My Wonderful Friend

So the one good thing about the Navy is that we get to meet wonderful people all around the country. Last time we lived in Charleston I met a wonderful girl named Jennifer. We met at Blackbaud and have managed to stay close over the years we were away.

Today she brought her friend Jason and his cute daughters Brittnay and Brooke over to help me cross some things off my "to do" list and man did we ever cross some things off! We painted the deck, cleaned out gutters, picked up branches, sprayed weeds, removed the birds nests from my chimney (Jason gets 100% credit for that one!), moved boxes down from the attic, and a bunch of other things I'm too tired to remember. And Jennifer even made yummy taco soup for lunch.

Then we got to celebrate the successful day of work with dinner at Andolini's!

Brittnay, Nora, Morgan, Brooke, Jennifer, & Jason

I am very grateful for my wonderful, sweet, caring friend! She is the kind of person that does a million things all the time and still makes time for little old me. I can't thank you both enough for all your help today!

Why I love Chick-fil-a

Today the girls and I went to Chick-fil-a for lunch. Before I had kids I was a big fan of the Chick-fil-a original sandwich sans pickles, waffle fries, Coke with the perfect syrup balance and would eat there anytime I was close to one. Since having children I have grown to love it in a new way.

Here are all the reasons I love it:

• The cows are funny
• The play area is clean and they provide sanitizing wipes and other moms to strike up a conversation with when you haven't seen another adult in days
• They have plastic place mats for babies
• Kids love the chicken nuggets (made with chicken that looks like chicken) and fruit
• The toys are educational and fun
• They give away free balloons
• They have bendy straws
• They offer to carry your tray for you when you are juggling two kids and a diaper bag
• One time I looked so stressed out the cashier even gave me free brownies, yummy brownies that make everything better

So I guess what I'm saying is that Chick-fil-a is my comfort food.

Morgan's Recent Mishaps

So everyone knows that Morgan is more accident prone than your normal child...here are a few of her latest feats. Okay I'm pretty sure Nora had a part in the first one, but the second she did all on her own. I'm glad she is interested in potty training, I just really wish she would learn what things are gross!

"Look Mom no arms! Aaarrgggh!" says the dragon while running full speed after her sister.

Yes, the seat was completely around her head. How do you explain that at the ER?

Five-Lined Skink

So about this time last year I posted on the blog about a lizard...so I didn't think another lizard story was blog worthy until I saw one again today. Luckily this time it was in captivity. So here's the story:

A few days back Nora says "Mom there is a bug under my chair!" I look for the bug and see nothing. A few minutes later Morgan comes out of the playroom "Mom there is a bug." still I see nothing. A few minutes after that they both come running out of the playroom "Mom the bug has stripes and a tail and big eyes!" I figure if they describe it this clearly there must be something, but it sounds like a scary bug. So I go into the playroom and there is a very large lizard (that gives me the creeps still just thinking about it!) and I run for my rubber gloves and long duster to try and shoo it outside.

I imagine it was quite a picture to see the girls sitting on the couch laughing hysterically while I'm screeching like a little girl every time the lizard goes back and from under the tv to under the couch. I even tried to grab it once with my gloved hand, but it was fast and big and creepy so I went back to the duster route. After about 15 minutes and working up a good sweat I got it out of the house...sort of. It crawled into the bottom of my screen door, but I'm sure it found it's way back home.

When I was putting Nora back in bed tonight I told her I was looking for a picture of the lizard and she said the lizard that was in the costumes that ran back and forth? I said yes...the costumes? So does anyone want to come and shake out my costumes to make sure they don't have any lizard eggs in them?

Since I didn't have time to stop and take live photos of the creepy lizard here is a link to the famous Five-Lined Skink!

Kingsland, GA

So we drove straight from the wedding in NC to Georgia to look for a new house and as luck would have it we fell in love with one. It was built in 2005 and is beautiful! It is a townhouse and is a little smaller than what we have now, but I think that will be easier to keep up with while Ben is at sea. Especially since they mow the yard!!! Yippee!!!! And there is a pool close by and tennis courts. So now I just have to close on the house, throw a birthday party, move and find a job. I think that should keep me busy until Ben comes home in November. But I'm still up for visitors if you are in the area!

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The girls have been absolute troopers through all of the road trips this summer! I think all the play places have helped make this possible! Thanks Ronald and the Cows!

Morgan, Ronald & Nora

Announcing Matt & Kristen Trogdon

I first met Matt and Kristen this summer when they came for a visit over the 4th of July. Ben and Matt went to college together in NC and apparently spent one crazy summer living together in CO. So Ben was best man at the wedding and it was absolutely wonderful! They were very generous to ask us to join them at the bed and breakfast for the weekend and the girls loved it!

They were married at the Shady Wagon Farm in NC on Saturday, September 6th. Luckily for Hanna she made her way through on Friday night and the wedding was perfectly sunny and probably a little warm for those wearing nice dark tuxedos. The ceremony was very nice and the vows brought tears to many eyes. It is easy to see how in love they are!

Best wishes!

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Michigan

Okay so here I am making excuses again for why I haven't blogged in forever. Well we went on a 20 hour road trip to Michigan at the end of August to see Ben's family, my Dad and Stepmom and some friends. We really had a great time hanging out with everyone!

Due to the time lapse since the trip and the blog post my brain is struggling with all the details so here are a few highlights.

• It was great fun watching all the cousins run and play in the yard and watch all the brothers try to figure out how to get the arobie (fancy frisbee) off the roof.
• We got to let the girls fish a little off Grandpa's boat before it rained on us.
• We went to Holt to see Stuart and Kathleen Goodrich and were joined for breakfast by their son David. Then we hit up a farmer's market, got ice cream, and happened across a parade! Turns out Stuart and Kathleen are celebrities! Small towns are so fun!
• Ben got to spend some father-daughter time with Nora and the rest of the gang on the river.
• Went to the Silver Lake Sand Dunes and broke Ben's truck. Then had to stay in MI five days longer than expected. Oops!
• Decided to make lemonade and headed for Mackinac Island (one of my all time favorite places).

Thank you Justin and Laurie for opening your home to such a crazy and fun filled weekend!

Here are some pictures of our travels.

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Reasons to Root For Andy Roddick in the US Open

Now I have to admit I wasn't always his biggest fan, but I do find myself pulling for him now and here's why:

1. He needs to take advantage when poor Roger is slumping and it isn't a good surface for Nadal.
2. He's getting up there (you know as far as pro tennis players go) and deserves a few more slams under his belt before his career is over.
3. He's funny. Very, very funny. See the latest issue of Tennis magazine for a funny remark about a sweater Roger wore at Wimbledon.
4. He's American. This alone should be enough.