Vacation on the Island Day One

Monday - Arrived to beautiful beach day. Even the boxes sent on ahead arrived with no drama as well as the groceries. Seeing as how our stay last year on the Island was full of drama..crappy weather and a "gift" when we got home this time it's so far so good. The house is better than BFF and I remembered. Just perfect. The hubbys were impressed too! After about three hours it looked like we were here for weeks! Checked out "town" and walked on the beach. Started the shell collecting with the little ones. Back to the house for dinner. The Master Chef (from now on lovingly referred to as MC) made his famous skirt steak fajitas. He would give you the recipe but then he would have to kill you. To die for. This all was done while the moms took a nap! Ate too much, fajitas, chips and salsa, two kinds of rice and beans, but we were starving as no one ate much all day, during set up. Kids lounged in the hot tub while we sat and had Coronas on the deck. Little ones passed out early(the couch in the living room's the kind you sit on and instantly fall asleep.) Then all the grownups passed out on it watching the Olympics. lol Everyone's bedrooms are great, comfy beds, tv's, A/C we may never go back to the Mainland!

40 for the last day....

That's it. Now I am officially in my 40's. Tomorrow's the big 4-1.

It's ok though. Some people freak out about being 40ish. I don't. I kinda like it. I think it suits me.

I didn't have a wild 20's decade. It was great...I mean, engaged, married, a baby, bought house had another baby, had great friends, became a stay at home mom all before I was 30. Not too shabby. But I don't have any of those crazy stories about all the wild stuff I did when I was 20something. I had fun don't get me wrong. I guess I have a few stories and maybe scratched an itch or two so to speak. But sometimes I listen to people my age go on and on about how crazy they were when they were 20ish. I think yeah I had a baby by 25...no bar hopping for me.

30's were great times too. I had a new hometown that I loved. (and still do) Another baby, another house. Made some more spectacular new friends. All good. But predictable I suppose. Did what most 30somethings I hung around with did, took care of my kids, made dinners, helped with homework, joined the PTA.

I am just wondering what the 40's will hold. Will it all be predictable? Or will I make things happen. I don't know. Somedays I am ready to take on the world and other days I am just plain tired! ( and all these 40ish aches and pains....grr!) The day before a birthday feels like New Years eve to me. Plans to do things better the coming year. The whole list of "to do's" in my head. I enjoy my actual birthday-day though. Even if it's not a biggie and nothing special is going on. I am a Leo...don't you know it's all about me? lol

But 40's are so far so good. Granted it has only been 365 days in, but good never the less. I may actually have more "stories" from my 40th year than my counterparts do about their entire 20's. (yikes!) Having built in babysitters (see above baby after baby in my 20's...) helps a lot. They get a few bucks and we get to go out and act 20 once in awhile or even go act like grown ups sometimes too! It also helps that I know who I am now, and I am happy where I'm at. It's right about where I thought I would be.

So happy birthday eve to me. Guess I will have to wait and see what my 40's brings.

I am still leaving my summer song on. It makes me feel good. I was not "sipping whiskey out the bottle" in '89, I was planning my engagement party but I still jam to it now and if I want, go buy my own dam whiskey and drink it myself. (ick....not) Ok maybe a bottle of wine in my fancy birthday wine glass then.

Bats in my Belfry

Some people may say that about me. Now it's somewhat true. After laughing about stories of the G's next door, who seem to attract bats in their house in the middle of the night. We got a visit last night. DH watching TV at 2:00 a.m. and sees something at the corner of his eye. Is it a bird again? Yes I said again.

A little background... Smudge Patrick, the cat that thinks he is a dog brought in a beaten (but apparently still alive)crow the size of a Thanksgiving turkey two mornings ago. Thankfully hubby got up first and I just woke to the sound of the vacuum running at 6:30 am. Hubby told me not to even come down, but of course I did luckily for me to only the sight of feathers all over the whole first floor. He told me I did not want to know what he found. I did not ask. I don't do birds. I don't hate them. I mean I used to feed them before I had cats that like to eat them. I definitely do not like them indoors. Flying in the sky is fine...outside as long as they keep their distance.

So back to this morning....he thinks again a freakin' bird? I will kill that cat (who he does not really like in the first place). Then he turns on the lamp...oh no it's a bat. Nudges me...wake up. C'mon I think what the heck with the light on...we just got home at 12:30 am...now he REALLY nudges me..."uh..Hun there's a bat in here!"

What follows is a blur... screaming under my covers...threats to get the hell up and get it out of here before someone is killed...then a revelation. I am outta here. I grab my comforter throw it over my head and run out of the room slamming the door behind me. Leaving poor Bat Man lying pretty much unclothed in the bed with no covers and a bat flying around. That's a mental image huh? So I am not proud to say I hid in daughter dear's room on the floor. Thankfully he was not as freaked out as me. Although he did invite Smudge a.k.a. CatDog who he normally does not want in our room to come to his aid. (Smudge killed a bat a few weeks ago and left it as a gift on the front walkway...yummy) He got the pool skimmer and caught it and threw it out the window through the screen. The skimmer, the screen and I hope not the bat still lie on the side of the house. I am not checking. I will skim the pool with my hand if I must.

So my Bat Man saved the day. Gotta love that guy.

The Tooth Fairy wuz here...

Yes. She was here last night. First time for Shorty. I forgot how exciting it is at night, as you try to fall asleep waiting for her to come.

Although it may be a little nerve wracking. Shorty had a bit of a hard time falling asleep until most of his questions were answered. How does she get in? Will she wake me up? Is she going to touch me? "Leave my door open tonight, and if you hear her you can tell her I said thanks!"

Much to his delight he awoke to "fairy dust" on his window sill and all over his pillow...and even a few "dollars".

So yes she was here indeed. She will keep her fairy dust at the ready, just in case....

Did I mention I love summer?

I do. You're hearing my new favorite song again from my friend J.M. ( I can't find it on Itunes yet pal so you can listen here for now)

Yeah summer. Yeah flip flops even if they are bad for your feet. Yeah no bedtimes. Yeah beach at night.

I need to bottle this for February. Ick don't even want to say the "W" word. Yuck

Rock on JM

Know what's good?

Now don't get me wrong..I love diamonds, convertible BMW's, and pedicures as much as the next gal.

But what's really good? Being at the town beach at sunset, a stone's throw from my house, hearing a (quite large) bunch of kids playing football on the sand, swimming in the bay and making sand creations, while me and my girls (most of them anyway) sit on a beach blanket talking about chick flicks, songs that make us cry and hair color. And in the background the laughter of some of my favorite dads as they talk guy talk. Just being. Being a relaxed mom, caring friend, loving wife and all at the same time even!

Peaceful. Content. That's what's good. And I know someday I will miss this. But for now it's good.

This one's for you girls.....

Summer Time and The Living is Easy

Finally. It's Summer. Looking back at wintertime blogging I am surprised I made it to the summer..lol.

This is my week to breathe. Although school officially ended on Wed. I have had family staying here for a week so now the bed and breakfast is closed too.

So this week sleeping as late as you want everyday is allowed. Coming into Mom's bed after Daddy has left for work is strongly encouraged. (even the kids that are bigger than me). Coming downstairs before Mom and eating Oreo's for breakfast is really not allowed but is overlooked (this week only). Pool in place of a shower is ok maybe every other day. (chlorine kills germs). We have rekindled our friendship with the ice cream man who so nicely drives ever so s-l-o-w-l-y down our block so that in case you need to jump up and down 37 times to get your parent out in the front to buy ice cream, you won't miss him. Isn't that nice of him?

Deciding whats for dinner 30 minutes before we want to have dinner. And then maybe just going to the diner at like 7:00 (so late for dinner we are such rebels!) and then going down to the town beach 'til after it gets dark taking goofy pictures. It's wonderful. Then next week it's not like it will be back to the routine. VBS starts so we have to be up at a certain time. But our biggest worry will be when is water day so we remember to bring a towel. "Camp" is peppered in throughout July..but nothing major...just fun stuff for a few hours a day. August is open. One week in FI...with abundant sunshine this year and no burglars thank you very much.

Lazy mornings and even lazier evenings.

"Marshing mallows" on the fire pit,wet towels everywhere but no socks to wash! The smell of sunblock and bug spray, chlorine, salt water, warm air. Seagulls, sand on your feet, sand in your hand...little sanded kids that look like chicken cutlets, dogs and little boys with summer haircuts,spring planting finally coming to life, fresh cut lawns, kickball in the street 'til the street lights come on. Delicious. Normally I would NOT use that word to describe anything but food...but it's the first word that comes to mind when I think of all that. I plan to throw myself into it. Up to my eyeballs in it all even.

So when September comes I will be looking forward to new pencils, notebooks and school clothes. And some September solitude. But right now that seems light years aways...now it's Summer. Yipppeee!

Hubby

Yesterday was my DH's birthday. As usual he wanted nothing. Though he does want a GPS for his car which we will go buy in the near future. But as he is an avid reader of my blog and will eventually read this. So for your birthday...here are the top ten reasons why I love you. (there are of course much more but these are the top ten)

10. You can make me laugh like no one else. Especially when I am trying to fall asleep and you remember something you forgot to tell me when I was vertical.

9. You only know how to tell dirty jokes. And sometimes I even find them funny.

8. You are a great dad. No frills, no big show. Just honest, fair, generous (to a fault sometimes).

7. Everyone loves you. Really I don't know of many ( or any?) people that don't like you. It used to annoy me when I was younger but now it's something I admire

6. You give the BEST massages. And even though I hate to give them, you never turn me down. And yes I know you usually have ulterior motives but I'm easy.

5. You're a flirt and usually shamlessly flirt with other women who are unable to resist your charm. But I know at the end of the day who has your heart.

4. You're the real deal. The TP other people see is the one I know. No pretenses, no put on, just real.

3. You will help anyone. And I mean anyone. And even though sometimes in the past I would get mad because I felt someone was taking advantage of you, you assured me that it was ok and "it's what you do".

2. You have called me "hun" since we were 17 years old and it was really not cool to call your girlfriend that and even though your friends made fun of you (remember volleyball) you didn't care.

1. You love me in spite of my mood swings, times when I flip out, when I am afraid, when I am not a perfect mom. You always have my back, and won't hesitate to tell me when I am wrong even if I strongly disagree. You have made me a better person, let's face it I am much more easygoing than say ten years ago...and that's because of you.

So let cyberspace know my top ten. I am glad you are out playing golf today since you had to work all day on your birthday.

Happy Birthday. I love you.

P.S. I forgot to mention that yesterday was Barry Manilow's birthday as well. Yeah Fanilows!