tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18018525370133348352024-03-13T19:16:45.860-04:00Mommie Dearest Strikes Again...A bit of this and a bit of that....Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comBlogger1024125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-49691700768938155812013-06-25T17:53:00.000-04:002013-06-25T17:55:30.667-04:00Changes!<span style="font-size: large;">I'm back, y'all...just not here. You can find me at <a href="https://toomuchsugarforanickel.wordpress.com/">Too Much Sugar For A Nickel</a>. Please come on over and say hi!</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-9518804888216126222013-04-15T09:43:00.001-04:002013-04-15T09:43:15.438-04:00Miscellaneous Monday<span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few random things that have been going on around here. Otherwise known as "what I found lurking in the iPhone photos."</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">* About three weeks ago, during a ferocious rainstorm, our overhang (I don't really know what it's called) out by the pool collapsed. We've filed a claim with our insurance company and have been trying to get it repaired/replaced. It's been a real hassle because insurance only wants to replace that section but the whole thing is apparently about 25 years old and so it can't really be matched...as I said, it's been a real hassle...but hopefully will get resolved this week. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">* The Boy has been determined to make Jack and Buddy become BFF's. Buddy is willing but Jack (the big scaredy-cat. Literally) isn't really that into Buddy.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Jack's a lover not a fighter. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Actually, Jack's just a giant slug.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">* The Boy has also been busy going to grad bash last weekend, fishing, and...doing headstands in his sister's bedroom?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">* The Princess has been tweeting up a storm, which is quite amusing. I learn all about the morning carpool ride via twitter and about the goings-on at her artsy school. She tweets about silly things like the boy in her science class who wore a moose hat to school...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Or the girl in her English class wearing a unicorn head...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Or the kid who randomly started singing opera in class one day.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I also find out that she experiments with new hairstyles whilst at school....</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And I find photos of her before dance concerts (which is handy, since I'm never allowed to take photos!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">* And finally, I am happy to report that over the weekend we made a decision about college for The Boy...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The (first) check has been written and sent off. The Boy is now officially registered for fall semester.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And Mommie Dearest is now officially freaking out.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yikes.</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Mommie Dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471682813285734023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-77721304272702984602013-04-11T16:16:00.000-04:002013-04-11T16:47:06.644-04:00Final College Tour<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Today was the final college tour. Apparently, we saved the best for last. This was definitely my favorite. The campus was beautiful, everyone we met (from an admissions director and financial aid advisor to the receptionist, tour guide, and students) was very helpful, friendly and informative.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And did I mention that the campus was beautiful?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As we were walking along, however, I wasn't watching where I was going and my foot hit the edge of the sidewalk, my ankle twisted underneath me, and I went sprawling. It wasn't graceful. It was witnessed by everyone. I tore my pants and skinned my knee and have a huge bruise on my leg.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have an even bigger bruise on my ego.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">That was embarrassing. Really embarrassing.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSP5mqv4ldgxAxQ7Gc1VxS9OqMSD5McoKKLMGlUQvT5yGiKjODSVNU6oknid2LbD7QfPtrM7oJweZMzk3UNC4MeTpt24_pI8YxLzuyciPpYsj8CHJdlM-itKcxx_aeHNCbGi8_BFK2Ds/s1600/IMG_5889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZSP5mqv4ldgxAxQ7Gc1VxS9OqMSD5McoKKLMGlUQvT5yGiKjODSVNU6oknid2LbD7QfPtrM7oJweZMzk3UNC4MeTpt24_pI8YxLzuyciPpYsj8CHJdlM-itKcxx_aeHNCbGi8_BFK2Ds/s640/IMG_5889.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So now, obviously, The Boy can't go to that school!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZfPuyPus51f7G7Q-zuFDPPP1lvqx7SJ1OKkIj9Vy3ufNLlaupySrgDwXqLfUz7nGhjFK5ZhmS4na5bWZUOM5yjmfrjo3-Ap0q21oPNcp46j5wQhl5S45MyuxrSpIUMFlGONFnZ22wxE/s1600/IMG_5891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZfPuyPus51f7G7Q-zuFDPPP1lvqx7SJ1OKkIj9Vy3ufNLlaupySrgDwXqLfUz7nGhjFK5ZhmS4na5bWZUOM5yjmfrjo3-Ap0q21oPNcp46j5wQhl5S45MyuxrSpIUMFlGONFnZ22wxE/s400/IMG_5891.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just kidding. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I actually really, really, really liked the school a lot.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's probably my favorite.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But sadly we are not independently wealthy and cost is a huge concern and so it's not quite so simple.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4alFtQilvxcRI27cGGJTqBWrIrExCa-5Bl0S7zWXKy7Q2UszFDB6XJ9zo8tGyJIWRdmkLdZrnaoFBEzbXMJygtVfbiM9iWpwCsZu14xuRuvBHjhHvQsTlqnFWrdy76DHbElg1nOm7xE/s1600/IMG_5894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4alFtQilvxcRI27cGGJTqBWrIrExCa-5Bl0S7zWXKy7Q2UszFDB6XJ9zo8tGyJIWRdmkLdZrnaoFBEzbXMJygtVfbiM9iWpwCsZu14xuRuvBHjhHvQsTlqnFWrdy76DHbElg1nOm7xE/s400/IMG_5894.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We have lists. Lists of costs, pros and cons of the different schools, whether The Boy would be able to get a part time job without having a car on campus, and so many other factors.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8Q78FKFF0q9DmTpiv91IVL-Zn5-98FuOoyIqzGUFXVkPnni1idK6-G12amg_y1V0XLILp1w4YnAX3H7uQoufjD5uy4i28TZ55cP8_lgYDioY9-ao50OT9lWDBnpBcbyNLOjgQnTvfdE/s1600/IMG_5895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8Q78FKFF0q9DmTpiv91IVL-Zn5-98FuOoyIqzGUFXVkPnni1idK6-G12amg_y1V0XLILp1w4YnAX3H7uQoufjD5uy4i28TZ55cP8_lgYDioY9-ao50OT9lWDBnpBcbyNLOjgQnTvfdE/s400/IMG_5895.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Boy knows where he wants to go.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We know where we want him to go.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyi8W2lWgBnx3VLjmuo_YE7V7gF0FV6DStbTScuYhwzmnX7vYRJywWF_ZYitcol86AHRi7COhLQB7XNVlz4esD-LMMQEaouH9mMLXPETlSQrxjWNRC1WfrQngcbHEQi0O503vXcfXVjM/s1600/IMG_5896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyi8W2lWgBnx3VLjmuo_YE7V7gF0FV6DStbTScuYhwzmnX7vYRJywWF_ZYitcol86AHRi7COhLQB7XNVlz4esD-LMMQEaouH9mMLXPETlSQrxjWNRC1WfrQngcbHEQi0O503vXcfXVjM/s400/IMG_5896.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now we just have to sit down and crunch numbers and compare all the different factors on all our different lists and see if we can make it work.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqouR5E0PwQJdnD44btxMhhBw6Rsekh4LON00bphxxgsStkVOY-GqUG7HvtwGOOlSWsNtQwguNcyL2JJnKax3WDv4RsoFAC1w952XlEfauiobyvjTvgfroiGlmkLyq1UqqUHNr47fS-s/s1600/IMG_5898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsqouR5E0PwQJdnD44btxMhhBw6Rsekh4LON00bphxxgsStkVOY-GqUG7HvtwGOOlSWsNtQwguNcyL2JJnKax3WDv4RsoFAC1w952XlEfauiobyvjTvgfroiGlmkLyq1UqqUHNr47fS-s/s640/IMG_5898.JPG" width="470" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There are times when I feel completely overwhelmed. There are times when I feel incredibly guilty that we are not financially able to just write a check and send him to his dream school.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETlUFh_VC3DpGchs0UDofwvh8EiknK_ox4MU2nZtfxamyhNiyHimuOpIG1wNxj1tGHvprUw5_VbCUl6w3n2-pBUUv9kBLybssG4T4V4_invBnMpfZfXeFlOGM97UT_ocjUBEGUV5uGZ4/s1600/IMG_5899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETlUFh_VC3DpGchs0UDofwvh8EiknK_ox4MU2nZtfxamyhNiyHimuOpIG1wNxj1tGHvprUw5_VbCUl6w3n2-pBUUv9kBLybssG4T4V4_invBnMpfZfXeFlOGM97UT_ocjUBEGUV5uGZ4/s640/IMG_5899.JPG" width="416" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And I must admit that there are times, such as when he gets a bit mouthy and disrespectful and acts like he knows everything and thinks his parents are old stick in the muds who don't know anything, when I feel like telling him to just go to the community college down the street and figure out how to pay for it himself. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Right now I just feel tired. And stressed. And my leg (and my ego) really hurt.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADe7VwE74H5Px-38S_apOS41ax50xyPcRtsBHweLlRlbMofFHzlsIrQOut1hEjRURmRLUDs79-Bf7HLHWvGc9bJhFCBLdNHejCv_gzTyMhYEfy-OZFN8y8oRpAOzI02t0-d1GH8k5IsY/s1600/IMG_5885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjADe7VwE74H5Px-38S_apOS41ax50xyPcRtsBHweLlRlbMofFHzlsIrQOut1hEjRURmRLUDs79-Bf7HLHWvGc9bJhFCBLdNHejCv_gzTyMhYEfy-OZFN8y8oRpAOzI02t0-d1GH8k5IsY/s400/IMG_5885.JPG" width="361" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsp4zJ40TgMPIrnn621LdunSIR7343tlfDNcnh9BuSA_azCVQReNKlxyT3D0ISyNJUydbLvKFZQu5id-wDgLkkvIQwGM85TwIFhwRHIk2YlONJEuZ4ArTkQBfLvoy1nCsBJ_dtnhgiL8/s1600/IMG_5905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcsp4zJ40TgMPIrnn621LdunSIR7343tlfDNcnh9BuSA_azCVQReNKlxyT3D0ISyNJUydbLvKFZQu5id-wDgLkkvIQwGM85TwIFhwRHIk2YlONJEuZ4ArTkQBfLvoy1nCsBJ_dtnhgiL8/s400/IMG_5905.JPG" width="237" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I had to sneak these pictures of The Boy because anytime I try to take a photo of him he scowls and me and says in that annoying, long-suffering (HA!) teenage martyr-ish voice, "Mooommm!" </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrbOkbNbEQP61aSaHm1vTtrGMLk5ga8o5bvj5xEa-yMRQgTVgJL1f7H8WHNT2O5c7cSyGa5WW2XpRO7C4ccPxrNsD51Xc6nghXBQwk9wLzWxY9PckKViPdyGtGF9jxuZkKU1Xpydi67Y/s1600/IMG_5903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrbOkbNbEQP61aSaHm1vTtrGMLk5ga8o5bvj5xEa-yMRQgTVgJL1f7H8WHNT2O5c7cSyGa5WW2XpRO7C4ccPxrNsD51Xc6nghXBQwk9wLzWxY9PckKViPdyGtGF9jxuZkKU1Xpydi67Y/s400/IMG_5903.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But anyway.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Mommie Dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471682813285734023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-86049374230518914692013-04-09T22:06:00.000-04:002013-04-10T08:47:15.561-04:00Decisions, decisions...<span style="font-size: large;">This year has flown by. I absolutely cannot believe that in less than two months my baby boy will be graduating from high school. And then a couple </span><span style="font-size: large;">of months after that he will be going to college...somewhere. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0xIKNB5PJi6UL16F2MdNV25rRrTbxx11BBaU4BPP2SKHFZz1BJX1MsLStXwvaU9Db68TuU9MBX9IJccDzC05utb4EBmkOIJalX5pIdKTaiqBGf0I6n1-z0IfGjnaSK5ZzcyOaqJWlTM/s1600/PTDC0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0xIKNB5PJi6UL16F2MdNV25rRrTbxx11BBaU4BPP2SKHFZz1BJX1MsLStXwvaU9Db68TuU9MBX9IJccDzC05utb4EBmkOIJalX5pIdKTaiqBGf0I6n1-z0IfGjnaSK5ZzcyOaqJWlTM/s320/PTDC0001.JPG" width="253" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thankfully, this college testing, application, essay writing, FAFSA, community service hours, Bright Futures, crunching numbers, college tour odyssey will be coming to an end soon. (Although, then we will be starting the whole process again for The Princess soon. Ugh.) I have been crunching numbers, reviewing financial aid, and comparing schools like you wouldn't believe. We have one more school to tour but we are <u style="font-style: italic;">very, very </u>close to making a decision. An official, binding, put a deposit down and complete the housing contract kind of a decision. This is both a relief and quite scary!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The Boy, of course, is chomping at the bit and can't wait to spread his wings and fly. So to speak...I think I'm mixing my metaphors there. But I think you understand what I'm trying to say. The Boy is ready to be "independent." Me? Probably not so much. Although, there are times....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, it seems as though this process - the college applying and waiting and deciding process - will never end. It has consumed our lives for way too long. We're all ready to make the decision and move on. And hopefully, after this last tour, we will be able to. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Mommie Dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471682813285734023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-57339225709908056632013-04-08T10:52:00.000-04:002013-04-08T11:04:25.784-04:00January, February, March...and an epiphany or two.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I, umm, apparently, kinda, sorta took a <i style="font-weight: bold;">bit </i>of a blogging break. A three+ month blogging break. It wasn't intentional - at least, not at first. In my last post (I know, I know - over three months ago) I mentioned that we were working on some house projects so that we could try to sell the house again this spring.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The projects just kind of took over my life - along with trying to keep up with two teenagers, college applications, FAFSA forms, taxes, interviewing realtors, touring colleges, dance concerts, car issues, and so forth and so on. And somewhere in the midst of all of the hustle and bustle that took over my life for a while, I realized that I hadn't blogged. Or read any blogs. In fact, I was rarely going online - and when I did venture forth into the world wide web, it was via the iphone or ipad and only for brief forays onto instagram or twitter or more research into colleges and costs. And the real epiphany was that I sort of liked it. I liked the freedom of being disconnected. I enjoyed the freedom of not feeling like I HAD to post something or read a gazillion blogs and comment in order to get people to come read my blog and comment back. And then I realized that somewhere along the way, my blog (and me) had lost it's (our) purpose. Originally, I began blogging as a way for friends and family to keep up with us and our family and as a way for me to document our daily lives. But somewhere along the way I started trying to get more followers and comments. I became competitive. And when I was in the midst of my "hiatus" I realized that I needed to change. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I want this blog to revert back to what it was in the beginning - just me and my crazy family sharing what we are doing and who we are. No competition with other, better, bloggers. No trying to be something I'm not or trying to re-invent myself (a personal pet peeve of mine!) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So, I apologize for the long break. I don't even know if any of my followers are still around or if you've all given up on me. I've gotten some lovely messages and emails from a few of you telling me that you've missed me - and I honestly can't tell you how much your sweet words of support have meant. I have decided to close comments for future posts - most of you know how to get in touch with me via email (and I can always be found on twitter or instagram) - and please know how much I LOVE hearing from you! I'll leave the comments on for this prodigal post and finish by trying to give you a brief glimpse of our lives for the past few months...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Boy went on the Diocesan ski trip in January and had a blast...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And he also started back at Tae Kwon Do after taking a break of a year and a half - Mr. Wonderful and I are very pleased about this!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We finished The Princess's room (new carpet, new paint, painted furniture and she got new bedding for Christmas.) We also refinished our bathroom and her bathroom, installed new toilets in all the bathrooms, and painted our bedroom, the laundry room and the den...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We've also been doing yard work, getting screens repaired, and getting the grout cleaned. We even put the kid's friends to work - the VK's really KNOW how to entertain!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Princess has been very busy with dance competitions and dance concerts and dance workshops... She did well, had a lot of fun, and ran into some old friends from her old studio while she was Atlanta...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I might have let my feelings for dance competitions be known on twitter...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We've been overwhelmed by the amount of lemons, and oranges and pink grapefruit that our trees produced this year. I've been juicing and zesting like a madwoman...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Boy has done a bit of fishing with his friends...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1WbmID4x8HjYsdLmzJ-iNDDSQ2bPfuQxtmbMqWGa4CD_s1CirNoa5aDA_L8BpJgqFhsDFm-ibpmB-uEaenb3PZlCX9e7ooAtwn_tnzh4YPxWeCk1pP7BqvtrXhLkypvIz7xRDTKQeEU/s1600/photo-6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1WbmID4x8HjYsdLmzJ-iNDDSQ2bPfuQxtmbMqWGa4CD_s1CirNoa5aDA_L8BpJgqFhsDFm-ibpmB-uEaenb3PZlCX9e7ooAtwn_tnzh4YPxWeCk1pP7BqvtrXhLkypvIz7xRDTKQeEU/s640/photo-6.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And I learned (the next day!) that one evening he and a friend found an old couch sitting on the side of the road. They loaded the old couch on the top of the car, carried it down to the end of the dock, and sat on it while fishing the next day. Then, when they were finished with it, they returned it to the side of the road where they found it. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am appalled. In an amused sort of way.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KNUhb_oA8iZbpIqPvCBpCth1Yo1avTPyDq1j045NPsdvdHstYefepNJdsQDVno1KOJ5bDmepQ1Q2yu2rEMwXDjSiq4DDzdZylrpdXR4SrM1PpHlkm-rRspINL4U8hM33AFEaKLI2Y7c/s1600/photo-7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KNUhb_oA8iZbpIqPvCBpCth1Yo1avTPyDq1j045NPsdvdHstYefepNJdsQDVno1KOJ5bDmepQ1Q2yu2rEMwXDjSiq4DDzdZylrpdXR4SrM1PpHlkm-rRspINL4U8hM33AFEaKLI2Y7c/s400/photo-7.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We finally finished the painting, and re-carpeting, and grout cleaning, and dusting, and organizing and de-cluttering, and mulching and planting and pressure washing...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We listed the house.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And nothing.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just nothing.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's rather demoralizing and depressing.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiKoORyomuZ96yBdiXezbqoAoUfrTpy6XUSEdmfJw97-y6u9uJtm1wAKj7ohxbcXpQVpZAbC9ySxtd0DqZdCOXsUxe538FnMX5MXQM028a2hYeancwXSkLMzDSLO5n_JlqnzQFUP91XA/s1600/photo-5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiKoORyomuZ96yBdiXezbqoAoUfrTpy6XUSEdmfJw97-y6u9uJtm1wAKj7ohxbcXpQVpZAbC9ySxtd0DqZdCOXsUxe538FnMX5MXQM028a2hYeancwXSkLMzDSLO5n_JlqnzQFUP91XA/s400/photo-5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But, you know, at least the house is clean. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>* Thanks for bearing with me as I try to get back into the blogging world. I've missed it - and you! I apologize for the quality (or lack thereof) of the photos - I had to "borrow" them from instagram!</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Mommie Dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471682813285734023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-49766999739623786722012-12-28T13:14:00.001-05:002012-12-28T13:14:02.612-05:00Hodgepodge <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">* My car has been repaired and is home again. I'm very happy about this. We had a few issues with the other driver's insurance company (and I was surprised because I've always heard good things about USAA) but in the end, the car DID get repaired and it looks great. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">* The Princess and her BFF, Corky, had a get-together and made cookies. From scratch. It was...entertaining.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruy_rE1gouuKYlyXZLx5ATxjZiTFtGpPS5hd9UhSXhaA6hg4xa0H6plsSpZphFFc-ELcRGXEKN63Ew11-xoko6Oz6eA8Y53ZUWnaJ3yvjm5YjwcxY5VWD0uhyBDCndBbnqAFJDmgqdUk/s1600/IMG_5725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgruy_rE1gouuKYlyXZLx5ATxjZiTFtGpPS5hd9UhSXhaA6hg4xa0H6plsSpZphFFc-ELcRGXEKN63Ew11-xoko6Oz6eA8Y53ZUWnaJ3yvjm5YjwcxY5VWD0uhyBDCndBbnqAFJDmgqdUk/s400/IMG_5725.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Honestly, I didn't think that baking cookies from scratch was all that complicated. But to two 16 year olds, apparently it was!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJL5wRS9v6cU2CBBbtLvcfS4vbrVuymqd0EhQM_XV2H_k4eaVFfsBcHnejqjQAEJNe7APnx3rGldxbFbevjUPtwfPMrPAWjc9WsKe7HDruaCOqHvE7aEPxTutzqPhhNN0QN8OxVLiTItk/s1600/IMG_5727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJL5wRS9v6cU2CBBbtLvcfS4vbrVuymqd0EhQM_XV2H_k4eaVFfsBcHnejqjQAEJNe7APnx3rGldxbFbevjUPtwfPMrPAWjc9WsKe7HDruaCOqHvE7aEPxTutzqPhhNN0QN8OxVLiTItk/s640/IMG_5727.JPG" width="457" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I popped in to the kitchen when The Princess informed me that we didn't have enough baking soda. I was confused because I thought we had almost an entire box. It turns out that the recipe called for 3/4 of a <i>teaspoon </i>not 1 and 3/4 of a <i>cup. </i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Of course. Anyone could make that mistake, right? </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Actually, The Princess has done this exact same thing before. And THIS is why these two girls have been best friends since they were in pre-school.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53Y7cR0j-A6fDBXmnZnDWJM5OXG3Q10Y34OKcel8c3LLhDdyCLVPYR1nHAv3CGdWWJYf_MopTrsE1D4mfzPkegEQuXAcPGpyVygpVISW0aij9Im80YDfSc49KvicibL4joDnPuHPkewk/s1600/IMG_5730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53Y7cR0j-A6fDBXmnZnDWJM5OXG3Q10Y34OKcel8c3LLhDdyCLVPYR1nHAv3CGdWWJYf_MopTrsE1D4mfzPkegEQuXAcPGpyVygpVISW0aij9Im80YDfSc49KvicibL4joDnPuHPkewk/s400/IMG_5730.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There may or may not have been a teeny tiny flour fight.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'll never tell.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrSPihWPazHRpoEMFnSf8BGSCxDjx29b_yURWCYXyPv6BDCyIc8v9xPnEt-pjyfSpT_k5sBkNSU9yLbyxCpE9ADLAohMyT-s8Em1ITeEKqVwxSyTrg7tBavb3kK_a-5FAXcD1jhLG3Rg/s1600/IMG_5733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicrSPihWPazHRpoEMFnSf8BGSCxDjx29b_yURWCYXyPv6BDCyIc8v9xPnEt-pjyfSpT_k5sBkNSU9yLbyxCpE9ADLAohMyT-s8Em1ITeEKqVwxSyTrg7tBavb3kK_a-5FAXcD1jhLG3Rg/s400/IMG_5733.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">* We finally finished hanging curtains and pictures in The Princess's bedroom. It looks great and she is very happy with the results!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAsJ7itsJwp1ERLewroledrM2-PomrCW8GuY9fC4bIro1brdk2hGMnxhw8EzYj3rgS8TtFflajbkTTf-Vx6TRqHtgrZAQ0jhaHNAuzhADSbQwnYb5XKu4JI47bVKdwhyz0-2Uy6AZy7o/s1600/IMG_5734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAsJ7itsJwp1ERLewroledrM2-PomrCW8GuY9fC4bIro1brdk2hGMnxhw8EzYj3rgS8TtFflajbkTTf-Vx6TRqHtgrZAQ0jhaHNAuzhADSbQwnYb5XKu4JI47bVKdwhyz0-2Uy6AZy7o/s400/IMG_5734.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">* On Christmas Day, opening day, we went to see Les Miserables. I was a bit worried because I had such high expectations - I was afraid I would be disappointed. I wasn't. I LOVED it. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">To be fair, I love the musical...I've seen it four times, three of them in London. I've heard some complaints about the singing not being up to par, and it's true that some of the actors are not exactly Broadway or West End caliber in the singing. But, this wasn't on stage. It was a movie. And the acting was amazing. Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean) and Anne Hathaway (Fantine) were incredible. Oscar caliber acting. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">One of the best things about the movie was seeing Colm Wilkinson cast as the bishop. When we saw the play in London, he was Jean Valjean - and he will always be in my mind.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2v6paO4u_RU8yf8rxT1L1AkArXu9-xXDJFip9vsLLCvWSBduPoQU6Mtqg2__9wFr6xoghmUCq_rz3MdDahYauysNYl-Uigw2CLrFFcX54v9CQZo2Y3uI39GZWbUXqlXYKYiUteJHOCM/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2v6paO4u_RU8yf8rxT1L1AkArXu9-xXDJFip9vsLLCvWSBduPoQU6Mtqg2__9wFr6xoghmUCq_rz3MdDahYauysNYl-Uigw2CLrFFcX54v9CQZo2Y3uI39GZWbUXqlXYKYiUteJHOCM/s400/images-2.jpeg" width="283" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I had tears in my eyes at the end. The theatre broke into spontaneous applause. And I want to see it again. And again. And again....</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKfHKpBqvr_w-hOoGXrnns11KMuW87YqpKauVmYdqULmot2iRmB0sI1rvXOA_JM-9FLmK_tbxRiHHYsKw2eS8XvZynopXL2UsEydHLMNWENvdtkLeJt1tbZennFCxVWE-a7GqrAQG90k/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKfHKpBqvr_w-hOoGXrnns11KMuW87YqpKauVmYdqULmot2iRmB0sI1rvXOA_JM-9FLmK_tbxRiHHYsKw2eS8XvZynopXL2UsEydHLMNWENvdtkLeJt1tbZennFCxVWE-a7GqrAQG90k/s400/images.jpeg" width="270" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">* Christmas was great. It was a wonderful day filled with family and food (and Les Mis!). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The kids had a lot of fun trying to dress Jack up like the jolly old elf. Jack didn't have quite as much fun.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">However, he loved all the wrapping paper and empty boxes. He's a bit perturbed that we took all his new fun "toys" away.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now I am busily taking decorations down and packing things away. Life has been so crazy around here the past few months - from our impromptu trip to south Florida to pack up my MIL's condo when it sold, to me being sick and the death of our cat, followed by the death of my stepfather and being rear-ended - it's been one thing after another. We are trying to take care of a few projects around the house before this spring when we will try once again to sell our house. I know it's early to take decorations down, but I just want to get the house back to normal and get some cleaning and de-cluttering done.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">* These alternating school breaks are killing me - The Princess got out a week before The Boy. Now she goes back to school next Wednesday and he has another week off. I'm ready to get back on a bit of a schedule...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Mommie Dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471682813285734023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-3045028016412817642012-12-17T16:34:00.001-05:002012-12-17T16:37:43.006-05:00What's new, pussycat? (woah woah)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This past week has been crazy. My step-father's death threw us all for a loop. Then I was rear-ended while driving carpool (everyone is ok), and have been getting estimates on the repair of my car and trying to deal with insurance companies.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I apologize for the poor quality of the photo. It was taken with my cell phone in the pouring rain. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The good news about the accident is that although I was hit by a larger vehicle and knocked into a much larger vehicle, the only damage to my little car (that we know of) was some scraping and a few bent clips on the bumper. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Then a couple of days later a big moving van drove down our (private) driveway - the one past a dead end sign and with numerous address signs posted - and then, once he finally realized he had the wrong address, attempted to back down the driveway. He managed to take out several of the landscape timbers in the process. So we've also been dealing with the moving company trying to get them to come out and repair the damage.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There have been some positive moments this past week as well. (Thank goodness!) The Boy was accepted at two more colleges this week...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I took some time out to cover up some gray, get a few highlights, and a much needed haircut...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We had some good news regarding Mr. Wonderful's job...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And we got to catch up with my nephew when he flew down for the funeral...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And, of course, the news out of Newtown, Connecticut has broken our hearts. I can barely watch the news coverage and the stories about those sweet babies makes my heart ache for the families. I cannot fathom the pain they must be feeling.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The past week has been filled with both happiness and sadness, elation and despair. Time flies, and life is short. Be kind.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Yesterday is gone.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Tomorrow has not yet come.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>We have only today. Let us begin.</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>What can you do to promote world peace?</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Go home and love your family.</i></span></div>
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<i>Mother Teresa</i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Mommie Dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471682813285734023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-70547283460710089352012-12-08T16:29:00.001-05:002012-12-08T16:34:09.315-05:00Sad<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In loving memory of Robert L. Kramer</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(AKA G-Dad/Skipper)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">7/27/40 - 12/7/12</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Death is nothing at all.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I have only slipped away into the next room.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am I and you are you.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Whatever we were to each other</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">That we are still.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Call me by my own familiar name.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Speak to me in the easy way you always used.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Put no difference in your tone.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Laugh as we always laughed</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">At the little jokes we always enjoyed together.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Let it be spoken without effort</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Without the ghost of a shadow in it.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Life means all that it ever was.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">There is absolute unbroken continuity.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What is death but a negligible accident?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am waiting for you for an interval</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Somewhere very near</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Just around the corner</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">All is well.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Nothing is past; nothing is lost.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">One brief moment and all will be as it was before.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How we shall laugh at the trouble of parting when we meet again!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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(Canon Henry Scott-Holland, Canon of St. Paul's Cathedral 1847-1918)</div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Mommie Dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471682813285734023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-87696631416677970102012-12-07T16:20:00.001-05:002012-12-07T16:31:41.478-05:00I'm back, I think!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Schoolbell; font-size: 13px;"></span></span><br />
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<div style="line-height: 1.6em; text-align: justify;">
Thank you all for the great tips on how to work around being unable to<br />
post photos on the blog. I plan on trying all of your suggestions and am<br />
still looking into switching to Wordpress or Typepad as well. </div>
<div style="line-height: 1.6em; text-align: justify;">
I just need for things to slow down here a bit so I can spend a day on<br />
the computer trying things out!</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;">We are still working on our projects. The new carpet is installed in the </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;">kid's rooms and I am slowly putting things away and hanging pictures </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;">on the walls, etc. Slowly because I am going through EVERYTHING </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;">with a fine tooth comb and a lot of stuff is being thrown away or donated. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;">I cannot believe the amount of "stuff" those two kids have managed to </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;">accumulate. It's disgusting.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;">Also, I've been distracted by getting Christmas decorations up. And </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;">by </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;">wrapping gifts and getting Christmas cards addressed and packages </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;">ready to be mailed. You know how it is...so hopefully we'll manage to </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;">get those rooms completed soon and then I'll get to start painting our </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;">bedroom.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 25px;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;">We're still picking lemons and I'm still making lemon marinades and </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;">lemon vinaigrettes and so on and so forth. We're kinda like Bubba </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;">Gump, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 28px;">except with lemons instead of shrimp!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I also wanted to share a bit of sad news with you. Two days before Thanksgiving we had to say goodbye to our sweet kitty, Roxy. We rescued her when she was about 2 years old and had had her for almost 14 years. She was our own Grizzabella and the sweetest cat ever. In her heyday, she was constantly gifting us with dead snakes, mice, rats, and moles. She definitely earned her keep!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We miss her a lot.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And finally, here is The Boy's senior picture...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am in complete denial that my little boy will be graduating in about 6 months.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This. Is. Killing. Me.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ugh.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Anyway. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Right now I am fighting a migraine and we have roofers up on our roof pounding away as they repair a bad spot on the roof. You can imagine what fun that is. My head in pounding away in synchronization with the pounding on the roof. So, because I can't think straight and because I don't have anything else to say and am probably repeating myself, I am signing off.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Now that I've finally, hopefully, figured out a short term solution to the blog problem, I hope to be posting more often...</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Mommie Dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15471682813285734023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-46830284516662026982012-11-25T16:44:00.000-05:002012-11-25T17:24:16.126-05:00Too Much Sugar for a Nickel. Indeed.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Wow! What happened to the month of November? How can it possibly already be the end of the month (and almost Christmas!)? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well, time does seem to go faster when you are busy...and we have certainly been busy this month.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We've had lots of projects going on around the house - from the unplanned (a plumbing leak in The Princess's bathroom, which flooded her bedroom carpet) to the planned (cleaning and organizing drawers and closets). We are hoping to try to sell the house again in the spring and the unplanned plumbing emergency forced us to move up some of our planned projects on the house - such as re-carpeting and painting The Princess's bedroom. And since her bedroom was already torn apart, she decided to repaint her furniture as well.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In the midst of all of our house projects, Mr. Wonderful and I made an unexpected 24 hour trip down to clean and pack up my mother-in-law's condo in South Florida which was just sold. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We've also been busy harvesting lemons. Our lemon tree is practically falling over with the overabundance of lemons we've been graced with this year. I've been frantically searching on Pinterest for all lemon recipes - we've been eating lemon pasta, lemon chicken and salads with lemon vinaigrette. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is the point where I WOULD normally insert a photo or three of the aforementioned lemon tree literally dripping with lemons and of the elf labor (aka the kids) picking the lemons. I would also normally insert a photo of The Boy's first college acceptance letter and of The Princess painting her furniture and of our Thanksgiving feast.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Stupid Blogger or stupid Google has done it again. Apparently, I have once again gone over my alloted photo space and I cannot use any more photos unless I pay. Which I was going to do, grudgingly. Except that I can no longer just pay a flat fee like I did before. Now Blogger/Google wants me to pay monthly. As in, my credit card will be charged every single month until the end of time for the dubious honor of being allowed to post my own photos on my own blog. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Well, I've been planing for a while to switch the blog over to Wordpress - I set everything up a couple of months ago while I was sick in bed - I even came up with a new name for the blog. I wrote everything down in a notebook - my username and passwords and a new email address to correspond to the new blog.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And now? Guess what? I've lost my notebook with the new username and password. Somehow, in the midst of all my organizing (stop laughing!) and cleaning and whatnot, I've misplaced it.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And so now I'm incredibly annoyed and frustrated. The PMS isn't helping, either. So, for today, I am giving up. But not for long...tomorrow I'll be back searching for all of my information so I can make the switch and move on with "Too Much Sugar for a Nickel." (Possible new blog name? Or maybe I'll leave it Mommie Dearest. What do you think?) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'll keep y'all posted and let you know when I get things back on track. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span id="goog_227437209"></span><span id="goog_227437210"></span><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-19100395314646989852012-11-03T15:39:00.003-04:002012-11-03T16:04:33.299-04:00The Blog is Half-Empty. Or Half-Full. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's been rather quiet around here lately. I've been busy trying to get caught up on stuff and trying to ignore the disgusting mess that my house is. I keep thinking that eventually <i><b>someone else</b> </i>besides me will decide that the dustballs and pet hair tumbleweeds the size of Kansas are so awful that <i><b>they</b> </i>will take care of them for me. Thus far, my devious plan is not working. I suspect that I will cave before anyone else in this house even notices.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The kids have been busy with school and dance and college application type stuff and have been hanging with their BFFs ad Mr. Wonderful has been working a lot...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpE04RA3fpNeCWLbf2DMuapqWdo4MB-s6FVw-hdtXnxT82iMm1LZVRdlVBIA6ArwO0HOscUhu8n88fo8XdWVtepug331LmPAFURrBX8aaVApvfZrUkdJAgPA4huHRMRehbxHHhV7J5rc/s1600/IMG_5617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpE04RA3fpNeCWLbf2DMuapqWdo4MB-s6FVw-hdtXnxT82iMm1LZVRdlVBIA6ArwO0HOscUhu8n88fo8XdWVtepug331LmPAFURrBX8aaVApvfZrUkdJAgPA4huHRMRehbxHHhV7J5rc/s400/IMG_5617.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The weather here has been fabulous. We had a bit of a cool down - the high temperatures have been in the mid-70's and it has been delightful. I've had the windows open and have been enjoying the sounds of all the birds (there have been tons of birds hanging around lately!), especially the eagles - who really seem to be enjoying the cool, breezy weather!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In other news, I am SO excited about a couple of movies coming out soon. I don't usually get excited about movies - we usually just wait for them to come out in video. But...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I am really excited to see The Hobbit. And if the trailer isn't quite enough to enthuse Tolkien fans, how about this safety briefing from Air New Zealand?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">How cool is that?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But I am really, really, really super excited about a movie coming out Christmas Day. I'm not usually a fan of this type of thing, but because I am a humongous Les Miserables geek, having seen it umpteen times, this one caught my attention...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Seriously. I can't wait.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Can. Not. Wait.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And finally, today is a sad day for our family and our community. It is a day for remembering two very special people whom we were lucky enough to know and love. Three years ago <a href="http://4vks.blogspot.com/2009/11/heartbroken.html">today</a>, Kevin and Katie Whitelaw became angels. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Kevin and Katie, we love you and we miss you. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-1512136888952657042012-10-23T17:37:00.003-04:002012-10-23T17:38:27.854-04:00The one about lockers, voting, Katniss and Peeta and General Hospital<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Last week I mentioned that I had been sick but thought I was getting better. And then I got worse. The cough started up again and I was miserable. But today I can happily report that I really AM getting better. Actually, today is the best I've felt in almost a month! I don't know what kind of hideous bug I had but it really knocked me off my feet. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In other news, I also mentioned that The Princess has been dancing every weekend in various workshops, etc. And last weekend she had her first dance concert of the year at her school. This (the past three weeks) is the first time in her life that I have ever not been there to watch her perform. I asked her to try to get some pictures for me. She did pretty well with this at the workshops...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But at the dance concert this past weekend, she sent me a photo of her inside a locker.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaKpZYRWJKtqFDAuGk1YUssiUH2I8VZtCSFeBn-6c-Coec2FPfqk25QrrznN4yc2yl-7SpCvwvqDB7dC3MVYnYtY9HHsIqFaOZYuBDRJGTsFIs8kuUHA2dXAnSs9DRIjfSMiTPGwnSn0/s1600/IMG_1348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaKpZYRWJKtqFDAuGk1YUssiUH2I8VZtCSFeBn-6c-Coec2FPfqk25QrrznN4yc2yl-7SpCvwvqDB7dC3MVYnYtY9HHsIqFaOZYuBDRJGTsFIs8kuUHA2dXAnSs9DRIjfSMiTPGwnSn0/s640/IMG_1348.JPG" width="285" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Honestly...that's not quite what I had in mind.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Then she sent me an interesting photo of her at dinner later that evening...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTn76Pi5DTEKmhiNBCdQAr5rxDQUb-yeD0rvYIY8kiLprT1cWTslG8QHamptBkOLqlhMH7vjBlXU48HtdhDlrXdzh1Ctcu5Bvjd8jqo_QJZ-xHwn6QIu180rsdKULCtksd8v-2ofDF4gM/s1600/IMG_1349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTn76Pi5DTEKmhiNBCdQAr5rxDQUb-yeD0rvYIY8kiLprT1cWTslG8QHamptBkOLqlhMH7vjBlXU48HtdhDlrXdzh1Ctcu5Bvjd8jqo_QJZ-xHwn6QIu180rsdKULCtksd8v-2ofDF4gM/s400/IMG_1349.JPG" width="308" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Again, not really what I had in mind.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I did like this one of her stretching at school though!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In other news, The Boy voted in his very first election.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVJuWx3LVttarv5fgrdgcG_DGoLZiv8CKgt5XR6_Z3AtqXhO77jFrT3cTXCS4WLzWi29rHQpnoO7DM88xC_O3w948GgChJ1Mz9wYwtzFBFaP2UxUsTBxtXXcLjVT-AydmdZsYWq82XPs/s1600/IMG_1358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdVJuWx3LVttarv5fgrdgcG_DGoLZiv8CKgt5XR6_Z3AtqXhO77jFrT3cTXCS4WLzWi29rHQpnoO7DM88xC_O3w948GgChJ1Mz9wYwtzFBFaP2UxUsTBxtXXcLjVT-AydmdZsYWq82XPs/s400/IMG_1358.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm really proud of how he paid attention to the issues. He researched and watched the debates and educated himself, and he came to his own thoughtful conclusions about whom to vote for. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This is his last week of Cross Country. they have one more meet this weekend and then he's done. He's looking forward to a bit more free time! I'm thinking he still has some college application essays to write...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Today, in case you were not aware (as I was not), was <a href="http://www.moleday.org/">Mole Day</a>. The Princess had to make a mole for Chemistry to celebrate this momentous event. She went to a friend's house this weekend and they worked on their moles...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Princess's mole was Katniss Ever-Mole. These photos were taken while they were still works in progress. The completed moles had accessories too - Katniss had a bow and arrows made from pipe cleaners and more embellishments on her cloak of fire. Peeta had camouflage and a loaf of bread.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cute, no?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Also, since I've been sick this month I started watching General Hospital again. I started watching this show a million years ago when I was in middle school. It came on around the time I got home from school and I watched it in high school and college (I remember watching Luke and Laura get married while sitting with my roommates in the dorm) and then periodically through the years until I had babies. I haven't seen it in years. (If any of you watch or watched this show - I started watching it around the time Laura killed David what's-his-face and started seeing Scotty - a LONG time ago!!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Anyway, out of pure boredom, I began watching it again and was immediately sucked in. It seems that the show has been bringing back all sorts of characters from the past (from MY past) which is really fun. But...now I'm addicted again. This is not so good. Now that I am feeling better I just don't have time for an addiction like GH. But still. *sigh*</span></div>
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<div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-6600887758941178392012-10-16T17:53:00.002-04:002012-10-16T17:55:24.731-04:00Excuses, excuses...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This has been my life for the past couple of weeks. Somehow, somewhere, I managed to pick up a nasty bug which basically kicked my butt.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In addition to Strep Throat, I had a nasty cough. The doctor gave me medicines which helped, but they also wiped me out and made me sleepy. I lost my voice, which is terribly frustrating (although I'm not sure that the kids minded me not being able to yell at them), and now, due to the constant hacking and coughing, I have pleurisy. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But...I think I'm starting to get better. Even though I still don't have a voice. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Anyway, what I'm trying to tell you here is that I'm not really sure what I've missed the past couple of weeks...due to the constant hacking and coughing and sleeping.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Boy has been busy with college application essays and cross country meets and homework.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Princess has been busy with dance workshops every weekend and has a dance concert at her school this weekend. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mr. Wonderful has been busy being wonderful and picking up the slack and driving carpool for his sick wife and picking up prescriptions and cough drops. He's been Mr. Mom.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don't know how I would have gotten through the past couple of weeks without the help of Mr. Wonderful, and the driving abilities and helpful attitude of The Boy, and the fabulous family spirit at The Princess's dance studio which allowed me to continue sleeping off the meds while The Princess's dance family stepped in and took her to her workshops so that she didn't have to miss them.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Hopefully, this vicious nasty bug from Hell is on it's way and I'll be back to myself soon...but thank you to everyone who stepped in to help. You're awesome!</span></div>
<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-13114556414909132872012-09-23T18:49:00.000-04:002012-09-23T19:22:12.141-04:00Let them eat cake<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Princess has a birthday coming up in a few days. It's a pretty big birthday - she'll be turning 16. How this is possible, I don't know. I can't believe my little cherub is so grown up! And I definitely can't believe that <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">I</u> am old enough to have an 18 year old and a 16 year old.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Princess wanted to just have a few special friends over to celebrate. A lot of the girls at her school are going all out - having huge Sweet Sixteen parties with formal dress, etc. The Princess stated (with a horrified expression on her face) that that was just NOT her style. She opted for low key and casual.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3S4qVEBhfEO8uHHYvfPImMbRqCcXV0aNACjMp3V-BE5wiEpKpZ3EgdJPjHSz78OahaMKXFQ3hyphenhyphencMSsByzQXaXLsLb-8NfVy0N58lVi83ArbcVUHaj_IOxu4IujJDtUNcvk299LXbV3rE/s1600/IMG_5483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3S4qVEBhfEO8uHHYvfPImMbRqCcXV0aNACjMp3V-BE5wiEpKpZ3EgdJPjHSz78OahaMKXFQ3hyphenhyphencMSsByzQXaXLsLb-8NfVy0N58lVi83ArbcVUHaj_IOxu4IujJDtUNcvk299LXbV3rE/s640/IMG_5483.JPG" width="456" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Of course, her idea of low key and casual is shorts, a t-shirt, and a tiara. And she kept referring to her guests as her peasants. She kept trying to upgrade herself to Queen status, but I quickly put a stop to that by informing her that there was only one queen around here and that was ME!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRa4Mjew1ijqEr6BU90arEtuvl3Jm3K2OABP6QOuYDgr41UNn2zOBHsGV1JafkA_UR1ot_4QqgsS96K_J1goShhN3ha7-HZmV0tMAKPXteyjRqPaLFC3EwoxfJmTDhSZSasUb8E-3MRA/s1600/IMG_5487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRa4Mjew1ijqEr6BU90arEtuvl3Jm3K2OABP6QOuYDgr41UNn2zOBHsGV1JafkA_UR1ot_4QqgsS96K_J1goShhN3ha7-HZmV0tMAKPXteyjRqPaLFC3EwoxfJmTDhSZSasUb8E-3MRA/s400/IMG_5487.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Boy and his BFF, Miss B, helped chaperone - which primarily consisted of constantly reminding the high and mighty not quite sixteen year old Princess to stop referring to her lovely guests as peasants. Apparently, the other main part of hanging out and helping chaperone consisted of helping to eat the food.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Princess's BFF, The Court-i-nator, made her a birthday poster and a CD/slideshow of photos of them growing up as best friends since the age of three. It was truly one of the sweetest and most thoughtful gifts I've ever seen, and it brought tears to my eyes.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We have a tradition at The Princess's birthday parties, that the girls decorate the cake. We've done this ever since she had her first sleepover party in the 2nd grade. It's not very...stylish, but the girls have a ton of fun squeezing glitter frosting everywhere and dumping peanut butter chips and M&M's and dollops of nutella everywhere. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They tend to sample the decorations as they work. And by the time they've had their first slice of cake (but certainly not the ONLY slice of cake of the evening), they're buzzing. And giggling. And basically bouncing off the walls.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As one might guess from the amount of sugar on that cake!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In order to preserve the windows and glass in the house, and my sanity, we went for a jaunt around the lake to allow the sugar high to wear off a bit.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">After the boat ride, the kids all decided that The Princess should be pushed into the pool sixteen times - one push for each year of her life. The guests/peasants all seemed to enjoy this part of the party.</span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(Dear Precious Princess, That's the problem with acting all high and mighty and referring to your friends as your peasants. Peasants tend to revolt. Life lesson, sweetie!)</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">After the boat ride and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: line-through;">dictator </span>Princess dunking, the kids ate pizza and popcorn and more cake. They watched a movie and giggled a lot. They went to the Princess's bedroom where they giggled some more. They finally went to sleep around 1-ish. I think. I'm not really sure because <i><b>I</b></i> finally fell asleep around 1-ish. So actually, I'm not sure what time they finally went to sleep!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It was a fun birthday celebration for The Princess.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Aka, my little baby girl.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Because no matter how old or imperious she gets, she'll always be my baby girl!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-73536287039685728042012-09-12T21:30:00.003-04:002012-09-12T21:30:27.358-04:00Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated...Just a quick update to let you know that I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I've been trying to deal with a few things and just got a bit overwhelmed. I've decided to take a bit of a blogging (i.e. internet) break while I get organized - nothing serious, just...stuff. There's just not enough hours in the day! Please bear with me! I'll be back...<br />
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In the meantime, as I try to deal with the eclectic assortment of crap o my to-do list (you don't even want to know), here are a few photos I took the other day of critters around the yard and whatnot.<br />
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<br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-43211827394958036102012-08-24T11:15:00.003-04:002012-08-24T11:15:50.065-04:00Catching up with Instagram<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Once again, I've dropped the proverbial blogging ball. The kids were both back at school this week, I had a birthday (29. Again.), It has rained incessantly, we were threatened with a hurricane, I had 8,890,914 forms to fill out and sign for the two schools, and had to send in a bunch of money to the aforementioned schools - lunch money, locker money, yearbook money...and so forth and so on.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Sadly, I have absolutely nothing exciting to share. If you've got kids, then you know how the week has been. Back to school time - Blech. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thankfully, no one has overslept so far. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So anyway, I decided to share the photos from my cell phone - since I haven't been using the real camera. Hold on to your seats - the excitement might overwhelm you.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">First, let's all give a warm round of applause for this little guy. He's been working overtime this week. I don't think I would have made it through the week without my dear, dear friend - Mr. Keurig.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Seriously, though. It rained this week. A lot. Torrents of rain. There was flooding in the streets - and at The Princess's school. Now if you have kids and you do parent pick-up - you know how it's always crazy the first week? Well, multiply that by about 100. The kids couldn't exit through the usual area at the front of the school because it had flooded. So parents had to try to fid a spot in the student parking lot, which was jam packed. I'm telling you, it was crazy!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX4jUPHaFCWdy0Mm_vWpV3_S0yhLstNHWxW3KuWBinAB-waRu7rtDgGzsqCMeG7EDHtbPfNcQybFRfHgRU95js2wpRA-E9h5DtOLCG8g5J-TfvAnkP_Tlbm6eF0VpjrYXeEDo71GN6ts/s1600/PicMonkey+Collageschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX4jUPHaFCWdy0Mm_vWpV3_S0yhLstNHWxW3KuWBinAB-waRu7rtDgGzsqCMeG7EDHtbPfNcQybFRfHgRU95js2wpRA-E9h5DtOLCG8g5J-TfvAnkP_Tlbm6eF0VpjrYXeEDo71GN6ts/s400/PicMonkey+Collageschool.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This was our weather this week.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Every. Single. Day.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhuorrJIMe6IV8Izui-CR6QatBD_AVdvusgxxJdg8moBF96wwowrH6zybezxnOOeTsy3lGV86gLQ04yu-9PZ_zUAeEvp_eKaUpcUdup6bcobXxwfVDAToPspnPG9-KrRclv2RWS0mXBE/s1600/PicMonkey+Collagerain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhuorrJIMe6IV8Izui-CR6QatBD_AVdvusgxxJdg8moBF96wwowrH6zybezxnOOeTsy3lGV86gLQ04yu-9PZ_zUAeEvp_eKaUpcUdup6bcobXxwfVDAToPspnPG9-KrRclv2RWS0mXBE/s400/PicMonkey+Collagerain.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But today is sunny. And beautiful. Hooray!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Also, Tropical Storm/Hurricane Isaac seems to be heading further west and so doesn't appear to be a threat to those of us on the First Coast any longer. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Which is just excellent.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Anyway, moving along with the review of the week...and completely out of order...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Here's The Princess heading out for her first day of her sophomore year of high school.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2v1N5ixx24exEbuuoucSIQI1RO7SjHV0aiS-Ue9-cbxyUdSxKmVSVaH-0w_Rj5jU1SGfQ7sL8kVklLcormR6fFUArqY26KU7uqGYjWEnzKp905EcnB0YlgPa42SBoB3UPoKxYIDZCRI/s1600/IMG_1142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK2v1N5ixx24exEbuuoucSIQI1RO7SjHV0aiS-Ue9-cbxyUdSxKmVSVaH-0w_Rj5jU1SGfQ7sL8kVklLcormR6fFUArqY26KU7uqGYjWEnzKp905EcnB0YlgPa42SBoB3UPoKxYIDZCRI/s400/IMG_1142.JPG" width="281" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0SwX6RA6xE6gfsJPsrcHu_k13AAZSdHEJXdtyCLGYpJhpsHC_GQml6SdqBq2ytCRCZQ1uFAjhirMj1S8EbUviQFJm4BN74KAvX5IsnxGmvnm9yesJLIP_nyxaT2KI9sMfi4lKKWg9-I/s1600/IMG_1143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit0SwX6RA6xE6gfsJPsrcHu_k13AAZSdHEJXdtyCLGYpJhpsHC_GQml6SdqBq2ytCRCZQ1uFAjhirMj1S8EbUviQFJm4BN74KAvX5IsnxGmvnm9yesJLIP_nyxaT2KI9sMfi4lKKWg9-I/s400/IMG_1143.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Boy had some friends over. Just to hang out. There's nothing like walking in to a houseful of hungry teens to make a <strike>middle aged </strike>29 year old mom feel needed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZD0UE-k8eI0YBHf0aOhyphenhyphen11_X1AD4h_yzYmis67E1EPVM_KOOgaW6VhWCazq6kF9omjBEaV7ux0__RLgWmZtbNz-o5Ken9Jv1bUZz9ox2oc-TcuWQx19-QSosniIkI0uWPqwcz8yzIfs/s1600/PicMonkey+Collagekids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKZD0UE-k8eI0YBHf0aOhyphenhyphen11_X1AD4h_yzYmis67E1EPVM_KOOgaW6VhWCazq6kF9omjBEaV7ux0__RLgWmZtbNz-o5Ken9Jv1bUZz9ox2oc-TcuWQx19-QSosniIkI0uWPqwcz8yzIfs/s400/PicMonkey+Collagekids.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Don't you love how everyone is a good sport about the mamarazzi, except for The Boy? He feels the need to make goofy faces every time a camera appears.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uh5l_91JsST3wvaB5uyHC_Yfp8iTpdZpBbQy7-NqnJzULjsCQpzaqZ-lpKe7jrFdAUW8RvIRxoHsAZI4618oxhhSaJwRh8doz5YchqZEKS-Wp-14Tjye5LnWXm4LhXbLZ3K-uSYxDg4/s1600/PicMonkey+Collagedock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uh5l_91JsST3wvaB5uyHC_Yfp8iTpdZpBbQy7-NqnJzULjsCQpzaqZ-lpKe7jrFdAUW8RvIRxoHsAZI4618oxhhSaJwRh8doz5YchqZEKS-Wp-14Tjye5LnWXm4LhXbLZ3K-uSYxDg4/s400/PicMonkey+Collagedock.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So, that was our week. Did anyone else have kids start back to school this week? </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSedpRP-OzjR-jdqa6BcR9SAUbC2umxplEliBgPec-eMLpNDUPgF1UDjsaEyXRo5EvqMLA82gAwaQ-SHr4TKfmd1KLvd_rR9u4WqFAZA3q-jx3f65RxnamKlNqobbIpHTtwTJlSIsEyGE/s1600/IMG_1182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSedpRP-OzjR-jdqa6BcR9SAUbC2umxplEliBgPec-eMLpNDUPgF1UDjsaEyXRo5EvqMLA82gAwaQ-SHr4TKfmd1KLvd_rR9u4WqFAZA3q-jx3f65RxnamKlNqobbIpHTtwTJlSIsEyGE/s400/IMG_1182.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Waking up and getting going before the sun is up.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1GnJA4_57ZyzTkbK-aN-A4wcuYE6vWpR79s1H_N8T9IEh-brX85eMYWUHrrmJLowP5U1bZ8psHCCnvlUliYhk9MJvKSSRXRn_cfYqCkZ5LMZGpY7P1wyQe4jNcvhBbtdo9Fn_0BC6Ts/s1600/IMG_1147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja1GnJA4_57ZyzTkbK-aN-A4wcuYE6vWpR79s1H_N8T9IEh-brX85eMYWUHrrmJLowP5U1bZ8psHCCnvlUliYhk9MJvKSSRXRn_cfYqCkZ5LMZGpY7P1wyQe4jNcvhBbtdo9Fn_0BC6Ts/s400/IMG_1147.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Birthday flowers...still hanging in there!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-6630702345273182312012-08-16T08:49:00.001-04:002012-08-16T08:49:01.180-04:00Another miscellaneous assortment of nothing at all.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">As I mentioned in my previous post, The Boy started his senior year of high school a couple of days ago. The Princess begins her sophomore year next Monday. So this week has still been a little bit of summer vacation...at least we've (except for The Boy) been able to sleep in a bit, and The Princess has been trying to work on her tan (whilst simultaneously finishing up her summer reading). But the week is flying by and reality is going to hit with a vengeance on Monday morning!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">These past few weeks of summer went by so quickly that I didn't even realize it was happening, much less manage to get any wonderful photos...but I thought I'd rummage around and share a few that I haven't shared before just to give you an idea of what we've been doing around here.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And also because I don't really have anything else to say today!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The kids have both been hanging out with their BFFs along with other friends (and the girlfriend). I made these the other day to document the years of friendship between them...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSK_l8KBrhp1Em_gdW8S1Rw_WVFMSYQlpZCZwHW5zsUQEiYzJGuMbovuqSZeAD3UgvmQl7_GL5gb4gqyq6unkSoodffWZDv6o88SdsHFe_vyHeEsKrN4OXvfOMHjzA8VahAeZYsAPTlk/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSK_l8KBrhp1Em_gdW8S1Rw_WVFMSYQlpZCZwHW5zsUQEiYzJGuMbovuqSZeAD3UgvmQl7_GL5gb4gqyq6unkSoodffWZDv6o88SdsHFe_vyHeEsKrN4OXvfOMHjzA8VahAeZYsAPTlk/s400/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64nProBgAlJfxcZ2jsF7QfFaaBRuYsmM1jLVJ6kRRL705izje6Z5Z-zI1bKZNqLBAo6drtDBFC1_WknH5YrRXn676IO8ZIl8kVkVuYwum_AYFx24iWLH8OcnxFaJZqPl7ARjHoxfP1gU/s1600/484470_4130770584465_1841096339_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64nProBgAlJfxcZ2jsF7QfFaaBRuYsmM1jLVJ6kRRL705izje6Z5Z-zI1bKZNqLBAo6drtDBFC1_WknH5YrRXn676IO8ZIl8kVkVuYwum_AYFx24iWLH8OcnxFaJZqPl7ARjHoxfP1gU/s400/484470_4130770584465_1841096339_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Boy has also been spending a lot of time on the dock...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9ZT5w1PwdSxMUScWraNvPjXd2ZSwVmWmIx8lu80hN5f0q_iDsl3IzfmlE7WSPVMpgj0AJ0xU3N8r5rWXEpqTFc0T8NOeSNeZphod9V8p1PvUxcsWocIFGIi0UJllyM90pwuevmgri8M/s1600/315342_4331376448684_1595691402_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9ZT5w1PwdSxMUScWraNvPjXd2ZSwVmWmIx8lu80hN5f0q_iDsl3IzfmlE7WSPVMpgj0AJ0xU3N8r5rWXEpqTFc0T8NOeSNeZphod9V8p1PvUxcsWocIFGIi0UJllyM90pwuevmgri8M/s400/315342_4331376448684_1595691402_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I may be biased, but I think this little guy might be a teenager. It's all in the attitude, you know!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Princess has had a few dance classes...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDNnJrMTUf6eO5NJ2xIV7AFFtVZimjBkjXJeMopWXTuFruyGX7cTccphTB8NgFehH3klntX9lto6U1tvA_FY1UdzNtukll-r6re9qEbOWRHPcAHgoHlAg7WH4_yXpoLKuOuUq-qyeDIA/s1600/226323_3540300146628_1690777651_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDNnJrMTUf6eO5NJ2xIV7AFFtVZimjBkjXJeMopWXTuFruyGX7cTccphTB8NgFehH3klntX9lto6U1tvA_FY1UdzNtukll-r6re9qEbOWRHPcAHgoHlAg7WH4_yXpoLKuOuUq-qyeDIA/s400/226323_3540300146628_1690777651_n.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And we've stocked up on leotards and tights and had a pointe shoe fitting - since her old shoe was discontinued and we had to start from scratch with all the trying on and discussing of shanks and vamps and arches and boxes. Yes, it IS just as exhausting and confusing as it sounds. Also, expensive!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Princess has also been "busy" making videos to One Direction songs with her bestie...(just as an aside, why The Princess is not in drama rather than dance at her school absolutely confounds me!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Princess has also been working on her driving skills. In completely unrelated news, I need to make an appointment to get my gray hairs (which seem to be appearing at an alarming rate these days!) touched up.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSUX2dFjDNzOPfq999ZAMxIeeO-MRymN1h0dDTW2KVW4JA5QplI2l18s0EGE-c6HZeqCZWcC6LvsFrukMT48eXDW3TST67ZzNmKWhs_k5j4XP60M_YQ_VFhbXFj4xjmVVc-5yv6ngkbo/s1600/PicMonkey+Collagedrive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSUX2dFjDNzOPfq999ZAMxIeeO-MRymN1h0dDTW2KVW4JA5QplI2l18s0EGE-c6HZeqCZWcC6LvsFrukMT48eXDW3TST67ZzNmKWhs_k5j4XP60M_YQ_VFhbXFj4xjmVVc-5yv6ngkbo/s400/PicMonkey+Collagedrive.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And finally, in an effort to be more frugal I've been sending the kids to do my shopping when we need bread or milk or whatnot (because I tend to "stock up" on things which we really don't need). I recently discovered that this is, apparently, not quite the hardship I thought it was. They certainly seem to get more enjoyment out of grocery shopping than I ever have!!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHlr_LMXs_cMnen_pW0yFSWrAmL0KwUxFdVqFCTdtOsLQCI0L4vZPXD40e1Mb8XjFrvozcufr-upr1mRacuswte8treI4bbHFwnAJj5pabXA1jGG3of__U0Em0_2_7jQIiMfzb5Z1z2Y/s1600/IMG_1107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHlr_LMXs_cMnen_pW0yFSWrAmL0KwUxFdVqFCTdtOsLQCI0L4vZPXD40e1Mb8XjFrvozcufr-upr1mRacuswte8treI4bbHFwnAJj5pabXA1jGG3of__U0Em0_2_7jQIiMfzb5Z1z2Y/s640/IMG_1107.JPG" width="382" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I promise to try to get all caught up on my blog-reading and commenting in the next couple of days!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-16560813770616603342012-08-14T13:13:00.004-04:002012-08-14T13:52:27.333-04:00The hiatus is over and The Boy is a senior. Yikes.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So...you may or may not have noticed that I've been taking a little blogging break. It actually wasn't intentional...the last few weeks of summer just became jam-packed with "stuff". "Stuff" which I can't really talk about because it isn't actually MY "stuff". But I've been making quite a few road trips and taking care of some, err..."stuff"...which had to be taken care of. Wow - that all sounds quite mysterious, doesn't it? Trust me, it's not. But, well, the "stuff" that needed to be taken care of has been taken care of, for the most part. And then, frankly, I was worn out. Exhausted. Elvis had left the building kind of tired. And there just wasn't any energy leftover for blogging.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So, I've been hibernating and trying to pretend that the summer wasn't ending and school and dance and carpooling wasn't about to start back up. And, naturally, our wonderful carpool of last year completely fell apart in the past couple of weeks which means that I really wasn't able to hibernate. It's kinda sorta fixed now, I think. And then all sorts of other fun things started piling up...like The Boy getting his senior picture taken...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">That's right...I said his SENIOR picture.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Which is another thing that I had been in complete denial about. My son - my baby boy - starting his senior year. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">*GULP*</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Oh sure, we've been visiting colleges and talking about schedules and SAT and ACT exams and so on and so forth. But somehow, it didn't really hit me until I saw that snapshot from the photography studio that he's a senior. This is his last year of high school. My baby boy is going to be leaving me!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So then I didn't blog because I was feeling completely melancholy and blue. Because the time just went by TOO FAST! It seems like only yesterday that he was just my little boy, bringing frogs and fish and snake skins and other creepy, stinky boy stuff into the house and getting dirty and kicking soccer balls around and watching The Crocodile Hunter.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When I look at him, I don't see an almost man.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I don't see a senior in high school.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I still see that little boy with the twinkling eyes and the gap-toothed smile...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It seems like we just celebrated another graduation...how on earth is it even possible that it's about to happen again?!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It seems as though it were only yesterday that he started first grade. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Truly, I'm in shock. This happened so freaking FAST! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And today was The Boy's first day of his senior year of high school. Not only am I mourning the end of summer vacation (which was much too short, in my opinion), but I'm struggling to accept the reality of my baby boy growing up.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And it's not easy.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's breaking my heart...even as I urge him on to independence.</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-28390334642303041412012-07-30T13:24:00.001-04:002012-07-30T13:24:17.605-04:00Getaway with the Girls<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The girls and I took off for a few days at the beach last week. We wanted to show Roxane the Gulf of Mexico while she was here. We had a lovely and relaxing few days, although I have to admit that I am thoroughly tired of driving. I've done way too much driving this summer!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We floated in the delightful 85 degree surf, soaked up the sun, and built sandcastles (one is never too old for that!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We enjoyed the wildlife, ate delicious food, watched the Olympics, and enjoyed sunset on the beach.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(The girls are looking at the lady behind them...who was walking on the beach in her Hello Kitty pajamas!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It was a delightful few days and we thoroughly enjoyed our get-away. Today, back home, it is stormy and gloomy, so we are taking a day off and doing absolutely nothing. It's our final week with Roxane and the countdown is on for school to start back in a couple of weeks - so we're trying to pack as much into these last few days of summer as possible!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-63460920599647289492012-07-23T19:39:00.000-04:002012-07-23T21:18:26.998-04:00Samedi, Dimanche, et aujourd'hui<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Friday afternoon The Princess and I headed out to the airport to await the arrival of Roxane, the French exchange student who will be our guest for the next two weeks. While we were waiting for her plane to arrive, we were accosted by a giant, remote controlled shark..</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Which was a lot funnier than it appears in these photos. We giggled as we watched it roaming around, surprising unsuspecting travelers guzzling their Starbucks.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Once we saw that Roxane's flight had arrived, we waited for her with a slightly glittery sign that The Princess made (so that she would know who we were!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And then, voila! Roxane was here!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Seriously, isn't this photo funny? The Princess looks so...wholesome and all American and Roxane is the epitome of French elegance. She has that je ne sais quoi, n'est pas?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Right. Anyway...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Roxane and The Princess have spent the past couple of days getting to know each other. They've discovered that they both love to swim...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(FYI: In case you were wondering, so does Lucy!)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They've also discovered that they both love tubing and boating...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Boy has been a super good sport, and a pretty awesome big brother, by taking them out in the boat and pulling them patiently around all afternoon.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">After a couple of wipeouts...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And some swim races...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">in which Lucy demonstrated her superiority (as long as there was a ball to chase, anyway)...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The girls realized that they both love to read as well. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The past couple of days have been filled with sun, water, ice cream, watermelon, balls, floats, tubes, boats, skis, hamburgers, giggling (the international language of teenage girls, I think), photos (c'est moi), a French-English dictionary, and a lot of fun.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thus far, I think our efforts at improving international relations have been a rousing success!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-12197615911523491312012-07-20T16:45:00.001-04:002012-07-20T16:45:35.828-04:00This week...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">This week has kicked my butt. Tuesday the kids and I headed out to wait in line with a gazillion other people to get tickets to see President Obama when he was in town Thursday. It was hot and humid and we waited, and waited, and waited. The line inched along...very slowly.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The kids were very excited about the opportunity to see President Obama - especially The Boy, who will be voting in his first ever presidential election in November.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Even though it was dreadfully hot, we actually had a fun day. We met some very interesting people while standing in line. Everyone was extremely nice and patient and we had some wonderful conversations with strangers who, after talking and waiting in line together for three hours, became friends.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We did manage to get the tickets and were looking forward to Thursday. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">On Wednesday, The Boy, The Princess, The GF and I drove three hours to visit and tour a college that The Boy is interested in. Once again, it was very, very hot and very, very humid. We walked all over the campus, feeling as though we were melting the entire time. We thoroughly enjoyed the brief moments when we were able to walk inside a building or dormitory to view it - the air conditioning felt like heaven!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">After the tour, we drove around and I reminisced while the kids pretended to listen to me talk about my long ago college days. I found my old dorm, which I'm happy to report has air conditioning now! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We drove the three hours home and I promptly collapsed. Two days of scorching heat and stifling humidity is draining, y'all.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfdybwvJgH7so4Vekc6xnNMUGZV9lsx0ZiqVitJ0PI_ivik96XmdO8xROQRDk_G0Dgep4rn-vEIg7pk698Fxt58ua6EqbYDQHvUtQD-V5pSsRUMOgqt8DxUs_56-0SbLVY-HAcktWxcM/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfdybwvJgH7so4Vekc6xnNMUGZV9lsx0ZiqVitJ0PI_ivik96XmdO8xROQRDk_G0Dgep4rn-vEIg7pk698Fxt58ua6EqbYDQHvUtQD-V5pSsRUMOgqt8DxUs_56-0SbLVY-HAcktWxcM/s400/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, we didn't make it to see the President yesterday. We all woke up with scratchy throats and stuffy noses and felt awful. So we went back to sleep and rested all day.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Today we feel much better...and in about an hour The Princess and I will be driving to the airport to meet Roxane, who will be spending two weeks with us! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-91627388565586208712012-07-16T11:55:00.003-04:002012-07-16T11:55:46.840-04:00What the no good, lazy, pig stealing midgets have been doing...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The kids and I have been laying low the past few days. We've been sleeping late and chilling by the pool, and just generally being lazy sloths. The Boy has been waking up early 2-3 times a week and running and also had a petsitting gig for some friends. The Princess took a few dance classes and has kept herself busy by swimming in the pool...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog7_O5wbLnek1DokgoDLK1D1XoQ97HKGsWi_9BkyEMix5UOK7hiPurJXT3nf_FCRljSWFpeWc_3Qr_xCifYZi-w9HK-D7BFx6giBUOSSg_fvdvgVyhXQyNcOKckiSo9uFgErQ4im3_Nw/s1600/IMG_0834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhog7_O5wbLnek1DokgoDLK1D1XoQ97HKGsWi_9BkyEMix5UOK7hiPurJXT3nf_FCRljSWFpeWc_3Qr_xCifYZi-w9HK-D7BFx6giBUOSSg_fvdvgVyhXQyNcOKckiSo9uFgErQ4im3_Nw/s400/IMG_0834.JPG" width="391" /></a></div>
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(all photos courtesy of my iphone, hence the poor quality!)</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>(In completely unrelated news, I've been calling the kids no-good, lazy, pig stealing midgets lately. Do any of you know what book/movie that's from?)</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She's also been dancing around the house singing.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Loudly.</span></div>
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<i>"Hey I just met you, and this crazy, but here's my number, so call me maybe!"</i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Teenagers. Always entertaining.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Boy took a nap while The Princess swam...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvqvlTZmN3lAk2c88Je6_AO5M7SqoZkOVnFYrVFkbQOPWl2QjW3LM8aD2ZMTZWJIYuif2gjpBJ7F8Qe9AJXLU_SANpCUHzrGTJaBzQaRFOeXeJDqf4R32EIRSypFuPWTITOClTD-ZXCE/s1600/IMG_0850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdvqvlTZmN3lAk2c88Je6_AO5M7SqoZkOVnFYrVFkbQOPWl2QjW3LM8aD2ZMTZWJIYuif2gjpBJ7F8Qe9AJXLU_SANpCUHzrGTJaBzQaRFOeXeJDqf4R32EIRSypFuPWTITOClTD-ZXCE/s400/IMG_0850.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And last night, that wonderful Boy cooked dinner.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He volunteered to do it. All by himself. Without any hints from moi. He set the table and dished out humongous amounts of spaghetti on the plates and he even lit a candle!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Mommie Dearest was VERY impressed.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In other totally unexciting news, Jack has been moping around because he's not happy with his new and reduced portion sizes.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Boy tried to cheer him up by sending Buddy in to play with him, but Jack didn't seem enthusiastic about his playdate.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm glad we've been taking it easy, because this week is going to be busy, busy, busy. We have a LOT going on...from a doctor's appointment for The Boy to more dance classes for The Princess. We're also going to visit a college for a tour on Wednesday...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And we have another fun (for us) event planned for Thursday. More on that later.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Then Friday Roxane, the French exchange student arrives!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We're tres excited!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ca va!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-4405035272565821862012-07-11T09:43:00.004-04:002012-07-11T12:32:08.428-04:00He's Legal!<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Today is The Boy's 18th birthday. He is very excited about being legal. I asked him, with some trepidation, what in particular he was happy about being legal for (with visions of boot camp and strip clubs floating uneasily through my mind.) He answered gleefully, "I can buy dry ice now!" <b><i>I</i></b> heaved a heartfelt sigh of relief! Good answer, kiddo!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">It's hard to believe that it has been 18 years. Truly, it seems like only yesterday that the <a href="http://4vks.blogspot.com/2012/07/old-wives-tales-and-southern-voodoo.html">"southern voodoo"</a> worked and my sweet little sugar-boy was born!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Although The Boy has changed a lot, in many ways...there are some things that have definitely stayed the same over the years.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">His room is still messy.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He still loves to torment his sister.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He is still silly and mischievous.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">His favorite pastime is still the same. Somehow, I doubt that will EVER change.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Happy Birthday, sweet Boy!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-12361969481249769662012-07-10T10:35:00.000-04:002012-07-10T15:32:30.770-04:00Old Wive's Tales and Southern VooDoo<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">18 years ago today, I was enormously pregnant. I'm really not exaggerating - I was huge. Every time Mr. Wonderful would come home from a trip, he would look at me in astonishment and blurt out, "Jeesh - you're HUGE!" And as I burst into tears (as I was wont to do whilst pregnant) I would wail, "I KNOOOWWWW!"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And then I would feel so sad about how ginormous I was, that I would eat an entire box of Captain Crunch cereal straight out of the box.</span><br />
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(FYI: That's a swimsuit under that tent I'm wearing!)</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My mother came to visit a few days before my due date (July 9th) and by the 10th she was getting very anxious to meet her first grandchild. And I was getting very tired of resembling The Hindenburg.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I was tired of being huge and tired of having to pee all the time and tired of being tired and being unable to get comfortable in any position. I was tired of baby hiccups and tired of feet and elbows in my bladder and tired of feeling like I had an alien in my belly.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I was tired of being pregnant. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(Those of you who have had children will understand what I'm talking about - the about to explode feeling when you are 9 months pregnant.)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I tell you all this so that you will understand the frame of mind I was in when my sweet, darling, impatient mother convinced me to take castor oil to make the baby come. I was skeptical and nervous, so I called my doctor's office. They assured me that, while it would definitely not work and was only an old wive's tale, it wouldn't harm me or the baby.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">We went to the store and bought some castor oil and frozen orange juice. When we got home, my mother mixed up a foul concoction that she claimed was "just like an orange julius." I tentatively took a sip and immediately gagged in disgust. That stuff wasn't like any orange julius I had ever tasted - it was nasty! But my mother sighed in frustration and told me I was acting like a baby and said, "Don't you want that baby to come?" And I did. I really did.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So I choked the horrid mixture down, gagging dramatically the entire time. And then I thought, "Well, nothing will happen but at least Mom will stop bugging me now." We settled down to watch a movie, but I wasn't able to concentrate. I kept having stomach cramps and having to run to the bathroom. I really didn't feel well at all. Finally, I gave up on the movie and went to bed.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, I wasn't able to sleep either. I wasn't sure if it was the castor-oil-horrid-putrid-awfulness (I suspected it was) or if I had a stomach bug. By the time Mr. Wonderful returned from his trip around midnight, I was miserable. I was crying and moaning and running to the bathroom every few minutes. Mr. Wonderful took one look at me and ran to the guest room to ask my mother accusingly, "WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY WIFE?!!" (I was unaware of this until later.)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He tried to convince me to go to the hospital, but having read about false labor in <i>What to Expect When You're Expecting, </i>I refused. I was afraid they would laugh at me. Mr. Wonderful called the doctor and explained about the castor oil and they seemed amused by the story as they told him that I would probably just have cramping and feel terrible, but that it wouldn't bring on labor. I continued moaning and sobbing and running to the bathroom with those terrible cramps. When my mother heard me crying, "I don't want to do this anymore! I changed my mind!" she knew I was in labor. Mr. Wonderful thought I was too - since my "cramps" seemed to be coming every couple of minutes with some regularity. I was still in denial though, and convinced that if I went to the hospital everyone would just laugh at me.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Finally, Mr. Wonderful convinced me to go to the hospital by telling me, "Well, they might laugh but at least they can give you something so you're not in so much pain." That did the trick and I waddled, still clutching my belly and moaning in agony, to the car.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When we arrived at the hospital we found out, to my surprise (and immense relief), that I was indeed in labor and 5 centimeters dilated. Even better news was that I could get an epidural...and let me tell you right now that that anesthesiologist was my knight in shining armor. He was my hero, my savior! Epidurals are miracles. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">That's it. Straight up - miracles.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Anyway.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The nurses warned me that the epidural might make the labor last longer but I replied, "Who cares, if I can't feel it?!" 20 minutes later, I was finally comfortable (as comfortable as a gigantic pregnant lady can be) and ready to get this show on the road.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And finally, after that long miserable night and a much more comfortable day (thank to the awesome epidural) and a few hours of pushing, The Boy made his appearance on July 11th at 2:46 pm.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But that's tomorrow's anniversary. Today is the anniversary of what Mr. Wonderful calls my mother's "southern voodoo." I'm still not sure if he has forgiven her for that. And I'm not sure how contrite she is either - she still says with a hint of smugness, "Old wive's tale, my foot! I told you it would work!"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But you know what? She's right. It DID work.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1801852537013334835.post-40350247461985715972012-07-08T14:51:00.003-04:002012-07-08T14:51:56.098-04:00Night Fishing with The Boy: Later, Gator!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The Boy and a couple of his friends went fishing yesterday. They spent the entire day, and a good portion of the evening, on the dock. They fished through rain, and rainbows, and extreme heat and humidity. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">When they would walk up to the house to get a drink or a snack, we'd say, "WHOOEEE!! Y'all STINK!!"</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Because, they did! They smelled like stinky fish guts.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Yuck.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But they were on a roll. They were catching fish and having fun and just being boys. Almost men, but still boys.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And then, last night, while they were night fishing and being eaten alive by mosquitos, they caught something BIG.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Something REALLY big.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I'm not kidding - that sucker was BIG!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I heard the shouting from the dock and wondered what they had caught...I thought maybe it was a large redfish or perhaps a gar...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But when the boys came in, still reeking of fish guts, to show me the cell phone pics, I was amazed.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And not in a good way.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">No, not in a good way at all.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The boys woke up early this morning to try to fish some more and guess who was back? And guess who tried to steal their bait again?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And guess who is still hanging out by the dock?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So...wanna take a guess as to who will be calling Fish and Wildlife to report a nuisance gator?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Jeesh.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2F4vks.blogspot.com&layout=standard&show_faces=true&width=450&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=80" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:450px; height:80px;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe></div>Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10019980832742495532noreply@blogger.com