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!