Where were you on August 30, 1982?

I promised myself I wouldn’t tell people it’s my birthday today (because, come on, I’m 29 now, it really doesn’t make a difference) but I already broke that promise by 7:30 this morning so I’m gunna say the hell with it. IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!

I’m at work and later we have a meeting with Babe’s nursery school where we’ll have to help clean the classroom and playground. Nothing but fun and excitement for me! :-)

But I did get some special treatment this morning when I got to work. I’m lucky to work with a really great group of ladies. They made me cupcakes (gluten free, of course!) and got me a Target gift card. The gift card came with restrictions! (Tyrants!) They said I’m only allowed to use it on stuff for myself. My boss said “You don’t wear diapers, nor do you wear size 2T or 5T so those items may not be purchased with the gift card.” She knows me really well! :-)

My husband got me covered a while ago when he bought me my new digital camera (this model). I L.O.V.E. this camera! I haven’t even had the chance to really learn all the things I can do with it but the picture quality is amazing and I get excited just thinking about it! He’s also really thoughtful and left little notes all around the house and my car this morning and I just got flowers delivered to my office from him! He’s good to me!!

I took care of myself this morning and threw a pork shoulder in the crock pot for pulled pork tonight. Easy, simple, and incredibly delicious!

Bud was great this morning. He was kind of grumpy when I woke him up so I told him it was my birthday. He gasped and said “HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!” and gave me a big hug. Later when Babe got up he said to her “You have to say Happy Birthday to someone when it's their birthday. Unless you don’t know it’s their birthday. Then it’s ok if you don’t say anything.” Heart = Melt!!!

I’ll leave you with my most favorite birthday clip:

Lily

The Great New York State Fair

On Saturday we made our way to the Great New York State Fair! We almost didn’t make it because on Thursday the kids came down with fevers that lasted through Friday, but I wasn’t going to let them ruin my good time thankfully they recovered well enough to go and have a great time!

Because we were able to park right at the gate (Thank you Chris!) we entered the fairgrounds by the rides. To maximize cooperation by the little ones we started with a few rides before heading off to the exhibits we wanted to see. 

 This has to be our first ride every year. He loves the airplanes!

Bud legitimately beat me and Babe coming down the slide. He gloated for a quite a while.

  

We walked around for a bit, signed up for a free in-home estimate for a bathtub refinish, checked out the butter sculpture, and double checked the times for the Trooper demonstrations before grabbing a bite to eat. (Fair + sausage = happy kids.)

 After lunch we caught the canine and repelling demo’s at the Trooper exhibit. That was so hot I left sweat marks on the concrete when I got up a lot of fun! Bud was beside himself when the troopers gave him a high five after the show and posed for a picture.

We played some mini golf (where the attendant told me at the end that Bud looked more suited to playing hockey than golf because he had great stick handling skills – AWESOME!)

 

 

Finally, we went back over to the rides and finished out the day tired and cranky but hopped up on cotton candy and fried dough. I don’t know a better way to spend the day!

 Yes, this is a giant hamster wheel in water. Bud thought this was the best!!

I'm very disappointed I didn’t get a final picture of them. Babe was passed out cold and almost falling out of the stroller because she wasn’t strapped in. Bud was so hot and cranky that he was burying his head in the back of the stroller. So instead of tired cranky kids I will leave you with pictures of our carrots from our garden. Personally, I think the carrots are more fun than the kids were by the end of the day.

Lily

Friday Flashback

This particular photo has been on my waiting list for my Friday Flashback but I was speaking with my cousin last night and she requested I use this one (she didn’t even know it was waiting in the wings! Great minds!)

As always, a reoccurring theme with my flashbacks are the horrible fashions of the 80’s and early 90’s. I kind of hope my mom let me dress myself because if she put this outfit together…sigh. However, I take full responsibility for my facial expressions…a trait I apparently passed on to my son.

I believe my aunt is thinking “If I can’t see them, they can’t see me!”

You may notice a large bandage on my cousins head (sitting on my Aunt's lap). This was a result of a fight with a boat propeller…on dry land. She’s gangsta like that.

It also looks like my other cousin is licking cotton candy off of my head. I don’t recall the incident so I’m hoping it’s just a trick of the camera! :-)

Speaking of gangsta, I’m not entirely sure who the guy in the background is. I think it might be my uncle but being the 80’s and having a mustache doesn’t give me any clues. He seems to be throwing some gang signs. I’ll have to investigate that one.

Happy Friday!

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After much discussion with family members, it has been determined that the thug throwing gang signs in the background is, in fact, my father. I guess the fact that his mustache is not gray completely threw me for a loop! All I can think about is that Geico commercial (I may watch too much TV) about people doing stupid things with smart phones "Is there room for a man with a bro-stache at this party?"

Lily

Explanation and Random thoughts...

I’ve been a bad blogger. I’ve been neglectful and I fear it will only get worse before it gets better. I’m about 4 days back on my blog reading list and I don’t seem to be making any headway.

On Monday I’m starting a writing course and I haven’t bought my books yet. (Have I ever mentioned I’m a procrastinator?) The class is MWF during my lunch hour (prime blogging time) and then add on the homework that I’ll get and my schedule isn’t looking good.

Not to mention my new iPod.

I’m not making excuses, I like to think of it as explanations.

So I hope you will all bear with me. I have to think that being in a writing class with college students is going to make for some fun blog posts so stay tuned! :-)

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In other news, more praying for my husband please. We get our hopes up on each new job lead and then they usually come crashing down. I’m hoping if I can get the entire internet praying for him it’s got to give him some good luck, right? If my grandmother and my co-workers mother’s prayers (They both have a direct line to God. I think they have him on speed dial.) aren’t enough to overcome his bad luck then we need as much as we can get!

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In more other news, my parents are leaving tomorrow for a 6 day camping/white water rafting trip in Colorado. Sometimes I think they are like the parents in that car commercial with the son that thinks they are in bed sleeping when they are really living it up on the town. I hope I’m cool like them when I grow up.

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In more, more other news, I have mosquito bites all over my feet and ankles. (Note to self: don’t stay outside at night talking to neighbors) The good news is that my heels are so dry and cracked that they make an excellent scratching apparatus. You’re welcome for that bit of information.

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Yup, that’s about it for today. Have a good one!

Lily

Hello 21st Century. It's nice to meet you.

OMG you guys! I got an iPod touch! Look at me being all techy and cool! I’ve had it about three days now and I already don’t know how I ever lived without it! The only sucky thing is we don’t have wi-fi at our house yet (coming soon!) so I’m limited as to what I can do while at home. Thank goodness we can download apps from the computer! [What would we do without 'Milk the Cow' and 'DH Challenge' (hunting game)?]

We did try walking around the block with it and seeing if we could pick up any unsecure signals. It worked in one spot but quickly faded. Damn all those secure people! Don’t they trust anyone? Sigh!

It was an early birthday presents to me from my parents but I’m not sure who has used it more, Bud or my husband. (Notice I didn’t mention my name.) I took it to work yesterday and when I got home the very first words out of Bud’s mouth were “Mom, can I have your iPod?” Nice to see you too Bud! At least his priorities are well known!

But I feel so super cool now! I’m like that person that wants to talk about the movie they just saw on video Netflix that really came out, like, 5 years ago.

Anyone have recommendations for good (free) apps?

Lily

Announcing...

Congratulations to Juvdelink for being the only person to enter commenting on your favorite fair memory and winning the complimentary tickets to the Great New York State Fair!!! Please email me (momnextdoor@live.com) with your address info so I can send you the New York State Fair tickets.

Lily

Friday Flashback

Happy Friday! Today's Friday Flashback features my Calvin and Hobbs phase. But I think most significant in this picture is whoever is standing behind me. I'm LOVIN' those red slouch socks!!!

Lily
 

Second Chance! Don't miss it!

OK you guys! I don’t want my first ever giveaway to be a complete disaster (nor do I want to feel guilty that I got free tickets but then couldn’t give the Fair enough publicity) so I am extending my giveaway deadline until Monday, August 22! I’m begging hoping people will use this opportunity to comment and take the chance to win free tickets to the New York State Fair! (A $25 value!)

Read here (because I’m lazy) for the complete rules and info. (and in case you are like me and hate an extra click…just comment before Monday telling me your favorite fair memory and that you want the tickets.) (I think that negated the “I’m lazy” sentence, but whatever.) (I really like using parentheses)

The Fair dates are August 25- September 5. It’s a wonderful way to spend a fun-filled day with the family! Rides, games, and attractions! They’ve got it all!

So tell me, what’s your favorite Fair (NY state or otherwise) memory?

Lily