41 Years?

Could my parents really have been married for 41 year?  I guess so.  When I was little I remember all the crazy stories of them growing up, dating and their time at KU. Hippie House or not.  How hard it was when they started out trying to finish school, get through basic training and starting a family. Then I look at where they are now with 4 kids, 2 son-in-laws, 1 daughter-in-law (thank God because I don't know who could put up with my brother) and 8 beautiful grandchildren.

My mom told me something that I find to be really true.  "Days are long but years are short". Sometimes I can't wait for the day to be over and the Bugs and Garrett to be tucked safely in bed and I have my quite time to do things like blog or wrap presents, whatever. Then days go by and I catch pictures of my Bugs when they were little and I wonder where did the time go? 

I have always admired my parents and their ability to love, to give and to communicate with each other.  I know that things for them have changed as they have grown from this...

Nana & Papa at around 20 or 21.  Who knows but I have always loved this picture.  My dad's glasses rock and Mom's hair is awesome.  I have a picture of Garrett and I around the same age and I wonder if the Bugs will like it as much as I like this one.  

To this...

I guess that sometimes you just have to "get the umbrella" for your spouse to help make the marriage work.  I look up to my parents and I hope that if I follow my moms advise of "Pick your battles" that Garrett and I will have as many years of a happy marriage. 

Happy 41st Anniversary and we wish you many more to come.  Just don't fall asleep in the parking lot and miss your movie.

'Til the next adventure...



Everyone Needs a Laugh...

Bug  has the ability to listen to different people, take note in her head and impersonate them at a later date.  She can get going and make us all laugh so hard that some of us even pass out or pee our pants.  I'm not naming names because I don't want to admit what I have done. 

Since we have moved down south, Bug has had a bit more material than in the past.  See I know this might come as a shock to most of you but Savannah has a bit more ethnicity than all of Kansas put together.  Here is a little taste of what we have done to send summer out on a good note since school starts in the morning.

But first you need to check out our friend.... Bon Que Que.  And below is Bug and the rest of the gang.  I have not really figured out how to edit so bare with me... and thank Garrett for the great filming job since he was to chicken to be in the film.

After watching my backside for a bit I am glad that I will start Phase 2 in the morning.  Back at the gym in the morning and a little piece and sweat.

'Til the next adventure...

Bug as Bon Que Que at OneTrueMedia.com

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Flashback: "Hey, Fattybread..."

"And I said 'Hey' "

On Summer Vacation this year we went to the Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina.  It is this huge house built in 1895 by George Vanderbilt for his family and friends.  Okay, I know Garrett and I have a summer home in Wichita but I don't see us setting it up for y'all like this. 

Side view of the Biltmore.  All the green stuff is a patio with a wisteria cover.

So, I think this is the perfect reading tree... I can just see myself in the backyard at my summer home reading under this tree. This was the view of the backyard of the Biltmore.

You see the estates sits on 125,000 acres of forest, farms and even a dairy. It has 33 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 3 kitchens and even an indoor pool.  And don't get me started about the gardens... I loved them.  Bug, Nana, and even Little Bug were all impressed.

The gates to the garden.  You do get to drive through at the end of your visit.

The Walled Garden was planted to have flowering plants all year round. The grounds were designed by the same person who did Central Park in New York, Frederick Law Olmsted.

Little Bug, tired and thirsty needing a break.

My favorite flowers were all the orchids.  They were fabulous.

We ventured through the house and decided to go ahead and spend the extra money and get the audio tour. Totally worth it.  Little Bug was so into seeing and learning all about the Biltmore because of the headphones.  The little stories that were from friends and staff of the Vanderbilt's were the best part. Bug's favorite stories were the ones told with a Southern accent.

One was about a young girl that worked at the house who on her first day she dropped a tray of dishes and Mr. Vanderbilt came and helped pick up all the dishes.  He always remembered her and every time he saw her he would call, "Hey, Fattybread!" because she was a bit on the round side and she would answer "Hey." Bug will go around the house and randomly holler "Hey, Fattybread".

Nana wishing Papa a happy birthday from the Biltmore on a coffee break. 

We let her rest every once in a row.

The bugs and I enjoying a moment in the gardens.  Aren't they cute.

After the tour, we headed into town and had lunch at TGIF's and learned how to make good roasted potatoes from our animated waitress and then on the road again... Because "Aparently, Dolly Parsons is from around here..." at least according to Bug.

'Til the next adventure...

I SAID NO...

I know this may come as a big surprise to most of you but I have a little problem saying no when asked for help, until now...

I was asked to become a Board Member at the YMCA and I said no.  I love the YMCA but I just want to go and work out and go home.  I don't want to fund raise or think of awesome ideas to raise money at least not for free.  So, I took the plunge and said no thanks.  I am so proud of myself.  This was a big step for me. I like this new found freedom.

'Til the next adventure...

Because I Can...

I always have had a different view of my hair and style.  When I was in the 7th grade, my mom dropped me off at the salon to get a trim and when she picked me up I had cut off over 10 inches.  In high school, I played around with hair dye and rinses to see what I would look like with red hair.  I have always wanted to have red hair and green eyes but there are somethings you can't really change.

Over the years, my hair has been a way for me to change things up.  I could control what I did with my hair and I would take a bit of stress out on my hair.  But this time I was ready for something a bit crazy just because I can...

So it is a bit drastic but I have always wanted to do something totally different and fun but I have had too many responsibilities like a job or a wedding that was coming up.  This is not a hair color I would ever wear to work or in someones wedding.

It is probably something that will last oh, bout a couple of months before I go back to brown.  See my mom and dad, Aunt Patti and Uncle David are coming to visit in September and I don't think I can live through Uncle David's visit and have Radiant Red or Fire Engine Red (as Little Bug calls it) streaks in my hair.

However, Little Bug also got a new style...

Little Bug has had a bit of trouble with her hair in the Georgia humidity and lifestyle.  The chlorine from the pool and the salt from the ocean had taken its toll.  We had dry, slimmy, knotty hair so she decided it was time to go.  Little Bug doesn't really like to mess with her hair so we needed something easy for school.  We only have two weeks left of summer vacation. 

We are starting to get back into the swing of going to bed by 8 and getting up by 9 this week.  Next week in bed by 7:30 for book and up by 7:30.  That way we can be ready to go by 7:15 the next week. She has gotten so many compliments on her hair.  I am a bit worried about soccer but I think we can pull the top in two little piggies to keep it out of her face when she runs.

I have gotten a few compliments but my favorite has been from Ms. Kathy (my friend and yoga teacher) "I don't really like it."  I love her.  You always need to surround yourself with honest people. I have been lucky to find a few who I can always count on to keep me honest.

I like it.  I think I like it because it represents more than just hair.  It gives me a little pick up and a smile when I look in the mirror.  I have taken myself too serious for too long and it represent a bit of freedom.  I also know I won't keep it because it is not really me.  But it is something I am glad I did because I can...

'Til the next adventure...

Different Strokes for Different Folks...

Bug has been working all summer on her swimming for swim team.  Even over vacation.  It has been a bit tiring at times and we have had a few meltdowns along the way but I am so proud of her.  It has really helped her stokes and her self confidence.  She even has made some new friends along the way. 

Bug has never really been much of a sports person and I have really had to push this year about swim team.  It is something that we do together and I even help with coaching.  I love to see her pushing herself.   Her main coach, Ms. Sarah has become one of our good friends.  She is a former Marine Drill Sargent and reminds me a bit of my BFF Bridget.  A little tough and intimidating on the outside but a real softie on the inside.  Bug works extra hard just because she doesn't want to let Ms. Sarah down. 

Bug getting ready to go for her first race.

Swimming 50 meters breast stroke. 

On the home stretch of her 50 meters back stroke.

Bug finishing up her 50 meters of free. 

She also did 2 relays but her parents missed both of them. 

I hope Bug understands that this is really more than swimming laps, it is more about knowing that you can do something that seems hopeless when you put your mind to it and work hard.  I know that she is growing up fast (we even bought hoop earring this weekend) but no mater if she is 2, 12 or 34 she will always be my Bug!

'Til the next adventure...