HELLO FIVE POUNDS

It was cool enough outside yesterday to wear jeans.

It was a nice change.

HOWEVER.....

I was so uncomfortable all day long. I felt like someone stuffed me into them.

When I was getting dressed in the morning, I changed shirts several times to find the most forgiving one.

All day yesterday, this was the image that I couldn't get out of my head:

I'm seriously considering one of these!

And,

I might have to get this.

$69.77?

I wonder how they came up with that price.

That is just an odd number to me.... $69.77. Not $69.99?

I would be more inclined to purchase something I could just slather on

and wait for it to work its magic.

I just haven't been very motivated lately and haven't been to the gym since the kids went back to school. I do walk most mornings and I am always on the go, hardly ever sitting around. That is just not enough anymore. I don't eat "bad" food, just too much good food. It is time to cut back and get moving.

It is so frustrating.

12645

I'VE GOT A HANKERING

The Man of the House and I said we would never do it again.

We said we would never get another dog after losing Cleo in January.

We loved her like she was one of our kids. If you've ever had a dog, you know that they do become one of your children.

I miss Cleo.

I miss her and I miss having a dog.

I miss things like this........

#1 and #2 always had a dog (or two) growing up.

Before Cleo, there were two very spoiled West Highland Terriers named Nicholas and Muffin.

#3 is now the only child at home and will be for 5 1/2 years.

I always feel so guilty when we leave her home by herself. It looks so lonely and I know a dog would be great company to her.

She misses having a dog too and she keeps asking if we are ever going to get another one.

The Man of the House and I have these wonderful plans that involves travel, Italy, beaches and airplanes once #3 is in college. Things like that are just so hard to do when there is a four legged child in your house. But on the other hand, 5 1/2 years is a long time from now.

We saw these guys when we went to Charleston in August......

and ever since then I've had this hankering.

I've been doing a lot of looking and researching on the internet.

I have fallen for the "doodles".

The face on this guy above just kills me. How sweet does he look?

On the other hand.........

the guy below probably WOULD kill me if we brought a puppy home.

Mr. Bubbles has become a spoiled little cat and usually is a good sport about most of things we put him go through. I don't know how he would feel about sharing all of the attention but,

I am pretty sure he'd gladly share his Elf Costume.

12573

H1N1-ing

Have you H1N1-ed yet?

#3 came home from school yesterday with fever, chills, aches and the grumpies.

She woke up this morning feeling the same and out of nowhere has a cough that makes her sound like a 100 year old chain smoker.

I looked up the symptoms of H1N1 and it is a perfect match - minus the sore throat.

There have been kids out of school because of H1N1, more and more each day.

They are telling us on every news report all about it, but I still can't decide.

They aren't testing for it anymore at the doctor's office, because they are running out of flu tests and flu season hasn't officially started.

So, I am just not sure if she really has it.

She is wearing a toboggan and a hoodie over her pajamas because she says she can't get warm.

I made her homemade chicken soup this morning.

(That should get me some Mom Points!)

Right now she is sitting all glassy eyed in front of the TV.

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

Question:

What could be worse than feeling bad and having a fever?

Answer:

Feeling bad, having a fever AND having homework!

Her teachers are looking out for her and sent her homework home with a friend!

She is thrilled!

12344

MY ZETA AND AXO GIRLS

Okay, so I thought I'd show you where all of the House Budget is going this year.

I really wanted to redo our office and turn it into something that looks like this:

or I'd even settle for something like this:

but it is not going to happen now.

We have dues to pay!!

Last week both of my girls were going through Rush at their schools. They both looked exhausted when they came home over the weekend. I am hoping that now it is all over, they will settle into a regular school routine and study a little.

#2 is now a Zeta. She was so excited to get a bid from her first choice.

They have a great house and have a lot of exciting things on the calendar.

Her first mixer is on Thursday. It is a themed one called the ABC Party

Everyone has to dress up as someone/something that starts with same letter as their first name.

#2's first name starts with a B.

All weekend long we brainstormed and made a list of all of the possibilities.

She thinks she is gong to go as a BIKER....as in Harley Davidson Biker.

Some of her other choices are a ballerina, Barbie or to dress up like the Brooks Brothers with another "B" girl. Thursday is along time from now so I am sure she will change her mind several times by then.

(any ideas?)

This is their house.

She says it is really neat inside and I cannot wait until I get to go check it out!

This how they decorated the dining area for Bid Day.

It was a preppy jungle theme.

bid day dinner...

the new pledge class...

#2 on the left and her roommate and suite mate ready for a rush event

They all three got bids for the same sorority and are really excited about that.

#1 Rushed last year and is a member of AXO at her school. So she was on the inside of all of the discussions and planning this year. So much time goes into each house getting everything just right. They practiced for months on their skits and dances. After each day of rush, they stayed at the house and cleaned and decorated it for the next day's theme. Sometimes it took all night. It payed off for them though. They got a great pledge class.

Her is #1 and her "Big". They were in a skit on this night and had to wear a western themed outfit.

this is #1's pledge class

(they feel so much older now that they aren't the newcomers!)

They took the new pledges out on the town in limos on Bid Day

and went midnight bowling.

I am yawning just thinking about how late these girls stay up!

I do not know how they do it!

#1 and her Little Buddy

They don't have "Bigs" and "Littles" yet.

I think they wait until the orientation meetings are over in a month and then reveal who each of the new pledges' "Bigs" are.

Of course, they look for any excuse to have a party!

They're young and can handle it.

It just tuckers me out thinking about it all.

So, no new office for me.

(I'm not really mad!)

I have dues to pay, formal dresses to buy, Harley Davidson paraphernalia to get

and so on. Oh, and just like last week, I think I see plenty of craft projects in my future!

AWESOME SIGHT

We went to the NC State football game last Saturday.

It was military appreciate night.

We have several military bases in North Carolina and many members of the military were at the game. Before the game started two sky divers landed on the field with the game ball. It was such an awesome sight.

Everyone was on their feet cheering.

The hair on my arms stood at attention..... I got goose bumps.

Members of the military unveiled an American flag that was the size of the football field while the band played during halftime.

(more goose bumps)

We have season tickets outside down in the lower section, but my husband's company has one of those swanky boxes up top that comes in handy when it is hot, cold or rainy out (or if we get hungry!). We have access to it most games. During the second half we went up to say hello and to see what kind of cookies they were serving. HA!

This is the view from way up there.

Man of the House, #3 , and a friend wasted no time and were perusing the buffet line.

After all of the tail gating.....eating......before the game, I don't know how they were even able to look at the food.

There is another game this weekend, but it is supposed to rain!

I know where I will be sitting!