Wordless Wednesday

Wrapping Up

This is our last full week of the Summer of 2008. As usual, time has flown by for the kids who are not ready to get back in the classroom. However, the parents think the break has drug on long enough!

The school supplies have been bought, the class rosters are up and now we sit and wait for August 7th to arrive! The anticipation for me might be like the Princess’ for the release of High School Musical 3.

We’ve had a great summer with a few fun trips. But part of the summer fun has not involved leaving our house.

The kids are 26 months apart and I often refer to them as “partners in crime”. I’m not sure how it is in other households with boy/girl siblings, but mine spend an decent amount of time playing nicely together. Now, don’t get me wrong, they have their moments of “he’s touching me” or “she’s messed my things up”. But for the most part they have a lot of fun together.

This summer has been one spend the night party after the next. No, not with other kids. In each other’s room. It looked something like this:

And this morning I found them like this:

I’ve missed a couple of great photo opportunities. Like when the Polly Pockets were allowed to play in the newly built Lego structures. Or the lining up of ALL their stuffed animals across both bunk beds.

I am going to cherish these moments for as long as I can. Because who knows how long this will last. I pray a lifetime!

*Gasp*

Technically this post should be saved for my usual fun Thursday post, but due to lack of creativity today I am posting it now. Besides, I have PLENTY of photos for Thursdays.

For those of you hip, like me, who have a facebook account, imagine my surprise when I logged into today to find that a couple of my dear college friends had uploaded photos from our college days. This is clearly why “older” people should not have scanners, much less know how to use them.

To set the stage for what you are about to see:

• I attended college from 1986-1990 – so remember it was STILL the 80’s, and the decade rules
• I attended Judson College, a Baptist women’s college here in Alabama
• During my sophomore year, the college celebrated its 150th year—otherwise known as the Sesquicentennial—or as we all referred to it as the ses-QUIIII-centennial
• I studied a fair amount, despite high popularity and a paparazzi following because I was a geek, a chemistry and biology geek

This photo is of me and my friend Jules. We are wearing our required Sesquicentennial dress. My sticker reads that I am a “hostess”, I don’t think it said with the mostess. *shrug* Perhaps you find it odd that we are taking our photo with our anatomy lab guide. I do too. Can’t remember why?

This photo is of me and my science peeps. We must have been studying for some huge exam. It’s probably the only photo of my thighs that I am willing to share with you on the Internet. Wow, what 20 years, 2 kids and the “death” of a thyroid can do to a woman. *sigh*

Now, for the piece de resistance. The middle gal is the infamous Teresa of Livin’ the Wood Life, also known as Miss Juson 1989. This photo is just too much: too much 80’s and certainly too much print fabric! On the bright side we all looked happy despite our obvious fashion errors.

These were just three of the retro photos that had me gasping for air earlier tonight and there were several more! War has been declared and I’m sure there will be a Guinness record of photo finding and scanning going on this week.

Have no fear, I am poised and scanner ready ladies. Be afraid, be very afraid!

Mamma Mia

Last night I enjoyed a much needed Girl's Night Out (GNO). After a great dinner filled with gab and laughter, several of us went to see the summer hit Mamma Mia.

This is the Broadway play brought to the big screen, starring Meryl Streep. The cast also includes the still handsome Pierce Brosnan, whom I have "loved" since Remington Steele back in the 80's. My only "beef" with the movie producers, why in the world did you let handsome Pierce sing. I mean would a dub-over with a Jonas brother's voice have been too much??? I had to turn my head every time he sang. It made me sad.

The setting of the movie is on a remote Greek island, which scores BIG points with the Greek GRITS hostess. Big points. Although the reality is, old Greek ladies probably wouldn't dance down the street to "Dancing Queen".

The musical outbursts were ABBA songs and it almost had me dancing in the aisles folks. Which would have resulted in popcorn being tossed, so I refrained with the help of my GNO peeps.

So, ladies (and poor husbands who get dragged along) if you are looking for a very fun movie that's filled with dancing and singing to ABBA....this would definitely be the one. Declare it GNO and go!

I give it two thumbs up and am buying the sound track.

‘Fro Me to You-- Peek A Boo

I can testify this week’s photo has never made it into the pages of any scrapbook. This week I’ve decided to roll all of my siblings under the ‘Fro Me to You Bus. Sorry y’all, you knew it would happen.

This photo is circa 1978 when we lived in Irondale, Alabama.

I’m not sure what the first thing YOU notice is, but I notice my brother’s fly wide open, which appears intentional on his part. I mean were these pants made like this, were they ripped, was if for convenience?? I guess we'll never know.

There seems to be an awful lot of plaid going on in the photo. And if you are a faithful fan of me and this meme, you will remember my plaid post! I'm sure I had some cute little plaid number on under that awful itchy, fluffy-around-the-neck coat. How I hated that coat.

You will also notice my little sister’s missing front teeth. Those came out early in life, I believe from some sort of tricycle accident.

There seems to be a knee sock theme also. And it appears as though, I *might* be wearing some sort of geriatric shoe?! Go ahead, take a peek down there between my brother and sister. Yep, you see 'em, did SAS make shoes back in 1978? I guess so.

Now head on over to Kristen's for more Thursday 'Fro fun. If you haven't joined in the fun, you should.

Wordless Wednesday

They call him Flipper, Flipper

Most of us may know the world’s most famous dolphin by that name; however, the Princess hoped to see “Flippy” on our 2 hour dolphin cruise in Perdido Bay.

As we boarded the “Cold Mil 2” for the 4pm Hotter-Than-Blue-Blazes dolphin cruise, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I had already been overcharged for the Daisani water I had to purchase because I didn’t know we could bring our own cooler. Yes, I paid $1.75 for a bottle of water. Then aboard the boat there was a cooler with can drinks. Guess how much they were. Yes, ONE dollar! Now, I sure better get my $12/person worth of viewing some dolphins!

As we headed out into the bay, we almost immediately saw a couple of dolphins. They allowed us to watch them dive a couple of times, then left the area. Just enough viewing to demand want more. Again, I need to get my money’s worth, Skipper.

After riding for about 20 minutes, we slowed down and met up with the second boat that left the dock. There were a few more dolphins spotted and now we were going to “encourage them to play”. Whatever it takes, Skipper, do your stuff. They aligned the boats with a couple of boat widths between us. They then “gunned it” creating a wake between the boats. Guess what?

Jackpot! That was almost worth my $12/person investment.

We continued onto the very end of the bay and made a couple more attempts of the super secret dolphin wake.

BINGO! They fell for it again, and this time I had the camera on video:

Did you see that?! Two jumped at one time. No way! As you can hear, we turned into instant tourists with all the “oooohhhhhh” “aahhhh” “yay”!

We definitely got our money’s worth! Thank you, Skipper and Flipper!

got crabs?

Sorry, I do realize the title of my post is a bit questionable but most appropriate to the topic at hand. I guess I’ll be getting a few extra hits on my blog site courtesy of Google searches.

Today I am going to highlight Lego-Man’s favorite activity from our trip to the beach. And tomorrow we’ll highlight the Princess’ favorite activity…..hint, it involves a boat and looking for dolphins.

Apparently when I was young and went to the beach, the daily festivities were pretty much over when the sun went down. However, there is more to the beach after the sun goes down than my folks wanted me to know about. And it does not require a chaperone, just a flashlight and a bucket. My sister and nephews got to visit for a couple of days and participated in the fun.

Looking for the little crab critters

Got a small one

Our “deadliest catch”

The Crab Boss

If you’ve never participated in this after dark fun, the rules are simple:

1. Use flashlight to locate the crab critters
2. Chase the critters down
3. Put critter in sand bucket, because you can
4. WATCH OUT FOR PRE-DUG HOLES IN SAND (maybe that should be #1)
5. Look in everyone else’s bucket along the way
6. Ceremonial release of critters before leaving the beach. Usually a simultaneous “BE FREE” is shouted.
7. Beg to go back again tomorrow night.

Dolphin cruise

Look what we're doing!

Sincerely ‘Fro Me to You—Bikini Style

In honor of me being at the beach this week, I have pulled out an oldie and a goodie.

This is probably the last time I was seen wearing a bikini. People who have seen me at the beach this week, you should say thank you. I at least have sense enough to keep it covered, unlike some folks. A protruding abdomen is cute on a 6 year old, but not on a 56 year old. Words to live by people.

I would be the hot babe on left wearing the floral ruffly ‘kini. Is that purple and orange?! And that would be my twin sister in the highly fashionable faux zebra print. How about the inflatable pool is just screaming the ‘70’s!!

For more ‘Fro Me to You fun, click on over to Kristen’s place at We are THAT Family, it IS "'Frotastic"!