Beach Days 4-8

So day 4 came......This was Tuesday and Jeff had to fly out that afternoon... :(
But he didn't leave before getting in some pool time with the kids.

I was sad to take him to the airport, but I have to say excited that I was still at the beach.
We finished the sail that afternoon when I returned, and Parker was even allowed to go along for the ride.
The rest of the trip was very nice and relaxing. Dane had to leave also, so Marg and I had the kids in our place with the help from Mimi and Pops.
We played in the pool a lot, napped, and grilled out. We even got in a trip to Destin to visit mom and dad's long time friends, Linda and Larry Phillips.
Great Family Time!

Day 2 and 3

Sunday was Mimi's Birthday. We spent it in the pool, out to lunch, on the beach, out for a sunset sail, and then grilled out with Bday cake to follow. Well, actually it was some of our left over wedding cake Mom and Dad had in the freezer.

The sail that afternoon in the ocean was soo nice and calm. It was like a lake out there and made for a very relaxing little afternoon sail.(Sea N Suds)

(I know we Look rough, but o'well)

Monday. We spent some time on the beach in the morning, then ate some lunch and decided to attempt the LONG sail(Me, Jeff, Marg, and Pops), down the Gulf to the bridge to bring the boat back on the bay side. The ocean is a little rough for sailing on most days and the bay is much calmer for mimi and pops to sail on their own. It was a little more rough than the day before, and actually Jeff ended up sailing us the entire length of the Coast, manuvered around the jetties, and between the concrete bridge posts. I'll tell you, that is tough work on a sailboat as your fate is up to the wind and you are tacking to catch it but only have about 50yds to work in. But we DID it, and watched the sun-set from the bay on the boat. One thing Dad failed to mention, was we had to sail around Ono Island b/c we were too high to pass under that bridge....Well, that meant we had to sail back past the condo on the bay side about another 3 miles and then turn back to hit our dock. Yeah, well, the sun started setting, so we found a place to beach the boat, until Tomorrow......

Good Times, and Great Bonding!

Family Beach Fun!

Perdido Key, FL!!! YAY! We are back at the Mariner Condo where I grew up coming! It brings back such memories, as my grandparents always had a place here, and I have been coming to this condo complex since I was 6 months old! It is one of the oldest condos on the beach, but has the best pool and courtyard and isn't an overly crowded high-rise. Everyone, knows everyone, as most people come back year after year, and we have met many other families that grew up coming here. It has been re-done as it was damaged during Ivan, and now my parents have a place here! The tradition continues.....YAY!

Mimi(my mom)

Mimi and Pops kept the kids for the night, while Dane, Marg, Jeff and I went out to dinner at Guy Harvey's at the Wharf. It was a Beautiful Day on the Beach and an even better Evening, as it is un-seasonably cool right now.
Unfortunately, the night ended with a little "incident". Marg and Dane dropped off Jeff and I after dinner to continue on to Walmart for some things. We went in to relieve Mimi and Pops from baby-sitting, as the kids were already asleep.........well, kindof.....
Parker woke up and made it to the bathroom, but projectiled ALL over the bathroom. As, I jumped up and ran toward the crying I heard, I opened the bathroom door, only to step, right in the mess!! Those that know me know I have a weak stomach.....so what did I do???!!! Proceeded to puke with him.....nice! WE both ended up in the bathtub washing off our feet, and poor Jeff turned into Daddy mode and just about had everything cleaned up before Marg and Dane returned. I think he is nice and broken in now. I will refrain from posting the pics that were taken to show Marg and Dane the damage that was done.

Houston and Galveston

So then I was off on July 10th to surprise my friend Erin for her 30th Bday. Her sweet and very anxious husband has been planning this surprise party for over 6 months. It went off perfectly. She was so surprised and even cried when she saw me and Mis, and some good friends from Louisville, who had made the trip. Of course I cried too! :)

Then it was off to Galveston for the girls night, while her husband and parents stayed back with the 3 kids. Good Relaxing times! TEXAS is HOT! Like stale dry heat HOT!! slightly miserable out of the water. So we had a lot of time in the pool.

Sunday the kids and rest of the fam joined and we just relaxed by the pool at the condo and went to Rain Forest Cafe in Galveston Monday night. Tuesday it was time to head home.

Great Trip with great friends!! Love you guys, but missed the girls that couldn't be with us.
Then Look Who I ran into in the ATL airport!!

July 4th

OK - so I realize I have pics all the way back to the 4th weekend.

It was wonderful. Dinner and Movie, Beach, Out on the water for some Kevin Kenny, Beach, and celebrating our friends Steph and Phillipe's wedding.Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Johnson!!!

Great Weekend!!

Busy, Busy, Busy

OK - So I realize I've been away for a while....So sorry to leave you hanging but the traveling started and it was difficult to blog. I am actually going to try to get these updates done sitting outside at the pool at the beach. The nephew and niece are sleeping so there is some peace and quiet for a minute. Let's see how far I get.....

Second Guessing?

So after reading a friend's post about taking her boyfriend to the airport at 6:30am this morning, only to turn right around and pick him back up b/c he is slightly schedule challenged and the conference/flight is actually NEXT Wed not today, it made me think.......
I always have a fear for about 30 seconds right after I hit Purchase on a flight or anything, that I got the dates wrong, or the time wrong, or picked the wrong seats for the concert and just got charged for the premium seats and I can't afford them. Or that the perfect 9am flight out and 5pm return flight for $225, just became the 6am flight, return at 11:30pm and costs, $348!!
Just wondering if any of you share this fear??
Now, I'm off to double check my tickets for my next 2 flights!!
Happy hump Day!

Space Planning Fun!!

Planning a New Space?? So I have found a new addiction.....
Room Planning
I have laid out a space plan for our family room and I LOVE IT!! This tool is so great, and can help you in a room layout....all for free and no need to purchase software!!
All I need to do now is sell our furniture (let me know if you are in need of any sofas or chairs), and get my new sofa and we will be in business! Oh, yeah, and build out a whole wall unit entertainment center/display shelving....That's it!! :)
I hope you enjoy playing on it too!!
Happy Monday!

Montreal Day 6

So this Day, I was a little less adventurous.....
Just some window shopping. But we did stumble across a movie set, almost every day.
They were Filming Beastly in Montreal. Vanessa Hudgens and Mary-Kate Olsen. Some guy also, that I didn't know.

(Wardrobe Trailers)

That evening we went to a restaurant that we found our last trip. Modavie (pro-nounced, Mo-Day-Vee)- it is fabulous! local Jazz, every night, good service, good wine(which surprising is very rare to come by in Montreal), and Great Vibe! Lovely, end to the trip!

Montreal Day 5

So Obviously, after quite an adventure on Tuesday, Wed I opted for a little more low key. Wed, was a holiday for them, St. John the Baptist's Day, so the city was bustling like a Saturday. I opted to take off toward the Port this day, as I only had to hit the Number 55 bus to get there, and I knew that area better. I packed my bookbag with, a towel, my book, a water bottle, phone, I-pod, and I was Off. Stopped at Starbucks for an Iced Mocha, and perched myself in the park for 3 hours, of reading, relaxing and people watching! It was Lovely! A Gorgeous Day!

(I just thought, these little girls picnicking by me, were soo cute!)

That Evening we were off with the Group from the Conference to a Dinner at Gibby's. Cool Old horse stables restaurant in Old Town area! Unfortunately, I forgot my camera. Then later, came back to the hotel and had a couple drinks with a couple from New Brunswick that were at the Conference. Crazy story I have to share(for all you moms, out there).....they said their son, had really bad stomach problems for the first 2 years of his life. He would throw up all the time. no doctor could figure out what to do or what was wrong. They ended up at a Pediatric Chiropractor, 6 visits later, he hasn't thrown up, since! Same went for when he had ear infections....they were about to put tubes in his ears and they took him to the Chiropractor, once before going for the tubes.....Magic....worked again. No tubes, went in! Just something I thought I would share, when you think you have done everything......

Montreal Day 3&4

Monday came and Jeff's Conference Began...So I was off on my own!
Today I shopped St. Catherine, and searched for about 45 minutes for a Starbucks!
Good Times, but came home with nothing b/c my suitcase on the way up was already 50 lbs, I decided there really wasn't anything I needed. :)
When Jeff got home, we headed back down to the square for dinner. After walking the side streets for something new, we ended up outside at the square. It actually was fairly chilly that evening out, but nice with a light sweater and jeans on. Jeff got Surf and Turf and I got a Filet. Yummy!
Tuesday I got Brave! After a morning workout, with a jog around the city blocks(yes, I know, I never really work out much, but the weather was so nice and I had the time, so why not!), I ventured up to Mount Royal. OK, so Mount Royal is a large park that overlooks the city, and was landscaped by the same guy that did Central Park. I knew there were lookout points, a lake, some old history, some cemeteries and I would have a gorgeous view of the city. So I looked up the Metro Maps and Bus Maps and figured out my stops and how I was going to navigate my way up to this Mountain......Now, remember, we are in the French part of Canada and everything is French, everyone is speaking French, and although I took French in high school, I retained VERY little. So my path is cut out....I have 2 stops on the Subway, then I transfer lines, go 3 stops and then get off and take the number 11 bus up the mountain. Easy Enough, Right?!
Well surprisingly so, it was easy enough. So 2 trains and 1 bus later, I find the bus climbing a hill, I think, this is It! Yes, I did it. Oh, look, there is a look out point....oh, wait....is the bus going downhill now? Did I miss my stop? I better get off at the next one! So I get off, and venture across a street to where a building stood, and there appeared to be a trail up to the left. I am in my workout clothes and carrying my purse with me. I know, again, why do I have my purse? But I had to make sure to have my camera, Metro Card, hotel key and ID in-case I got lost someone would know who they found!
I see the trail, it's large its wide, there are other people, its only slightly uphill, I think this has to be the way to something, right? Well, again, I was right. I must say, I have a fairly good sense of direction. I came up to a larger house, started seeing more people, and then Here I was!!! This is what I found!! YAY! Gorgeous views of the city!
So after I had enough of the scenary, I decided I would venture down to the look-out spot I had seen on the bus on the way up. It couldn't be far? It had to be along the ridge line, if I just follow this path I'll be sure to find it, right? Also, I noticed that is also where I could catch the 11 bus back down the mountain, so it would work out perfect. Well, not so much....I twisted, I turned, I hiked up, I hiked down, I crossed little bridges, I saw a very LONG set of stairs(I opted against), and I slowly but surely found myself in the middle of the woods and NO ONE around me!!! My paths got smaller, it was basically dirt now, and I slowly grew a little anxious that I had truly gotten myself lost. Then I saw it.....up a hill, there appeared to be a break in the trees, it looked lighter up there, I litterally RAN up that hill, and AT Last!!
I was on a bigger gravel road, one that looked like the first one. Now, right or left?? Hmmm, my senses were right, but I knew if I went left, I should at least get back to where I started, so I opted for that instead. And AT LAST I came back to my original location!! Hit the 11 bus, made my way to the other look out, then hit the bus home back to the Metro! WHEW!! I was worn out!! Note to All - don't tackle a 100+ acre park by yourself without a map of the park....

(This is the tiny trail I came from!)

(This is finally the Larger Road I found!)

Dinner that Night was Red Thai, up on St. Laurent. Good Food, but not Basil, for sure!
It kind of looks like we are eating on the street, but the windows are just all open onto the sidewalk.

Montreal-Day 1&2

So we are finally back from a 6 day trip to Montreal. Jeff had a Conference and I just went along for the trip. When we landed on Saturday it was a cool 74 degrees, which was soo nice to have the break from the 115 degrees we left in Charleston.
We arrived, made it to the hotel, and first ventured to the grocery store for some snacks and wine and beer for the room! Priorities, right!?
We then decided we would walk up to St. Laurent for a dinner at Globe.
I had heard about this place the year before, but we never went. It did live up to its expectations, but we were a little disappointed in the service that evening. She appeared to be more concerned with how revealing her top was, and how short her skirt was than making sure we were taken care of. But good non-the-less. We took a walk up and down St. Laurent, as they close the street on Saturdays and all the restaurants poor out into the streets, there is music and street vendors galore.
Then it was back to the hotel, where we went up to the Club Lounge, and out on the balcony of the 23rd floor, for the Firework Show, over the Old Port. This year we watched Spain, with a bottle of wine, for the 30 minute display. Lovely, indeed!

Sunday - Day 2 - Father's Day!
We slept in and then got ready and ventured down to the Old Port area. We were going to Cirque Du Soleil!!! YAY!
The Show Ovo, was Amazing! The acrobatics is just crazy, it made me want to get back in the gym and stretch and practice my gymnastics again, join yoga, and just about anything flexible!

After the show, it was on to Jacques Square, to sit outside at one of the many restaurants, watch the street performers in the square and people watch. Enjoy a good Beer and some snacks for a late lunch.


You could even rent one of these little bicycle "cars" to tour around the port...I took my turn! :)

The Moment You've all been Waiting For......

The Bathroom Reveal!!!

Before...........



This picture really doesn't do it justice b/c I had already started painting, but you can see the tile! Gross!


After.......!!!! I just LOVE IT!! So fresh and clean, and I will have to update more, as we are updating the lighting, faucets, and eventually getting a new sink/vanity when we brave the job of knocking that one off the wall??!!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Happy Father's Day (a day late) to my precious and loving Pops! Wish I was with you!
You are an amazing inspiration to me everday. Your love and willingness to always lend a helping hand, ear, advice, and support is always appreciated, and I could never re-pay you.
Love you, Pops!
(photo's will be uploaded once we return to the States)

So Excited!

So I just have to let you all know how excited I am!! I am waiting on the primer to dry in the bathroom so I can finish painting it. We leave for a week in Montreal, and while we are gone, our bathroom is going to magically be transformed! Thank you, Surface Pro!! I will post before and after pics once it's done, but just imagine.....Crimson and Grey bathroom, turned to fresh clean white and black with a stone floor!! I'm stoaked, to come home and see the results! Especially b/c I picked the floor from a swatch on the computer, so I hope it looks as good in real life. Yikes!
I picked a very soft blue/gray for the walls to keep it fresh and airy. I am covering Crimson so it's not been easy. Some how, all the Red in our house has slowly changed to the color blue....hhmmm, I wonder why?? hehe, it really has nothing to do with Auburn or Alabama, I promise. :)
Also, super excited we got tickets to Cirque du Soleil! The OVO show, while we are in Montreal. Evidently the headquarters is there, and that is where they do all the training, make the costumes and everything. I would love to see the training facility, you think they would let me swing on the trapeze??!!

I'll update more on both later.
Hope you're having a Great Friday!!

I thought this picture pretty much summed up the weather this weekend. It would be beautiful and sunny and then a storm would pop up out of no where and it would pour rain for about 20 minutes and then be done. Crazy Summer time storms! I am also glad it's Monday and Jeff is off call, b/c his phone rang ALL weekend, everytime a storm came up!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Today is the Birthday of 2 Lovely People! It is Nicole's 30th and my brother in law, Dane's.....37th(?). You sure don't look that old!

Happy Birthday Nicole and Dane!!! Wish I was there with you! I added some pics that I thought were cute and funny.

I think these pics were too funny and cute not to share! Miss you, Guh!





Also, this weekend Beavis went to the barber shop. He wanted to Wish you a Happy Monday and show off his new Bandana

Hope you all had a Great Weekend!