Towel Animals

My favorite part of a vacation without kids is remembering how much I love just being with Scott. No kids or cell phones to come between us. I am not a book reader, but I always bring a love story book to remember that "new" love every couple once had. I also love the towel animals left on your bed each night on the cruise. It makes me feel loved from my cabin attendant. I never take photos of the towels to show the kids, so each night I took a photo because it is easier than describing a towel animal. Love them.

Elephant

Turtle

Imagine my horror when I came into my room and my towel animal was pushed to the side and killed with no concern. I was bugged and probably more than I should about a towel. I was also reading my love book about all the great and considerate things they do for each other. Which made me more bugged that he did not care about me and my towel animal. I let it go and realized I don't live in a love story and we have been married for 15 years.


Wait... my love story does not end. He went to the room attendant the next night and ask him to over do it with the towel animals for me. I love you too!!

Shark!!!

No, these are not photo shopped...Yes, I did pee my wet suit...Yes, I increased Scott's life insurance...and YES, I would do it again.

This was a view looking down from the feeding dive. We counted 25 shark.

My Sue

These two girls remind me of someone...can't put my finger on it...yes, Sue Heck from the Middle. We love that show and they love her. They both bought the cross country sweatshirts and have plenty of Sue moments. I would never go back to jr high because we all had sue moments. I just like laughing at theirs.

A Woman

My dad did not let me get my ears pierced till I was 16. He said that meant I was a woman. I never understood how holes in my ears meant I was a woman. Just to make sure I was a real woman I got each ear double pierced. Luckily, that was a dumb mistake that is easy to fix even though the double hole has never closed. A 36 year old woman with 4 kids and double stud earrings looks really dumb and looks like she is trying to be something she it not. Soooo, Carly is now a woman.

I do think she looks older, but not quite yet a woman.

So, speaking of dumb things and trying to be something I am not. I am going to get spray tanned this week to get ready for a cruise. Scott thinks it will go terribly wrong and will not want to be seen with me...or it could go terribly right and I won't want to be seen with a pasty white guy.

Cross your fingers it won't be a tempory mistake that I will have to endure on the cruise.

My Graduation

13 years ago, I began a journey that has included 4 partners and one stroller. It all began as I bundled up my 2-month old and set out on a run. It was easy at first because she weighed 9 pounds. As the years passed, she grew heavier and heavier...Pre-school was so close and I knew the weight would be lifted to a much lighter partner.


Then running partner number 2 would soon learn the drill as her heavier sister before. She was great because 9 pounds was easy compared to the 30-plus pounds of her pre-school sister. The pounds came on for this little girl too and I wanted to drop my running partner quick. She was weighing me down. Pre-school was her destiny.

Another running partner so small and light. I felt like I had lost 30 lbs as i ditched her sister at preschool. The weight packed on those cute chubby cheeks just like it had done to her two sisters. She knew her free ride was coming to an end on my stroller. I can only run so far pushing a not-so-aero-dynamic stroller.

Partner #4 is probably my best rider. He begs to go on runs and has probably been more miles than any of the other girls. Same stroller I started with 13 years ago is the same stroller I am finishing with. No more pushing kids, no more crying partners, no more extra weight and yet you think I would be excited. My graduation is here and I am not ready to go into the world of running alone without my partners. Pre-school is coming for my 35 pound partner. No lighter partner is aroung the corner to take his place.

No more bird seed to be thrown as I run...no more reminder to stretch my achilles...no more "run faster, like a roller coaster"...no more "great job, Mom, you are fast!" Just me. Congrats to me. I think I need to get myself a graduation gift...new iPod!

Would it be weird to push an empty stroller to help me ease into it:)

Father and Son

Oh, so healthy breakfast!!

Not sure what technique this is for taking your tent down!!

A little embarrassed someone saw him!

Not embarrassed to be with his dad...yet!!!

Summer Recipe

This is a great summer recipe that everyone needs to try because it is so easy and so good. If you were like me and did not know what liquid smoke was...you can find it at smart and final and some grocery stores. It is a liquid that makes it taste like you smoked it. Find it...Trust me. Also my kids liked this with sweet rice. Normal rice with a can of Coconut milk mixed in with the rice.