Captains Log: Day 28 or 399? Garden vlog, puzzle upgrade and a plethora of smokers.

Friday morning I did a little garden vlog. Hold onto your seats, it's riveting.

Excuse the noise; pool equipment, pool fountain, and air conditioner because Florida.

***

We had a nice, quiet and productive weekend.
Saturday we got our first delivery (insta-cart) from Costco; it went well.
The funny thing is they won't deliver to our house, but they will deliver to our rental condo.
(zip code snobs)
So, I set up the delivery time and we chilled and waited: (our big outing for the weekend) our delivery guy was right on time.

The Coach was watching a fishing show (also riveting) on TV when I said I was ready to go home with our goods.

He said, "what do you need to get home for?"

I replied slightly embarrassed: "I have a new puzzle."

Good lord. Send help ASAP. 

We got everything on our list aside from

*ONE THING*

Can you guess what we couldn't get? 

***

Speaking of puzzles, because apparently, I can't NOT speak of them. The new one that Linds stumbled upon in Target while getting her essentials is THE. BOMB.COM.

The one I had been struggling with for many weeks, and finally finished, well, it turns out it might have been from the bargain bin at Wally World.

The one Linds picked up? Ummmm...it's top freaking shelf. Like Nordstroms top shelf.
Wait, does top shelf mean liquor? Well, then it's way better than Albertsons Vodka; that sort of top-shelf.

I didn't even know there was a hierarchy in the land of puzzles, but I'm here to tell you, there is one.

The pieces feel different; like they're made from the remnants of a baby bird's feathers that have been mixed with the recycling goods from the Taj Mahal.

Wait. That sounds kind of gross. WHO AM I? 

I'm just a girl. Standing in front of a puzzle. Hoping it will help me to solve it. 

 

*ahem, almost a quote from Notting Hill which I watched a few weeks ago and It's one movie Ernie
can quote*

Such a good RomCom.


***

On Sunday I pressure washed the pool lanai and outside furniture while the Coach put together his newest smoker.

Not only is he a Goldilocks with his chairs/office, but he's also Goldilocks with his smokers.

He has the HUGE tow-behind one that requires a big azz truck and a small smoker/box but needed a medium-sized one too.

{Small and Medium side by side; the new one looks like a time machine. I suppose it IS a time machine for meat.}

He doesn't complain about my shoes/plants/garden/skincare addictions, so, would I ever complain about his smoker issue? 
Hell.to.the.no.


So, it's Monday. Let me check my calendar and see what's happening this week.

Well, it looks like I'm TOTALLY open if anyone wants to get together.

Or not.

Have a good one my people.
XO

The one where Easter was in the distance, a puzzle eater and my !&%$ tennis arm

I hope everyone had as pleasant an Easter as possible. Generally, we have the girls here and my FIL and MIL too. 

I spoke to everyone yesterday on the phone, but yeah, it's not the same. 

I did see Linds on Saturday; I had a little bit of Easter stuff for her and her sister so I met her in front of her building. 

We talked for about 10 minutes but it was so freaking hot so I left. 

No hugs. 

That's the hardest part for me; we are a touchy-feeling family. 

But not in the perverted way. 

Easter bags in lieu of Easter baskets. 

I spent most of the day on the phone either talking or texting and trying to finish a 750 piece puzzle. If I got paid to complete puzzles, we'd be living in your back yard in a tent. Who wants us? 

Also, Max loves sitting UNDER my chair while I'm puzzling. My boobs sometimes knock pieces on the floor and a few times I found him nibbling them. The pieces, not my boobs. 

I know for sure one piece was nibbled beyond recognition and I'm hoping that's it. 

But, every time I get into a puzzling quandary, I wonder:
"Am I looking for the nibbled beyond recognition piece right now?"

This was the only puzzle I had in the house made for adults and it's a challenge for me; further cementing the fact that I might not be an adult. 

Linds went to Target the other day for her supplies and I asked her to look for a puzzle for me and I'd exchange her Easter stuff for the puzzle. 

She said they had TWO in the store and she got me the biggest one; 1000 pieces. 

ME: "I can only do one that is 750 pieces."

Linds: "Well, just don't finish it then."

I don't know where they get it from. 

I really don't want to complain because of all that is going on and most people have real, solid problems and health issues. But, my arm is killing me. 

The tennis elbow came back a few weeks ago with a vengeance. 

I have one of the brace thingys that is supposed to help and I've been doing some exercises/stretches that I found online, but it's not helping. Sleeping is a b*tch. 

I even noted to Linds on the phone that I would be willing to try some medicinal Maryjane or even topical Maryjane. It hurts from my fingers to my shoulder and guess what? I use my right arm for everything. 

My left arm/hand? It's almost useless. It can't do anything for me. So. there. That's my complaint and I'll keep moving on with my great life of not living in a tent in your back yard and being healthy otherwise. 

XOXO

TGIF; choking and mothering

This video sums up motherhood accurately. 

True story, I was watching this video, took a sip of water and then proceeded to get 'choked up' by the sentimental-ness of it all and proceeded to REALLY choke for a good minute.
*sigh* My flu cough is hanging on for dear life.
Mind you, the Coach, nor the dogs got up to check on me.
I'M OK OVER HERE; NOT DYING!

I touched on it a while ago, that I've been updating and de-cluttering the girls playroom so the Coach could have a home office. It's almost finished and I was in there yesterday removing non-sentimental items such as Lolo's 247 books on psychology, criminal minds, ethics, crime, and criminal justice and that sort of stuff. (she has a house, she can hoard those books there)

Don't you love it when you take a trip down memory lane and then get all tripped up on the memories?

My heartstrings were tugged just by dusting the book collection and remembering ALL the nights of reading together. I would start in one room reading to one girl, the coach in the other room reading to the other, then we would swap. Sometimes, when Grandparents or friends were visiting, they also had 'reading' time in the girls' rooms.
I started reading to the girls when they were 6 months old. Every.single.night until perhaps 7th or 8th grade.
When they got older, sometimes we would read magazines, catalogs, anything really. It wasn't so much the reading part, it was the 'togetherness at the end of-the-day part.'

Then I remembered how many times we put together the Monarch puzzle (and others); this was way before I even thought about raising butterflies as I was busy raising humans. I wish I knew how many times it was put together and taken apart only to put back together.....eleventythousand times? 

I found a started journal (I've found many of these over the years) and this one, in particular, cracked me up; A page in Lolo's Harry Potter Journal. 

24 hours and 9 minutes wearing PJs.
I sent a screenshot to our family text and she replied: "Oh, I've definitely beaten that by now" 

Motherhood IS such a blessing. I can't imagine my life other than being a mother to my two amazing young women; but like I said earlier this week, I wish I had been less anal-retentive and MORE relaxed.
I suppose that is the gift you get when you become a grandparent; the 'I don't get upset about anything' mode.

Happy Friday Y'all. 
We've no big plans aside from the Coach coaching some college softball, seeing a few college basketball games together with friends and Suz hopefully working in her garden/caterpillars/butterfly stuff and the never-ending laundry, etc.
We actually had two days of winter this week; it's awesome to turn off the a/c for a few days.
I've still not turned on the heat in 2020, actually, I don't think I put it on in 2019 because Florida.

Whatcha' doing this fine weekend? 
XOXO

Just a smidge of ice cream for me---I wasn't always this delightful.

Thank you all for your kind words regarding my DNA/Brother post. I really wasn't looking for sympathy, but I suppose that is a natural reaction for people who are not sociopaths.

I met up with my Linds yesterday for lunch; we decided to meet at Jason's Deli because it's convenient and they have free ice cream.
It's a place the kids and I used to frequent when they were younger; I could get my salad bar fix, they loved a lot of the menu and the free ice cream.
One time I took them with a few friends, and I recall all of the girls coming back to the table with the most ginormously filled cones; it was ridiculous.
I was a bit irked by it; annoyed. Why did I get annoyed by something as small as an overloaded free cone? I don't know. I was a bit anal-retentive back in the day; also, I was afflicted with severe PMS. I'm much more relaxed now.
Thank the good lord for that.
Or maybe I'm just tired.

Anyhoo, Linds and I had a nice lunch and we caught up a bit after her long trip to New Zealand.
I asked her to get me a chocolate ice cream cone.
This is what she came back with; she'd already had a few licks of hers before she arrived at the table.

Me: WHY IS MY ICE CREAM CONE SO SMALL? 
Linds: You remember that time.....when you were so annoyed by the extra-large cone? 
Me: yes, but, really?  
Then my child proceeded to explain to me that there was ice cream INSIDE the actual cone too; it wasn't just surface ice cream.  
Me: What? INSIDE? I had no idea that's how ice cream cones worked. 

We had a good laugh and really, it was MORE than enough ice cream for me. And it was even better having some time together.

I don't think I've mentioned it before, but I have to cook dinner at least 5 nights a week.
What? You too? *sigh* It becomes redundant, doesn't it?
I honestly wish we didn't need to eat every day because I don't like cooking that much. But I do it, so yeah, where's my gold ribbon? 
One thing that does make the daunting chore of preparing dinner so many days of my life is my Instant Pot. Do you have one? I'm not a gadget fan, but this one is worth it.
Everything I make in it comes out well. Chicken dishes, beef dishes and possibly my favorite thing to do in it are hard-boiled eggs; they peel like buttah.

Last night I made a big batch of lime/cilantro shredded chicken; it's great for tacos or on salads and YUM.
The Coach thoroughly enjoyed it even more so because today he has to prep for his colonoscopy.
Some people get to have all the fun. I suppose tonight I'll have leftover shredded chicken over a bed of salad....hmmm, I guess I'll have to eat in the bathroom away from the colonoscopy victim.

Wow. I talked quite a bit about food today. What's for dinner? 
XO

Hey, soul sister

After doing my spellcheck on this post, I realized it's all over the place directionally, but I'm gonna leave it as is.


Unless you live under a rock, you've heard about the 23 & me or the Ancestry.com DNA tests.
It's pretty interesting, isn't it? A lot of us are connected to people that we don't know and probably won't ever know.
The girls and I did the ancestry.com DNA tests back in 2018. The Coach decided to NOT do it because the government will have too much information and could frame him for a crime one day.
I'm kind of kidding, but kind of not kidding. 
I was secretly hoping to find an unknown biological sister or brother out there, but damnit to heck, my parents apparently weren't out there willy nilly having children and not claiming them. Thoughtless. 
I could use a Sister or Brother.

If you're new here, you don't know that I had a brother; Mark. He passed away in 1990 at the age of 25 ( I was 21) from AIDS. You know, before the Medical community could even try to remedy the disease as people were just losing their shit if they thought you might have AIDS and that you could catch it by being in the same room with someone with AIDS. It was horrible for Mark; he'd barely begun his life and it was taken from him.

Suz and Mark at our Dad's 2nd wedding. Don't we look thrilled? 

So, it would have been nice to have another sibling (I’d prefer a cure) to help with those years of Marks illness, then to have a sibling two years later when my dad suddenly became sick and died within 11 days from cancer or to have one help with the trauma/drama after my father died because of his very new third wife who turned out to be a liar, coke abuser, and just all-around bad person. (I should write a post about accidentally seeing her on Maury Povich spewing lies)

Mark and Dad; approx 1988-89

That was a long way to get around that I wish I had another sibling.

I digress....the point of this post is that, well, I can't really mention any names to go with the point of this post. Hmmmm....here goes:
Someone that I know very well, has found out in the last few years that he/she has a 1/2 sibling. There won't be anything to come of it, because this half sibling's Mother's dying wish was for him to never know his biological father because he was raised by a man who wants to only be known as his father.
Get it? 

But now, since the DNA websites are all the rage, there is another family member that has popped up. A 1st cousin for someone that I might be very close with.
This cousin has contacted several members of someone's family and we pretty much know it to be 100% true, but the biological parent refuses to take the DNA test. (ass!)
By the way, both of these people have popped up in Lolo and Lindsay's DNA as matches.

The Coach and I were discussing how frustrating it must be, to not know your family history.
 Good, bad or otherwise; my childhood was far from ideal, more dysfunction than function, but at least I know why I am who I am.
Do you remember the old saying: You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have the facts of life, the facts of life. 
Wait, that's not what I meant, but that was a great show. {Tootie!}

I suppose you never know what something like that really feels like (not knowing your history) if it's not your story. I can empathize a lot of feelings, but not that one.
On the other hand, shared  DNA does not always mean family. 

Sometimes I wish we'd adopted and added to our family when the girls were younger; that way they would have more siblings and we could be a part of a good adoption story. Like a Two-Fer.
Please don't advise that it's not too late, because it is. We're completely spoiled with our freedom of travel now that the kids have flown the nest.

Reading this again, I should divulge that I had a step-sister for many years; her Mom and my Dad were married (the second marriage where Mark and I are so ecstatic up there) for 9 years. She and I are not real close, but we do talk on the phone on occasion and via Facebook; she's had a train wreck type of life And blames our childhood on her bad decisions. Ummmmm....we lived in the same house girlie for many of our years. She actually appreciates when I give her good advice even though I'm pretty harsh with the truth. She wouldn't be the one I would call if I needed sisterly advice or help take care of a family member. 

Luckily for me, I have several friends whom I consider soul sisters; for that, I am blessed.

Have any of you taken the test and found some new leaves nuts in your family tree? 
Was anyone able to follow my rambling mind today? 

TGIF; checking in with Cookie and her girls.

Happy Friday!

Thursday I started to turn a corner on the flu thing; I can feel a bit more energy and I'm going back to the gym today because I feel like a bowl of mush. When I went to the Dr. last week and they noted that my BMI was 24.8, it stung. For real, I hardly ate for 11 days and still didn't lose weight. Aging isn't easy, is it? 
You can't just sit on your butt not eating and watching Outlander for days and lose weight. Ain't.gonna.work.
I know, we're all different sizes and at different comfort levels for our size/weight; but this is too much for me. Only 1/3 of the clothes in my closet are comfortable and I dread getting dressed to go anywhere if I'm not wearing yoga pants or workout clothes. So, pretty much anything aside from spandex is comfortable lately and that makes me very uncomfortable.

Lolo and Nathan met up in Myrtle Beach last weekend for a wedding. (Nathan's Mom's 2nd wedding)
It was a quick trip for them both, but hey, they got to spend two days together and when you're in the young-love thing, it's a big deal.
Aren't they the absolute cutest couple ever? 

My Aunt, after seeing the pic said this should be their engagement announcement pic for the newspaper. Well, wouldn't you know.....they don't do that anymore. 

Lolo has been busy planning their upcoming wedding; her pinterest page is very busy.
We can officially announce that the nuptials will be September, October or November of 2021, somewhere in the vicinity of North America.
So, yeah.
She's actually coming back home this weekend for a girlfriends wedding and we are meeting up for dinner tonight; I'm excited to see her as I've not put my arms around her since Christmas.

Guess who else is coming home tonight?
Well, to HER home.
My Lindsburger is flying in from New Zealand; she's been gone a month. Even though we don't see each other on the regular, that is a lonnnnng way from your Mama's arms.

She had a great trip; they went to KiwiBurn the very first week of her trip and she had an amazing time. It's similar to Burning Man, but more on the vibe of New Zealand; artsy fartsy, nature-loving, hippie living type of thing where they camp the entire week and bathe in a river. That's my sweet hippie earth girl. I think she was supposed to live in the 60's.

If I wore fishnet stockings with boots, I'd be locked up, but she's a doll.


There were a few years where I wanted to empty the bank account, move to Vegas and change my name to Cookie McGee because I thought I might lose my mind with the bickering. BUT, I'm so glad I stuck it out because they are two of my favorite people. Although....Cookie McGee has a nice ring to it.














Callie,
---*sigh*---
She started leaking her watered-down urine again on Wednesday afternoon, I started to sob upon seeing this.
Other than the extreme hunger (from steroids and sugar issues) and the leaking urine, she seems fairly happy.
I purchased some doggie diapers, but she seems a bit humiliated by them. What would the other cow dogs think? 
Also, they don’t fit her hips. At all.
They fall off within minutes.

So, what can you do? How long do you (me, coach) live with it? I just don't even know.
I suppose we'll know when enough-is-enough soon enough.


Wishing everyone a great weekend whether you're attending a wedding, a rave or if you're wearing a diaper.
XOXO

~~We're going to the chapel and we're gonna get married~~Ok, maybe NOT an actual chapel

Our Lolo and Nathan became engaged on Christmas eve this year!

We knew it was coming; Nathan asked us permission back in August.
Do all guys still do that?
I know I was thrilled that he was raised to know this is a good thing, but surely he knew we would say YES. We adore him! Actually, aside from asking the Coach and me, he asked my In-laws, Lindsay, our BFF's Don and Kelly, etc....I think he might have asked the waiter that night too.
He's a good one.

Lolo is not a traditional girl (neither is her sister) and had no desire for a diamond. She told me this years ago and I tried to argue with her. "You'll regret it later, everyone wants a diamond!"

She never wavered in what she wants. She wanted an aquamarine stone. Simple.

Nathan had his Grandmother's ring and visited a jeweler, asked him to find a nice aquamarine and use some of the diamonds from G'mas ring to come up with something for Lolo. 

He did well; she loves her ring. 

And if I could take a good close up pic of them both, they both have aquamarine colored eyes.
I can just picture my future grandbabies right now.

{Christmas day: "let's take a picture, but I'm breaking out, and I don't want to put on makeup, so avoid my face"}

I'm so thrilled for them.
But 10 minutes later she decided to burst my wedding planning bubble.
She doesn't want a traditional wedding at a hotel, a church, the beach, etc.
It's going to be small in an unusual venue and we have to wait until she finishes Grad school.
It looks like I won't need to shop for my Mother of the Bride dress for a few years, but then again, I have time to lose some weight.  She waited a long time for her Prince Charming and it will all be worth it.
BONUS: The Coach and I were engaged on Christmas Eve, so I declare that it's good luck.
We're so incredibly happy for them both!
Wishing everyone a safe and happy beginning of 2020. XOXO

Lots of party & Christmas to talk about, but first it's her birthday!!

Today our little nugget turns 24. I can hardly believe it!! Whenever my girls talk about how old they are, they usually say Gross. 
I suppose they want to be children forever, but that's not how it works, that's not how any of this works.
I'd love to go through Lindsay's whole birth story detail by detail, and let you in on all the joy and fun, but, that's not the kind of blog I have.
But, had I known her birthday would end up so close to Jesus's birthday, I'd probably have claimed a headache.
But then again, I would not have my super sweet, funny, intelligent love muffin that I have.
So, she has to practically share her birthday with Jesus, I'll take it. They're both good sharers.

Linds was the easiest, calmest baby. Well, that is until I left her home alone with dad on the rare occasion the first year. She liked me, she really, really liked me. 
But eventually, she liked us both. Even her sister who wasn't that into her little sister. {I'm proud to say, they adore each other now, it only took 22 years or so}

{She's a pretty cool chick with her own sense of style; who else can get away with slick shades and a snoopy robe?}

{She loves her Padre' and 90's music} 

{She loves her sister and making spreadsheets}

{She loves her boyfriend in New Zealand and she loves the country of New Zealand too}

 {She doesn't hate a camera}

{She was such a cute and easy toddler, she could have been a professional toddler model or at least a professional toddler}

{She's always loved getting into her food, luckily, she has slightly better manners now, but still loves food}

{She's is a huge part of my heart, has a lot of my sassiness and quick wit; our family is blessed to have her}

Happy 24 Lindsburger!*cheers* to a fantastic year to come.
XOXO

Blogging probs, new lights, one shindig down, two shindigs to go.

I'm still struggling to comment on blogs. If yours is set to accept comments 'Imbedded', then I can't comment. If it's set to 'pop up window' I have a much better chance of commenting.
Don't ask me why.
I almost pulled out my last 799 hairs trying to figure it out, then I realized I had eleventymillion other things to do that were more of a pressing matter; I'll try to tackle it in 2020.
I'm reading and keeping up...but you'd never know it because I'm incognito now.

**
We had our company party on Saturday and it was a major success. Our biggest issue usually is people NOT showing up when they say they will. {wasting $$}They all showed up.
We provide a nice dinner, dancing, (fake) casino games, raffle prizes, free drinks, and a HOTEL ROOM for the night. And we're not talking Holiday Inn Express. It's a bonafide shindig that is open to every employee, whether they are upper management or sweeping the warehouse.
The Coach didn't think I had enough raffle prizes (16) so he pulled out cash and gave out $$ to at least 5 more people who had their tickets pulled. I don't call him my Sugar Daddy for nothing.
You know the saying, there's 'one in every crowd'. Well, of course, we had one jerk who broke the rules and smoked in his hotel room either before or after the party.
Luckily, they took his CC for incidentals and didn't use mine for the $250 fine. It's expensive to be stupid.

**
Anyhoo in other news, the Coach put some fabulous outdoor lighting fixtures on our trees/landscape between Friday and Saturday (pre-party). I might have said this before, but the man is a hard-working machine. When we arrived back home after the party at midnight, it was like seeing our very own Christmas present! He did SO well. I'll have to see if I'm able to photograph it all.

{having a flashback Christmas card moment from 2013. I miss those silly boxers so much}

It's Tuesday and I woke up at 5:30am. That is almost unheard of unless I'm getting up to pee. I've got so much on my mind and so much to do this week. We have 45 RSVPs for Saturday night IN OUR HOUSE.
My sweet as heck husband threw a wrench in at the last minute and we have a "surprise musical guest' stopping by. Oh, can you ask everyone to come an hour earlier because he can only play at a certain time before another gig?"
Emails, texts and phone calls to guests and the caterer; I've got everyone moved up an hour.
Not one person asked who the surprise guest was aside from my two girls.
"Is it Patrick?"
"Is it Django? He's soooo cute"
No....it's neither of them.
"OMG, is it Darius?? IT'S DARIUS ISN'T IT?
LOL. Um. NOT SO MUCH.
Then we told them whoever gets married first, we'll get Darius to play their reception.
They decided to have a joint wedding....I'll let you know when that happens.

**

I've decided to not do any Christmas shopping this year and I'm devoting all my time to getting ready for this party, and then for Christmas eve when the whole fam-damily comes over for dinner and fellowship. Plus, I have a double wedding to plan AND figure out how to kidnap Darius Rucker.

Our Christmas card pic from 2019. I couldn't even bother with dogs, Callie or Max and I added in a separate pic of Lolo with her Mattis.

And in other good news, Lolo earned all A's in her first semester of Grad school. Smart and purty....that's how I make them!

And in other, other good news, my girls survived their road trip from VA and they are both safe and sound in their perspective homes.

Life is GOOD!!
Wishing you all a great week and upcoming weekend and hoping you don't have eleventymillion things to do.

XOXO

The Christmas chaos~I see the light!

Happy Friday!

{{It's come to my attention that I'm not able to comment on any blogs today that have comments in the 'imbedded' way. Only if they have a pop-up window. Go figure! WTH!}}

I know I might be bragging, but I finally have our trees finished.
I actually thought about leaving the ornaments off the big tree this year and leaving it semi-naked with only lights and ribbon. But then I worried it might be self-conscious.
I hope you're catching my drift; I'm a caring person.

{The big tree that was purchased UN-lit and is now LIT!}

{The little tree that hasn't had a lighting issue, but has an elf climbing in...}

You know what are my favorite ornaments? 
My girls.

If only I could set them IN my tree for the entire Christmas season.....surely, they'd have something to say about that, but whatevs. I cooked them in my Lady kitchen and you'd think I ask a lot from them.

FYI, my old tree found a new home with one of Lolo's previous Law enforcement co-workers. Yay-it's being protected once again. :)

Speaking of my favorite ornaments. Linds is flying up to VA to spend a few days with her Sister, then they are driving down together with Lolo's Mattis (the XL husky) for her Christmas break. I'm so excited. I've not put my hands on my Lolo since August. Well, you know what I mean....no hugs, no kisses, etc....

In other news, I've given birth to released 25 monarchs this week. Merry Christmas mother nature!

We have our big party tomorrow night for our employees; 100 people have RSVP'd!
I'd better locate my party pants. It's always a fun night for everyone involved.
Well, maybe not for the bartender or chefs, but you know what I mean.

That will be our weekend. How about you? Any parties in your future? 

Wishing you all a good weekend doing whatever you're doing. I've still only watched 3 Hallmark movies this season., please don't tell the powers that be at Hallmark or they might send the Sappy Hallmark PoPo to my house.

XOXO

The fourth Thursday in November is my favorite Thursday

Thanksgiving our way.


We don't always have Dom Perignon, but when we do call it B*tch Champagne.
I'll explain in another post, because it's pretty funny.

 {My Linds}

 {Coach's Dad & Step-Mom}

 {My Aunt Trisha & Uncle Jim}

 We took our family Christmas card pics on Thanksgiving minus our Lolo.

{Linds posing while I set up the camera}

Nathan was finally able to fly up and spend some time with Lolo this week. On Thanksgiving they drove about 5 hours south to spend some time with Nathan's Mom and family. So, Lolo wasn't with us, but she was with them and that made me happy.

{Nathan, Mattis & Lolo}

I've taken down my Thanksgiving tree and hope to put up my Christmas tree soon.
We had a great day with awesome people and fabulous food.

I'm just pulling your leg hairs....I don't have a Thanksgiving tree. Yet.

I hope everyone had an equally blessed day!
XOXO

All the entertainment I need I'm either married to or I gave birth to.

Lolo and I had a conversation while we were in VA getting her moved in and ready for school

{Here she is standing across the street from her school. It's a 10 minute walk from her apartment, but we didn't want to cross the intersection because I was ready for my next feeding in a different direction.}

Me: Can I meet your professors?
Lolo: "No, they're probably not there yet."
Me: I still feel bad about not walking you into school on the first day of kindergarten. It was said over and over again in our parent orientation to drop off your child on the first day and NOT walk them into class.
When Dad and I dropped you off at the car line, you hopped out and walked your little 5 year old self into class. I looked over and I see tons of parents walking their child INTO class. 
*what the hell?*
Why did I follow the rules?
Lolo: "Don't feel bad, I did just fine.
And where do you think those other kids are that were coddled? Probably living in their parent's basement sleeping with a weighted blanket. Or addicted to heroin. OR in jail."

{Not her first day of Kindergarten picture, but this was shortly after.}

Then we had a long conversation about weighted blankets and how she might actually want one.
Go figure.


***
So my sassy daughter had her Orientation last weekend and sends me this pic and text. "Mother's room"

I had a real good laugh at myself when I realized it was a lactation room and then I scolded her about tricking her elders.


***

She started her classes this week and is really excited about being a student again.

I had a prompt similar to this while attending Palm Beach Beauty Academy; just after Pin Curls 101 and before learning to Not Drink Permanent Solution.


One of her professors was a CIA analyst for many years and I could only ask one question:
Is your professor Jack Ryan??

No Mom. She isn't Jack Ryan.
Well, that would have been pretty cool.
FYI: Coach and I started watching it on Prime and it's a great show; intense, but great.

Wishing everyone a sassy weekend. Crossing our fingers and toes that Dorian doesn't impact our area or anyone for that matter!!

XOXO