BACK TO SCHOOL!

I could not have asked for a better morning! The kids were up bright and early this morning when their alarms went off -- and they were HAPPY about it! They eagerly got ready for school and even made their beds without having to be asked and we were out the door by 7:15am! The drive to school was so fabulous...the kids are starting in a brand spanking new school this year that is just minutes from the house. I really expected a lot of chaos with it being the first day of school and it being a new school which is why we left about 15 minutes earlier than normal but man, oh, man...things went smooth as silk! And I am just so proud of Alyson. She had such a tough time for probably the first 3-4 months of school last year - she cried and was so clingy and I was concerned that would happen again. But this morning she was such a big girl! And of course Stevie was ready for me to leave almost as soon as I got him to his class! I can't wait to hear how their first day goes!

Sea World

The kids and I spent a few days at Sea World in Orlando with my mom (July 31 - Aug 2). We haven't been since Alyson was about 2 and she is absolutely in love with dolphins right now so this was heaven on earth for her! We stayed at the Renaissance Hotel just across from the park and since we all have APs there was no rush to get through anything. Actually I was pleasantly surprised that it was not more crowded.


We really had a great time...the kids got to feed the dolphins, we went on the Polar Expedition tour where we went back stage at the Wild Arctic and even got to touch a penquin and on our last day there we had dinner with Shamu. If you ever get the chance to go I would highly recommend the dinner!

A couple of BLUE belts

Stevie and Alyson have made it to their blue belts in karate. Stevie tested for his a week ago and Aly finally was able to get hers yesterday. They were both very excited! Of course Steve and I are very proud of them. Alyson will be starting Hip Hop dance lessons towards the end of this month and she keeps telling us that she is going to stop karate when she starts dance but we are keeping our fingers crossed that she will do both. They are both doing so well, I would hate to see her walk away from that. Plus it was hard enough for her when Stevie got his blue belt first (because she opted to skip a class one day) so I can only imagine what drama will ensue when he continues to move up in belts and she won't. She just has to have and do everything her big brother does!

I don't want to do this anymore.

Do you ever feel like life is just one great big joke...and you're not in on it? I have tried to be a good person...not perfect but good. So why do I seem to have a 50 mile radius for the not so good people? Apparently I must have the word SUCKER written on my face.
Today I feel like I just don't want to do it anymore. I wish I had to the strength to just walk away from it all. I don't want to do this anymore.

Tim and Faith totally ROCK!

Last night Steve and I went to the Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Soul 2 Soul Concert...our seats were pretty damn good and man can those two put on a show! They sang for over 3 hours! You totally get your money's worth! When the two of them sing together you almost feel like you are a peeping tom staring in their bedroom window! LOL! It was awesome though!

I can't help but wonder if they are as happy as they appear to be and as in love as it seems. What I wouldn't give to have a marriage like that! Tim doesn't take his eyes of her whenever they are singing together...very sweet really. What woman wouldn't want a man who obviously adores her and cherishes her...and isn't afraid to show it?! Oh to be so lucky! ;)

All of the Grey's Anatomy fans would have been thrilled with the start of the concert...the two of them sang the song Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol...awesome!

Busch Gardens with the siblings!

Yesterday was a great day! I was able to go to Busch Gardens and spend some time with my brother and sisters. That's my brother, Christopher, on the right (Obviously, then my youngest sister, Anna - a.k.a Tinkerbell, next to me and then Rachelle on the other side of me. Our youngest sister is heading off to college in NC soon so times when all 4 of us can be together will be few and far between. We had a great time just playing and acting like goofballs together!

My brother isn't as big of a dork as he looks...




okay, maybe he is! LOL! Just kidding...he puts on a great show though! I wonder how many people around actually thought he was "special" ? ;)



I think my brother and sisters are just the coolest. I got this pic of them riding Montu...I was kind of mad at myself for not riding, but I was a little chicken - maybe next time though. That is Rachelle's boyfriend Dan next to my brother and then my sisters behind them...Anna's girlfriend is next to Rachelle but I missed her in the shot (sorry!)





ROCK ON!

Busy, busy, busy!

Man, we have been busy pretty much since the kids got out of school at the end of May! Steve and I headed up to VA with the kids to visit his dad and one of his younger brothers for a couple of days, do a little hiking and visiting. Then we were off to VA Beach with stops at Natural Bridge and Monticello.

Once in VA Beach we spent a couple days at Busch Gardens, Williamburg as well as the beach and even a day at a cute little water park. Very fun!

Shortly after that the kids and I headed up to NC to visit friends...I was so proud of myself because I drove the 8-9 hour trip alone with the kids. They were great and everything was smooth as silk...and of course we had a great time with the Diehls! We have known them since we lived in Seattle and Stevie and their son were just over a year old I guess. Jacob had no idea we were coming so needless to say he was SO surprised to see Stevie! His reaction totally made the drive worth it and I would do it again in a heartbeart. We surprised Jacob at his swim meet and he was hugging Stevie and then telling his swim mates that he and Stevie had known each other since they were babies so "technically they are brothers!" Gotta love that! We had fun playing at the pool, spent some time on the lake and even went to see The Silver Surfer. Alyson and little Megyn had a great time together together too.

Once the kids and I got back from NC we turned around and headed down to the key with Steve's dad and younger brother who made a visit down to see us! Had a nice time there too and on the way back we stopped in Miami for an airboat ride which was very cool and then I got picked to wrestle and alligator - it was volunteer day! It was basically all a great way to scare the crap out of me....and my poor kids who both started crying when they saw what I was supposed to do....like wave my hand through the gator's mouth, jump on his back and pose with his head under my chin...good lord! The guy asked to see my hands and when I held them out for him to see they were shaking like a leaf! Even if it hadn't been a joke...at least I know my kids love me! I did hold a 4 foot gator though!

The rest of the summer the kids have been in and out of karate camp, we spent some time with our neighbors, the kids swimming and the adults playing with jet skis on the lake, going out to the beach....busy! I am wiped out! How much longer until school starts? ;)

The Producers!

On Saturday I got to enjoy one of the perks of Steve's job and we took 3 other couples out to dinner and then to see the new Mel Brooks musical The Producers...talk about FAB-U-Lous! Of course it wasn't Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick but boy were they ever close! Such a great show - my face hurt from the constant smile I wore on my face!

The dinner we all had before the show was fantastic as well...we went a place that one of the reps had suggested and I can guarantee you that Steve and I will be going back! They had this soft shell crab appetizer that was too die for along with their calamari - like no other I have had before! I think I could have been happy to just make a meal out of that! Of course my beef tenderloin was pretty tasty too! ;)

I haven't been able to stop singing..."I wanna be a producer...!!"

Basic Grey likes me!

I was told I should submit my STOP LO to Basic Grey for their website...so I did. And actually I submitted two others as well. They picked up my STOP LO and also The ABCs of ME. I know it is not quite like being published in a magazine but I am so excited just the same!

The last few days have not been the greatest for me so this was such a wonderful surprise. I really needed that "boost"!

STOP

There was a challenge to do a LO based on the word "STOP"... I do so few LOs about myself, but this seemed a perfect opportunity to get one done for my BOM.

Journaling reads:

STOP...

taking things so seriously… don’t be afraid to laugh a little, especially at yourself.

worrying about the “What if’s - ”… learn to take a risk now and then.

making excuses… make the time.

being so hard on yourself… accept the person you are just the way you are.

saying “I’ll finally be truly happy when - -” … start seeing the everyday joys right in front of you.

second guessing yourself… trust your instincts.

being so cynical… allow yourself to enjoy life’s little blessings.

thinking you aren’t good enough… KNOW that you are…

dwelling on the past… nothing you do can change it.

being so angry… you only end up hurting yourself.

blaming yourself… you can’t control everyone and everything.

looking to others for acceptance and approval… find it inside yourself.

holding back… give yourself permission to let go.

Lord Of The Dance

I was lucky enough to be able to go to see Lord of the Dance with my parents and one of my sisters on May 1st...it was FABULOUS! I have seen it on TV before but that is nothing like seeing it in person! JUST AWESOME! I can't believe it but I actually bought the DVD and a t-shirt! LOL!

Happy NSD and Cinco De Mayo!

National Scrapbooking Day and I didn't even get to sit at my scrap desk let alone actually scrap anything :( Oh well, at least I had a strawberry daquiri for Cinco De Mayo! ;) We actually took the kids to their first Tampa Bay Devil Ray game. They had a great time...eating cotton candy, having their hats stolen from Raymond the Ray...but the highlight for both of them was receiving a baseball from the manager of the Oakland A's. Our seats are a few rows up from the dugout and so Stevie and Aly went down with their gloves to try and catch a ball. The manager threw one to Stevie and he was just thrilled! So the next time he went down with Alyson and when the manager saw him he told him he had already thrown him one but Stevie pointed to Alyson and said it was for her so he tossed a ball over to Aly....who knew something so simple could be so exciting! The game went into extra innings...12 to be exact....but the Devil Rays won!

Another new addition

Meet Dutchess...our newest addition...and definitely the last! LOL! I had to take Tiger Lily to the vet and there were 2 little kittens who had been rescued and needed a new home. Since we had already talked about getting one more cat to keep Tiger Lily company I asked about adopting one. I totally fell in love with this little pink nosed cutie! She is 9 weeks old and just too cute. Alyson is absolutely in love with her and carries her around almost all the time - to the point that we have to keep telling her to put her down! LOL! At one point I had to rescue Dutchess from Aly and her friend as they were dressing her up in doll clothes!