It's cold in Michigan!!!

So packing mostly shorts and short sleeve blouses wasn't such a good idea for this trip - it's pretty cool here. Daytime in the 60's and nights in the 40's! First thing I did was buy a sweatshirt. So far we have spent our time in Midland - the downtown area is really neat - lots of cute shops and a great park area where there are three bridges that meet in the center of a river- they call it the tridge. We went to the Loons baseball game last night where we won a free burger and saw some great fireworks. The baseball game was good - the loons won. Today we toured the Alden Dow house - he is a famous architect in the area who studied under Frank Lloyd Wright. His house is amazing! Tomorrow we head for the Upper Penninsula. I think the best trips combine visiting with family and seeing a new area!

Cruising

Well - that was crazy fun! We just got back from a four day cruise (Carnival - Fantasy) out of New Orleans - with 55 family members - do I have to say more? We laughed, danced, swam, had a few cocktails, ate, then started all over again the next day. Even though there were 1600 people on the ship - everywhere we went we ran into someone we knew. Our accommodations were nice and the food was good -- not great. Our only disappointment with the ship was the pool was way to small and there was only one so it was always crowded - and it was July heat. We hope to have many more family vacations - and hopefully in the future everyone can come!
Best part of the trip was vacationing with our kids - all six of them - yes Mr O - you are now offically adopted.

Now - a rest at home - then Michigan. Can't wait to see Janice, Jean, and family.

Home again

Gee and I just got home from a week's vacation in North Carolina. We are both a little tired today - from a week of playing with the kids and the long, long, long drive home! Highlights were swimming in the pool, listening to Erin's conversations and her trying to say the name game (at 22 months!), Leah waking me up every morning when she gets up, snuggles while we were reading books, swinging on the front porch swing, hugs, hugs, hugs. I love visiting with Angelle and Mike - just experiencing a glimpse of their life. Everyday life is so precious! Anyway - there is no place like home and it's nice to be here.

We needed a quick easy supper tonight since LSU baseball was on TV so here's what we did. We cup up youkon gold potatoes (3), a few carrots, a vidalia onion, and one stalk of celery - tossed everything in olive oil and kosher salt, and baked it in the toaster oven at 400 for 30 minutes. We bought a baked chicken at Rouse's, brewed some iced tea and with 10 minutes of preparation we had a delicious meal. I love easy suppers! Any ideas for tomorrow night?

I bought a dress!!!

I'm in Orange Beach Alabama with my friends for a beach week and today we had to go to Mobile to bring a friend's daughter to the airport. On the way back we stopped at Dillards for something for a friend and while we were leaving we walked through the long dress section. My friends were asking me what I was going to wear to the wedding and I asked for suggestions and we found the most beautiful dress. They didn't have my size so I tried the size smaller - which normally doesn't work - but it fit beautifully. It a dark sage/gray green with a thin jacket to go over it and tiny beads on the bodice and collar of the jacket. Some of the beads have a little purple in them so hopefully I will blend with the purple bridesmaids dresses. The materials is really sparkly - I just love it. So - that was easy and I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The beach is great - not too hot in the shade and the water is calm. We have had such a good time so far. I am sooooo lucky!!!!!!!!!

Summer time!

It's finally here - I lOVE when school ends and I can just relax - well not really - just get busy with my summer projects and travels. So far I have trips planned to Florida, North Carolina, a cruise, and Michigan. I'm starting to think that work is intefering with traveling so something may have to go - and it won't be traveling!

My main summer project is going to be to clean, organize, and get rid of stuff!!!! Ugh! I hate clutter and that's how this house feels at the moment. So Goodwill/St Vincent's - here I come. I also plan to exercise more this summer - swimming/body pump mainly.

But the main summer project is to help Britt with the wedding!!!!! Hopefully we will get most of it done in the next two months so it won't be too crazy in the fall. I did not raise an undecisive daughter which is great! You are doing a great job so far, Britt.

Well - I guess I better get started...

Bachlorette Party

Last night we had a bridal shower and bachlorette party for two teachers at my school who are getting married soon. The shower was at Copelands and at the end a limo picked us up and took us around for several hours. We had a great time - singing, laughing, and dancing. Lots of fun.

Today was just a relaxing day at home. A little yard work, lots of reading, and a nap in the hammock. I researched "knock out roses" and have decided to plant a couple of them in my garden. They are care free and bloom most of the year. Mom has a couple and I really like them. We worked on digging out a Sago Palm that died today - good spot for the roses!

Tomorrow we are going to New Orleans to visit with Britt and Jimmy - go out to eat - maybe a snowball (Angelle - you have me craving them!) and see the baby kitties. Should be fun.

Two weddings and a funeral

Actually - two funerals - but one is in Washington State. My Mom's sister-in-law died last week - Aunt Margaret. She was a wonderfully different for all my other aunts mostly because she was a "northerner". Her accent - her vocabulary - her life experiences were so different from ours. I didn't know her very well but found her to be warm, happy and loving. The other funeral was my Dad's sister - Aunt Bertha. She was one funny lady - always teasing and fun to be around. She was the female version of my Dad - and although I never knew my grandpa - I was told he was the same way too. She will be missed. My parents are now the only surviving siblings from their families.

We also had two weddings this month - both lots of fun. One was in Houma and one in Point Clear, Alabama. The Alabama one was very memorable to say the least. I went with two girlfriends and stayed at the Grand Marriot Resort - what a great place to stay. The grounds were beautiful - right on the bay - and there was lots of activities planned - croquette - bike riding - kayaking. One of my friends said it was like being in the Dirty Dancing Movie. The rehersal supper Friday night was held at Five Rivers Resort - lots of fun and delicious food. Saturday we took a short walk along the bay to a beautiful old home where we had shrimp and grits and mimosas under the oaks with of course the beautiful bay views. The dessert was apple cake with candied pecans and caramel sauce. WOW!!! The wedding was at the Grand Saturday night. Highlights were the appletini's (which were the exact lime green as the bridesmaids dresses), the food, the awesome band, dancing and - get ready for this - the fireworks!!! Yes - fireworks - over the bay - un be lie ve able!!! We were all astonished - then our friend confided in us about the cost of the wedding. I'm not going to put it in the post - but I would say it's easily 10 times the cost of any wedding I've ever been too. The mother of the groom is a very close friend - and we had so much fun dancing and enjoying a few cocktails. After the wedding we sat in until the wee hours of the morning on a swing overlooking the bay laughing about old times. Sunday morning we had breakfast in a great little cafe in Fairhope before heading home. What a great area - I will visit there more often!