Summer is Here!

Well, well....first post in a couple of years. Feels good! Hmmm what is on my mind....not too much thinking right now, but just happy it is summer!

Kids are older, wow it goes fast. Having an upcoming 6th grader and 4th grader sure makes you look back and ask "Where did the time go?" And wonder how fast it is going to pass by in the future.

Our summer has been consumed by swim team right now! Championships are this week....so excited for 2 reasons. 1) Of course, want kids to do well!! 2) Thursday I do not have to set my alarm clock!! These 7am practices are killing me during the summer :)

Some shots from the kids

swim meet!!

Go Barracudas!

KJ Cate - aka Catherine

Ok, I am not doing too well at this "posting regularly" thing. Maybe an item for my New Year's Resolution List...we shall see!

Anyway here goes:

My Catherine...we call her KJ Cate. When we named her 9 1/2 years ago we could not decide on a nickname for her. Did we really need one? Did we really want one? Oh the decisions of a first time parent! So, as a baby I tried to throw all sorts of nicknames at her. Even sending out mailings with photos to family stating "we are now calling her Cadie"...or whatever nickname I chose that week. None of them ever stuck!

Flash forward a few years...Catherine is the spitting image of my younger sister! In so many wonderful (and some pouty) ways she reminds us of Kasey! So we started calling her KJ "Kasey Junior". So her nickname has now become KJ Cate! I guess these things work themselves out when they are supposed to!

What makes her KJ Cate? Well let me count the ways:

Determination
Adventurous
Dreamer...not afraid to dream about what she wants and make it happen
Stubborn
Precise
Trys anything...not afraid of failure
Succeeds at anything she tries (that determination kicks in!)
Eye Rolling
Signature Pout face

(those last two are so funny to us...wow the resemblance...so exact!)


In a small nutshell, that is my KJ Cate. It is also a sincere tribute to her aunt (her twin)...I could not ask for a better role model and I absolutely love that Catherine resembles her aunt in so many ways! In fact, I often call her Kasey!!

That is my KJ Cate! I love you!

Hey Ya'll....

Did you catch that? I am practicing my southern accent!

I am so excited....I just booked flights for my girls and I to go back to South Carolina!! We will visit all the family on my mom's side!! My girls have never been, and it has been over 15 years since I have seen any of them! My Papa Casey turns 80 this year, plus my Catherine shares his birthday! So special!! Time for this western gal to sloooow doooown and take in the southern lifestyle!

But BEFORE we visit the 864 area code, we will be traveling to visit the "Bunch of Bull-ers" muffins! Finally get to spend some quality time with my BFF from childhood in her 'hood! Looking forward to a relaxing visit with all the little muffins together!

See ya'll later!

My first family post

My Natalie.

She is my free-spirited child. I wanted to share her with you...

Natalie did her chores today, grudgingly of course..she is 7. But she did them!

Then she once she was finished she went out back and jumped on the trampoline. Just all by herself she went out there and JUMPED!

She jumps with such reckless abandon. Free and happy, arms flailing, knees bent up! As if no one is watching...CRAZY, FUN and FREE! A pure moment of joy to watch for this mother.

That's my Natalie!

How clean is my bathroom?

So, I went into my downstairs guest bathroom earlier today to wash my hands.

I saw something on the floor and grabbed a tissue to pick it up...

I bent down and saw that it was a little mushy...

I swiped it up in the tissue...

I mustered up the courage to look into the tissue...

And I saw something brown...

Now for the "age old" question...

How did a chocolate chip find its way into the bathroom??



What were you thinking?!?

Look who finally found the blogging world...

So, this blogging world is fabulous! I have spent the last 3 to 4 months being a voyeur...and I figured I might as well jump right on in and try!

I am in awe by the incredible women behind the blogs I have been viewing these several months!!

Your talents and inspirations are AMAZING! Thus my venture into the blogosphere.

A disclaimer.....I am a novice...be gentle!

Running with the Turtles describes how I feel sometimes! I might be a late bloomer in many areas of life, but I will get there eventually!

To all the wonderful blogs I follow, I look forward to the continued inspiration and hope that at some point I can bring my own brand of inspiration to some unsuspecting bloggers in the future!

I look forward to this new and exciting world!

AHHH now, the pressure is on....I am already wondering what my next post will be and how to add photos, rearrange my blog page, personalize it....oh boy...what did I start?

Peace and Smiles