Good Bye blue car.....Hello red car.

Well, the insurance called and made it official. My blue baby is a total loss. I am only slightly upset. I mean it is only a car. The upsetting part is that I had my heart convinced that my “next” car was going to be a convertible. And, now, that isn’t the case. Don’t get me wrong, I WILL get a convertible. It will just be a bit longer now.

Here is our replacement vehicle. It is a Dodge Journey SXT AWD. We didn’t really want the AWD, but you have to take what is there when you have requirements that are not up for negotiation. Like the three rows of seats, and a “lower” price tag. All in all, it is a nice car. I have a sun/moon roof. A radio with 6CD change capability. (right now there are 2 in there – Michael Buble and Nora Jones) We also have SIRIUS radio for a year. (I can take it or leave it at this point. Danny was the same way when he got his car, now he has a lifetime membership. Maybe that will happen to me. We’ll see.) There are little storage compartments everywhere. There is a built in flashlight in the back of the car. Halogen. Melissa is upset because she wanted a car with side doors that slide. I was NOT going to get another mini-van. I loved my mini-van when I had it. But, I am over that. I like the color. I was very glad that it wasn't black. I really didn't want a black car. White would have been okay. As a matter of fact, they had a white one with the third row, but I liked the red better. So far the car has ridden well. The girls are happy. And it has that NEW CAR smell.

50th Post

WOW!! I didn't think I would post this many times. I thought that maybe I would get busy doing other things and forget about it. But, look at me, here I am at 50. Posts, that is.





I have a lot of things to catch you up with, so let's get started...





It doesn't seem like July 10th should feel so long ago, but it does. We have taken the girls to the local water park. We have season tickets. I took a book with me. (Big surprise there) I started reading the Twilight series. And am I ever hooked. I realize it was written for teenagers, but they really are good books. I read the first three in a week. And am now anxiously awaiting the release of the fourth one. In the mean time, I am reading Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum books. I love them. They are a quick read. I am only on the 5th one, but I love Grandma Mazur. She is a hoot. I am also reading a couple of other books. Check out my list on the side bar.

We had Carolyn and Brannon over for Brannon's birthday. We grilled. It was nice. We had ice cream cake and sang to him.



I had my second post op check up and was given a thumbs up. The doc removed the remaining stitches, thank goodness. They were really annoying. Now I just get to wait 4 months or so for the bone to grow to the graft really well before he can put the anchor for the post in. Sounds great doesn't it. No, you can't be me!!





Friday the 18th I decided to go to my local scrapbook store to pick up a couple things and help a friend with her ATG. I helped her out. I managed to only spend a few dollars, which is really good for me. I was out of there for under $30. Go me! Anyway, I was turning left and was hit by a white SUV. I am fine. Only a couple of seatbelt bruises, but my car is totalled. At least all who saw the car say that it "won't see the street again". I was REALLY shaken by the accident. It was the first accident I have been in. Hopefully my last. Danny had to go out of town last week, so I was left doing the single parent thing. Which is probably a good thing because it forced me to get back behind the wheel. I think it would have been WAY too easy to just ride with him in the car. To say my confidence was shaken is a HUGE understatement. But, he is home now and my confidence is back. Almost 100%. I would say I am at 97%. We haven't gotten the official insurance report that the car was totalled, but we have been looking at cars. We should find out today or tomorrow what the final verdict is. Let me know if you have any strong opinions about cars. We need three rows of seats, and Danny doesn't want to spend more than $10. Wish him luck. hehehehe I have wants. I want a sunroof. I want a C/D changer. I want leather seats (for the seat warmer. I want a remote start. He also has wants. He wants cruise control. He wants a low price tag. We both want good mileage. I'll keep you updated.

I made a trip to Sam's on saturday. I bought meat. I put together a meatloaf to throw in the oven one day this week, and I cooked up some meatballs for spaghetti one day this week too. Three cheers for me. I'm almost domestic this week. Also stocked up on fresh produce. The girls have been going through nectarines like crazy. And salad. And strawberries. They really are good eaters.





I will post some pics of the girls later this week. I haven't had a chance to download from the camera in a bit.

Coconut-Lime and Lunch time.

Before I eat though, doesn't this look yummy?!?!?!

It is a Smoky Spicy Sloppy Joe for Grown Ups.

And how about this little beauty.

No Description required. You can find other grilling recipes on Friday’s until Labor Day.
I found them at Coconut-Lime. These are but two of MANY tasty creations by Rachel Rappaport. She has some really beautiful pictures, and you know how I love a pretty picture, AND the recipes to go along with them. You have to check it out. And to make things even sweeter, right now she is having a contest. The winner will be selected 7/17. You will get an assortment of yummy goodness to further your grilling skills and waist line. Go over to her place and check it out. All you have to do is leave her your email addy. Plus if you link to her site from your site, and email her, you get a bonus chance to win. Sounds yummy to me.

I am less numb than I was. My jaw that is. I had my check up, and was told that the Doctor was thrown for a loop when I answered the phone the evening of my surgery. He said he didn’t think I would be awake, never mind talking on the phone. Like a little surgery could stop this mouth. HA! He does want to see me back on the 17th. He looked a bit concerned that the dissolving stitches were still there. He said he was going to leave them in until the 17th and take them out if they were still there. I don’t like them. I can’t imagine what braces must feel like. These little guys are very irritating.

So here is my mouth. Cool huh!!!!

The little white spots toward the front of the bottom right are screws. You can see a rectangle on that side where they took the bone from to place into the front. I love my cell phone camera. I took the picture of my x-ray while I was waiting for the Doctor. What else is a girl to do?????

I am feeling much better. I still cannot eat corn, peanuts or popcorn. (Doctors orders) But I am eating everything else just fine.

Especially smoothies and Italian Ices. mmmmmmmm!!!!!!

Fourth Fun

Our 4th was very nice. Danny’s birthday is on the 4th, so we celebrated. Here’s the store bought cake that Megan decorated with the “Happy Birthday Dad” banner.

She did a good job on the banner. He wanted a pair of Cowboy Boots and a new Grill. Since I am not savy in his "style" we made him Gift Certificates. Sorta. Anyhow, we put them each in box and wrapped the boxes. We had wrapping paper left over, so I suggested wrapping the candy that the girls gave him for Fathers Day. He would never know. Morgan grabbed Transformers (the DVD that we have already watched with him) and wrapped that too. He had a lot of gifts to open. And the girls howled with laughter at his expression when he was opening the candy, again. They tricked him. They love to trick him. He thought it was funny too. Thank goodness.

The girls decided that he should have a Transformer Birthday theme.How fun is that? I think it is great. I only have girls, so the boy themes are new to me. Last year was Pirates. Wonder what they will come up with next year…

His birthday was the start of a great weekend. We were pretty laid back. I felt I had to take it a bit easier. And boy did it pay off. It was the best weekend I have had in a LONNNNNGGGGG time. We went to the fireworks show on Friday night and saw Hancock on Saturday. Sunday, Danny took the bookends (Megan and Melissa) to Ocean Breeze Water Park. We got season tickets this year. Morgan didn’t want to go, and neither did I really, so we stayed home. It was a very nice old fashioned weekend.

Chew on this....because I can't.

I have been busy this month. Not that this month is any different from any other month, but I have not been able to DO things around the house like normal. Since I last posted, I have done lots. Lots and lots. (me talk good too!!)

I took Megan to the Great American Scrapbook Convention in Chantilly, VA. We had so much fun. I won't go into detail, I don't have that kind of time right now, but Megan wants to go again next year. 3 cheers for me. I hope she will still want to when she is 14...

Report cards came home. Yikes. Melissa got all 3's and 3+'s. (that's what 2nd graders get around here, well the smart ones anyway) Morgan got all A's and B's. (no surprise there. she is a little brainiac) Megan got 1 A, 3 B's and 2 C's. You would have thought she killed someone with her bare hands the way DH reacted. I mean, come on, who hasn't had a "bad" grade at some point?! He wants to take her life away. Nothing in her room except the bed and the clothes we choose for her everyday. I am NOT going for that. I talked him into getting school work for her to do EVERYDAY this summer. Monday thru Friday. Sorta like summer school. I explained, to them both, that if we want her to get good grades we need to help her out, not punish her. She seems to be okay with it. So does DH. We'll see. Melissa and Morgan begged for workbooks, so all 3 will be sitting at the table this summer. Go figure.

Wednesday was a dear friends last day at our office. She retired. I will miss her everyday. She was with the government for 22 years. An opportunity came along that she COULD NOT pass up. So she has succumbed to the dark side, and is now a contractor. With her goes my office help. You thought I wasn't updating before......just you wait and see now. Really, you'll be waiting.....

Last Thursday, 26 June, I went under the knife. I had to have a bone transplant in my jaw. The doctor took a piece of jaw from the back and put it in the front where I had a too narrow piece of jaw bone. All I remember is the O2 and the IV. Then Dr M told me he was giving me some "happy juice" and I woke up with gauze in my mouth. He told me it was a 1-2, no more of a 2-3 day recovery. Maybe for a SUPERHERO. I am NO superhero. Friday I was fine in my little world of painlessness. Saturday DH took Morgan to the Indy car races in Richmond and left me with Megan and Melissa taking care of me. I LOVE my girls. They took such good care of me. Megan even offered to bring me the barf bowl, because, "you don't look so good mom". Melissa kept covering me up, because the fan was on and I was all spralled out on the arm chair. She didn't want me to get cold. (I had asked for the fan to be turned on.) Sunday was more of nothingness. I was a TUBE BOOB. I held down the chair and saved my family from eating any of the soft food in the house. Here it is Monday, and I thought I would be fine. Back to work, no problem. Here I sit. At my desk. Waiting for 4pm. Why, oh why, did I want to carpool with my DH!?!?!?! I could have left right after 1pm (I had deadlines) and gone home and NAPPED. Doesn't that sound heavenly?!?!!

I think I will not do anything for the rest of the month.


July, on the other hand, looks to be more relaxed......


Are you laughing your ASS OFF now? I am.

My butt's burning.....So much for a SLOW June

Yes, my pants are on fire......

I admit it. I lied. I really didn't think about it too much. Just lied.






I "thought" that "it" was calming down. What in the blankity-blank was I thinking?!?!?! I just plain wasn't thinking.












I forgot about the girl scout sleepover at the Great Wolf Lodge. AND I forgot that Megan needed "skinny" jeans for her dance show on saturday. (She's a size 1, how much skinnier can they get?) AND I forgot that Morgan needed a brightly colored, solid colored t-shirt, with no words, patterns or pictures to wear with the dark blue jeans she needs for her chorus performance on Thursday. AND I forgot that Melissa needed a black t-shirt to go with her blue jeans for her Thursday performance, oh Yeah, she also needs a Susan B. Anthony outfit for Wednesday. (this requirement was handed to us TODAY.) Stay with me folks. I realize this is out of order, but so is my brain..... I managed to get the MAY swaps done and packaged up for mailing. I got them done and in the envelopes by Friday evening. I was all set to get up Saturday, shower, head to the post office, come home and pack for the girl scout trip and be a happy camper. (in a hotel :D) It didn't go as planned. Morgan was a bit slow in packing, Melissa was less than cooperative, etc.... Something had to give. It was the packages. I asked DH to mail them when he mentioned that he was going to the post office for stamps. He and Megan rode their bikes to the post office. He didn't take the packages. They were too "whatever". I guess I didn't manage to convey the urgency in which I needed them mailed. I'll go to the post office tomorrow.













I had my annual "Spread them and smile" appointment today. Finally. Forgot the one I made about three weeks ago. Told everyone in the office that I was leaving early for a Dr appointment and managed to work through it. The Dr office called to reschedule. They had to reschedule that one. Some baby decided to be born that afternoon. Some kids!!! I am very proud that I was able to make it to this one. AND I didn't get lost. They moved since last year. I made it there, first try and on time. I was on a roll today.






They scheduled me for a boob squeeze on Thursday. Let's hope I can remember that one. Because I SOOOO look forward to them. NOT.













Okay, so you have stayed with me this far. Almost done. Megan has rehearsal Thursday night, so Danny and she will miss the girls' performances. But that's okay, I can record them. Oh wait. We don't have a video camera. They aren't cheap enough yet. So instead we are missing out on recording our adorable daughters doing adorable things. MEN. (not really man bashing - more tired than anything else) Saturday Morgan and Melissa will start riding lessons at a new stable. Danny will take them. I will take Megan and drop her off for her performances. She is doing two shows on Saturday. We are only going to one. Fortunately the dance studio is hiring a video taking guy. (did I mention I am tired?!?!?)













Then on Monday, I get to go out of town for 3 or 4 days. But, I have to be back for Morgan's 5th grade graduation on Friday. Then Danny is out of town Monday till Thursday morning. He was supposed to be gone until Friday, but Megan and I are leaving on the 19th for the Great American Scrapbook Convention. We are meeting Rosemary and Karen up there. We are so excited. Megan and I will drop Morgan and Melissa off at the summer camp they are going to attend this year, and head to the convention from there. Danny's plane is scheduled to land mid to late morning. He'll pick them up.













Megan and I will return from a grueling schedule of classes Sunday. Who was the idiot that signed us up for that many, back to back classes?!?!??!?!






I am scheduled for oral surgery on Thursday. Recouperation is scheduled for 2-3 days. (That's the story I was given. I hope it is right.)













My June is booked too. Belly Dancing is out of the question for this month. My Thursdays just won't allow it. I will jiggle again in July. (You have been warned. I am not giving my ever loving, supportive family that warning. They will just double over in laughter, again.)






And did I mention that they still want me to feed them......How did this happen? Again.










Here's a bit of a visual reward for listening to me whine:



The pens I made for the PTA to sell for Mother's Day.
Well, a few of the 200 I sent in.








Morgan on her journey to Masterquester. (She didn't make Masterquester on the trip this pic was taken, but who really cares?!)






One of the roads in Williamsburg. Beautiful isnt' it. So peaceful and relaxed. Think I will be looking back at this one quite a bit this month.
(Yup, that is my Crown antennae topper. Love it)




You can't beat s'mores.
or Watching the "lost" marshmallows in the fire.





Are my girls talented, or what?????






Wii love to play. (Butt is still sore and now burnt too.)






This fry would have made us millions. They claim it is heart shaped.
Just ask the spoon nosed freaks.
Ebay, watch out... If I only would have let them.... I am such a mean mommy.






Megan learned how to use a sewing machine in "Teen Living". They made shorts. Boxer-ish shorts. Used to be Home Economics. But she loved it so much, she made her sister a pair of shorts too.



More later.....