Hurricane....Schmuricane?

So, it is almost just barely September (in oh....2 1/2 hours) and we already have a hurricane eyeballing us. A big hurricane, at that. The last time I can remember any decent hurricane was Floyd back in about 2001. Everyone says we are due. I wonder if they are right.

I guess we should start making preparations. We have the portable power supply charging, are stocking up on food on Thursday, going to fill the bathtubs Thursday night (for all of you non-Eastcoasters/ non-Gulfcoasters this water is for drinking. It's easier and cheaper than buying bottled water), gassing up the generator, etc. I supposed if the storm is still on its current track on Thursday and we will masking tape the windows and bring in all the lawn stuffs.

I have never been through a hurricane w/ power outages with kids. We lost power w/ Floyd back in the day, but not for long, less than 24 hours, although most people in this area lost it for a week or more. I'd hate to go through that with kids. Man, that would suck.

So, off to the supermarket w/ all the last minute loonies in the area trying to buy up the last of the non-perishables to stock the cabinets. What a way to celebrate the last weekend of summer.

Another Busy Weekend

We had yet another busy weekend. We are trying to really do a lot before Aftan goes back to school and the cooler weather comes. Saturday we went to the farm and got the last purchase of peaches for the season. We then stopped by the store on the way home, got salads for lunch, came home and ate and then Reagan went down for a nap. While she napped, Steve and I went outside and did a little bit of yard work and fixed our railing outside while Aftan played a couple doors down with some (older) neighbor kids. I just love a child who runs barefoot and digs in the dirt and blows bubbles and runs around to her heart's content all blonde and suntanned in the summer. When Reagan got up, we went to Jason's Deli for dinner and then we came back here and the girls went to sleep and Steve, Rich, Peek and I played cards and I drank one too many margaritas. :) Today, we kind of just hung around the house, the kids went outside and played in the little pool and then we went to have cake for Steve's uncle's birthday and that was about it.

Only about two more weeks until school starts. I am ready for school to start, and I know Aftan is, as well, but then again I'm not. I am kind of enjoying these lazy days of summer, the getting outside and the kids having a blast. Labor Day weekend will be a lot of fun for them. We are going to Nags Head to the Sound for the day on that Friday and then Saturday we have been invited to a Welcome Home pool party for Peek's niece, who Aftan adores, who has been gone all summer to have a series of operations in Florida. So, that will all be fun for the kids.

Here are some pics of the kids from the last couple of days:

Counting Down the Days

We are coming down to the last days of summer. We only have just under 3 weeks until school starts. I am trying to juggle work and finding time to do things with the kids. I have the kiddie pool blown up (thanks to Steve. I told him it couldn't be done by breathing into it, but he proved me wrong) and the sprinkler out and I think I am going to usher them outside tomorrow. The little girl who lives across the street is coming over to play with Aftan tomorrow. She's 7, so a bit older than Aftan, but this kid has the patience of a saint and plays great with Aftan, so I have no problems at all with her coming over for a bit. We are supposed to go to a One potato, Two potato playdate on Thursday. I am going to drag them to the store in the morning probably and try to get the ingredients for this golden yam brownie recipe that looks really good to take on Thursday. Then on Friday, we have a swimming playdate, which will be really fun for my two water babies. I also have a plea into my friend, Melinda, who has two kids around Aftan and Reagan's ages, to come with me to the beach. She is military and is going to try to get us on base to the beach there, which should be way less crowded than the public beaches.

Reagan is just talking up a storm now. She says, "knuckles" and does fist bumps. LOL. She says, I see you, kiss, sorry, tries to sing Old MacDonald, but only gets the EIEIO Moo Moo Moo Moo EIEIO, peekaboo, please, thank you and a whole bunch of other words. She comes up with new ones every day.

I am a Pathetic Wife

....from the 1930s, apparently. There is no surprise here. I mean my slip is always showing and my stockings are always crooked. :) Do people even wear slips anymore? Do they sell them in stores?

-15 As a 1930s wife, I am Very Poor (Failure) Take the test!

Nothing Much Doing

This week has just flown by. Why? Because Aftan has been in summer program all week. The weeks always drag when she is at home because I try to balance finding fun things for us to do with having to get my work done. I am completely caught up on my work right now and I am entertaining the idea of taking Reagan to the zoo alone tomorrow, or maybe to the World of Wonder garden again because I'd just have to pay for myself and I'd only have to chase one kid (although in fairness, Aftan doesn't require much chasing). I think it'd be fun for Reagan to get out by herself for once.

Aftan has just over three weeks until school starts. We still don't have her teacher assignment and supply list, so not much has been going on as far as shopping for school. Rumor (from a reliable source, i.e. the school secretary) has it that Aftan is going to get one of the new teachers. There are two new teachers. One that is just being added on from the Virginia Beach campus and one that is replacing one of the teachers who left the area at the end of this past school year (coincidentally the teacher I had wanted for Aftan). So, we are going to be given the opportunity to meet this teacher before school starts. Now...if we could only find out who that teacher is, that'd be great.

Down on the Farm

We went to Pungo Blueberries, Etc. on Saturday to pick blueberries. It was insanely hot, the bank sign said 103 degrees, and there were bugs everywhere, but it was well worth it. We got 2 pounds of blueberries for $3. We also got a bottle of their homemade Hot Elephant Garlic Vinegar. After we left there we went to our usual farm, Brookdale Farm, to get our corn and peaches. They have the best peaches and corn around. We also got a giant tomato from them. Yum, yum. For all of this fresh food we paid only about $25.

After the farm, we went to MacArthur Mall to get a Pillow Pet for Reagan. She and Aftan have been fighting over Aftan's ladybug Pillow Pet, so we thought it was time to get Reagan her own. The kiosk's sign says "Pillow Pet" and the salesperson used the term "Pillow Pet". We got it home...not a Pillow Pet. It's a knockoff called an "Animallow". Now Reagan is attached and HAS to sleep with it, so there is no taking it back. Meh.

Nothing going on this week. Aftan is in her last week of summer program. After this we have three weeks to kill before school starts. Good times. She has not gotten her teacher assignment and supply list yet, so we are still waiting for that.

Here is a pic of Aftan at the blueberry farm and a pic of our farm loot.

Mmmmm...Fruit!

I got my Edible Arrangement today. It is H-U-G-E. I had chocolate dipped pineapple, chocolate strawberries, regular strawberries, cantalope, cinnamon chocolate covered apples, chocolate covered oranges, milk and white chocolate dipped bananas, and grapes. I have to say I didn't think I'd be a fan of the apples, but they are SO good. The kids keep going in the fridge and picking off pieces. :)

We aren't doing much of anything today. I am having to get some work done.

Reagan is starting to talk more. She has added "please" and she said "Here, mommy" (handing me some laundry) today. She can find all her body parts. She is just getting so smart. Also, I have found out that Aftan can identify 24 of the upper case letters and 22 of the lower case letters and numbers 1-11. She also knows most of her letter sounds and can tell you a list of words that begin w/ each letter. My little smartie pants.

Here's a pic of my Edible Arrangement to drool over. :)

Splash Pad Fun

I took the girls to the Botanical Gardens today to play in the little splashpad area they have there. Aftan hasn't been there since she was 2 and I was pregnant with Reagan. Reagan, obviously, has never been there. I decided to take the double wagon and hike the approximate 1 mile to the children's garden where the splashpad is located. It was a long, hot walk, but well worth it as I used the wagon to hold our towels and extra clothes and what not. Both girls had a blast (and Reagan had a great nap). We had a picnic lunch while we were there. All that running around and water play can really cause a huge appetite.

Tomorrow, I am eagerly awaiting an Edible Arrangement that is supposed to come here for me. I just need to figure out how to keep little grubby hands away from it. :)~

First Post

This is my first time doing a real blog. I just wanted to keep a record of our every day life. I used to have a journal on myspace, but that is now defunct. I liked going back as my oldest grew to see what she was like when she was younger. I want to do the same for both my kids now.