Hello Again!

It's so nice to be back in the blog world!
I've cut my tax season short because my mom had a knee replacement surgery.
All is well, and she is up and walking around.


I've been trying to keep up with you all.
Your blogs kept me going through a rough tax season!


I don't have a whole lot to report since I've last posted...
but here's a recap...


The snow has melted!
I handed my Hubs and son over to the golf course.
No, really.
I drove them out there, walked them in...
I told the owners... "Here they are, I don't want them back for a few months."
You would've done the same if you had boys swinging golf clubs IN THE HOUSE for the past few months.
The owner of the golf course is also a City Council member in our town.
She and I laughed over what a great headline it would be...
"Local woman turns over husband and son to the golf course".....
I know!
... its not a bad idea.

Monkey (yes, he a lefty) teeing off at the driving range yesterday.

I POURED over the new Flea Market Style magazine.
WOW!


I did a little thrifting.
(Thanks to Goodwill for being open late!)


Monkey started reading.
Hooray, but sniffles.
Will he still want to sit on my lap to read a book?


AND--- this is a big one....
... my hair is long enough for a ponytail again.
SWEET!!!

Okay- and one more little, tiny, thing....
After many years of throwing parties and planning events for myself and others--- my friends and family finally convinced me that it was time to turn it into an actual business.
I'm S.C.A.R.E.D!
Anyhoo... I started a website (read: blog). 
I made a page for it on facebook... if you are into facebook, would you be a 'fan'?
Geesh, I can't believe I'm asking... its just that... well- I haven't asked any of my 'real life' friends yet...
and wouldn't it be lovely if I already had some fans to start with before they saw it?  My friends would say, "Wow, who are all these people?".  And I would say, "They're my blog friends, silly."............

Go HERE to check out the facebook page.
Okay... I'm going to hit 'publish' now. 
Holding breath....

~Amy

Tree Hugger

I'm not a tree hugger.
But I do hug trees.
I love them.
I could ramble on and on about all the benefits from trees...
but you already know all of those things.


Why do I get so attached to trees?


Its the strangest thing.
My parents say it started when I was little.


I begged my dad to plant apple trees...
which he did, because he is a gardner and lover of trees and plants.
I also got a cherry tree.  She was a beauty. 
Unfortunately, she had a date with a lightning bolt.

My two apple trees.

This fall I'll share with you all of the wonderful items we bake!

Monkey with his Grandpa.

Standing in front of the tree that was planted when he was born.

We take a picture every year...

Can't wait to see how big Monkey and the tree are this summer!

I have two trees on my property that I am seriously attached too.

One, is an evergreen that sits outside of our large dining room window.

Two cardinals live in the tree all year round.

When Monkey was a baby, we sat his bassinet in front of the window...

I am telling you-- the cardinals would sit in the tree and look in on him.

Really.

The second tree I'm attached to lives in our backyard. 

She is huge.

And a great beauty.

I find comfort and peace when I look at her.

She provides shade for our whole yard...

...but she doesn't shade the garden.

How does she know that I don't want shade in the garden?

I have been watching this tree for the past 9 years...

...she has doubled in size....reaching way into the sky.

She is a home for bats (don't be afraid), several birds, and several squirrel families.

I need to stop going on about her...

I will take pictures of these two trees when the weather is nicer...

...and properly introduce you to the two ladies.

See how she doesn't shade the garden?

I've said good-bye to my fair share of trees, and I am always upset about having to do so.
We lost a tree on our property a year and a half ago when a little tornado ripped down our street.
All houses were spared.  Only trees were lost.  Isn't that amazing?
I was thankful for the houses being spared, but of course, sad about the trees.

My parents lost a tree yesterday in the ice storm. 
A beautiful tree in their front yard. 
A tree that was planted 13 years ago to replace another tree that didn't survive a storm.
(yes, we have real weather in Iowa) 


Their tree split right down the middle and them peeled off in 4 parts.
Monkey found out, and he cried. 
He was bound and determined that he, Daddy and his Grandpa could save it.
He got the glue and tape and his hammer out. 


Sweet boy.
I was so pleased...
... not that he was upset.  (Don't send me any hate mail)
But that he felt a deep connection with a tree and nature.

~Amy

PS - It is a day about trees.  On the children's tv show, "Big, Big World"  they discussed the importance of trees.
And the beautiful and hilarious, Annie at The House That Jade Built, discussed her new found love of trees today.  Go check it out!

Also, one of my dearest friends, Shannon, (since we were babies) is saving trees in Charlotte, NC.  If you're in the area, check this out. 
Wonder if our love of trees is from all the hours we spent climbing trees when we were little???

Let Them Eat Cake???

Have you ever encountered those moments where you stop and think-
Holy Cow!  I'm a parent.
???
I remember the first time we took Monkey out to Trick-or-Treat.
I felt like I was out of my body looking down on us...
It really hit me that I was 'the mom' now.
Yikes.

Over the past 4 years, there have been other 'I'm the mom now' moments...
and I just encountered one of them.

Monkey had his very first birthday party that included his little friends.
Until now, its just been family.
Oh...
we were so excited.
He debated over his cake...
Batman?  Spiderman? 
Decisions, decisions.
Here is what he ended up with...

Didn't I do a good job?
...ordering the cake from our local bakery, that is.
I was a little concerned about the gray/silver icing.
It reminded me of the 'Steel Magnolia's'...
the armadillo groom's cake...
Anyway-

So the party was in full force.
Kids were running around, having a grand time.
Presents were opened.
It was time for the cake.
Took the picture of Monkey with his cake, lit the candle, sang the song...

Time to cut the cake.
No big deal.
Cut the cake.
Put a piece of cake on the plate.
Put some ice cream on the plate.
Put a spoon on the plate.
Give to kiddo.

Right.  Not so easy.
Turns out, I have no clue how to cut a cake. 
Um... my mom has always done it.
And Monkey has had cupcakes at his previous birthday parties...
But here I was...
it was my show now.

Oh, how I failed.
Some pieces were big, some were small...
What a mess.
Another mistake---
I gave the kids choices....
chocolate or white cake?
strawberry, chocolate, or vanilla ice cream?
STUPID.
From now on, its white cake/vanilla ice cream.

Oh the pressure.
The kids were crowding around me, tugging on my shirt
there were other moms there (probably laughing at me)
My mom and dad were there... NOT helping
Poor Hubs was scooping the ice cream, and trying to keep me calm.

Fortunately, the kids loved the cake
everyone survived...

Party number two was rolling around... the one for family.
This time, we just got a simple little cake from the bakery.

Several family members ended up sick, party postponed.

Now what to do with the cake???
I sat and looked at this stupid cake.
I probably even swore at it.
Know what I did???
I cut it up.
Yes I did.
I cut it up.

Even without the pressure, I still couldn't get the pieces to end up in equal sizes...

AUGH!

Oh well, we ate it anyway.

We finally got to have the family birthday party last weekend...

what to know how the cake turned out?

Forget it, we went to the local pizza parlor!

On a sidenote--- I was so frazzled after the cake incident at the friends party,

that I forgot to hand out the goody bags.

Real nice.

Note to self-

Cupcakes for Monkey's Birthday party next year.

~Amy

We Interrupt This Blog

I am a football fan.
HUGE football fan.
I even understand the game.
I do.
I could give a tutorial on football...
Important things all women should know about football.
Don't worry, I won't.
 Oh, but wait-
You should know this...
The cute guy on the team is usually the quarterback.
No, really.
It's like a pre-requisite or something.
Must. Be. Cute. To. Be. The. Quarterback.


Elway, Marino, Brady, Farve, Montana
See---
Told you so.


Anyway, love football.
And REALLY love Iowa Hawkeye Football.
So tonight my dear bloggy friends I will be away.
My Hawkeyes are playing in the Orange Bowl.
Can I get a, "Go Hawkeyes"???

Monkey in Aug. '09

Patiently waiting for football season!

Really, don't be sad that I'm gone tonight.
You wouldn't want to be around me.
I yell.
I kick.
I have been known to throw stuff. 
Our poor doggies hide when we watch the games at home. 
They do.
They run upstairs and hide in the closets.

I think Monkey's first words might have had something to do with the Hawkeyes...
I won't repeat them.
They aren't nice.
And would definitely get us a phone call from his teacher if he ever said them at Preschool!
It's not his fault.

Monkey 8 Months Old

So you see, you don't want me around tonight.
Unless, you are an Iowa Hawkeye fan...
In that case---


See you tomorrow.
Wish my Iowa Hawkeyes luck.
Unless you are a Georgia Tech fan...
in that case, YOU are the enemy today. 


~Amy

Hubby's Gift

It worked!

Pictures soon!

~Amy

I Gave Hubby A Gift

I gave my hunky, hubbalish a present.

Hope he likes it!

~Amy

Sock it to me...

I'm an accessory girl.

...which means, I'm a sock junkie.

I love them, all of them...

okay, most of them.

and...

Because I said...

"This is ridiculous. Out of all the new socks I got last year, I only have one pair that is still mated. What happened?".

Santa Baby brought me 14 pairs of socks.

Love that Santa Baby!

I am going to see to it, that in a year from now, all 14 pairs are still together.

Oh sure, nothing wrong with wearing socks that don't match...

...if you are wearing tall boots.

But I'm the girl that would do that and then find myself in a situation in which tall boots would have to be removed.

There I would be...

...standing there with my red and purple argyle sock on the left foot and a pink and yellow polka dot sock on the right foot.

Exposed.

Yep, that is the kind of luck I have.

So I'm on a mission.

I know what you are all thinking to yourselves...

...we all have the same problem.

We all have that bag full of socks with no mates.

It's a part of life.

Forget it...

Those days are over.

I have photographed, cataloged, indexed... and put secret transmitters in every sock.

Okay, that's a lie.

The transmitter part, that is.

I couldn't figure out how to do that.

I was all set to post this...

and wouldn't you know...

...a sock has already gone missing.

It's true.

I wore my new pink fuzzy socks to bed last night.

...no, I don't normally wear socks to bed.

But is was 5 degrees below zero last night.

Do you know how cold that is?

It's cold enough to make you want to wear pink fuzzy socks to bed.

I woke up this morning...

...awww--- nice and warm toes....

...wait.

Why is my right foot freezing?

NO Sock.

Okay, fine.

It's just lost in the blankets...

...I searched, I ripped the bed apart.

I looked under the bed, under the pillows... IN the pillowcases.

Are you kidding me?

It's gone.

I have no other choice but to acknowledge that there is a Sock Snatching Fairy out there.

It's true.

All these years, we've been blaming the washer and dryer.

Unfairly.

So... a word to that Sock Snatching Fairy....

I'm on to you.

This is war.

I love it...what is it?

We have officially entered, "Christmas Break".
Monkey had his last day of Preschool for the year... and when I picked him up, I was handed a package from his teacher.
I knew immediately what it was.
Yep, I was right.
Inside contained one of those little ... Christmas creations that we all made as children. It doesn't matter the project, we just know its one of those... things that our kids make that we will treasure forever.
This is our first Christmas creation.
It hit me.... no matter how many times I change my Holiday decorations, this one thing will always be set out.
You all know what I'm talking about... you walk into a house and see how gorgeous their home is decorated... then you look closer...and you see these odd little, mangled .... well, you're not sure what it is... but, its... something. We then assume one of their kids made it.
Yep, I finally have my very own.
It happens to be a pinecone stuck into some sort of hard substance... painted.. and then some gold ribbon glued to it.
Lovely.
And then.... I pull out this item...



A cookbook!
Hooray for Teacher... how did she know that I collect cookbooks?
This cute little book is now my very favorite, to be treasured always, cookbook.
It is full of recipes from 3 year olds!

I'm swooning.... and giggling.

Can you read that recipe?

Mac & Cheese

You'll Need:

3 or something eggs

Directions:

We burn it and stuff. It gets hot and stuff.

~Jacob (age 3)

Here's another one...

Hamburgers With Dad

You'll Need:

this many ketchup

this much mustard

hamburger

buns

Directions:

Grab the buns. Grab the hamburger. Grab the mustard and ketchup. Grab the buns and put it on top of them.

~Boston (age 4)

To help with your Holiday baking...

Chocolate Cookies

You'll need:

sugar

what my grandma has, it was tasty

Directions:

Cook 'em when they ding.

~Will (age 3)

See ladies... I don't know why you get so stressed over your Holiday baking. It's very easy. Just get what Grandma has. It's very tasty!

Here is my son's contribution.

Pizza

You'll need:

2 pepperoni

1 sausage

2 cheese

3 crust

Directions:

Cook it 10 minutes. Put it out of the oven. Cook another pizza.

~Monkey (age 3)

He got it sort of right... we always make two homemade pizzas.... one sausage and one pepperoni...

Isn't this the cutest little project?

I hope the other Moms enjoyed it as much as I did.

Now get your fanny back in the kitchen!

~Amy

My Scientific Experiment...

I really wanted to post something about the Holidays…
So here is a picture of one of my little tables.
The big pictures are of my Mom and Dad… their Senior Pictures. The smaller is of one of my Grandmothers. I love these three pictures, and waited a long time to have them in my possession.
Okay, moving forward…




What did I do today…
Not a whole lot. Monkey’s gymnastics class was cancelled. (Yea! We didn’t have to go out in the freezing cold this morning)!
Hubby took Monkey to Preschool this afternoon (and is picking him up!) That’s another, “Hooray!”.
I did a few things around the house. Laundry, dishwasher…. Ya know, the usual.
Guess what else I did?
I hopped in bed for two hours while Monkey was at school and I cut up a shirt.
No! Not to wear… I’m a little old for the trendy, ‘cut and destroy your $70 tee shirt’ look.
Which, by the way… What is with the $70 tee shirts? I mean, seriously!
Anyway, I cut up a shirt… but, I’ll tell you about that later… like when I finish the project.
Yes, I know… must be nice to lie in bed!
Yes, it was.
Thank you. I was in bed because it hurt to walk… why????

Because I thought I should start working out.
That Jillian from “The Biggest Loser” tried to kill me last night.
I made it through… only because I swore at her. That DVD went on FOREVER.
Like… 20 minutes … how OUTRAGEOUS!
The nerve.

Anyway- to my anonymous friends out there that read this… I know you’re thinking…
Why is Amy working out? So not her style!
Clearly its not my style because nothing fits any longer.
For the past several years, I’ve blamed it on the shrinking effect.
Know what I’m talking about?
That … scientific thing that happens when you place your clothes in the plastic storage bins.
Ya know? You pack up your sweaters and put them away for the summer… then when you open up the bin a few months later, they are too small….
Clearly, something is happening in those bins. Something… scientific!
Okay- so not really. The clothes aren’t shrinking… I’m just getting bigger.
Fine.
There it is.

I do have a another reason for working out… my mom has lost another 8 pounds!!! And, she has once again, been able to back off some of her diabetic meds. A few months ago, she was on the brink of going on insulin shots… and now today, she has turned it around! And for the first time in years, her blood pressure is GOOD!
I’m so proud of my Mom!
Anyway- gotta run.
Jillian is screaming her head off.
Who started that darn DVD again?
UGH!

Snow Day!

I had written this a few days ago… and just realized I didn’t post it!


We are having a blizzard in Iowa. I don’t mean it’s snowing, I mean- a real, old fashioned blizzard. There is ice, snow, and serious wind.
And I couldn’t be happier.
Do I like the cold, and driving in the snow? Of course not.
However, there is something magical about a ‘snow day’.
So many of my friends are doing the same thing today… cooking hearty food, a load or two of laundry, perhaps an organizing project that hasn’t been tackled… and spending time with their children and husbands.
Why does that always happen with snow days?
I’m not a psychologist, but I have my ideas about it…
A snow day is a free day.
There are no rules. There are no schedules. No deadlines, nowhere to be, and nobody to answer to.
A snow day is a free day.
We stayed in bed a little longer today.
Instead of breakfast, we had brunch.
There have been movies, games, laundry, cooking and many laughs.
There were a few tears… that is inevitable when living with a 3 year old.
The tears were quickly wiped away when the promise of cookie decorating was put in front of him.
Christmas cookies? Absolutely not. Christmas cookies are a tradition he has with Grandma. And a tradition I have with some of my girlfriends.
And this is a snow day… no rules. We made dinosaurs, dog bones, skulls, and okay--- we threw in a Christmas tree. (We had green frosting, what’s a mom to do?)
There is a pot of soup on the stove.
My house feels warm and cozy… and safe.
It’s gorgeous outside, but you can see the cold.
Iowa is pretty again.
Everyone knows that I love Iowa… but I will admit, there are a few weeks in the year when Iowa isn’t at her prettiest. Those would be the weeks leading to snow… and the weeks following the snow.
Have you ever been to Iowa while she is under her winter blanket? It’s breathtaking.
A red barn in a sea of white. Quaint little shops with the old fashioned sign that have real evergreen garland swags with a dusting of snow hanging from their awnings. Groups of children sledding down a rolling hill. Simply beautiful.
Tree branches covered in ice that glitter in the sun. The scarlet red of a cardinal against the beautiful green of an evergreen and the crisp white snow. Nature at her finest.
Seeing smoke coming out of a chimney will make you feel warm and cozy.
I could go on and on.
Or I could tell you about the harsh winter and why it is bad….
But that is not for today.
Today is a snow day, and that makes it wonderful and magical.
Today, my friends… Iowa is closed for business.

And then the magical snow day turned into two more snow days… by day three, Monkey declared, “I’m going to Grandma’s.”
Agreed.
I shipped him off to Grandma’s.
There, he enjoyed another magical snow day. The kind you have at Grandma’s house!

The streets are now plowed, the stores are open, and we’re getting back to the daily routine.

…there seems to be quite a few “Mom’s Night Out” events going on this weekend….
Must have been those three crazy snow days that have made us crave margaritas!

The Joy Of A Clean Fridge

Sooooo….. Been back from the trip since early Saturday morning… and the suitcases are still sitting in the middle of the dining room- unpacked. Taunting me every time I walk by… they are really ticking me off! The suitcases must not be harassing anyone else, because the Hubby and little Monkey seem to have NO problem walking past them over and over… Augh!!! What is it about traveling that gives you such a hangover? I cannot seem to get motivated. I loaded the dishwasher, but just couldn’t bring myself to unpack those darn things. When packing one of the big suitcases, Hubby discovered my shiny silver flats that I had been looking for FOREVER! They were still in there from a weekend trip we took in November. After the discovery, I had to change of a few of the outfits I was taking so that I could wear my beloved shoes…Hubby made a few remarks about if I loved the shoes so much, why had I left them in the suitcase to begin with… Of course, I am now realizing that I have a suitcase unpacking disorder. There is no other explanation for it. Wouldn’t you agree? Surely, I am not alone in this???
On a positive note- Monkey’s suitcase came home w/ all clean clothes, thanks to my parents! That was such wonderful news when we went to pick Monkey up from G & G’s…. “by the way- we did a load of laundry last night, and all of his clothes are clean”………… Thanks Mom and Dad!
And------- our dog sitter cleaned out our fridge. I don’t mean, she threw expired stuff away- I mean CLEANED it out…. Took everything out, scrubbed it… wiped everything down. Amazing. When we got home very early Saturday morning, she told us, and I’m telling you---- there might have been tears in my eyes! I was so tired from traveling, and possibly delirious…. and when I looked in that fridge, I was beside myself! That is a job that I despise…. and one that I had been putting off! Thanks so much to Aunt Penny for not only taking such good care of our fur babies, but for scrubbing down the fridge, I couldn’t have asked for anything better!

Panicking all the way to Portland!

Happy 4th of July!

Old rusted motel chair that I spruced up a few years ago!

And our faithful lab that greats us at our gate when we come home!

Well, the sun is down, and our skies are lighting up! And we are once again missing all the fun, as we are traveling this holiday- for the 2nd year in a row! UGH! Not only do I have serious travel anxiety, but we are missing the great holiday of the summer! Monkey is already at G&G's for the week... and hubby is now walking around the house, lost w/o him! The dogs are going nuts because of the fireworks... and I'm hiding in here... typing away!

I'm trying to calm down and relax before heading to the airport. Flying is not the problem... the problem is being away from my home, my son... my comfort! I don't mind a few days... but anymore than 3 days away, I start to get a little panicky! It's not the pillow, or my bed... but the sounds, the feeling... the familiar faces that I miss when I'm away. Don't get me wrong- I love to go and do and see and explore.... just not for more than 3 days! LOL

Okay- hubby found me.... he is now giving me that look.... the look that means, we still have a few things to do... why are you blogging! ha ha.... I need to go find a few 'jobs' to keep him occupied for awhile!

Enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend... I'll be panicking all the way to Portland!

~Amy

Blog Blog .... Blog? Here we go...

Okay friends-
Here we go, the first official post on the new blog...yikes!

So here I sit... wasting time at the computer!
Along with the usual BORING daily 'chores'... I need to get my butt in gear and PACK already. Okay, I don't need to actually put the clothes in the suitcase... but I should at least be putting them in piles, and checking them off of the list. (YES- I am a self-admitted LIST MAKER)
And who knows how many of the items 'on the list' are actually sitting in laundry baskets... clean? Doubtful- guess I really need to do some serious laundry.

I am blogging at the suggestion of friends and family... I have been 'journaling' for the past couple of years... the following is taken from a journal before our trip last year. Written by me on July 3, 2008-- hope you enjoy!

Dear Friends and Family-
Oh, the family vacation! Jackson is driving cross country to California with my parents this week. (because they are crazy!) And Jase and I are flying out at the end of the week. We have known about this trip for about three years, and yet it still snuck up on me. I have made lists, piles, more lists and still don't feel ready! I think the real kicker on this one, is that my STUFF, along with Jase's stuff is also leaving with my parents. We are flying out with ONLY ourselves...and, oh yeah, a bag full of goodies from Jaarsma's Bakery. While it will be nice having no luggage in an airport, it proved to be somewhat of a challenge for me. When I got down to the business of the actual packing, I did what any good mom would do...I cleared off the dining room table and taped the lists to the bathroom door. I thought the bathroom door idea was pretty clever...ya know, a spot that my husband was sure to see the lists. I taped it right at his eye level....can't open the bathroom without seeing THE LISTS! (or so I thought) I'm sure you know where this is heading. At some point into the packing (a few days later, that is) my dear husband finally noticed the list. It occurred to him that, by golly, we were going on a trip, and he needed to round some stuff up! I need to interject at this point that, normally, my husband is very helpful around the house. His mom raised him right! However, he started questioning the list..........can you imagine? Why do we need to take this? Why do we need to take that?....oh the nerve... sweet boy. Had I let him make the lists, we would have ended up several states away from home with just a pair of skivvies, some gatorade, and maybe a tent. And no, we would have NO use for a tent, as we are staying at hotels. Anyway- I charged ahead with the packing. I got Jack packed. His big bag of clothes, plus his 'hotel bag' that he will use while on the road....I packed his beach toys, his nebulizer, toy bin, books, crayons.....lawn chair. You name it, I packed it! I even had his pair of jammies ready to go that he is wearing tonight and the first several hours of his road trip tomorrow morning! Then I moved on to packing myself....here is where I reach the dilemma...I have to pack all my things and not see them again for 4 whole days. I'm sure you women understand this...what if I need my turquoise shirt with the scoop neck...or my white linen pants in these 4 days???....of course, we all know I won't need them...but what if I do??? Sigh. Oh well, I'll just wear a tee shirt around the house, my wedding ring, layer on the deodorant and call it good for 3 days, then on day 4, I'll put on my 'plane outfit' and be off. I know, I know....I have more clothes and a backup deodorant, but it's like a weird personal standoff with my 'stuff'....like I'm a victim...nothing to wear, all my 'stuff' is on a road trip across the country.
Can I also just tell you that I am doing a two week trip with only 4 pairs of shoes?!?!?!? Thank you! I know!!!!! It was very strategic outfit coordinating on my part........now, the 4 purses, well, that just couldn't be helped! I will not sacrifice the right handbag in the name of travel!
Here is what is weird when packing for a vacation.......I started 'needing' things that I don't normally need. For instance, I packed a white headband...just in case. Just in case what? I don't wear headbands...sort of like, I packed all sorts of crazy make up that I won't use. Like all of a sudden I might need mint green shimmer eyeshadow...perhaps when I go to the beach??? Anyway, I packed myself, it's over.
On to my husband's crap. It's like this- shorts, skivvies, undershirts, polo shirts, flip flops, grooming junk- and we're good..........but no. We are going on this trip because we are going to the Elks National Convention...so now I have to factor in, everything 'dress' for him. Shirts, ties, jackets, pants...etc. Okay fine. So I got him packed. And guess what happens...........my dear sweet husband notices the lists.........now suddenly, he is coming up with all sorts of stuff that he might need while away from home. Things like, a book. ??? Um, what? And then comes the golf socks. Hmmm...I'm pondering this. Why does one need their golf socks while going to a bunch of meetings and perhaps the beach? OH.............this idiot thinks he's gonna 'sneak' his golf clubs into the car. >>>>this is where you laugh<<<<>
Here, is when we reach another 'crossroads' of the packing process. See, it is our car that is making this voyage. Therefore, my husband will be packing our stuff.............but then....the car goes to my parents house, where now my dad will be adding their stuff. Yep, a manoff....a male standoff..........My dad versus my husband. Holy........okay, it didn't get too bad, why? Because my husband respects my dad and realized he was the one actually driving the car, so therefore, let him do it his way. Whew.
But then....we get to the actual 'staging' of all things Jackson inside the car. I have it figured in my head. I want him to sit here, his toys are there, the cooler is here, my mom is there..........not so. My mom has her own ideas. So, here we go again! Of course, I'm not as cooperative as my husband, so my mom and I have a well...uh, do I dare say, a disagreement. :) Of course, I know she will change it all around, as she should! After all, she is the one making the three day journey on the road with my child. She'll just let me think its being done my way. She's the best!
Well, I guess we're all packed. My baby and parents are leaving very early in the morning. What will I do for 4 days? Of course I'll worry a lot, miss them a lot. I do have a plan...it includes cleaning, sleeping in, a pedicure....doing things that are hard to do with a two year old running around....will that happen? Who knows. I'm just glad that damn packing process is over! I'm not going to think about it again....well, until it is time to come home!
I say all of this with love, I am thrilled to be going on this trip. I am excited to attend the convention with my husband. I am giddy to go to Disneyland and Sea World and view all things great through the eyes of my child....I thank all of you parents that hauled us around when we were kids! I'm on the other end, and now realize what it takes to go on that 'great family vacation'. I wish you all a fun and safe 4th of July holiday. I will be sure to tell Mickey and Shamu 'hi'.........
Until next time,
Amy
PS- do you really think I won't have a carry on bag for the plane? I bet I end up realizing that I might need to take more shoes, a different perfume, and those stupid golf socks after all!

So- blogging... why? It's not like I'm going to share any 'Breaking News'... I'm not an 'expert' on anything... why am I blogging? Beats me! Do I need to 'share' helpful hints or something???
Kind of like a reward for reading my blog? Ha Ha... hmmm.....
Thanks for reading my first post!!!
~Amy