What?

Mommy, I am really glad that you married Stu and not some guy who doesn't wash his armpits"

Umm...sure. Me too. That would be so .... stinky.

Game boy.

Michael is home sick today - a bit of a fever with a cough and runny nose. He seems to be feeling better though.

He was watching TV while I folded some clothes today. Michael came to check on me.

"Mommy, did you know that there are more x-box games out there?"
Oh, really?
"Yeah, and did you know that there is something called a nintendo, and some boys and girls have both an X-box and a nintendo? "
I had no idea
"Isn't that cool?"
Totally.

Me thinks someone has the video game fever. Though I think Michael is one of the only ones to like the games more for the music. He will sing along to all of the songs on his ATV game and then walk around the house singing "Shiny shoes and shiny hair"*** for hours. Hilarious.

***I have not the first clue as to what this song is, but we love that part!

First Grade ... Already?!

Michael started First Grade today. I cried a little (does that really surprise anyone?)

We left for school this morning at 7:20 am. School begins at 7:50 am, but Michael needs time to warm up on the playground before he is ready to begin the day. This allows him to get settled in. I was the exact same way, though I didn't need the time on the playground. I would get up at 4:30 am to watch I Love Lucy and to wake up. People thought I was a morning person, but really, I was just up way before anyone else (but never on the weekends!).

I digress.

On our walk to school, Michael was pretty excited about starting first grade. We talked about his teacher's name (because I knew he had already forgotten) and his favorite part about school (the playground, of course). As we walked closer to school, he got a bit more quiet. Pensive, if you will. Michael found his classroom and set his book bag outside of the door. We stood, hand in hand, on the edge of the playground.

"Mommy, can you come and play with me?"
"No, boo, I can't; but I will stand right here and watch you until you get to go into your class."
"OK. Can I stand here with you for a little while? Just so you won't be alone."
"I would love for you to stand with me until you are ready to go play."

Amd we stood at the edge of the playground for just a little bit. More and more kids were arriving, more and more parents were watching from the sidelines. Michael's friend, Brantley from Kindergarten, came over and Michael ran off to play with him. I caught glimpses of green and blue stripes running here and there. I knew he would be OK. I looked over at the kindergarten playground - the more crowded of the play yards. Quite a few tearful moms and dads taking picture upon picture. I remember feeling that way -- heck, I felt that way still!

The bell rang. Michael ran over to gather his book bag of newly purchased school supplies and his lunch box. He gave me a smooch, a little wave, and headed into the classroom. I watched him from the windows - put down his book bag, take his supplies to the proper place, and sit down towards the back of the circle. I watched as he said the Pledge of Allegiance. And I walked away. And I shed a tear. My baby is growing up.

For your reading pleasure .... the list!

Here is my 30 things to do before I turn 30 list. Some are fun, some slightly unattainable, some serious... Feel free to push me along. I have only one short year until I turn 30. Gotta do it while I am young!

And without further ado, I present THE LIST:

1. Sing karaoke in front of a moderately sized crowd.
2. Eat at the Broken Egg Cafe (here in Tallahassee)
3. Audition for a play.
4. Run (not walk) in a 5K.
5. Complete the Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon (walk or run or both)
6. Lose 50 lbs.
7. Travel to New York City (with mom?).
8. Participate in an arts/craft show.
9. Write (hand write) a letter to a different person each week (and for those who know me, this is a hard thing for me to do, for some reason!)
10. Find a job that I love.
11. Take Michael to the new aquarium in Atlanta.
12. Read the first four Harry Potter books with Michael.
13. Go to the doctor for a check-up (because I haven't been in a very long time - Stu and Michael go enough for the both of us)
14. Go one week without spending a single penny.
15. Travel to California to see Tom and Marsha.
16. Cook more and learn to love it!
17. Take an art class.
18. Throw a dinner party.
19. Sew a doll.
20. Groom the back yard (within the fenced area) into something to be proud of.
21. Give blood.
22. Go on more date nights with Stu.
23. Eat a raw oyster.
24. Finish all current and future projects.
25. Get a passport.
26. See more live theatre.
27. Learn Photoshop.
28.Learn French (perhaps to use with my passport??)
29. Write a children's book (Thanks to Mom and Aunt Joani's suggestions)

And number 30. I am going to have a contest for this one. Tell me what you think my thirtieth entry should be. Go crazy!

Good things come in threes

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ELCNU MOT, MARSHA AND ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And also a happy birthday to Whitney Houston and Jason Wilbanks (who used to live down the street from me ages ago - he is one year older than me and that is about all of the information I have on Jason Wilbanks). I don't know who their third is, but I have my posse!

Elcnu Mot and Marsha - I am so lucky to share in my birthday with the two of you! We have our own August 9th club - wish we lived closer so that we could share birthday cake (or birthday watermelon, whichever). I hope the next year is fabulous.

I always feel a little contemplative on my birthdays. And this birthday is no different. I feel like I am older now, but yet I still don't like meatloaf (the food or the singer), or know how to play bridge. I do however still love MTV and boy bands. I am a little, shall we say, confused. Or stuck in my early twenties? Hmmm...

I am working on a "30 things to do before my 30th birthday" ... stay tuned.

Arts and crafts station!

Now that I know Aunt Joani is reading this little blog, I feel a little intimidated to post my latest painting. But, I will do it for the sake of posterity...

I am in the process of making over Michael's room (see how domestic I am?) I found this cute fabric at Joann's and bought some to make a pillow as well as to copy into a series of three paintings. I finished the first one yesterday and thought I would post for all to see ...

Here is the fabric:

And here is my painting:

I will post the other two upon completion.

And PS: I am still working on the synopsis of the vacation ...I want it to the best it can be for my dear readers. Mmmmwah!

Does this mean he likes me?

I got my haircut yesterday into a cute little shattered ends bob, with a wisp of bang slapped to the side. I walked out of the salon feeling like a hip yougster (which is much needed as my 29th birthday is mere days away!)

I got home - anxious to show off the new do. Stu was the first to greet me and agreed that the haircut was fabulous.

I walked into Michael's room with a grand "how do you like my new hairdo?". Michael looks at it and says "Mommy - you look like a boy." Such a way with words that one.

This morning, we were getting into the car and Michael says "don't worry, Mommy. your hair will grow back." A comforter to boot!

Oh the joys of motherhood, er fatherhood (just until the hair grows back). I am thinking that Michael should get a head start on living in the car ... no time like the present and all that.

Lofty aspirations

Michael: "When I grow up, I want to live in a car!"

Reach for the stars, baby.

Vacation all I ever wanted...vacation happy to get away!

We left on Saturday - late in the afternoon. Michael was ready to rock-n-roll much earlier in the day, but Stu needed to finish up some work and I needed to shop for more vacation wear. And my parents had a much further drive and also wouldn't be arriving until later afternoon. So, little bit lost out.

As an aside, Michael could totally win an air guitar competition. His facial expressions alone put him over the top. We will be certain to let his new first grade teacher know of his talents to use in the class play - I'm just saying - Macauley Culkin look-a-like air guitar players are in high demand in first grade.

Moving right along ... road trip! It only took us about four hours to get to Palm Coast. We could have made it in 3 hours and 45 minutes, but Stu missed the exit. A word to the wise - if Stu ever tells you about a shortcut, go the opposite way. His shortcuts make for the longest drives known to man.

Anyway, we made it past the guard house (I was afraid they would not allow us in ... my nails took a biting!) We met Mom just outside of the guard house and drove up to this:

This picture does not do this place justice. Go visit the website -

http://www.hammockbeach.com - such a fabulous place. There are 5 pools, an indoor pool, a lazy river, a three story slide, a gym, and on and on. Good gravy - I loved it there. I felt so fancy handing my card to allow me into the pool - they gave me towels and then I gave it back to them all dirty and wet to launder for me the next day. I was fancy! We had cheeseburgers poolside, brought to me by the world's next supermodel (and no, I felt no pang of guilt for eating in front of these emaciated women!)

The condo is owned by my parent's best friends. They generously allowed our family to use it for the week. I am hoping to be their favorite caretaker - I promise to clean and stock the fridge for their visits - I will have to start lobbying.

how could I resist putting this one up?

That Nana is bananas - B-A-N-A-N-A-S! (Is she giving us the finger??)

The natives are getting restless..

For those of you curious about The Williams-Dooley-Hall Summer Vacation 2005 (*and breathe*),

Give me one second (as illustrated by my father).

I love having the right picture ...must. take. more. photos. of. things. other. than. my. son.