Go IU! FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

We try to take in one IU game a year with the kids because they get a kick out of it.  Well, Claire is just along for the ride and likes doing what everyone else is doing.  Taylor gets in to the actual game and loves watching it, and Connor has a million things to look at and we only lose him 42 times when we are there because he runs off.  This time we went with friends of ours and their two kids.   We tailgated first and the kids got a kick out of that too-it was the first time they have tailgated.  We spent the first half actually watching the game (well, I did a lot of people watching-and sorta paid attention to the game). Then went down to the Knot Hole area where the kids can pass footballs, run around and scream and no one even notices.  Perfect for my crew!  I love visiting campus and feeling the memories come back to me of being there as a student.  Husband and I will be headed down there in a few weeks for a game with all my college BFF's and I am so excited for that.  We will pretend like we are 22 again and then the next day feel every bit of our age plus some, but it will be worth every minute! 

Girls weekend! Can I get a what-what?

Last weekend (after my husband was away on business for 4 days so the timing could not have been better!) I go to run away with 4 of my best friends!  Jiffy and I go way back to 6th grade and were college roomates all four years in college (thankfully she dragged me around with her wherever she lived) :)  College was where I met my other 3 girlies and now lifelong friends.  Jiffy and I lived with Sara Junior year and all five of us lived together senior year.  Which was, by far, the best year ever in college.  For one, I FINALLY turned 21 (I was the last one and looked way too young to ever even attempt a fake ID).  And for two, I formed a bond and friendship with these girls that would continue after graduation, traveling all over the US to visit each other (Nashville, TN, Houstin, TX, Chicago, IL and boring me that never left home :)).  We are all now living in the same city but busy jobs and raising families get in the way of seeing each other as often as we would like.  And when we get together w/ the kids we barely get to catch up or discuss our lives as we are busy feeding mouths, changing diapers or disciplining naughty children (well that is mostly me since I have the naughty ones).  But at least our children get to play as they will certainly grow up stuck w/ each other as friends whether they like it or not because their mommies will always be friends!  I shouldn't leave out the daddies, as we also went to college with some of the husbands; only Jiffy and I brought in outsiders :)  Good thing we know how to pick 'em because they fit in great-which makes for fun couples nights out too!  Point is, these girls are amazing and I am thankful to have them in my life!  Having great friends makes any of life's ups and downs and just the everyday in between better to have them to share it with!  (okay, those non-sentimentals out there may now go vomit from my sickly sweet moment :)) 

Bringing friends to the lake!

I speak of the lake to people I know often, but we have never had any friends down with us.  Mostly because it is a family thing and there is usually only room for family.  However, my sister an her family weren't coming for the weekend so my parents were gracious enough to let us invite friends of ours to join us!  We had a blast-I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story!

Papaw threw the boys of the boat-they loved it!

Mamaw and Bear swimming

Boys skipping rocks

The pirate boys!

Derrick trying to flip Vickie and I off the tube!

Captain Matthew driving the boat!

Gina Grace

Waterfall exlporers!

Sneaky girl-not sure what she is trying :)

Boys about to take a whilr on the tube

Bill and GiGi taking a cruise

Taking pictures of Claire sleeping in her life jacket never gets old!

Laying down on the boat admiring the sky

I had more than enough sun for the day-cover me up!

2nd grader

I am pretty much in denial that I have a 2nd grader. I actually choke a little when I type in the "2"....Therefore I am not going to go on and on about it because I will full out cry like a baby about my baby not being a baby anymore. Oh wait, he's always my baby. And I will continue to treat him as such forever. Yes, that means kissing and hugging in public. And when he wipes off my kiss, I will be quick to plant another one on him, even if it means tackling him to do it. Is that going overboard?


This year our township got rid of bussing because of a failed referendum/financial reasons. Although it seems ridiculous, I side w/ the township on this and think they did the right thing. They chose to use the money they have to save teacher's jobs so that the classroom size will not be out of control and to also save specials classes (music, gym, art, etc.) Taylor has never ridden the bus anyway (I am too overprotective to let him) and have thankfully been able to take him myself. The reason for mentioning it though is that the traffic now to drop him off and pick him up is quite substantial. But the school has done a GREAT job getting procedures that work together and it is actually working out quite well. Plus, I carpool, so that helps too-I only take him and pick him up on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am so not sure where I was going with this.......it has something to do with 2nd grade surely right? Or it could be that small problem I have with wordiness.....


Here's hoping for a sensational second grade year!

We do a cake the day before school starts and say a special prayer the night before the new school year.

I gave up trying to make him dress "nice" the first day a school. He detests collared shirts, which I would totally put him in, so I figured 2nd grade is the year to give him control over something; we'll start with the shirt on the first day of school :)

My loves

Taylor and one of his BFF's Matthew! His mom and I are friends so we rode together the first day so we could be miserable in traffic together and have someone to talk to about it :)

Matt Morrison (I mean NKOTB) concert

So back in the day (7th-8th grade?) I was OBSESSED with NKOTB (New Kids on the Block for those of you foolish enough to not know :)).  Me and my friends would work at it until we had the dances memorized, we would watch videos and pause it on their butts (oh yes, we were that immature) and I swore I was going to marry Joey.  I mean why not?  Why wouldn't he be interested in some average (okay, shorter than average) girl from Indianapolis.  It made total sense :)

So, fast forward 20+ years and they are on a reunion tour with Backstreet Boys (whom I really never got into, but the friends I went with did).  How lucky am I to still be friends with the same girls that obsessed over them with me back in the 90's?  (minus Jeni; we picked her up in high school, but STILL, that is 18 years later!)

To our wonderful surprise, the opening act was Matt Morrison (Mr. Schu from Glee).  HE WAS AMAZING!  He can sing, he can dance, and my is he pretty to look at! :) Ahhh....all in all it was a great, fun, fabulous night with some of the best friends a girl could ask for!

 YUMMY

THE GIRLS, they got the "Right Stuff"

 ON OUR WAY "Step by Step"

The boys.....Joey....ah....okay, back to my 33 year old self-it was a fun trip down memory lane, but I am not really obsessed anymore :)

We HEART Vacation!

We recently vacationed in St. George Island, FL. This is our 4th time there and we went with my in-laws. We rented a house across the street from the beach with unobstructed views of the ocean. There is just something so peaceful and therapeutic about the beach. We had a relaxing week of riding bikes, eating ice cream, going to the beach and swimming in the pool at the house. The 15 hour car ride with 4 adults, 3 whiney kids and 3 dogs was not as relaxing, as you can imagine! Click to see All Florida Pictures

Below are a few highligts of pics.

Yes, the whole car ride was this happy (haaaa!)

View from the balcony of the house

Claire LOVED walking the dogs

In town at Apalachicola

Grandpa and Taylor chest bumping after winning Sorry

My baby boys showing me some love

Alligator built and colored by Taylor, daddy, Gma and Gpa

My baby girl

At the park waiting for the movie to start

Taylor caught a SHARK!!! (and it is still in my freezer at home...WHY???)

Our family of five!

Grandpa, Grandma, kids and dogs

Cheese

Swimming in the pool at the house was refreshing after being at the beach!

Life doesn't get any better than seeing these 3 beautiful faces everyday!