Crunchy Goodness

While shopping at BJ's today, I treated myself to a bag of Stacy's Pita Chips. I absolutely love these. I never buy them, because I will eat the whole bag in one day. And, I'm talking about the big 1 lb 8 oz bag. I start with a few, but can't stop myself until the bag is empty.

It was lunch time when I purchased them. I had them opened and was munching on them before I left the store parking lot. And now I'm just trying not to get chip crumbs in my keyboard as I type and crunch.

Time Away

Lance and I leave early tomorrow morning for Refuge.

August 10, 1991

Today is my 17th wedding anniversary!

Some day I'll scan in a few wedding pictures for you all to enjoy. Our hair styles alone will be quite entertaining. I love my husband, and I love the 17 years of married life we have had together. I'm looking forward to many more.

We're leaving right now for a few days of camping. The family is loading up the car, so I've got to run!

You're It

I was tagged by my good friend Kristen in this question game, so here it goes:

1. The rules of the game get posted at the beginning.
2. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
3. At the end of the post, the player then tags five people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read the player's blog.
4. Let the person who tagged you know when you've posted your answer.

What were you doing 5 years ago?

1. Getting used to life with 3 kids (7 years, 5 years, and 1 month old)
2. Finishing up some remodeling in our house
3. Attending Rachel's preschool graduation
4. Beginning my last summer of living in Lufkin, TX
5. Nursing Chloe on demand

What are 5 things on your to-do list today (not in any particular order)?

1. Finish painting upstairs - hallway and girls' bathroom (of course, this won't happen today)
2. Sew rod pockets in giant stage curtains for a wedding
3. Buy colored card stock and brads so Hannah can finish a school project
4. Fold and put away the laundry that is in the dryer
5. Buy flowers to put in a planter and a front flower bed

What are 5 snacks you enjoy?

1. Pop Tarts and milk
2. Chips and hot sauce
3. Pepper Jack cheese with Keebler Club multigrain crackers
4. White cheddar Cheese Nips
5. Cherry Vanilla Diet Dr. Pepper

What 5 things would you do if you were a billionaire?

1. Go on amazing yearly vacations with my family and extended family
2. Visit my family in Texas, Louisiana, and Florida more often, and fly them up here often
3. Give millions to LifePoint, other ministries, and my friends and family
4. Work at LifePoint (or in some other ministry) for no pay
5. Drive both a brand new Honda Odyssey and a Honda Pilot

What are 5 of your bad habits?

1. Leaving my ironing board out in my bedroom and using it as a shelf
2. Checking my email too many times each day
3. Procrastinating
4. Over eating
5. Under exercising

What are 5 jobs you have had?

1. Regonal Diagnostic Imaging Center - Radiology Clinic
2. Admissions Office at ETBU
3. Substitute teacher
4. Legal Assistant
5. Nursery Director

What are 5 places you have lived?

1. New Orleans, LA
2. Bossier City, LA
3. Bridgeport, TX
4. Lufkin, TX
5. Westminster, MD

What 5 people do you want to tag?

1. Jodie
2. Kelsey
3. Jen
4. Julie
5. Kathi

Friday Fun

I am headed up to PA for the weekend with my good friend Julie. She is speaking at a women's retreat for her former church, and I am tagging along for moral (and prayer) support. It should be a fun weekend to get away, spend time with a friend, and meet some new people.

I ran by the Westminster Wal-Mart this morning after dropping the girls off at school. I have been avoiding that place for the last couple of weeks because of the complete remodel going on inside and outside the store. Honestly, this is one of the nastiest Wal-Mart stores I have ever been in, so I am glad for the face lift. When I walked in today, I was thrilled to see that there were all new shopping carts in the store and they were large! One of the worst things about my local Wal-Mart has been the mini carts that they provide. I can put Chloe in one along with a 12 pack of Charmin double rolls and that thing is full. I don't get it. The senior adult employee that helped me get my cart this morning just didn't understand my excitement over this change.

Well, I'm off to grab my bags and kiss my husband goodbye. Happy Friday!

It's The Little Things

My day started out with a dental appointment, just a regular check up and cleaning. I have always enjoyed going to the dentist. I love the feeling of newly polished teeth. Today's appointment was just for me, so that was fun. I am usually bringing all 3 kids in for their check ups, too. After the appointment I did some shopping.

On my 20 minute trip home I realized what a relaxing time I was having driving all by myself. I was listening to my choice of radio station, and singing along with Elton John, uninterrupted. Going anywhere alone is rare for me right now. And when I get to, I enjoy it a lot. It doesn't matter where I'm going or what I'm doing, but alone time in the car is good for me.

By the time I got home, I felt refreshed. If going to the dentist, Wal-Mart, and driving a car alone makes my day, I guess I need to get a life.

April 1, 1988

Twenty years ago today, Lance and I went out on our first date. I was 16 and a junior in high school. He was 20. I met him in January at a youth event at my church. I was attending the event, Lance was leading one of the middle school groups. When he called a couple of months later to ask me out I said, "I'll ask my Mom." Mom said yes, and the rest is history.

The night we went out was not only April Fool's Day, but also Good Friday. I spent the night before the date with Ericka (my best high school friend) and tried on just about everything in both of our closets as she helped me decide what I would wear. It was an hour drive (from Longview, TX to Bossier City, LA) for Lance to get to my house. He showed up for the date with roses for me and also flowers for my mom - very smart! The weather was terrible that night, the area was under a tornado warning. We had dinner at Ralph and Kacoos, then rented Roxanne and went back to my house to watch it.

It was a great first date. In fact, he called me the next day and drove back over that afternoon for our second date!

Good Day

This view from my kitchen window

plus . . .

A pot of soup simmering on my stove all afternoon

plus . . .

My girls getting out of school 2 hours early

equals . . .

one very good day.

Turkey Day Test

Thanks for this one, Jen. I am mashed potatos. What are you?

You Are Mashed Potatoes

Ordinary, comforting, and more than a little predictable. You're the glue that holds everyone together.

What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

7 Random Facts

I was "tagged" earlier this week by Robert, Kristen, and Clay. Since my super cool friends are all playing this game, I'll join in.

The rules: each player should list seven random facts about themselves on their blog as well as the rules to this little game. At the end of their post, they need to tag seven people. Let those folks know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I've always wanted to play the drums in a really rocking band.


2. For years, as a kid, my favorite movie was Xanadu. I set up a roller skating rink in my garage and made up routines to each song on my Xanadu movie soundtrack cassette. Then I taught neighborhood friends, and my brother all the moves. We had shows where we charged admission. I think maybe 2 or 3 people paid to see us.


3. I majored in psychology in college. I graduated Magna Cum Laude.


4. I worked at a law firm for 2 years. Most of the work I did involved breast implant cases. Several times I had to pick up implants that had been removed from our clients and ship them to experts to be studied. I also flew with my boss (he owned a plane and was a pilot) to depose national experts on the subject.


5. I love the Bee Gees.


6. I've always hated the color "country blue." I had a wedding shower at a small "country" church where Lance was working at the time. 99.9% of the gifts I received were, you guessed it, "country blue." At one point during the shower someone stated that, "Country blue goes with everything."


7. I once caught a fish from a river in Yosemite National Park with a piece of string and a little bit of cheese. It was big enough to keep and eat for supper.

Tags:
Chad
Danielle
Ericka
Jen
Lou
Susie
Suzie

Field Trip Fun

The countdown until the last day of school is on at my house. 24 more days, and three of those are half days. Hannah and Rachel are crossing off each day on their calendars and, as always, looking forward to summer. Chloe and I are looking forward to it too. We miss those two when they're at school, and can't wait for the break when we will be spending the summer days together.

Hannah's class visited the middle school last week. The first thing she told me about her visit there was that it had "really low ceilings." It was funny that she noticed this, because Lance said he recently read about a study that concluded that people are not as creative in buildings with low ceilings. She is one very creative kid, so maybe this won't effect her all that much! Hannah also toured Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles, and ate lunch in the Inner Harbor on a 5th grade trip this week. Rachel went with the 3rd grade to Goucher College to see a production of Ramona Quimby. Her next school trip will be to the zoo in DC.

I went hiking on the NCR Trail last Saturday morning with some friends. It was a great day to be out in a beautiful area. We hiked over 6 miles. It was so much fun to enjoy incredible scenery and weather and hang out with some great ladies. I'm looking forward to our next outing.

Those are a few recent happenings. What a busy time of year. Our calendar is full until school is out and summer begins, then we'll relax.

Thanks, Chloe

Chloe was looking at some framed pictures in Lance's office yesterday while we were at church. She carried one over to us and asked if it was me. It was me - 1989; 17 years old; senior pictures; long, spiral permed hair. As she walked back across the office to place the photo on the shelf we heard her whisper to herself, "I never knew she was so pretty."

Winter

This week we've seen snow, then ice, then more snow. Schools have been closed for three days now. The sledding was great yesterday and today. Here are some pics from our neighborhood.

Warm Weather and a Good Friend

Danielle flew in last Wednesday night. It's been fun spending time with her and showing her around the area. Thursday I gave her a tour of our church building, then we went to Morgan Run for a picnic lunch and some trail hiking. The weather has been very warm, no snow yet. Saturday we took the Metro into Baltimore and had a great day. We walked through Lexington Market, then took the train on into Little Italy for lunch, and then walked through the Inner Harbor area. It was another beautiful day and we had a blast. We got back to the Metro station around 6:00 last night and my van was gone. Yep, stolen. More details later on that situation.

DC

Photos from our day in DC with Mom and Chad last week.

National Christmas Tree

White House

Lincoln Memorial

Girls looking at the Reflecting Pool

Lincoln Memorial at Sunset

Dinner in China Town

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's . . .

Two blimps have flown over my neighborhood in the past few weeks. Maybe I'm just easily amused, but I find this interesting. The first was a Goodyear, yesterday was MetLife. They really make a lot of noise.

Today

I dropped Hannah and Rachel off at school at 7:30. Came home, exercised, and walked a quick 3 miles around the neighborhood. When I got home from the walk, Chloe was up and Lance left for work. Chloe and I ate breakfast. She rode her tricycle to the neighborhood playground with me. There she climbed, slid, and swung "sky high". She rode the tricycle back home. We had a snack, and then finger painted for about an hour. We cleaned up from that and ate lunch. Next she took a long bath. After that we read some books, and she climbed into bed for a nap. Hannah and Rachel will be home from school in less than two hours. I have emails to write and phone calls to make for work. Tonight I'll go to "Back to School Night" at Friendship Valley.

Hiking

Went to lunch yesterday at Legend's Cafe with the girls and Big Rachel. She was right, "My Big Fat Greek Sandwich" is great! So was the crab pretzel appetizer and the "Big Bopper Salad". I think I am liking Legends more after yesterday's lunch experience. Sometimes you just have to try a few things on a menu before you come across something really good. After lunch we headed off to Thurmont, MD for some hiking at Cunningham Falls and a little letterboxing along the way. We took the lower trail up to the falls. It was a great hike and we easily found Lavender's Woodstock Box just off the trail. There are three other boxes hidden off the trails leading to the falls. We will go back for them another time. The area is beautiful. The hike is only a mile long on that trail, and when we got to the falls, we had a fun climb up the rocks all the way to the top. It got a little steep in places, but Chloe hung in there. We started back down the trail at dusk and saw two deer. A great way to end a fun day.

Fifteen

Thursday, August 10 was our 15th wedding anniversary! After Lance returned home from Leadership Summit that night our family went out to the Olive Garden for a celebration dinner. After dinner, we enjoyed getting out our wedding videos and photo albums and looking at them with the girls. The girls also made us a very special anniversary card and surprised us by shouting "happy anniversary" when we came downstairs. 15 years sounds like a long time, but it has flown by. We have some incredible memories to look back on. And, I'm looking forward to what's to come. When I reflect back on our life together, it is amazing to see God's changing and growing us personally and in our relationship with each other. We have come a long way. I love you, Lance, now more than ever.

Me and My Blog

First post . . . finally!