Wordless Wednesday

Yay for mommy time!

Summer: Week 6

I guess this means summer is on its way out?!

Bacation [Ramble]

No summer is complete without a bacation, right? 

My new plan is to skip all birthdays for the ladies and replace them with trips. Genius! That is until the make friends and experience "friend birthdays" and suddenly had ideas about what should and shouldn't constitute a celebration. But on with the show...

Thanks to Murphy and his wonderful law, this bacation go off to quite a start. The day before we left...

1. The cord on a the lawn mower broke, half was through the lawn, on the other side of town at the in-laws house. Really?

2. The oil light came on. You couldn't wait?

3.The bathroom was leaking through the kitchen light... #@$%

fml.

So in all-American fashion, I said fuck it. I shut the water off. No water, no drip! 

We have another bathroom, so no one need contact social services just yet. 

 Back to backing.

This was for three days, and it all would have fit in our suitcase but that wouldn't have been nearly as cute. 

Three days Marcia! 

These were stashed away...

Hello rest stop attraction. This was the first time we really bothered to stop for potty breaks. I am that mean mother that just uses the travel potty on the side of the road. Apparently modesty is delivered on the eve of your fourth birthday? Lie.

Hello Philly. 

Next year I'll have to plan something new and exciting. The zoo still worked for us this year. 

Guess who embarrassed her husband taking this picture??

I'm a 7 year old at heart! How can you not notice that?

We arrived in time to share some birthday celebrations with Abigail the giraffe! 

You might be able to tell from Claire's glare, the heat index was somewhere around 106 degrees. Every stinkin' year is unbearably hot. Every year I blame Emma. Should have stayed put!

The best part about this trip is that we gave no details. The ladies knew nothing of our plans. Bwhahaha!

If this trip had been nothing more than a hotel 10 minutes from our house, I think they would have been equally as happy. 

Make it a hotel with bendable, bedside reading lamps and two pools - JACKPOT!

When we pulled in they were delighted. They couldn't wait for Daddy to bring our bags in so they could unpack. 

The next day we hit the amusement park. They have been talking of "The Castle" since we left last year. Again, they were floored when we pulled up. Sadly we missed the lagoon for the second year in a row due to weather that never came. :(

The eve of your fourth birthday also brings glorious independence! Yay!

Our last day was actually their birthday. We woke them up and handed over their shirts as gifts. Then we left to our final stop before home, the train.

My babies!

Always my babies!

Then it was home to unpack, ignore the elephant in the bathroom, and send this mama off for a night out!

Sunday Morning

Heard downstairs:

DH: It makes Daddy very happy when you ladies share with each other. 

Claire: You mean I have special panties on today!

I guess sharing starts in the panties?? What has society come to?!?!?

Wordless Wednesday

Summer: Week 5

It was a fantastically busy week and boy am I exhausted!!

Wordless Wednesday

                          It is upon us...

Paid In Full

BAM!

And there you have it, paid in full. Never again will I see this bill, or correspond with these people. It's a glorious feeling to eliminate a debt.

Especially when it's your kids!!

That's right! I finally got around to paying my kids off. Glorious!!

Granted, I should have never had this bill. Thanks Dr. office for not handling my claim properly 5 times over. The tiny payments I made in spite were just not worth it anymore. Time to move on. 

So go us! Time to move on to bigger and better...bills?!

Summer: Week 4

This week we had a picnic dinner at a concert in the park. Hooray for two for one combos!!

The ladies are always excited for things out of the ordinary. Dinner, in the park, very out of the ordinary. 

The ladies had the best seat in the house!

We also had a great outing with friends and I didn't even feel bad for the people around us. That is progress friends! We hit Pan.era for lunch after a soggy morning at Storyville. 

I'm excited for this week. Birthdays, trips, and new rooms!!

Things You Should Know

I'm following in Marcia's lovely foot steps here to bring you:

Things You Should Know If We're Going To Be BFFs

• I have the memory and attention span of a half-baked goldfish. Birthdays, phone numbers, what we were discussing three seconds ago... Butterfly!
• I wear the same sandals every day. All year. For years at a time, regardless of weather.
• All things gray, chocolate, and the sound of pouring rain are my favorites. 
• Those three things you're never suppose to discuss [politics, sex, religion] are some of my faves. I should have been a sociologist, I love to analyze and discuss people. Religion is always good entertainment because I know so little and have no prior indoctrinations. Hello free thinking! Everyone loves sex right? And this is America, politics say what?!
• I'll be your 3 a.m. friend- if you can wake me up. Many have tried, few have succeeded. 
• Head nodding, smirks, and disapproving looks are a free service I offer. I'm full of judgement!
• I have a school girl infatuation with Mumford and Sons and can listen daily. 
• I'm related to the Devil although I hope my birth certificate was forged. Being hatched is my desired alternative. 
• I. USE. BAD. WORDS. *A lot*

Ah good fun! 

Jump Right In

To quilt making!

Nope, never have I ever. But like anything else, I'll try it once. I've hummed and hawed and now I'm just jumping in. 

My inspiration on the left, my picks on the right. Even if I completely fail, I'll at least be able to salvage it for a simple throw for the car, right? Who's with me??

What are you creating this month?

July Goals

I HAVE NONE!

How liberating!

Seriously! I didn't just not post, I have no goals. For the last FOUR years, July has been such a stressful month. I'm always stressed about vacation, and birthday, and life. Not this year. That doesn't mean I'm not getting things done, I'm just not over doing it. Simple friends, simple!

Not having a birthday party, complete bliss! No stress over invites and chasing down responses, no food to prepare, no decorations to fret over. There will be no missing that perfect shot at the party or worrying about stifling heat. I won't break out in a cold sweat looking at a gift pile and wondering where in the H-E-DOUBLE HOCKEY STICKS I'll put it all. No clean up, no left overs, and no post party hangover. 

Best yet, I don't feel guilty. No one says you have to have a party every year. I only had a handful of parties growing up, half of which were thrown by people other than my family. My mother congratulation me and telling me I didn't need to put myself through the stress immediately made me reconsider, yes I'm still a disgruntled teenager, but for different reasons she's right. They will still be celebrated, just differently. I want them to know they are loved and appreciated, and that doesn't mean showering them with gifts. Besides, who doesn't want to redo their room and go on get away for their birthday?! 

Can I tell you I just planned vacation last Thursday? Two weeks before we leave. Yup. No fretting over where to stay and comparing a zillion deals. Rooms were limited, I took what worked. In a matter of one afternoon I went from thinking about vacation to paid and writing packing lists. Beautiful! Am I slightly worried about the weather, of course, who isn't? If you're in even the smallest city, you'll find something to do. If you preface it with for your birthday, you're automatically the world's best mom! 

So here I go, embracing simple!

Summer: Week 3

Thanks to the Fourth of July we were able to cross off fireworks and s'mores! The next two weeks should put a real dent in our list. Now back to big girl room fretting!!

Holiday Comparisons

The fourth of July through the years.

Happy 4th!

Quite a happy day it was! 

I got myself all worked up over not having shirts that I set out to get shirts on the 3rd, only to find none. So I went all DIY and the girls loved them.

You know if HAM were with us I would have totally done Life, Liberty, and Happiness just to line them up for the photo op. 

Miss Em had the important job of handing over the donation to Mr. Scott. So glad she wasn't too afraid. 

I was glad there weren't 4 zillion vendors, and I was thrilled that the ladies weren't clamoring for crap. However I was half tempted to ask for a discount on this Dora. 

So I don't know this lady, but whenever I see her around I instantly think of Crystal Gayle and MandyE. I'm not sure why I link them together?? Mandy?

Among all the beads, bracelets, flags, and flyers being tossed out was candy. 

I can't tell you the last time I had a d.um-du.m or a too.tsie roll! Delicious! The ladies handed these "yucky" things over without a backward glance. 

After the parade we hung out for a bit. I worked a little in the yard and eventually worked my way into the pool. I swear I was only going in to vacuum. Judging by the lovely shade of red on my shoulders, and my DIY floatie, I might have stayed too long. Nothing says classy like dual kiddie floats to keep you up!

By some small miracle a certain little lady is suddenly comfortable to bob around on her own. We did a little bubble blowing and paddling. One giant leap for Em! 

Claire preferred to stay inside, with the dogs, and do a puzzle. 

Sigh. 

The lilies are blooming! They're starting to take over too. I have them planted around the pool and out front. I'm sooo happy I saved them last spring. I was half tempted to cut some but I could hear my Grandmother yelling about NOT cutting her flowers. :)

BUCKET LIST ALERT!

S'mores were made. Em was thrilled to toast and dug in; Claire was not so sure. She promptly asked for a fresh marshmallow. 

We headed off to wait for the sun to set. As we walked the dogs before we left they were asking the sun to hurry up and go down, and even offered to help. Ha! I'm not too sure what they had in mind. 

During nap I made some chocolate covered strawberries and Em was quite tickled with them. As in she ate half of them and told me I had to share! The nerve!!

Sugar rush anyone?

Dollar Store pin wheels are this summer's addiction. We might have to make some for these ladies. They are ALL ABOUT THEM!

Lucky for us it was windy and they weren't passing out from lack of oxygen in the summer heat.

Our family picture was photo bombed by a kid and his soccer ball. Ugh. It wasn't going to be a fantastic picture but he killed it for me. We killed some more time with a game of candy land. I also let the ladies take turns taking pictures. Preeeeetty sure Husband was sweating bullets.

 Claire was ready to leave just as the fireworks were starting. 

How were your celebrations?

Wordless Wednesday

What's that ON? Out of flag tees?? 

I laugh at your flag tees and raise you a free DIY!

Happy Fourth!!

Summer: Week 2

Another week, another item off the bucket list!

The girls loved the fair this year. Of course we also scratched "First Carnival Fish" off our childhood experiences list.  I'm happy to report that Goldie lives on, in the breakfast nook. Who knew eating with a goldfish was so enthralling??

This week we will be crossing off fireworks and not the John Q. Neckerson variety that plague the neighborhood. We will also partake in the parade, the pool, and way too much food for the forth!