Our Summer Project

If you're a friend of mine you know that every year when we go on vacation a crisis occurs. Two years ago, our Pug, Percy, died. Last year, we had a triple crisis. Our other dog died, our fridge died, and my car was broken into.

So, this year, when we came home from Disney, we were happily surprised that everything was in place.

Then, two days later, we get a call.

Eight months before Mike and I got married, I purchased a home. I LOVED my house! I wanted him to live with me, but since my house was smaller, it just wasn't practical. We decided I would move in with him and we would just rent my house out.

We found a wonderful older lady to live in my two-bedroom house. She paid her rent every month on time and never called us for anything.

The call we received was our tenant. She was in tears. She'd retired only 6 months earlier, but said she lost all her money in the stock market and now had to live with her daughter. She lived there over five years.

So, our summer project has been painting all the rooms in this house. And, looking for a new tenant.

We would love to find someone to buy my house. But, we will rent it out until that happens.

We are asking $750/mo with a $750 deposit. Or, $85,000. Please tell anyone you know that may need a place to live in the Warner Robins area.

Thanks!!

DAWG DAYZ

I am taking up a collection for a king size bed. As you can see, there is no room for me in the one we currently have. :(

Well, my friends, it is HOT!! These are the Dawg Days of summer! Most people say Dog Days. But, if you know me, you know I "talk country" so from my mouth it is dawg!

Just wanted to post a few more pictures of our summer. Earlier this month we attended VBS in Gray where my dad is a preacher. The kids had a wonderful time! This is not a great picture, but I just love seeing Allyson looking so happy in her Nana's lap.
The song leader (my dad) for VBS was a gorilla. This made a few kids cry and scream or even get violent. But, Allyson loved the gorilla. She was so brave! She's getting her treat bag and ceertificate.

This summer Allyson attended gymnastics on Tuesday mornings. She really enjoyed it. We go for fun, not really to push her into the Olympics or anything like that. This picture was from the last day. They told them to wear swimsuits.



Allyson with her teacher Ms. Tracey.

I didn't realize until we arrived that the reason they were supposed to wear swimsuits was because they had a water day planned.

Here she is with some friends from her class.

Later, Mommy needed a pedicure. Allsyon got to sit in a chair for a while. I may not take her to the nail salon with me again for 2 reasons.

1. I don't get to relax as much.

2. It has occured to me that this is spoiling. And, she's already hard enough to deal with!

We went to Lane Packing last week to play and have lunch. This picture of Mariah is the only one I took. But, I love it!

I must tell you that while we were at Lane Allyson only wanted salad for lunch. Hmmm...this is a good thing, I suppose. Just strange for a kid!

Now, this summer the biggest struggle I have had every day is getting Allyson to go lay down and take a nap. Every day we have a huge fight! One of us usually ends up in tears. I won't say who!

Last Sunday, she had "nap time". But, she didn't go to sleep. She just played in her room. Ok, fine. Well, at least she had quiet time, right?

Later, she's watching a movie. She's quiet. I think she must be VERY involved in this movie. I walk by and this is what she's doing.

Yes, on top of the couch! Did I move her? NO WAY! She took a 45 minute nap. So, this tells me that she DOES still need her nap every day.

Allyson will be starting PreK this year. She'll be going to school with me every day. I'm excited about it! I think she'll do well. I just can't believe she's not a baby anymore!

We Didn't Go to Savannah, but Savannah Came to Us

This is my 100th Post!!!!

I don't think I wrote a special post to celebrate, but we are through with daycare! My last day of post-planning was Allyson's last day in "The Big Room" at Meadowdale Learning Center! So glad we don't have that bill anymore.

We did go back to MLC in June on Tuesdays and Thursdays for swimming lessons, but she was not enrolled anymore.

However, Allyson made a very special friend at MLC. Her name is Savannah. Savannah still attends at MLC. Her mom said that we could pick up Savannah from daycare and let her spend the day with us a couple weeks ago.

Allyson and Savannah had a lot of fun playing dress-up and watching videos. They laughed and giggled all day! Such silly little girls!

I took some really good pictures of them playing in the sprinkler.

This one happens to be after the sprinkler, though.

Later, we headed over to McDonald's for some milkshakes and fries. These two were worn out!

They had fun, but I was worn out, too. All day long I heard, "She's not..." "I want..." "She has..." "I told her..." "She won't..."

Just typical 3-year-old girl speech!

Hopefully, Allyson & Savannah can play again sometime! Hmmm...Maybe at her house! :D

Cracking Up!

At the park last night as we walk to the car and Daddy carries Allyson on his shoulders, I ask Allyson, "What do we call a person we don't know?"

Allyson's answer:

"Jack-A-Ma-Ham."

WHAT?! I fall on the ground laughing hysterically! I guess she would just make up a name, then!

Her Daddy calmly answers, "No, Sweetheart. We call them a Stranger."

And, I'm wondering how he is still standing up.

Today, on the way back from Target I ask her where she got the name Jack-A-Ma-Ham. She said, "From Cat in the Hat. They're always trying to get him to eat ham."

"Ohhhh! No, honey, his name is Sam-I-Am." I'm so relieved we cleared that one up!!

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Last night we found a couple fleas on Reuben. Mike explained that I would need to pick up some flea shampoo and I'd need to wash him first thing this morning.

"When you're bathing him, you'll see the dead fleas in the bottom of the tub. Then, you'll know it's working. That's what used to happen when I bathed my dog as a kid."

"Oh, you had a dog? What kind?" I ask.

"A jack russell," he replies.

"Oh, what was his name?"

Michael stares at me like he doesn't want to tell me. So, I press for an answer.

"His name was Mike," he says.

"Mike?! You named your dog after yourself!" I scream as I bust out laughing.

"Well, my parents called me Michael." he explains, which is still crazy, because I'm sure everyone else called him Mike.

So, after I told Allyson about Sam-I-Am in the car, I tell her about how Daddy had a dog when he was a little boy and the dog's name was Mike.

She thinks that is the funniest joke she's ever heard.

Then, she goes on this rant. "Reuben has a dog and its name is Reuben. I have a dog and his name is Allyson Paige Pace. Mommy, you have a dog. Guess what him's name is?"

"What, Allyson?" I already know the answer!

"Dawn! And, Ralston and Riley have a dog. Him's name is Riley and Ralston! And, Hailey and Jack have a dog! Its name is Hailey and Jack! And, Ella has a dog, too! It's name is Ella!"

So, glad my child has inherited my sense of humor! :D

Something I Just Made Up

I love lemon bars, don't you? Mmmm...delicious! Just like "eating" a glass of lemonade. My husband loves lemon cake. While I usually prefer chocolate, he always requests fruity desserts. Especially lemon.

I had planned to make him a lemon cake last Friday, but the box of lemon cake mix in the pantry was way beyond its expiration. However, I had just bought some white cake mix and whipped icing. And, behold! There was a box of lemon pudding mix in the pantry (not expired!!)

I got online to try and remind myself how to make a cake with pudding. I found a "poke" cake recipe and it worked out. When I tried it, it tasted just like a lemon bar!

So, here's a recipe that I just made up.

Lemon Bar Cake

You'll need:

1 box white cake mix (including ingredients listed on box required to make cake)

1 large (or, 2 small) box instant lemon pudding mix (you'll need milk. see box for quantity)

1 can whipped white icing

1/2 c crushed Lemonheads candy (optional)

Prepare cake mix according to box directions. Pour batter into a 9x13 dish. Bake as directed. When cake is almost done, prepare lemon pudding according to box directions. While cake cools, use a fork or bamboo skewer to poke holes in top of cake. The more holes the better. Pour pudding over cake. Allow to cool and for pudding to set. May take 30-45 minutes. You can refrigerate for faster cooling.

After pudding is set, spread icing over top of cake. Sprinkle with crushed Lemonheads candy. Store in refrigerator. Enjoy!

Hot Fun in the Summertime

Here are some highlights from our Summer 2010. I'm looking forward to the upcoming school year in some ways. Allyson will be going to school with me this year. She's going to Pre-K. We are very excited about that. But, in other ways I feel a bit of anxiety. The media clerks in Houston County elementary and middle schools were cut. So, this year I will have to do my job and the clerk's job. I'll need to try and figure out how to clone myself. I hear it's not easy to do that.

Anyway, here's a recap of some of our fun times this summer.

Our VBS theme was Great Escapes with God. Allyson really enjoyed herself. This was the first year that she was not in the youngest group. She's getting so big so fast. Here she is with her teachers Ms. Veronica and Ms. KK.

I worked in a craft room with older kids and Mike was in a story room playing the part of a herald. Here's a family pic from the last night of VBS.


VBS was from Sunday-Wednesday for two hours each night. There were story rooms for Jonah, the fiery furnace, Paul & Silas, and Daniel. They were awesome. Everyone worked so hard.

Here's my Herald Angel hard at work! There was some fog so that's why it looks cloudy.

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Allyson took swimming lessons during June. Her lessons were at her daycare. She wasn't enrolled anymore, but they let her attend since there were slots available.

She was right at home with some old friends. Here are two of her favorites-Savannah on the left and Bailey on the right.

Her teacher wasa young guy who was a certified lifeguard. He was very patient with her. She did end up learning how to swim, but I think we may need more lessons next year.

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After our Disney trip it was time for July 4th festivities. We attended the free concert at the WRHS stadium. The Air Force band performed as well as Diamond Rio and then a 20-minute firewoks display. It was awesome and I'm so glad we decided to go into the stadium this year.

Our friends Pam & Dave invited us. Their daughter came just before dark. She had been at work. Allyson thinks Kelsey hung the moon!

The next day we went to my parents' house. They have a cookout each year to celebrate. the 4th is also their anniversay. This was number 35!

Allyson and her daddy fishing.

My sister helping Allyson and cousin Caleb feed the ducks.

Andrea & Nirav have gone to my parents' July 4th party with us several times over the past few years. Andrea made Abigail's dress. Abigail is always so photogenic.

Daddy found a remote-control boat to play around with.

The Shah's. Abigail's chewing on her necklace. hehe

Sparklers!

A fuzzy pic of us watching the guys set off the fireworks.

Summer is not over yet! I still hope to have some more fun.

However, it is that time of year when people start saying, "So, are you ready to go back to work?" First of all, I'm not really sure why people think it is appropriate to speak in this way. I find it highly offensive! :)

Quite the Characters

This year, we took a vacation to Disney for 4 nights June 26-30. We had a great time! We arrived on Saturday and just took it easy at our hotel.

We stayed at All-Star Movies Resort. Here's the pool. It was really neat, but we enjoyed the pool at All-Star Music better. It was shaped like a piano. Oldies were playing and there was an Ariel statue. We went there on Sunday.

All of these pictures are from our hotel. There are statues of Disney characters everywhere. And, just like this post title indicates, this trip became all about the characters for Allyson.

On Sunday morning, we had reservations (at 7:45!!) at Cape May Cafe. It's located at Disney's Beach Club Resort. We ate at this fanastic breakfast buffet so that Allyson could meet Goofy, Donald, and Minnie. I bought an autograph/photo album for her. Now that we are home, it is a real keepsake.

At first she was timid, but she warmed up quickly. She didn't eat one bite of her Mickey-shaped waffle. Too much excitement!

She just loves Minnie. She had Minnie on her dress. Minnie was very impressed!

Sunday night we went to Downtown Disney. I have a picture in this very same spot with Morgan. It was Allyson's idea to have a picture made here.

We had an 8:30 reservation for Planet Hollywood. We had $30 in vouchers to eat here. I'm so glad I made a reservation because the wait was INSANE! We had never eaten at a Planet Hollywood before, but we LOVED it!

Monday morning it was off to the Magic Kingdom to have breakfast at Cinderella's Royal Table. This is where you actually eat in the castle and all of the princesses come by to meet you.

First you take a picture with Cinderella. A photographer snaps one as well and you get a package complimentary. It is pricey, but we paid for our meals with our vacation package ahead of time.

Mike says this is the best picture of Allyson with a princess, but the angry girl in the background is hilarious to me!

Daddy and his little princess. This place was so neat! The server called us a royal family and Mike was "Lord" and I was "Milady". Allyson was princess, of course. She was wearing a crown afterall!

All of Allyson's dreams came true when she met Ariel! I was surprised she was there. I thought we'd meet Jasmine instead.

Ariel talked to Allyson for quite a while. I thought that was so sweet! Ariel went on and on about Allyson's dress.


I don't really understand why Belle doesn't get to wear her pretty ballgown like the other princesses. She should complain. I'm just sayin'!

Allyson is only posing. She didn't eat a bite of her food or drink any juice. Well, how could you? Especially when all of your favorite celebrities are just walking all around you! Three & 1/2 is a good age to go to Disney, I think. Everything was so real to her.

One reason I booked so many character dining experiences was becasue I didn't want to wait in lines to meet characters all day. Well, forget that! After she met those princesses, she just wanted to meet more!

So, we waited 45 minutes to meet Aladdin and Jasmine.

Another 45 minutes to meet Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen. Yes, we saw them! They are brand new! They looked amazing!

Tiana's dress was gorgeous! Tiana and Naveen also took time talking with Allyson.

Worth the wait? Yeah, I think so!

We went all out and took Allyson to Bibbity Bobbity Boutique. This was great. Her hairdresser and make-up artist took a lot of time with her and made her feel like a very special princess. It was also in the castle where there was A/C. Her daddy and I just sat back and watched. Probably the most relaxation we had all day!

Her hairdresser was called a fairy godmother in training. haha! Too cute!

And, then it was on to stand in more lines to meet more characters. Okay, one more line for three characters. Disney Fairies.

Silvermist

Tink

And, Rosetta. She talks with a Southern accent in person, too!

Even though we were in long lines for characters, we were still able to do everything we wanted to do. We rode the Peter Pan and Snow White rides. Dumbo, Flying Carpets, tea cups, Pirates of the Caribean, Buzz Lightyear Spin, carousel. Saw Mickey's 3D Philhar Magic, A Dream Come True parade, electrical parade and fireworks.

Here are more pics from the Magic Kingdom.

Oh, BTW, Allyson thought this was the REAL Buzz Lightyear. It did seem pretty real!

Tuesday, we went to Hollywood Studios. We'd never been before. We were at the Magic Kingdom pretty late, so we overslept and didn't get here until around 10:30. I was disappointed because many things shut down at Hollywood Studios around 5:30 or dark. We missed out on some things. But we still had a great time, despite the crowds and heat.

We LOVED the Beauty and the Beast show. It's a live performance unlike many of the shows that are just choreographed or puppetry.

Another long character line. But, so worth it! There is a great picture that the photographer took where she's smiling so big with her eyes closed as she hugs Mickey. It looks like it could be an ad. I'm describing it in such detail because you won't see it. I refuse to pay $14.95 to download it. My own pics will have to do!

We also saw Playhouse Disney Live!, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Indiana Jones Stunt show and rode Toy Story Mania. We had a FastPass for that, but at one point, there was a two-hour wait. Unbelievable!

Now, if you ever visit Hollywood Studios, make sure you go on a night where you can see Fantasmic! It is an AWESOME lights and fireworks show that includes all the characters. You'll be hearded like cattle into this huge stadium overlooking a lake with a small mountain in the middle. Don't leave when it seems to be over because you'll miss the huge steamboat with every character there is on it! It was GREAT! Someone in our party (I won't say who! I don't want to embarrass anyone!) even had an accident from the excitement of it all! So glad I was prepared for accidents!

My pictures were somewhat blurry. So, I didn't really get any that were very good to post.

Our vacation was great, but I was ready to come home. To rest!! :D