See, What Happened Was....

So much for sticking to my one blog entry a week commitment. In retrospect, I probably should have set the bar a little lower, much lower. How about an entry per month? Or perhaps I can squeeze one in each quarter. We'll see. In all seriousness, I really love writing - almost as much as you guys LOVE reading my blog!
Because I owe it to you, my faithful, devoted reader(s), here are all the reasons you haven't heard from me lately....

Top Ten Things I've Been Doing This Summer

Instead of Blogging

10. Three month trip to Europe....I wish! I just thought that sounded good. Although there has been no European traveling this summer, the boys and I have enjoyed a wonderful summer...continue reading list for more exciting details....
9. Swimming with the boys. They have both really progressed in the water. I remember what a chore it was last summer even getting them to go completely under. They are now little fish enjoying the water with confidence and ease.
8. Peddling steel coils. From January through July I was working inside sales for a steel company. They're a middle man with much of their product ending up in automobiles. I had a great boss and co-workers and especially enjoyed earning a paycheck again.
7. Being a human pincushion. In preparation of entering the hospitals this fall, I've had the pleasure of receiving every vaccine ever made. Okay, maybe not every single one, but it sure felt like it.
6. Celebrating our country's independence. We spent the July 4th holiday in Leiper's Fork (south of Nashville) with my amazing family and some dear friends. What a wonderful day of celebration! My kickball team emerged victorious, the boys learned the fine art of cornhole, and we consumed a ton of delicious homemade BBQ and s'mores. A proud moment for me personally was listening to Ethan recite (with a little help from Laura) his section of the Declaration of Independence. The perfect day closed with a breathtaking fireworks display! Hands down the most incredible amateur fireworks display ever!
5. Shopping! Not as exciting as it sounds. I'm talking back to school shopping...for all three of us. The boys' lists included the usual pencils, folders, crayons, etc. My list was a little more unusual with such items as bandage scissors, hemostats, stethoscope, and the ugliest pair of solid white shoes you can find.



4. Catching up on Weeds...the television series, not the activity. I kept hearing how great this show was and decided to watch a few episodes. I was instantly hooked and have managed to watch five seasons in a matter of weeks. Although with school starting back, I know my TV viewing hours are numbered now. Sorry Nancy Botwin, but I'm going to have to put school before my weed addiction.
3. Taking a trip to the E.R for our inaugural sutures. Actually, this accident happened on Daddy's watch so I wasn't there for the initial trauma. Preston and Ethan were goofing off in Ethan's top bunk bed when Preston's head slammed into the railing. Five stitches later I received a phone call from Mr. Ex calming stating, "Now listen, don't freak out but we're leaving Children's Hospital right now..." (Note to all fathers: Never ever begin a sentence with "Don't freak out, but...") After I calmed down and pushed back the images of myself strangling Mr. Ex, I was able to talk to Preston. Here is how our conversation went:
Me: Oh my goodness, P!! Are you okay???!!!
Preston: I'm okay, Mommy...and I didn't even cry!
Me: Holy cow!! You didn't cry??!!
Preston: Well, I cried when I hit my head but not when I got the stitches.
Me: You are so brave!! I'm so sorry this happened to you!
Preston: It's okay. Don't worry, Mommy, chicks dig scars.
2. Survived a trip to Deliverance. No, really. That freaky movie was filmed not too far from the home of my aunt and uncle in Georgia. They live in a beautiful, woodsy, lake community and the boys and I recently spent a weekend there. We were joined by some of our cousins (isn't everyone a cousin in Georgia, though?) and had a wonderful weekend.



1. Catching up with old friends and making some new ones. I've enjoyed some wonderful company, meals, and laughs with dear friends this summer and was blessed to make some new ones, too. Some great memories were made on a couple summer trips. The first was a girls' trip where I (re)learned why I shouldn't take shots. I also spent a fantastic weekend at the lake where I laughed more than I have in awhile.


All in all, it's been a wonderful summer and I'm looking ahead to a great fall semester! I hope your summer has been filled with as much laughter, happiness, and terrific memories as mine! And just in case I go off the grid again for while (not that it's likely, but just in case), I hope fall brings you much joy, too!