The Legend of the Kahiki...

Long ago...in a "country" far, far away...lived 4 ridiculously immature, goofy, fun-loving, and loyal friends...

Who grew up and had many children (all of the female gender)...

And...perhaps, maybe...they are still as immature, goofy, fun-loving and loyal as they ever were...if not even more:)

.....................................

So, I pretty much stink at "make-believe" stories...but the premise remains...

We vacationed last week with our awesome friends...Let's call them the Awesome A's :) 

We made our way northward to pick up our children from their "Camp Michigan" with their grandparents and Auntie...and then we headed on our way towards the west...

It's odd, having grown up in the mitten state, that I never actually vacationed on the west side, outside of camp trips or a day trip visit. (at least that I can actually remember)  So, I was anxious to explore the white sands and NON-salty lake water...which I was told was MUCH better than the Lake Erie I swam in as a youngster...ahhh, sewage water:)  FUN:)

I was also very excited to introduce Sand Dunes to my girls as well...

Little did I know that Uncle G was looking forward to combining his love of Geocaching along side my sand dune desire...we discovered that this combination may or maynot have been a good "marriage" of sorts...

But, we pressed on...and all in all, the week was a success...

It started out upon meeting "Johnny" our smoker-friendly-voiced landlord who gave us the keys to a very old, yet charming beach house...right there on the lake.  The older girls immediately claimed the tiny upstairs apartment to which they began to scour and clean...and write up a chore list for the week.  (This lasted all of about 1 day...maybe just half a day, I'm not sure:)

We obviously had to head out to the beach to explore...at which point, the dad's showed their displeasure of the women folk claiming the beach, whilst they went out into the looming, cold waters...but, we marched on in our "camera-protection" plan and sand-sculpting ideas:)

 

We eventually got in the water (if just for a quick 5 minute dip)...and everyone enjoyed building sand castles, flying kites and playing frisbee on the beach!

...and capturing "monsters" on the beach???

 

Our house saddled up alongside the splash pad and carousel...both of which proved to be WINNERS in the girls' books...

We then meandered on over to the Sand Dunes...where Uncle G gave the run down...about the run down...to which no one really listened, but ran aimlessly down the hillside, sometimes falling face first, only to jump back up and keep going:)  This is not a good idea when you have over $5000 worth of camera equipment on your back..I repeat, it is NOT a good idea...

 but, I did it anyway...

We also continued our Geocaching while there...talk about "walking through the dessert on a horse with no name"...minus the horse...we gave up after 3 ups and downs and opted for ice cream in town instead.

The geocaching thing is mighty cool, I might interject:)  Uncle G introduced it to us and we have become quite addicted.  Whereas Italian Stallion enjoys the hunt and the "micro" finds...the girls like it better when they get to give/take a trinket.

We took a stroll to the lighthouse and of course, had some family photo moments...

The highlight however brings us back to the "Legend of the Kahiki" (like how I bring it all back around again?)  Way back when, when Italian Stallion, G, Sara and I all went out to eat...back when we didn't have to cut other people's food or share sips or take 15 potty breaks during the appetizers.  Back then, we laughed and relished our "maturity"...we bought these crazy Kahiki Mugs and have been "gifting" them back and forth ever since.

Due to the fact that we have each exploded our families and dinners out do not even come close to resembling "life back then"...Sara came up with the idea that we should "compete" for the mugs...as in, an Annual Family Competition!!  Awesome A's versus Terrific T's...nice, corny team names:) 

And so, the games began...complete with Opening Music and everything!

 

We made our Olympic themed flip flops for the competition as well!

 

By the end, we tallied the scores, we "made up some categories" and thus, the Terrific T's beat out the Awesome A's for the coveted Kahiki Cups!!! Sara was amazing with all her planning...from the cupcakes to the medals given out...she and Aunt Mel had it down!!!

I took over 900 pictures and quite honestly, could write and post about them all!!!  But, I will spare you (just this time) and plan to get them into a scrapbook at some point this summer. 

Thank you sweet friends for a memorable vacation...it reminds me how wonderful heaven will be someday...we soooo need to have mansions next door to each other!!!

Girlie:)

I never put bows in my baby girls' hair...or headbands or glitter...neither did they wear cutesie, frilly dresses or pretty shoes...

Pretty much, my girls wore denim...denim overalls, denim jumpers, plain tees or onesies.

I never much was a girlie girl and so I suppose it rubbed off onto my "parental dresscode" for my babies.

I now have a total of three girls...1.2.3.

They are girlie, nevertheless...princess, nails, pink, purple and glitz...(sometimes I think it's God's way of putting a bit of my sister Sarah into my life, because it reminds me a lot of her:)

Anyway, the only way I can justify what I purchased yesterday is just to say that I "had it saved up" because I never spent moneys on frills when they were babies:) 

I've been enjoying my "Kid-Free" days here of late...I've been running to stores that I know they'd not want to go into...lunching with friends and wandering around antique flea markets...just for fun. 

I happened upon an "etsy-ish" store yesterday during my stroll in a neighboring quaint town and fell in love...the creativity exploded in front of my eyes...

Now, of course, it meant that I was storing up information so that I could actually replicate what I was seeing instead of purchasing...that's the sort of cheapskate I am...but in reality, I would LOVE to just create stuff all day...just not the SAME THING all day...I'd like to make a bag, then a bow, then some clothes, then a purse...but, that's besides the point...

I was amazed at the colors, the ideas, the talent...it was such a great little place...Infact, I think what made it even more fun was that it was an old 1800s house that had been turned into a store...therefore, each room had it's own "theme" and I must have spent at least an hour in there exploring.

I entered the back room (probably the main living area to folks way back when) and I stared in awe...dresses sewn, cupcake decor packages, monogrammed coffee mugs, handmade rings & bows...and then in the back they had purchased a display from an outside company...just for tweens & teens...

Locker decor:

We're talkin' magnets, mirrors, note pads, flowers, WALL PAPER...you name it...It was laughable and completely frivolous...but I LOVED IT!  I loved it because it screamed GIRLS! 

and it made me giggle:)

So, I bought this for my little "entering 5th grade" girl for her locker. 




What is it you ask?  Why, it's a motion detector light chandelier that magnetizes to the top of her locker.  This along with some homemade "wallpaper" and other stuff (that we will create together when they get home) will make her locker all girly and fun...and I know I'm completely ridiculous...but, for the first time, it feels fun to just give in to the silliness of it all. 

we don't give in to a lot of the other "stuff" that others have...and really, I'm not even copying off anyone here...or trying to "keep up with the jones" or any other such nonsense:)  It just made me think of her when I passed by and I hope she giggles with me and knows that her Momma loves her and thinks she's worth a fun splurge:)

So there you have it...

today I'm baking and making pickles...fun combination huh?  And then, I'll probably head off and do my "last fun thing" before we get packed up and head up to get our girls back from their "camp fun"! 

What a great gift of a week!

Things I can do when my girls aren't with me..

This week my girls are with my parents for a week of "camp"...

Yep, I said "camp"...

it's not camp like you might be thinking though...it's more like hanging out with Grandma, Papa and Auntie when they have a ton of activities planned, fun food to eat, lots of playing & crafts...

Okay, so maybe IT IS like camp...

whatever it is, the girls are having a BLAST!!!

My mom and sister have got everything planned out to the minute...

The girls earn points by cleaning up...they have Bible time, Rest Time, Craft Time, Play Time...and my sis has made sure that there is at least one BIG event each day...

Tonight they are having a campfire and sleeping outside in a tent...only to awaken and "shower" in their swimsuits in the sprinkler...

My girls think they have died and gone to heaven I believe:)

and these pictures are only from DAY ONE!!! 

So, what's a mom to do when her girls are gone away from her all week?  Who will she talk to?  How will she function without the joys of mediation, helping with the potty, tying shoes, cleaning up spilled apple juice?

I'll tell you what she does...by golly...

***side note, before I begin...please understand that although I jest and sarcasticly revel in the joys of being "childless" for the week...this follows the buckets of tears that were shed as we left them and headed home...this is communicated with the knowledge that I WILL get these sweet girls back in a few short days in order to love on them and smother them with kisses until Little Munchkin's arm is wet from wiping them all off!...just sayin'***

THIS MOM...

Listens to something other than Veggie Tales, Princess CDs and books on tape...infact, I have discovered that the RADIO is still built into the current model of cars these days...imagine that...AND, they have stations...AMAZING!!!

Drinks froo-froo drinks and does not have to share SIPS with every little voice in the car...I get to slurp down the whole thing myself!!!

Reads books other than The Penderwicks, Biscuit Goes Somewhere and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom...and oh my, am I reading...stayed up until 1am last night...(stupid idea by the way) but, I CAN and that's what makes it fun:)

I'm sure that I will discover LOTS more fun things that I can do whilst I am kid-free...but, right now, I'm busy eating chocolate out in the open and hanging out in my pjs because I don't have anywhere else to be...

well, I'll be...there ARE more things to add to my list:)

20 years later...

Remember when you were 10 years old and you thought your parents were old? Or when you were in high school and even those in college seemed light years away?

Then you fast forward through time and college and marriage and babies and sending your little one off to Kindergarten and...and...and...

BAM..the next thing you know, YOU now feel light years away from that little 10 year old, or in this case from that little 17 year old high school graduate...

This past weekend was my 20 year high school reunion.  I hadn't made it to the other ones due to family conflicts and such...but, there was a reason behind subjecting myself to the blatant awareness of AGE this time around!!!

For some, reunions may be a waste of time...and I understand the mindset of "I keep in contact with whom I want already, no need to muddy the waters (so to speak)"

For me, however, it's not about showing off or sitting around reminiscing about old times (although that can be fun especially when you consider the ridiculous-ness of some of my high school antics and/or "nerd-dom"...READ: falling off the back of a car, as a rep in the middle of the homecoming parade (have I written about that yet?) 

Anyway, I believe in moments...yes, quality time and investment are incredibly valuable...and strong relationships can't just survive on little snippets...However, I believe that there ARE moments of opportunity!  Opportunity to say just the right thing or be in the right place at the right time...opportunity to offer encouragement, to bring a smile to someone who may not be having the best of days (or weeks or years) 

I went last weekend with a bit of "trepidation", I'll be honest...I was not only a nerd in high school, but a worry-wart and sometimes I think kids either walked around on eggshells around me so as to not "offend" OR they just put up with me because, let's face it, there weren't many in our graduating class to begin with:) 

Life has a way of maturing us...it also has a way of carving us into the people we were meant to be...for some that means pain, loss, difficulties...and by those events they are continually shaped and molded and changed.  20 years changes people...and though I will admit that I was curious as to the change just because I'm an extroverted people person...I was more wanting to make a connection and if by some miracle I could let someone know that they were special and that the person they are still becoming is pretty awesome...then, I wanted to do it.

Does that sound arrogant?  I hope it doesn't...it's not meant to say that I have arrived by any means...

Infact, it may have been selfish of me in a sense because I wanted to be encouraged as well...

I met up with the brother of my sister, Sarah's good friend.  His sister, Jamie, had had medical issues as well.  She was at the hospital the day that Sarah died.  I never told him that.  Jamie lived until she reached age 25.  We talked for maybe 15 minutes that evening, but it was time I wouldn't trade for the world.

My friends married incredible spouses that I had the opportunity to meet.  I'm not only so grateful that they have someone to journey with through life, but it broadened my horizons, my perspective...to see them again, as wives/husbands and moms/dads:)

My friend Carol is living through the trial of her life, and has been for the past 4 years...She is inspirational and strong and optimistic.  I wouldn't have passed up the opportunity to see her spirit for anything!

I'm so thankful that we all got together last weekend...we laughed, I cried, we laughed some more...

Yes, it's been awhile...20 years to be exact...but, there is just something about meeting up with people who lived life with you in the beginning...

I wonder what another 20 years will bring...

13 years...13 reasons

Italian Stallion was pondering yesterday how to "celebrate" 13 years...it's not a "big" year, in the sense of popularity...it's not 10 or 20...it's not even divisible by 5...

For some it may just seem old hat or just a passing, "yippe, we made it 13 years...can you put in a load of laundry?" (and I'd be remiss if I didn't say that I'm on my way to accomplishing just that as soon as I get my thoughts out on "paper")

He argued that we should call it the "LUCKY 13" (you know, because 13 is supposedly an unlucky number)...if you know my hubby, this "idea" won't come as a surprise to you at all:)  but, because there is a chance that my young niece could potentially read this blog, we'll just keep it to a family rating of G and let it at that:)

A couple years back I gave the whole run-down on how I knew he was THE ONE:) I never tire of the story because it still amazes me...even now...however, for the sake of not boring others by continual repetition (or being redundant...good grief)...I thought I would take the opportunity to just list 13 reasons why I'm so thankful to wake up next to this guy everyday:)

1. He makes life fun and interesting.  He's not boring...when he talks, people listen...he's not afraid to take risks and he makes it a priority to try to make me & the girls happy!

2. He's genuine, sincere and generous...not just with his money, but with his time and energy.  He doesn't just play with our girls, but he goes out of his way to make sure his nieces and nephews know that they are special to him...he looks for ways to show compassion to those he cares about.

3. He's loyal...he makes a decision and sticks to it...faithful, living by a standard of integrity.  This category right here was the hardest for me to trust way back when...when I was scared of marriage...but, he continues to prove it to me over and over again.

4. He's got nice legs:)  You know me...

5. He's patient...oh goodness sakes, is he patient.  I don't know how he manages this one...especially in our house...I'm not saying that he never loses his cool, but MAN, it has to get BAD before a temper starts to form...and even then, he's usually one to excuse himself to another room until he calms it down:)  I need to take lessons...

6. He likes me:)

7. He's a decision maker and confident...but, even if he knows he's right, he'll wait until I figure something out on my own so that I have that feeling of accomplishment too:)

8. He likes being around...he has the occassional golf outing or movie going with a couple friends...but his heart is at home...I like that he likes to be around us.

9. He's helpful...i.e. he cleans out my van, folds clothes and cleans the kitchen...without complaining I might add...WOW!

10.  He knows how to make me feel loved and does it.  I can't say that this comes naturally, but he figured it out and makes the effort continuously.

11. He was a on a puppet team too in college so if he teases me about puppets, by golly, I've got him right back...HA!

12. He let's me be creative even if it means his basement is a disaster and there is "stuff" all over the house from multiple "projects" that I've enlisted.

13. We share the same belief in God, Jesus and the H.S.:)  He's not ashamed or shy to talk about it, and he lives it out...

He's my man:) Best thing I ever said YES to in my life:)  Happy Anniversay love:)