The Swimming Pool

So, the temps are reaching all time highs here in Central Texas. I don't do well with too much heat, so I broke down and purchased a summer pool pass to our community pool. Well worth the $60 for the family for the summer! It will be paid for after 6 visits! One down and five to go!

Today, I had it all planned out. The pool opens at noon, but there are not very many chairs, so we got there a few minutes before noon to claim our spot. The gate opened a few minutes before noon, so we were 2nd in the pool! Awesome! I love it when things work out. So we brought our lunch in and our cooler, chilling in our perfect spot. I've got my magazines, my drink, my sunglasses! Perfect! Then after about an hour, the crowd starts to roll in. Fools! Waiting until after an hour after the pool opens. Because by then, yeah, no more chairs!

I would like to take the time to talk about a few things that I noticed. Now, let me preface, I am not here to criticize anyone based on anything, just things that I noticed! I am not a super model (well, in my head I am!), but I was in my tankini and swim skirt. I do know my limitations! So, there are many different types of people and when the temps are over 104*, they come out of the woodwork to stay cool! I don't blame them!

Some rules that I think people should follow:
1. Anorexic women should not wear a biniki. It just emphasizes the yuckiness!
2. Thank you to the very "healthy" man who kept his wife-beater t-shirt on! Thank you!
3. Really hairy, gross, slimy, stalker like old men should wear more clothes to the pool.
4. What swimsuit fashion designer thought that white fabric was a good thing? It isn't flattering.
5. Tankinis were created for a reason! Women.......you should know when to wear them!
6. If you look pregnant, but aren't, refer to rule #5!
7. If you are skinny and choose to wear a loin cloth, please make sure it covers up your crack!
8. Large busty women should be careful what type of bathing suit they buy. Kind of like covering up your crack, just in a different area!

Yeah, we had a good time at the pool! Can't wait to go back!

Daisy and "Her" Chair

School is out and the kids do stay up a little longer sometimes. Well, Daisy must have a "clock" in her brain. Usually, after the kids go to bed, 9:00 or so, she likes to get in the chair with me and we have some snuggle time before we head off to bed. Well, this on particular night, the kids stayed up a little longer and Daisy was confused! Sarah and I were watching a movie and it was "time" for Daisy to have some snuggle time. She didn't want to wait until Sarah got up. She just jumped up and made a spot!

Let us note that Daisy weighs about 70 lbs! So, this position didn't last as long as Daisy would have liked!

Half Way

A few months ago, my brother-in-law moved to the Dallas area from Orlando for a job opportunity. It is great to have some additional family in Dallas! We didn't get to see Dean very often, but now that we are in the same state, more frequent visits will happen! YEAH!

There is a small town that is about half way between us and we have met there twice so far. It is nice to do when we both don't have a whole weekend to devote to a visit, so this is a great compromise. This particular weekend we got to meet Dean's girlfriend for the first time. She was really nice and we enjoyed the visit!

This is Dean, Sheryl and my two kiddos!

And me, Dean and the two kiddos! We stopped at Braum's for a frozen treat after lunch!

Graduation!

It doesn't seem possible that my babies just graduated from 5th and 3rd grade! How can so many years go by so fast? What used to be "mommy, I love you." and holding my hand and hugs is now Sarah rolling her eyes at me and Ryan not wanting me to kiss him in public. It is heartbreaking.

Sarah is moving on to middle school, which will bring an assortment of issues and drama! I will need much support, I can tell already! I will need much advice from those mommies who have travel that path, who are worn and weathered, my mentors!

Here is my girl walking in looking all grown up.

Here she is receiving her diploma from one the vice principals.

Of course, the occasion called for flowers!

This Sarah with her Tres Amigas! They are all going to middle school together.

Here is Sarah with her GREAT teachers! What a concept, teachers that care! Love it!

The third graders didn't have formal graduation, but there was an awards ceremony. Ryan received an award for good citizenship. He is a great kid!

Another year has come to an end, now we are into summer, going here and there, sleeping in and having fun, siblings arguing, mommy yelling, too hot to go outside, boredom.......We all look forward to August 24..................THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!

Clutter!!!!!!!!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a little particular about things and where those things belong. Somehow that gene didn't get past to my lovely, adoring daughter. How does that happen? Why wouldn't anyone not want order? I'm not sure why.

THIS is my daughter's room. Very messy (for me). I'm sure that there are rooms out there that are worse or parents who have worse stories, but I like order, did I already say that? We bought her a very awesome bookcase/desk from Ikea with super storage cubes for lots of stuff and treasures. I would have loved to have such organization available to me when I was younger. I managed. My room was always in order!

We have gone in and did a little cleaning, but I could only take so much. We will finish on another day. Baby steps, right?

Stormin'

If anyone know me, I hate storms! And in Texas it heats up during the day and begins to cool off at night..................what happens??????????? Yup! Storms! This was taken tonight at 9:00PM. I am hoping that it is moving somewhere away from me! But it seems that when there are storms by me, they don't really get big and strong until about 2:00 AM when I am dead asleep and am startled by thunder and lightening! I really hope this goes around us, because I am really tired!

Ya-Ya Visit

Okay, a long time has past since these pictures were taken. I don't know why it has taken me so long.........maybe it was just too painful, because I hated saying good-bye. This was the Great Ya-Ya Reunion 2009 (April)! It was just as fabulous as I knew it would be. I miss my girls.

Here is Dawn's plane arriving...........late...........it was crazy, but we got her!


There she is!!!!! She didn't look like had traveled all day and delayed. We were all smiles!

Of course, toes are never optional! We went and got pampered...........happy piggies!
Here is Dawn and Joey, one of my cats. He thought he would allow Dawn to love on him.
And..............here............is...........the.............third..........Ya-YA! Let the partaay begin! She didn't look happy at all! HEHEHEHE!

Of course, the occasion required a toast...or two......or........well, you get the idea!

I think this was the movie/daiquiri night! We have a Daiquiri Express with a drive through here! It was fun! Jen was doin' the happy dance! Very proud of her, she stayed up way past her bedtime!

We made a trip down to Austin for Ikea and Archiver's. When you go to Austin, you have to eat lunch at Chuy's! It is required! Most excellent food!

The night before all of the fun ended and reality set back in.........sucked........I hate good-byes! But the time was so needed. We all needed a recharge. You know what girlfriends do for you.....they bring you up and we were all in a funk. So, Ya-Ya's when are we doing this again? And where? Cruise???

D-Day with the Trainer!

Okay, so last Friday was "The Day". The day that I had to step on the scale and get measured to track all of the torture sessions that I've been a part of! Soooooo, I haven't been totally watching the diet, but that is next on my list. I really wanted to get the gym routine down and want to go, although, sometimes I really don't want to go, but I feel better after I go!

So, I stepped on the scale, who ever invented the scale anyway? Why do need it? Why do we get so fixed on those numbers? It is society, media, the fashion industry, etc.............back on track! I only lost 2 lbs, but like I said, I hadn't really been totally watching the diet.

Then out came the dreaded tape measure! We started at the neck and went down to the calves. Nothing in the neck, nothing in the upper arm! WHAT???? All of those lifting exercises and NOTHING!!!!! Chest and back................down 2 inches! Not too bad! Waist.......nothing (I did ask her to remeasure), hips.................down 1/2 inch, upper thigh............down 1/2 inch, and calf............down 1/2 inch. Overall not too bad, a total of 3 1/2 inches.

I still really don't like the running, I really want to, but it is the breathing thing that really gets me! I'm sure that we will continue to work on it!

What a Weekend!

I don't know where to start! I will start with, "Man, am I tired!" The weekend I am talking about was the last weekend in May. It was just non-stop.

It started on Wednesday, with a late baseball practice, Thursday morning, two meetings at school, met with my quilt group during lunch on Thursday, 7:30 PM baseball game, which didn't get finished until 9:15 PM, kids in bed by 10:00 (me, not far behind), Friday morning, met at gym with trainer for weigh-in and measure (more to follow on that), then had our training session, we had nothing Friday night, which was awesome! Saturday morning we were able to sleep in a little, then Ryan had a 10:00 AM baseball game, lunch, home, community pool, home, prepare items for BBQ at some one's house, home at 10:00! Sunday.........yes there is more....Ryan went to a birthday party and Sarah and I shopped for shoes for her graduation!

Aren't you tired? So, a week has gone by and I am just getting to this............because THIS week was crazy too!