TNT Picture Day (Take 2)

Back in November, I attempted to dress up Troy for his picture day at school. He didn't get photos taken because the photographer scared him.

Today, it was again picture day so I snapped a few before school. I still don't have confirmation that he got them taken but this is my favorite out of the lot I took this a.m.

I don't know what he was doing here. He must have moved a little too fast for me which is why it's a tad blurry.

I wonder if this sweater will fit him in November when it's picture day again.

Flashback Friday (part 13) - Tulips Everywhere

In 2004, a year after we got married and moved into our new house in Virginia Beach, Caroline of The Neighbors and I went to a local home improvement store which is a cross between a Home Depot and a Pier One. In the past, we had come across refurbished brand name ceiling fans for $29 and high end cutting boards for $20 which retail at $200.

On this trip we were excited to see pallets of bags of bulbs...crocus, daffodils, hyacinths and tulips. Each bag held 25 bulbs and cost $.10. We proceeded to buy at least $20 worth of bulbs. Each.

Do the Deb Math with me - $20.00/$.10 = 200. 200 X 25 bulb/bag = 5,000 bulbs.

I just had to check my math because I always need to but we were both insane enough to buy this many bulbs. Truth be told, I even went back a few days later and bought more.

This was before I realized it's late December, you're supposed to plant spring bulbs like these in the Fall and I still had to plant all these bulbs in my yet to be established flower beds.

I read everything I could find about bulbs online and had a plan of attack for all these bulbs, mainly tulips in multiple shades and daffodils. Thankfully, that January we were blessed with some unseasonably warm weather where I even took off a day of work to plant bulbs.

Bulbs. Bulbs. Bulbs.

I had pots sitting in empty closets in the dark with bulbs in them to "force" them to bloom early. I was giving bulbs away to any sucker person I could find.

Finally, all the hard work paid off and in late February, the crocus came up, followed by the daffodils and hyacinth and in early April, the tulips.

Here is a picture of Taylor, Carson, Dylan and Sydney smiling over Easter break. Notice those pretty flowers in the background? Bulbs.

Many of the bulbs have expired over time and have been eaten by the #(*!^# squirrels. I have since purchased reasonable amounts of bulbs and planted in the Fall to enjoy this time of year.

This was the same day and I've always like this picture of Aunt Ana, Carson and Taylor.

I have more pictures of the flowers that year but am more excited to see the tulips appearing now while the daffodils start to expire.

Here is explanation of Flashback Friday and other FF posts.

Ring Around the Rosie

Last Friday night, The Neighbors came over for my belated birthday dinner of sloppy joes and french fries. If you missed the explanation, click here.

While Tim was cooking up the meat in the kitchen, the kids decided to sing Ring Around the Rosie along with invited guests, Curious George, Blue Dog, Brown Bear and White Bear.

I know, I'm Wildly creative with naming stuffed animals. Try not to be jealous.
Troy spends a lot of time with Alexis and Morgan. Every day when we drive home and past their house, he says, "Alexis and MoeMoe's house?!?" and is disappointed that we aren't stopping.

The Neighbors (aka Caroline and Chris) are rather quiet and camera shy but I snuck in a picture of them. After a few songs, the group disbanded.They quickly moved on to the toys where the most popular one was whichever one was being held by someone else at that exact moment. Kids....

Flashback Friday (part 12) - My 30th Birthday

Back by popular demand is Flashback Friday. Ha, only one person asked me what happened to last Friday and I usually call her June Mom.

Since last week was my 33rd birthday, I thought I would flashback to my 30th birthday party because it's been awhile and a lot has changed since then. I had a wonderful party where many friends gathered of which, many of whom I worked with at the time. Now that I think about it, out of roughly 20 people, none of us still work for that company. Anyway, I was serenaded with my own song written and performed by Vicky to the tune of This is How a Heart Breaks by Rob Thomas. There was a lot of competition on the pool table. Plus, a fire in the "fire tumbler" out back. It's the inside of a dryer that we use as our fire pit.Then Sue decided to see how tall everyone really was without heels and marked up my wall. It's still there today and I'm still the tallest. I'm glad Caroline wasn't nearby at the time.
Another big change in the last three years is that I didn't know I was pregnant with Troy during my party. I found out three weeks later and am glad I was able to turn it up on my 30th birthday.

Lord knows I never have any fun now. I certainly didn't have any fun at all last weekend in OBX celebrating Kim's birthday. Take a look and tell me what you think.

Click for an explanation of Flashback Friday and to see previous posts.

Another Pisces Birthday

To celebrate my good friend Kim's 40th birthday, we headed south a hour to the Outer Banks of North Carolina (OBX) for the night. Staying at a small motel across from the water, we took a cab to a nearby restaurant for dinner which happened to be celebrating St. Patrick's Day.

From there we took another cab to a small watering hole. There were the sounds of crickets when we first arrived but by the time we left, we knew everyone's names and were invited back to a party they were having to celebrate March birthdays later this month.

There is something to be said for not being shy. This may have been encouraged by the complimentary "duck fart" shots being purchased for the girls in our party. Vicky, birthday girl Kim and I paused briefly before taking the first one. Kim and I even paused before the second duck fart shot.Meanwhile, Vicky was selecting some fun songs on the jukebox which led to this:No words are needed. Right?

Kung Fu Panda

Last Sunday, Alexis brought over her movies to share with Troy. They were enthralled by Kung Fu Panda and apparantly the 56 inch screen wasn't big enough to see from the couch so they had to sit extra close.
This is what Troy does when I say "smile." Then this.


I don't know where he learned this was how you smile. It's pretty funny and probably explains why I don't have any professional pictures of him since he was 11 months old.

Today is My Birthday...Hello, ThreeThree.

Today is my 33rd birthday and things have gotten off to a great start.

Ironically, three is my unofficial lucky number.
I am the third child of three.
I was born in the third month.
Including my stepchildren, I have three kids.

Tim gave me a very pretty garnet and citrine flower pendent necklace for my birthday.

In case you don't remember the story about sloppy joes and french fries, we will not be having this for dinner tonight. Click here to read it again.

It will make you laugh, I promise.

Duck, Duck, Troy?

We had some early morning guests today in the front yard. I love the zoom, zoom, zoom of my camera.

Don't call PETA, but we fed them too. I love how it's mating season and there are three male mallards to one female.

Troy said, "quack, quack, quack."

Flashback Friday (part 11) - OBX

In the summer of 2006, we were invited to stay for free at a beach house in the Outer Banks (OBX) with my brother, sister-in-law and The Neighbors in North Carolina.

It was four wheel drive beach access to reach the house. I drove the Land Rover (I recently sold) and proceeded to get it stuck twice but nice people snickered pulled me out easy enough.

The weather was rainy and windy the first day but the sun came up on the second day and we took the circus to the beach. Here is Cary, Carson, myself, (Troy not pictured), Tim and Sydney sitting in the sand with my brother off to the side. I was about four months pregnant with Troy at the time. Sydney tolerates so much including being buried in the sand.The amazing thing about the house we stayed in was that it had been successfully moved fully intact ten miles down the beach to be placed in it's present location.

I couldn't even get a Land Rover down the beach and they moved a whole house, completely decorated and furnished down the same stretch of beach. Amazing. Here are more pictures from that trip to Corova, NC on kodakgallery.com.

Click for an explanation of Flashback Friday and to see previous posts.

They Could Be a Rock Band

As you may recall, I gave Tim Guitar Hero for Christmas. I described it in a post as the gift that kept on giving in January.

On Saturday night, we spent a cold, rainy Saturday night at our friend Jay's house. Everyone took a turn as Guitar Hero including Troy who had help from his cousins, Taylor and Dylan.

I think they could be a rock band someday.

Now this guy? Not so sure about that one.

The fire was nice at least. It's 20F outside today. Didn't I just post that spring was coming?