Question?

How many pair of sunglasses does a seven year old need?

Apparently five. I found these while doing "Misson Organization" on Lindsey's room while she was in Ohio. I then found two more pair while unpacking her suitcase yesterday. So that makes seven pairs for a seven year old. I have one pair maybe two at the bottom of the swimming bag. Good grief!

LET's Vacation

LET has been on her annual trip to Ohio this past week. She managed to squeeze in some time to talk to me on the phone Friday. ( really missing her) She has been real busy hanging out with my Mom, Step-Father and my Brother and his family, but mostly my Brother. My Mom said that she has become his shadow. Everything Uncle Chris does she wants to be right there. Who can blame her, he is a ton of fun and funny as heck. Chris and my sister in law Amy took their daughter and LET camping over the weekend. I am happy to report that they had a fabulous time. My Mom called earlier to tell me they made it home and LET has crashed on the couch. I remember when my parents took my brother and I camping as children and one time in particular they invited their friends and children to go along, I think it was Natchez but not totally sure. The one the I *do* remember is the tent that the children had to sleep in, it was one of those tents without a bottom you know the kind to keep the food in, the only memory I have of that entire trip was waking up sweating with leaves from the ground pasted to my face. Why on earth did they not let us sleep in the nice orange tent with them or the Volkswagen van? This is a question I asked my Mom today, didn't get a good answer, just lots of laughing. Which reminds me, I need to ask Dad about this too. I mentioned this to my brother before they left on their trip and he assured me they would be camping in style, a two or three room tent *very nice*, the girls even had their own room. Now that is camping. Now don't get me wrong, I loved the camping trips we took growing up, just not this one in particular, well it was fine until bedtime.

I have spent most of the weekend cleaning LET's room. It is much easier when she is not here, so she can't see what I am getting rid of. She was in major need of a "Mission Organization" and that is just what she got. She has.....had way to much stuff. I am taking pictures of how the room looks now that I have cleaned it and if it doesn't stay that way, well lets just say Mom will not be happy. I am tired and my muscles ache from it all. I think I deserve a Grande Cinnamon Dolce' Latte so I am off to Starbucks.

Stupid rocks!

OK, the day started out great, I met my Dad for breakfast and stopped for Starbucks afterwards (something I missed while I was pregnant). On my way home they were re-paving the roads and some of the loose asphalt was thrown on my windshield by a car in front of me. ARRGG. I saw the ding and thought OK, I can get this patched no problem, but then right before my eyes it started to crack and then spread. All I could do was scream NOOOOOOO and a few other choice words. Thank goodness LET was not with me and MET is too young to understand what all that meant. I called hubby immediately to express my frustration and he was able to calm me down, as usual. All I could think of was "great this is going to cost a small fortune and my car inspection is due next month so I have to get this fixed ASAP). Well the good news is that it isn't going to cost as much as I thought. Still makes me mad, but I will get over it and move on.

The girls

Here is a photo of the girls that my friend Marci took. All of the photos turned out absolutely beautiful. I am so very happy with them, they brought tears to my eyes. The icing on the cake was the slide show set to music that she sent me, oh my goodness.

Seriously handsome...

My baby Brother graduated National Guard MP Basic Training this week. Doesn't he look great?

Here he is with his daughter:

and with Lindsey

with our Momwith our Dad (and Ashlee and Lindsey)

So very *proud* of him.

I am a little upset with myself, when he was marching in I was so busy looking for him and when I did find him I was so taken aback that I did not get any good pictures of him. Oh but the memories I have are phenomenal. I will forever have the image of him in his uniform marching down the road in formation with me always. I just can't get it out of my mind and it was three days ago. Oh and during the graduation ceremony when he sounded off, yes there were tears. I know he would hate that, he hates that I am a sap and cry over nothing at all, but these were tears of *pure joy*. I am tearing up now just thinking about the whole thing. I am sure glad he is headed home. I missed him.

And back to the picture taking, I am not at all happy about the performance of my camera in low lighting situations, I did not get any good photos of him during the graduation ceremony inside the theater. I am sure it is totally user error, I have GOT to get some help with the camera settings and what they all mean so I can take better photos. Will add that to my "to do" list.

Oh yes it is 4AM. I got up for MET's 3AM feeding and cannot go back to sleep, this is the second day in a row that this has happened. My mind starts thinking about everything and nothing while I am feeding her and then BAM I am awake. ARRGGG. Maybe I can sweet talk Hubby into a nap sometime today.

I'm tired. Not sure why, I have gotten the same amount of sleep as I have been getting, but I did slow down some today so maybe that is the problem. I am a lot like my Mother in that respect, I am like the energizer bunny until I sit down or get still for a period of time. I have been getting lots of things done around the house during Mallory's naps. Things that have needed attention for some time just got shoved to the bottom of the list due to work, mother duties etc... I have loved the time at home these last few weeks. I haven't convinced David that I should be home all of the time. All he says are two words, "school tuition". So I will return to work (unless I win the lottery between now and then, might help to buy a ticket huh?) :) OK, Mally is napping so I need to wash some bottles, do some laundry etc...

Happy Independence Day

Happy 4th ya'll!

The joys of dog ownership...

Molly decided to do some gardening this morning.

and my poor *baby peonies* used for a dog bed.

OMG she is going to send me over the edge. This baby thing is a piece of cake, the dogs are really testing me though. OK I feel better now that I have vented.

July already

Oh my goodness, it is already July. I hope it does not pass to quickly, I am not ready to go back to work. YUCK!! I am really enjoying the time off with my girls. But I will have to return at some point, there is school tuition to be paid. It kinda sucks that the 4th is in the middle of the week this year, so David does not get a long weekend. We will be heading to Missouri next week to see my baby brother graduate from National Guard Basic Training. He has been in training since February and away from his family all this time. My sister-in-law and niece have been real troopers. I know they are ready for him to be home, I know I am. I just want to be able to pick up the phone again and call him whenever I want to. And yes, let him harass me some in the little brother fashion that he has perfected. *I miss that boob* :) I am so proud of him. I really am. He and I have been through a lot together always there for each other, no matter what. I am so lucky to have him in my life. He is just the best brother anyone could ask for. I hear my name....gotta go!