What 44 looks like

This picture of me was taken on 8/29/08 - 44 years after I was born. I took several versions--some with flash, and some without. I kinda liked this one because of the light flashing in the mirror:



The gang at work got me a funny musical card and a tasty cake. We ate all the words, but we left the roses so that John Sam and Caroline could enjoy them.



Later, I got this great photo of me and my two little precious angels!

B'day Trivia

I recently read in the newspaper that the month with the most birthdays is August. :)

So tomorrow at 3:52 p.m., I will take a moment to celebrate myself in honor of my birthday, and all other August birthdays. I haven't worked on my birthday in 20+ years, so being at work might irritate me just for a few minutes, but then I'll snap out of it. I've already gotten cards, e-mails, and phone calls wishing me many happy returns. It's nice to have so many people remember and send their well wishes.

I will definitely take a picture of myself to commemorate the day, and try to get it posted sometime on my ACTUAL BIRTHDAY, haha!

I can so sew!

I found an old dress in the closet over the weekend. By "old" I mean, pre-children and pre-wedding. Back in the day, it was one of my most worn dresses, and in one of my favorite pictures of me and Sam (when it was just me and Sam, LOL), I'm wearing said old dress. There used to be some gold buttons on it, but when I found the dress, I discovered they were dull and yucky looking. So I went to Joann's with my little 40% coupon and got some new buttons. It's a little pathetic how happy sewing some new buttons on my old dress made me. But there's nothing like getting a good deal, and doing a little bit of old-fashioned handiwork to bring new life to something old.

Outta time

Never seem to have enough time for even a little of my stuff these days. Scrapbooking? WTF is that?! Returning phone calls? Oh, that's happening. And I'm so behind on the soaps, I'll have to get the "Recaps" online...... if I ever get a minute to go there. HA!

Saturday Tails

A lot of creativity is expressed when it's too rainy to play outside. We are all sick of Fay, but the kids are still having fun pretending. Tomorrow I'll post other stuff I/we did.

Wednesday Blah

Don't know if it's the lack of sunshine or PMS, but today I had the blahs. We didn't get any time off at work for the stupid wanna-be hurricane. It has rained more today than yesterday and there was a lot more wind today, too. There are a few large trees in different places along our commute to school that I really don't like to drive under for fear that they'll drop on top of my 11 year old car, ha!

The kids were happy to go back to their "new" school, and I got them both a T-shirt with the logo and school colors to wear on Spirit Fridays. I had to run out to Publix to get snacks for Caroline and her classmates; since our last name starts with "B" we were the first name on the list for Snack Day. I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be drinks or food, so I got Capri Sun pouches and some graham crackers. I liked the fact that the Capri Suns don't have any dye--it looks like water but is grape flavored! John Sam's teacher sent me a note that they are in love with him already. Of course--what did they expect? He brought home a puzzle he got from the treasure box and I think he's on the floor in his room putting it together instead of sleeping.

Looking forward to some sunshine very soon. That always perks me up. Vitamin D, perhaps--or maybe I just need a little more light. ;0

All I can say is "Hmmmmmmmmmmm"

To take up the cross of Christ is no great action done once for all; it consists in the continual practice of small duties which are distasteful to us. -John Henry Newman

First Day of School 2008

Here are John Samuel and Caroline Grace on the first day of school at Lake Como. He's in 2nd grade, and she's in kindergarten. Typing that makes me feel really old - ha! Traffic was minorly annoying, but it could've been worse, and drop-off went smooth as silk. I even got to take a picture of them on school grounds before I had to rush off to the office. They were so cute in their new outfits; they've always worn uniforms before, so freestyle dress is a new and welcome change. Big smiles, big backpacks, and big hopes for a great year.

More paperwork and forms came home with their slick new binders. The binders are used as communication between the school and the family. I already like that. Due to Tropical Storm Fay--that wench isn't even a hurricane--most of the area schools are closed tomorrow. We don't know if school will be open on Wednesday, either, so we get a little break after one busy day.

We're all very tickled that we get to sort of sleep in tomorrow. Our office isn't closed, but they said depending on weather reports, we might close early. I saw tonight that right around 5 pm is when it will be close to Orlando, so I think at least by about 3 pm they'll let us go home. Sure hope the bank doesn't close early, though!

Don't you agree these are some "mah-vel-ous" looking children?! I was a bit taken aback by how grown up they look. But they're not! They're still just babies! Babies, I tell you! Honest! And they always will be! {~wink~}

Barely time to blog

Today was the kids' last day of summer vacation. They were lazy (and rightfully so) and I was the busy one! Laundry, dishes, pancakes, more dishes, vacuuming, mopping, filling out school forms, making uber-cute name tags for the kids' new lunchboxes & backpacks and taking pix of them, and making up snack bags for lunch and afternoon snacks. Then I wanted John Sam and Caroline to sort of "match" on their respective first days of second grade and kindergarten, so I had to iron a shirt for JS and then did a couple of items for my workweek. Just started the dishwasher, and I'm gonna catch up on the details of Hurricane Fay before I hit the sack. Definitely getting up early so I can take some First Day of School pictures and get them posted.

Nighty-night! ;-)

William Quotes and Website

A lot of quotes have been speaking to me recently. Here are two of the ones I've liked that I've seen in the last few days:

• "What's past is prologue . . ." (William Shakespeare, The Tempest)

• "We speak of "choosing," of "making friends." What we can choose and make is not the friend, but opportunity for contact. When contact happens, something higher than our will chooses for us." (William Gannett)

Didn't realize until just now that both first names are William. haha

Here's a cool website I found while looking for something else (how many times does that happen?!):

http://www.enotes.com/

Lots of good stuff on there. Since I didn't click a lot, I bookmarked it to go back later. Sure wish I'd known about that site when I had to read the Canterbury Tales!