LONG TIME

Long time no blog!!!

Anyone out there??

Let me just get right back into it.  

#2 had a birthday and I never even addressed it here. 

She turned 21!!!

She was out of town for the event - 

I cannot imagine why she didn't want to be with her really cool parents for this milestone!!

And she has been a little irritated with me that she didn't get her own blog post. 

Sorry #2!!

I had a little birthday of my own.

I guess I can still call it a "little birthday" since it didn't end in a "0".

I got some new wheels! 

We all love them!

Including these two!

#1 is finishing up her senior year at UNC, but she isn't leaving or graduating.  

She still has another year to go in nursing school.

She did have to say good-bye to her sorority sisters and good-bye to being an active member.

Last week was senior week and there were events planned every night.

(front row with white sweater around her neck)

(front left)

I know she is going to miss it all - 

but it now is time to get on with the real life stuff.

#2 was in Art to Wear at NC State. 

She modeled for a fellow classmate. 

She is on the opening page of the universities web site. 

She is just finishing up her junior year this week!!!

#3 has been doing a lot of this....

School soccer is keeping her busy along with all of the projects the teachers

 have waited until the last of the school year to dole out.  

WE all will be glad when this school year is over for her!  

On Saturday, 

the hubs and I are headed here.......

sorry - it is blurry

After a few days there, we will board a train and head here......

We are celebrating our 25th anniversary with a trip to Italy!!

Actually that is probably the real reason I have been away from blogging so long. 

All of my computer time has been spent researching and preparing for our trip.

More about it later this week!!!!

Off to a another soccer game.....

Ciao!

SCHOOL DANCE

#3 had a school dance last night.

It was her and her friend's first big event since starting high school.

Her school does not have dances, but 

it does allow a parent social committee to sponsor them occasionally. 

A bunch of ninth grade girls can definitely make things like this a big tadoo. 

We offered our house as the meeting spot for everyone so that all of 

us moms could take 1,000 pictures each.

  The boys were not so sure what all the fuss was about.

The girls, well, they were all into it.  

It took  a while to get this bow tie tied,

they YouTubed it!

#3 and some of the girls on the school soccer team

Their coach let them leave practice an hour early so that they could get ready....

of course it was after 

they ran eight laps around the field

and then some wind sprints.

They clean up real nice!

The crowd kept getting bigger and bigger...

"dates"

#1 and #2 even showed up.

They were not going to miss seeing everyone all dressed up.

They were so excited for #3.

***************

(And yes,

the two older ones made it back from their Bahamas trip.

As her luck would have it, Brooke (#2) celebrated her 21st birthday while on 

spring break and then again with us once she was home.

I have been reminded that I haven't done a birthday post yet.

I will in a few days!)

:0)

****************

After the dance we had the group back to our house for a bonfire. 

We ordered pizza and had s'mores fixins set up for them when they got back. 

Parents came and  picked up around 12:30 and then even though we were really 

tired, The Hubs and I sat out by the fire for a while as it burned down.  

It was a late night for us, but we loved it.

It was so good to see them all have so much fun. 

We did this for #1 and #2 a lot while they were in middle school and high school,

it was nice for #3 to have a turn!

KEEP CALM

Here is a little history lesson today:

I love the "Keep Calm" sayings. 

Here a just a few of some of the ones I like.

I am off to a soccer game this afternoon

so I made up my own.......

KEEP 

CALM 

AND 

CHEER HER

ON

I Got Nothing

Well, 

I am trying to be a good blogger but,

I got nothing....

impressive,

important

or 

pressing.  

Art is out of town again this week. 

#3 had a soccer game..... tonight.....outside.....in the cold......

I was there.... tonight....outside....in the cold....

and I am sick.

She started....

I am proud.

They won.

4 to 1

I have neon pink nails on my big ol'hands.

I tried the Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips.

They do work and are easy to put on and so far they have stayed on with no chips or lifting.

This color however is way too neon for me, but that was my mistake.  

It didn't look that bad in the grocery store. 

But tonight at the soccer game, I kept my hands in my pockets

(when I was not blowing my nose).

Under the fluorescent lights they glowed. 

I look like I belong on the The Je**ey Shore.

Confession: 

I am enjoying wearing other rings on my "wedding ring hand".

It is my better hand after all. 

 My wedding ring is in the shop. 

 I won't get my "new ring" back for three weeks still, so until then I am Free Fallin.

I guess my princesses are all safe and sound.

I have not heard hide nor hair from them.

(as my granny used to say)

I know they are REALLY busy... it is spring break after all.

They could at least let their personal banker know that they are safe and sound. 

Don't cha think?  

SOUTH BOUND

I just dropped off the two older girls at the airport.  

They are headed south for spring break.  

In just a few hours they will be surrounded by warm temperatures, 

blue Caribbean waters, white sand and palm trees. 

Just an hour ago ...

#1 was wrestling with her over weight suitcase in the hallway upstairs. 

She was stressed about having to eliminate almost ten pounds!

#2 had her priorities arranged differently.

She had a movie on her laptop going, wet hair, make-up to do and 

even nails to still polish. 

Look at that BIG mess!

 I hope that is not what her room looks like now.

I am afraid to go upstairs.

Some how they got it all together

and made it out of the door at the time we had set.

They each have a big group of friends going and they actually 

were the first ones at the airport.  

Shocking!!!

Prayers for safe travel to my girls!