the adults expect Ray and CPAmom's husband) and we had ice cream for dessert after dinner. What a great way to end the week.
The Bad: TM hurt his shoulder playing golf, I hurt my neck somehow sleeping and it still hurts. If Ray makes fun of me anymore, I am seriously going to kick his ass.

The Good: The guys played golf on Thursday with a Preacher (although I don't think it really helped them).
The Bad: The guys played golf on Thursday. And it was a really long round. Not their fault, just summertime in Myrtle Beach.

The Good: The kids played together really, really well. I mean really well.
The Bad: Audrey bit Mr. Cheeks. She still smiles when I say his name.

_____________________________________________________________
A good friend, fellow Band Geek, and my husband's coworker has started a blog. And damn, she writes well, is funny and intelligent (just like she is in person). Go check her out. Please.

___________________________________________________



Last week, two bloggers gave me the Rocking Blogger Girl Award. This is what Kellie had to say about me:

She’s what I want to be when I get big. Two gorgeous little girls, a husband who looks to be not a day over 18, a brain that I’d sell Jimmy’s spleen for, a beautiful house, musical talent, works full time away from home AND is going to school for teaching. Seriously. I’ll sell Jimmy’s spleen AND his truck for her brain!!

I really have you guys fooled. Although I did find out yesterday that I got an A in the supposedly hardest class so far in the Master's program I am in. Of course the sucky part? The professor decided not to include one of our final papers in the grade. You know, the one I went back to work at 9:00pm at night to finish? Nice. And yes, Ray looks young. He will get carded until he's 60 I am sure.

And this is what Julie had to say:

Sadly I did not know Amy when she lived in VA - like 20 minutes from me - but how I wish I had. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve read her blog and thought OMG, she’s blogging my life. Plus she has awesome taste in shoes! : )

And yes, I did live really close to her in Virginia. If we combined our shoe collections, we would have a lot of duplicates.

So I have to award this to 5 people and I wish I could pass it right back to the ladies that nominated me. Plus, a ton of people have already been nominated. But there are still some Rockin' Blogger Girls left:

1. Heather: Yes, I am awarding this to the new blogger and she probably doesn't know five people to give it to, but seriously, she writes well, is entertaining, and has great taste in clothes. And her son is adorable. Oh, and her husband and Mrs. CPA's husband need to play pool together someday.

2. Happy Working Mom: I have been reading her blog for over a year I think. She was one of the first bloggers I started reading. She also writes with me on the working moms blog. She's smart, cute (and so is her family), and I think her and I would make great neighbors. Too bad she lives all the way in Ohio.

3. Mrs. CPA: I have no idea if she has been awarded this, but here it is. Since I have met her in person, I can really tell you how nice and smart she is. It's just too bad she doesn't update her blog more, her writing is witty and funny. Much like she is in person. And Mr. Cheeks? Adorable.

4. The Cagle Clan: She might kick my butt for doing this, but this is my neighbor I am constantly raving about. You know, the one that has an absolutely beautiful daughter and has time to teach me to sew. Which reminds me, I need to get cracking on my homework. :).

5. Jippy Jabber: Jennifer has been a blogging friend of mine for a while now. She has a special needs son who is cute and is going to grow up to be one handsome man. She totally rocks.

Feel free to pass the award on or not. No biggie.

This week's Fun Monday is from Deb at 1crazystitcher. Here are her instructions...

This is my request. Show your favorite place to relax. It can be a chair, corner, ledge, or limb. :) Get out those cameras and take pics or just write how you feel when you are in your "zone".

I love being outside. Really, really love being outside. And my kids are the same way. So needless to say, my favorite spot is in our backyard, sitting in one of these chairs, listening to the breeze and the sounds of kids playing.


We have a Nags Head Hammock swing we need to get a stand for which would totally be my favorite spot as well (like this one). Who wouldn't want to spend all day in this?


And yes, I will update everyone on my trip, my cool award Julie AND Kellie gave me, and catch up with everyone's blogs.

In the meantime, go check out the other Fun Monday participants.

Friday Pictures - Family Time

My twin brother, who Ashley LOVES...
Our newest addition...
Playing in the backyard...

Me in all my band geekiness....

The spectators...

Notice the Mickey Ears? We were playing a Disney March Spectacular.
Can you see me?

No, it's not Friday pictures, but I promised some of the family that reads this some pictures of my concert. We had our largest audience every (we normally just have our family members..,), and we played great.

The other thing that happened this past weekend? I FINALLY met my brother's girlfriend. All I have to say is I would look damn good in a bridemaids dress now...

A Post About Not What I Wanted To Post About Today

Yesterday was the last day of the hardest class I have had so far in the Master's program I am in. And supposedly it will be the hardest class I will take according to other class members. The class was Action Research, and not only did I have a 10,000 word team paper due yesterday, but I had a powerpoint presentation, two individual papers, and a statistical problem worksheet. I had worked ahead enough, but I had loose ends to tie up before turning some stuff in last night.

I keep all my schoolwork on a flash drive so I can carry it between home and work. I had taken it out at work yesterday thinking I would have time to do it, but I didn't. And when I went to work on my stuff at home last night, I realized I left the FREAKING flash drive at work.

So 9:00pm last night, I drove into my office to finish up my papers and stuff. Back home by 10:30, then I packed for our mini-vacation that starts TONIGHT. In bed at midnight, up at 1:00am with Audrey, 3:00am Ashley came into our room...you get the picture.

And no, this isn't what I wanted to post about today. I wanted to post pictures from my band concert from Sunday and a video. I thought I had emailed the pictures off of Ray's computer to me, but I didn't. And I can't get youtube to work.

This vacation can't come soon enough.

So tomorrow, band geek pictures...and a sneak peek into our vacation where I will be surrounded by CPAs and more CPAs.

Oh, and on a side note of band geek pictures, go check out my good friend Martha. She was in the band with me as of Sunday, but she is now happily married and moving to Virginia (I tried to tell her not to go). She is hilarious and I will miss her in band practice GREATLY. We normally have a great time making fun of people's feet (people, cut your toenails before they become weapons) and it will be very, very quiet without her. I am glad I discovered she had a blog as I can keep up with her after she moves.

I am also going to take this time to pimp out my good blogging buddy Sonia. Go vote for her here. And her shirts are way cool, she made one for Ashley for her birthday this month. Pictures of course later this month....

And congrats to Julie and Pamela for winning on my 300th post yesterday...look for something in the mail! Just a reminder though, I am not a creative person when it comes to gift giving.

Fun Monday - Post Number 300

Here is this week's Fun Monday Challenge by Prairie Air:

The topic for this Fun Monday is summer memories. Besides a few of your favorite summer memories, I'd like to hear what summer means to you. Is summer all about fireworks, watermelon seed wars, catching fireflies, days at the lake, family vacations, or the perfect swimsuit? What sights, smells, sounds, tastes, feelings do you associate with summer?

My Childhood:

Summer as a kid meant playing all day at my Grandmother's house. When I was young, my Grandparents lived up the same dirt road as we did. My days were spent eating cheese and bologna sandwiches, playing the sandbox, and helping my Grandmother with her chores. One chore in particular I remember was hanging the clothes out on the line to dry. Every time I see clothes on a line outside now (which is not that frequent), I am reminded of those days back in Virginia growing up.





Summer Now:

Summer now is weekends at Myrtle Beach; evenings at the pool; letting the kids stay up a little later so they can play just a little longer outside with their friends. I love it when I pick up Ashley at school and her face is flushed from running around outside. Summer means farmer's markets; strawberry picking; outdoor concerts.



And to top off a Great Monday, this is my 300th post...so, a little prize for the people who are commentors number 3 and 30 (if it makes it to that!). Just make sure I have your email address so I can email you for your address...