Sun, Sand, Soccer and the Space Shuttle...

First of all I have to apologize to my loving Husband Garrett, I was wrong, you were right.  You see, I have signed up to help with the YMCA Swim Team that Bug is on and I feel like I am not pulling my weight.  I was in charge of the Bake Sale on Saturday at the swim meet and really wanted to stay home and not go to the launch.  I had some things to do and have been traveling a lot lately.  No complaints.  I have been having an awesome time but I really did not think that the shuttle would get to go and I would get to spend another 10 hours in the car with a tired crabby family.  Garrett really wanted to go so I sucked it up. 

We had a great time.  I do think that it is funny because I told the whole family that they were in charge of packing themselves.  This is what I normally do but I also go back and double check.  I was too busy getting my things done for the Bake Sale that I didn't double check.  Little Bug forgot a swimsuit, Bug forgot pj's, Garrett forgot his mouth guard and they all forgot towels even though I reminded them right before we left.  However, Garrett did have beautifully trimmed and filed nails that he did while I was in a small panic tyring to get out the door.  I forgot nothing. 

We got to the beach about 8 a.m. on Friday and played in the surf.  The waves were huge and we all had an awesome time jumping in them.  Garrett and Little Bug played soccer. We read and played in the sand.

It was cloudy but we were hoping that everything would work out.

Stole the ball from Sister.

Relaxing and double checking to make sure we were still on.

Played in the waves.  These were the biggest waves we have seen so far.

You could tell when the time was getting close.  Everyone was facing the north. Waiting.  Waiting. and then we all saw...

Space Shuttle Atlantis Lift Off.

Okay, so this is what we saw...

I know it is not so impressive but I think it was more of the I was there when...

The bugs really did not get the significance I hope they will sometime in the future.  I guess it was more for Garrett and myself and that is okay.  I am sad to say that NASA won't be the same.  Change is hard but it has to happen. 

'Til the next adventure...

PS- The Bake Sale rocked.  We got lots of good comments and made twice the amount of money that we did last year.  Go Stringrays!





Sand Dollars, Jelly Fish and Fireworks...

I hope you all had an awesome 4th of July.  After much debate on what to do at the Duncan House we decided to go to the pool.  Real Adventure.  You see the 4th of July has never really been a holiday that I get into.  If you ask Bug, she would tell you that we normally ditch the children at Grandma Georgia's and go out on a date just Garrett and myself.  Well, that is a bit hard to do in the state of Georgia since I did not plan ahead and book airplane tickets.

So time to start a new tradition and off to the pool we went. It was CLOSED. How can the pool be closed? Time for Plan B.  We will try the beach.  Off to Hilton Head we went.

Plan B was awesome.  The weather was great.  A cool breeze off the ocean.  The water was warm and the Bugs and Garrett we able to find Sand Dollars in the water. They decided to save one for Uncle Jamie.

 I think the ended up with a total of 7 before Garrett threatened

them with their lives to leave the rest in the ocean.

We played in the ocean for a couple of hours and then Little Bug started hopping around.  I asked her what was wrong and she got stung my a jelly fish.  I sent her back up to the stuff and to Garrett to sit and rest and rinse it off to see if there were any marks.  I don't know what to do.  I am from Kansas.  We don't have jelly fish there.  So Bug and I went back out and what do you know, she got stung, too. She said it hurt and both her legs were tingling.  So, done with the ocean for today.  I was not going to get stung. Mom did not raise a dumbo here. Little Bug hoped that it was a Moon Jelly that stung her since they change color.  We learned about them at the Georgia Aquarium over the weekend.

We loaded up the car and headed to the Sea Pines Resort to get something to eat and see the fireworks.  It was at this time, that I found out Little Bug did not have her cover up.  She did not bring any clothes for after the beach.  $40 dollars later, a new outfit for Little Bug.  We were walking away from the store and what do you know, her flip flops broke.  Back to the store for me. Let's bring that total up to $50.

I did feel a bit out of place at Sea Pines.  We all had just walked off the beach in our swimsuits and cover ups and everyone next to us was in their Tommy Hilfiger and wedge high heels.  Seriously.  I guess we were just a bunch of crazy locals.  I really am not a high society girl.  When I prepare mentally I can mingle with them, but I always know my place.  We enjoyed a nice dinner and fireworks.

After the show, we caught the trolley bus to our parking lot.  This took the longest time in our journey but everyone waited patiently. Even Garrett. We did not get home until 11:30 and all had to take quick showers. We hit the sheets by 12 ready for a good night sleep. I think that we may have found a new tradition but I will be a little better prepared next year.

'Til the next adventure....

A Little "Fashion" Never Hurts...

Oh, Little Bug.  As a mother for almost 12 years, you would think that I would know better by now but I don't.  You see Little Bug came and asked me for a white t-shirt and I told her she could get one from Dad's drawer. No biggie.  Then she came and asked me if it was okay to play "Fashion".

I replied "Sure". Should have replied what is "Fashion"?

Then I see her and Victoria going out on the deck with all kinds of white shirts. Then she throws Garrett's Shirt at me and says "I don't need this anymore." 

I did ask "You aren't going to paint those, right."

"No, we aren't going to paint them."

Should have asked "What are you going to do?"

But no.  Did not think that far ahead. So I get this...

"Fashion" on our brand new white tank top.

I just started laughing.  I know that I should have been mad but it is typical Little Bug who is very much like Garrett.  You have to be exact when giving directions because they can think their way around anything to get what they want. No paint, just pen.

'Til our next adventure...

P.S. I will be saving this shirt because it makes me laugh every time I see it.  I guess that is worth the $6.  Don't you think?

It's Been Awhile...

I forgot what summer was like.  I know that sounds silly but I really did.  The last ten years that I was working at the Zoo summer meant work harder.  We were always busier and had to multitask many projects like getting ready for Zoobilee, work a few late nights for Summer Concerts and turn right around and be there bright and early to set up for Wet-N-Wild days.  It was hard and long and we made the best of it.  I miss the fun parts of playing golf cart tag and crazy radio chatter while you waited for the band to clean up.  Then their was the attack of the snuck in the Special Events Shed that has been bequested to my friend Karen. But I really don't miss feeling torn about work and home.  I always felt like I never gave enough to either place.

At home I would try to make sure that the Bugs got to do fun activities; go to the pool,  have friends over, stay up late and get to sleep in.  These were all the things that I got to do as a kid and I had forgotten what it was like over the years until this year.

We have been supper busy doing nothing. And I really like it.  In fact that is why I have not been blogging.  We only have 5 weeks left of summer and I don't know where it all went. We have already had some awesome adventures and I hope to get my blog up to date with all the pictures soon.  Just bear with me.  In the mean time, I have 5 weeks left of summer with the girls... I don't know what we will do but I bet we will have fun.

'Til the next adventure...

At Least This Is A Fish In The Water...

I have done some embarrassing things in my life.  I know that may come as a surprise to many of you. But I really have.  One of my most famous embarrassing things was my imitation of a "Fish Out of Water".  I flapped around on the ground looking like I was having a seizure.  I did this though high school and even on my 21st birthday at a bar.  Let just say I was on shot number 9.  I think that is all that needs to me said.

But one of the things I am most proud of is my Bugs.  I don't know how these not so little any more things came from Garrett and I but we did luck out.

Last week, Little Bug graduated from minnow class to Fish class in her swimming lessons.  It was so fun to watch her.  She can really be a ham and still the show.  Ms. Morgan at the YMCA is the head lifeguard and was her teacher.  Let's just say, Ms. Morgan will have a difficult time forgetting Little Bug.

We had a bit of a problem with our butt sinking on our back float but we got it down or up?

Whatever, by the end of the week.

Dive, Little Bug, Dive!

What a cute suit! I have eight because I have to go swimming everyday.

Nothing like ending with the water slide! 

I love swimming and I am getting a nice tan for a Little Bug!

'Til the next adventure...



Georgia Bugs 2, Little Bug 0

Well, Little Bug and the sand gnats did not get along at all but it was nothing like the ant hill.

These were taken a week after the actual bites because they were not getting any better.  It is a good thing that Nurse Brandy lives a couple of doors down.  We showed her the bites and she talked to Dr. Mathews and they called in a special cream to help.  We are doing much better.  The ant hill however is now dead and gone. 

So I guess really it should be Georgia Bugs 1, Little Bug 1

'Til the next adventure...

Congrats Lily Duncan...

I know that all mothers have a bit of a reality check in life when they look at their bugs and think, "Shit, how did I get here."  I had one of those moment, in church even.  My Little Bug is really not that little.  You see she had her 1st Communion last week and I can't really believe how grown up she was.

I always try to make things a little extra special.  This was no exception because Bug was there to chime in "When I had my 1st Communion, I got to get my hair done at the beauty shop." Thanks Bug.  So I got one of the ladies at Garrett's salon to come in early and do Little Bug's hair.

She was giving all the directions to the lady.  I just sat back and watched. 

She is someone who knows what she wants.

I will say she did do a good job picking out her dress. 

It is a real Little Bug dress and bling sandals.

Take my picture with my glasses off.  We gave her a little St. Lucy

medal because that is her favorite Saint.  Eyes gouged out and all, poor, St. Lucy. 

Back View-  Very important to get the whole thing.  I guess that is true if you

pay $30 to get your hair curled in Georgia they did have to use a bunch of hairspray.

The whole class of Communicates.  Fr. Wes Lamb is our Pastor and he tell funny jokes all the time. Garrett loved all the boys' ties.  Some were so long and some were really short.  They were all really cute.

The proud parents.

Little Bug sat down in her chair at church and opened the program, leaned over to me and goes

"Mom, they got my name wrong!"  Sure enough.  Congrats Lily.  We still love you!

It is a bit hard to get a lot of things on a cake for just 4

people so we upgraded to one that served 10.  Damn Diet.

We then had to rush to our 12:20 soccer game in Savannah to play in the rain. It was the last one with that team as she will be to old for it next year and we have to try out at the end of the month for the next team.  You know, hair does not stay curled in the rain no matter if you have a whole bottle of spray on it. Oh well.  She did not seam to care.  It was goal time.

"Til the next adventure...