Date Night

Alex and I started Date Night some years back to have special mom/son time. As long as he's willing to continue this I will always be game. We had a chance to go out just the two of us tonight.

We started the evening at Pole Position - which is indoor go-karts to the extreme. They went much faster than anything we'd done before - we had to wear helmets and everything.



I think we'd both agree we had more fun playing all the video games after our race than the carts. Anyway we tried it - doubt we'll go back though.

Then we moved on to Friday's for dinner - and more importantly CHEESECAKE.





Yeah - not much there huh?



It was a fun night - thanks Alex for being sweet...

Sarah Singing

Ok - so I took Sarah to the doctor today for a sore throat. After being a good girl at the doctor - we went for the standard after-doctor ice cream! On the way to Braum's we were listening to my iPod - and Sarah was saying she can't help but sing even though she knows it sounds terrible. After being assured it didn't hurt - well I recorded it!

Yeah - I'm mom of the year laughing at it - but at least I took her to the doc first! :-)

4th of July and Updates

For starters - a token picture of my adorable angels!

Ok - fine - I can take a hint! I've been terrible about updating my blog. But at this point I'm not sure where to start. Everyone who reads this knows about me dating Richard. That's old news.

So, it seems easier to start with now and go from there.

Last night, mom and dad joined Richard, Tony and me in Bricktown. The OKC Philharmonic had a free concert followed by fireworks.

Tony and Dad chatting before the concert.

True love.

Listening to the orchestra...

It was a great time!

Update

It was nicely pointed out that I haven't updated since we got back from vacation. So, here's the update. Got through my pile waiting at work. Alex's boy scouts is going well - even though his first camp out got flooded out. Sarah cleaned the house like a crazy woman ... I truly think she is related to "fresh air mary" (momma) ... it was a bit scary but hey - the house is clean.

And other than that - normal daily stuffs.

So - there's the update!!

Last Florida Post ...

Well, we're all packed up (mostly) and getting ready to check out. Fell asleep reading before I could post our activities last night. Here's the brief recap:

• Manicure/Pedicures for me and Sarah while Alex played his DS.


• To the Track for bumper boat rides and go-cart races.


• To the beach/pool/beach for some sun and water.


• To the condo to meet Uncle Al and Aunt Linda (Joe's) who live down here.


• Walk on the beach with Sarah to watch sunset.


• See some amazing sand castles.


• Dinner at fancy-shmancy restaurant.

Spring Break '09 - Part 2 - Day 2

Aren't my titles clever! Should have been Adventure Day!

Okay - started the morning with sunrise. Got kids and self moving for our day.

Started at the Gulfarium...






[FOR THE RECORD: Alex voluntarily jumped to go stand by the "Splash Zone".]

Personally - I think this is an awesome video!

Then we went onward to our real ADVENTURE of the day!

Yes - that's all three of us Parasailing! Sarah wanted to do it but wasn't big enough - so I agreed to go with her. While watching the group before us go, Alex decided he wasn't sure he wanted to go but didn't want to have any regrets. All three of us had a great time - no regrets! It was so much fun and amazingly beautiful. I've never been more happy to have tried something. I'm sure Sarah thinks I'll do the bungee jumping now too ... but I'm fairly certain that will remain a no way!

This photo I don't look like I'm having fun - but I really was - it was as we were coming down to land and I was worried a bit. We were told to "land on your feet". I was correctly worried my knees would laugh at that thought. Yeah, I landed and went immediately down to my rear. But was able to stand after that with no problems.

Back on the boat safe and sound ... and ready to do it again if they'd let us!

Sunrise

And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good...

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Spring Break '09 - Part 2 - Day 1

Started the day amazingly enough with the sunrise. Everyone knows I don't do mornings - but now I think I'll try to get up every morning while I'm here. It was that amazing.

The beach was beautiful. In the morning, Alex and I just walked and had a really nice quiet morning. This afternoon, Sarah and Alex had fun trying to boogie-board. I say trying cause the waves were pretty quiet. The ocean was very cold - but fun. Everyone says it's sugar white beaches and clear beautiful water ... they aren't exaggerating!

We also have a heated pool at our condo. So, when we got too cold at the beach we went to warm up by the pool.

Tomorrow hold promise as our "activity" day as Alex calls it ... but I'm not saying what activities in case plans change.

Off to bed ... getting up for sunrise makes a person REALLY tired!!

Spring Break '09 - Part 1

Well, we made it to Florida - which is actually Part 2. Part 1 included 2 days of driving and a fun-filled day with MamaSue and PapaFred.

The drive out was extremely uneventful/boring. Even the books we listened to on tape weren't all that impressive. The only real adventure came at the very end of the drive. Fred and Sue live in Henderson, TN - but out in the middle of nowhere. I'd been there oh 15 years ago when it was being built - but not since. We turned off the highway and began making our way around the curvy road towards their house. Keep in mind, the sun had set and there was this eerie blanket of fog making it even more fun. Two mammoth dogs jumped out in a yard I was passing and scared the [poo-poo] (edited for mom's sake) out of me. It gave the kids quite a laugh but that was it. We made it safe and sound which is the main thing.

Sunday we spent with Fred and Sue - went to their church, had some amazing bar-b-q for lunch, and hung out at the house all day. Sarah and I had our odd adventure to Wal-mart. It was a nice quiet day which we all realized we really needed.

Sarah and Alex in the Hites' Treehouse

PapaFred after walking around outside with the kids.

Monday we got up early to head to FL. We were greeted about 30 minutes out of Henderson with rain. Not a bad - I can't see a thing kind of rain. But a persistent - oh let's rain on them the entire way. Let's just say we were very tired of hearing dad's wiper blades. And ... we weren't overly impressed with our first view of Florida!

You can barely read the sign through the rain in the windshield:
Welcome to Florida "The Sunshine State"

The condo was relatively easy to find and we've been extremely pleased. More from Spring Break '09 in part two either tonight or tomorrow morning.

Sunrise 3-17-09 - A great start to St. Patrick's Day!

Look Out, Shannie!

So, my niece Shannon is graduating this Spring and plans to move to Australia. I saw this article and just had to warn her - - and her loved ones who may visit her!

Kangaroo intruder terrorizes sleeping family

Mon Mar 9, 2:07 pm ETCANBERRA (Reuters) – An Australian couple thought they were being attacked by an intruder when a kangaroo crashed through their bedroom window and started jumping on them.

"My initial thought, when I was half awake, was it's a lunatic ninja coming through the window. It seems about as likely as a kangaroo breaking in," Beat Ettlin told local media Monday.

The three-meter (9 feet) kangaroo smashed through the window in Ettlin's Canberra home Sunday night.

While Ettlin and his wife and young daughter took refuge under the blankets, the injured kangaroo jumped on top of them, gouging holes in the furniture and smearing blood all over the walls, said the Australian Associated Press.

The next thing Ettlin heard was his 10-year-old son Leighton screaming from his bed: "There's a 'roo in my room!'"

Ettlin, a 42-year-old chef, wrestled the bleeding kangaroo, got it into a headlock and dragged it out the front door. The kangaroo disappeared into bushes.

I'm not making this up Shannie - look out for psycho roos!~

Puppy Update

Thought I'd share some updates on Odie and Maggie ... well updated pictures anyway!

It's Official ... Alex is Boy Scout

Alex taking his first oath as a boy scout....



And some fun photos ...

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

How did I miss this?!?

I'm calmly leaving Wal-Mart last night after spending insane amounts of money on OJ, medicine and tissues for Sarah (who has bronchitis by the way). As I'm walking past the little book shop inside Wal-Mart, I notice that they have a sign talking about JD Robb. So like a moth to a flame, I must look into this!

Okay - I must be slipping because I didn't even know JD Robb has a new release coming out today! This series is definitely my absolute favorite. Well, mostly anyway. Almost every book that's been released I've bought and read within the week.The dilemna now is wondering if I should buy it and read it over the weekend - or save the fun and bring it on spring break with me to read on the beach.

Oh, didn't I mention - I'm taking the kids to the beach for Spring Break. We'll leave first weekend of spring break, head to the Hites' in TN. Then leave that Monday for Destin/Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. We're all pretty darn excited about it all.

So - the question is read the book this weekend or wait and read it here: http://www.suncoastvt.com/listings/view.asp?lstID=885
.... decisions decisions decisions!

Alex's Arrow of Light Ceremony

Well, Alex is one step closer to being a real Boy Scout. Tonight was his Arrow of Light Ceremony.

Sarah's photo shoot

The long-awaited post is here! Some of you may know that Sarah has been doing some modeling. She had her first real professional photo shoot a couple of weeks ago. Here are just some of my favorite pics. He took over 350 total!