Weekend Trip

We are going to go to my sister's house for the weekend. We have all been so busy this summer we haven't seen them much, and that is very unusual for us.

My sister is 3 years older than me. We did have the normal sibling arguments as children, but overall I would say we got along OK. Now, I would have to say she is one of my best friends.

When I first found out I was pregnant w/my daughter, my sister did not yet have children, and was very excited to become an aunt again (my brother already had a baby at this time, but he is in the Air Force and they lived very far away). At the time she and my brother-in-law only lived about 20 minutes from me. Then a house on my street came up for sale at the same time they were wanting to move, yep you guessed it they bought it - there was only one house in between us - it was very convenient for us. Many people said, I can't believe you want her that close, but having grown up in a very close extended family, I was thrilled to have her close by.

Fast Forward several years, and my sister had a baby boy, well her oldest son is only 8 months older than Camo so they grew up together on the same street, and were best friends. And of course, my kids and hers have a cousin bond much like the one I had w/some of my cousins growing up, not to mention the bond we were able to build w/the kids ourselves.

Fast Forward again, around 5 years ago, we decided it was time to move, and found a new house more suitable for our family. It was only about 15 minutes from them, but the children were just devastated by the move. Well then to make matters worse, my sister took a new job and they then moved to another town an hour away. I believe the kids actually had withdrawals for quite some time. Even a year or so after the move, my son told me one day that he was mad at his Nae (that is what they call her), I asked him why and he said because she took that job and left us.

The two boys are still close and get to spend time together, but not as close as they once were. Of course my sister and I don't see each other everyday anymore, but we talk to each other on the phone at least once a week and often more.

So, anyway for our weekend trip, we are going to my sister's house. They live in a local resort town. My youngest nephew went to an art camp a week ago, and tomorrow the city has a "gallery walk" and he will have art displayed at one of the galleries. (The gallery walk is free and held the first Friday of each month, you can to all the local galleries in the downtown, and enjoy the art and snacks, did I mention it is free!) After the gallery walk, we will all go out to eat, and then back to their house. They have a pool so the rest of the weekend will be filled w/swimming, eating, and visiting (I'm sure there will be at least one argument/fight between the children at some point, it's just part of life.)

I am excited to see my nephews, and my sister and her husband also. I will take pictures and share more of my family with you when I return home. This is a trip I have been looking forward too for some time, and it will be such a refresher for me!

ANOTHER GIVEAWAY

Okay, so maybe I have gone giveaway crazee! But you have to check this one out. Please go to Cinnamon Sticks Boutique and check out the cute necklace giveaway.

I love the necklace and am sure you will too. Please remember to go here to enter the giveaway. Oh, BTW, look around while you are here she has lots of other cute jewelry pieces too!

Good Luck (but I hope I win this one)!

Our Cozy Nest Giveaway

Please go here to enter a great giveaway! Nicole at Our Cozy Nest is helping her friends out and in turn needs our help. All you have to do is go to Our Cozy Nest and help come up with a name for her friends new Internet lighting site.

It is a great site, beautiful giveaway, and great opportunity for you to enter. Go give it a peek and help them out.

TWILIGHT ZONE

Hunter and I thought we must have been in the twilight zone tonight.

I guess first I must explain the relationship between Flicka and Camo so that you will understand. It is not that they never get along, but on any given day there will be arguments of many different natures. They do have days that they co-exist w/out much incidence, and days of non-arguing. I know w/out a doubt they do love each other tremendously and would battle for each other till the end of time - I have actually seen this: Flicka got hurt at school one day. A little boy on the playground was running and knocked her down, she did get a really nasty cut and scrape on her knee, but it was truly an accident, nothing more than a playground mishap. Now this was a few years ago, Camo only 5 or 6 years old. When he heard what happened he wanted a complete description of the boy, and I do believe if I had let him and my nephew out of the car at that moment they would have taken care of it, they were ready to defend her. I have also seen Flicka exhibit this type of behavior towards those who have wronged her little brother.

But I have to say for the last few years, their relationship is more of a battle ground. Well tonight was just crazy - we do get nights like this from time to time, but definitely it is not all the time.

What am I talking about??? Well tonight Flicka and Camo got along all night long - not one argument. When Flicka started towards the door and announced to Camo she was going to ride his scooter (it is an electric scooter), he said OK - this usually causes a big discussion of disagreement. When Camo said he was going outside for a little while, Flicka said she wanted to go too, he asked if she would open the garage door and she smiled and said sure. Several other events like this occurred all night long.

Hunter and I just kept looking at each other and wondering if someone had replaced our children, or if we were being "punked", or perhaps on an episode of the twilight zone???

I, however, for this night, choose to believe that they are growing up and realizing they do need each other.

(I do have to confess before I close though, I had much of the same type of relationship w/my little brother. He was the same distance in age from me as Flicka and Camo are. We did finally reach a point were we decided all the arguing was counter-productive and it was better when we worked together. We turned out fine and get along well today.)

So, do you ever have "twilight zone" moments?

TIME??

WOW! It seems, like I just woke up today and realized that summer is almost over. Where did the time go? We have had a good summer so far - probably one of the best in a long time. Everyone has gotten to do more of their own things than usual and have had a great time, but there are still so many things we would love to do. Time has just flown by for us this summer.

But, instead of dwelling on what is almost over, I will make an effort to focus on what is left of the summer, and make it the best it can be. We do have so much to pack in to the last few weeks before school starts.

We are going to visit my sister & her family next weekend (they only live an hour away, but we don't get to see them often enough), my 20 yr. class reunion is coming up, a 2nd weekend is scheduled at my sisters, we will have to fit in a shopping trip to buy school supplies and clothes (as both Flicka and Camo have outgrown last year's clothes) and then believe it or not it will be time for school to start. It seems like we will have a whirlwind of the rest of the summer, but it will be great.

We haven't been able to take a family vacation this year, but I think I now realize more than ever, it's not about taking a trip to some great location, it's really just about being together and fortunately we can do that anywhere! I love being with my family, and we can find a good time no matter where we are.

So, tell me.... What do you plan to do with the rest of your summer??

PS... Please visit my friend ...Scrapper Mom... to see some wonderful children's clothing and for a great giveaway. Also, it's her Bday, wish her a happy one!

Uneventful Week

Well, I have been racking my brain trying to come up with a post that would be interesting to anyone who may read. I have to say this has been a very uneventful week around our household, and I do not have any interesting news, or antics to share. So, I must apologize as this may be boring.

Hunter and I have been working, nothing exciting for us as of yet, and Hunter is off tomorrow (he is off every other Friday). However, last Friday, he did have some excitement - he fell in a manhole. He was not hurt seriously, actually not much at all, just a few scrapes and bruises. He filed a workman's comp report just to be safe though - fortunately there will not be anything that will need to be paid on it.

Flicka and Camo have been going over to the in-laws house and took turns spending one night there this week (they wanted alone time). Flicka has spent a few days at home alone - her favorite thing to do because she can stay in bed till she wakes up, stay in her pj's all day, basically just veg out.

I have a couple of work appts. tomorrow so I will work at least 1/2 day. Hunter and the kids will go over to the in-laws so they can swim, and the kids are planning to ride 4 wheelers for a little while. While, we live in town, the in-laws live outside city limits and have around 10 acres. Gives us a chance to pretend we are in the country.

I think it has just been too hot to get into too much right now. If you live in AR this time of year you know you can't escape the heat. Forecast for the next 4 days - actual temp of 99 - 100, heat index of 105 - 110!!! HEAT + HUMIDITY = HHHHOOOOTTTT!!!!:0( *I still prefer summer over the bone chilling cold of winter!!!*

I guess overall, I would much rather have an uneventful week, than one full of turmoil!

Hope everyone is having a good week, and staying cool! Don't forget sunscreen and lots of water!!!!:0):0)

MORE WEEKEND FUN!

My mother-in-law just returned home from a week and half long visit to Savannah, GA. She goes on this trip yearly with some friends, and has a great time. Flicka hasn't seen her in almost a month, for Camo it has been a week and half (they are not used to being away from her for that long, and neither is she). She returned home with 5 lbs. of fresh shrimp and 5 lbs. of fresh crab legs, and invited us over for dinner. We spent the afternoon, swimming, catching up, and then eating. It was a great day for all of us. Hope you enjoy the random pics we took (Flicka took some of the photos.)

me & Flicka

Camo, just chillin!

Camo & Grandpa cooking shrimp together.

Grandma's Hibiscus. (Flicka thought this would be a cool pic.)

Grandpa taking a break from cooking to cool off. (temp hit 100 today, heat index - 105!)
Flicka enjoying some refreshment!
Camo & Hunter having some fun.
Our wonderful dinner!!!

Grandma doesn't like her picture taken so we will have to get one of her later. The kids so love getting to spend time at Grandma & Grandpas, and I must admit I do too. I have the best in-laws, and love every minute with them. It was great weekend!