Weird Weekend

We have had a busy weekend. Aubrey has taught us some very interesting things so I will start there.
1. Leprechauns work for the lawn company Jenny uses. I asked her why she thought this way and her answer was "They wear green and Leprechauns wear green.".
2. Her nose is allergic to cold.
3. She would like to be a vampire slayer when she grows up. For those of you who are wondering where she could have ever gotten this idea I refer you to the Buffy Boxed set and Shawn.

Saturday was pretty standard around here. We did nothing we were supposed to but had some quality time with Jenny and her sister. Those are my favorite kind of days actually.
Sunday I managed to get everything I had wanted to on Saturday by noon. We watched Kiera and Kait in the afternoon and then we were off to the mall. I got my Mother's Day present a little early. The picture above has been altered with my new toy.
Today was technically not the weekend but still weird. Shawn woke up not feeling well so we were off to the doctor. Luckily the doctor thinks it is just sleep deprivation and stress. So an afternoon of rest was ordered. He gave me quite a scare this morning. Aubrey made sure to be her most quiet. Doctor Aubrey made some pickle soup, pancakes, and eggs in the blue kitchen.

More Flower and Garden

Aubrey with Belle and Aurora. We were really lucky again with the characters. As a rule we do not wait in line for them. Since we live here we let the kids who don't get to see the princesses everyday go first. On Thursday we were walking around the back garden in the France Pavilion and they had Belle and Aurora with no line. My little princess was in heaven.

Flower And Garden Festival

We went to Epcot yesterday. Just Aubs and me. We went to see Bill in the Fife and Drum and he ended up hanging out with us for a while. These pictures are from the front entrance. They are of Aubs doing her best Peter Pan character impressions. I have plenty more to post. We had a great day.

Also if everyone could please send happy thoughts and prayers to my cousin Anne Marie. She has a couple of new broken bones and may have to have some surgery. Thanks.

Look At The Fun Spinning Flower!

We found these spinning flower chairs yesterday at Epcot. They were a demo for Dupont's rubber mulch and padded lining. Man that stuff sure does work. Aubrey climbed onto the chair. I snapped this pre-spin. She started spinning and then...

OOPS

...she fell right off. I was mid snap when she went flying. Notice her butt in the corner of the picture.

Today, 4/18/07

Today is an anniversary.
Today marks ten years since I saw that face.
Today marks the last time I heard him sing.
Today is when I learned you can survive grief. It may take your breath away, it can stay under the surface and come out when you least expect it, but you can make it through.
Today has always been a tough reminder. I remember every painful moment of that night ten years ago. I remember her face when she told me. Someone who didn't even know him told me one of my closest college friends had died.
Today was the first time I could actually hear a missing voice in a choir. We never sounded the same again.
Today is different somehow.
Today I was given a happy thought to reflect upon.
Today a new path was given to my mother.
Today my Mama was given approval for a church. My Mother will become a Pastor.
Today's usual sadness has been replaced by exhilaration.



DPM 4-18-97

Here is a hint...

Do not ever, ever, ever try to adjust the arm of the shower head while the shower is on. I do not know what I was thinking. There was water everywhere. Since our master bath includes a shower stall there is a large open area above the shower. There was water on the ceiling, the floor, and the mirror. The clean up may have been just as funny. Not wanting to alert Shawn to my interesting predicament I tried to find the proper tools in the bathroom. My McGuyver moment included the following items: a hooded towel, a hanger, and Aubrey's upstairs (small child's step stool). I put the hood of the towel over one of he edges of the hanger. I wrapped it around and then put the corner mitt over the same corner. I stood on the upstairs and dried the ceiling. Not bad for a short girl.

For those of you that have known me for any length of time, know this is just par for the course.

What a weekend!

We have been very very busy this weekend. Here is what we have done:
1. Taxes, Shawn actually did this I just came in at the end and supervised.
2. Laundry, this is always a work in progress but I at least have clothes to wear to work.
3. Went to Target 3 times. Once for a birthday gift, next for an emergency outfit for Aubs, and today for groceries.
4. I actually planned out a menu for the week. Tonight I made burritos with mexican style rice, black beans and pulled chicken. They were fantastic. Also this week are Gyro Burgers, and Chicken Club Salad these recipes are courtesy of Rachael Ray. I am also making Tostados and Turkey burgers.
5. We went to a karate birthday party and I BROKE A BOARD!!! So did Aubs. It was tons of fun and we may go back to take some classes.
6. We had a tree fall in the back yard. Thank the Lord that the wind was directed away from our house and the neighbors fence.
7. Aubs and Michaela did some gardening. We planted little butterfly gardens in pails.
8. Uploaded the weekend pictures to the computer.

Kim's Game

Kim suggested I ask Aubs a question and write down the answer. I am going to play with Michaela and Aubrey.

Michaela's question: How do you cook fish? (Her own suggestion)
We put a tail on it and then put it on the stove. And then we put a thing and a tummy and then we have a head and then we eat it.

Aubrey's question: How do you cook a turkey?
You um use the stove and then um you put it on the stove. and then um you flip it over and you get a bone to put in it. Then you get another bone and then um you cut it without the bones and you eat it. And then um you cut it in half and there is the meat and you get something to put the bone in. And then that is it. The End.

Belated Easter Pics #4

On Easter Sunday we were invited to participate in a traditional Mexican Easter Egg Hunt. It actually started on Friday when we met to paint and stuff the hollowed out eggs. On Sunday we hid the eggs and then Aubs and Alex found them all. Once all the eggs are found you run around and crack them over someone's head. It was really a lot of fun. The kids were very gentle and would crack them with their hands first so they didn't slam them on you. It was a lot of fun and we may try it again next year.

Belated Easter Pics #3

Thanks to GG who bought Aubs a long sleeved bunny dress. It saved the day because we had an unseasonably cool day on Easter.

Belated Easter Pics #2

Here is Chicken Little with Aubs and Alex.

Belated Easter Pics #1

This is the view down Main Street USA looks like the day before a holiday.

Old Friends

It's funny that I posted how horrible I was at keeping in touch with everyone and that it was going to be a resolution to do better. Thanks to the magic of cyberspace I have been "found" by two old friends today. One of them is one of the people I was referring to in #2 of the Lakeside List.

I am always terrified to send a message when I find someone on myspace or something similar. I really should get over that issue. Maybe that should be a new resolution.

Trip Down Memory Lane

Shawn was up in the attic today looking for some of his old sheet music and awards. He found a treasure trove of memorabilia. He found my first scrapbook that I made. I have to redo it because I now know the evils of magnetic style albums. He found my senior year book and a photo album I had decided was just gone. I don't remember seeing it in almost ten years. Finding that album was bittersweet. I was painfully aware of the pictures that were in the missing book. That is probably why I knew it was missing. I found some surprises in both albums though. Here are some of my thoughts on the things I found.
From the Lakeside Book:
1. Three of the friends in that book have since passed away.
2. Some of the friends in the book I have sadly lost touch with.
3. One of them was my partner in Helen's wedding. (Dan you had a heck of a lot more hair then)
4. One of the boys from the "Sears" pose is the husband of my sister and the father of my wonderful nephew.
5. Little did I know when these pictures were taken what an integral part of my entire family's lives some of these people would become.
6. I have pictures of some future clergy doing some silly things. Some much more innocent then others. Dear Eliza, dear Eliza.

From the Senior Scrapbook:
1. I saw a lot of movies. Thank you Regal for building one of your theaters less than 5 minutes from my parents house.
2. I miss KJ so much it hurts.
3. I did a horrible job at keeping in touch with people. I need to add that to my list of resolutions.
4. Why did I think a body suit was an attractive article of clothing? They should be renamed wedgie giving boob squishing tops.
4. I must have really, really, really loved my rust colored palazzo pants.

Did you know...

That Jesus is the Mother Superior from "Sound of Music"? Here is a small glimpse at the rest of the conversation:
Aubrey (looking at the TV): Oh, so that is Jesus.
Me: WHAT?
Aubrey: Well, she was talking about God.
Me: Oh. That is because she is a nun.
Aubrey: What is a nun?
Me: A nun is someone who loves God so much that... Maybe we should call Nanny tomorrow and ask her. (What good is it to have a minister in training in your family if you can't take advantage?)

It is official...

Summer is near. I got my first sunburn today. It comes with complete with the "Idiot Award". I forgot to put on sunscreen because it wasn't hot outside. I have tons of fun pictures from today. Aubs and Alex had a lot of fun.

Flashback Friday?

I know this is not a real flashback picture.
I know that there are some of you laughing at how young I am
I know that there are some of you thinking "Wow, she's getting old".
I know that someone is probably wondering why I still have my senior t-shirt.
I know I saved them because I have every intention of turning them into a memory quilt.

However, I now have a stopping block. My daughter is completely and totally in love with my "Puppy Dog Shirt". I don't know why I bother buying her pajamas. She is really much happier wearing a mommy/daddy shirt. Have a great weekend all. Our schedule is jam packed with fun. We are going to have a Disney weekend. I am not sure how a holiday trip will go but I am going to try it out.

My First "Green Dinosaur" Moment

I used to read the "Chicken Soup" book all the time. A few stories have stuck in my mind, one of these talks about a man who would wear a green dinosaur pin on his lapel. One of his children had asked him to wear it, so he did. Today Aubrey handed me sticker she had colored and asked that I wear on my work shirt today, so I did. It made me very happy when Miss K asked me what I was wearing and I could proudly tell her that "My Punkin made it for me." Thanks Aubs for putting a bright spot in my day.

Back in My Good Graces...

Aubrey has redeemed herself for earlier comments this week. This morning she came in and woke me by kissing my elbow. (My only body part not under a blanket.) She is definitely my sweet girl.

Yesterday we went to Carly's new home. It was such a nice afternoon. Carly, thank you for thinking of us as family. Watching you and Aubrey cook together while telling her what your mother taught you took my breath away. For those of you who don't know Carly was the first to figure out Shawn and I were dating. She has been apart of "Us" since before we there was an us. I remember when she figured it out and said to me "I better be in the wedding!" and she was.

I am so blessed to have all of my "Florida Family" Carly & Robb, The Cowans, and the Sweeney-Bells. You are all the people who have made Florida my home.