Cousins unite...

Last weekend we traveled to Michigan for a family reunion and wedding. There were aunts and uncles and cousins galore. Girls certainly outnumbered the boys and fun was had by all. There was dancing and tractor riding and swimming and sleepovers and ping pong and more dancing! Lots of pictures to share so the writing is short :-)

Dance Party Fun


Cousins

Slumber Party!

Wedding

Mark & Dee Larkin



Flower girls - Madigan, Teagan, Delaney
\Sydney



Lauren



Alex



Madigan



















Olivia & Syd



Delaney

Shaylin & Lauren

Home Again Home Again Jiggity Jig...

we haven't done much traveling this summer - which has been nice yet uneventful. We knew we had two family events in August which would require traveling and the rest of the summer - well it went unplanned. I know, what can I say, I'm not an advance planner.

This weekend was the first trip. We were in Green Bay for my nephew's graduation/birthday/farewell for college party. We left Friday morning and got back early this evening. We had a nice time. Saturday was a little rainy but ended up being a beautiful night. My nephew Nicholas has now been formerly welcomed into the adult world.

Along with spending time with my family the trip was actually pretty nostalgic. Before moving to my current fair city I lived in Green Bay for a few years. Although the population is about the same GB feels like a much bigger city with more character. I had actually forgotten how much I enjoyed living there - not that I want to move back or raise my kids there - but still it was a nice place to live at the time. I especially miss the lake shore and the short drive to Door County. If you have never been to Door County I would highly recommend this as a vacation destination - although you will want to bring much patience (for dealing with the heavy traffic) and much cash (for dealing with the inevitable shopping). And really, I'd probably recommend Green Bay too - but probably not for more than a weekend that is enough time to cover the highlights. Anyway, the HotY and the kids got to see where I used to live and work, and shop and go out to play with my friends. They were very impressed :-) Somehow they feel that if you have seen one apartment complex and office building you have seen them all - who knew.

Anyway, I'd post some pictures of our trip, but we didn't take any. I don't know why but it just didn't happen. So you'll just have to take my word for it - Green Bay - a city with character and some really blue collar bars!

TTFN...

0 DTE does not always mean empty...

We have a low fuel indicator light in the van. We also have a digital display that can tell me everything from the temperature to the direction to the miles per gallon I am consuming to the ultimate and always helpful DTE (Drive To Empty).

The other day I had an early morning doctor's appointment - you know the one where you can't wear deodorant or any other kind of fragrance or powder (all you 40 and older ladies - you know what I mean). You would think skipping that part of my morning routine would have saved me a few minutes - but it did not - sooooo of course I was running just a tad late when I jumped in the van and backed out of the driveway at which time I heard the annoying little "ping" which told me that my gas tank was low. The ping had actually alerted me the day before but - well - I forgot. So I quickly clicked to DTE to see how bad things really were - 26 miles DTE. That is PLENTY of gas to get to my destination so I ignored the nearest gas station and headed down the road. Things were fine - I was singing, the sun was shining, I had taken Ibuprofen in an attempt to dull the upcoming pain I would be subjected to - life was good. And then I looked at the DTE and it said 14 miles. How did that happen, I certainly had not driven 12 miles. Yes I was on the highway and yes I may have been going a bit above the optimal 60 mph but really 14 miles DTE. Well I was still feeling smug and confident, the world my oyster. I took the exit, I came to the stop light, I looked at the DTE - 9 - that readout read NINE MILES DRIVE TO EMPTY. At this rate things were starting to look a little bit more worrisome but I was late and although there were grocery stores, and bridal shops and mexican restaurants and other small businesses there was no gas station within a reasonable distance - and I was running late. So I continued on still wearing my rose colored glasses but feeling them becoming a little foggy. I hit EVERY stop light on the way to my destination. I finally reached the street I am aiming for and notice my DTE is now reading FOUR! Yes, I said 4, but in my determined, yet somewhat flawed thinking, I thought this is okay - four is okay - I mean really four miles is a long way. So I continued around the block and got in line for entrance into the parking ramp and that is when reality hit me like a car out of gas. My DTE is now reading TWO - TWO MILES DRIVE TO EMPTY. Two is not very far - two is within walking range two is not enough to wait in line, find a place to park, come back from my appointment, wait in line to pay and find a gas station. TWO WAS NOT ENOUGH. So I pulled out of the waiting line - hurried up the block thinking of the nearest gas station and I hit a red light and then I hit another red light and then I hit ANOTHER red light - and that is when it happened - ZERO DRIVE TO EMPTY. ZERO. That's run out of gas. That's stall in the middle of the intersection and feel like a fool. That's tears running down my face and anxiety making my hands shake. That's I have no gas can but thank goodness my cell phone is charged. THAT IS BAD. BUT as luck would have it I made it to the gas station without even a stuttering stall to make my heart pound in my throat. I calmly filled up, took a deep cleansing breath and felt the out of gas anxiety leave my body - of course I was still filled with the I'm late I'm late for a very important date anxiety and of course the let's smash your breasts anxiety but that out of gas anxiety - it was gone.

So the moral of the story - zero does not always mean empty - although it usually does and I would not recommend testing this theory with any type of frequency. Oh and right now my DTE...



It'll be a good morning.

TTFN...

Missed opportunities...

Okay I've tried to post this entry twice and twice I have wiped out it's existence (by accident) before hitting the publish button. Who knows what that is all about - it may be a missed opportunity but it wasn't the one I began talking about. That opportunity had to do with the assumption that today was a holiday and our kids would not have their normally scheduled activities to attend. WRONG.

We could have had a kid-free holiday to celebrate our anniversary (eighteen years and one day of wedded bliss. Think of it, the HotY, with me, a holiday every day culminating with that big day once a year where fireworks literally light the sky in celebration of our love. Did I mention bliss??? (sorry honey, I may have gotten a little carried away - I love you ;-)) Anyway, had we known we could have celebrated but we didn't know so we haven't celebrated - missed opportunity.


So back to reality - we had a nice 4th of July celebrating with my parents and sister and her family. Saturday was glorious with warmth and sunshine and swimming and grilling and firework watching and sitting under the stars while making glow stick jewelry. It was all good. Sunday was rainy but still a good day with family. Life is good.

Okay back to enjoy my holiday.

TTFN...

GROUNDED...

This one - grounded!

The other day she asked to play outside and I said yes. I was outside for part of the time taking care of my flowers and then I went inside while she was swinging. Five minutes later I looked out the kitchen window to see a slightly swaying swing and no Syd. I went out onto the deck and called her name thinking she was probably just below on the patio but no response so I called her name louder - still no response. I went back inside and downstairs to ask Lauren if Syd had come in the house - no Syd. I checked the bathrooms - no Syd. I went to the front of the house fully expecting to see her riding her scooter in the driveway - no Syd. I walked around the house calling her as loudly as possible. No response. No Syd. I was starting to panic and could only think of that swaying swing which she must have jumped off just before I checked up on her from the kitchen window. The only way she could have been out of my hearing range is if someone took her - that's the first thing I thought. I jumped in the car and told Lauren I was going to look for Syd I drove around the block and stopped at our neighbor's who had been outside with her kids for a while. Have you seen Syd? Nope, no Syd. Okay now I was really starting to get worried because if Syd had gone to her friend Clare's house she would have had to walk past the neighbors house. So I kept driving up the street - hands shaking on the steering wheel. And then I saw her - halfway around the block and sitting on her friend Clare's porch with Clare. I pulled into the driveway and said in NO uncertain terms - SYDNEY ELISE GET IN THIS CAR NOW! Let's just say she did not hesitate. We drove back home, me chewing her out and telling her to NEVER leave the yard again without asking. And then I dropped the hammer - YOU'RE GROUNDED. No outside to play when we get home. No Toy Story III 3d. No Toys'R Us to spend the gift cards from your birthday. She was upset but I think she thought I was kidding - I wasn't - which she soon found out when she asked to go outside and I said no. She found out again when she asked me to take her shopping and I said no. And she really found out when we nixed the trip to the movie theater to watch Toy Story III. I don't think she will leave the yard again.

When does school start???

TTFN... Oh and she must have just jumped off that swing and sprinted through the back yards to make it to Clare's house in record time. Next time she tries to sneak out of the yard she better be more obvious about it.

Final curtain call...

NO, that is not some veiled reference to the effect the rainy weather has been having on my psychie this weekend but a literal reference to the end of the 2009-2010 dance season. Man it seemed like it was a long time coming - good thing there are those cute costumes to keep mom's going :-) The girls performed Saturday evening, had a great time and did a great job. The grandpa and grandmas were in attendance as well as the HotY, Alex and I. The girls were happy to have a "full house". Here are a few shots from after the performances. I didn't get any of them in their ballet costumes as that was their first dance and we were a little rushed to get to the theater - like that's a surprise! As always you can click on the picture to get an enlarged view.












Oh and about that "near" disastrous accident we almost had a couple of weeks ago (sorry I kind of forgot I forgot to tell you the details)... The girls and I were on our way to do a little Saturday shopping and while on a busy road (in front of Walmart) I started to move into the turn lane in preparation for our turn onto the frontage road when the truck in the next lane cut over into our lane only inches away. I slammed on the brakes but was going fast enough that we went into a skid. I was sure we were going to make impact as I could see the chipped paint on the merging vehicle - seriously the truck was millimeters away. I swerved to try to avoid the impact - and somehow did! Although we slid down into a steep ditch. The truck stopped and we determined that no one was hurt and the vehicles were untouched but there was the dilemma of exiting the ditch - it was much too steep to simply drive out of and the traffic was heavy, so I made an executive decision and drove across the trail at the bottom of the ditch, maneuvered between the trees, jumped the curb and drove through the parking lot of a local business bordering the bike trail and exited onto the frontage road (by Walmart - I'm not saying anything in particular but you know - WALMART - is the area where this all happened - I'm just saying... :-))So it was a very scary experience. As soon as we settled at the bottom of the ditch the first thing I said was "we have a guardian angel" and the next thing "YOUR MOM IS AN AWESOME DRIVER". Actually the "what ifs of the situation get me more than the experience. The HotY pointed out that it is lucky the van didn't flip on the way into the ditch nor did we hit any of the multiple road signs along the way and most importantly, although we didn't quite make contact with the bike trail it was close and thankfully there was no one on that trail when we slid - for that I am very very very grateful. So there you go. It was close but all is well - thank you guardian angel :-)

TTFN...

WOW...

that's is all I can say - WOW. We had a garage sale this weekend and although a HUGE success (really anytime you can come away with cash from junk that was just accumulating in your house and garage and attic it's a success) I am still reeling from the event. I've had garage sales before - I think the last garage sale was two years ago, maybe three. Regardless I've been there done that - but seriously, when did this whole garage sale barter system begin??? I looked at what I had to sell, considered what kind of condition it was in and how much I'd be willing to pay for it and then I marked the price. THE PRICE I WANTED TO SELL THE ITEM FOR. I did not mark the price with the intent of bargaining with the customer about how much I would actually take for the item - that price tag - THAT IS the price that I will actually take for the item. And believe me when I say I was a bitch about the entire thing. Not that I didn't make a couple of deals - but those that demanded deals - I'd rather get stuck with the item than to make a deal. I know I know (believe me I get this stubborn streak from my mother - blame her) but really it was ridiculous and next time I have a garage sale I'm marking everything $2.00 more than I actually want. I can play the game too... (yes, I know this is not an attractive side of my personality but I told you I was still reeling).

I am very glad to have the garage sale behind me (and my garage back and available for car parking) but I am not looking forward to this week. Tomorrow is the last real day of school for L & S. Tuesday is the last school mass followed by a reception for the departing principal and then schools out for summer. Although I love summer and the freedom that it brings I am not a fan of the last day of school because it means I'll cry and it won't be pretty. I tried to get out of attending mass on Tuesday because I know I will be a sobbing mess but the girls were devastated when I told them so I'll be there with my purse full of tissues.

Here is a picture of the girls on the first day of school:





Here is a picture which was taken a couple of weeks ago - they've grown:



And the crying, really how can I explain it? I've already stated my problems dealing with goodbyes and the last day of school is just one huge goodbye. I get all worked up about my kids passing milestones. Although I would never want them to not pass milestones it still means that they are growing up and away - one step closer to realizing that I am not the best thing since sliced bread. Oh My Gosh, I just had a terrible thought - what they heck am I going to do next year when Alex graduates from High School? How am I going to make it through that momentous event? I think I better start saving those Kleenex coupons.



TTFN... I have to run - I've got a High School graduation to worry about - in a year - but still...

Hold on, Hold on...

I'm getting caught up. There has been so much going on with birthdays, spring concerts, end of the year picnics, garage sale prep and almost totalling my vehicle that I've gotten a little behind.


The girls celebrated their birthday last week. It was a three day celebration (isn't that the way birthday's are supposed to be). The actual day of their birthday was spent with the grandparents. Cake and presents were plentiful.

The "party" was on Saturday. We had 17 seven year olds meet at the movie theater to watch Shrek 4 and then walked to the pizza place in the vicinity for pizza, presents and cake. I still can't talk about it :-) In my mind these things always sound like such good ideas. Seriously, it wasn't too bad.

This picture is such a reflection of the girls - Lauren is all - what the heck - she is just too much and Syd is all about putting her best pose forward. She decked herself all out in "diamonds and pearls" and called it beautiful :-)

I'm still working on garage sale prep. June 4 & 5 are the big days. Man we have a lot of STUFF! And really if I was more organized and more ambitious I could still make another sweep of the house and find at least another day's worth of stuff. Trying to sort through what we have gathered has been an experience. Lauren is not interested in the process, Sydney wants to keep everything and Alex wants to get rid of everything. Really, as of tonight I'm still not sure what I'm selling and what I'm keeping. I've had too much "help" with the sorting.

Oh and about that car thing - I'll tell you more about that tomorrow. I'm still getting myself caught up in the "what if's".

TTFN... if you need kids clothes, girls' fancy dresses, toys or scrapbooking supplies - along with other miscellaneous items I know where you can find them...

And I thought Sheryl Crowe was annoying...

with her chronic complaining about wanting to have some fun (remember – I wrote about it – HERE). NOW there is this song – YUCK. I hate this song. To be honest I’m not a fan of the Black Eyed Peas in any form – but this song – it can put me in a bad mood. I know, there are much more important things to put my energy into but sometimes you just have to get the little things off your chest. And this is one little thing that I would like to get off my chest, out of my radio listening area and into the graveyards of music. I can only hope the popularity of this annoying little tune is short-lived. Sorry to all you Black Eyed Peas but it’s a fact – they are even more annoying than Sheryl Crowe – and to be honest I’m not even that sorry. I just don’t like them. There I said it and I’m sticking by it. HA!

TTFN… I’m off to find a happy place – some place where only good songs play – some place called land of the iPod.

but... I'm feeling likeable today...

People may not realize it but I am actually a glass half-full kind of person - about most things anyway - and just to prove it to those who may doubt I'm full of all kinds of like love today - really I am. Listen - here's the list of what I like - right now at this moment - seriously.

I like Finger Paints Finger Nail Polish. I happened upon it by accident. Syd actually wanted it so I bought it for her and then it was just setting there in the bathroom one morning so I tried it and I LOVE it. It dries fast and resists chips pretty well. I used to be a finger polish girl but then kids and no drying time entered my life and I sort of forgot how much I like polished fingernails. But I think it is time to remember.

I like Fingerzilla on the iPad. After I posted about this in the post where I talked about the iPad (which I have also decided I really like) I received a comment from Tom of Fingerzilla offering to send me to code to get Fingerzilla for the iPad. How cool is that? See the world is full of nice people and I really like that - and Fingerzilla. Doom and destruction with a tiny tap of the finger - really it's the little things that entertain me.

I like The Avett Brothers especially I and Love and You. Have you heard this song? Click the link - it's a little country but it's so good. I've been listening to it over and over.

I like thinking about the day my daughters were born as tonight is the eve of their 7th birthday. It was kind of a scary day and it wasn't supposed to be their birthday - it was supposed to be an ultrasound day - the birthday wasn't supposed to happen until July. BUT during that ultrasound the Chief OB guy decided I should have a couple of babies. I argued. I told the doctor on call in labor and delivery that I was going home. She called the Chief of OB (she was a tattle tale), who then came to my room and told me in no uncertain terms that no matter what I may have thought I WAS going to be having babies that day - hmmm guess he told me. He got over it but that doctor on-call - not so much. Really, it was an innocent mistake I thought I was being monitored I didn't think I was REALLY going to deliver. Who knew? Regardless by 7:30 that evening I had babies :-) Sweet, sweet baby girls. Sydney was 3lbs 8oz and Lauren was 4lbs 8oz.

I like summer. But I think I've been over this before. Anyone who knows me knows summer is when I truly shine. Sun, sun Mr. Golden Sun...

I like knowing when I've been self-indulgent enough and need to say good-bye.

So without further ado - TTFN... Tomorrow is birthday day. To say spirits were running high would be an understatement.