Goals

Before I had kids, if anyone had told me how totally different each sibling would be, I would have thought they were exaggerating. Being the parent of two girls and a boy who are as different as night and day...and night again...I can totally stand behind that statement. Enter Oldest Child.

Oldest Child is very much her mother's child. I can see so much of myself in her. Only instead of squelching her creativity/individuality, we encourage it. She decides what she wants, what it will take to achieve it, and goes for it. The day she walked through the doors as a freshman at High School, she wanted to go to the prom as a freshman. She started talking about it in AUGUST people! I let her talk...and dream...and scheme...until oh about late February/early March. Then she started getting serious, and so did we.

She is involved in a church with a very active youth group. A guy from the youth group is a senior and needed a prom date. Oldest Child is a freshman and needed a date. We know him, we know his parents, we know Who and what he stands for...perfect match. DH and I felt safe with him, knew he would show OC a good time, and we, as her parents, wouldn't have to worry about letting our baby go to the prom. There comes a time when you have to sit back, pray, and trust that everything you have spent the past fifteen years telling her has sunk in.

It was a perfect night. The day went very smoothly. Youngest Child was occupied with a friend all day, out having fun. The day was totally devoted to OC...the way she wishes every day would be. Her wish was my command. M, OC's best friend, spent the day with us keeping us both calm. And from the time she woke up yesterday morning until sometime yesterday afternoon, my baby, my firstborn, my goal-oriented child turned into a princess.

Happy Anniversary, DH

Today is a special day. This time seventeen years ago, I walked down the isle of a church dressed in a long, flowing white dress. I didn't take my eyes off of his the entire walk down the isle. The love I saw then is the same love I see when I look into his eyes today. It was a beautiful spring day, sunny and hot (especially in a long sleeved dress!). The church was simply decorated; it was Easter weekend so we used the Easter lilies with a few bows strategically placed throughout. The ceremony was simple. We are, after all, pretty simple people.

We even held off leaving for our honeymoon (a week at the beach) until Monday. After all, DH's mother had Easter dinner and everyone was expected to be there. Nevermindthefact that you just got married yesterday. So we went to church Easter Sunday, then to the family lunch. Then bright and early Monday morning, set off for our first trip as a married couple.

There have been many trips to the beach since. There have been many happy days since. There have been many more lunches at DH's mothers since. We have shared with our girls our love for the beach, family time, and dinner at Mawmaw's (including last Sunday!).

Seventeen years encompasses a vast amount of territory. Three moves. At least seven new vehicles. Two campers. Three dogs. Three cats. A son who decided to join the Army and spent a year in Iraq. Thank God he is now safely home and living in our playroom. Nine job changes. Two births. Four churches. Three meals DH asked me to please not make again.

Here's hoping for another seventeen happy years. Happy Anniversary, DH. I remember all the details of our special day like it was only yesterday. I'd say "yes" all over again! Thank you for making me happy.

I Love Donna

Donna has been in our life for the past seven years...and I love her. She shows up every Monday morning like clockwork while OC, YC and I are getting ready for school. DH has already left for work and The Dude is either getting ready to leave for work or in the bed. She is as much a part of our family as the dogs or the cats. The girls love Donna almost as much as I do. Yes, Donna shows up every Monday morning, and when Donna leaves, I have a clean house.

I was a SAHM while YC and OC were at home; I quit my job when YC was six months old. And I stayed home with the girls until YC started pre-K. Then I signed my first contract and have been teaching ever since. But one of the negotiating points of my going back to work was getting someone to clean our house. I don't want to be gone all week and then spend all weekend cleaning the house. And Dear, Sweet Donna has been worth every penny we have paid for her.

No matter how many times we refigure or recalculate the budget, Donna is always right under the mortgage payment. I will miss groceries but I won't miss Donna. Call me spoiled, call it my way of stimulating the economy.

Case in point, we are on Spring Break this week. We went camping in the Castle that is our new camper. The dogs and The Dude stayed home. The dogs are going through a "mourning stage" with Midnight - they are doing crazy things they rarely ever do. This week, they decided to open the pantry with their nose and take out (1) peanut butter, (2) Crisco, and (3) Bisquick. Thankfully, the only one of the three they got opened was the Bisquick. They ate the whole box under the kitchen table. I have never ever been so thankful for tile floors. But I also had to do something I haven't done in forever...I had to mop my own floor. I have the biggest kitchen in the history of the world; gourmet cooks would kill for a kitchen this big. I just call it a lot of wasted space. But it is only Thursday and Donna won't be back until Monday and I couldn't leave Bisquick under my kitchen table for four more days. So I spent the morning cleaning up Bisquick and appreciating Donna.

And when I finished mopping my floor, I realized we don't pay Donna nearly enough money for what she does!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Bristol Motor Speedway is the mecca of Nascar racing. For those of you out there who don't like Nascar racing or don't understand Nascar racing, skip this post; return later for a non-Nascar-related post. For those of you who consider Nascar a competitive sport, happy reading. I have been a huge Nascar fan for as long as I have been with DH. About ten years ago, we started going to the Atlanta Motor Speedway for the fall race. Been to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the longest race of the season. Even had garage passes a few races and been so close to Dale Earnhardt, Jr. talking to Michael Waltrip I've seen the blue in their eyes.

But it all paled in comparison to Bristol Motor Speedway. I've known people who have Bristol tickets. I've longed to go to Bristol. But, you see, if you follow Nascar, you know how hard Bristol tickets are to come by. When DH saw the commercial way back in February that said not only tickets to the spring race at Bristol were on sale, but also tickets to the Sharpie 500 Bristol night race were on sale, he turned me loose with his credit card blessings. And far be it from me to disobey DH...especially when a credit card purchase is at stake.

Those of you who know me in real life know I can justify anything. Those of you out there who need something justified, I'm your girl. But these are tickets that haven't even been available to the general public for over eight years. There has been a waiting list to get on the waiting list to get these tickets. Then, to see the commercial, it has to be fate. And so close to my birthday...even better. DH came up with the best birthday present in the history of the world. Chop it up to the recession that we're in, but now that we are Bristol season ticket holders, we have first chance at them from here on out. This time, we took two fiends. In August, we're taking OC and YC. NEXT March, The Dude, DH, and two of their friends are going. Not that we're planning or we're excited or anything.

So last weekend, in the midst of the Midnight drama, we left for Bristol. And the weather was beautiful. And the race was wonderful. And the company was wonderful. And then we drove all night after the race and I realized once again, that I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a night person. I was a zombie all day Monday and most of Tuesday. But now I can say I've been to Bristol; and I plan to be back for a number of years to come. Perhaps even taking my grandchildren to the coveted Sharpie 500. All because DH said yes.

Oh Christmas Star of Midnight

It's been a sad week at our house. Our beloved Midnight had to be put to sleep. Our beloved Midnight that was DH's Christmas present our first Christmas as a married couple. Our beloved Midnight who we have had longer than our children. Our beloved Midnight who has been there through welcoming two children home from the hospital, three moves, countless camping trips, numerous swims in Lake Lanier, and more chewed up tennis balls than I care to count.

We knew then end was inevitable; how many people can say they've had a dog live to be sixteen years old?! But I had complete and utter confidence in our vet and she assured us we would know when it was time. But even through "Snowstorm '09" she was out walking around on the deck trying to eat the snowflakes. She still barked when Spencer barked (whether she could actually hear the doorbell ringing, or knew Spencer was barking so she needed to bark we will never know), she wagged her tail when we came home. Walked around the yard and garage with DH because that was their special time. She wasn't in pain and she didn't suffer.

So in the midst of all the fun we had this weekend, it was bittersweet because a member of our family is gone. Already this week, I can't count the times I've been outside calling the dogs back in and almost called for Midnight. Or done the "dog count" and been looking for #3 when I saw only two. I'm sure there will be many, many more times to come when I call for her, or listen for her bark when Spencer is barking, or think of her when I see a tennis ball lying around.

So thank you, Midnight, for being our loyal, loving companion. Thank you for staying with me during Snowstorm '93 and '09. Thank you for sitting up with us countless nights rocking sick babies. Thank you for welcoming The Dude home from Iraq. Oldest Child thanks you for eating all those vegetables she told us she ate so she could get dessert. Thank you for helping me learn to stay home by myself at night when DH worked night shift....when you barked, you meant business and I'd better get up and see what it was. Thank you for being the best dog a person could ask for.

The Early Bird Gets...

...killed. Case in point:

This morning, on the way to church, these were beautiful, daffodils...in full bloom. Now, after 7 continuous hours of snow, this is what I'm left with. I love it when my daffodils bloom; it means I've almost survived the winter and it is almost time for spring (which just happens to be my favorite season). But, if it has to snow, there are three positives to the day: (1) school has already been cancelled for tomorrow, (2) DH is calling out tonight so he doesn't have to go to work and can be home to enjoy the fun with us, and (3) it's perfect snow capable of making snowballs and snowmen. And riding four-wheelers: OK...now go up and look at the 4-wheeler picture.

Things I've Never Done

Melanie over at This Ain't New York has quite an interesting list going on over at her place. Everyone always brags about what they've done and where they've been. She put a new twist on it. What have you never done? Some things I thought about I am chomping at the bit to get to do and other things on the list I have no plans to do. But it is an interesting list none the less.

1. I've never been in a car accident (yes, I know I just jinxed myself!). I was once put on a jury because of that fact. It was a car accident trial and the lawyer thought it was very interesting that I had never been in an accident.

2. I've never broken a "real" bone. What is a "real" bone you may ask. I've only had a broken elbow...how on earth do you break an elbow? Don't ask. It wasn't pretty. And it was when Youngest Child was about three months old and DH left at 5 to go to work and I had to get my dear, sweet neighbor to come over before 6:30 and get YC out of bed, change her, dress her, and put her in the car seat for me. Not fun.

3. I've never been on a cruise. Sometimes I want to cruise, sometimes I have no desire to. And since DH has absolutely no desire to cruise, this one will be totally my call. And since I have severe vertigo and can't fly without getting sick, I'm kinda leery about cruising. I love the idea but the thought of spending howeverlong on a ship throwing up doesn't appeal to me.

4. I've never stolen anything. Ever. From anyone. Not even a pack of gum.

5. I've never tried drugs. Ever. At all. This one will come in handy when YC and OC ask the question. Oh, wait...they read my blog. So now I guess they know. NO, YC and OC, I have never even attempted or experimented with drugs. My prayer is that you won't, either.

6. I've never ridden a snow mobile.

7. I've never owned a horse. Off the wall, I know. But I love horses.

8. I've never driven a convertible.

9. I've never cheated on my husband. Obvious, I know...just wanted to clarify.

10. I've never para sailed. Refer to #3 and the whole vertigo thing. Looks fun, but not worth the cost to me...I'd be sick for a week.

Now you know a little more about me. What about you...what have you never done?