Vacation!!

Tomorrow we are bound for POC. I know it's going to be a blast. I don't know how we are going to fit all of our crap into two, yes two, vehicles! Should prove fun...

In other news I found a swimsuit in--get this--a size 8. That's practically skinny. Or at least it fakes not bulge-y with strategically placed ruching. (That sentence wore me out--I hope it's easier to read than it was to write.)

Okay I have too much to do to get ready...can't hang out here!

Pilates for Dummies

I am back on WW for real. I have got to get back to my normal size. Bathing suit shopping=horror of horrors! I decided to step it up and start exercising also. I did the treadmill once, and then I've been DVRing a Pilates workout. It is hard folks. Not for the beginner.

I am thinking about going back to free weights and my own toning, and then do the treadmill too. I just don't have the strength for Pilates yet. Although I have to say working out with Little d and Little m is too fun! They are better at it than I am! Little md tho--he mostly tries to sit on our back and bounce or throw toys at us.

Our summer is strolling along. Swimming in the kiddie pool in the evenings, s'mores, grilling, being lazy. And on Friday we're heading to POC. I can't wait!! We haven't been down since before I was pregnant with Little md! I have big plans for our week there. Swimming in the 'rents pool, beach, ice cream shop, eating stuffed crabs, (did I say I was back on the diet??) reading, vegging out, loving the smell of salt air, fireworks, picnic at the church with the whole big Hawes clan, generally being back home...I can NOT wait!! I'm like the little kid "I'm too excited to sleep!!"

Gotta go--duty calls!

Extreme Couponing NOT!

Much as I would like to be one of those crazy endorphin loving coupon clipping lovelies...I am not. For multiple reasons. And here they are in no particular order.

• I will not be diving into ANY dumpsters to retrieve a coupon (or hundred) for a product my finicky eaters may or may not eat.
• There are no stores here that have double coupon days. At all.
• Every coupon I've ever seen has DO NOT DOUBLE.
• Every store I've ever shopped at or seen a sale for says LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER.

Today I went to my two regular grocery stores. Sam's Club and Walmart. At five o'clock. Because I'm a glutton for punishment.

I think all total we spent close to $700 dollars. Now some of that was not grocery. Like the charcoal and lighter fluid, and the printer ink cartridges. But still. Groceries are getting higher and higher.

Ah, but I did have two coupons. I saved a grand total of...drumroll, please...$2.00. Yes two dollars!! It covered the tax on our Whataburger dinner.

Beat that TLC.

Cheery Cherry!

I don't think I've ever worn four inch heels before. And I'm not sure how well I'll wear these, but I am going to do my best-est! You know what's really crazy--aside from wanted to buy an entire wardrobe around these shoes--they make me want to create a card. Something summery with cute little cherries!

Summertime!

I don't recall loving the summer season so much even when I was a kid in school, but having the summer off now seems utterly blissful!

Little d graduated!! From Kindergarten, of course. It was a great day! I didn't even get all blubbery and cry through the three minute ceremony. I kept it together. But I am just so proud of her. She learned so much this year and accomplished so much. She became a little lady who can go hours in a new surrounding and do just fine without me.

A huge weight lifted off of me as we drove home from her graduation. The realization that we have about ten weeks of sweet freedom was amazing! No more worrying about her for hours a day. No more worrying about getting her to school on time or what she was eating for lunch or if she was going to get a stomachache from not going to the bathroom on schedule. Ahhh--sweet freedom. (Oh don't be mistaken--I still will find plenty of things to worry about.)

Things are blooming around here. Despite the lack of rain. And guess, just guess, who is potty trained?? That's right. Little m. I woke her up the first day of summer vacay (that's how those in the know say it) and said 'Guess what? It's summer time that means no more diapers! Except for night night time of course.' And she took to it no problem. And we've had very few accidents. Most of which are right in front of the toilet because she couldn't quite make it in time. So I am thrilled with this little summer development as well.

Little md is eating more solid food. He's a good chewer. I love to watch his little mouth crunch and munch! He likes cereals and graham crackers and noodles and, without a doubt, cookies! Oh and grapes (peeled and cut) and strawberries. He doesn't talk much, but he can understand so much and get his point across pretty effectively.

I personally am going to call this the Summer of My Dentist Vacation. I've discussed my teeth to death on here, so the why is obvious, but not only am I doing my periodic tooth fixin', now my daughter is doing it as well. Little d's mouth has several cavities. A couple big enough to need caps. I can't even discuss how upset I am about this. I find little consolation in the fact that the dentist said we were 'doing a good job of cleaning them.' Genetics do suck sometimes...

On a lighter note I just ordered these. How lovely are they??

I am way into heeled sandals with shorts right now. I'm letting my hair grow out. I am hooked on OPI nail polish. I am not losing weight fast enough. I want so badly to be 112 pounds again. Or 115, I'm not choosey with it. I thought that next week I would be setting up my scrapbook room, but now D is working 5 days of overtime, so...no.

You know what else...the mirrors are finally hung. It only took nine months. Thanks Dad!