Cold Treat in the Heat

Omg, I have been so sick. I cough non-stop (my poor co-workers probably want to kill me). So I finally broke down and went to the doctor today. I have a "serious sinus infection". Apparently 4 out of 5 people that get this, get over it quickly. Lucky me, it stuck with me. So they gave me some meds and I am hoping that it goes away soon.

After the doctor, I picked Abby up from daycare. Since it is 105 degrees here, we stopped for ice cream.

Abby was thrilled. In talking with her, apparently today was "ice cream truck day" so she got two in one day. Needless to say, dinner was a no-go.

This is her showing me her "Brr, it's cold" face.

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Me and 15 of my gal friends are headed to the premiere of Magic Mike tomorrow night. I am so excited! Bring on the Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey. Let's just hope that my cough attacks don't ruin it.

Book Club - Seven Up

Book Club - Seven Up by Janet Evanovich

Summary:

All New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has to do is bring in semi-retired bail jumper Eddie DeChooch. For an old man he's still got a knack for slipping out of sight--and raising hell. How else can Stephanie explain the bullet-riddled corpse in Eddie's garden? Who else would have a clue as to why two of Stephanie's friends suddenly vanished? For answers Stephanie has the devil to pay: her mentor, Ranger. The deal? He'll give Stephanie all the help she needs--if she gives him everything he wants . .

As if things weren't complicated enough, Stephanie's just discovered her Grandma Mazur's own unmentionable alliance with Eddie. Add a series of unnerving break-ins, not to mention the bombshell revelation leveled by Stephanie's estranged sister, and Stephanie's ready for some good news. Unfortunately, a marriage proposal from Joe Morelli, the love of her life, isn't quite cutting it. And now--murder, a randy paramour, a wily mobster, death threats, extortion, and a triple kidnapping aside--Stephanie's really got the urge to run for her life . .

Review:

I have been fighting a horrible sinus infection, so I thought I would try a light read....another Stephanie Plum book. If you recall, my first adventure with this series was not well received. But then, we rented the new Katherine Heigl movie and lo and behold, it was One for the Money. I had no idea this movie was based on these books and I loved the movie. It all kinda clicked for me (I could imagine the characters) and I adore these easy reads now. I couldn't find books 2 through 6 at the library, so I got 7 and 8. I still think they are sometimes all over the place, but they are entertaining and easy to follow.

Linked up Here:

Writer's Block

For the first time, in a looooong time, I took no pictures this past weekend. And we did fun stuff!

But I am still not feeling well, I was asleep last night at 8:45!!!

All I can do is write down a little Abby-gem:

Abby: (After listening to me cough) "Mommy, are you going to the doctor tomorrow?"

Me: "Maybe honey, I am not sure."

Abby: "Well if you go, I need to go with you. I'll be with you when they check you."

Seriously, she is just too sweet.

Book Club - The Good Father

Book Club - The Good Father

Summary:

As the Chief of Rheumatology at Columbia Presbyterian, Dr. Paul Allen's specialty is diagnosing patients with conflicting symptoms, patients other doctors have given up on. He lives a contented life in Westport with his second wife and their twin sons—hard won after a failed marriage earlier in his career that produced a son named Daniel. In the harrowing opening scene of this provocative and affecting novel, Dr. Allen is home with his family when a televised news report announces that the Democratic candidate for president has been shot at a rally, and Daniel is caught on video as the assassin.

Daniel Allen has always been a good kid—a decent student, popular—but, as a child of divorce, used to shuttling back and forth between parents, he is also something of a drifter. Which may be why, at the age of nineteen, he quietly drops out of Vassar and begins an aimless journey across the United States, during which he sheds his former skin and eventually even changes his name to Carter Allen Cash.

Review:

This was not a light, summer read. One word that was used in the Reviews on the back page of this book was "haunting". I completely agree, the relationships of the characters stuck with you. It was an easy to read book though, it kept my attention the whole time. There were also lots of historical assassinations woven into the story, which I found very interesting. It was very well written and wove in and out of perspectives. I would recommend it, but not for a beach book. More of a curl up on the couch and read big chunks of it.

Link Up Here:
     

Long Weekend

We had a long, weekend. It actually ended up being 3 days for me, as I was sick as a dog this morning. We are all fighting a little summer cold and it hit me hard today.

But anywhoo, here are the pictures from the weekend.

This was Friday morning. Abby told me that she was too tired to go to school.  

She went anyway.

Abby absolutely loves getting her face painted.

We went to the Moon Pie Festival on Saturday, and she got quite an elaborate drawing.

At first, she was way too shy to get her picture taken.

But once she got used to it, she was all smiles.

Watching the parade.

After the festival, we went and got Father's Day presents. I had to take a picture of this card that Abby wanted to get Stu. She wanted it because it looked like Ali, but I figured the cigar and beer was a little inappropriate for a 3 year to give her dad!

After that we went to a small event in downtown. Abby loves to bounce.

You can't see it in this picture, but there were some big kids in there. I was terrified they were going to knock her over, but she held her own.

The best part was her getting a balloon. We got a bunny balloon too, but she popped that 5 minutes after she got it. Boo!

That night was mani/pedi night. Abby loves to paint her own fingernails and show them off.

On Sunday we went to Stu's parents for burgers. Bouncey-Boo time!

They also have a pool that Abby had a blast in. The water was only about 80 degrees, but Abby swam until she was shivering.

She went around and around just like a "washing machine".

We had a great weekend.

 I spent half the day today in bed crying like a child in pain and the other half cleaning despite blowing my nose and coughing 1000 times.

Back to the work week tomorrow.....

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to Stu, my Dad (Poppa), and Stu's Dad (Grandad).

Opening a movie that Abby got him. 

Reading the card that she signed.

Looking at the other present (a Groupon for Sam's).

Abby just adores her daddy! 

Book Club Friday

Book Club - It's Not About the Pom-Poms

Summary:

Laura Vikmanis has got spirit . . . and pom-poms, too! But before she stepped onto the field as the oldest cheerleader in the National Football League, she was sidelined by a bad marriage and the many responsibilities of stay-at-home motherhood. She finally got the courage to leave her husband and to ask herself something she had never asked before: What do I want to do? Remembering her teenage love of dance, she signed up for a pole-dancing fitness class, where she met a former cheerleader for the Cincinnati Bengals. When the woman suggested that Laura audition to be a “Ben-Gal,” Laura laughed her off but soon realized that the audition process could be a way of healing herself—and regaining her confidence. Her boots were made for walking—but also for stomping on a football field.

It’s Not About the Pom-Poms follows Laura’s inspiring, funny, and eye-opening journey from demoralized divorcée to high-kicking Cincinnati Ben-Gal. Laura also provides an inside look into the fascinating world of NFL cheerleaders—the grueling workouts, bad pay, twice-weekly weigh-ins, but, most important, the lifelong bond between the women, who do it all for the glory.

Review:

I adored this book. I love stories about real people and I thought this Momma was awesome. Reading about her bad marriage and how she got there was very intriguing. But my favorite parts were about the life of being a NFL cheerleader. It is amazing what they have to go through, the practices and the weigh-ins. I was shocked that they only make $75 a game - just think how much those players actually make! And the fact that she did this at 40 is just inspiring!  

Link up here:

BFF's

We went to the ballpark again tonight to watch Stu play ball.  

I brought some sidewalk chart to let the girls play with. They pretty much either broke the pieces or used them to kill ants. Lovely.

Abby showing me her mean face.

These girls are just too stinkin' adorable.

They just love hanging out with each other!

I was just so happy that they posed for pictures!

And then of course they wanted an action shot done.

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I have been following a new (to me) blog for a few months now. There is an adorable little girl named Lucy that was diagnosed with cancer about 18 months ago. This past week, she went into a coma and it was absolutely heartbreaking to read about.

But today a miracle truly happened. The little girl woke for 15 minutes and her mom got about 2 minutes of it on video. Reading the post that her mom wrote brought me to tears and the video brought out the tissues.

I just wanted to share - God is Good!

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A few weeks ago, I put our deposit down on our first vacation (well, other than traveling to TN) since I was pregnant! I am so overly excited, we are headed to the Happiest Place on Earth - Disney World!!!

It is exactly 180 days from today (I booked 3 character meals today so I know the days). I could literally spend hours looking on the site getting excited.

We obviously aren't telling Abby yet. I couldn't handle 180 days of "But, when Mommy?"

But I just know that she is going to love it. Can't wait til December!

Oh What a Week.....

This week was one of the craziest that I have had in a long time!

I was busy as crap at work and if I wasn't working at night, I had other stuff to do!

So here is a recap of my week (hang on, it's long).

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Tuesday night, Abby and I went to watch Stu play ball. Luckily, her BFF Callie and another sweet little girl were there. Those three had a freaking blast running on the bleachers and picking flowers.

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Wednesday night, I volunteered at our church's VBS family night. I loved it!

I worked a bounce house and kids are just so hilarious.

My one "bad" moment was a mom that tried to scold me for not letting enough kids in. Uh, I know what I am doing - I had my 5 minutes of training (sarcasm). But in reality, I had already seen the bounce house collapse once (luckily with no kids in it), so I knew what the limit was.

And.....this is a CHURCH function. No need to yell at the volunteers.

The best moment was seeing one of my besties about 15 minutes after this happened. I was telling her the story and she said "Show me which one she is." My girls totally have my back (and no I didn't point the lady out).

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One thing that has been ongoing this week was a bite on Abby's behind. It started out at as what looked like a bug bite that she was scratching. But as the week went on, it got BAD. Like blood and pus bad. And covering her entire behind.

This sweet little girl never complained!

I took her to the doctor on Friday afternoon and they diagnosed her with a staph infection. Boo!!!

But I can say after cleaning her bottom with soap and water repeatedly, she is looking alot better.  

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So we pretty much just hung around the house on Saturday.

Playing dress up. She loves to dress like a Princess!

She also loves to put stickers on her face.

And then putting her hands on her face to make a "silly face".

We also did a little bit of swimming. She just adores that pool.

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On Sunday, I woke up and said "Ok Stu, I cannot sit in this house all day!"

So we drove to Opry Mills and hung out.

This is outside the Aquarium restaurant.

Playing games at Dave and Busters.

Skee Ball. Abby only got it in once, but she was so excited!

Then we took Abby to her first movie!

I was obviously a little worried, but she did SO good. We went and saw Madagascar 3.

She sat quietly through the entire movie (with the help of candy and popcorn of course).

And Stu and I enjoyed the movie as well.

Pretty sure that busy day knocked Abby right out on the ride home.

As well as Daddy!

Let's Read!

This was not a very picture heavy weekend (although we did lots as usual).

But I did get a few pictures at our local library.

Abby joined the summer reading program. 

She wrote her name on a flashlight and got to hang it up.

She was so proud!

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One other picture that I got was Friday night in the tub.

She loves bubbles and was totally cracking herself up with putting them on her face.