August 6th .. only 1 more day until VACATION!!!!

I can't sleep - just got up for the umpteenth time and it is after 3AM and I still haven't slept a wink.  I've tried everything - reading, playing solitaire, drinking water, counting sheep - lolol - not really on the last one.  I just opened my blog page and there was a post from Speckled Kat saying the same thing - she couldn't sleep either!  What in the world?  Must be something in the water.  Makes me sad because I have a lot to do in the morning before I go pick Page up at the airport.  At this point, I'll be sleeping and BigD will be going to get her. Maybe that's it - knowing I'm going to see my babies in a few hours.

Awwww - Princess Miya was sleeping under the covers at the foot of my bed and she just came into the office to check on me.  Isn't that sweet? She must have been tired because I have gotten in and out of that bed five or six times at least and she just kept sleeping away - as has Page2.  Makes me mad because I just put clean sheets on the bed and that usually knocks me right out.  Now she has climbed up and is laying along the back of my neck on my desk chair.  Her brother will be here tomorrow and the games will be on.  Think I'll play another game of Solitaire and try to go back to bed one more time.  I HATE nights like this. Oh well - soon the kids will be in the house and I can just enjoy.

August 5th.....only 2 more days until VACATION

Actually there isn't too much to write about today.  I woke up around 5:15am and didn't get back to sleep until around 7:00am so BigD took pity on me and didn't wake us up at all.  I opened my eyes and looked at the clock that said 10:00AM!!!!  I took pity on Page and let her sleep until 11:00AM!  The washer/dryer has been running all day today getting everything ready to pack for our trip. I can't believe Page's flight arrives tomorrow at 11:30AM and Kurt and Leah will be in a little later. I realized I had not put up the pictures Kerri sent me. Page really hit it off with her and totally enjoyed her time with both of them. I even heard Page telling her a few secrets in the back seat one day! So sweet.

I think the caption Kerri put on the "funny face" says everything. Before the week was over, she had two new friends. I love it when CO's and their wives spend time with the children in the congregation - my children were always drawn to the ones who did. I was hoping we would be able to do something more with Kerri this week but between mine and Page's tummy issues, the unrelenting heat that was taking it's toll on me and LIFE - it just didn't work out. Maybe next time. Thank you Kerri for all your love.  YOU are beautiful inside and out and special in so many ways. Your good looking husband ain't bad either. Just kidding!!!

August 4th.....only 3 more days until VACATION!!!!!!

I think the chicken and dumplings and sweet tea last night might have just helped my tummy.  Go figure. Hope it stays okay. BigD let us sleep in because he knew we were going swimming this morning. Katarina, Roseanne and KennaKat brought me a sausage burrito from McD's - thank you Kat.  After Kat braided Page's hair, we all piled in the car and headed out to the pool.

This is the first time we have been to this pool in the morning and what a difference. For one thing, there was no one else in the pool. The other thing was the water was much cooler and so clear. We normally stay about an hour and a half but today we were there almost three hours. KennaKat got braver and braver and Kat, Roseanne and I all enjoyed the water. Brought back good memories of other pools from our youth.

On our way home from the pool, we stopped by Wendy's and picked up some lunch. It is amazing how hungry swimming can make you. After the girls left, Page and I got our showers and studied for the meeting tonight. If you look closely at the pictures, you will see how Page has inherited my genes when it comes to insect bites. Yep - her little arm has mosquito bites on it. I have used my new "green concoction" and it seems to be helping. I had been saving the new dress I bought Page for tonight's meeting - her little green sweater looked great with it. She wanted to wear the necklace I bought her awhile back - so sweet. She also wore the cuff I bought her from Sonia in France. I look at these pictures and see how much she is growing up. We were getting our things together to go to the meeting when Page told me she felt sick to her stomach. She ate a good dinner but said she couldn't tell if she was hungry, too full or just sick. Then she asked me to take her temperature - which was normal - but I didn't want to take any chances. She changed into her pajamas while I text messaged her Mom. Leah called and said she wasn't sure but the last few times she has thought it was nothing, it backfired and was something. She went to bed and watched TV. She also tried to use the bathroom several times and asked me again to check her temperature. She seemed to feel a little better around 8:30 and apologized for us missing the meeting.

For those of you who follow Speckled Kat, you will know that I recently won a drawing she had for a set of "paper dolls and clothes" she created. Kat is one of the most creative young women I know and is always coming up with wonderful things for her kids to do. When I saw she was having this drawing, I put my name in the pot - never for a second thinking I would win. I used to play with paper dolls all the time when I was a child. We would spend hours cutting them out, changing the outfits, and trying to keep them standing up on their little cardboard stands. Being a "tech-age" child, I didn't know if Page would be interested in these or not but I knew I was. Well - last Sunday, Kat put all the names in a hat and had KennaKat pick one. She picked my name! I was so excited and the next day, Leah read the entry too and called me all excited. When KennaKat came in this morning, she had my "gift" all wrapped up. I LOVE them! I didn't really show them to Page too much since she was so focused on swimming. When she started feeling a little better, she came into the living room and asked if she could play with them. It turns out - she loves them. She had me come look at how she had found the "family" and the outfits she was putting on them. It brought back a lot of good memories. I plan to keep them here since I plan to play with them too. I will take them to the beach next week so we can all "play dress up" together. My Mother would have loved this gift since she used to play with us when she could "steal" a few seconds. And life goes on......

August 3rd .......4 more days until VACATION!!!

As you know, my tummy just hasn't been right and today it took a turn that made the situation even worse!  Oh well -hopefully things will even out soon.  I decided to let Page sleep in today and sleep she did - until 11:30!!!  I think the little girl needed some real sleep.  I was glad I stayed home too for other reasons.  As I said - hopefully things with the tummy will calm down soon. :-(  I had promised to take Page swimming today again with Rie and her boys.  It turned our she was wiped out and decided to stay home all day.  I really wanted to do that too but Page has been so good about things I knew I would take her. I asked Ann if she and the kids wanted to join me but she reminded me she was meeting some other Moms and kids at the Museum and again asked me to join them.  Sorry - already done the Museum in 100 plus degree weather and just couldn't face it. As we headed out, I called Mitch to see if she and Vi wanted to join us and she said yes. I pulled up, she, Vi and Til all climbed in and we were off! I love a woman who makes quick decisions and just "does it". I have always been like that and am so glad I am. My mother-in-law told me there will always be dishes to wash, floors to sweep and food to cook but when something fun pops up - we should just reach out and grab it - all the other stuff will wait...Miss her too......

Page had a good time using her flippers but they kept getting loose and falling off. Hopefully we will be able to adjust them to fit better the next time.

Vi enjoyed using the flippers too. She is a good little swimmer - as a matter of fact, I'm beginning to think Vi is going to be good at most sports. Little Til will be swimming in no time - she has very little fear of the water. Such a cutie. Of course Page was starved and after picking her up something, I rode past Home Plate to get me and BigD chicken and dumplings and sweet tea.  I was so hoping it would help my tummy settle down and so far - so good.

After we got back we were hungry so we just put on our robes and ate. Page was surprised to find out she had received some special mail from home. Her Gma and Papa had sent her a musical card telling her how much she was missed. She was very excited and has played it several times. My pretty girl......

August 2 - 5 more days until we leave for VACATION....

Another long and hot day in service today. It was "real" close to 100 degrees when I pulled into the driveway. Sweet Jami and her sons joined us again this morning and Jon told her he wanted to work with Page. SO cute - it got hot enough that we took turns with one sitting in the car with the kids while two went to doors. Met quite a few people and got to visit with a dear friend who lived on the street and allowed us to take a "potty" break! Thanks Gina. After lunch, Rose joined us and went with me, Page and Eileen on Shen's last study. I decided I was not going to be sad - we covered the last sub-heading in the book and I used the opportunity to review quite a bit of what has been covered. Shen is a smart young woman and I want to believe she will make some good choices. I promised Sara I would come get her after we get back from vacation - I want to buy her a new school uniform. I fell in love with the store Page and I shopped at last week so plan to take her there.

Leah sent me pictures of their new kitchen sink and counter top. Aren't phones amazing? I love both the sink and the counter top but it makes me really, really want a new sink.  We were supposed to go swimming with Ann, Boy and Biscuit but after they got here, Ann asked if we could just "hang out" for a bit. She had just come back from taking them to a movie with her sister and I think she was "done" too. Boy and Page were so busy on the computer they didn't realize how much time was going by. Biscuit kept me and Ann totally entertained - even when she insisted on turning Miya into her sweet Lilly - NOT. Miya finally slapped her (didn't break the skin) and Biscuit told her she was a "bad" girl.  Of course, she also got in trouble for telling me I was a bad girl too when I scared her a little.  Sorry sweet Biscuit - I didn't mean to get you in trouble.  Stomach was feeling a little better - until I ate some delicious Italian Pizzeria Pizza.  Now it feels yucky again.  Page and I have had our showers and are ready for a quiet evening at home with BigD.  Sure hope my tummy gets better. : (

August 1, 2011 --- Eighth Month....

Today is Leah's parent's 41st wedding anniversary. I sent them both text messages - hope they got them. It is also the day I realized just how fast "my" time is racing by. For example, Page has been with me and BigD over 3 weeks now and it feels like she just got here to me. She has been such a wonderful little girl - especially regarding service. Of course as you look at her face, you can see she is about done - over with it - fini.  Bless her sweet heart - I'm so glad I saw this because I think she is getting tired.  I really don't want that - I want her to enjoy service.  After tomorrow, I may cut back each day a little for a few fun things. She is going to go over a chapter in the book she placed with the daughter of my study if she can tomorrow. I made the mistake of taking a long nap yesterday afternoon and wasn't asleep until after 3am this morning. So I was about done or fini before I got started myself.

Page wanted to call her Papa and Gma to say Happy Anniversary - they went on a cruise to Alaska last year for their 40th. A place I've always wanted to "visit" but never wanted to live.

So after a long day in service (Rose joined us for the afternoon) and rushing to WW to weigh in - I picked up dinner for Page and BigD and popped the cork! Yep - that is exactly what I'm talking about. I got tons of paperwork done yesterday and hopefully - am caught up.  Page and I are getting ready for bed (we are going to read a while) and hopefully another long day in service and then ahhhhhh. Will go out Wednesday morning but planning to go swimming in the afternoon with Rie and the boys.  Vacation is right around the corner - counting the days.

How do you spell RELIEF???? RAIN....sweet, sweet rain.

Didn't get to the convention yesterday morning - stomach not good - started Friday night and since we got all but about 15 minutes of the program in VA, I decided to "pamper" myself a little.  If you look at the picture below, you will notice three roses - yep - these are left over from the bunch of roses I bought quite awhile ago at WalMarts!  I'm very, very pleased when flowers I purchase last longer than a week.

Also notice the bright sunlight coming through the windows. Well if you look real hard at the other pictures, you will see that we had a nice BIG RAIN yesterday afternoon. Even had some good thunder - I do so love a summer thunderstorm - especially when it has been hot for such a long time.

And yes - today we did make it to the convention. We grabbed our water bottles, my coffee and headed out this morning under cloudy skies. Got a great parking spot and wonderful seats with a nice brother and sister. I only saw one family I knew across the way but thoroughly enjoyed the symposium. That was the only part I missed at the one I attended so about half-way through the next talk we had already heard - nature called to both me and Page and we headed back home. Well - as soon as we got on the road - the bottom dropped out and it poured again. It stopped right as we pulled into the driveway and the air smells so good. Hope everyone enjoys the drama today and all the new releases.

I "snatched" this picture of Gail and her hubby from her sister-in-law just because it was good of both of them. BigD fixed my printer cable - Miya keeps chewing my cables until he has to splice the wires and put tape around them - BAD Miya. GG came by to tell BigD her AC on the van wasn't working but he got it going - something pretty simple. To show you how he is everyone's hero - he also climbed into the trash can to "salvage" the Sunday funnies (he threw them away) for me to read. Yep - I'm a newspaper funnies junkie - just like my Mom before me. My sister Ann was one too and like Mom and me - she worked the crossword puzzles. Miss them both so much.