day 99

Reagan loves pretty things. Most girls do, I suppose. Her older sister certainly does and I do, but her enjoyment of pretty things is on a whole other level from Addi's and mine. She's been so excited about wearing her Easter dress this year. She had planned on wearing it to preschool tomorrow, but I just couldn't let her. That girl is messy! There's rarely a day she doesn't walk out of her classroom covered in some sort of food, marker and/or paint stain. Don't get me wrong, I love that she's being a kid at preschool! But, I just couldn't send her in her new Easter dress. Instead I pulled out Addi's Easter dress she wore when she was 4. I love that dress and would've had Libby wear it this year, but I had trouble coming up with an option for Levi. I just don't think I could've put him in lavender. (Bryan might have put his foot down :) I originally saved it thinking Libby would wear it and now she will. Of course, she can wear it to church also...just not on Easter. So, here are some scanned pictures of my girls from April 2007. I love them because I'm reminded how scared Libs was of the bunnies. She attacked the bunnies the year before, so that's totally what I expected. Instead she shook with fright!

photo 16

I'm going waaaay back in time with these pictures. These are from October of 2004 and Addison was almost 2. They're a bit fuzzy and grainy and dark, but they make me smile anyway. How different life was 5 years ago! We had been in Raleigh for 10 months, Bryan was out of the Army (or, at least, Active Duty), I was just about to get pregnant with Libby, we were living in this rent house that we really disliked, and I had just 1 child! There are days I cannot believe I'm about to have a 7 year old and would like nothing more than to transport her back 5 years, but most of the time I'm so thankful for the life I have now, even if that means my children are growing up way too quickly.

This was an inspiring and captivating read.

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the pumpkin patch last October in North Carolina

firsts and lasts

Addison enjoyed her last day of preschool on Friday. It's off to kindergarten in August for her and this momma is not ready! She is, though, so that will make the transition easier on me : )

Here's a picture of little Addi on her first day of her first year of preschool.

Here's a picture of big Addi on her last day of her last year of preschool.

Family Fun at Hillridge Farm

We got up early, loaded the car, drove 2 hours and did things we could do in our own neck of the woods

It was planned months ago, but sometimes you can't plan for the weather.

Saturday, Addi and I picked up our friends and beach-day-trip counterparts, Suzanne and Ally, for a day of fun in the sun...or overcast skies and rain, as the case was.

Yes, we checked the weather. And, yes, there was a little blurb about a slight chance for rain late in the afternoon. But, we would be long gone by late afternoon.

We spent about 30 minutes on the cloudy, but rain-free beach. The girls jumped over waves, started sand castles, and ate a snack. That's when the thunder and lightning started. No one seemed to notice except Suzanne and me. The lifeguards didn't blow their whistles, people didn't get out of the water, and no one packed up to head for shelter. We waited a few more minutes and decided we would rather be safe than sorry.

It was one of those times I was so thankful we bought a car with a dvd player. We sat in the car and ate lunch while the girls watched a movie and the storm boomed all around us. Finally the rain ceased and the lightning moved far enough away. The four of us walked back out to the beach only to discover the cool breezes coming off the water.

For about 10 minutes, the rain held off. It started as a sprinkle. By the time we had loaded up our gear and were walking through the really soft sand, the really hard to walk through sand, the sky opened up.

We made it to a little shop advertising homemade ice cream in its window. Unfortunately, they were out of cups to hold the ice cream. We waited and waited and then decided to stop at McDonald's for ice cream.

Addi has already asked to go back to the beach so we can eat in the car and get ice cream at McDonald's. It would blow her mind to know we could do all that without having to leave the 2 miles surrounding our house.

NC Museum of Life and Science*

We spent some time at the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science today. It was so great. The highlight for me was the butterfly house (or birdfly as Addi says). Bryan liked spending time with our family. Addi loved the train ride and Libby liked it all from lunch to her nap on the car ride back home. If you ever get a chance to visit, I highly recommend it.

*click on the title to go to the ncmls website

Horses and Dogs and Boy! Oh, My!

The girls and I went horseback riding with some friends the other day. I should clarify by saying that Addi was actually the only one of the 3 of us to ride a horse. She had a blast and acted like she'd been around horses her whole life.

It was, to say the least, an interesting place. Our friends live in a little town outside of Raleigh and happen to see a homemade sign advertising horseback rides for $5. The ride consisted of the owner walking the horse in laps around her "front yard". Addi got to ride with her friend, Salina, which made it that much more fun for them. The family had 6 dogs that were let out during the middle of Addi and Salina's ride. A couple of them made me a little nervous. They weren't dogs that had necessary had their shots. Ever.

When Addi and Salina finished their ride, it was time for Rosalea's and that left the younger 2 to play with Hunter, the owner's little boy. He was a sweet little boy starved for playmates. Hunter picked flowers for Addi and pushed both girls on his little rolling horse. He took them to play on his swingset in the "side yard" and tried to take them to the "back yard" to see his tractor. When I told Addi she needed to stay in the front, he began pleading with Diane and me to not "take the kids away"...bless his heart!

After all the riding, the kids got to feed Fina the horse sugar cubes. Again, Addi surprised me by not hesitating at all before grabbing a sugar cube and sticking her hand out. Even Hunter was scared to let the horse lick a sugar cube from his hand, but not my girl! Well, not my eldest...Libby wouldn't even unclench her fists to pet the horse :)

Had to throw in this last one of Lu in her overalls. You can't see, but Addi's jeans are some that belonged to me when I was her age and on the back pocket it says "Daddy's Little Filly"...nothing like dressing them for the part :)

Is this justice?

This, of course, is big news here in NC. In fact, all afternoon regular programming was interrupted for coverage of it. Honestly, I questioned the allegations from the start, about a year ago. But, man the media really grabbed on to the story and prosecuted those young men. Today, it's again all the media can talk about. Only this time, they're prosecuting Nifong, the District Attorney...not that I believe he shouldn't be.

What really bothers me about the whole thing is this woman will not be charged with anything. Nothing. Nada.

She made up a horrible story and turned countless lives upside down and will not be held accountable for her actions. She made a mockery of a judicial system. I don't even want to think about how much taxpayer money was wasted in the past year. And, in my mind, what is just as bad as what she did to those lacrosse players was the doubt she placed in people's minds. The doubt that will be there the next time they hear of a woman crying "rape!"

I don't think there can be any happy endings for a story like this. I fear that these men will carry this ordeal with them long after the rest of us even remember that Duke has a lacrosse team. And, this woman obviously has a lot of issues. She also has 3 children...what a legacy for those poor babies. And, Mike Nifong, well, as "rogue-ish" as he may have acted, would he have had any material had this woman not come forward with a lie?

No, she was the beginning of the entire case and she should be the end. Justice should be served. I believe she most certainly should have to face some consequences.

Can you guess what this is?

Here's a hint:

Do you see it?

HONDA?

It's the window tint from my car.

I'm slighty irritated.

You see, I tried to have my car inspected last week...twice. Once at the same place that inspected it last year and once at the Honda dealership (while it was in being serviced). The inspector at the first place told me he wouldn't be able to pass it because the window tint was too dark. We went back and forth as I explained to him that we bought the car brand new with the tint and it was passed last year at his place of business. He wouldn't budge. I dubbed him an over-anxious newbie.

On Wednesday, I took my car in to have it serviced and inspected. Honestly, I was hoping if the first guy was correct then the Honda people would overlook it because of the obscene amount of money they were charging me on preventative maintenance.

My hope failed. And, they charged me all but the sticker price of the inspection.

They helpfully referred us to a tint place that would kindly remove the tint for us. Surely for close to the obscene amount Honda likes to charge.

However, my handy husband got out in the garage with a razor blade today and Ta-Da. He also tried to console me by saying that in a few weeks I wouldn't even remember what it was like with the tint.

I had to remind him that in a few weeks we would not be experiencing the 40-degree weather we are now. I'll have to wear my sun hat and 50 SPF to drive to the grocery store.

While there is so much more I'd like to write on the topic, I should refrain. If you can't say anything nice, blah, blah, blah...

Oh, one last little tidbit...we researched state window tint laws on the internet and found out that not only is every state different in what they allow, some states will/can ticket out-of-state residents for driving in their state with "too-dark" tint. Absurd, I say!

Franklin, NC

This past week Addi, Libby and I met my family at a mountain house near Franklin, NC. We had a wonderful time and got to see a very beautiful area. The girls did okay on the drive (it took quite a bit longer than Mapquest predicted!). We got to walk under waterfalls, go rafting, do arts and crafts, play games, shop, and spend lots of time together. Because of Ernesto, we ended up coming home a couple days early. It was my objective to miss the bad weather, but I think I ended up driving through the worst of it :) We are getting back into our routines and catching up on sleep - Addi and Libby are still sleeping late! Preschool starts this week, so I guess that was our farewell to summer! It was a perfect end and I feel blessed to have been able to spend that week with my daughters and family.

Another Day at the Beach

Bryan is in Indianapolis this week, so I have been keeping the girls busy in hopes of avoiding crying-for-Daddy-fits by my 3 year old :) Monday we met friends at their neighborhood pool, Tuesday Addison went to her friend's house while Libby and I ran errands, and today we went to the beach with Addi's friend Ally, Ally's brother Carter and their mom Suzanne. It was a great time, even though it was possibly the hottest day I have ever experienced while in NC....104 (actual temp. when we were leaving the beach). I don't have pictures. I just couldn't carry the camera with everything else all by myself. Suzanne took pictures so I will be able to share those soon. I was so impressed with my girls. They are both fearless. Addi loved it when a wave would knock her over! And Libby loved crawling around the sand and then sputtering when a wave would wash over her face! Addi was so patient and understanding about me having to hang out with Libby a lot. She really is great about entertaining herself. They made the day enjoyable for me. Those of you with children know the exact opposite could have been true. I feel blessed to have them as my daughters. We will all be ecstatic when Bryan comes home on Friday. Until then we will keep making memories together (at least, my memories as they are too young to remember this week for long).