For our summer vacation we went to the Portofino Resort in Penscola, Florida. It was five relaxing days of sun, sand, swimming and spending time with friends. It has been many years since we have gone to Florida beaches and it did not disappoint. The water was free of jellyfish and seaweed and it was a beautiful blue green color.
Neglected...that is what my blog has been this summer. It is time for an update and an attempt to stay more current. What follows is a random list of what is going on in my part of the world.
1. Devin turned 8 on May 13th!
2. Devin decided he was finally going to learn how to ride his bike. Less than 2 days later he accomplished his goal. He received a new bike as his old one was too small.
3. Sometime in May I passed the one year mark of my tennis obsession! I have played tennis almost every weekday this summer. Devin likes the Jammin' Jungle at Cross Gates and enjoys his time when I am on the courts. He also attended 2 weeks of tennis camp. He says that he did not enjoy the tennis but SWIMMING was fun.
4. My best high school friends and I had our annual crawfish boil. Spending time with them and our family was just one memory to add to the many we have collected over the years!
"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
5. Cousins spending time together and sharing a dessert together after lunch.
6. My baby girl Harley had luxating patella surgery early this summer to fix her knee problems. Recovery has taken weeks but she is doing fine and more spoiled than ever.
That is all the updates I have for now but will attempt post to my blog regularly in the future.
I have discovered the miracle that is Mr. Clean Magic Eraser!!! I know I'm am way behind the times. I know the majority of the free world has already discovered Magic Erasers but I have finally caught up with the rest of the world. Cleaning is not something I do willingly and will put it off as long as possible. Today's cleaning expedition began thanks to my tennis partner who did not want to play this morning. My mood darkened as I began to clean and call my partner all kinds of names for making me realize that I needed this tennis break to annihilate the dirt in my house. I was trying to get a mark off of one of my walls when I remembered the Magic Erasers that I purchased. To my surprise the seemingly permanent mark wiped right off! After that discovery, I tried my hardest to find something it wouldn't clean. Baseboards, wainscoting, painted walls, glass top stoves, grout lines, stainless steel, kitchen sink and the list goes on! The most miraculous thing was that I actually smiled while I was cleaning the house.
“Our ultimate freedom is the right and power to decide how anybody or anything outside ourselves will affect us.”
~Stephen Covey
Steven and Rebecca
(photo by Julie Z. LeBlanc)
My baby brother and Rebecca were married on Friday. My sister-in-law (yes, I can call her that now) was stunning and my brother as handsome as ever. I hope that my sister-in-law will always treasure the gift that is my brother. Everyone could feel the love that they have for each other. I wish them all the happiness in the world.
The Sound of Music makes me smile. There I've admitted the fact that I like watching this movie. Of all the things that make me smile this is the most surprising to me.
...my son, James, a perfectly struck tennis ball, phone calls from my bff, the beach, a full moon, early morning runs, fast cars, photographs, the days first cup of coffee, good hugs, new shoes, a good book, down pillows, tough workouts, Fridays, singing out loud when I'm alone, broken in blue jeans, Sundays exploring cemeteries, an ice cold beer, rosaries, candlelit baths, wild flowers, my iphone and The Sound of Music...
I will end my list here before it gets too long.
"Sugar and spice and all things nice. That's what little girls are made of!"
I spent yesterday morning taking pictures of a very special little girl's diva birthday party. With a son, 5 nephews and only 1 niece, it was a nice change being with a group of little girls. They each received a makeover including finger nail polish, makeup, glitter hairspray, face charms and a hair piece. Pink was the color choice of the day. Everything from eye shadow, lip gloss, fingernail polish, party favors, cupcakes, cookies and party dresses were pink. It was nice to not have to breakup wrestling matches, stop games of chase through the store, beg for pictures and stop food fights. I enjoyed playing photographer for the day.
