This goes out to all of my Stay-at-Home Friends

Last night I volunteered to help the Clemson Alpha Chi Omega chapter count votes for recruitment. Let's stop there first - all of the lingo has changed. It is no longer Rush (now it is Recruitment), no more rushees (PNM - Potential New Members), no more Rho Chi's (they are now known as Pi Chis) and lot's of other lingo changes that I cannot remember. The parties finished at 10:50 pm. That is very late for me already, but I stayed and the alums entered the votes to prepare the bid list. The other alums are all "outside of the house working women." I am the only stay-at-home mom. I didn't get home until 4 a.m.

In preparation for the long hours, someone suggested each of us take a computer and enter the votes into an Excel spreadsheet. Everyone pulls out their laptops, except me. So, someone went down the hall and borrowed one from a sister for me to use. In order to have the list of PNMs to work with, we had to use a flash drive. Everyone is uploading the list with the flash drive, except me. Because I have no idea how to use this thing! I say out loud to the other ladies, "will someone show me how to use this?" I swear to you they looked at me like I had asked "what is email?" These flash drives must be commonplace now in the outside world, but not at my job. As my friend Lindsay pointed out to me today - 'no one has ever had to use a flash drive to get from the zoo to Chick-fil-A!' I have laughed about this all day. If I am ever going to re-enter the working world, I am going to have to take a computer class to get up to speed. I mean, I blog and I have a Blackberrry - I thought I was pretty in the know, but evidently not! I have to go - Bart needs to do his live fantasy football draft!

What is this?

This exotic creature crawled up our driveway today. This guy was a big hit with the kids. It had hair on it's back! I am guessing it is some variety of a caterpillar, but I am not sure what kind. We had a lot of rain today, so it was fun to go outside for a minute to check him out.

First Day of School!

 

 

 

 

Today was the first day of school for Mac and Sydney. Sydney is in 4K and Mac is in Mother's Morning Out. They both had a great day at school. Sydney and Bart have a tradition of posing with backpacks together.

Birthday Wishes

Today was my birthday. Thirty-one sort of snuck up on me. I guess the more birthdays you celebrate the faster the next one comes around. It always drove me crazy when I would ask my mom her age and she would sometimes say "I don't remember." I used to think, "how do you not know how old you are?!" Now I completely understand.

My sweet family got me a cake, balloon and cards. We are getting our kitchen renovated - so that will be my birthday, anniversary and Christmas gifts! Sydney recommended a restaurant for my birthday lunch - Grand Dragon Chinese Buffet. She and Bart ate there on one of their dates. It was yummy! Sydney enjoyed showing me around to the bathrooms, plates, food and most importantly the ice cream machine. She also insisted that we make a wish in the fountain. Bart gave each of us three pennies. I made my three wishes while holding Mac and dodging his ice cream cone he would not relinquish. Then it was Sydney's turn to make her wishes and here they are:

"I wish for Mommy to have a great day on her birthday."
"I wish for Mommy to have fun on her birthday."
"I wish for Mommy to have a great day on her birthday."

That is a gift you cannot buy - thank you Sydney for the best birthday gift!

Love,
Mommy

Lake Hartwell with the Armaly family

 

 

 

 

We had a great Sunday at the lake with the Armalys! Sydney and Mac have never had the opportunity to be "lake babies," and they are naturals. I grew up on the lake in Clanton and miss that feeling of exhaustion after a long day on the water. It has been at least six years since I skied, so I was hesitant in trying in front of my friends. Good news - Bart and I both popped right up and didn't embarrass ourselves! Sydney was worried when everyone fell or let go of the rope - she didn't want anyone to get hurt. She was highly impressed with Steve's wake boarding skills. She said that he was 'cool.' We topped the day off with a trip to Cracker Barrel and headed home with sleeping babies in the car. It was a great day!

Tea Party

Last week Sydney went to a tea party at a friend's house. She had a great time. They had strawberry cake and lemonade. The mommies had scones and blueberries with tea. Thank you Shely for a fun afternoon treat!

Movie Star

Sydney told me that she and Mac look like "movie stars" in this picture.