Age is Just a Number

Meet "Mimi"- we've had the privilege of knowing this wonderful lady for over 25 years now and while we are "stay-cationing" this week, C and I took a drive out to the country to visit with this amazing woman. And while I would never list her age, seriously, does she even look like she'd be an age that may rhyme with "matey" and "nix"? She still gets out and walks miles each day and keeps active; we were lucky to score some time on her busy calendar!

We had a lovely lunch together and spent the next few hours just catching up. It was humbling to hear about this woman's life, especially as she walked me through her photo albums. She has seen and experienced so much in her lifetime and she continues to have an utter and complete zest for life. Below are some highlights from our visit...

C and Mimi in front of the old corn crib

C trying to get Buddy to play in front of one of the outbuildings- the dog was too hot and old to be bothered.

A fresh picked apple!

Mimi and her peach tree

Hot!

Mimi playing soccer with C!

We saw ALOT of this!

C and the John Deere

Not quite as tall as the tractor's tire!

Wiped out- slept all the way home.

While C did sleep all of the way home, he was wide awake for the ride out there. This gave us plenty of time to talk about the crops we saw (corn, peanut, cotton, soybeans, and tobacco) as we wound through back country roads. We even saw something new for me- tobacco prior to the top flowers being cut! This visit reminded me how critical it is to make time for those important to us- fabulous day!

Sweet Surprises

Don't you just love when your child does something completely self-less and sweet? C emptied his piggy bank (all over his bed) this morning, brought all of the change downstairs and proceeded to count coins and divided them into four piles. When I asked what he was doing, C responded, "I want to take M to lunch today at [his favorite place]" He continued to count coins into the four piles and explained one pile was for limeades, one for cheeseburgers, one for french fries, and one for desserts. Then he dumped all of the coins into a zippy bag, asked me to call M's mom for a lunch playdate, and toted his coins out to the car, for our big adventure.

Just when I think he's being selfish, or not listening, or greedy, this shines through and I am so very thankful for the tender heart of my sweet boy. Something else just as sweet? These two have been friends since they started preschool together at age 2 1/2 and their little friendship continues to thrive. And it's interesting to note that her mom and I went to school together and grew up four doors down from each other, so sometimes it's surreal to see these two playing together! A few photos below from our big adventure...

Lunch at their favorite drive-in

Checking out the harbor

Solved the maze and found Posideon

Maze conquerors

We all scream for ice cream! Ok, really, it's frozen yogurt.

Starting the Summer Reading program at the library

Making a map

Sometimes You Just Have to Laugh!

C is just shy of 6 1/2 years old, and we are a tired bunch because, despite his age, C STILL does not sleep through the night. Business trips are when I get uninterrupted sleep, which usually still ends up interrupted with catch-up for work. Anyway, true to form, we heard C get up last night. The hubs and I were downstairs watching something on History International (hot Saturday night, I know) since I just wasn't sleepy (rare). And we heard C get up, but it sounded more like a thump, so we both ran for the stairs, afraid he fell out of bed.

No, the dear boy had not fallen. He had stumbled into the bathroom and there he stood in full glory PEEING IN THE LAUNDRY BASKET...FULL OF CLOTHES! I thought, "am I really seeing this?" And it was one of those long, did-you-swallow-the-ocean-today? type of pees. To top it off, he was still asleep. The boy SLEEPWALKED into his bathroom and let loose on the basket.

There are many ways to react to situation such as this, but really, what are you going to do? The hubs and I were so stunned, and so wiped out, that all we could do was laugh...belly-busting laughter...which woke C up...which means he turned to the sound of the laughter, and in doing so, continued to stream all over the bathroom floor. He opened his eyes and shouted "STOP LAUGHING AT ME!" all the while, still urinating all over the floor. He proceeded to pull his pants up, marched back to bed, and had absolutely no recollection of the event this morning. I may have been up until 2am doing laundry and scrubbing the floor, but I can say it was completely worth it for the laughter.

Surviving Craigslist

I've been looking for an elliptical that wouldn't cost me a fortune, so I decided to foray into the world of Craigslist. Now that our hot and humid summers are in full effect, I wanted a low-effort way to burn calories while keeping some creature comforts, namely AC and some TV/Netflix to distract me from workout torture. To Craigslist I went and found an elliptical listed for $50- just listed, while all of the others were $150-$300.

So, I emailed the owner, got my questions answered, and we decided to meet at the owner's house early this morning. The home was a few cities over from where I live, so naturally, I told the hubs he had to come with me, and we'd drive by first...to make sure it looked relatively safe. The whole drive to the home I'm wondering where this is, how safe is the neighborhood, etc. I felt even better when we saw one of the neighbors out doing yardwork and wearing a t-shirt from our church. Of course, I left the address with my parents, just in case I was headed to the home of Craigslist killers that were going to take us hostage. Natural fear, right?

We pull up to a home in an older, but well-kept neighborhood, and think "so far, so good" and ring the bell. And who answers the door? Not some hostage-taking, meth-making crazy, but a sweet older woman who is downsizing from a home to a condo and no longer needs the elliptical taking up space in a spare room. I think she was relieved we were fairly "normal" looking buyers too. She chuckled and told us she'd meet us in the garage, since she had "no idea who would show up" and asked her husband to lug the machine to the garage so they didn't have random people, from Craigslist, in the house.

$50 later, I am the new owner of an elliptical, the lady has one more thing cleared out of her home, I've already started burning calories and C is burning off extra energy. A win for all!

Friday Night Leftovers- The-No-Cute-Title Edition

I seriously could not even think of a title for this edition- my brain is spent!

Last week I was in Charlotte (business) but had a fantastic time catching up with friends, especially staying with a dear friend on Thursday that I had not seen in WAY too long. What is such a blessing is that we were able to pick up like we'd never left off...and we will not let this much time pass between visits. Stop by and give her some love at http://littlepapiandpunkin.blogspot.com

I hope this is one of my last posts without photos...fingers crossed we are laptop shopping this weekend.

C had a good time at camp this week and a fabulous time at VBS last week. I took next week off- not thrilled with the staycation idea for the week, but I do have Aruba to look forward to in August. We have some fun planned next week too, including a trip to the country to visit a family friend.

Trying to wrap up work prior to vacation is never a small event, nor is it enjoyable. I really need to get back to that.

Hubs and I have a date night tonight- actually headed to the movies! Any suggestions?

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Friday Night Leftovers- The Random Edition

Still crazy busy around here...I don't know if I am coming or going and the house is a mess! Oh well, here it is...

The new deck is just about finished (LOVE IT!)...now to stain and seal it...and get some furniture for it. Windows should be in the next few weeks, so The Money Pit is looking better, but still has many more projects to go. Too bad my budget doesns't align with all of the project needs, but good thing we like the house and the neighborhood, because we'll be here a long time at this rate.

C finished Kindergarten yesterday and I don't know what it more bittersweet: watching him go off to school the first day, or having him come home yesterday to tell me he is now a 1st grader.

I've not printed photos since C was 9 months old...I am going to a crop tonight...you see my dilemma. Goal is to have 5th birthday trip to Disney completed tonight. 332 of 800+ photos selected and printing off at the lab now. God help me!

When you explode Red Curry Panang Tuna in the microwave, it takes a LONG time to clean up.

Still feels like I am never going to catch up with this house...between the projects and the clutter it's a complete time suck and that's the one thing I always seem to be short of: TIME! That's my big frustration these days.

2 months until Aruba!

Friday Night Leftovers- The Making a Comeback Edition

- I'm happy to be blogging again, regardless of how busy and crazy it is around here...and I look forward to reading all of the other FNLs out there...it's been way too long!

- You can now leave a comment...it's working (hint, hint)...for all two of my readers.

- The little guy makes me proud; he saved his birthday and tooth fairy money to buy a new bike. He's crashed three times in the first five minutes on it. If you know C, you are not surprised.

- I stocked up on Sara Bee wine today. Coincidence? I think not.

- There are many conversations I am not yet ready to have with C yet. Leaving the store tonight he tells me, "Well that's weird...those big-year-old kids were holding hands." I responded, "they must really like each other" and we left it at that.

- I accidentally dropped a can of sunblock on the shep's nose. Poor thing yelped and he is still giving me the stink eye.

- Henry Limpitt is on his last gills :(

- Tooth #6 fell out this week...it's amazing the kid still manages to eat.

- Final baseball game is this weekend, followed my some work in the garden.

- Read The Help in 48 hours: best book! Look forward to the movie this August and hope it stays true to the book.

- I had such a nice evening with my mama this week- manicures, shopping, and dinner...and pedicures this coming week. Woot! A little spoiling never hurt anyone, right?

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