Funny Had!

Here are some pictures of Had being crazy. She dresses oddly every day and plays "cooker."

Hali comes home tomorrow! YEAH!!!!!!! I can't wait. Mama bird needs all the baby birds to be in the nest. Looking forward to sleeping good Saturday night!

A sad day.....Goodbye Estelle Getty

Hali is gone to camp. Haven't heard a word. Missing her like CRAZY!!!!

I was so sad to hear that Estelle Getty passed away today. The Golden Girls is my ALL TIME favorite show! I know just about every episode, word for word. I even purchased a list (years ago) of every episode - just to be SURE that I hadn't missed any. I know - strange.....

I can remember being Hali's age, I would climb up into my parents bed every Saturday night to watch the new episodes. As I watch them now, as a grown up, I realize that most of the humor was over my head - but I related to the cool old lady, Sophia. She had the best one line zingers of anyone on tv. I continue to watch to this day. Chris has made fun of me for it for years. "Yes dear, I'm aware I've seen them each 100 times." The kids will see it come on tv and say "Ma, the Girls are on." They know me too well...

I still laugh, even though there are no surprises. Favorite episode: the one where the girls crash a class reunion. I laugh until tears poor - every time.

Funny how I could watch that as a child - w/all of the adult humor. I would never let Hali watch it. But the difference I think is it really was above my head. I didn't know what the adult humor meant, and I didn't care to know. But kids today know. They know way more than we did. They grow up so much faster than we did. I hate that. You can try to shelter them, but one way or the other, they are exposed to these things at an early age.

A secret that not too many know..... I love Young and the Restless. LOVE it. Have watched since I was 8. I know, soaps have a bad wrap and not too many folks I know watch them. But it is one of those things I've always done. I, to this day, I tivo them and watch, never missing an episode. Yes, it is trash. But it is a story line I've followed for so many years, it will take a lot to disgust me enough to give it up. Not that I agree w/the story lines. It is just entertainment. Mind candy. I remember going to my grandmothers, drinking coffee and watching the soaps! Something fun to have in common. Chris' grandmother also watched them, and it was a topic that fueled many of our conversations. It was a bonding factor for us. She'd get so fired up sometimes about certain characters!! Fun times.

Again, something I could watch as a child, but now would I let Hali sit down to watch one? No way!!!! They weren't nearly as trashy when I was a child. I'm sure they must have had some adult content, but I didn't notice. Hali will sometimes come in the room to watch while I'm watching a show - but mostly I'll fast forward b/c the content isn't something I want to share w/her. Boy, the times have changed.

Well, I'm off to bed to sulk about not hearing from Hali today! I'm sure she can't get a signal on her phone, but each time my house phone rings, I jump!

I'll sign off w/what Estelle signed on all of her autographs: Love & Laughter!

Summer Fun in the Sun!

Yesterday we spent the day at the pools! First we hit one pool w/Pizza in hand for lunch! I had a great time visiting with friends from church while the kids played for hours! Here are some pics!

Later, we left one pool & headed for the other to meet Hayden's girlfriend's family! Ha! Both pools are lots of fun for the kids & I always manage to find someone to chat with.

I was going to post these photos yesterday, but I couldn't get Hali & Hayden off of the computers!!!!!! Hali on the lap top, Hayden on the desk top! Busy Busy Bees.

Today I got braces! OUCH!!!!!!!! I'm glad Hali & I are getting them at the same time. I can feel her pain and try to make it better now that I've felt it myself. Just 1 1/2 to 2 years to go! ha! A dear friend's husband is our orthodontist. He is much nicer than the orthodontist I worked for in Monroe - that man still gives me nightmares! ha!

Hali goes to camp next week :-( I will miss her so. I hate that the summer is coming to an end for the kids. I wish they didn't have to go back until after labor days. I feel like we are just now getting to relax and enjoy the summer. These are the days I will cherish forever.

A day of play!

Yesterday the kids spent the day having fun in the sun! Michelle came over while I worked. They played outside on the playset, rode bikes across the street and hit the pool. I'm sure you can imagine why they think Michelle is the greatest!!! She took some pictures of the kids for me to my surprise! This one was taken by her.

After I got back from work I took the younger two to another neighborhood pool so spend some mommy time and to catch up w/my friend Jennifer. When we were getting ready to leave, Had saw her best friend Tori!! So we stayed a little longer so that they could play. All in all I think Had & Hayden spent about 6 hours in the pool!!!

Hali stayed home and played on the computer. Today we are going to get some of her things for camp. SHOPPING - she'll love that!

No other news to report. Just a good ole summer day!

Swim team awards!!!

Tonight was the award ceremony for the swim team season. We gathered at a local church for a pot luck dinner that was followed by the big awards!!!! Hayden got a team trophy as well as MOST IMPROVED in his age category! He really has made huge improvements from last year. He was SO excited to get the "biggest trophy I've ever had in my life" as he put it. He was very surprised!

He was so happy to show his sisters! And tonight he is letting "da" sleep with his trophies. As you know from past blogs, Hayden is big on sleeping with prize possessions, such as the fishing lore, power ranger figures, whatever he is into at the time. So to let "da" sleep with his trophies is huge. He put them on his bedside table, all three. Two from tonight, one from last year. He said tomorrow I MIGHT get to sleep with them. One can hope....

As soon as it was over he was begging "da" for a bike ride. It was late & Chris had left straight from work to attend the dinner, so no bike ride tonight. Still, he wore his helmet for most of the day.

Had made me call her "old lady" for most of the day. She was in one of her role play moods again. She would run past me and make me say "wow, what was that?" To which she would respond "me, sonic the hedge hog." In her mind she is as fast as they come. Thinking about getting her swim lessons next week and the fitness club we just joined.

Hali is busy getting ready for camp. Well, mom is busy getting Hali ready for camp. Hali is busy picking out a new cell phone. We bought her phone in December two years ago, but for some reason we had to wait until July to renew & get the phone upgrade. We get our phones from Radio Shack. The price is MUCH better than going into the AT&T store. Same phones, better price. There are about 50 phones on the web that she could choose from. Many are free, a few are 50 bucks and the price goes up to 199. Guess which one she picked? You bet - the most expensive one. Teenagers - got to love them!

Pictured here is Hayden w/his friend from swim team. He is a good little friend who lived near us & who also will be attending school w/Hayden next year. He has wonderful parents and three great siblings. We are blessed to have met so many nice families through our children's activities. This is such a wonderful God loving town. We are blessed!!!

Tomorrow Michelle comes back! YEAH! Michelle, our babysitter, has been gone for the past 2 weeks. The kids have really missed her - and so have I. Until next time! Goodnight!

Let's Hear it for the Boy!

Wow, what a week the boy has had! This week he wrapped up swim team for the summer. He did such a great job and made HUGE improvements!!! So funny to think that at the beginning of last summer he couldn't swim. Now he swims like a fish! He brought me a ribbon this morning from the beginning of last summer. 25 yards free style took him 1 min and 51 seconds. This summer 25 yards free style took him 28 seconds! Talk about shaving some time off! He went to the preliminaries for City Meet, the big finale, this Thursday. While he didn't place (you had be come in 8th or above) he did do quite well! In free style, he came in 12th place out of 37. Backstroke he came in 10th place out of 20. I can't wait to see how he does next year!

But even BIGGER news for Hayden this week is.....he learned to ride his bike!!!!! Chris took Hayden & Hadley up to the parking lot of Crossgates Baptist two days in a row. It only took a few tries and Hayden had it down pat! Hadley spent her time riding up and down the lot on her Dora trike. Hayden is head over heals in love with bike riding now! He wears his helmet in the house all day, waiting and watching for "Da" to come home for a ride. Hayden and "Da" like to ride all around Crossgates. This morning they went miles, stopping by to visit Hayden's girlfriend, who was out shopping at the time. They drove by the Crossgates lake, where Hayden had his first bike wreck, but survived. They were gone about 2 hours.

I'm just shocked he isn't wearing his helmet to bed! Poor little man gets something in his head and goes overboard. This is the man who slept w/a fishing lore when he was consumed with fishing! He gets it honest from his daddy. I'm just glad they find the same things fun and exciting. Chris has fixed his bike up and LOVES riding - he hasn't rode in years. Now he is suggesting that I get a bike. Well......I'm sure there is something that Had, Hali & I can do together that doesn't involve me, on the road - we all know I can't drive a car. Who knows what I'll do on a bike!!!

This picture is of Hayden after deep sea fishing at Destin. Once again, Chris & Hayden buddied up. I'm using my new laptop that doesn't have many photos loaded to it - just vacation photos. I'll post a pic of Hayden on his bike soon!

Tonight, everyone is in bed, all is right w/the world. My world at least. I'm enjoying this little bit of time to reflect. A little time to pray and thank God for all of the blessings. Sometimes it is overwhelming to think of all that God has blessed me with. My husband, my best friend of 15 years. The type of father he is - my children are SOOOO blessed. Speaking of kids, they light up my life. God gave me three beautiful, funny, healthy kids. Each day with them is a gift.

Tomorrow I have an open house. I pray that it goes well. I pray for all of my clients - past, present and future. I pray for my parents, for their health and happiness. I pray for guidance, to better serve Him. And mostly I give thanks.

These are the things I reflect on here in the dark at bedtime. Nice to have a minute to blog. Until next time.