My favorite quote of the week

xoxo

Lissa

Not the best week ever

That is really one ginormous understatement. I'll go into what's been going on at some point but right now I'm just hoping to get through it without losing my grip. I've gone back & forth between anger, disbelief, frustration & emotions that I can't even identify. 

Sooooo, I'll talk about the fun weekend we had with the 16 pound 12oz moose that is Myla Marie. What a happy baby she is. Then again what does she have to be upset about! 

Adam, once again, has to be the best sport EVER! Friday was his birthday, but off we go to meet Danee to pick up our playmate for the weekend. 

Annie was so funny with her. She spent all her time either guarding her or trying to keep me away from her. A little jealous maybe?

Camera would come out & Annie gets herself in between.

Guard dog on duty

Favorite Things...

Over the last year I've read several things from Columbia residents that amount to a "what is wrong with this town" list. From shopping, to sports, to restaurants, Tweets & blog post list all the faults. I would really like to tell these unsatisfied people to please do us all a favor & go back to where it was so great.  I've lived in a few different towns & states. Each has it's own quirks & things that I think could be better. But they all also have great little treats for you to discover. That is if you stop griping long enough to find them. 

Ok, that said, I think this is a pretty great place to live. So on occasion, I'm going to post about some of the things that I love about being here. My Favorite Things. 

Going to the Columbia Farmer's Market on Spring, Summer & Fall Saturday mornings is one of the things I look forward to the most. There are weeks we don't even buy anything- not usually- but I love to wander. Granted, we have a very small market, but I still enjoy our Saturday mornings there. 

Everyone is so proud of their goods. I can't blame them, they're wonderful.

This long line is for peaches, always a much anticipated arrival. 

I love these mustards. She has great jams too.

So if you haven't been, do yourself a favor and give it a try. Go with an open mind and ask questions. In my experience the vendors love to educate you on the items they sell. 

xoxo

Lissa

I love back to school shopping....

 Always have. As much as I love clothes & shoes, the school supplies have always been my favorite part. Notebooks, folders, pencils (wood not mechanical) and of course pens. 

With that said, can someone please explain to me how this baby is 6 & going to 1st grade?! Her Mama just went to 1st grade last week. I'm sure of it. *sigh*

We decided to keep it simple this year & stick to Target if possible. 

She's pretty jazzed for shopping

Love this face. 

 Danee & Myla came along this year. The more the merrier right?

Supplies are a little picked over, but we managed to get everything.

There's a lot of pink in that cart

Nee Nee & I had a little surprise for Miss Gabi. Danee's friend Kelli was all set to give her a little "Back To School Makeover". She's been asking me to cut her hair short all summer. While I can do bangs & trim the back e-z-p-z, I'm not going to even TRY to cut it. 

She was pretty nervous but held perfectly still. 

She wanted it cut so it will be easier to comb out

Big changes coming!

The kido has such pretty, think hair!

Finally we got a bit of a smile! She was making ME nervous because she wouldn't smile or talk. Neither one of those are normal for her.

She had a bit of a rough summer. So good to see her have a good day.

Myla's finally had enough

Rock star treatment complete

\
We had a great day. Now if the whole 1st grade thing would sink in. 

xoxo

Lissa

Keep it classy San Diego

I have some serious love for San Diego. It's been a long time since I was there & it reached All Star status for me this week. 

It's no secret that Columbia has been seeing record high temps. Ironically 6 months, almost to the day. that we were experiencing THE BLIZZARD  we had a real temp of 108 not counting the heat index. I love hot weather, but 108 pushed even my limits. So when I stepped off the plane in Cali & it was 30 degrees cooler than when I got on, well I did a little happy dance.

We were there for BlogHer 2011. To learn & network & party. But as usual I would have been just has happy to walk from one end to the other & take pictures. So many fun things to see & do. I didn't do any of the tourist things, but that's just as well. I'm hoping Adam can be convinced, in a moment of weakness, to go out on vacation.

I went with some fabulous bloggers & friends. Christa , Jessica , Jen , Kate & a new friend Claire. I mentioned at some point during the weekend that we all so different. Our family lives, our beliefs, our blogs, but it works. 

Since I'm still doing laundry & that's really not like me, you'll have to take my word for it that I'm tired. And sore, but I'll get to that!   

San Diego has such beautiful buildings & architecture 

These are actually taken from the cab

At the Hilton

The parties were at some amazing venues. 

So, I'm sore because I had the opportunity to work out with Bob Harper of The Biggest Loser fame. Although I joked on Twitter beforehand that I hoped he didn't make me cry, I really thought it would be a light workout. Not. Even. Close. I'm still really sore today after 3 days. My quads were on fire & getting down stairs has been a challenge, which is unfortunate since I'm up & down them a lot. Sometimes I forget that I'm not 25 & don't bounce back like I used to. *sigh*  After the workout he had a great Q & A session with breakfast. 

It was a great spot to work out!

He's a very motivational guy. I enjoyed listening to him.

This is the view from Christa & Jessica's room. How much does this not suck. 

My alter ego, Pool Girl, LOVED being out here. I went out Thursday for a while then Christa & I went out again on Saturday afternoon.  

Seriously heaven for me. I may have to buy a palm tree & find a place for it.

There are more pictures to share. Also a couple more friends to introduce you to, but it's time for me to hang out with Adam & Annie. I missed them.... it's just too bad we don't have a pool.

xoxo

Lissa

Mischief managed

I have a hard times letting things go. No, it's true. I put off seeing the final Harry Potter movie as long as I could. Then Adam took over & started making plans to go. I did get one reprieve when it was super packed & we decided (correctly) to pass on a Sunday afternoon. If I don't see it, it's not over right? Sorry, but it's seems  perfectly logical to me. 

Harry & I have had a long relationship. When the books were released in the US Courtney was already on the list and brought home The Sorcerer's Stone. She had always thought she wanted to go to boarding school, (she really did!) and they sucked her in with the first few chapters. Then I stole it to have something to read when Danee was at basketball practice & the rest is history. I started reading them to Casey too. When he spent a year in & out of the hospital we got him got a CD walkman (remember those?) and Harry, Ron & Hermione kept him occupied & entertained.

So it kind of felt like saying good-bye to some friends. But friends that I'll visit during weekend movie marathons. And reading the books over & over & over. It will sure be fun to see if the girls love them too.

Sweet Homecoming

She's home at last. Sunday we had a great little "party" for her. I say WE like I had much to do with it. Although it was a bit of a struggle, Danee put together a great welcome home for her sister. Even that day it seemed like it was being sabotaged & I mean that more literally than figuratively. We'll just leave it at that and say that she worked really hard. Family & friends both were there & my social butterfly really shined. She kinda likes the spotlight. 

One of the very sweet things that Danee had for her.

It was the first time Aunt Courtney met Myla. Dan went into labor the day Courtney flew out & she wasn't born until the next night. The last text I got from her on her way to basic was from the Dallas airport asking if she had a niece. Her response when I told her no was "Well crap!" 

Myla Marie wasn't really feeling good.

I'm going on the record and saying that I DID NOT buy the ring pops. Of course little girls love them but the man that bought them didn't do a whole lot of taking care of kids cracked out on sugar. Not naming names or anything. 'Nuff said? 

I wasn't there when it happened but Myla laughed for the first time for her Aunt Courtney. She was kinda jazzed.

Gracie is pretty happy to have the Mama home.

These 2 have been through a tough last 3 months.

xoxo

Lissa