Feeling Better

I didn't run away from home--although I was sorely tempted (I had offers from Illinois and Oz, after all, and boy howdy were they tempting)--and I really appreciate all the supportive comments.  It's nice to know I'm not alone in my desire to just get away from everything and everybody.

I did however, RUN.  Thank goodness (once again) for Christy.  She is such a faithful partner and so dependable (she says the same about me, lol!) and it was wonderful to get out and just move. 

Surrounded by all this beauty and running intervals, how could I fail to feel better?  Talk about a natural stress release.  I always feel so good when we've finished.  I may use up every drop in the gas tank and be left with nothing but fumes, but that's a good thing.  :o)

We worked out HARD today.  I needed to.  (Don't you just love the rolling hills and the green and the foxgloves?)

We did our usual route but ran more than usual.  And, I could just vent.  She's an excellent listener and a supportive friend and she always asks insightful questions and makes me stop and think.  Sometimes you just need that.

Ellie and I then hit the TJ's (I swear I've been so stupid for so long in not going there.  I've learned the error of my ways!) and Martin's for fill-in purposes and then came home.  She practically begged to take a nap ("Mommy, I go night-night!") after lunch and I proceeded to sit on my duff and do absolutely nothing.  Not a single thing.  I left all the lunch mess and chilled with a few fun apps and the internet.  I can tell you I didn't even feel that guilty about it. ;o) 

I'm in a much better frame of mind this evening, and I can't tell you what a relief that is.  When I have PMS I feel like there is this monster in me and it takes over.  I KNOW I'm being a royal b!tch, and yet I can't stop myself.  I can't stand to be around myself so I have no idea how the girls and B survive it.  GAH!!  It's as if I'm an observer, watching the goings on and unable to change a thing about it.  When I'm able, I take a time-out and go to my room, but when I'm in the midst of taking care of bedtime or trying to get dinner cooked, or experiencing anxiety because of a huge mess (I'm not OCD about that, I just feel calmer when the clutter is gone), I erupt and it's ugly and then I feel insanely guilty.  I KNOW I'm behaving badly.  Mom told me today I'll feel guilt about my actions for the rest of my life.  Gee, thanks, Liss.  :oS  Unfortunately, I'm sure she's right.  :sigh:

I've been eating even more healthfully than usual for the past few months, but in the past week I've really slipped up.  It's not a bad thing, truly, but I can't help but wonder if the higher amount of processed food in my diet hasn't had an impact on my mood as well.  I feel better when I eat better, so there may be something to that as well. 

Whatever it is, be it the running or the eating a bit better today or the doing nothing for two hours but veg, I feel better and more balanced once again.  Thank God. 

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Sparklies:

1.  I know I've taken photos of this before, but I just love it:

Could it be any more Colonial Williamsburg??

2.  Photos from Saturday's party:

It was the quietest birthday party I've ever attended. ;o)  We're going to have Lil's half birthday party here in June.  No gifts needed, just time spent doing something she loves with friends.  What could be better?

3.  So, I was playing with Ellie with her "maganoodle" this evening (I usually draw shapes for her to identify which she will then "erase" using the big magnet) and decided to write letters.  The child can identify 21 upper-case letters!!! She got stuck on "N", "U", "V", "W", and "X". Holy smokes!!  She can even identify sounds quite a few of them say.  I'm gobsmacked, truly.  She knows all her colors and then some, but still doesn't know the word "color" refers to colors.  Ex. "Ellie, what color is that shirt?" "Shirt!" Does it ever amaze you the amount of knowledge that is acquired from birth to age 3? 

4.  Simply feeling better and taking the time to veg.

No milestones.

A Post Where Rachael Whinges and Whines

Disclaimer:  Read at your own risk.  The first part is a bit of nonsense about the girlies and their cuteness.  The rest is me prattling on about nothing in particular.  It's spectacularly boring and self-indulgent.  Feel free to skip over all of it and just enjoy the photos of the cute girls. :o)

I've had these photos sitting on the computer just waiting for me to post them.  They're from dinner last Saturday.

We had supper al fresco (we like to keep it fancy around these parts) and the evening was wonderful.  There was a soft breeze, no humidity and NO bugs.  Sweet!

I typically try to avoid taking photos of the girls with schumtz all over their faces, but well, I just loved how sweet Miss Beanie was looking and couldn't seem to help myself.  The lighting was wonderful and I just had to snap a few quick photos

She's still trying to grasp the idea you don't have to turn your spoon or fork upside down to get the food in your mouth--it makes for a bit of messy eating.

When she gets frustrated with that, she'll switch over to her fingers. ;o)

And, here's my messiest of the Messy Bessies.  Bless her heart, Lil is Messy Marvin and Pigpen all rolled into one.  She is a sweetheart and I adore her, but holy smokes is she one messy eater. 

Typically, the spot around her chair is crumbier and messier than the other three combined.  Doh! 

But, in spite of that, I suppose I still love her. ;o) 

She loooooves eating outside, and in fact, I'm considering it for this evening as well.  It has been cold and wet most of the weekend, but the sun is finally peeking out.  Yay! 

I've been in a bit of a vile mood most of the weekend.  I don't know how the family can stand being around me because I really can't stand being around myself.  :oS  I'm just feeling all sorts of grumpy and out of sorts and I can't quite pin down why.  I just want to run away from home and hide out somewhere all by myself. 

Isn't that awful?  I adore B and the girls.  ADORE them.  And yet, right now, I think I would give my left hind leg to just be with me and no one else.  I want to be responsible only for me.  I don't want to cook or clean or see any messes.  I don't want anyone calling "Mommy" or to smell any litter boxes or medicine any bunnies.  I don't want to see any messes.  I just want to be alone with my books and some chocolate and simply be.

I'm a horrible human, I know.  :oS :sigh: 

You know, we spend all our childhood desperately wishing we were "grown-up" so we could make our own decisions and do our own thing and not clean our rooms and go to bed whenever we want and eat all the junk we desire. 

You don't realize that being a grown-up entails pretty much giving up all traces of irresponsibility.  :sigh again: 

Since what I long to do is so at odds with what must be done, I'll simply suck it up and pull on my big girl panties.  I'm the mama.  I'm the grown-up and I know what my responsibilities are.  But, it doesn't stop me from daydreaming, right?

Maybe Brien needs to send me on a business trip somewhere...;o)
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Sparklies:

1.  LOVE this view when we eat outside:

Everything is sunny and green and lovely.  We can hear the birds chirping and see them flying hither and yon. I'm still trying to figure out where the bluebirds are living.  There's nothing more delightful than having them visit during dinner. :o)
2.  Lily attended Alicia's birthday party yesterday--a paint on pottery party. :o)  It was, without a doubt, the most serene six year old birthday party I have ever attended. :oP  I have promised Lil a half-birthday party (since her bday is so very close to Christmas) and that will fall right at the end of the school year.  She would like to have her party there, and since I believe in keeping the numbers down (one child per each year of age or so), I think it should be doable. :o)
3.  It was First Communion today.  I got all verklempt seeing all the second graders partake of Eucharist for the first time.  Some of them were the oldest children in their families and oh, the joy and pride on their parents' faces (all of them).  It was a happy happy thing. :o)  Lil is looking forward to her First Communion in two years, and goodness, Ella will be making hers next spring!!
4.  Brien dealing with my foul disposition with grace and relatively good humor.  He's a good man.  He's worked on the kitchen and cleaned up the bunnies for me.  What more could I ask for?
5.  It's comfort food night here at Casa de Davis.  Sometimes you just need that, even if the spring produce is coming in...;o)
6.  Lil and I picked up some stunning Million Bells at one of the pop-up McDonald Garden Centers (they pop-up every spring as little satellite sites). I'll have to get some pictures.  I'm so pleased with how lovely the backyard looks.  Too bad the front leaves a lot to be desired...at least the Bitsies are blooming fit to be tied and oh, the Carefree Peaches are starting as well.  I have daylilies and glads out front and they make me happy.  I'll be bringing some of those glads in tomorrow. :o)
7.  Oh yes, I almost forgot!  I'm in Pottermore, finally!  I'm a Hufflepuff (anyone surprised by that?  No, me neither.), as is Jess.  Ella, a Ravenclaw, has made fun of us. ;o)

No milestones.

Remember When

I love to throw the windows and doors open and let in the fresh air.  I'm fairly certain I'm an anomaly in this area as most folks seem to thrive on their central heating and air. 

I'm positive Brien has been ready to turn the a/c on many days this month.  It's true, the temps inside were creeping up past 85, but I knew we could manage.  Heck, if I could manage--me, the original melty kid--the rest of them could. ;o)

I'm typically a big fat baby when it come to the heat--not that I've ever written anything about that on here--and keep the thermostat at around 73 in the summer.  It's just so stinkin' awful around here.  Buuuut, I'm making a change.

I've been throwing open the windows and the two doors in the morning and catching that lovely early morning coolness and then cranking the fans in the afternoon (and closing the windows on the front of the house).  I keep an eye on the 10 day forecast and if the evening temps drop into the 60's at night and if we aren't having too many consecutive hot days, I convince B we can manage it.

Growing up in the mountains of southwest Virginia, most people didn't have a/c let alone central heating and air.  Talk about a luxury!  We had hot days (all of almost 90 for a high at the peak of summer), but the nights were wonderful with temps dropping into the upper 50's to low-mid 60's.  If you could survive the heat and stifling-ness of your stuffy house for a few hours, you would be granted a reprieve after sunset.

One afternoon a couple of weeks ago I was in the kitchen working on dinner and I was sticky and hot and a sense of deja vu swept over me.  I remembered working so many late afternoons and early evenings in the kitchen in both mama's and papa's houses, feeling sweaty and miserable but knowing there would soon be cooler temps.

Some houses had window-mounted a/c's, in rooms that could be closed off so one room was like a refrigerator and everyone would congregate in there on particularly beastly days (of course, given what I know now, there were no beastly days...;oP).  I remember the joy of walking into a grocery store and feeling instantly chilled to the bone.  Oh, the frigidness inside, and then, to open one of the giant freezers...

We were rather poor so our cars did NOT come with a/c.  The joke was we had 2/45 a/c--two windows down at 45 MPH.  Hee hee.  Everyone was windblown and mussed and there was nothing better than getting out, driving down the highway and feeling that wind.  Of course, conversation was tricky because you had to practically shout to be heard, but that was okay.

Nobody wanted to be inside if they could help it since inside quickly became stifling.  Kids all begged to go to the creek, the swimming hole, the pool, or to run through the sprinklers.  I would have lived at the creek or pool if I could have.

Nowadays, folks have central air (which is a true blessing here in southeast Virginia and the rest of the south.  Boy howdy, everything moves slower in the south because it's so stinkin' hot!!) and kids don't live at the pool like they once did.  I think they're all chillin' in the a/c playing video games or something.  I know I have a hard time leaving the house when it's miserable outside.  And, given my whiney-ness when it's so hot and icky out, I understand. 

However, I'm making a change this year.  Last year my goal was to keep my hanging baskets alive all summer.  I did it!  This year, it's to crank the thermostat to 75 at minimum and to leave the house every day.  Gulp!  I've made the second part of this easy for myself by joining a nearby neighborhood's community pool.  Like I just wrote, kids don't go to the pool like they used to, and many pools aren't used like they once were so many of the local neighborhoods offer a chance to join their pool for the summer.

Not only did I join the pool, but I signed up Lil for their swim team.  Girlie needs to learn to swim and what better way to do so than to be at the pool for at minimum 45 minutes every day from the end of May to the beginning of August?  Before I signed her up, I asked if it was okay she couldn't swim.  The nice lady told me that was how both her sons learned to swim.  Sweet!!

So, I'm harkening back to my youth this year--days spent at that pool, warm in the house (although I think I would have thought I had died and gone to heaven if our house was only 75 in the late afternoon, lol) and an attempt to enjoy summer and all it has to offer.

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Sparklies:

1.  I'm not 100% positive, but I'm fairly certain Lil threw something in the washer and started the machine. I don't know if she put in detergent, though. ;o)
2.  Signing up for swim team and a pool membership.
3.  Big hugs from Miss Bean.  She can be so affectionate one moment and such a stinker the next.  Gah!
4. Ten Minnit for dinner.  Sometimes you just need Chinese carry-out.
5.  Texting with Jori.  I haven't "chatted" with her in days and missed her!
6.  My girls truly love one another.  I know Bitty doesn't much like Beanie sometimes, but she does love her.  The sound of the two of them laughing and playing together this evening was music to this Mama's heart.  Yesterday Ellie started crying when Lily went tearing off down the street with Sydney to go to her house to play.  Bev said Lil got the most anguished expression on her face and I saw her come racing back to Ellie to hug her, kiss her and tell her she would be home later.  If one of the girls is hurt and crying, the other one comes running over to be with her and check on her, wearing a very worried expression.  They may not always like one another, but there's some real love there.
7.  Brien found this $5000 toilet today.  Go ahead, check it out.  I'll wait here.  So, what did you think of those crazy features?  That is one insane potty, that's all I'm sayin'. 

No milestones.

Where *Was* I Yesterday??

I didn't get a chance to post yesterday because I was so busy.  Or, more to the point, I didn't post yesterday because I was utterly wiped out.  Yesterday started with keeping Alicia and getting her on the bus with Lil.  No, not a big deal, but just the start to the day.

From there it was a run to the vet with Ron and Ellie and then to the pediatrician.  We got a quick stop at home for lunch and then were out the door to get Lil so we could head to the orthodontist.  Ellie finally got a nap around 3:30 or so and then I got her up around 4:45 so we could head back to the vet's to get Ron.  Needless to say I didn't get dinner cooked and I was a knackered mess and ready for bed by 6:00. 

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I've not been sleeping well, and now I have a cold on top of everything else so I was utterly blitzed by the time the girls were in bed last night. 

 

With that excuse said, I have to say I have no earthly idea how I used to get it all done when I was working.  I think I did because there was no other choice. 

Ron came through her surgery with flying colors and was more than happy to be reunited with Pablo (until he commenced to erm, physically displaying his affection for her).  She's been chilling today, but eating and drinking so I'm sure she's going to be fine.  Pablo is still one head twisted little bun.  Dr. B says to give it a bit more time.  We'll see.

Ellie had a great appointment.  I forgot that when they get to two they stop stripping them nakey to weigh them.  With her clothes on and a soggy cloth diaper, Beanie weighed in at a whopping 22 pounds which puts her in the almost 3rd percentile for weight.  Woo hoo!  ;o)  She's growing on her curve, though, and Dr. Jen knows Lily and her growth, so she's not worried.  Since I can't get Beanie to drink the Boost, she suggested mixing it with her milk.  Ahhhhh.  Now why didn't I think of that?  She has chugged three cups of milk mixed with Boost and a little chocolate.  It's a sneaky way to get in a few extra calories. 

She's 32.5" tall, putting her in the 17th percentile for height.  There are no concerns about autism or any developmental problems which is good.  (I don't remember doing any autism screening forms with either Han or Lil so this is new to me). 

I mentioned El's meanness (her biting, hair pulling, headbutting, etc. and laughing about it) and Jen suggested putting her in her room with the door closed for two minutes.  I've done timeout but this is so much better.  It completely removes her from the rest of us, and since what she is craving is attention, she won't be getting it.  I have to say, nothing is more infuriating than reprimanding a child and having them laugh in your face.  Gr.  This will help with that as well.

Ellie has also been put on Miralax now.  Yet another thing to mix in her milk.  Given her bathroom troubles, this is most likely a good thing.  I wish we didn't have to do it, but anything to make going to the bathroom easier is a good thing.  We don't want her to associate using the potty with pain or difficulty and this should help with that.

Meanwhile, Lil was a real trouper with the orthodontist.  Girlfriend is just like me--a big fat nervous Nellie who worries about everything--so was an absolute mess by the time we got to the ortho's office. 

They were so good with her!  (As an aside, they must not get very many young ones in there as they were utterly smitten with Miss Bean.)  I liked Dr. W very much--he is open and friendly and funny and good with kids. 

He took one look at Lil's photos and x-rays (and a quick peek in her mouth) and saw the problem immediately (as well he should, given his profession).  He said we are going to do nothing about it right now--no teeth pulling or anything else.  He said he's seen this before and while not common, it's not uncommon either.  She'll continue to lose teeth at a rather rapid rate and he expects her two year molars to fall out a good 3-5 years early.  Super.  Therein lies the rub.  Her jaw is so tiny and her adult teeth so big they are filling in the holes of two baby teeth instead of the single space they are allotted.  Drat.  When those 2 year molars pop out she'll need to get a space maintainer to hold those spots in reserve for the adult teeth that won't be coming in for another two years. 

He expects she'll be having orthodontia of one variety or another by the time she's in the third grade, and braces by fifth or so. 

At any rate, he was pleased with Dr. D's proactive referral and with us for taking it seriously (how could I not?  He said it's crazy the number of teeth the child has lost in such rapid succession).  I guess I better start saving those pennies now...;o)

As for the rest, these are just photos from Beanie's birthday--as promised.

Ah, I wanted to share Miss Holly doggie.  Silly girl. If you sit on the floor, you must be desperate to play with her and throw her toy.  Why else would you be sitting on the floor??

When Ellie received her wings, big girl here took off for hers.

I cannot begin to tell you how much this child looks like Miss Hannah here.  It's amazing.  As I've said so often, she is her own little Beanie with her own little personality, but boy howdy does she channel her oldest sister some days.  This evening she was looking a mirror and Brien asked, "Who's that?"  Her response? "Hannah!"  Even she sees the likeness.

Such a sweetheart--even if she is a terror.  ;o)

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Sparklies:

1.  Cooler temps.  I've not turned on the a/c yet!!  I'm holding out for May gosh darnit.

2.  Check out these photos I found yesterday when looking for Lil's 2 year stats (which I couldn't locate, drat it all):

Miss Bitty at two.  Holy cuteness overload, Batman! I should go play in my archives more often. ;o)

3.  TJ's.  LOVE me some TJ's.  I picked up the prettiest tulips as a pick-me-up of sorts today.
4.  This came Friday but I forgot to share--I received the loveliest little bar lotion from my friend Amy.  Unexpected packages are the best.  Remember getting them in college?  There was NOTHING better than that orange slip in your mailbox--especially if it was for YOU and not for one of your boxmates.  :o)
5.  Christy and I mixed it up today, running for shorter bursts, but doing more of them.  We did 3 12 minute miles.  I was pretty impressed with us.  We're getting there, slowly but surely. :o)
6.  I've signed up Carlos to do the mowing this summer.  I don't mind it when it's cool outside, but when we get to the peak of summer? GAH!
7.  My R.E.M. Pandora station--it's like reliving high school and college.  Ahhhh.

No milestones. 

Thoughts

Yes, I'm the mom that takes a picture of her baby with her finger jammed up her nose.  I'm so proud. ;o)  By all accounts, Ellie had a wonderful birthday.  Lissie came Wednesday afternoon so she could be here Thursday, and Nana and Pop came for dinner, cake and presents.

After dinner and cake, Ellie climbed up on Pop with a book in hand demanding she be read to.  I looked up and found her doing this.  Oh my. ;o)

A very sweet neighbor gave Ellie a gift when she tore into (love the flying tissue paper).  Inside she found a soft pink bunny.  (It should be noted I put in a lost Bunny Unny report with CW but have heard nothing.  I did chase down a little girl I saw snuggling something pink with long ears--turns out it was her bunny.  :sigh:  At least Beanie seems taken with the new Bunny Unny we got her.)  She loved the bunny and the shape sorter inside, as well as her other gifts: finger paints, a smock and paper from Nan and Pop, two dress-up dresses from Lissie, a stroller from Jess and crew, a Cabbage Patch baby from the Lees, and the things we gave her.  Not too shabby, I think. 

She had to immediately put on one of the pincess dresses Lissie gave her, put on her wings, strapped the Cabbage Patch baby in the stroller and took off.  :o)

I have a ton of photos to post and will share tomorrow because I have something preying on my mind I need to share.

I'm a huge soft-touch.  I'm one of the biggest feelers out there and am so empathetic that I hurt when others are hurting.  Today, after RE, a few of us were left in the building when a man came knocking on the doors--he was slightly disheveled and shaking.  He asked if Father was around and was told no, at which point he said he was out of work, had no money or food and was hungry and knew we had a food pantry.  We aren't allowed to hand out food (we don't know the procedure--it's left up to those who run the pantry) so had to settle for giving him the phone number for contacting the pantry tomorrow. 

I felt like a heel.  Here was this man, obviously suffering, and we had to turn him away back out into the rain.  Just before he drove off, one of the pantry workers arrived and I'm guessing he was able to help him out. 

I know Christy helped him a bit too, giving him some cash.  As I was leaving, he was stopped at the stop sign, getting jumper cables out of the back of his van.  When it rains, it pours, and his van wasn't working.  I gave him a jump and he was able to drive away.  I pray he finds gainful employment and is able to feed himself and his family.  I'm still feeling out of sorts four hours later, worrying about this man, and those in similar situations. 

What can I do?  How can I help? 

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Sparklies:

1.  My friend the lazy squirrel came for a visit:

The battery in the feeder wasn't charged,

and apparently neither were his batteries. ;o)

2.  The rain today is wonderful for the plants.
3.  Ron is actually a Rhonda.  Now, that in and of itself isn't a sparkly--especially given the fact Pablo is a boy.  The sparkly is Dr. B made it a point to get her right in for a spaying tomorrow.  Whew!
4.  We had a slug afternoon spent watching movies--The Incredibles (Lil said, "Ellie is just like Jack Jack!"--she's right), and The Muppets.  I'm LOVING this! :o)
5.  Ellie playing with her presents--don't you love it when you get gifts your child actually plays with?
6.  Brien made smothered steak for dinner.  YUM!!


No milestones.

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Ellie has a well child check-up tomorrow and then Lil's ortho appointment in the afternoon.  I'm not sleeping well--I'm desperate to be able to get to sleep before 2:00 a.m.  :sigh:  Maybe once things settle down a bit more? 

Happy Birthday, Beanie Baby!

This girl is officially two today (although I could have sworn she's been two for at least six months...)!  Happy Birthday, darling Ellie!

A Walk Through Colonial Williamsburg

Although I meet with Christy on MWF to walk/run and typically use the nature trail on TTh, I decided I wanted to cruise through CW today--just the Bean and me.  I always see such wonderful, nay, beautiful sights I want to take pictures of, but when you're walking with a buddy, there just isn't time to stop.  And, believe you me, I want to stop a LOT. ;o)

Since I had to make a trip to TJ's and Martin's anyhow, I decided to just start my day with the touristas and headed out.  We had a marvelous time walking and seeing the sights.  Beanie was an angel--not a single peep of fussing, not even when she dropped Bunny Unny...  Yes, you read that right, she heaved him overboard somehow somewhere along the way and I completely missed it.  I caught the Tag pen and the book and the cup and the baggie and the blanket, but missed the most important object.  I've put in a call with CW's Lost and Found and can only hope someone has found him.  I'm sick over this, truly physically ill.  :o(

But, I didn't discover he was gone until we were back at the van, so these photos were all taken with an air of joy and delight at the beauty that was surrounding me.

That building up there is NOT part of CW.  It is in fact the Wren Building on the William & Mary campus.

The rest of the photos are simply things I found beautiful or interesting, or symbolic of Colonial Williamsburg.

I have NO idea what that plant is in this picture and the one above it, but I love it.  It is all along the white picket fences throughout CW.

Bruton Parish church.

Saddle shop

This is the garden "shop".  You can purchase your plants here.

The gardens throughout CW are mostly formal and well structured--not my style, but still beautiful to look at.

Governor's Palace

No clue, but somebody left the gate open...;o)

A colonial style dwelling.

And another colonial inspired dwelling.  One of the really cool things about CW is many of the homes are private residences! I've heard tell (but have no first hand experience so it's only hearsay) that major electronics, TVs, computers, etc. are all in basements and such so that they can be as "period" as possible.  The homes that are in fact private residences say such on tiny little brass signs by the doors.  I can't imagine how frustrating it must be to have folks trying to get into your house all day and night. ;o)

Sheep.  Big, wooly, stinky sheep!

The cabinet makers' shop.  This is one of my favorite places to visit.

 I love the terrain around CW.  Up hills, down hills, around curves.  It's all so lovely.  And, the peonies in this garden are to die for!

This is a side view of the House of Burgesses.

 And from the front.

Looking down DoG Street from the opposite end of Merchants' Square.  I have heard tell DoG Street is a mile long from the W&M campus on one end to the House of Burgesses on the other. 

The are all buildings, shops and taverns along DoG Street.

A peek into a garden.

I just happened to love the chimney and sky here.

The courthouse.  It's so funny to see it sitting there all by itself with no trees or other buildings surrounding it like the rest of the street.  Across the street is the magazine, and it too is all alone.

One of the delights of CW--the horse drawn carriages and wagons.  Of course, where there are horses there are deposits.  I swear, if I'm not trying to avoid doggy leavings on the trail at home, it's horse dropping on the road in CW.  ;o)

I hope you weren't too bored.  There really is nothing more mind numbing than looking at somebody else's vacation photos. ;o)  Well, really, I enjoy other folks' photos, but I know not everybody does.  :oP

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As for me, the yo is starting to ascend--thank goodness.  I think I just needed to acknowledge the down yo for what it was, accept it, and keep on keeping on.  Getting out today was lovely and I'm so glad I did it.  Well, all except losing Bunny Unny, that is...

Oh, as for the Hannah memorial, it turns out it was put in by the neighborhood.  Is that not wonderful?  I have a sneaky suspicion Kristine had something to do with it. :o)

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Sparklies:

1.  CW.  I just adore the place.
2.  Ellie's birthday gifts are all accounted for.  Whew!  Lil got her a Melissa & Doug brownie set and some magnetic wooden animals.  Jess and crew got her a stroller for Baby Stella.
3.  Holy smokes do I love our School Crossing store.  It is the perfect place to find gifts for kiddos up to about age 10 or so.  Perfect.
4.  It's slightly cooler today.  Whew.
5.   I found another 12-18 month tub.  More clothes for Beanie!
6.  Lil's reading--it really is coming along so beautifully.

No milestones.