Pretty Much

** Thank you all for your comments on Shelbie's artwork!  I showed them to her and she loved it.  =)


** My sweet hubby is taking me away to the beach for my birthday!  Y'all - I turn 40 on Saturday!  WOOT WOOT It honestly doesn't bother me AT ALL.  We have a lot of fun plans and I'm excited!  St Augustine - my favorite place on the planet - I can't wait!

** I am so blessed with an AWESOME Mother-in-Law this time around.  Not only that, but my parents actually have a relationship with her- so much so, that we are all celebrating Mothers' Day at  MIL's house.  I'm cooking! This is so much nicer than dividing time or alternating years.  It's all one big, happy family!

** Also, I pretty much have the best son on the planet.  He is 20 years old but he still tells me he loves me every time we talk on the phone - even when he's at work, surrounded by guys.  And he says it FIRST.  He is also taking care of our pets while we're away this weekend.  He pretty much is awesome.  Proud Mama right here!

** So, that's pretty much all I've got.  I'm out for the weekend.  Wishing you all the best, and a wonderful Mother's Day!

Vows on Vilano Beach

My Hunter is no longer hunting - he caught me.

Reading the Introductory Prayer

Allow me to introduce my husband, whom until now I have called Hunter on the blog.  His name is Byron, and we got married on Friday.

Vilano Beach is a mixture of sand and coquina shells.
So pretty.

We've actually been engaged for a few months, and were planning a wedding at our home in May.  I planned to announce it here on the blog very soon.

But then Byron's Dad passed away, and my dad had a heart attack, and between that, wedding plans, trying to get our property in shape for a wedding, work, and life in general....we became overwhelmed.

I came home from work one morning last week and suggested we cancel all of our plans and elope on the beach.
Byron was TOTALLY on board.

Listening to the prayer.

So, that's exactly what we did!
And it's one of the best decisions either of us has ever made.

The weather was perfect.  We couldn't have chosen a better weekend.
Warm, breezy, and not a cloud in the sky.

I rounded up an officiant, rearranged my work schedule, booked a room, asked my best friend Danielle to join us, and we bought our outfits.
Once we got here to Vilano Beach, I grabbed a bouquet of fresh tulips (purple, of course), and we were on our way to our wedding!

Saying our Vows.

There were a few more details than that, but truly, not many.  We kept it as uncomplicated as possible.

Our Song was playing here -
 God Gave Me You by Blake Shelton

It was absolutely perfect.  Incredible, amazing, and beautiful.  I was able to hand-select every word that the officiant said.  We had two friends join us for the ceremony.  One videotaped the service, the other took pictures.

Pure happiness.

I mostly cried. LOL  It was just so beautiful, moving and romantic and perfect and did I mention BEAUTIFUL??

Danielle cried maybe even more than I did.  Byron and I are just so in love, and the sweet simplicity of it all was so emotional and moving.

I won't bore you with the entire ceremony but I am going to print the poem here, and bombard you with pictures.

I am a happy, happy girl!

From this day forward

I make a promise:

Whatever happens, 

You shall not walk alone.

I’ll stand by your side, 

And sleep in your arms.

I’ll be the joy in your heart,

And the food for your soul,

May you feel deeply loved,

For indeed you are.


Through our brightest days

And our darkest nights,

I take you into my heart. 

May God bless us

With a great light, 

Around our hearts

And around our home.

I see your beauty, 

Your innocence and light.

May it shine.


May the world see how beautiful you are

As I see how beautiful you are.

But may there be a special light

That only I can see.

I give you my heart.

May we feel this joy forever.




Visit Unknown Mami for more SIMC posts!!

I Had Forgotten

I am not sure when I'd been to Saint Augustine last.

My long-time readers may remember how much I love St Augustine.  My ex-husband John and I used to go as often as possible.  For a while, we probably went once a month.

But I think it had been about a year since I'd last been, maybe more.

I had truly forgotten how much I loved it.

Lighthouse
Photo by Elayna

Photo by Elayna

  On our unexpected visit last Thursday, it all came back to me.

Fiddler Crab
Photo by Elayna

When we drove into town, as I looked around at all of the familiar sights, and inhaled the salt air, I broke into the hugest grin, and it never left my face the entire day.


There's something about simply being there that fills my spirit with happiness.

Mommy & Elayna
(This is the big goofy grin to which I referred.)

The company helped, too.

Elayna is a sneaky photographer....

We didn't even really do anything there on Thursday.  We arrived late in the day.  We walked, looked in the shops, toured around the fort, ate ice cream, took pictures, and just enjoyed the sights and each other's company.

Castillo san Marcos
B & Elayna

B & Elayna at the Wishing Well

Elayna & B....only a 3 year age difference,
but B is a tiny thing!

Elayna on St George Street

I just soaked it all in.
I can't wait to go back.....

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Because WE are the Griswolds!

Or at least, it felt like we were on Thursday.

School starts next week for our kids.  My friend and I were off on Thursday.  We decided to make a trip to Wild Adventures.  We had just been there two weeks ago on a Thursday.

Elayna and I made a dozen sandwiches.  We packed our swimsuits and towels and sunscreen.
We all loaded up in my friend's car, along with his daughter, and drove to Georgia.
94.7 miles.

And we arrived to a scene eerily reminiscent of this one.....

 

It seems Wild Adventures closes during the week once the school year starts in their area.

Which I have never heard of.  Living in Florida, the land of theme parks, this just doesn't happen.  Some of our parks change their hours during the fall, but mid-August?  Closing completely except for the weekends?
Who does that??!!

Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia.  That's who.

But....we made the best of it.  Our plan was to spend the day at Wild Adventures, then take my friend's daughter to her Grandmother's house for the weekend.  We were to meet up in St Augustine.  So, we just went to St Augustine WAY earlier than planned, and spent the day there, hanging out and having fun.

The girls were great sports about it all.

Elayna on Ice Cream

Elayna and I - photo by B, 8 yrs old ;-)

Lately, my life seems to be all about making lemonade out of lemons.  I wouldn't mind if the lemons stopped being hurled at me!  But in the meantime, pass the sugar...........

We don't call this Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional for no reason!

I Don't Know Whether to Scratch my Watch or Wind My Butt!

{Anyone know what movie that's from?}

TGIF!

I am very glad to see Friday roll around!

This was my first week at my new job. I only worked two days, but today was a busy one and it kicked my butt! This job is great because I basically set my own schedule. I can be home when the kids get home from school, but on days that they're not home, I can work later (and make more money!).

On Thursday, my Littles (Elayna & Andrew) went to Saint Augustine on a school field trip. They had a blast and Elayna took about a million pictures. I'll be posting them here soon! Well, some of them anyway. I won't subject you to all 983,276.

Thanks for all your concern & sweet words about my burn. I have 1st and 2nd degree burns. Mostly first though. They're healing well and not very painful any more. In fact, the fingernail I broke way down deep today hurts far more!

We have a crazy busy weekend ahead. Tomorrow is our March for Babies, and tomorrow night we are all getting together to celebrate my husband, father and oldest son's birthdays. They were all born in March! Which I think is kind of interesting.

Then on Sunday, we'll be moving all day. A bunch of guys from church are coming with trucks & trailers to help us out. Have I mentioned lately how much I love our church family? They are AWESOME.

Speaking of love. I can't even explain how much we love our new home. After looking at homes in other school districts, one total dump, and even considering an apartment, we found this absolutely amazing little home out in the woods. Instead of being bummed about the move, we're all excited now. One of the things I'm most excited about? There's a chicken coop there, and the landlords are going to give us some of their laying hens! WOOHOO Fresh Eggs!

Next week is my kids' Spring Break. My kids will be with their Dad, and Andrew will be with his Grandma. It's going to be so weird for them to be gone for a whole week! But I have a feeling I'm going to stay very busy & it will fly by.

Time for the Song of the Week! I love this one. Enjoy & have a great weekend!

And don't forget to visit Mrs 4444 for more Friday Fragments.

I Have a Happy List.

I've seen a few of these Happy Lists in my recent travels 'round the blogosphere, and I decided to compile one of my own.

I am so blessed to have many things in my life that make me happy. The happy helps balance the crappy. Ya know?

So here's a list of stuff that makes me Happy.

1. Wearing my husband's hoodie. It is huge and soft and super warm. It makes me feel cozy.

2. Diet Dr Pepper. Especially when it's on sale. 12 packs are 4 for $10 at a grocery store near me right now. 4 for $10!!!

3. Speaking of which...good deals make me happy. I got several this weekend while outlet shopping; two very nice pair of jeans for $6.87 each! HELLO! A quesadilla maker for $17....two t-shirts for .99 cents each....I LOVE Deals!!

4. The sweetness and kindness my girls are showing to Andrew right now. Without my saying a word, they know he needs to be treated gently and are going out of their way to be good to him. They make me proud.

5. Any songs by P!nk. I love her.

6. Baby pygmy goats. I want one. Or a dozen. Either way.

7. Apple pie apples from a chocolate shop in St. Augustine. They're Granny Smith apples, dipped in caramel, then covered in white chocolate, then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.

OhEmGeeeeee. Also, bringing three one home to enjoy later.

8. The new blog design that is currently being made for me by Minx Designs. She has showed me several sneak peeks and I am absolutely loving it! I'm so excited.

How about you?

What's making you happy these days?

Under the Boardwalk...

...down by the sea.

Giving me the hairy eyeball

me

lazy bird

up my nose (taken by accident)

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Naked Hermit Crabs & Squirrel Tails

I have to tell you, I feel SO much better after our little weekend escape. It's amazing how good it is to get away even for such a short time, and soaking up the salt air just seems to ease my mind.

It was an interesting trip this time, so I just had to share some of the highlights with y'all!

The trip started out with a bang. We headed out Saturday morning and had been gone for about ten minutes when we heard, "Meow." John and I looked at each other and said "What was that?!" I turned the radio down and there it was again. "Meow." There was definitely a cat in our trunk!

We were on the highway so we didn't want to open the trunk there, in case he jumped out. So we turned around and went home. Sure enough, while John was packing the trunk, our cat Ozzie had jumped in. Leave it to MY cat to jump in the trunk; leave it to MY husband to shut the trunk with a cat inside! I guess he wanted to come with us! Too bad he got chicken and started crying. Heh.

So we finally made it to St Augustine. We headed to the outlet malls first, and this bargain shopping mama got some AWESOME deals. I was a happy camper! I got some necessities, I got some fun things, and I got Valentine's Day gifts for the kids. (Yes, I love Valentine's Day!) I also love having a husband who loves to shop! No, he is not for rent, sorry.

Then we headed to St. George Street. Every time we go to St Augustine, I have to have clam chowder from Florida Cracker Cafe. It's fantastic!

We also saw the Glass Harp player on St. George later in the evening.

We stayed in a cabin by a lake, near the beach. This was our fourth time staying there.

This morning when we got up, I heard on odd noise and looked up on the power lines to see three parrots! I almost couldn't believe my eyes. John was in the bathroom and by the time he came out they were gone, but one of the caretakers came by and confirmed that they do indeed have wild parrots in the area. He said they aren't sure where the first ones came from, but in recent years they have multiplied and there are now around forty parrots in that area. And of course, I did not have my camera nearby when I saw them! Argh!

On Sunday we slept in, then had lunch at another favorite restaurant, and then went to the beach. It was nice out; there were people surfing and lots of people just hanging around. I had fun taking pictures of the seagulls. I learned that they are camera-shy. They didn't like me much. Shrug.

As we were leaving, John noticed a big, pretty shell on top of a post, and then realized there was a hermit crab inside. Andrew has hermit crabs (ok, he has A hermit CRAB, one died but we didn't tell him). So we decided to take this hermit crab home with us. Whoever had put it on top of that post was nowhere around and we didn't want it to die there. So off we went.

It was time to head home. We had a Superbowl party at church tonight and I had to cook this awesome dip. It was a bummer to leave St. Augustine so quickly, but I'm so glad we went.

And we had a blast at the Superbowl party; the kids played with friends, the ladies talked, and the guys watched the game. And I seriously love party food; I could eat that all the time. It was all delicious!

I guess Ozzie the Stowaway Cat wanted to thank us for his little ride; when we came home there was a squirrel tail on the door steps. Gack!

Also, while we were at church, the hermit crab decided to remove himself from his shell (naked hermit crabs look WEIRD!!) and he then proceeded to die.

Woops.

Hope y'all had a great weekend that didn't involve insane cats, squirrel tails, or dead naked hermit crabs!

The Glass Harp - SIMC

We are in our home-away-from-home city, Saint Augustine, Florida, this weekend.
It's been an interesting trip and I'll post more about it when we get home, but I just had to post this now. Sorry for the picture quality; I didn't have my camera with me so I used my cell phone.

We were walking down historic St. George Street and I noticed just off on a side street, a crowd had formed. In front of the crowd, I saw several glasses on a table. I pulled John over there to see what was going on, and I am so glad I did.

The man sitting behind that table is nothing short of amazing. His name is Jamey Turner, and he plays the glass harp, which is an elaborate series of glasses of different sizes, filled with different amounts of water and secured to a table. The sound is absolutely beautiful; it's unlike anything I've heard before. He can play up to six glasses at a time. It's incredible.



While he plays, he talks to the crowd and tells about the history of the glass harp. He's charming and funny as well as talented. Check out his website to see all of the places he's performed; they include Disney and The Tonight Show.



I found a Youtube video of him performing and I really hope you'll watch it - you'll be glad you did! I'm so glad we had this chance encounter with him.

Visit Unknown Mami for more Sundays In My City posts!