Halloween 2013

What a fun day! After cramming an entire day's worth of work into the morning hours, I packed up the car with party supplies and headed to the school for the girlz classroom parties.

The farmers were cutting the cotton as I drove by. So cool!

The costume parade and classroom parties were a HUGE success. Campbell dressed as Alice in Wonderland and Cassidy was a Bratz Girl. Cassidy won a game of Bingo and Campbell made Frankenstein's Monster out of a toilet paper roll. The icing on the cake was beating the buses out of the parking lot (which means we can get home faster). It doesn't take much to make me happy!

The girlz played and played and played after we got home, and I frantically ran around the house getting ready for Trick or Treating. They ended up all hot and sweaty, so I made them change costumes before we hit the street -- Campbell went as Gabriella Montez in her lifeguard outfit (High School Musical) and Cassidy went as a ballerina.

Nana and Poppie came to watch the girlz Trick or Treat. We met up with our friends across the street, and then a friend from dance team joined us later. The weather was absolutely perfect, and our neighbors were so kind and generous to the kids. It was truly an outstanding night.

According to Cassidy, they collected 192 pieces of candy last year and 314 this year. Her math is flawed, though -- I watched Campbell eat 4 or 5 things while we were out. Close enough!

Mama and Papa passed out the candy again this year and had lots of funny stories to share at the end of the evening. Mama gave the girlz a bath for me and helped get the girlz calmed down.

After carrying all that candy into the house, Cassidy wanted grapes for her snack. I love that girl!

The only thing that was missing was Lieutenant Sexy. We always miss him when we works nights, but it's extra-sad when he misses the really fun stuff.

Even still, we made some terrific memories tonight.

Happy Halloween!

What Does The Fox Say?

What's the best way to get pumped on Halloween morning?  Watching the "What Does The Fox Say?" music video on YouTube, of course!

Wordless Wednesday

Today's Wordless Wednesday is brought to you by Campbell's swimming teacher.

Nope. There are definitely no words.

NASCAR Weekend 2013

NASCAR Weekend 2013 has come and gone, and it was awesome - as always! We pulled into our parking spot at the track about 45 minutes before the sun came up, and watched the sunrise from the merchandise haulers.

We spent the entire morning walking through the pit and garage areas, which is always fun. We got to meet Richard Petty, Michael Waltrip, and Kenny Francis (Kasey Kahne's Crew Chief). That was cool and all, but the highlight of the entire day (for me) was watching the Henry County Sheriff's Deputies pull an old, drunk guy out of the stands and haul him away from the track in handcuffs. Henry County has a tricked-out police golf cart with a light bar, siren, and prisoner cage in the back.

It was like a little slice of home, only cooler.

A hazy Martinsville sunrise!

The tunnel to the pits and garages!

Panorama of Pit Road

Richard Petty's autograph on my Pit Pass!

Henry Country's Police Cart... WAY cooler than Lieutenant Sexy's unmarked car!

The girlz were marginally happy to see me when they got off the bus yesterday afternoon. I think they were secretly hoping we would stay gone for a few more days!

Saturday Morning

Lieutenant Sexy and I headed out of town this past weekend to get our NASCAR on. But before we left, we spent Saturday morning with the girlz at the YMCA. We squeezed in a quick trip to the library before taking them to Mama and Papa's house.

And since I wouldn't see them again for 48 hours, I took pictures of them!

Throwback Thursday

I was looking through old pictures this week and ran across this one. I took it at the bus stop during Cassidy's very first year at Big Girl School. The date stamp is 4/29/10, which would put Cassidy in K4 and Campbell in the 1 year-old room at Baby School.

We were passing the time while waiting for Mr. LOOOOVE to pick up Cassidy in the big yellow bus. An interesting note - Campbell adores Mr. LOOOOVE just as much as Cassidy (possibly more). It seems these girlz can spot a seasoned Grandpa a mile away.

They're so much bigger now, and yet they both look exactly the same.

Wordless Wednesday

A Really BIG Weekend

We've finally cleared the first major hurdle of the fall - Harvest Festival weekend. Campbell was chosen to represent her class as the Harvest Festival Queen Candidate, and she did a terrific job tapping into her network to raise funds for the school. The King and Queen Candidates set a record this year, raising nearly $15,000 for the school.  I can't wait to see the final talley of the weekend's proceeds! All of the money raised during Harvest Festival funds teacher and classroom needs that the operating budget doesn't cover -- so it's a REALLY important fundraiser.

Our girl didn't bring home the crown, but she was fine with it. She got to ride the King and Queen Candidate float in the Homecoming Parade and wore a pretty dress to the Harvest Festival -- so in her mind, she totally won.

Campbell on the float during the Homecoming Parade!

Decked out for Harvest Festival!

Cassidy won a prize during the costume contest. She dressed up as a Twister game!

We headed off to church on Sunday morning, and then Cassidy had dance rehearsal most of the afternoon.

As the sun was setting last night, we met Mama and Papa for dinner at our most favorite restaurant. Papa let me order whatever I wanted off the menu, even though my favorite dinner item is one of the most expensive. I seriously have the best Dad EVER.

Even with all the losses our family has grieved this year, I'm so deeply thankful for all that we have.

God Moment - As I typed that last sentence, Pandora played Louis Armstrong's "What a Wonderful World".

What perfect timing that God of ours has.

Spirit Day!

Today is Spirit Day at school, and I made sure to get our traditional picture on the front steps this morning. We have such a FUN weekend ahead of us!!

Your eyes are not playing tricks on you -- I censored the girlz shirts by swirling the letters.

Circle Yes or No

While I was leading a conference call this afternoon, a sweet little bug crept into the office and quietly laid this note on my desk.

How could I say no???

Camo Day!

Homecoming is tomorrow, which means this week is Spirit Week at school! Tuesday was pajama day and I forgot to take a picture of the girlz before they left the house. Yesterday was Twin Day, but Cassidy's class didn't participate because of the field trip. Campbell and one of her friends dressed alike, but again -- I forgot to take a picture. I've been so completely focused on making sure everybody is where they're supposed to be this week, I've let the picture taking slide.

Well, today is Camo Day and I finally remembered to take a picture!

A Fluffly Surprise

The third grade went on a field trip today and had to be at the school very early. The girlz and I rolled up to the school just about the time the girlz would normally be climbing on the bus.

Getting those two out of the bed, dressed, fed -- with lunches and snack money packed, homework in folders, agendas signed, hair brushed, pottied (at least twice), teeth brushed, and last minute studying done -- and outside in time to catch the bus is not easy. Doing it all 45 minutes earlier than usual is HARD.

But we did it, and thankfully nobody (read: Campbell) had a meltdown.

When we got out of the car, we found a surprise stuck to one of our wheels.

A huge cotton bloom on the stem!

Yes, I know the car needs to be washed. There are only so many hours in the day, y'all.

Campbell thought our fluffy surprise was the best thing ever and wanted me to take it home. It's now proudly displayed on the kitchen island next to our glittery Cinderella pumpkin.

LOVE IT!!

Columbus Day Weekend

As of last Thursday, we had an overflowing weekend ahead of us. Lucky for us, last week's monsoon resulted in some event cancellations -- which resulted in us having more time to kick back and hang out.

We had even made plans to be out of town for a few days, but ended up rescheduling that trip for a better weekend a few months from now. 

So we celebrated the Columbus Day holiday with a trip to the toy store to work on Christmas lists, lunch at Chick-Fil-A, an afternoon spent on a school project, and a late afternoon snack at Skinny Dip.

Even though it wasn't what we'd originally planned, it was still a great weekend!

17 Years Ago Today

17 years ago today, I was a brand-new college graduate starting her first day at her first "real" job. I was scared to death, and yet so proud and excited I could barely contain myself.

My "college self" had always envisioned my "young professional self" driving a little red car and working in a tall building. I'd purchased the red car 4 days after graduation, and my new entry-level job was located downtown in a very tall building.

I became my young professional self on this day, 17 years ago.

Coming out of college, I wasn't locked into a certain career path or field of interest. I wasn't even exactly sure where a degree in English and minor in Communications was going to take me.

Although my first position wasn't my ideal position (I wasn't even all that good at it), it lead to other opportunities. The competitive side of me quickly learned the rules of the game, and it was only a matter of months before I started climbing the corporate ladder in the cute, trendy heels that only a 20-something can pull off.

Since that day, I've lost count of positions and promotions. I've held easy positions, and the positions so difficult I thought I would implode from stress. I've watched entire departments lose their jobs. I've spent the night at work more times than I care to admit. I've been without sleep for so long, I couldn't feel my face. I've been challenged to learn far more than I thought could. I've lived out of a suitcase for weeks. I've made some really terrific friends. I've laughed so hard I cried. And I've cried so hard, I didn't think I'd ever catch my breath.

I've evacuated for bomb threats and watched protesters camp outside the building. I've watched planes fly into buildings where teammates were located. I've watched commercials heralding products I've helped build and cringed at news reports shamelessly skewering our organization.

Young grasshopper had no idea what her future held, 17 years ago today.

The Bus Stop

The morning wait for the school bus took on a whole new meaning this week.

About 15 minutes after I put Cassidy and Campbell on the school bus Wednesday morning, an 11 year-old girl was forcibly abducted by a stranger from her bus stop a mile or two down the road.

It's terrifying to think how close it was.

Just when I was starting to get comfortable with letting the girlz play in the backyard by themselves after school, too. And any chances Cassidy had of getting on or off the bus by herself anytime in the next decade are now gone. 

Please pray for that amazing little girl and her family. She lost the lottery Wednesday morning, but appears to have done everything exactly right once her number came up.

I hope one day she sees what a rock star she is.