Ten Years is a Really, REALLY Long Time...

Thank you for being my best friend.

Thank you for my kids, although I am a little pissed they don't look like me.

Thank you for having hair (unlike your brother).

Thank you for being driven and goal oriented, otherwise who knows where we would be now if it was only up to me.

Thank you for being understanding and for knowing me so well.

Thank you for knowing when to walk away and let me cry, and when to come back and let me cry on you.

Thank you for doing the bills and finances every month. I know that is a stress you won't let me have.

Thank you for not getting mad about that $130 in face products I bought a week ago. And if this is the first time you have heard about it, thank you again for not getting mad.

Thank you for doing the dishes, as much as you hate it.

Thank you for the last 10 years together, and here's to 10 more...

Three Favorite Things

I get really antsy when change is coming, and I think Ashley starting kindergarten is making me that way. I can't really pinpoint what I am feeling at this point. Part of me is excited, and the other part is wondering where in the hell the last five years went.

With the unsteadiness comes my inability to finish anything I have started - I can't begin to list the projects I need to finish. I am slacking in my schoolwork, I can't keep up with my personal email, the dining room still has curtains to sew from weeks, maybe months ago at this point.

But unloading pictures off my camera, I came across this one, and at this point, all that matters are these three "things" in my life. No matter what change is coming, this is my family.

Friday Pictures - Memorial Day Weekend (Yes, I realize these are late)

I finally downloaded and weeded through all the pictures from our mini trip to Virginia.

First up, Grandma Mocha (Ray's Mom) and cousin Aiden, who as you can tell, can pull his own weight. Or in other words, doesn't miss a meal. He turned one in February.
And he weighs more than Audrey...
We attempted a family picture...
And had dinner with old friends and played "Battle of the Sexes" where unfortunately the girls lost.
The men worked hard on figuring out what to ask us.
And the kids crashed on the couch watching Scooby-Doo.
And we had dinner with new friends, where the girls rocked it like Hannah Montana.
And when I say rocked it, they did.
Oh, and I love their dog...I just can't remember his (or her) name.
Emily was so cute...
When these girls are on American Idol in like 20 years, you can say you saw them here first.
Love Abby's smile! Emily was just too quick for me to photo....
And Ashley just liked all the cool stuff Abby had.
Our last stop was Kings Dominion, an amusement park in Virginia. My twin brother met us since Ray was on his way to Atlanta at that point and I knew there was no way I could do it alone. Plus, the girls love "Crazy" Uncle Mike. This was the first ride of the day.
Audrey was beyond excited.
Somewhere there is a picture of my brother and I on this very same ride when we were little.

Uncle Mike and Ashley (the last car) on the Avalanche ride.

At least I knew who this character was...I didn't know some of the ones we encountered that day. Hey, don't judge, I am just a Disney person (although we own enough Backyardigans videos).


And I promise never to mention Memorial Day again. Pinky swear...

Memorial Day and Beyond...

On the way home from the wedding we attended on Sunday night, we heard a tear inducing story about a female soldier returning home to applause at the airport. Ray said that when he went to San Diego last month, there was a gentleman in first class who gave up his seat to a soldier. It's those stories that touch my heart and make me believe in the American spirit. God Bless all Service Men and Women today...

On an unrelated note, we are not back home yet from Virginia. I am still here, Ray is back in North Carolina. And I am off all week, so tomorrow I am taking the girls to an amusement park on the way home from Virginia. I am making my brother come with me to help out, even though it means Mike has to rent a car to do so (Thanks Uncle Mike!!).

I have grand plans for the rest of the week - really finish potty training Audrey and get rid of all sippy cups. Not sure why I do this to myself, but what the heck, may as well make the week exciting. So if my blogging this week is spotty, that's why...

Minor League baseball rocks...

This past weekend, we decided at the last minute to go to Myrtle Beach for the weekend. It was the end of Biker Week 2008, but really, all those Harley riders are pretty nice. Plus, we don't stay on the main drag, so we don't even really see them much. My only regret for the weekend was the fact I FORGOT MY DAMN CAMERA. I didn't even have my Canon Powershot in my purse.

Saturday we spent time at the beach, then headed home for a quick nap for Audrey. We were back out of the house and off to Broadway at the beach so the girls could ride some rides before dinner. This is becoming a must for our trips there, and it is driving Ray nuts. Anyway, we went to dinner at a local Mexican restaurant (where Ray orders pizza, go figure) and we were off to our very first (except not really as we took Ashley when she was six weeks old to a game) Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball game.

They had these seats called "The Beach" and it was like sitting on the beach complete with sand and beach chairs. The girls had a blast running around and playing in the sand while we enjoyed part of the game. We only stayed until the 5th inning as it started to get chilly and I didn't bring any sort of jacket for me or the kids.

But really why minor league baseball rocks? We walked out of there with two coupons for a gallon of windshield washer fluid and 10 coupons for free donuts from Dunkin Donuts. They were giveaways in certain innings for not letting the other team score a run and striking out someone. And we got 10 coupons for donuts because the guy at the gate said we had two small kids and we needed more donuts. I am not sure if he meant we needed more or the kids. Ashley was a little confused as she thought they were actually going to give us a donut on the way out.

All in all, it was a great weekend away. Now we have to get geared up for this weekend's trip back to Virginia to visit family and friends.

I love baseball. I love watching baseball. I love eating the food at baseball stadiums. I love minor league games because they are so freaking funny sometimes.

Friday Pictures

At some point, I will buy a book and learn to actually do things on my own in Photoshop. When I am not making curtains/enjoying the nice weather/potty training a 2 year old/having 4 band concerts in one month/entertaining houseguests. The list could go on and on and on.

Instead, I am relying on Pioneer Woman's actions that she graciously let us download off her site. Here are some examples (the first one is always the shot straight out of the camera, and no, I don't remember which actions I used on each shot...it was late last night...and Ray was waiting for me to watch Lost):

Pretty cool, huh? I am going to print some of these today, I will let you know how they turn out. Have a great Friday everyone....

Friday Pictures - Water Play

Last Friday, it was warm enough that Ashley wanted to get in the sprinklers (it is the same weather this Friday as well). So new bathing suits on (except for Audrey, her bathing suit from last year fit, and yes, I do feed her) and into the water.

I got Ashley's at Old Navy...

Not sure what she's doing here.

Audrey loved it. I gave birth to water babies apparently.

Oops, Audrey. Where are your bottoms?

Boy, am I glad I married the one that has hair...(that's Ray's brother Sean on the right, 8 years younger than Ray and bald).

I think I did it...

I think I successfully made this holiday a good one for Ashley (and Audrey!).

• A new Valentine's Day shirt arrived in the mail yesterday, and she loves it
• Hearts sprinkled on her bedroom floor for when she woke up
• Balloons, including the Princess one she begged for in the Dollar Store
• Heart shaped donuts from Krispy Kreme (and omigod, are they yummy...)

• New pjs to wear tonight

I was going to attempt to make heart shaped pizzas for dinner tonight, but I think it will just be pizza. I was up until 11:30pm trying to convince Audrey to go to sleep and doing all the Valentine's day stuff. And then Audrey was up a few times after that. She obviously is unaware that Ray and I need some sleep.

And Ray got me a yummy box of chocolates that I had to restrain myself from devouring the whole box. He has been slammed with working so much this past week (the real estate market here is good), and because he is such a good husband, he has been trying to at least eat dinner with us and work around some scheduling conflicts I have. I couldn't ask for a better husband.

Check tomorrow for pictures of the festivities!

Dip....

Good guesses yesterday on what Ashley likes to dip her french fries in. No one guessed it right though (and no, not even Ray, but to his defense he wasn't at dinner the night this started).

She likes to dip her fries in strawberry jelly. Seriously. And when I say dip, I really mean drown. She loves jelly. Every Tuesday I bring her a jelly sandwich to have in the car on the way home from school since she has soccer. She can just do without the peanut butter (which she still actually hasn't had, she has had soy nut butter, Ray is allergic to peanuts and I am afraid to give her peanut butter).

And no, sleep isn't any better in our house. Audrey is cutting her two year molars a few months early, and it isn't fun. It took both Ray and I to calm her down at 1:00 in the morning. And speaking of teeth, I am not sure I have told everyone about Ray's latest and greatest.

Ray has no enamel on his teeth, and they are slowly going away. He has had issues with his teeth his whole life. Most of his molars are crowned and trips to the dentist for him mean a lot of pain.

In order to correct his teeth, he needs some serious work. To the tune of $20,000. Yes, I said $20,000. The amount of my getting a master's degree or the amount of a decent new car. Insurance might cover a couple hundred dollars. But Ray is getting to the point he needs this done or I will be spoon feeding him creamed corn and mashed potatoes.

I am hoping the girls' have inherited my teeth genes...

A Campaign Trail, Random Fevers, and Lack of Sleep (what else is new?)

Last night Ray got invited to a fundraiser for John Edwards. And no, that does not mean we support him as a candidate. And no, we did not actually give any money. But Ray loves politics and national issues and can debate stem cell research and educating the world all in one breath. I just don't pay attention enough to give an educated opinion about certain stuff. Anyways, it was at someone's house in a pretty nice neighborhood in Raleigh. And Ray said there were some things that he said that he didn't agree with, but it was just exciting to be there with someone who is trying to be President of the United States. And yes, he had a terrific haircut.

And no, I don't want to get in a political debate. I am one of those debaters that is passionate about what I believe (aka I am very opinionated), so I am no fun to debate with.

When I picked Audrey up from daycare, they said she had a great day. But by the time I got her home, she had a fever. Not too bad, but enough where she didn't want me to put her down. It really isn't fun trying to make dinner while holding a 19 month old. Anyways, we ate dinner and left Ashley with her best friend to play and ran to the drugstore to get Audrey some medicine because somehow we didn't have any. By the time I got back from the store, the fever had subsided and she was acting fine. I am thinking it's her teeth as she is cutting those really pesky two year molars.

And lack of sleep? When Ashley is overly tired, she does not sleep well. She cries and whines in her sleep and wakes up, and I went in her room at least three times last night and I am pretty sure Ray did the same. Like Ray said this morning, it feels like we took 10 little naps instead of one good night sleep.

Mondays just suck. Thank God it's Tuesday.

Friday Pictures - It's Been a Long Week

I never thought Friday would get here. I thought the week would go on forever, kind of like a really bad movie. But it's here, and there was much rejoicing...

It's FINALLY raining in Raleigh. But according to the news this morning? This rain did nothing for our drought.
Ray has worked late the past two nights. This is what Mommy lets them do at bedtime...watch a little tv in my bed...basically because I couldn't get the tv in the playroom to work. Cause it really isn't fun keeping Ashley from jumping on the bed and squashing her sister or watching Audrey catapult herself across my bed coming within inches of falling off the side...
But they love it.
I think Ashley has the misconceived notion that she is going to spend ALL night in my bed.
Daddy just called. Audrey obviously wants to call him back. That and call Papa.

What they are watching...

I had a brilliant idea last night to make Ree's Oatmeal Crispies. I took out the pecans cause of allergies and replaced them with chocolate chips. These cookies? Yummy. Thank goodness Ray didn't like them (the oatmeal for goodness sakes, he can't get past the fact they have oatmeal in them).

The theme of the week.

The recipe made a huge batch, so half of it is in the fridge...

And this came in the mail this week. Ray just about peed his pants he's so excited. Anyone to babysit??

Terrific Tuesday

I have been a little MIA in the blogging world. Last Thursday, Ashley was sent home from school with a low grade fever and complaints of a stomache ache. She continued to spike a fever over the next couple of days, but Tylenol and Motrin kept her feeling like herself. Then Ray was pretty sick, chills, fever, cough, headache. I actually didn't even sleep in the same bed as him two nights because a) I didn't want whatever he had and b) he needed some sleep.

By Sunday, everyone was feeling better. But then Sunday night, Ashley was up most of the night and even managed to throw up all over her bed at 2:00am after I made her take some medicine. Just what I need in the middle of the night. So I kept her home yesterday and even took her into the doctor just in case she had strep or something. Nope, just a virus that was probably on the tail end of it. She was of course fine the whole day, and I did get to go to Target and do some much needed laundry.

So I am back, back to work, back to the daily grind. Today here in Raleigh? 101 degrees. Tomorrow? 100 degrees. Thursday? 101 degrees. I think we will be staying indoors in the evenings.

Morning Routine

I recently read this post about switching routines and such. In our house, Ray does the morning. I am up and out of the house by 6:45am. On most mornings, the girls aren't even up. And actually if they do get up, it's just that harder to leave. Audrey wants me, and Ashley wants some snuggle time on the couch.

But Ray has the whole thing down to a well oiled machine. He even makes Audrey an omelete every morning as that seems to be the only thing she will eat for breakfast. They are dropped off at school at 8:30am every.single.day. Right on time, no crying fits, all things in the backpacks (he did forget Ashley's bathing suit for water day a few weeks ago, but neither of us realized it was water day), refills of diapers for Audrey if needed, and he pays the biweekly payment to them (which if I told you how much we pay these people, you would choke on your coffee).

How does he do it? He doesn't give in. Me, well, I tend to give in a little. Although a few weeks ago when Ray was out of town, it all worked out. I had the kids to school on time. I had all their stuff. I even remembered my purse which is the first thing I tend to forget. And no, I did not make omeletes. I gave into Ashley pleas to have cinammon rolls which are super easy to make and Audrey ate them as well.

Friday Pictures - Red, White and Blue

First off, look at this totally cool gift I got in the mail from Christine...love it. She emailed me and asked me if I wanted the Disney pin, and then she also sent the photo holder...absolutely beautiful. Another Blogger who totally rocks...

The pin and photo holder...
A closer look at the pin...one day I will post a picture of all my Disney pins being the geek I am.
I am home today (schoolwork and more schoolwork to do, this Master's degree thing is freaking hard...). Anyways, the girls have a parade this afternoon at school and are all dressed in their red, white and blue. This is Ray and Ashley...
Audrey ready to go...
Ashley dressed herself this morning (I know, she should be doing that all the time...).
Still ready to go...

Me and the girls...no, I have not showered in this picture. And yes, Audrey and I are pale compared to Ashley.

Tomorrow my twin brother comes with his girlfriend who everyone else in the family has met besides Ray and I. And my Dad and Stepmom are coming too. I have a band concert on Sunday evening (with a solo!!), so they are coming to see me in all my band geekiness. I promise to post pictures.

Have a great weekend...

Nine Years....and Counting

Nine years ago, Ray and I were married in front of 150 in a Baptist church in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Honestly, I don't remember much of the ceremony. I do remember being surrounded by friends and family and the reception being the best it could be. We danced and sang and danced and laughed.

And then I fell asleep in the limo ride to the hotel.

I know, pathetic wife I am.

No gifts of pottery or leather are being given today. Ray did get a new laptop which takes care of any gifts we were going to get each other. Instead, most likely this will be like any other day, work, home with the kids for dinner, getting ready for the next day.

Except today I am reminded that I married my best friend, who has also turned out to be the best father any one could wish for...


Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart...

Let's Get Physical, Physical

So tomorrow morning at 10:30, Ray and I are having our life insurance policy physicals. We had a life insurance policy before, but we both collectively weighed 100 or so more pounds and the lady who did our physical saw cigars in our house and put it down that we smoked (they were a gift from my brother and Ray will have one on very special occasions, like a good poker game). Anyways, we are pretty sure we will get better rates this time.

Our agent sent us a tip sheet on what to do and avoid prior to the physical. First off, I am not supposed to exercise 24 hours prior. Oh darn. No caffeine that morning and we have to fast from Thursday night until the appointment. So if I am a complete bitch tomorrow morning, you will know why. I NEED my cup of coffee in the morning. I am sure I will have a headache by 7:00 am.

On an unrelated note, I did go to the gym last night...anyone else a complete loser like me and listen to your kid's music even when they aren't in the car? I was totally jamming to Disney's greatest hits....

Ten Things Meme

I was tagged by Lawyer Mama to do a Ten Things Meme (I will get to the other one this week EC..). She said we could mix it up, so since you guys don't really, really hear about Ray, here are ten things about him:

1. He is four days younger than me, born in the same hospital as me, had the same pediatrician as me (who later died when that plane crashed into the 14th street bridge in D.C.). Oh, and our Moms went to high school together.
2. He has a brother who is 8 years younger than him.
3. He graduated from Virginia Tech with two degrees - Finance and Management Science.
4. He would really like me to massage his feet, and I never do.
5. He has a full head of hair (thank GOD) unlike his younger brother or his dad.
6. He has lost a ton of weight recently as well, I think his total is around 45 pounds. He lost 6 inches in his waist.
7. He watches What Not To Wear with me and enjoys it.
8. He can also make a pretty damn good cake.
9. No, you may not have him.
10. He puts up with me. I am not sure anyone else in the world would.

Onto another note, I don't normally discuss my great tv watching ability, but did anyone watch the season finale of Lost last night? Holy Heck, that was a good one...

Friday Pictures - Old School

I had to hunt for some pictures off Ray's laptop since I forgot to bring my cord to download pictures off my camera.

This is Ashley and I in Disney in October of 2004...

Ray and I in Hawaii in January 2002...Ashley when she was a few days old...

Audrey the day she was born...

Friday Pictures - VT Style

Here are some pictures I have of my kids in their VT garb...enjoy!

A Christmas present from a friend...Ashley requests to wear this outfit all the time...
Ray in Hokie Orange (totally dig the head band!)...
Audrey in December in her football jersey....

I am here in Myrtle, I went to bed at 1:00am and now I am up at 7:00am. So much for sleeping in. At least I will get a lot of scrapbooking done!

Friday Pictures

This has been "hell week" for lack of a better word. Ray left Tuesday morning for Texas for a conference and doesn't come home until late tonight. Ray's parents came last night so that I could go to band practice and then my concert tonight. I had a couple of nights of Ashley screaming and waking her sister, a couple of mornings of trying to take a shower with Audrey eating tampons and Ashley snatching them from her and knocking her head first into the bathroom cabinets. But other then that, it's been okay. Here's what we do when Daddy's away...

Eat cookies...

Dress up like Minnie Mouse Princess and eat more cookies...
Dance around in new clothes Mommy bought you at Old Navy (just in case you didn't know "Pink is the new black").
Play in Daddy's office (I think Audrey wants to start her own blog).

And for those of you who were wondering about Ray's self employment, he is a real estate agent with Kellar Williams Realty. And yes, we are filing tax extensions...nothing like postponing the inevitable another six months...