Nora-isms

If I don't write these things down, there is no way my feeble mind will be able to recall them at a later date.  And I know I will want to be able to.

While biking in Jamaica, Nora whined "Dad!  It's hot!  My wegs (legs) need water!"

While visiting the Abe Lincoln Museum, we picked up a pink Civil War infantry cap for her to wear.  Because, she insisted.  So the other day I catch a glimpse of her in panties and cap only, rounding the corner, singing to herself.

The other night we're all 5 snuggled up on the couch, watching a movie.  She leans in and whispers to me "Mom, I gotta tell you a secret.  I wuv you."  I squeeze her and smile.  She goes over to hubs and again, leans in close for the secret telling.  "Dad, I gotta tell you a secret.  I wuv candy!"  My girl.

Today she and I were milling around the driveway, waiting for the bus to bring home D and Gogo.  She insisted upon checking the mailbox and just as she got there, a lawn truck rumbled by.  I yelled for her to stay on the side of the road.  The truck passes without incident and she says to me "See Mom!  I told you!  No cars runned me over today!"

Also while we're waiting for the big yellow ride, we spy a wasp in the grass.  I tell her to watch out for those guys, as they can sting.  Her eyes widen.  "They can STING me??  WHY?!?!  I am a nice person!"


Today was the first day of school for D and Gogo.  WWP starts next Tuesday.  It was weird to not have them with me today as we ran errands and played at home.  I missed them.  No surprise this morning-D and Mommy didn't want to get up and Gogo was up on the first call.  It seems both had a good first day-nothing too exciting and nothing negative.  They both made a new friend or two.
And that is about all you can ask for, any day.

Yeah, Mon. No Problem.

We are settling back into reality after a wonderful week in Jamaica.  We stayed at the Half Moon, the same resort we went to 5 years ago when hubs' brother got married.  Upon arrival, it didn't appear kid friendly.  It's like stepping back in time - no high rises, just beautiful one and two story villas, white washed and filled with British Colonial furnishings.  Which is appropriate, as Jamaica was a British colony until just 50 years ago.
But the kids had a ball!  We rode our bikes to each meal and all around the resort, we partied on the beach with snorkels, sailboats and buckets, we kissed dolphins, we were on a first name basis at the swim up bar.  The kids even had 2 mornings of camp that included golf, massage and beach olympics.  How much better can it get?

I would say by the end of the 2nd day, most staff knew WWP by first name.  I don't know if that was from me yelling her name as I chased her around the pool or what but as we passed housekeeping in the morning, we would hear a "There is Nora!  Good morning, girl!"  Nora would pass by on her bike and say "Everybody knows Nora".  And then I died laughing.

The other cool thing is that while there are a lot of American families there, it's still heavily British and European so we were able to meet some interesting folks.  My kids got to see their first 9 year old boy in a Speedo.  It's good for them to see there is a great big world out there and not everyone dresses, talks, eats like you.

I was unable to capture the lushness that was the resort-towering palm trees, hot pink flowers of various types, green foliage.  All nestled against the white wash of the beautiful buildings.  My camera and my ability were lacking but I gave it a go.  I took a gazillion pics, many on my phone.  I don't have time now to go through them all but here is a quick sampling.

The Lobby

GoGo Chillaxin'

Straight Out of My Camera

Discussing the huge fish they just saw underwater

Just D and Me on the beach this afternoon

Our Suite, viewed from our "private" beach

Pool closest to our suite and nobody was ever there!

Swim Up Bar Pool…everybody's fave

A critter in the bushes by the pool

A critter in the water on the beach

Making that huge hermit crab sanctuary

Pedaling for her life-she did great first time on training wheels

The boys sailing

Just Give Peace a Chance, GoGo says

The courtyard between the suites on our end

WWP partying in the hot tub

I want to live here…it's a cottage built out in the ocean just for massage and yoga...

Helping WWP dig on the beach




We made some awesome memories this week and we all hated to come home.  But school starts next week and life as we know it here keeps moving forward.  We have had the best summer and I hate to see it end!  Some playdates and pool time this week and then it's backpacks and homework next.  Both my kids got awesome teachers this year so I am looking forward to a great school year!  Even though I dread getting up at the crack of dawn…such is life and ours is a good one.

Free and Easy

It is a very good thing I am not particularly skilled at playing an instrument right now and that I have 3 little people and other earthly commitments or I would be playing on a street corner in Nashville in a HOT MINUTE.

I just got back from my first girls trip in Music City and to say we had fun would just be stupid.  We owned that party.  We hit the "musical must-sees", shopped, had a great dinner our last night and laughed.  And laughed.  And cried from laughing.  And wet ourselves a wee bit from all that laughter.

I figured the first night we would all be up for a late night out and we surely were.  We sang our hearts out, burned through cash at the bar and laughed like deranged hyenas.
Saturday came.  Good Lord.  The only cure was a lot of Starbucks and a pile of greasy bacon.

But the 8 of us rallied old school and closed it down Saturday night.  I hated to see Sunday come for a couple of reasons, least of which was my epic hangover.  My abs literally ached from laughing so hard and often.

These girls are the real deal-I have laughed with them and cried with them.  They know me and my faults and still don't unfriend me.  I don't have to hide anything about where I came from with them, as we all know the same streets and characters.
We took this trip for a few reasons, one being that about half of us are turning 40 this year.  We talked of a trip when we turn 50.  I hope we can swing a few between now and then.  If my abs can take it.

I came home to a chorus of "Mommy!  Mommy!  Mommy!" and it was so good to see my people.  GoGo had called me 3 times on Sunday and in one of our conversations, she told me she was making bottle cap bracelets.  I assumed she meant from a craft kit.  Nope.  She informed me that she made her own with "what she found around the house."  Nice.  Mommy could have made a few or 50 of these this weekend too.

For the Love of Pork

Too good not to write down somewhere and here will do.

Dear friends and wonderful neighbors are moving away in a few weeks.  Huge bummer.
But good for them.  And we wish them well and are already planning an epic road trip.

So.  Folks are planning a going away party for them and we had mentioned doing a huge bbq.  I was telling hubs this at dinner and mentioned we may just get a whole pig and roast it.
Gogo had been lying quietly on the couch, minding her beeswax.  Suddenly she pops up and with absolute glee shouts out "What?!  We are wrestling a PIG?!"  Seriously.
I tell her no, we are going to roast one and EAT it.  Still obsessed with the idea of swine being at the same party as she, I am asked with unconcealed excitement if "the pig will be in a cage and can we pet it??!!"  Sheesh.

Unrelated but not unimportant, we spent a few days with another batch of dear friends in Atlanta last week.  We weren't inside 15 seconds and all 3 of my little people disappeared with their friends and were not heard from until dinner time.  It was as if they just played together last week, no time elapsing.  I love that about this family.
And while on paper, it would seem the two mommies have nada in common, in reality we are a great example of friendship to our children.  Our childhoods and cultural backgrounds are totally opposite, she is younger than me by a high school career, our musical tastes are polar extremes.  And yet.  She is one of my best friends and it is just a huge joke on God's part that we are not living as Betty and Wilma right now, talking over the fence that separates our yards.  So, even though we don't have every single thing in common, we are still tight.  And that is a good lesson for my little people-you don't have to like, do, live like everyone else.  And you can still be friends.


Speaking of friends.  I am off on my first EVER girls weekend starting this Friday, with my Ya-Yas.  My girls from 20+ years ago.  My forever friends.  We are going to put a good dent in the beer supplies of Nashville, catch some live music, eat well and shop.  And laugh until we cry.  I'm wearing waterproof mascara all weekend.
I am nervous about leaving my little people.  I have never been away from all of them for more than 24 hours, and that was work related and I was right downtown Charlotte.  This will be different for all of us but FUN for mom.  Plus, I get to drive for 7 hours alone with my music as loud as I want.  Yay me.

Water shoes arrived yesterday for my kiddos, for our trip to Jamaica-mon next week.  As Walks with Purpose has been pointing out for about 2 months, "she is going to wide on horseys AND dolphins!"  We shall see.  But a good time will be had by all, regardless of which of God's creatures we galavant around on.

What a great summer this has been-my kids have had lots of fun trips, seen lots of cool stuff and had a great time.  Kind of makes me want to homeschool.  For a hot minute.

Dancing Queen

I think before the summer is over I'm going to introduce GoGo to some Abba and Donna Summer.  They have some dance music I think she might dig.  She learned "Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" at dance camp this week and suddenly she is into the old school stuff.

There could not have been a more suitable camp for this girl - Oceans in Commotion was the title.  It was all about the beach, surfer girls and fun in the sun.  Perfecto.

Her program was today and I have to say, she rocked it.  I was not a girl who participated in dance willingly as a child so I am not 100% comfortable with this sport.  But my GoGo was totally in her element today.  Huge smile the whole time, routine down pat, good timing and some serious sashaying.  Love her!

This girl just danced her heart out sans music, yet in the rain.  If she doesn't get a little bit of outside time each day, she is not a happy camper.  She is a wet mess here but happy as a clam.

No pics of my sweet D, of course.  He manned the video of GoGo's performance and then wouldn't have any photo taking of himself.  Figures.

Looks like a wet weekend but there is a party in there somewhere, quick road trip next week and then back to the pool and summer lounging.  

Sort of dreading school starting.  Ask me again in 20 minutes, though.

Conquering Our Fears

Walks With Purpose has been participating in swim lessons for the last week, finishing up this Thursday.  As she just turned 3 last month, I should have been doing this a long time ago.  But, when you are the 3rd child, sometimes things don't get done when they should/need to.

So.  She's in a semi-private with one other child.  Up to this point, she has loved the water.  She hasn't wanted to go past the rope marking the 3-4ft change but, whatever.  She hasn't cried.  Or thrown up.

First time for everything!  The first 2 days were great-you can see her smiling, blowing bubbles and she successfully submerged herself a record 3 times.  D observed that and said "Look, Mom.  The beast went under water."  We HAVE to get a new nickname and quick.  

Day 3 for some reason, she threw up half way through the lesson.  Without taking in any water or eating anything bizarre for breakfast.  Immediately after, she was seen dancing around the pool deck to "Chicken Fried."  

Day 4 was a total calamity from start to finish.  I had to nearly hog tie her to get her swimsuit on and she wailed in the car the whole (8 minute drive) to the pool.  She cried from the car, to the teacher and for the next 30 minutes straight.  It was a banner day for me as a mom.

I don't know what happened but already she's telling me today she doesn't want to go.  D had real fears of the water when he was her age so I may end up putting her in Little Otter to help with all of this.

Like her sister's swimsuit on her?  A size 6?!?!  That cleavage is a bit much on a 3 year old but the rest of the suit fits fine.

Notice the epic red rash on her back-still not sure what it was but looked like about 20 skeeter bites that never itched or hurt.  Weird but gone now.

Horrible Iphone pic but we are riding the train at Concord Mills.  A first for us and a treat after braving the Lego store with all of them.  Sheesh.

See these guys?  This is about how old they were on our first trip to Jamaica.  I cannot believe how little they were.  Gogo wasn't even 2!  Well, next month we are taking them again, this time with WWP.  I cannot wait-this time my older two will be able to snorkel, swim with the dolphins and a ton of other stuff that they were just too little to do.  And WWP can ride a bike with training wheels so we can cruise the property together.

My only fear is of WWP on the plane.  She has flown before but she was a comatose 8 week old in a pumpkin seat with a bottle shoved in her mouth to quiet her.  Now she is an energetic chatterbox that has a hard time sitting still.  Benadryl, anyone?  Joking.  Maybe.

Lest I Forget the Funnies...

Just a few things my little people have done or said that have cracked me up lately…and my brain will forget these gems if I don't get them down somewhere.

On our trip back from the 'Lou,  Gogo fell asleep about 20 minutes from home.  She's all slumped over in the 3rd row, clearly out.  I call back to her several times, letting her know we were almost home.  No response.  So now Walks With Purpose starts yelling "GOGO!  GOGO!  WAKE UP!!!"  No response.
I am beginning to get a little concerned, as there is a whole lot of yelling on our part and ZERO response on hers.  At the traffic light on our exit, I ask D to quickly unbuckle and go back there to check on her.  He gets right in her face while shaking her shoulders and says "Mom Says To Wake Up-We Are Almost Home!!!"  She has that reaction we all do when woken suddenly.  Her arms flailed, she looked like a deer in headlights and she yelled.  D tells her "Mom thought you were dead so I HAD to wake you up!"  My D knows me so well.

Yesterday WWP was rooting through the pantry as she tends to do.  "Buzz, I need a snack!"  "I mean MOM, I need a snack!"
Apparently there is a line in Toy Story 3 where one toy says to another "Hey Buddy, you better keep your mouth shut!"  Yesterday WWP tells me that and I die laughing.  It is so funny the way she says the Hey Buddy part.  So I suggest she share that with Daddy.  Her rendition is "Hey Daddy, you better keep your mouth shut!"
Think someone watches too much Toy Story??

Gogo went to the mall with friends in the neighborhood the other day and bought a makeup set at Claires.  My Gawwdd, the memories that brought back!  Anyway, she has been practicing her "art".  Yesterday she applied a wee bit o' green eyeshadow.  I mean to the point that when she turned around, she looked like the guy from Lucky Charms cereal.  I guess hubs appeared startled to see her all done up but Gogo simply says "I know-I look fashion and beautiful."  Gotta give it to her being so self-assured.

I love that these guys can make me laugh so much with so little effort.