Smells Nice

WD likes to buy me perfume and jewelry, but I am fickle and unpredictable when it comes to both.  Today I love one kind and tomorrow it's "just ok".  I guess I let my mood direct my preferences & it has kept WD from buying me such frivolities.  Well this Christmas he found the perfect "fragrant" gift for me.  It is a sampler from Sephora.  It came in this terrific little hat-box with about 12 different perfume samples.  Along with the samples, there is a guide describing each frangrance & its designer.  I try a different scent everyday, and then I record my initial opinion of it, my opinion the next day, and if WD noticed or not.  After I sample all the scents, I can take the enclosed gift coupon back to Sephora for a full bottle of which ever scent I liked best.  So far I really am liking "Stella" and "Cashmere Mist". WD gets a gold star for picking this gift out for me!

Catching Up & Enjoying Life

Well life has been full of fun & festivities... thus the reason I haven't blogged in a while. I am a huge advocate for recording memories, but living 'em has to come first!  If it weren't for Facebook, I don't know if anyone would know what anyone else was doing.  Gotta love it!

Our most recent "excitement" was a couple of nights before Christmas... WD came down with a terrible stomach virus.  He was geared up to go to work (he had to work days Christmas Eve & Christmas Day... it was the trade off for getting off for our 11 day NYC, Cruise, Bahama vacay in November).  Kids were in bed, and he was really sick (I won't go into too many details, but you know symptoms of stomach virus).  He tried to stay hydrated, but couldn't stay ahead of it.  I went out looking for somewhere to buy medicine... apparently the only place to get "drugs" in P'ville is on the streets, cuz there were no pharmacies or Walmart open at that time of night.  I ended up buying ImodiumAD at the Shell station, but he couldn't keep those down for them to work.  We finally resorted to St Elizabeth's ER where they gave him a heavy duty shot in the butt.  All said, he was weak for a day or so, but he's great now.

Finally Christmas... we opted for Santa to make his stop at our house early Christmas Eve since WD was working during the day.  When WD got off of work, I had Christmas PJs laid out for him (believe me... that wasn't his idea), potato soup cooked, & kids so wound up with excitement they couldn't stand it.  The only kink in our Christmas Eve plan was that Santa's helpers left the stocking stuffers upstairs in gift bags so that me & WD could move them to the stockings when it was time. I  panicked when I went upstairs & found Erin's giftbag of stocking goodies was missing! Dylan suggested I look under the bed (he thinks like a mischievous puppy) & sure enough, our crazy pup had drug the bag under the bed & attacked it!  Well I suppose that's not as bad as some of the other things he's drug out before!

Of course, as most of you heard via FB, I graduated!  I'm so excited to have my "free-time" back now.  It's so nice not to worry about assignment deadlines & in-field experience logs & research papers that make my head hurt & on & on & on.  I'm done with school (at least until I get Erin & Dylan out of high school)!  I have to thank my kids & hubby for their support.  There were many nights & weekends that I had to pick schoolwork over family time & it was tough!

Santa brought a few fun surprises for us this year!  I got a Sony Reader & didn't even know I wanted one.  It is really cool.  I can carry as many books as I want with me anywhere (I guarantee none of my books will be textbooks...nothing but fictional fun now).  I can download them from the public library for no charge or buy books online.  It's a great little gadget!  WD got a blue-ray player, Erin got a new phone, & Dyl got the PS3.  Yeah, we are electronic junkies!  Now we are ready for 2010... Happy Holidays, everyone!

Vacation to NYC, Universal Studios, & the Bahamas

It hasn't quite been a week since returning from our fabulous vacation.  It was an exciting time for me, WD, & the kids.  There are far to many stories to fit in one blog, but here are some highlights:

• NYC was huge. It was so exciting.  WD got to experience his hotdog stand "dream".  He ordered a hot dog with all the toppings plus a knish (fried bread pocket with some type of hardened potato... very dry).  Setting the hot dog on the knish, it slipped and landed on the sidewalk.  No matter, remember the 5 second rule... yep, WD quickly snatched it up & took a bite.  Yummy!  I passed on the hot dog/knish expedition, but enjoyed pizza!
• "Wicked" on Broadway was remarkable.  The kids sat wide-eyed while we all enjoyed the music, story, costumes, & the whole experience.
• Skipping was a "theme" for us while on this trip.  You see, I just learned to skip recently (thanks to Jazzercise).  So while attempting to embarass Erin (you know how 13 year olds are so easily embarrassed by their parents), I decided to skip from time to time.  I told the kids it made me happy, so Erin joined in (when no one was looking), and Dylan adapted it to a "backwards" skip.  Fun, fun... WD caught us on camera at Universal Studios (see below).
• Boarding the Carnival "Dream" was rather simple.  Later that evening, all of our bags had been delivered to our stateroom except WD's.  All I could think was, "Uh-oh another cruise going commando!" Those hysterical thoughts were short lived as WD found his bag downstairs at the purser's office... the tag fell off.
• My nightly indulgence on the cruise ship was a slice of pizza at or near midnight and frozen yogurt on a cone while sitting on the lido deck.  Hopefully all the dancing & time in the ship's gym kept me "balanced".  I haven't looked at the scale yet.
• Universal Studios was fun, but I think I would prefer Disney next time.  We chose to take the day in port in Florida to do something we hadn't done yet.  We've been to Disney twice with the kids already, so we did get to experience something new.  It's not nearly as grand, but the rides were exciting, especially the crazy rollercoaster where we got to pick our own music to rock out to while squealing through the ups, downs, & twists & turns.
• The first day in the Bahamas was a bit windy & chilly, but it was a lovely place.  We ended up eating dinner at Senor Frogs, which was a silly little place that served Mexican cuisine.  The kids got a kick out of the table decor... it was mapped out where to place your hands, elbows, feet, head, etc.  Very cute!
• WD wore a "Speedo"! Not the kind you typically think of, although that is a thought that can make one laugh.  He found a cute pair of swim trunks (full coverage & nearly knee length) that were the "Speedo" brand.  He sported those on the beach, so I can say with complete truth that my husband looks good in Speedo!
• The second day in the Bahamas was perfect.  The sun came out so Dyl & I laid on the beach (well Dyl swam out & hopped on a water trampoline while I laid out & read), and WD & Erin went out to snorkle. One of my treats was a pina colada served in a real coconut made by locals & sold out of their ice chests on the beach.  They peeled the top of the coconut so that you could eat the little piece off the top... refreshing/delicious! No, I didn't get sick although it did cross my mind, "I would never buy a drink out of someone's ice chest on the beach in the states!"
• Back on the ship, we enjoyed elegant dining nightly.  The kids even enjoyed it.  While at supper one night, I noted how handsome Dylan looked dressed up.  I also commented how he's going to knock the girls dead with those long eyelashes.  He batted his eyes at me, and I told him that's how he can get what he wants (along with good manners & a smile), really not thinking too much about my side comment.  A couple of hours after dinner we stopped in the ship's atrium to get drinks at the bar.  Erin & Dylan used their "coke cards" to purchase Shirley Temples.  Dylan climbed up on the bar stool to place his order and when the female bar tender handed him his drink, he said, "Thank you", smiled and batted his eyes.  The bar tender was taken aback while WD & I nearly fell out laughing.  It was too cute, and his timing was impeccable!

It's impossible to recount all of the good times we had while on this 11-day marathon vacation, but I've posted a few pics below.  I'll try to scan & post the formal pictures soon.

Now on to Christmas preparations!

My First Baby is a "Baby" No More

     It is hard to believe that 13 & 1/2 years ago, Erin Madison came into my life.  At only 22 years old, I barely was old enough to even have a baby.  WD & I were driving blind when it came to parenting (we still are in some aspects, as we learn as we go).  I remember how I was terrified to cut her fingernails because I didn't want to hurt her.  I also remember getting her ears pierced at only 6 months hoping that she would look more feminine only to have my precious girl look more like Mr. Clean (although her bright blue eyes gleamed bright enough to distract from her smooth bald head)!
     My nostalgia stems from a request that I got from one of Erin's 8th grade teachers.  Being the last year in middle school, the technology teacher compiles an 8th grade video for the kids/parents.  I think they'll even have an 8th grade ceremony near the end of the school year before they enter high school!  Yes, I said high school... I can barely say it out loud! The request from the teacher was for me to email 3 baby photos of Erin.  I sifted through a few piles of photos last night, and ultimately allowed Erin to select the 3 she liked best (it was too hard for me to select only 3).  Here are the three she selected:

   My favorite is the third one in her pink gingham dress with the white eyelet ruffles.  I see glimpses of that little smirk every once in a while now, especially when I catch her overhearing conversations that aren't meant for her. She insisted on including a dance photo although I advised her that that was not a "baby" photo.  She was 3 or nearly 4 years old in that photo.  Of course the top photo just cracks me up.  She was wearing one of my favorite onsies... "Don't Tell Me I'm Cute, I Wanna Be SMART!"

     As you can tell I'm very proud of her, not only then, but now too.  She is smart, compassionate, beautiful, and a natural peacekeeper.  Don't get me wrong... she tries my patience from time to time with her teen-like forgetfulness, roller-coaster moods (our household can only handle one member who does that & I was that way first :-), & sassy attitude that peeks out every once in a while.  Overall, I'm very blessed to have her, and I'm glad to call her my daughter!

Halloween 2009

Halloween is a time for pure silliness (for both adults & kids)! We had such a fabulous time selecting our costumes, carving pumpkin, filling treat bowls with lots of yummy candy, and hanging out with kids & friends. Erin & her girlfriends were amazing in their costume selection! Amazing because they pulled off the least expensive costumes using clothes they already had, but purchasing little nerdy glasses/socks. They made being a nerd "cool"! Dylan opted for a scary jester outfit.  I don't even think he knew what a jester was, but he just loved the costume.  WD & I did a couples outfit (my husband was a great sport this year... typically he wears a t-shirt that says, "This is my Costume").  Doctor & Nurse Davis! Too much fun!

We started the weekend off Friday night by stomping through the rain to our neighbor's house. Yes, the weather was terrible, but with my daughter's suggestion (using Walmart bags, tying one over each shoe) & balancing hor d'ovres & the umbrella we made it down the street without getting absolutely soaked.  Erica & Ray hosted the neighborhood Halloween party this year.  They did a fabulous job decorating & providing their place where we all danced, karaoked, & acted like kids ourselves.  It was such a good time that didn't end until wayyyy too late.

Today, after sleeping late, Dylan, Erin, & I went over to P'ville Middle School to sign Dylan up for basketball season in Ascension Parish.  We've tried almost every other sport, so hopefully this might be his "thing".  We'll see.  We ran a few errands.  Lunch was on the run where we splurged on Sonic cheese sticks & leftover pizza.  (I'm trying to shock my body's system into breaking my weight loss plateau with a 2-day splurge... crazy maybe, but I don't know what else to do.) After the kids changed into their costumes (WD & I opted for comfy clothes... jeans, t-shirts, sans the medical attire), we lit Dylan's pumpkin & headed out to the street.  Erin's a bit old for trick-or-treating, but she & her girlfriends roamed the neighborhood giggling in their nerd-wear. Dylan & WD went door to door collecting all sorts of treats while I sat in a line with my neighbors handing out candy from huge tubs to all the kids who came our way.  After closing out trick-or-treating, WD, Dylan, & I cruised on over to Cracker Barrel in Gonzales for a late supper of chicken & dumplings for me, meatloaf for WD, & pancakes/bacon for Dylan.  Yummmmmy. 

Don't know if we can ever do it up as good as we did this year, but we have an entire year to plan for Halloween 2010!

SoBe World

Ok... those of you who know me, know that I don't do "designer" drinks... you know drinks like "Monster", "Red Bull", etc. I don't drink coffee; not even the flavored stuff from Starbucks/CC's.  I don't like "Gatorade" or any of those types of drinks, either. I just haven't been able to tolerate their taste much less their increased caloric-content in many cases.  Well I finally found one that I just LOVE!  It's called SoBe lifewater.  It's a zero-cal, vitamin enhanced, flavored water.  Now I'm starting to sound like a commercial! No they haven't employed me in any way.  Anyway, while at Target the other day, I bought one at the register just to give it a shot... after all it was no-calories & it looked so refreshing.  Crazy enough it has a lizard on the bottle!  What a lizard has to do with water, I have no idea.  It was great.  I saw a display of them at Walmart the other day, so I  picked up a couple of different flavors to try.  My favorites are Yumberry Pomegranate & Fuji Apple Pear, although I don't know what the hell a "yumberry" is... it tastes yummy-licious though!

Love the Fall (Halloween, too!)

Although our days of "cool" weather are few in number, it is so exciting to get a day where the temp drops below 70 (even if it is only for the evening/early morning hours).  Along with the cooler weather, Halloween preparation makes for more excitement.  Erin's a bit old for traditional trick-or-treating, and Dylan is approaching the "too old" age, too, but we still have fun with it! We took them to shop for costumes yesterday.  Erin's determined to make her own costume this year... she wants to be a nerd and is convinced that the thrift stores will have "nerd-wear" like suspenders, glasses, & pocket protectors.  Dylan opted for a spooky joker character. Very cute! WD & I are even getting in on the action, but we aren't revealing our costumes until the Eastside Halloween Party which Erika & Ray so graciously have offered to host at their house. I can't wait because it is rare to get WD to play dress up :-)

Another fun thingy for us & the kids is getting "boo-ed"! Last night while watching the Amazing Race, the door bell rang wildly... ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong... really fast & quick.  Of course Chewee was up barking & rushing to the door.  WD was like, "Who the hell rings a doorbell like that?!?" Erin opened the door to find a precious little Halloween gift bag on the doorstep.  It had a sign to post in our front window, letting the neighbors know we've been boo-ed, and in the bag was fun little trinkets & candy! Very cute! We get to "boo" two other neighbors within the next couple of days.  I can't wait!  I've gotten the treats together & now need to print out the signs/directions.  I'll leave the running, dropping the treat, & ringing the bells for the kids to do!  Happy Halloween, everyone!

Martha Jane Murray Cutrer (1930-2009)

This weekend was very long. WD's grandmother passed away.  She was known to us as "MawMaw Cutrer". Although we didn't have a deep relationship with Mawmaw (she was Mom Aleta's mother), watching other family members grieve the loss was emotionally draining.  I pray for each of them now... may God grant peace & joy in knowing that one day we will be reunited with Mawmaw in Heaven. I know that this temporary season of grieving will fade away to an eternal hope.

Mawmaw was obviously a caring & compassionate woman... she raised her own children & then even raised a couple of her grandsons, too.  The thing I recall most about her were her yearly Christmas cards.  She would send Dylan & Erin their own card every year which would just thrill them (they loved getting mail addressed specifically to them). I'm thankful for having known her & hope her legacy makes a sustainable impact on her children & grandchildren. You can read her obituary here.

I've Got a Great Life...

     As I look around at the world, I see so many people hurting & struggling in life. It makes me feel guilty when I dare start to complain or become negative about the minute little details in my life that are sooooo obscure & non-essential. Yes, I have bad days (hell, I'd say I've even had bad years), but I am blessed.  To combat whininess/pessimism, I've decided to list the great things about my recent days...

• WD - he's such a hard worker, fantastic "daddy", & most excellent husband. He's handy around the house, intelligent & is very, very tolerate of my shortcomings.
• Erin- she's such a beautifully tender-hearted person who is so responsible & smart (which is difficult to handle sometimes when I do dumb things or am irresponsible :-)
• Dylan - he's definitely one of my life's "joys"... he makes me smile/laugh daily.  Dylan is God's way of reminding me that I am not a perfect parent... I need to rely on him to raise this boy.
• I have some of the greatest friends in the whole world. My scrapping "sisters", the "Eastside" gang, coworkers, and believe it or not, family members who are the best friends a person could have.
• I get to earn an education beyond what I ever thought possible (yeah... graduation in December!).
• I have a job that makes me feel valuable (& I get to earn a paycheck while trying to help people find jobs & prepare to become teachers which in turn will change the world!).
• My home, although it needs a little work here & there, is lovely & comfortable.  I just finished getting the furniture for the scrapbooking/office room.
• My mother-in-law & I were able to hang out together at Corks n Canvas for a fun time together this past week (checkout photos on FB). How did I get so lucky to have such a fabulous mother-in-law?!? 
• I get to enjoy a hobby that will leave a legacy for my children & grandchildren... I love to scrapbook!
• We are going on vacation for 11 days at the end of November... NYC a few days, then onto a cruise ship to cruise down to the Bahamas for a couple of days, then over to Port Canaveral for Thanksgiving in Universal Studios, & then cruising back up to NYC. I get NYC (Broadway show, sightseeing, shopping, exploring new places), cruise ship (entertainment, sleeping/reading while laying back in a deck chair, eating great foods), Bahamas (tropical paradise... what more can I say), & Thanksgiving with kids & WD in a new place...Universal Studios!
• My PT Cruiser is still kicking! I have no car note & although it's not the peppiest or classiest of rides, it has been reliable & affordable (gas & insurance are cheap)!
• I am keeping up with school work, kids' activities, making it to the gym everyday, plus I was able to get to the all day crop with my "girls" & take Erin & her friend to the movie all this weekend!

Guess I better get a shower now (hot water at the tips of my fingers & fabulous smelling body soaps to choose from), pack my work out bag (comfy work out shoes along with multiple options for workout attire), pack my lunch (selections from a full pantry with all the good foods I like), & climb into my bed (king-size with fluffy pillows/comforter) to go nighty-night so that I can start my wonderful life all over again tomorrow!  I'm not bragging.  I'm just grateful... after all, I give thanks to God, because without Him, none of it would be possible!

Ghost

Upon hearing about Patrick Swayze's death, I thought immediately of one of his best movies ever... Ghost!  I made plans to rent the movie as soon as possible.  I stopped by Blockbuster to rent it, only to find that the shelf had a "special" movie box that redirected me to a special section in the store. Blockbuster set up an end cap display of many of Patrick Swayze's movies. I sat totally engrossed watching the whole movie from beginning to end (plus watched the bonus features on the DVD), quoting lines from the movie as they came up like... "Ditto", "Molly, you in danger GIRL", and many of the other lines in the movie that made me laugh out loud (Whoopi played Oda Mae brilliantly!) & tear up with compassion. I loved the movie so much when it came out, I attempted to pull off the short haircut Demi Moore worn as "Molly" in the movie. I just didn't have the features of Demi to wear the short boy cut, but she sure made me want to be her... maybe it was the "love story" that I wanted when I was so very young! Yep, Patrick Swayze playing Sam Wheat was just wonderful... his character was all a girl could want... honest, handsome, passionate, caring, protective, and did I mention handsome?!? If you haven't seen Ghost, you must see it... call me & I'll come watch it with you! If you have seen it, watch it again just for the fun of it!

Makes me Smile so Much

This morning I woke up, started laundry, made a little breakfast, & then sat down to watch TV a while before heading to the gym.  I don't have enough time during the week to watch Oprah, but I just love her show.  This morning I watched Wednesday's episode & it made me so happy & smile so much that tears came to my eyes. If you didn't get a chance to watch & you need a little pick-me-up, you have to watch snippets of it online at Oprah.com.  Oprah is simply a very generous person who gets a charge out of surprising people by making their "Wildest Dreams Come True".  From the "Tom Cruise" Lady, to Oprah's friend, Gale who is a huge Josh Groban fan, the surprises were just out-of-the-box!  I think my favorite "surprise" was the one she arranged for Jake.  Jake Simpson is a singer from Star Search who loves Stevie Wonder.  He performs Stevie's music exceptionally well.  Oprah had Jake perform "Isn't She Wonderful" (which is a happy song anyway)... & while performing Stevie Wonder came from behind the curtain to join in the performance by playing the harmonica & singing a bit! It was WONDERFUL!  You just have to watch it.  I've set it as a bookmark on my computer so if I need a "happy" moment in my day, I can just watch Jake, Stevie, Oprah, & her pumped up audience!

"Strawberry" Kind of Memory

While fixing my strawberries & cream oatmeal this morning, a wave of nostalgia overtook me.  It was the strangest thing because I frequently boil water in microwave & pour it over the instant packet of strawberries & cream oatmeal, but I've never experienced this "memory" while doing this task.  It was actually the smell of the oatmeal cooking once I added the boiling water that brought me back...

It was a Saturday afternoon (it must have been in the fall), when I went across the street to a friend's house to play.  I must have been in the 2nd or 3rd grade because we were still living in Bastrop, Louisiana in a small wood-frame house about a mile from Eastside Elementary.  I can only remember my friend's last name for some reason... "Goodman".  She was a very lucky little girl (in my opinion) because she had great toys, dolls, & a trampoline.  I remember always wanting to play Barbies at her house because she had the actual "Barbie" doll whose legs would bend versus the generic doll I had who had hollow plastic legs that would not. She also had the whole collection of strawberry shortcake dolls! This is where my mind went this morning while making my breakfast, because the strawberry shortcake doll that my friend had could be squeezed on her tummy & she would expel a deliciously exhiliarating fragrance of strawberries.  It didn't smell like real strawberries, but it was a unique strawberry-like aroma that only THE real Strawberry Shortcake doll had.  Funny enough, the generic strawberries & cream instant oatmeal (Wal-mart brand of course) smells just like that Strawberry Shortcake doll.

 

It's amazing how the mind works.  Fragrances seem to have the most effect on me as far as memories. I actual enjoy most memories triggered by scents, so it's a nice thing to have my mind work like that!

More Gulf Shores Fun & Photos

While in Gulf Shores during the Labor Day weekend, we explored some of the more popular restaurants in the area.  On our first night, we headed on over to Lulu's! It was a great place where the kids could run around & play while we hung out & waited for our table. The food was pretty good, but the atmosphere was excellent! One night we ate in... the guys grilled steaks.  Yum, yum! Then the third night we ventured to Lambert's. It was a great time for the kids despite the long wait. I've never seen such large servings of food in all my life! After we left yesterday morning, Dylan & his cousins headed back to the beach with his Granny & Pawpaw.  The weather apparently was great!

Gulf Shores Beach Trip

It was definitely the quickest vacation I've ever had (Friday night to Monday morning)! We did our annual Boudreaux beach trip in Gulf Shores, AL this year. The location was absolutely perfect; a huge, well-layed out beach house that comfortably slept all 19 of us! My dear mother-in-law always arranges the bedroom assignments, rotating us from the good rooms to the best rooms year-to-year. This year WD & I were blessed with the master suite. It was wonderful... huge king-sized bed, a sitting area where Erin & Dylan camped out, a closet big enough to serve as another bedroom, and a bathroom with jacuzzi corner tub (which I never got to test out) & the best part of all... a huge walk-in shower with shower heads on two sides. Our room had three gigantic sliding windows that faced the beach & opened to a balcony that ran the length of the house. It was almost paradise except we had okay weather one day & dreary/rainy weather the next.

The beach was lovely. We set up all of our tents, chairs, ice chests, & beach toys for a grand family outing. The kiddos got sunburned the first day, I cut the inside of my leg up on barnacle covered pipe, & it was cool/rainy the second day, but all-in-all it was a great time. Anytime on the beach is better than being at work!

Here are a few photos I was able to catch on my camera... I'm sure my mother-in-law got better ones... I'll try to post those later!

Dylan in the surf...

Cousins digging a hole... Erin, Titus, Caden, & Zann...Mom Barbara & WD chilling in the beach chairs under the tent...Dad Roddy discovering "treasure" in the surf...Erin, Zann, & Caden stomping out their "Shell Town" masterpiece (sand castles)...I was brave enough to do a bikini in front of the family (slowly gaining my confidence... hopefully by next year I'll have lost the last 20 pounds!)...My sweet sister-in-law, Sherry helping the kids gather shells for their collections... Now I can't wait till next year!!!