Lions, Koalas and Bears, oh my!

On Labor Day, as we headed home from Mom’s house, we decided to take a detour and go to the zoo in Columbia, SC.

SuperMan and I hadn’t been to the Riverbanks Zoo in over ten years and we wanted the girls to experience it – it used to be one of our favorite day trips from Savannah.

It was a fun little excursion. We were rained on as we went through the park, but I was determined to see the animals in spite of the rain. Which made for quite the adventure. Apparently, the zoo animals are not as adventurous as I am – most of them went into their “barns” once the rain came.

We had fun regardless.

I loved watching the big cats. (they were hot – it was before the rainstorm)

And the koala bears were just adorable.

They were sound asleep (apparently, they sleep 20 hours a day – why wasn’t I born a koala?!?) and they looked like stuffed animals, not real creatures.

The giraffes were trying to get in out of the rain – Little Bit and I didn’t care.

And the gorillas were being anti-social. I can’t say as I blame them. Bunch of tourists gawking at them…

I love this picture of Little Bit’s reflection superimposed on the gorilla – purely accidental but it turned out great.

And her hand in the gorilla’s handprint.

Wet people preparing to go get in the car and dry off:

And then it was the three hour drive (in the rain) home.

Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day for my U.S. friends!

I hope you’re enjoying a day of fun and relaxation with your family and friends. That’s certainly what we will be doing today.

Right now, I’m the only one awake, so I’m sitting in my mom’s kitchen enjoying a cup of tea and listening to the tick, tick, tick, of her noisy clocks. Our plan today is to head back home with a little side trip, hopefully, but first everyone has to wake up! I guess they’re all pooped out – we’ve been doing a lot this weekend. Mostly, we’ve been shopping – one of my favorite past times. I think the girls are pretty much set for fall/winter clothes. Maybe a new coat and some more long sleeved shirts, but that is about it.

That had been my plan for the weekend, though, to get Mom’s help in getting their winter wardrobe.

Mission accomplished, I’d say.

We’ve also enjoyed some of our local favorite restaurants this weekend – lunch on Friday at Spanky’s (they have the best chicken fingers) and then SuperMan and the girls had lunch from here on Saturday

And of course, we have had all kinds of good food at Momma’s house – like these ribs

they were so good.

I haven’t got my menu for the week yet – maybe I will work on that while SuperMan drives us home today.

For right now, though, I am going to focus on my tea and the peace and quiet. I know it won’t last long!

I hope you all have a great day, enjoy and hug the people you love.

A little history

One of the things I want to do, a little at a time, is capture the stories of my life… things beyond photographs and scrapbook pages. Stories of our lives – you know, the stories that get passed down through the generations and are the ones you tell whenever the families get together.

I want to save them while they are fresh in my mind – save them for the girls to remember and for our grandkids and great-grands to have and enjoy one day, too.

I’ve started an 8.5×11 album (digital) that I’ll just jot down those stories in as I think of them. I’m not going to pressure myself into feeling like I have to have photographs on every page. It’s really about the story for this book, not the picture.

Here is my first page:

Here is the story:

When we were first married, I decided to be “Suzy Homemaker” one night and surprise Rob with some homemade stuffed bell peppers. I called Mom and Grandma (multiple times) and worked for hours making the recipe.

We hadn’t been married very long and I hadn’t been cooking for very long, either. It was quite the undertaking and I was so proud of myself for taking on the challenge. I couldn’t wait for Rob to get home from work and eat the yummy dinner I’d prepared.

When he got home, he sat down to eat a plate. I stood by waiting for his feedback…

And he quickly asked me if I’d cooked the rice.
WHAT!?!
Had I cooked the rice?!?
Of course I had.

Well, it turned out the rice was NOT finished, my feelings were VERY hurt and I grabbed his plate and the entire casserole dish and dumped it all in the garbage.

I ran upstairs crying and locked myself in our bedroom.

Poor Rob.
It was all right eventually, but, to this day, I’ve never made stuffed peppers again.

Which, Rob says, is perfectly fine with him.
I hope so.

Out of Sorts

I’m feeling all kinds of weird today.

Totally discombobulated.

You see, last night I dropped off my Big Girl at church for a weekend retreat. Her first multi-night sleep away without any family along with her.

Now, don’t get me wrong… if she is going to be going away without me, there aren’t too many other places I’d rather her be. I know these folks; I know how serious our church is about the kids’ safety and well-being. I know she is in good hands and I’m positive she is having a blast.

But still.

She’s my baby.

Okay, okay, maybe not technically a baby anymore, but to me, she will always be my baby.

And so today, I’m checking Facebook a thousand times looking for pictures that the church is posting of the kids’ retreat. I’m checking my phone justincase she thinks to send me a text or a picture.

My friend, whose son just left for his freshman year of college told me last week that she kind of felt like she did in eighth grade when she was waiting and hoping and obsessing about some boy calling her.

Yeah, that’s how I feel.

I kinda feel that way combined with feeling like someone took half of my heart and ran across the state with it and I’ve got this hole where it should be.

Thank goodness she is home tomorrow. I’m also REALLY glad she’s not college age yet. I am definitely not ready for that.

So, for once, I’m kind of looking forward to the drama and heavy sighs, stomping feet and slamming doors I have when she is around.

I’m sure that’ll change by next Friday, but for right now, I’m really missing my girl.

So, tonight, I’ve planned a little get-together with some friends – those same families whose boys have just gone off to college. I figured we can all be discombobulated together.

Here’s what I’m planning to serve – it’s a Mexican themed night:

Shredded Beef Burritos
Warm Bean Dip
Sopapilla Cheesecake
(and just because I have an excuse to make sweets)
Coconut Cream Poke Cake

I can’t wait for everyone to get here… just so my house will feel less empty.

Not ready for the fledglings to start flying out of my nest just yet, that’s for sure.

First Day of School

Well, it’s official.

I am the mother of a middle-schooler and a third grader.

The morning went well. Little Bit was awake about 20 minutes before I had planned to wake her up (think she was excited?) and Big Girl got up on time as well.

I made chocolate chocolate chip muffins for Little Bit and a strawberry-banana smoothie for Big Girl’s breakfast. It was the smoothest morning we’ll probably have all year. (hee hee)

I’m not sure who was more excited (or nervous) of the two of them. I walked Little Bit into school and got a cute picture of her with her teacher. Big Girl, of course, needed no such escort and I dropped her at the door.

I’ve got dinner started in the crock-pot and I’m thinking about baking a cake or some cookies so the girls have a yummy after-school treat today.

And now, I’m off to wade through the emails and meetings of my day – at least until it’s time to pick up the monkeys this afternoon…

T-minus One Day…

The countdown is on…

This time tomorrow, my girls will be in school.

Hopefully, happily making new friends and learning new things.

and

This time tomorrow, MY HOUSE WILL BE QUIET.

I am not sure which of us (me or the girls) is more excited.

I mentioned the other day that my only concern was the carpool line –

Well, I think they got that one covered. At least for one school.

We made it to both open houses – one on Monday, one on Tuesday. Big Girl has visited her locker a few times to practice opening it and to drop some more things off. I honestly had no idea that lockers were such a big deal to middle schoolers – and that they held such an allure. I can’t remember being so excited about a locker – maybe I was (Mom? was I?) I have no clue.

We also ran into lots of people that Big Girl knows at the open houses so she is feeling pretty confident about not being all alone with no one to talk to. Little Bit ran into a couple friends as well, but she is not really as worried as her big sister. Of course, she is so gregarious that she would make friends with anyone so being alone with no one to talk to will probably never happen to her. Like never-ever happen.

I’m so excited for both of my girls and I’m hopeful for great things for them this year. Big Girl has a lot of changes in the coming weeks, but I know she will handle it like a champion. She’s my girl, after all.

And so now, we pretty much just wait. Lunches are waiting to be made – backpacks are packed. It’s all good to go. Well, except for haircuts. Those are happening today. But other than that, we are done.

We’re ready.

Bring it on, school. We’re ready for you!

Here fishy, fishy

I took the day off of work today – it was the last Friday before the girls go back to school and I wanted to do something fun with them. We decided to go to the Georgia Aquarium. We had talked about going to the Tennessee Aquarium (we love it) but I decided I was not up to the 2+ hour drive there and back when I knew SuperMan had to work and I would be doing all of the driving.

So, downtown it was. We invited our neighbor to go with us. It was fun having him along – he’s really like the girls’ honorary older brother and I think they liked sharing the adventure with him.

We had a great time – loved watching the fish – especially the whale sharks. Here we got to ride on a conveyor belt (“people mover”) through a tunnel that went through the large tank with the whale sharks. There were divers swimming above us (with the sharks) and the kids loved that.

Those sharks were HUGE. I mean, like bigger-than-my-car huge. WHALE huge. (uh, maybe that is why they are called whale sharks?!?) Little Bit kept assuring me that they only ate plankton and that they were harmless. She knew all about them from a visit she made in first grade with her class. She loved being the expert in the group. 🙂

We also spent a lot of time watching the beluga whales. They have four at the aquarium – two males and two females. All are young (even though they are also huge) and were very active and were extremely entertaining to watch.

It’s hard to watch them interact with each other and not think that there are all sorts of things they are thinking. I just kept thinking how much I wished I was like Doctor Dolittle and could talk to the animals. I’d love to know what was going through these two boys’ minds while they played with these noodles.

We also saw the Dolphin Tales show. They wouldn’t let you take pictures in there so I don’t have any to share. But I have to say, I am not sure I would’ve been able to take pictures. I was too busy ooh-ing and aah-ing at the dolphins. It was mesmerizing.

And, believe it or not, emotional. I got choked up watching the dolphins – their grace and beauty, and enthusiasm, for their act. They seemed to revel in the cheers and applause. Watching them interact with the trainers was just so sweet. They seemed to have a genuine bond.

The show was short – only 30 minutes – but we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it.

After our show, we toured the last two exhibits, walked through the gift shop and then headed home. We were all hungry and tired (and ready to get out of the crowds) – but it was a fabulous day. A perfect way to cap off the summer break.

8 Years Ago

Eight years ago, my life changed forever.

Eight years ago, a beautiful, sweet, capricious angel swooped into our lives and left us all wondering what we ever did before she was with us.

Eight years ago, my sweet Little Bit was born.

Happy Birthday, my sweet girl.

You are a bright spot in my day. You awake smiling and cheerful and always ready to seize whatever life throws your way.

You are fearless. Always willing to take on a challenge – climb a mountain, a ladder or anything that you can – just to see what is on the other side.

You are silly. You make me laugh. You love to smile and you love to make people smile.

You are graceful (most of the time) and full of music. When you’re not singing or dancing, you are usually sleeping. You live your life as if it were a song.

You are a loyal and steadfast friend, always willing to lend an ear, a hand or anything else your friends may need.

And smart – boy, are you smart. You never miss a beat, always asking questions, investigating things and looking for new things to learn and explore.

Happy Birthday, my sweet princess.

I don’t know what I would do without you in my life. I love you so.

Really? It’s that time again?

I just spent most of the morning on an annual pilgrimage…

…to buy school supplies.

Really?

It’s that time already?

Sigh.

I’m not sure I’m ready.

(and yet, sometimes I can’t wait – but that depends on how restless the natives are)

It seems like summer just started, and with the exception of July 1st week, it seems like I haven’t really had a summer. I’ve been so busy!

But, I have to say, the girls are thrilled. They can’t wait to start their new schools and to make new friends and get things going again.

And our annual shopping trip is something we all look forward to. They are just like me in that buying new school supplies causes the heavens to open and choirs of angels to sing. It’s a beautiful, yet dangerous thing -the three of us in an office supply store – that’s for sure.

We’re suckers for pretty pens, fancy notebooks and any new thing that has been dreamt up to make you more productive.

It’s a little scary.

So, we are now overwhelmed with notebook paper (college- and wide-ruled) notebooks, composition books, binders and dividers, pocket folders, markers, colored pencils, glue, tape, hand sanitizer, kleenex, locker organization supplies, decorations and more. My dining room table looks like an office supply store threw up on it. (gross, I’m sorry, it just slipped out)

There was a couple behind us in line at WalMart when we checked out. They were going on and on about how ridiculous it was to buy all this stuff for kids to start school. Snorts about buying dry-erase markers and special binders and the like. “When we were in school, all we got were some pencils and notebook paper and that was good enough for us.” Or some such nonsense.

I resisted (with great willpower) responding to their ridiculous conversation. It was obvious they did not have kids and so had no idea what they were talking about. I just kept thinking about how I’d rather spend the money and get my kids off to a good start than not.

And, thankfully, the girls were oblivious to their silliness. They were lovingly unloading their loot for the checkout lady to scan and loading it back into our buggy to take home where they would quickly open every package and arrange and rearrange a million times as they figured out what the “just right” configuration was going to be this year.

And so now we wait. And wonder. And count the days.

Which are 21, just in case you are wondering.

21 days until school starts.

Sigh.