Spring Break, How Great

Hello!

Yep, I've been missing.  Went under the radar for Spring Break.  It was kind of nice.

Here's a recap....

Monday I did all the errands I needed to do for the week (post office, grocery store, etc) and then I swung by the Verizon store because my new-every-two was up and I decided to use that $30 credit (WHAT?! booo) toward one of these bad boys:

And they aren't kidding.  I was actually kind of nervous about getting one (BIG CHANGE from the Crackberries I've had for the past 4 years) but I knew I'd love it.  And I do.  It's awesome.   I immediately downloaded:

Words with Friends.  

And I haven't stopped playing since I got it.  I am in, literally, 20 games with different people.  (Ok, 3 with my brother).  But it's awesome because I get to "play" scrabble with people all over the country!  Californians, West Virginians, Virginians, people from the District... it's a blast.   Super addicting but it also challenges your brain.   Love it.  So much.

This is currently my game with Joy.  Now she will know some of my letters.  But I'm ok with that :)  **also, I like that it says that I played flute for 8 points.  I've heard my flute playing.  I'm no Ron Burgundy.  8 points is a lot.

Tuesday... I had a very lazy day!  I know I slept in, cuddled my pup (that's her, the little spoon):

And took Pheebs for a walk while testing out my new camera:

The day ended with Trivia and Kelly.  It was great!  I actually was able to identify "calcium carbonate" as the main component of eggshells.  I felt like Joey Tribbiani "Hey! I'm a dork!!"  :)

Wednesday, I woke up and baked Joy's 30th birthday cake:

Then I went to the dentist on the most beautiful, warm and sunny day.  I was definitely a grumpy gus.  I ran a few more errands then I met my friend Jaime at her place on the river in Alexandria and we took her pup, Lovie, for an hour walk along the water.  It was EXACTLY what I needed.  Jaime is really good at advice and she was just the person I needed that day.

Later that night, I drove out to Dulles to pick up Mandy!  She was flying in from Albuquerque (having visited her most quotable grandparents) and we got to spend some hours together catching up, eating, sharing stories, cameras and laughs.  I miss her!  We then proceeded to get locked out of her in-laws house and needed to wake them up at 1:30am.  Oh, teachers on Spring Break.  Yeah, Peep!

Thursday, I went out to West Virginia.  I got to be with my Joy and the little person who I fall more in love with every time I see him.  He is just so EDIBLE:

He has the most expressive eyebrows.  And he smiles at me every time I look at him, like he knows that one day we'll be laughing together while causing mischief.  He also thinks he's grown (yes, I'd love some ginger ale, mom):

He went down for a nap and Joy and I sat outside in the sunshine, chatting and sharing and iPhone apps. :)  Of course, I took some pictures.  They aren't great, but somehow I managed to catch some Joy (and also my finger. Hey, I'm learning):

I left Joy's around dinnertime and then headed to Fairfax to visit Mayrides and Matt.  Matt cooked a yummy Moroccan meal for us (there was ginger in there!) and then we just chatted and caught up for a few hours.  Lots of laughs.  It was nice to see them!  And Phebe loves their house because they have an amazing backyard for a dog.  There's a hill so she can spy on all the neighborhood dogs and alert us when they are walking past the house.  Thanks, Pheebs, we appreciate that.

Friday, I.... did... nothing.   And it was awesome.  It was a gross, gross, gross rainy day.  Cold and blech.  I stayed inside with my sewing machine and worked on some crafts that I am not at liberty to share yet because the recipients have not received them yet.  Will post later.   Also, I made a case for my iPhone.  Duh.  I'll post that later, too, because the fabric is used pointedly in one of my other crafts.  Vague, vague.  But 5-6 hours on my sewing machine was really fun!   Later in the evening, Lou's parents were in town so we played some card games and laughed. A lot.

I like that laughing was very common this Spring Break.

Saturday and Sunday were pretty low key.  I made William his birthday carrot cake and sat outside in the yard because it was warm and sunny.  Even got my first light pink sunburn. Just very easy going.  And of course, I played with my iPhone a ton.

The first day back to school was pretty good.  I'm exhausted right this moment because I need to sleep to readjust myself but I have to share this song...

This is my Favorite hymn.   And this country girl absolutely brings the house down singing it... whether you're spirital, religious and or none of the above, listen... it's pretty darn powerful.



Spring Break and Life... How Great

You can take the girl away from the beach...

...but she'll always be a beach girl.

Last Thursday-Monday, I went home. Home is part Chesapeake and part Virginia Beach. It's always awesome to see my family and I got to see a lot of family.

Friday, I took my brothers to Ocean Breeze Fun Park... we had a blast and I learned a lot of things about myself. I haven't been to a water park in awhile!

My favorite "rides" were the big slides that use a tube with:

David and I went down this one: It was a dark tunnel drop into a toilet bowl. I watched Dave go from the top of the tower, and he went around the bowl about 3 times. I went around 0.75 times before I fell sideways into the pool at the bottom of the bowl. Sigh. The boys heard me go down the dark tunnel saying, "ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod". But whatever, I'm brave. :)

I learned that I DO NOT like dark tunnel slides. I guess I have a touch of claustrophobia when dark spaces are combined with water. (this seems obvious to me). Note the big wave pool behind the slides-- that was a fun time!

These are the "shoot" slides. I lost my top on the first one I went down so I didn't go down any more after that.

Ocean Breeze was tons of fun. But being with my 15 and 12 year old brothers was the best part.

Saturday, my mom and I had a day together and we did some fun things (went to the fabric store, went out to lunch with a fun friend of hers, relaxed in their hot tub, etc). Loved every minute.

Sunday, I got up early (for me) and drove out to my dad's so that we could all go to the beach together. By 10:45, we were in Sandbridge enjoying the BEAUTIFUL weather and rough ocean. My 57-year-old Dad boogie boarded with all of us the ENTIRE time we were there! He's so fun! Here's my 2 brothers and dad in the surf. Warning: the ocean is loud.

My cousins Heather and Brad also joined us and it's always awesome to catch up with them!

Here's a video of my brothers and me in the ocean. Wheeee!!

All that beachy fun in the sun left me pretty pink. (And maybe a little blonder!)

With some sweet tan lines (lit by bathroom light. I'm not orange.)

Pheebs wanted to see if blondes have more fun. Turns out, we do.

Caitie + The Beach = Love