The DMV, Umbrellas and Adam and Eve....

I just got back with Betsy from the dmv. I had all my papers in hand....birth certificate, state drug/drinking course completion certificate, social security card, downloaded forms....we arrived to an almost empty parking lot. Betsy closed the instruction booklet for the last time, confident in her knowledge of yield signs and no passing zones. We went into the office and there were four attendants, and only one other customer....we step up to the window, smiles on our faces....and then she tells us the computers for the entire state are down, and we have to come back. Talk about disappointing! She said they would be back up in a half an hour, so she filled out the paperwork, gave Betsy the vision test, and handed everything back to me. We decided to go visit my parents for a bit, and return later. Forty minutes later - enter first half of paragraph here - and they now will be down for "at least" another hour. *Sigh. I guess there will be no learners permit today....I wanted to get it done this morning while wee one was at her church outing with a friend. Looks like we will be heading out Monday to try again. I'm going to call and see if the computers are running after wee one gets home....but I have a feeling they will be out for the day.

Other than that, it looks like a day of cleaning for me. I want to get everything done so that tomorrow I can bake Betsy's birthday cake without interruption. It will be chocolate, with a layer of Ben & Jerry's peanut butter cup ice cream in the middle. I've never made an ice cream cake before, but I'm sure it will turn out fine. I got supplies yesterday....plates, cups, napkins etc. Apparently the Lion King motif has been discontinued at the party supply stores too, as I was unable to find anything. Bummer. So, I ended up getting a Sweet Sixteen table ornament, and a button for her to wear....I'm sure she will be thrilled with it! LOL Wee one had a great time shopping for Betsy. She certainly knows what she wants when she shops. While choosing cards, she will read each one, and if it doesn't pertain to her in the least, it's put back. The one she got is funny and cute....and she had to think long and hard about her purchase as well. I think Betsy will love it. She also said that she did NOT want a gift bag....she wants to wrap it herself. She picked out paper in a color she thought Betsy would like, and some fancy bows as well. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

We did stop at the "freaking dollar store" yesterday. It was absolutely pouring out, and she and I had only one umbrella between us. As we walked in, we saw a display of "kid" umbrellas. She ran over to them and said, "MOM! Can I have one? They have PLASTIC handles!" I said sure, and she asked if we could get me one too. I told her I already had one, and she said, "But I worry about you." I wasn't sure what she meant until I remembered our conversation as we got out of the car...."Mom, what happens if you are holding an umbrella with a metal handle, and lightning strikes you?" I laughed and said it probably wouldn't happen. She said, "Yeah, probably not....but I want YOU to hold this umbrella!" Lmao. The kid cracks me up. I ended up buying her a sketch pad as well, and while we were waiting to pick up Betsy, she drew a tree. She said, "Do you like my tree? And here's the apple....and those people....Mom? What were those people's names? You know, the ones who ate the apple that God said not to, and ruined it for the rest of us?" I suppose I should be happy that she remembered the gist of the story, even if she forgot the names....

 

The long, hot summer....

Only 4 weeks and 5 days till the kids go back to school. This southern schedule has me all mixed up. I'm used to having the kids go back at the end of August, not the beginning. At lunch with my aunt the other day, she said to me, "The girls don't have much vacation left, do they?" I thought about it for a moment and said, "No, only a few weeks." I expected a roll of the eyes from my girls....but instead I received "Thank God" in unison! LOL....I guess they are bored. And who wouldn't be with nothing but dvd's, video games, a pool, a computer and various other things to keep them busy.

It's still stifling hot here. Although, this afternoon we had quite a storm, and it actually cooled things off. I probably should go get my jacket out of storage, as it's a chilly 85 at 8:00 pm. *enter sarcasm here. Really, it did cool things down a bit, and cut the humidity, which is a nice change.

The girls have an abundance of things to do in the next few days. Betsy is going bowling tomorrow with a church friend, and wee one will be going on a "fun friday" with her friend's church group. They will be painting some ceramics and using a kiln. This weekend we will be having Betsy's b=day party, minus a Lion King cake. It's the one thing she specifically asked for....and when I went to the grocery store today, the woman says, "LION KING? Oh no....they discontinued that a LONG time ago." She was saying this very loudly, like I was not only stupid, but hard of hearing. I just stared at her and she says, "But I did get a memo that said they are bringing it back, due to the re=release of the movie." Okaayyyy.....thanks for nothing. Needless to say I did NOT order my cake there. I went to another store, and they didn't have it either. I suppose I could call around to various bakeries, but I will probably end up making it myself.  And why should I pay up the wazoo for a cake that the teenage girls won't eat because of their "weight" and the boys will pay no attention to? Of course, I'm making a family cake as well....so I should ask what flavor she wants, etc.

I bought wee one a new bathing suit today....it's adorable! We went to K=mart and they had all their summer things on sale for 50% off....woohoo! $6.95 for a new suit! I should go back and get some more....but in a few weeks they will be down to $2.00.

Okay, that's it for me this evening. It's Reno 911 night, and I must get ready for my viewing pleasure....peace out!

I'm melllllltingggggg.....

It is so freaking hot, you could literally fry an egg on the sidewalk....or the pool deck....or my head....take your pick. Right now, I wish I were in Alaska during a snow storm. Or at least skinny enough to fit in the freezer. Not only is it hot, but the humidity is somewhere in the 500% range. My makeup melted off my face, my hairspray turned into glue, and my deodorant? You don't want to know.

So, what did I do on this wearing-a-parka-in-a-crowded-elevator-would-be-cooler-than-this day?  I went to downtown Jacksonville with my aunt and daughters, to scope out the art camp wee one will be attending. My aunt, who is the "queen of walking", (although Sully is getting up there, with her 5 miles in the heat), decided we should park, then walk the "two" blocks to the museum, since there was a bit of construction. Fine I say....but what she doesn't tell me is that you have to park, walk through half a mall, and then outside down the 3 blocks to the museum. You would have thought I had asked wee one to walk across the Sahara. She was whining before we even got into the mall! Every step she took, she complained.                         

"Are we there yet? How much longer? My feet hurt. I'm tired. Where IS it?"  I was ready to explode. Finally we arrived, and decided to dine in the cafe. It was very good....a small menu with few items....mostly gormet. Wee one took one look at it and gave me the eye. I knew she didn't like anything on it. Thankfully, they had a tuna salad, which is her all time favorite. I was worried, as she only likes it the way I or my mother makes it....but apparently this was good. Afterward, we walked back and stopped at a little shop just to browse. Of course, immediately wee one found a frog marrionette....and now owns it.

I wore the wrong shoes for the treck....and now my heels have been rubbed raw.  I will be sporting the "band-aid" look for a while. I also bit my tongue so hard it bled....which was such a nice ending to our outing.  We got back to the plant and went inside to see hubby for a minute. Ahhhh, glorious air conditioning! It felt like an ice box....wonderful.  Of course, after our visit, we had to get into our dark green van that had sat in the sun for the past few hours. Now I know what a turkey on Thanksgiving feels like going into the oven. My car didn't cool down until I was a mile from home. 

So, that is my hot, steamy, Florida day. All you northerners who wish for the warm weather in the winter.....trust me....we pay for it. Stay put. Never, ever, under ANY circumstances move here. Mickey isn't worth it. I have a feeling he just hires people to wear costumes down there in Orlando, and is enjoying his money somewhere at a Colorado ski resort..... 

 

The holiday weekend is over....whew....

I just got back from the grocery store. I had to pick up a few things that we were out of. Just the usuals....bread, milk, tea, cheese....it was nice to get out and back into a routine. As much as I like holidays, they sometimes overwhelm me. Although, I must say that this year included no picnic or purchased fireworks. However, wee one was thrilled to spend 10 minutes outside with her dad and I, throwing those little "snap" things at one another. You would have thought we had spent thousands of dollars on really great fireworks, by the way she was laughing and carrying on. It made me feel so good....and so melancholy at the same time. She is growing up too fast. But I'm not going to go into that now....

We ended up driving out to St. Augustine for the fireworks. We left around 8:30, since it was raining we figured we could leave later....WRONG. Apparently a little rain doesn't deter folks around here. The entire downtown was blocked off and there were thousands of card trying to get in. People were actually parking along the highway and walking 3-4 miles to get to the grounds of the fort. Unbelieveable. I said absolutely not. So, we pulled into the Dairy Queen lot, got a cone, and waited. Unfortunately, we were not able to see from there, so we drove around some more. Frustrated we decided to drive home....but when I looked in my mirror, I could see the fireworks. So, we turned around and parked in the emplty lot of a furniture store, about 2 miles away. We had a perfect view....plus no rain, no crowds, and no mosquitoes! The girls were thrilled with it. And when it was over, we were home in 20 minutes. I guarantee people were spending more time trying to get out of there, than it took to watch the show. Next year I am going to reserve a room at one of the hotels that faces the harbour. That will be much more fun!

Today I spent cleaning and organizing drawers in my bedroom. I am in an organizational mode right now. I want to dig into my closet and start throwing things away. I will start that project on Wednesday. Tomorrow, I have to meet my aunt for lunch, then we are taking wee one to see where she is going to have her week of art camp. It's at a museum and I'm not positive how to get there. I hope she enjoys her classes. I think she will....she's such an artsy kid!

Betsy and I have some planning to do for her party on Saturday. Just a few kids, a few pizzas and the pool. I can't believe my baby will be 16! She also wants to make an appointment to get her permit. I have been putting it off since last July....I don't think I'm going to get away with it much longer. Her father is going to teach her how to drive. He is an excellent driver, he drove the big rigs for a few years, and I think he will have the patients to teach her better than I.

Right now John is vegging in front of the tv with his chicken and mashed taters. Poor guy worked outside in the humidity allllll day. He looked terrible when he came in. He got undressed, put his trunks on and jumped into the pool. He stayed there for quite a while. I know he was so hot. He power washed the sidewalks, walkway, mowed, trimmed, and shampooed my car. He deserved his beloved chicken! LOL. Betsy is in her room reading and wee one is at her friend's house swimming. She came home to get her suit and couldn't find it....so she came into my room to ask if I knew where it was. I'm standing in my closet with my shorts and bra on, and I turn to answer her and notice her friend standing there next to her....Sheesh! I just smiled and told her to go look....but the funny thing was her friend....she looked at me and sloooowwly backed up and out of the room. Kids crack me up!

Well, I'm outta here for now. I have more laundry to do. Back to reality.....

Happy birthday to meeeee.....

Well, I'm officially 35. It doesn't feel much different than 34. I had a wonderful day with my family. I posted pics of my "haul"....lol. We had a great dinner at the Blue Crab....the girls loved it. Wee one said, "We should eat here every Saturday!" I'm still stuffed and we ate hours ago.

I want to thank EVERYONE who sent the sweet e-cards and of course the greetings by snail mail as well. Who ever thought a simple journal would bring me friends as wonderful and thoughtful and teriffic as I have found here. I consider my journal friends closer to me than my "real life" ones. You know me by my words and true feelings....and you still accept me for who I am. I feel so blessed today....and everyday with all of you! ((((HUGS))))

Tomorrow we will be seeing Spiderman 2 after church, and buying some sparklers for wee one. She is a bit miffed that we haven't spent hundreds of dollars on fireworks. I told her, all she has to do is look up in the sky, and see everyone elses for free! LOL....she did get some of those snap things from my mom and dad....the ones you throw on the ground and they pop. Maybe I'll pick up one of those $20 packs at the store....we'll see. Well, I'm off to bed....you know how it is when you get older....bedtime comes around much earlier!

Someone's got a birthday, I wonder who????

Today is Percy's 11th birthday....so HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOY! He's such a sweetie pie....he spent his day napping, eating, napping, drinking, napping, etc. You get the picture. I can't believe how old he's getting. Sometimes he still acts like the  little puppy we got so long ago. He was a surprise to Betsy and I. John went out and got him without our knowing....I had always wanted a golden retriever....(yes Martha, because of Einstein!) Betsy would run and play with him, jump in the leaves, sleep with him....they were best buds. And when wee one came home from the hospital, he would lay beside her while she napped....taking such good care of her. He has grown up with my kids, and I couldn't imagine him not being part of our family. Such a good boy.....

Today Betsy had her all day babysitting again. I actually felt good today, so I spent the day cleaning really well, so that I could enjoy my weekend with no "cleaner's guilt". After I was finished, I took wee one to Michael's for refils on her window art paint. Have you tried this stuff? They come in squeeze bottles and you trace a picture with the "lead" onto a piece of plastic, then when it is dry, you paint it in with the special paint. After it all dries, you peel it off the plastic and stick it to your window. They are adorable! Wee one has made at least 20 since we got home. She loves them....and so do I. It's homemade stained glass. Unfortunately, you can't save them, as they are super sticky. As a matter of fact, I learned the hard way that you can not stick then re-stick. I ruined one of her masterpieces at Easter and still haven't heard the end of it!  After that we went to Books a Million and the grocery store.

Tonight I made hamburgers on the grill, corn on the cob, coleslaw in the bowl, and bought a pie for dessert. Hey, I'm not feeling that good. I didn't have the energy to bake! Let me just say that the Marie Callendar (sp?) chocolate silk pie is wonnnnderful. It really looks like a pie from a bakery. I couldn't finish my piece, as it was too rich. My mom said that she made my birthday cake....pineapple upside down cake....oh man I love that!

Well, this is the last entry I will be writing as a 34 year old woman. I always tell my hubby on the eve of my birthday, "Enjoy it honey, it's the LAST time you will be sleeping with a 3_ year old!" (It darn well better be....)

It's Thursday....isn't it?

I thought I'd post my food pics....since I needed to empty the camera anyway. I want to make a cookbook of sorts, so that when I can't think of anything to make for dinner, I can look back and see some of my past meals. So, bear with me and my food photos....and if you are on a diet....you might want to look away!

I'm on the mend from this cruddy cold....yet I'm still not quite up to par. Dh wants to take the girls and I out for my birthday to the Blue Crab for dinner, so I'm trying to feel better. The girls have wanted to go there since it opened, and especially since dh and I have raved about it....then sneaked off to eat without them....lol. The food is so dang good there. And you get to write on the walls. They have it decorated in a Maine/nautical theme, and they let you write little messages on the walls. You wouldn't believe how many crudely drawn pictures of SpongeBob there are! I love sitting there and reading some of the writings. Newlyweds, out of state vacationers, and my personal favorite in big, bold letters, "I've got crabs!" Lmao....

Wee one spent the night at her friend's house. She just came home to get her bathing suit so they could swim. Not 20 minutes before she came in the door, I picked up her suit and decided to wash it. As I was carrying it to the washer, I thought to myself....as soon as I put this in there, she is going to want it. And, against my better judgment (my mommy senses were tingling), I threw it in. When she came for her suit, it was being agitated (as was I a few minutes later!). She threw a huge fit, saying the backup suit goes "up my butt", and why can't I just take the other one out of the wash. I told her it was soaking wet and she would either wear the backup or not swim. She got mad, stomped into the bathroom and got re-dressed. I, of course, went to the washer, sloshed around in the semi-dirty water, found and wrug out the suit, and presented it to her on her way out. She had a very surprised look on her face....I think she was surprised I gave in. Then she gave me a big hug and kiss and whispered she was sorry and thank you. I am such a wimp sometimes. I think I am going to stick to my guns and make her so something she is not happy about....but then I think in the grand scheme of things, is it really such a big deal? So, now wee one and her friends are having fun in the sun, swimming and playing, and I can go back to my work, knowing my daughter's bottom is "bathingsuit free".

 

I just read something in another journal that really touched my heart. Please go here and follow the instructions to help send blessings to a little boy who desparately needs them. In the grand scheme of things, this is one minute of our lives that we can afford to give to someone else. Thank you, and thanks to Shana for bringing this to our attention!