My family!

Sorry for the delay in posts...I have been sooo busy! Looks like I have about 2 weeks of being slow until its back to the madness of being busy!

I was thinking about how lucky I am to have such great family so I thought I would share....

These are my brothers....L-R, Don, John Henry & Willy.

They are crazy and fun and so different! Don and Henry own a rental company together! Also, Henry owns a flooring company called Floorworks, LLC and Don runs our families Hunt Club! Willy stays busy in college (lcoally) and also helps my brothers whenever they need it! They work so well together and they are so nice and kind, its quite impressive!

Here are all the girls and my Dad! L-R, Kateri, Sara, DAD, my & Annie

Now us girls are a mess! Not really but we will drive any man crazy! Seriously...my Dad can hardly stand it. Just like typical sisters wew ill bicker and argue and then the next minute be crying!! Geez...girls are a mess! Now my sister Kateri is our little exhibitionist. She is constantly rocking a new hairdo...mohawks, purple hair - you name it she's probobly done it! Sara is the quiet, reserved one..until you get to know her! Then she is crazy and wild...and will cause you to take too many shots! Me, well I am just the MAMA HEN! Annie is the youngest girl and the only one who moved away from our hometown :( I miss her terribly but talk all the time and she visits all the time!

Here is my Mom, Pam :)

She is an Accupuncurist who will never make any money because she is too busy treating people who can't afford it!! Which is AWESOME in my book! She is married to David, a retired Army Col....they are all holistic and natural together. Hey..it works!

Here is my Dad and his girlfriend Angie....

My Dad is the greatest. Seriously! He is an accomplished writer - he and my Mom are also songwriters together..still, even after being divorced! Not to mention a farmer, commerical real estate manager and the best Dad ever. He has given all 7 of us experiences and opportunities many kids dream of! I can't imagine a better Dad...but I am biased :)

Well there you have it! My LARGE family! Thanksgiving is coming up and it is so much fun with all of us! My Dad and his girlfriend and her 2 kdis all come to my Mom's for dinner. My Mom is one of six so there are about 60 people at dinner...its CARAZY! But so much fun!

OH...and here is a shot of some of us at Halloween....tooo much fun!!!

L-R, Lindsey (Mad Hatter - she is John Henry's Girlfriend), Me (Edie Sedgwick), Don (Amish Farmer), Willy (in the background....he was a spanish gangster), John Henry (Cop from Reno 911), Kateri (an awful costume, but if you know her its so funny!)....Hope your Halloween was as fun as ours!

Happy Fall!

Slip 'n' Slip Party - FOR ADULTS ONLY

Lat weekend I went to an adult slip 'n' slide party and let me tell you it was ridiculous amounts of fun! The host decided to reminisce on our old college days and serve a wonderful selection of drinks. A keg of Natural Light and jungle juice..yes that's right everyone JUNGLE JUICE. Made with grain alcohol and crystal light. DAN.GER.OUS. and it was.

The above was taken at about 7:30 pm and we are having WAY too much fun. The fun continues with a dance party in the living room and copious amounts of alcohol. I was having the GREATEST time playing beer pong, flip cup and just chit chatting till about midnight when I threw the towel in and went home....smiling all the way!

Then I woke up.....and it was UGLY. I mean, how in the world did we do that when we were in college and then get up and go to an early class and do it all over again the next day?!? and more importantly when did I lose the ability to do that?? I don't remember my tolerance for fun being stripped from me? 3 days later I was still sore. Tried to do my daily run and almost cried. Apparently when you tense up in a slip n slide before you hit the soft backing it takes it's toll on muscles you never knew you had. OOUUCH!

Of course I went over the next morning (moving very slowly and after inhaling a bagel sandwich and coffee, all while trying not to lose it) and cleaned up. The host had to work at 7am - guess he still thought he had his mojo too....I was glad to have the day off!

Ok - well off to another fun weekend! Hope yours is filled with laughter, love and fun! And not as much alcohol as mine was last weekend ;)

Love.

I can't believe it's September!!!

September...can you believe it!! Wow. Where does the time go? I swear it just seems to fly by these days - and I don't like it one bit!

I am finally back in the grind after a fabulous vacation with the family to Emerald Isle, NC. I spent 8 glorious days on the beach!! I read 5 books (I speed read), took numerous naps, made yummy fresh healthy dinners, drank a few too many glasses of wine and had an overall wonderful time!

Here is the house we stayed in.....it was so cute!

We took my 84 year old Grandmother with us as I help take care of her and she is seriously obsessed with my Dad. We figured she would be miserable and depressed for 11 days if we left her...so off she went - beach gear and all! My Dad called her Rose Kennedy all weekend because she would sit on the beach and everyone would wait on her.....in her big hat and sunglasses. She then proceeded to tell us all that this was her husbands house and it had been redone. It wasn't. Not even close. But hey - we let her think she was right!

I do not want to get old and forgetful.....its pitiful and very hard on your family members. We are struggling right now trying to find the right balance of family and sitters. I try really hard not to get frustrated with her but its just impossible sometimes. I frequently have to remove myself and go upstairs for a bit to calm myself back down. Meanwhile she gets so mad when the sitters come and wants me to stay with her 24/7. And I won't do that even if I could....I would have to be admitted. Seriously. She was a VERY prominent business woman and was used to getting whatever she wanted whenever she wanted it. That is no longer the case. She can't work and has a hard time focusing on something long enough to continue with it...ie. a book, a puzzle anything like that. Also, she doesn't really like to volunteer anymore. I think its because she forgets what all the organizations do and forgets some people so she gets confused and embarrassed. I don't blame her for that as I would be the same way. But this whole you have to stay with me all the time thing is getting old...no pun intended. My Dad is over all the time to help and my Aunt takes her out a few times a week to run errands but that is not the problem. She just wants you to wait on her ALL THE TIME. Bless her heart! If anyone has any advice it would be very welcomed.

Sorry for the rant....not sure how I went from fabulous family vacation to my whining about my Grandmother. And please don't get the wrong idea. I love my Grandmother to death but I just am having a really hard time dealing.

Love!

LOOOONG Overdue!

Where in the world do the days go?? I swear it seems like it is still June and here it is half way to September!!! Wow...time really flies as you get older....and that my friends is a major BUMMER!

So what could be taking up all my time and keeping me from blogging....well, let me just tell you!

In order of course beacause what is life without order?

1. My Birthday Week...yes, WEEK beagan with dinner with my Family at the local Mexican restaurant. My Father tried to take me somewhere fancy but I refused! I just love Mexican and Margaritas and it makes for a fun evening with my family. Next was dinner 2 nights later at my absolute FAVORITE restaurant The Grove Market to celebrate my birthday and my good friend Lindsay's. The place is a total dive complete with plastic chairs but the table settings are very formal, the decor is so beachy crab shack and the food is TOO DIE FOR! Seriously, its nothing short of amazing...5 star. I orderd the Duck and let me tell you I am still dreaming about it almost 2 months later. Finally a few days after that I headed out to the water park with one of my best friends Karen for our annual birthday water slide day extravaganza...its such a fun day and always makes us feel soo young!! (I know 30 and 31 are still young...but 22 would be much nicer).

2. The Fourth of July - What a wonderful time this year ended up to be! For starters I thought this year was totally going to be a disaster. The Country Club where I basically grew up every summer since I was born always hosts the most amazing fireworks display. They are known to the absolute BEST for miles around and I was always blessed with a front row seat every-year. The day always began with pool games - The Dad's splash contest, the slippery watermelon in the bottom of the pool, and various other games....then we would head inside (or home if you close) to shower and change and be back in time for dinner and fireworks!!! It was one of my favorite days all year. Then this year the club is having a bit (ok a lot) of financial trouble and did not put on the fireworks......can you imagine?!? I was devastated. Luckily the very small rual town I grew up in decided to have their own display and let me tell you it was FABULOUS. I ened up watching the fireworks in the back of a pick up truck bed - tailgating - covered in bug spray and drinking way too many beers in my cute little koozie cup! It was such a great end to what could have been a very sad day as far as memories are concerned....yeah to Hebron for stepping up to the plate and putting on a show that could definately rival that of the Country Club!

3. Babies, Babies and more Babies!!! Not really, but there are 2 that I have grown very attached too. My cousin Kelli and her husband Mark had their twins Thatcher & Vance and what a roller coaster it has been. The first day they were doing great! All scored very high on all assessments and were so alert and just the cutest little munchkins you ever saw! Then on the second day, I was up visiting Kelli - everyone else was gone, Dr. Alvarado (more on him later) came in and said that Vance was not digsting correctly and would have to be flown to Johns Hopkins that very night! Oh it was just so sad. They medivac'd him and Mark drove like the wind to meet them. Kelli stayed beind with Thatcher. It seems that Vance has the same intestinal disase his Mom has...Hirshsprungs Disease. He was fitted with a colostomy bag and was thriving up in Baltimore....then...Thatcher is diagonosed with the same issue!!! Thankfully they are all home now and doing great....eating like little piggies and growing like little weeds. And I am totally in love with them. Of course to me they are the cutest little babies every brought into this world! Anda s you can imagine I have been spending TONS of time with them...and will continue to do so!

4. Planning Family Vacation! We are off to Emerald Isle, NC for a week of beach, drinks, fun and sun with the whole family! This year we are taking my Grandmother with us....whoa. This should be interesting to say the least. We have many activities planned and they all involve a nice cold drink, my bathing suit and lots of laughs. I will be sure to take lots of pictures!

What have you all been up too??

And Landlocked Mermaid, you went private....tears :( Miss your lovely posts. Please add me if you can! beachy2978@gmail.com

Love!

Beautiful Beaches, Tiffany, Weddings and too many cocktails!

What a GORGEOUS morning it is here - hope you girls are having just as nice a day wherever you all are!

I have been so busy these last few weeks preparing for the nuptials of two great friends. Last week I traveled to the beautiful island of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. It was just simply an amazing place. The people are so kind, helpful and just give you a sense of genenuity (sp? - is that even a word?). Of course as soon as you arrive in any island the first this you want is a nice cold beverage - of the adult nature of course ;0. There happened to be 6 of use friends traveling together in the 45 min shuttle to the resort so we kindly asked our driver - Miguel - to stop for some cervesas. He promptly stopped, we told him we needed 12 please. Hey, it was a 45 min drive and we were on vacation....don't judge ;). He told us they were $5 per beer - we happily forked over $60 (wth) for 12 beers and waited anxiously.....he returned with 12 40 oz. Presidente beers! Needless to say we tried our hardest to finish them before we reached the resort....I was a bit tipsy checking in.

Checking in I was so happy to be reunited with my very best friend Champagne. I had indulged in several "conversations" in that lobby waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. But then I knocked her over...in the lobby. There was bubbly and ice EVERYWHERE. I was mortified and quickly followed the bellhop to my room where I took a hot shower and a NAP.

The rest of the trip pretty much involved me grabbing coffee and fresh fruit for breakfast at the cafe by the beach, followed by me and my book enjoying the beautiful beach from 8:30 am till about 1 pm every morning. My many friends who were also at the resort would try and get me to the pool, but come on! I could not sit at the pool when this was the view from by lounge chair and cabana at the beach...

Can you blame me??

Of course out resort was all-inclusive and to my friends that means mudslides at 8 am every morning. Usually switching to vodka & sodas by lunchtime and continuing thru the wee morning hours. I could not hang...nor did I really try that hard ;).

My room was gorgeous!! Feather bed, down comforter...heavenly! I felt like I was home - which is so nice when your on vacation.

The wedding was gorgeous. Right on the beach! Here I am with the beautiful bride. L to right, Me, Maggie, The Bride Danielle, McKenna the flower girl, Nicole and Jen.

And here is a shot from the rehearsal dinner. It was so much fun! I LOVE it when you do really long tables!!!

The bride gave the bridesmaids a gorgeous necklace from Tiffany - how sweet is that!?! I can't find a pic that will allow me to upload so you will have to take my word for it.....stunning and such a sweet gesture.

I will post some of the bride when I have more - I left my camera home in the states! As you can imagine it was a tragic development once discovered.

Happy Friday! And thanks to The Mrs. for my 1st comment!!! Yeah!

Tonight its off to see The Proposal with my Grandmother - she LOVES movies like this! Talk to you soon.

Love :)

TGIF

Well..today has been HELL! But that's ok because it's Friday and I will take a hellish day as long as I can sleep past 7am tomorrow morning! I plan on turning the thermostat to 65 degrees, closing the blackout drapes, putting fresh sheets on the bed and crashing until at least 8am...heaven!

Tonight I am heading to Accupuncture followed by dinner with my Dr...otherwise known as Mom, at our favorite sushi place! I just LOVE sushi and could seriously eat it everyday....if only I was able to! My Mom and Dad have been fans forever it seems and used to try and get us kids to eat it....this would always entail a bribe of somesort. My Dad would offer you $100 to eat a piece of sushimi fully knowing you would never get it down. We would always gag or run to the rest room! And believe you me, I TRIED HARD to win that $100.

Tomorrow I am heading to my Grandmothers for her yearly "spruce up the yard" day. All my cousins, aunts and uncles come into town and we prune, transplant, fix etc. anything she wants done in her yard. Last year we built a new fence, and this year we are building a new deck! My Grandmother or Mompie as we loving call her is so excited! She is making all our favorite dishes and copious amounts of sweet tea to get us all through the day. It should be fun and tiring and although I will miss my beachday I am sure I will not be lacking in the sun department as it is supposed to be 85 and sunny! Yeah for thin strapped tanks :)

Well enjoy your weekend and get some sun on those legs!

Love:)

Forgot...

My friend who passed actually put in his Last Will & Testament that he wanted NO one to wear black to his funeral! Only bright colors - how wonderful is that!?!? And heart breaking at the same time to think a 26 yr. old needed that much foresight.

So wear something bright today :)

Love:)