Day one of beachy fun

Day one of the Emert Family Vacation 2010

 The weather was nice that day so we spent most of the day at the pool before heading in for lunch and making our drive to the beach. Bellies full meant we wouldn't have to pack more for the afternoon in the sand and surf! We were only slightly disappointed with this particular beach location. The beach and water were both very rocky (if you even call those big masses rocks.) I'm not from the beach so I honestly don't know if they are rocks or coral or what? Lol

Anyway, the kids played a bit but I was nervous for them to get too far in the water because of those dark masses of rock I saw. We just assumed that stuff might live in, around or under those rocks and mama wasn't so sure she liked the idea. The kids were fine though playing in the little bit of water and taking a few pics. Only a slight thunderstorm showed up before we decided to shower off and get back in the car!

Overall the first day was a great success and we all enjoyed ourselves!

It still is really hard for me to get a picture of both kids looking at me in perfect picture taking fashion! I am hoping that one of these days this will improve but I am not holding my breath!!

I loved this picture! They were on a race to find the showers.

Wordless Wednesday

Random Thoughts Tuesday

I sure missed doing RTT last week, but I was enjoying the heck out of my vacation. 

In fact, I am pretty sure that last Tuesday my family and I spent the early part of the afternoon at the pool and the later part of the afternoon on the beach. It was so nice. I have tons of pictures to share but will have to do that from home. I took a bazillion pics so be ready for vacation picture overload at some point!

My hubby is such a great man. 

Today he is running all of MY errands for me. On his list of errands are:

1. Drop off Girl Scout early registration forms at GS office

2. Go by Borders and pick up a book they are holding for me

3. Swing by Runner's Market to register us both for this weekend's race since I failed to do so in time.

None of those three stops are very close to home and he is doing all of them with both kids in tow.

Let me add to that that it is summer and for whatever reason our kids have turned into little terrors all of a sudden. "I want this..." " I need that" "Can we"....lots of whining going on. And I know they were already driving him crazy this morning because it pretty much started before I even left for work. Bless that man. 

My baby girl turned 7 years old while we were on vacation. It is so hard to believe she has grown up.

Hubby and I were talking on vacation about it. She's changed do much but is still so much the same.

She's also been a pretty lucky girl when it comes to birthdays!

I came back to work yesterday with a huge pile of stuff to do. I had my whole desk cleared off before I left. Sigh. Oh well. I am just thankful to have a job! And even more thankful that the law board that was to be scheduled for July has been rescheduled for September! Woohoo! 

It is hard to believe that school starts back in 35 days! Where did summer break go?

Yes, we do still have a few weeks off to play but Mommy has to be at work. Ugh. Hopefully I can get at least a couple of half days to take the kids swimming or something. It would stink if my beach tan didn't get any maintenance the rest of summer. lol

I have had my braces on for a little over a year now. While I know some of my teeth have shifted the way the orthodontist wants them to, I am worried about the other teeth that haven't cooperated. I go back this week. I hope he can tell me something rather than just adjust one or two little things and tell me to come back in 4-6 weeks. I like to have answers and if not direct answers some sort of idea.

Have you tried Coconut M&M's yet?

You should. 

I am out of manilla file folders at work. Do you think they would excuse me of my duties for the day? 

Haha, yeah I didn't think so. Boo.

Ok, back to work I go. Now, YOU, go be random too!

Monday, Monday...

It is SO hard coming back to work for the first time in over a week. Vacations are just too short. I left for vacation with everything caught up and came back in today with a complete work load waiting on me. Ugh.

Anyway, we had a great time on vacation. We started our trip with a little visit with family in Georgia. Our plan was to take Annabelle to American Girl there in the Atlanta area as a special birthday gift. She got giftcards from other family members and we were letting her spend money from us as her present. She was excited. We also had reservations to eat at the American Girl Bistro. Even with a little reservation drama it was still lots of fun! I would bore you with the details of that but since it all worked out just fine it's pretty much water under the bridge. lol Here are a few pics from the fun trip!

Annabelle and Chriss upon arriving! And Annabelle shopping while Chrissa is having her ears pierced!

So sweet! Chrissa with newly pierced ears. She didn't even cry! ;)

Me, Annabelle and her cousin, Rachel! They had a great time shopping!

At lunch, Annabelle helped Chrissa read her menu!

A late Happy Father's Day

My awesome husband was lucky enough to spend Father's Day in the driver's seat this year.

We did treat him to a breakfast at Cracker Barrel before we hit the road.

And after we got good and checked in our room, bought groceries and had dinner we spent a little bit of time at the pool. We love you very much! I couldn't ask for a better daddy for our two kids than you! Thank you for the awesome job you do to make our lives so wonderful. I hope you had a great Father's Day!

Vacation Fun

They've pretty much done this since we arrived on Sunday. But we are having fun.

More pictures to come. I had to drive to the local McD's for internet since I am too cheap to pay $9.95 a day just to enter blog land. ;)

Just for fun...

I am his woman. Don't believe me, ask him.

He and daddy have been duking it out over me the whole trip so far.

Love it! :)

Wordless Wednesday - looking back

                                                               Vero Beach 2007

                                                                         4 years old

                                                                    Daytona Beach 2008
                                                                            5 years old

                                                                    Key West 2009
                                                                        6 years old

Give away alert!

Are you looking for a cute baby gift?
Some new hair accessories for your little sweetie?
IF so, then you have to check out this giveaway....
Bowlicious Bowtique is hosting a give away that will end on June 30th. I know from ordering that she has some way cool items to offer! Head over and check it out now!

Random Thoughts Tuesday

Tuesday! You guys know I love to be random! :) 

Today I have exactly 3 days until I am packing the car and leaving my humble abode to head on a long awaited vacation! I am getting excited. I just wish I had more time to get ready for vacation this week. HA Why is that is seems like there is so much work in getting ready for vacation? My house is a wreck and I still need to pack. The kids are in VBS this week and while I should be home at night working on the house and packing I have decided to use that time to get my workouts in. Sigh. I need a week of vacation before and after vacation to prepare FOR and recover FROM vacation. Does anyone else feel that way!?!? lol

I hate calling a place and..

1. Google giving me the wrong nubmer in the first place

2. Upon calling the wrong number that I wasn't aware was actually a wrong number...the kid on the phone AT THE SAME mall not being willing to help me 

3. Getting a semi- correct number and actually getting the company's Loss Prevention dept and being transferred to the line I needed....

4. The phone ringing for a good solid 15 minutes with no one answering!

I am frustrated to say the least. Our plan is to take Annabelle to American Girl Bistro for her birthday dinner and shopping. Well, we have a reservation and all I want to know is if I can bring in an outside cake or do I really have to pay $24.50 PER person (4 adults, 1 7 yr old and 1 4 year old!) for a "party package" when all I want is a birthday cake? Just a cake people! I don't want goody bags for everyone in my "party" nor do I want pink lemonade. Not for $24.50 a person! Boo, hiss. 

OH, yesterday, on my post about WW museum.. I meant to add that those were my own observations/review about the place, but forgot. Anyway, WW peeps left me a cool comment. Wonder how they knew I posted a blog? Weird and cool all at the same time.

Peanut went to football camp with Daddy today. It's a schorcher AGAIN but I bet he has a blast. I love that hubby was able to take him. Sure takes away some of the stress from me having to bring him to work with me today. haha ;)

I have a bag of Craisins on my desk. Annabelle got a few and ate them. Then told me they taste like blood. I don't EVEN want to know. Ick. 

I finally got ahold of American Girl. I am kind of disappointed with the answer I got. Bummer. 

Now I am searching for a bakery in that area. Hopefully I can find a cute cake with a decent price tag. 

This day is going by fast. This is a good thing. I'm ready for the week to be over. Even though I still have tons to do. I had hoped to leave work with a completely clean desk. We will see if that happens!

I need to figure out Father's Day. I bought cards for my dad but have yet to mail them. He's in CA and I am in TN.. I should REALLY get those in the mail today to even get them there in time. And I have got to figure out something for the hubby even though he says (like every year) not to worry about it (hi, honey!). I am a terrible gift giver (except for when it comes to the kids). I procrastinate and go back and forth on what would be a good gift or what wouldn't. And the next thing I know is it is crunch time. Sigh. My hubby has the pleasure of driving us to our vacation destination on Father's Day. Lucky him, right. Too bad I can't drive and call that a gift. Or could I? Ha. ;) Just kidding, honey. One of these days I am going to really score with him and gift giving. Seriously. I hope, anyway.

Wonderworks Museum

Friday night Annabelle and I had a girl's night out with our Girl Scout Daisy troop. I'm the troop leader. We had sold a bunch of those yummy cookies back in the early spring and our troop earned a little play money. I finally had the girls vote on some fun stuff to do this summer. The first thing they picked to do was to go visit Wonderworks. We got a great deal and everyone had a blast!  The place is very interactive and fun. The moms even had a great time. We all climbed the rock wall but made promises to each other that the cameras would be banned from use during the mom's climb! No one wanted pics of their backsides apparently! haha
I got some pretty cute pics...enjoy!!

This was sweet. The firls all lined up together and walked hand in hand to the entrance! 

That's me in the blue tank...waiting on hurricane simulator to start.

And let the hurricane begin!! haha

My girl making her way up the rock climbing wall! 

She had to attempt the barefoot climb, too.

See I attempted the wall but had a little trouble a little over half way up when I looked down and felt a flutter in my chest. haha Then suddenly my flip flops became sweaty. I tried to let them fall but I slipped. I caught myself but then was concerned about breaking a nail (priorities!!!) so I just held on tight and let myself go. HAHA It was fun. I am looking forward to trying another rock climbing wall but with the proper shoes. And really, I am not sure what was more traumatic about the whole rock wall... the fact that we had to hop on a scale first or looking down and realizing how high I was!? ;)

Conversations with a 4 year old

I love having conversations with my 4 year old. Talking to him in the car or on the phone always brings a giggle or two out in me. He is so innocent and sweet. This morning while I was at work I called Hubby to discuss a few vacation plans and of course Peanut wanted to talk to mommy. So, hubby put Peanut on the phone.

Peanut: "Mom, wanna see my bloody knee?"
Me: "I can't see if through the phone, buddy."
Peanut: "Well, howdabout you can see it when you get home from work?"
Me: "Ok, buddy. Ask Daddy to put some Neosporin on it."
Peanut: "He is gonna put some bandaids on it. You can look at it when you get home."
Me: "Ok, buddy. Tell Daddy you want him to put some Neorsporin on it."
Peanut: "Daddy can you put some neatosporlin on my knee too?"
Haha Neatosporlin.. See that is why I love talking to him! ;)

Yesterday at the kids' track practice a former student/runner was there and had found a penny. She asked Annabelle is she wanted the penny. Well, of course she did. But Peanut didn't have a penny. He asked if I had one for him and I told him I would look when we got in the car.

Peanut: "Mom, you said you would look in your money thing for me some money."
Me: "I will when we get home, buddy. But I really don't think I have much."
Peanut: "But you said you had some. Give me all your money, Woman!!"
At that point I broke into hysterics and called my hubby thanking him for calling me woman so much so that our 4 year old has picked it up. And if I had the ability to share in blog land the voice that goes with the whole, "Give me your money, WOMAN!" you guys would probably be laughing your hineys off like I was last night.

Oh and speaking of money, Peanut got a wallet from Mamaw. In it was a $2 bill. Peanut gets excited over paper money but not in the same sense that my Sweet Girl does. See Sweet Girl thinks that if you have paper money you need to rush right out to the store and spend it even if it means just going to the Dollar Tree and buying some piece of junk that won't make it a week. Well, Peanut has a different theory with his money. This is the converstation he had with another track parent this week.

Peanut: " I have a new wallet!!"
Track mom: "You do?"
Peanut: "Yep! And it has money in it!"
Track mom: "Are you gonna spend that money?"
Peanut: "Yep!"
Track mom: "What are you gonna spend it on?"
Peanut: "At my church."
Track mom: "You can go shopping at your church? What are you gonna buy?"
Peanut: "I'm gonna put it in the plate!"
At that point I had to explain that the last few times Peanut has been given dollars he has immediately wanted to put them in the offering plate at church. The boy makes me proud and melts my heart (most days!). 

Conversations with him are so fun because his head bobs and his big blue eyes dance all over. He shows such enthusiasm with every little thought he has.I love his little personality and his great big heart!

Wordless Wednesday

This little sweetie has been on a birthday countdown since June 1. 

She is rather anxious about her birthday plans.

Today marks 17 days until she is 7.  

*I* am also anxious.

For me it is 17 days until my baby girl is one year older.

Where did all the time go? 

Random Thoughts Tuesday

This post of RTT is brought to you by the letter "T." 

Standing today for:

Tuesday, tired, troubled, tested, tasteless, tacky, thankful and a plethora of other T adjectives. haha

Today I am tired because yesterday I ran a 10k and it pooped me out. I got home later than normal. I went to bed as late as always. I listened to my wonderful hubby snore a bit before I actually fell asleep. Once I did fall asleep two, small, and entirely too warm bodies were on either side of me. Ugh. No fun! Needless to say my sleep last night was not that great. 

Today (and for the last couple of weeks) I have been troubled by some news that I hate. I went back and forth on even saying anything on my blog about it, but since this is my place to talk then I shall talk. Of course, IRL, I have my awesome hubby to talk to and he has provided much support and comfort when I need it. I debated coming here to talk about the happenings of life as of late because I do not want pity but know that prayers (as many as we can get) are truly answered and God knows what He is doing. So, with that I ask that you be prayerful for my Daddy. I don't always share every single detail of my life here or anywhere, I tend to bottle things up because I sometimes feel weak if I let my emotions show. Sigh. But the news has been hard. I have cried myself to sleep for the first time in I can't tell you how long in my life. I have been mad and not really sure who I was mad at or if I was mad at anyone or just the situation. The last two weeks have left me with emotions I had hoped to never have. This is the point where I say, "My daddy who has been relatively healthy his entire life has cancer. And it just ain't good!" Yeah, so I said ain't! ;) 2645 miles and 40 hours seperate me from my daddy and it sucks big time.
So, please pray, if you feel led. Please send good thoughts too!

Today I was tested.
I'm tested everyday actually and I bet you other mama's are too! ha
Kids. Need I say more? What I can say is that my hubby feels my pain!

Today I saw tasteless and tacky in the form of one's wardrobe. And it made me giggle. It also made me think of Stacy and Clinton. How I love their show! Sometimes I am sure I could make an appearance with them as a victim but today, not so much. However, I see one that could! And it makes me giggle.
Have I mentioned that there is a bit of evil in me? Haha

Today I am thankful even if everything in my world isn't perfect.
I am thankful for my wonderful husband who has done SO very much for me lately.
I am thankful for my children's laughter even if it is only followed by massive amounts of mischief!
And I could actually sit here for days probably or at least hours and list every single thing I am thankful for but since I have work to do I shouldn't.. I am thankful for it all!

Today I am trying..
Trying to clear my desk of all the file folders and unfinished work so that it is nice and neat before I leave for vacation. And yes I realize vacation is not for another 10 days, but hey I gotta be prepared! ;)
I am trying to get all my water in but this fountain Diet Coke is so very good.
I am trying to figure out what kind of activity I want to do tonight while the kids are at track since I ran 6.2 miles last night (YES I DID!!!) I really do not need to run tonight, especially since my knees now ache.
I am trying not to stress over recent car troubles. I loathe car troubles.
I am trying not to worry.

Kids' Track Meet

We kicked off summer break by signing the kids up (for the 3rd year) for Knoxville Track Club's summer program. It is always fun to see from year to year how they progress in various events. This year Annabelle participated in long jump, shot put and 100 meter dash. We missed the 4x100 relay with her because I wanted to get pics of Peanut in long jump. It's hard for a mama with a camera to be in two places at once, ya know! lol
Peanut was able to participate in long jump, 4 x100 relay and the 50 meter dash. And let me just say, those little guys in the 4x100 relay are adorable. I love to watch those little legs go.

It was a great day and we all had fun. There was a bit of whining, as usual! And this mom felt guilty later that night when Annabelle complained of her sunburn. I remember sunscreen for the pool that afternoon but didn't even think about it that morning for the track meet. Oops!

Here are a few pics...

My little long jumpers!

From what I remember Isaiah's best on Saturday was 2' 5"

and Annabelle's was 4'11" 

Peanut taking off after the exchange in the 4x100. He looks to be concentrating! So cute. :) 

Annabelle throwing shot. So cute. This was her first year and first ever attempt throwing at the track meet! 

WW- an extension

Yes, folks they are real! Alive and fluttering all over the Great Smoky Mountains in the spring. And I don't know the particulars of my camera other than I shoot with an Olympus E-4...something or other and I love it, zoom lens and all. :)

Wordless Wednesday

Random Thoughts Tuesday

 

I like when my work week starts on a Tuesday. I love long weekends and short work weeks. 

But I wish I was on vacation already. 18 days...and counting! :) 

This past weekend was a good one. Friday I took off work early to go pick up race packets for the hubby and myself. We had a race to run Saturday morning. Someone didn't get to run it but one of us did and she kicked it's butt. No joke. It was awesome. I think she is still on a high from how well she did. The other person, well, he may kill her for even mentioning the fact that he wasn't able to run. Maybe she will tell you all about that sometime if she doesn't think it will take her to an early grave. She keeps thinking he will laugh about what took place but so far she is the only one giggling (inside). 

Yesterday we hung out with good friends/family by the pool. I wish I could do that every single day.

And I hope that we get to once vacation starts. Have I mentioned how ready I am for vacation? haha

Tonight is the first night of youth track for the kids. I can't wait. Peanut got new shoes this weekend and is super excited to show everyone how fast he can run. He is so cute! I love how excited he gets. Annabelle is a different story. I am afraid that we will have to drag or push her around the track like we have in years past. But maybe just maybe she will suprise us?? I won't hold my breath.

Do you want something to laugh at me for?

I don't have stick straight hair. Instead my hair has some natural curl/wave/body to it so I typically spend more time than a woman wants to with a blow dryer and a flat iron in my hand to get my locks straight. Well, lately I have given up that task because the humidity is setting in and I just can't deal with spending so much time to get it straight just to walk outside and have it a frizzy mess within minutes. So, I add mousse, scrunch and go. Only this weekend I decided to pull out that diffuser thingy for my blow dryer. Call me a blow dryer idiot but I guess I never truly knew what that was for. However, I do now and I love it. And I love my natural wave/curl/body in my hair even more now that I know the proper use for the diffuser! 

Football season is officially here, sorta. Not the games and cool football weather but the summer workouts and practice. I should be use to this by now but since my hubby has made a coaching job change I am having to adjust to a new schedule. I like the new one much better than his old one because he is home MORE! This is truly a blessing for our family. It means he gets to spend more time at home with the kids in the summer, doesn't have to mow the football field for hours and hours day after day and he can relax a little more. This doesn't mean his new job is less demanding or meaningful because it most certainly is, but it means that the new coach is just as much a family man as my husband is and I love that! I love mostly that my hubby is now coaching somewhere that he is TRULY happy especially after the rough go we have had the last couple of years. I can't wait for our new season as Tornadoes! 

Oh and expect a new look soon. :) 

Our forecast shows lots of rain or thunderstorms this week. I really hope it is just a few scattered showers during the day. I want sunny weather to hang around! 

It smells like there is something dead in our office. One of the guys took out a bag of trash, I sprayed some air freshener and we thought that did the trick. However, the odor is back and now we fear the death of a mouse. Eeek.

I dislike mosquitos.