Friday, July 31, 2009

Strike

MK is at the age where she is seeking independence, but her options
are limited. So we are at the bowling alley. She met a few friends
here, and I'm keeping my eye on her while giving her space at the same
time. T.Willy is having a ball running from her to me and reporting
what's going on. This could come in handy!!

I managed to snap a picture of them together.

Looking back

I'm so glad we went to the beach yesterday, because it has not been a
beach day today. I actually did get up to walk yesterday. Today I
woke up at 6:00 even though MK didn't have color guard so I could have
slept, but it was important to me to get out and walk. Instead, it
was pouring rain, so I didn't go. I'm hoping it will be clear tomorrow.

I will post some more pictures of T. Willy from yesterday. I did take
pictures of the girls, but they are on MK's camera. I'll try to get
them posted soon.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Heading home

The Beach

The kids, CJ, and I are at the beach. It's beautiful! The girls are having a ball in the waves , and T. Willy is digging to his heart's content! Pictures to follow!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Home again.

We had a busy couple of days, and I think we made some nice memories
for the kids. The Big Man goes back to work tomorrow night, and I'm
going to try to actually take the kids to the beach to swim tomorrow.

We have had a good bit of rain lately which has changed our plans a
little, but I'm so glad to see green grass that I can't complain.
After all the eating out, I'm going to try to start walking again in
the morning. I'd better to sleep so that I can get up and going
early. Good night!

T. Willy digging in the sand.

MK and shells at Orange Beach

Oh my soul!

Kids and rolls

We're here!

You know you're in the deep South when....

Throw me something, Mister!

The Big Man has had 3 days off. The weather kept us from the cold
springs, but we were still trying to find something to do. We decided
to go to Foley, Alabama to try some outlet shopping and dinner at
Lambert's (throwedrolls.com.) We went there several years ago with my
brother and my sister-in-law, but it's not exactly convenient, so we
haven't been back. I'll post pictures and let you know if we catch
some rolls!

In a pinch

T. Willy had to get a shot today. He had 3 last summer and remembers them well. I hadn't told him about it, because I didn't want him to worry about it. This morning he came with me to take MK to color guard practice. On the way back, I told him we were going to Walmart but had one stop on the way. He asked where we were stopping, and I told him the doctor. Immediately he asked, "Do I have to get a pinch?" I said that he did but just one. He did so well. He was not happy about it, but he didn't complain or cry.

He was great for the doctor, and he took the shot like a champ. The nurse brought him a popsicle, and after a few tears, he was fine. As soon as the nurse left the room, he asked, "No more till I'm 12?" He remembered that we had told him last year (before the school nurse realized he was missing an immunization) that he wouldn't be scheduled for another one until he was 12, and he remembered that! After the doctor, we went to Walmart and bought all of his school supplies. He is all ready for Kindergarten...I hope I am!


Waiting for the doctor.















In the elevator; it's all over!

















We were planning to go to the cold springs today, but the forecast is rain, so we're waiting to see. That's it for now.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Christmas in July

Because every time T. Willy gets in the tub, he thinks he's Santa.

Just making sure

It took me awhile to figure it out, but I did!

Testing again. Haven't figured out how to post pics from my phone yet. Still working on it.

One more day

We took the kids and MK's friend, CJ, to the beach for dinner tonight. We ate pizza at the Mellow Mushroom, walked on the beach, and had ice cream for dessert. It was a fun night. It started to pour on our way home, but we managed to drop the guys off in the dry garage, and then MK and I took CJ home.

CJ's parents have been building their beautiful new home, and they were able to sleep in it for the first time last night. They had gone out to pick up some furniture and were getting home just about the time we got there. It was pouring on the furniture in the back of their truck, so we helped them unload and then wipe it down. We had another tour of their home: this time with furniture! Their house is wonderful, and I know they are enjoying it.

I didn't figure out how to post pictures from my phone yet, but I'm going to play around with it. You'll certainly know if I figure it out, but here are pictures from our day.


MK and CJ



















The girls in the water

















T. Willy only wanted to play in the sand. I'm thinking about taking the kids down on Thursday...I hope he'll play in the water too.
Testing this out. Posting as a text. Hoping pictures to follow.

Monday, July 27, 2009

One day at a time

Today has been very busy: weeding the garden, moving furniture, cleaning! It feels good to have done a lot, but there's always more to do. I'm trying to get things in order before school starts and the real busy begins.

Callie has really come out of her shell and out of MK's room. She loves to sit on windowsills and watch the world outside. So here is a picture of her doing just that this morning.













It looks like rain is coming, so I'd better get some things put away before I start dinner. It never ends. I hope you had a wonderful day!

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Will work for money

Ugh. It does not look like I'll be finding a job in the school system...again. I am trying to stay upbeat, but it's getting me down. I adore substituting. If there weren't the whole "sending a kid to college in four years" thing, I could really enjoy the flexibility of the schedule. But there IS that whole college thing looming for a daughter who deserves to go where she wants to go. We have been saving for years, but how much is enough? Anyway, I'll continue to look, but if I find something full time, it is unlikely going to be something with the schedule that a teaching job offers.

However, I'm in good health, the family is too...really can't complain about anything. It even rained tonight. So life is good!


I was hard up for a picture today. Here I am in MK's sunglasses on the way to the airport with my dad on our last day in Delaware. I had broken mine, so she kindly let me borrow hers. Check out T. Willy enjoying the sights.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

80 years

My mom and dad are in West Virginia to celebrate my uncle's 80th birthday. Uncle Andy is married to my dad's sister, Norma. They live down the road from the uncle who lives on the family farm. I cannot tell you how much I wish I could be there today, but I know that they've had a great time celebrating and catching up with family members.

Aunt Norma

Uncle Andy

Friday, July 24, 2009

Java

The Big Man and I are not coffee drinkers. We know many people who cannot seem to function without that first cup, but we are not those people. I love the smell of it, but I abhor the taste. (Seriously, abhor.) The Big Man takes it black, but he only drinks a cup or two a year...on really cold mornings. He is a big tea drinker, though.

MK, however, likes coffee. Although to purists, the kind she likes may not qualify as coffee. She stayed with her cousin this summer and fell in love with the coffee that my sister-in-law drinks.





















We bought her some the other day and realized we had no way to make it. So, MK and the Big Man are at the store right now buying a coffee maker. This is a picture they sent me.


















Looks like they are definitely having fun!

We had a good day. The Big Man was off, and MK didn't have color guard. We swam and tried a new place for lunch. We also rented a movie and pretty much had a great family day. I hope your day was just as fun!

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Good morning, sunshine!

T. Willy was the first one up this morning. When I got up, he looked out the front window, which looks into MK's window. MK's window faces east, and it looks like Callie has figured that out and was enjoying the morning sun.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Oh my blog

I almost forgot to blog. Whew...still going, though.

MK has not been feeling well this week, so today she went to the doctor. She missed color guard for the first time which she did not want to do, but she was just not feeling up to it at all. We were thinking it was her allergies, and we were really hoping it had nothing to do with the cat. Fortunately, it was a sinus infection, and she should be as good as new soon. She also had an orthodontist appointment, so she was busy even though she didn't go to guard.

I took a picture of MK at the orthodontist, but I was NOT given permission to post that, so here is a picture of her at the doctor's office while we waited.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Waterpark

I picked MK up from color guard, and we took T. Willy and MK's friend, CJ, to the waterpark in town. It was a lot of fun, and T. Willy was much more adventurous than he usually is. Normally he resists the water at all costs, but after he got used to it, he ran full speed through it. You'll notice, though, that he wipes his eyes at every opportunity. He has never liked water in his eyes.




Breakfast

T. Willy is not much of a vegetable eater. He will eat green beans occasionally, some corn, fresh carrots and celery, and he'll eat potatoes only in french fry form. Even as a baby, he'd turn up his nose at mashed potatoes. But he loves fruit! He has been asking me to make a fruit salad, so this morning that is what I made for his breakfast. It had his favorite, cantaloupe, as well as strawberries, grapes and banana.

Good morning

One of our cars is in the shop, so I'm up bright and early to take the Big Man to work. I told T. Willy that our car was sick but not like a person. He seemed to understand that and repeated it a few times.

MK went back to color guard camp yesterday. She seems glad to be back in the routine and to have seen her friends. It only lasts till 1:00 each day, but she will soon begin two-a-days.

Callie is a wonderful cat so far. However, we see very little of her, so it's hard to tell. She pretty much hides under MK's bed, but last night MK sent me some pictures of her exploring, so she's warming up a little. She went from a house with two dogs to a house with a 5 year old. I'm not sure she knows how to react yet. T. Willy just keeps saying, "Isn't she adorable?" I have to agree with him.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Vacation Wrap-up

I don't have the many pictures that I had last year after the vacation. My brother was out of town for much of it, so he wasn't around to take them. My dad took some, but I don't have them. However, my nephew is becoming a bit of a shutterbug, and he has given me permission to use some of his.


This is me with my older nephew. He just graduated high school and is considering enlisting in the U.S. Army. While this partially terrifies me, it makes me more proud. I had the best time talking to him, and I wish him the very best!
























My brother is the yearbook advisor at his school. He was at a yearbook workshop for some of the time that I was in DE. This was the shirt they were given at the workshop. You can't miss him in a crowd.


























MK and her cousin decided to make this a tradition. This picture:
















is a recreation of this picture from summer 2008.


















Still my favorite place to be...and always with our phones.

















T. Willy enjoying his cupcake.




















And that's it for now. If my dad sends me some, I'll try to share more. It was a great trip, and it's hard to believe it is already over.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Look what we have

Her name is Callie. She's 2 years old. MK's friend had to give her away, and she seems like a good fit for us. She's very nervous, since she's only been here for an hour or so, but we're hoping she'll like it here. MK and T. Willy are excited. She's sleeping under MK's bed right now.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Click your heels together and say....

There's no place like home!

It's so true. We had a wonderful time in Delaware, but it's also great to be home!

We usually leave really early in the morning, but today we didn't leave until the afternoon. We did not waste our morning. I met my sister-in-law, niece and older nephew for breakfast. We had a fun time talking and laughing. It's so great to spend time with family.

Then we went back to my parents' house. My mom took the 4 big kids to play mini golf, and I stayed home to finish packing. Shannon gave me a great surprise and took me to Dairy Palace one more time! It was great to see her again, especially since I wasn't expecting to. Then the kids and my mom came home, and we all sat on the front porch and talked. It was the PERFECT ending to a great week.

Our flights went really well, and we had no delays. We're home and happy!

And here is a picture of Shannon and me from this afternoon:





















And more...not this afternoon:



























And one funny thing:
T. Willy fell asleep on the way home from the airport. When we arrived home, MK gently woke him up. As he was waking up he said, "I feel like a million bucks!"

Homeward Bound!

We are in Charlotte and will be leaving at 8:00. Our day has gone really well, but we are eager to get home! Our trip to Delaware was so much fun! Thanks to Grandmom and Granddad for always making it so special! I'll post some pictures tonight when I'm at a computer.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Last night

It's our last night here - always a little melancholy. We're ready to get back home, especially when the Big Man isn't with us, but we always have such a good time here that it's hard to say goodbye. But we'll do that tomorrow and fly out around 5 p.m.

This is what T. did today:















My dad flies remote control planes, and he took T. to the field today. They had a big time! T. was able to watch Granddad fly his plane; he especially liked when he flew the plane upside down. They also went to a park with a big pond, and Granddad taught T. how to skip rocks. He had a great day, and I'm so glad just the two of them were able to spend time together.

MK spent the day with her cousins while my mom and I went shopping. We found some great bargains and had a wonderful lunch at an Asian buffet. It had everything you could imagine and more! I'm meeting my sister-in-law for breakfast tomorrow, then I'll come back here and make sure everything is picked up. We'll leave for the airport around 3 and should arrive in Florida before 9 p.m. It's been a great trip and thanks to my mom and dad for all they did for us!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

A little experiment

Roasted Circus Peanuts: We were roasting marshmallows and wondered, since they are marshmallow-like, how circus peanuts would be roasted. The verdict is: not unlike roasted marshmallows. And, because it wouldn't be me otherwise...here are pictures.