Techno-Less

Well as you may have noticed, I haven't been posting as often. It's because my Dad's old laptop that he was letting me use, died awhile back. And Justin is in his busy travel season with work and has to take his with him or be on it all day when he's home. So I've been computerless! I thought I'd go through crazy withdrawals. But it's actually been okay, I've been able to get more stuff done without it. So for now, my posts will be fewer and further between. I'll try to keep you posted on any exciting stuff when I can though!

Bowling Night!

Justin and I took the kids bowling for Family Home Evening last night. It was their first time and I don't think either Justin and I had been in over ten years. All I have to say is, both of the girls beat me! If you watch the video below of Maryn it will give you an idea of just how bad I was! We had a great time though! Maryn and Brynna would high five and cheer even if only one pin was knocked over! To them that was a success worth celebrating! I like the way they think! I think next time I won't even play, I had way more fun just watching them being so excited about every little thing!

I couldn't figure out how to flip the video. Sorry!

Random Thought

I really love, as do Maryn and Brynna, The Little Einsteins. It's a great little show and I know if my kids are watching it they're being entertained as well as being taught something. However, I have one random little irk about it. The little yellow-haired character Annie's special talent is that she loves to sing. She's always singing her way through the missions with Rocket, Leo, Quincy and June. The only problem is, is that the actor who does her voice really can't sing! It's like airy, flat, fingernails on a chalkboard. I guess I'll suck it up and overlook it for the shows many other redeeming qualities, but sheesh, who did the casting on that one?!

My Southern Love...Savannah

As mentioned in my previous post, Savannah is a love of mine. One of my favorite memories with Justin from our early married years, was sitting in one of the lush, green, historical squares of Savannah at dusk, on a park bench. It seemed like we were the only people there, the only people in the world. Sitting beneath the mysterious limbs of trees that had stories to tell. Feeling the comfortable warmth of the summer night on our skins. We stared at the historical houses surrounding the square and together we dreamed. We dreamed of leaving our lives, our jobs, school, everything we knew and moving to Savannah. Just the two of us. We could rent a basement apartment in one of these cool, old houses and start over. And when the cares of the world threatened the peace of our dream, all we would have to do is step out our front door and sit upon a simple park bench and let Savannah work her magic on us again.

Savannah really is magic, to us at least. As you drive into the downtown area, you go through tunnels of those amazing, ancient oak trees. With great, gnarled roots that testify of their history. Reaching branches, surrounding you, adorned with Spanish moss draped from their lovely branches, like the shawl of some beautiful debutant of times since past. As you drive, the breeze blows in through your open windows, kissing your face. Those trees and those great Southern homes in which so many lives have been lived, whisper to you and something happens. It is almost as if you are transported to another place in time. Certainly another place of mind. You gaze at the wide, welcoming porches and can imagine yourself sitting there, in the shade of a warm, Southern day, sipping something cool. For the girl who is constantly trying to make sure all her bases are covered and all the i's are dotted and t's are crossed, I feel myself relax. Content, peaceful, at ease. I could wander those streets with hardly any money in my pocket and just be content to soak in Savannah's soothing lullaby.

This weekend, was the first time I have been with my children. I think what added to the magic was that the girls felt Savannah and her calming welcome the same way that Justin and I do. To be honest, it made my heart swell with pride. They too, were content with the simple pleasures that Savannah had to offer. They oohed and ahhed over the architecture of the buildings and the trees. They relished getting to watch the ships come in down on River Street while indulging in the perfect texture of warm hush puppies.

They found delight in wandering the candy shops, watching pralines and taffy being made. Never once throwing a fit to buy the goodies that filled the display cases so abundantly. We enjoyed eating gelato and watching pigeons come to see if we had anything to offer. We saw their smiles and heard their giggles and little voices saying "I just love my family!"

We all had our favorite parts of the trips. For Maryn and Brynna it was playing in the waves, collecting seashells and building sandcastles on the beaches of Tybee Island.

Ray Lamontagne was our soundtrack on the drive to Tybee.

His voice is perfection.

No 3x5's Today

Today was perfection. We decided to sneak away to one of my most favorite places on earth, Savannah, GA. We also spent some time on Tybee Island soaking up sun and playing in the surf. It was so wonderful to be able to be together as a family, without any distractions. Just us, loving every moment of being together, being a family. I told Justin that I was just hungry to soak in every memory, every emotion and never forget how I felt at that moment. The sunlight, the tastes, the feelings of the day. I don't think I'll ever be able to describe just how Savannah makes me feel. It's really something magical you just have to experience for yourself. "Maybe I will tell you all about it..." after we get home and share some 3x5's, but for now I'll leave you with the words of one of my favorite songs...

Tag I'm It!!

Alrighty folks, my sis-in-law Kristen tagged me! Here it goes!

A - Attached or single: Attached to my man, Justin.
B - Best friend(s): I'm blessed to have Justin as my best boyfriend and I have a handful of wonderful girlfriends too!
C - Cake or pie: Cake - Although sometimes a nice piece of pie is awesome too. Let's face it, when it comes to dessert foods, I don't discriminate!
D - Day of choice: I like Sundays the best, because that's usually when the family is together.
E - Essential item: Cherry Chapstick and lotion. This girl must be moisturized.
F - Favorite color: Green
G - Gummy bears or worms: Worms
H - Hometown: Vancouver, WA
I - Indulgence(s): Hmmm, everything lately. Little Baby Lauryn is pretty much making sure food is either in my stomach or on my brain at all times.
J - January or July: July, mmmm, grilling, fireworks, Maryn's birthday, and this year... not having to be pregnant anymore!
K - Kids: 3!! Maryn, Brynna, and Lauryn's on the way!
L - Life is incomplete without: Family
M - Marriage date: June 25, 1999
N - Number of siblings: 4 brothers, 4 brother-in-laws, and soon to be 4 sis-in-laws!
O - Oranges or apples: Oranges
P - Phobias or fears: Someone breaking into the house while Justin's gone and me being the one responsible for cracking skulls in defense of my children.
Q - Quotes: "It is what it is."
R - Reason to smile: I live a simple, yet blessed life.
S - Season of choice: Spring or Fall
T - Tag three friends: Sandy, Erin, Laura and anyone else who wants to play!
U - Unknown fact about me: I won an honorable mention at the sixth grade invention fair for inventing the Peanut Butter Pusher-Upper. The concept was the bottom of the peanut butter jar would twist like a stick of deodorant so that the peanut butter was always at the top of the jar. No more messy hands whilst making sandwiches. In my 11 year old brain I really thought it deserved 1st place. But someone far more sophisticated than me invented a water purification system or something. Show off.
V - Very favorite store: Hands down Target. I mean really, they have everything I need or want.
W - Worst habit: Letting my clean laundry up pile up in mounds the size of Mount Kilimanjaro. I really hate folding laundry.
X - X-ray or ultrasound: Ultrasound -- although when I had my last ultrasound to find out we were having a girl the ultrasound tech yapped THE WHOLE TIME about her own kids. How her daughter was short and prone to be pudgy. How her son was good in math and this and that, how she was an older mother and on and on and on. I kept trying to ask questions about OUR baby so she would realize that maybe it was supposed to be a special appointment for us and we wanted to hear about what she was seeing, but she didn't catch on.
Y - Your favorite food: You want a prego to come up with just one? That's humorous! I am always good for some good Eggs Benedict though, mmmm!
Z - Zodiac sign: Leo, "Very grrr baby!"

Justin's New Blog

Justin has decided to start his own blog! He's going to be writing about what life is like when he's out on the road! So check it out!

http://jyontheroad.blogspot.com/