Movies in the Park

Recently in our little town they started this event once a month called "movies in the park" it is sponsored by our local fire department. Basically they set up a giant movie screen in this big grassy area. (there is a stage at the top of the grassy area which then makes the screen elevated) This large grassy area is about 3 acres and it is where they hold a lot of city events. They even built nice restrooms in one corner. (Always a necessity when doing things with ones children) I love going to the city events. We have an annual "Chili Cook off" "Trick or Treating" "Easter egg hunt" "Cancer Society Candlelight walk" "Craft Fair" and my all time favorite "Christmas in the Park" complete with Hayride, hot cocoa and cookies. Without sounding corny (which I probably will) I love these events because they make me feel so small towny. (Is towny a word?) When I go to these events I will ALWAYS run into tons of people I know. I always feel so "Stars Hollow" when I am at one of these events. For those of you who are not Gilmore Girls fans, Stars Hollow is the name of the town that the characters live in. Soccer Girl and I have always said we want to live in Stars Hollow. So this past Saturday there we were, in our own version of Stars Hollow the Englishman and I with Mighty Mouth. (Soccer girl had All Conference for swim team and Miss Priss came late after a birthday party) My sister was there with her family. Two of my girlfriends were there with their families. A friend of my sister was there with her son. Plus countless people I know who live in our town. We had our lounge chairs and picnic blankets. We had coolers with food and cold drinks. (remember we live in Florida so while it wasn't hot THANK GOODNESS it wasn't cool either) in fact I have to say the weather was perfect. ( of course it will be more fun say in November when it will be chilly) I love that word chilly, because in Florida we rarely ever manage cold but we can and do get chilly. Then we can bring thermoses with hot chocolate and snuggle up under the stars with quilts to watch whats playing. Saturday night the movie was "Bedtime Stories" and if you haven't seen it do because it is so cute. It was a great family fun night and I can't wait to go next month!!!!!!

Blogaversary is that a word???

Today I have had a blog for an entire year. I am really excited because I am not the kind of person that sticks to things, um like a (diet)(exercise program)(budget). But I have managed to post about myself and my family for a year now. My long term goal is to keep this blog for many years and then find some way to have it made into a book for my girls. I want them to be able to look back and remember the things that they did and we did as a family. So here's to another year in Blog Land Thanks for tuning in!!!!!!

P.S Happy 23rd Birthday Carla...We love you!!!!!

18 Years Today.....

The Englishman and I have been married 18 years today. I can't believe that much time has passed. So many details of our wedding I can remember like yesterday. Like when the Pastor started our ceremony he said "today we celebrate the union of David and Julie" (Julie is my sisters name) and all the guests whispered loudly from the pews "SUZIE" . I remember somebody said to me later "Suzie, your face was shocked when he said it but what was really funny was the look on your sisters face" LOL I can imagine..... I remember that the DJ messed up the Father/Daughter dance song. It was supposed to be an Elvis Presley song, one that I can't remember anymore, something about buying shoes is all I recall. I do remember that I had the hardest time picking a song because it wasn't my father giving me away but my grandfather. I don't know my father my parents divorced when I was young and he was never around. So my Grandfather and my Uncles were awesome substitutes. I remember that the DJ played the song "Tonight I celebrate my love for you" and at first I was going to just let it go and enjoy the dance until it got to the part where it says "tonight when I make love to you". At that point I had to stop dancing and ask him to change the song. LOL The memory still brings a smile to my face. I remember that my Mom bought me beautiful high heeled shoes to match my dress and I wouldn't wear them because I am taller than my Grandfather was. I was self conscious because he was walking me down the aisle, giving me away and dancing with me to the Father/Daughter dance. I didn't want to look like a giant. I think of that now and realize how silly I was. Especially because I now know that just seven short years later my grandfather would die unexpectedly in his sleep. How I wish I could dance with him just one more time. Today I wouldn't care less how we looked I would just savor the moment. I remember how (please don't be mad at me for this one honey) the Englishman when he packed his bag with his wedding clothes forgot to pack underwear, he spent his wedding day "commando style" under his tux. As a result, when we had the dollar dance and the ladies were jokingly sticking dollars in his pants, they would fall down his pant leg and out onto the floor. ( his secret was out) LOL That one really makes me smile....What a wonderful day it was on September 14, 1991 and what a wonderful 18 years it has been. I love you Englishman!!!!!!!!!

Miss Priss has a Birthday

Miss Priss celebrated her 12th Birthday. We had a great day. As per family tradition I made her favorite meal (spaghetti and meat sauce) and whatever dessert she wanted (sugar cookie cake with cream cheese frosting) and invited the family to dinner. It was extra nice because my Sister in Law and Niece were visiting from England. My middle daughter is growing up before my eyes. With Soccer girl I kind of saw it happening especially because she hit puberty kind of early and for lack of better way to phrase it, kind of took her time. With Miss Priss it is like one day she was a little girl and the next day she was becoming a teenager. As I have said before and maybe this is because she is the middle child, she just kind of takes things in stride. She is extremely independent in so many ways. Sometimes I feel like she doesn't even need me, and I mean that in the most positive of terms. While she is the shyest of my girls and isn't as out going as her sisters, she possesses what I like to call a "quiet confidence". Sometimes I feel guilty because I feel like she receives the least of my attention (of course not on purpose) and yet she manages to always do just fine. I love you Miss Priss , I am extremely proud of you, and I can't believe that in one short year you will officially be a TEENAGER!!!!!! YIKES!!!!!!! P.S Thanks Kelly for finding my typo......

Double Digits

Mighty Mouth turns 10 today. September 1 is her day. It is also her Aunt Jeanette's birthday. Happy Birthday Jeanette!!! It is so hard for me to believe that she is 10 already. When I think of ten years past it seems so long ago, or when I think of ten years from now it seems so far away. When I look at her and how big she is now and how grown up I know she looks like a ten year old. In fact she is very tall for her age so she probably looks older than a ten year old. But what is so sad and mostly because she is my baby (although I felt it with each of my girls but so much stronger now with her) is this: there are so many things that I as a Mom have and will experience for the last time like :



1. What day will this baby be born and what will it be....



2. When will she sleep through the night....





3. When will she roll over....



4. When will she take her first steps...



5. Will she cry at her first day of preschool...



6. Kindergarten Graduation....



7. First Sleepover at a friends...



8. Learning to ride a bike and roller skate...



9. Getting to be a safety Patrol at school...



10. Making the principals list for the first time at school....



11. Her first crush on a boy....




Oh this list could go on and on of all the milestones she has crossed. And even though I know she has many more to go before she makes her way to adulthood, it is because she is my youngest that every time she reaches a milestone that her sisters have reached before her that I get a little sad mixed in with the excitement. It is very bittersweet. I am really trying to enjoy every second of this school year because this is her last year of elementary school. After this year there is no more




1. Wearing your Halloween costume to school



2. Being a safety Patrol



3. Holiday inspired art projects from school.





4. Bringing in snacks for Holiday Parties



5. Picking out Christmas presents for your teacher



6. Making Valentines for your classmates.



(and the biggest one of all)


7. No more letting Mom come have lunch with you at school with your friends.


(Because in middle school that just isn't cool)






I Love you with all my heart Mighty Mouth and I hope you have a WONDERFUL day!!!!!!!!!!