Friday, July 11, 2008

You've Been Warned!




Yesterday was a momentous day! It was an enormous milestone in the life of Alissa Smith (and dare I say her mother as well)! After passing her required tests, swearing an oath to obey the laws, and standing proudly for her photo...Alissa has a learner's license (permit to those of us from another generation)...and I couldn't be more excited and proud. She drove home from the driver's license office and has been carting me around since!

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

that's my girl

quirky...weird...unique...confident...grounded...bizarre...witty



each of the above adjectives accurately describe my kinsey...but she is so much more than a collection of letters. right now we are in the midst of redecorating her bedroom (cow/elvis theme) and having a blast doing so. the planning sessions (more like my attempts to talk her out of black and white spotted walls) have lent themselves to some wonderful time spent together...okay, i admit from time to time i am pulling my hair out...but i have to pass along just one kinsey pearl of wisdom. after our third trip to target to collect stuff for her room we passed a young man in our neigborhood riding his bike...an eighth grader. she revealed that this boy, although a pain in her butt, has stated his parents have given up on him and his education. this seemed to bother her. i expressed my sadness for his feelings and then asked...aren't you glad that your parents care about your education? she shrugged her consent...but i couldn't leave it at that...so i went on to say...having a good education is important so that you can have a nice, comfortable place to live and you wouldn't have to live in a trailer park or a some yucky, run-down place...she looked me dead-on and said...i guess...but even if i had to live there i would still be the same person...i'd still be me. you go, girl.

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.”-Dr. Suess

Monday, July 7, 2008

summer vacation 2008


i can't believe it's over...it was truly the best vacation of my life! and i'm not exaggerating.

yes, my weight gain from the mass amounts of soda and junk food have made me appear to be four months along...yes, my back and legs suffered from continual soreness from being shaped into a pretzel for hours on end...yes, i often needed drugs (go melatonin!) to sleep nights due to the cacophony of snores around the room...but every little ache, each lost minute of sleep, and all the extra calories were more than worth it!

now, anyone who knows me is well aware that i need my quiet time...my time all to myself...to revive myself and regenerate...i'm guessing this originates from all my days as an only child...those moments of solitude are part of who i am. but, i really and truly did not feel those typical rumblings...the grumps i usually get from being with others for extended periods with no time off.

instead, i loved watching my daughters strengthen their budding new "teen" relationship...i cherished being witness to the tenderness shown by a little brother to his big sister and vice versa...i felt utter joy when my youngest child took my hand in hers and through a tear-soaked voice expressed her concern for me after visiting my uncle's name on the wall...i experienced once again my husband's bizzare and hysterical sense of humor reminding of just one of the reasons why i fell in love with him...i felt extreme compassion for my oldest child's wounded heart when she discovered the community surrounding one of the seven wonder's of the world had sold out.

if you ever have the opportunity to cram your entire family (and eighty plus pound dog along with a very special auntie) into your family truckster for four days of driving (over thirty-five hours) and five days of touring awesome destinations...i urge you to bite the bullet and do it...you won't be sorry!

st. augustine









savannah




wilmington





Wednesday, July 2, 2008

d.c.








Tuesday, July 1, 2008

annapolis






alissa's birthday highlights

...a beautiful ontario countryside full of vineyards and cherry orchards...and yes, that's hail!


...a gorgeous stroll down the most beautiful street in niagara-by-the-lake, ontario....a stunning view of niagara falls from a helicopter....a scrumptious dinner with family and a surprise dessert....and fireworks over the falls....happy birthday little girl! i love you!