Reunion

Wow...it's been so long since I've been on here, that Blogger has completely changed the format!!  Oh, well, haven't had much to say for quite some time, but that may soon change...we'll see how it goes:)

Casa de Envy is quiet now, but later this week the joint will be jumpin'!  For the first time in several years, my dad's family will be gathering at the homeplace for a reunion.  Snow White will be home, and family members will be arriving from hither and yon.  On the menu:  BBQ with slaw, chicken, baked beans, and a plethora of homemade side dishes.  You know we country folks like to cook;)  OMG!  I just gained five pounds thinking about it! 

I'm hoping that someone shows up to the reunion with a camera so I can share some of the joy.  A picture truly says a thousand words... 

Tuesday Tid-Bits

1. Today is a Tuesday-that-feels-like-Monday-stick-out-your-tongue sort of day. Neither good nor bad, just BLAH!

2. I ate Cheez-Its for supper last night. My high school Home-Ec teacher would be horrified. Although, they made a colorful plate...um, napkin.

3. Snow White and I spent a wonderful holiday season together:) She is now back at school, has pledged a sorority, and has fallen into her old ways of forgetting to text her Mama on a regular basis:/ Oh, well, I'll hear from her soon...she'll need money!

4. Why is it so much fun to burn trash in a barrel?

5. How did I ever survive without my Tervis Tumblers? "The world's first smart cup," INDEED! I. LOVE. THEM.

6. I have not had a television, by choice, for almost a year. My sister gave me her DVD player, but it had been sitting unused in the living room for almost a month. Yesterday I made the mistake of popping in a movie. I figured I'd enjoy a show while polishing off a pot of coffee on my day off. Well, three movies and a four hour nap later, I realized WHY I had chosen NOT to have that sort of entertainment around...I WON'T GET ANYTHING DONE!!! I turn into a lazy slug

7. This pesky cold has been hanging on for over a week now. I believe I will use this as my excuse for taking a four hour nap yesterday.

8. Did I mention that I took a FOUR HOUR NAP yesterday?

9. My great-grandmother was right, Vick's Vapor Rub and Nyquil CAN cure most anything that ails you.

10. What's happening in your world today??

State Fair

The State Fair rolled into town a couple of weeks ago, and I was fortunate enough to have been able to go and enjoy all of it's fried food-smelly animal-barking carnie goodness!! The little guy you see above was my prize for winning the squirt gun game, which I ROCKED;) Sadly, the Whack-a-Mole game was nowhere to be found...

Named "Green Monkey", because I'm original like that, he has given me more than a few smiles since I brought him home. As you can see, I've already trained him to bring me flowers. Of course, they came off of the rosebush in my yard and I had to clip them, but it's the thought that counts. Right? Don't judge.

I didn't go to the Fair last year because I was in a huge pity pile after Snow White left for college, and it wouldn't be the same without her, and it was too depressing, and wahh, wahh, wahh. Well, this year I decided to send her photos while I was there. Pig races, tractors, farm animals, OH, MY! To my delight, she and I carried on quite a conversation via text as I visited many of our fair faves:) Still wasn't the same as having her home, but that chapter is closed, and we are beginning to create new traditions. With the holidays tapping at the door, it's time to embrace our new reality, and look for ways to just make things work!!

The sun is shining here this morning, and the temps are predicted to reach into the eighties. I have a busy day ahead, and plan to enjoy every moment of it! Happy Monday, my friends! ((hugs))

Apple. Tree.

Well, my baby girl has come to the dark side. Please head over and give her some bloggy love!

Snow White's Blog Spot, Musings Avant-Garde, is located here.

I guess this is my clue to get back on here and actually POST something once in a while!!! I miss visiting with the people who live in my computer:/

((hugs))

19

Nineteen years ago today, I gave birth to an amazing little bundle of joy. She has been my sunshine since the moment I first saw her!

I've watched her learn to walk, and learn to drive. I've seen her dress like a princess, and sing like a bird. I've wiped her tears, and picked up pieces of her broken heart. I've worried, prayed, cheered, scolded, clapped, laughed, and worried some more. She made my life complete.

This is the first time that I have not been with her on her birthday. It's sad, but I take comfort in the fact that she is moving on to bigger and better things. She is once again learning to walk....this time, on her own.

Happy 19th Birthday, Snow White! You are the light of my life!

Road Trip - Texas

Welcome to Texas!

Home of the elusive, yet ever-lovely, bucket-stealing Grandma J!

Where husbands wither in the ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN degree heat!

Where sad parents drop their daughter off to pursue her dreams.

Where blog friends meet for the very first time!!

Hi, Krissa!! SQUEEEEEEE!!!

Where couples enjoy ferry rides.

Only in the beautiful state of Texas;)

GO COWBOYS!

Road Trip - Pensacola Beach

It's been almost three weeks since I have posted, and WHAT a three weeks it's been! We had a little family beach vacation, dropped our daughter off at college, visited blog friends, and ate our way across the country and back trekked through nine states! WHEW! As much as I enjoyed that 3400 mile trip, it sure is nice to be home:)

Today's post is dedicated to our beach trip. Our family has enjoyed vacationing at the beach since SW was a baby. It seemed only fitting that we hit the beach one last time before she headed off to school!

The beach was WONDERFUL, but, judging by the pictures I took, the food must have been our main focus!!!

Anybody hungry??!!

The beautiful white sand beach was a real treat! My dad told me that it would look like sugar, and it certainly did!

A BP cleanup crew was working a ways down the beach. I'm not sure exactly what they were cleaning up, but goggles and handwipes were available at every boardwalk. The water was clear, dolphins were swimming AND schools of little fish were jumping all around the area where CB and SW were wading in the water.

The day got a bit stormy, but we were not deterred from enjoying our time outdoors!

This photo was taken our last evening before departing for Texas. I LOVE this pic of my two faves;)

Look for the Texas post coming later in the week. Missed you guys!

Packing

Well, we've hit mid-week, and packing is progressing slowly. We have, however, successfully purchased a laptop and a net book, and have crossed numerous other items off of our collective to-do lists. Now, if we could JUST find out about Snow White's room assignment! GAH!

SW has been extremely organized, and there are only a dozen items remaining on her "needs" list. One more trip to Target, and we should be done spending so much freakin' money shopping for school.

The family room is a disaster. I'm confident it will get worse before it gets better!!

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock...

One Week

This photo was taken at Bud's Beach back in April. Snow White was on Spring Break, and we had a wonderful day relaxing together!

One week from now my family will be on a sunny beach soaking up a few rays. The car will be in the parking lot, packed from top to bottom with all things college. I'm sure the conversation will also be about all things college. And childhood memories. There will be laughter, and perhaps a few tears. A brief time of familiarity before transitioning into the unknown.

Over the weekend, SW had about forty of her friends over for one last hoorah before they prepare to head off to college. And hoorah they did! Many were overcome with the reality that they weren't going to be seeing each other until Thanksgiving or Christmas...no more chatting in the halls, or at the Friday night football games. (I was overcome with the amount of filth that forty kids can generate in a relatively short period of time!) They said their tearful goodbyes and promised to keep in touch.

This week I am going to attempt to document the preparation that will go into our pending road trip. The good. The bad. The ugly. Stay tuned...

Tired

My cat has the right idea...sleep, eat and sleep some more!

Vacation Bible School arrived on the heels of Blog Fest. Both were topped off with a heaping helping of triple-digit temperatures. As if THAT weren't enough, Snow White is preparing to leave for college in a few short weeks. Eye appointments, dental appointments, driving school and dorm shopping are but a few of the many tasks at hand. The joint is jumpin', and I am exhausted!

After church yesterday, I grabbed a float and relaxed in our tepid pool. I attempted to take a nap out there, but my mind just kept racing:/ So much to do, so little time! Before I knew it, Sunday was over and Monday was knocking at the door... with no naps in sight!!

I hope you all had a nice weekend, and that the work week will sail smoothly by!

Time Marches On

Two weeks? Has it really been TWO WEEKS since I last posted? Time seems to be slipping away from me these days, but I'll try to catch you up on the recent goings-on at Casa de Envy.

In the summer months, our cat enjoys being outside as much as possible. This has never been a problem before...she goes out, comes in to eat, and goes back out until morning. She then sleeps all day in the air conditioning. One recent morning, at 3:30, she was attacked by something on our porch. Cool Breeze and I heard the most horrible howl, and ran outside to see what was going on. There was cat hair everywhere, but no cat in sight. We searched high and low for her, but didn't see or hear a thing. About thirty minutes later she came walking around the side of the pool fence. She had a scratch in her right ear, and a gash on her left rear paw. We still have no clue what happened, but have been keeping a vigilant eye out for whatever may be lurking in the woods. Our kitty has found a spot where she will be perfectly safe when she ventures outside - the top of the shed...

In other news:

We attended Snow White's Baccalaureate Service. I was disappointed with the turnout, but was thrilled that my dad was able to join us! (Dad just celebrated a birthday. Happy Birthday, Dad!!)

The service was held at Snow White's high school. Cool Breeze pointed out that it would be our last time in the building. We couldn't have asked for a better group of teachers and staff, and I will definitely miss being a part of the school community.

Graduation was the most recent event on the list. We were about to burst with pride as our daughter sang in the choir and then received her diploma! I love you Snow White. You are an amazing young woman with a bright future ahead. I can't wait to see what the next phase of your life holds in store. Sorry we made you eat at the "old person's restaurant" - did you at least enjoy your meal? Maybe the graduation party made up for it?

I hope you never stop viewing the world through rose-colored glasses:)

Texas

Photo Credit: http://www.texasaces.com/gold/images/Baylor_bear

Earlier in the week, the whole family hopped aboard a jet plane at four a.m. and headed for the great state of Texas. I am not a fan of flying, but it seemed silly to take a week off from work and school to drive twenty-two hours each way for a fifteen minute audition. But that's just me.

Snow White is interested in attending Baylor University. As a voice major, one of the requirements for admission is an audition. In person. Even if you DO live 1,400 miles away. The poor child was SO nervous about auditioning. She isn't typically like that, but I believe the lack of sleep, coupled with the fact that she had a lot of time to dwell on it as we traveled, made for a bad mix.

We arrived in Dallas Monday morning, picked up the rental car and headed for Waco. Once we were out of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, we were struck by how FLAT everything was. We could see water towers that had to have been six or more miles away. The rural areas were beautiful, and the real, live longhorns didn't disappoint!!

Once in Waco, we attempted to orient ourselves in order to avoid getting lost en route to the audition. We enjoyed a little driving tour of the Baylor campus, and were thrilled to see the bear habitat in person!! It would have been nice to spend more time on campus, but we were all operating on very little sleep, and we wanted Snow White to get some rest before the audition. SO, we checked into the hotel and slept for two blissful hours!!!

To make a very long story short, the audition went well, and we all arrived home safely Tuesday night. Snow White should get her results within the next week, and then it will be time to make a decision...

My only regret about this trip is that we didn't have enough time to see my BFF Grandma J, who lives very close to Waco. Next time, Grandma J, I promise:)

Wishing you all a very Happy Easter! I'm going to re-pot my Easter Cactus this weekend, and will have photos up Monday:)

18

It's hard to believe that 18 years ago I brought home a tiny bundle of joy. She always had a smile on her face, and she sang along with Luciano Pavarotti before she could walk. She was, and still is, a camera hog, and I've got the videos to prove it! I've had the privilege of watching her grow into an amazing young woman, and I'm proud to be her mother.

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!! I love you:)

All dressed up to attend a wedding.

Sporting the pearls at a family Thanksgiving gathering.

Feeling like a princess after the dance recital!

First fishing trip. She caught six fish!

Fun at the river! Performing "Jubilation T. Cornpone" from Li'l Abner

Enjoying Disney with Grandma and Granddaddy!

Always happy to be cheering, despite the weather:)

Now, if you'd excuse me, I need to go blow my nose......**sniff, sniff**