First, let me ask… Does anyone have an iP0d shuffle? If so, do you like it? Any problems? 

My birthday is coming up and I have asked my dear sweet Hubs for one to use while running. Bonus for him, he can use it on the bus to and from work!! It's a win-win!!

The following conversation occurred last night as I was preparing for bed.

Me (Sticking my finger through the top of the cooler): It looks like we need a new bottle cooler!

(*Dough still wakes in the middle of the night, often needing a small bottle of milk to sooth him back to sleep. Rather than walk all the way to the kitchen to get a new bottle for him, I load up a cooler every night and hang it on the door outside his room so I just have to grab it and give it to him. It's a lesson in simplicity. Or laziness. Anyway, the cooler was given to us when he was born by the makers of Similac in their "Breast is Best … But if you can't, use our formula!" gift. It could, perhaps, be used for two bottles of beer. Hmmm… I'll keep that in mind for the next time Dough decides he needs a two hour play break in the middle of the night… But I digress…)

Hubs: Yeah. Nothing a little duct tape wouldn't fix.

Me: Or we could have another baby so we could get a new one!

Hubs: Uh… Yeah, that's a great reason to have another child.

Obviously, my logic is seriously lacking after 10:00 pm.  

When not dealing with wedding stuff, most of vacation was spent contemplating food:

(Above: The Princess and I show off our King Crab.

Below: Dough enjoys a very stretchy cheese stick)

And sand:

(Above: Dough's castle. When it was done, we used a car form and made a little road. He was very proud!

Below: The Princess and I pretend we are airplanes during the rehearsal on the beach. Flow-ey dresses are so much fun on a windy beach!) 

And, of course, water:

(Above: The kids ponder the depth of the water off the end of the pier.

Below: Swimmin' in the ocean. Yes, they are BOTH out there with us. The Princess loves being in the water, but Dough? I was shocked and amazed when he wanted in. Absolutely awe struck!)

Oh, and there was random cuteness:

AND, The Princess climbed the Cape Hatteras light house for the very first time!!

She made it to the top, all 268 steps, without complaint! I was so proud of her, even though I couldn't climb this year thanks to this. 

Finally, one last shot of all of us on the deck of our beach house. We had such a wonderful time. And I believe the kids are starting to love it down there as much as Hubs and I do!

Another year in the books. I believe, if my calculations are correct, this was my 24th trip down 12 South. It was The Princess's 6th and Dough's 4th. 

I don't have a ton of pictures from the wedding. Hubs did a great job taking photos, but we kept him busy and he didn't have much time to show his mad photog skills.

First, here's Beth and I after our hair and makeup. Aren't we so darn cute

The reception was awesome. Except for the migraine I got at the beginning that didn't go away until as I was leaving. Go figure.

The wedding party was small, just the bride, groom, the best man and myself. Aren't we a good looking crew?

Here's Beth and her new husband! They were so darn cute!!

Her dress had a chapel length train, but we had bustled it by this point. Sorry it's a little dark. By the time we got to the dancing, it was dusk.

The Princess caught the bouquet and she was so proud!

Are you wondering where Dough is? Oh, wait for it…

Ready??

Seriously? Can you handle this?

Because I barely could. I cried the minute I saw this… 

The next day, I asked him if he wanted to get into his suit, meaning his SWIM suit. He was sooo pissed! I had to clarify, but I assure you that it will be a long time before I can get him to wear anything remotely like this again! 

So, there's all the wedding stuff. I'll post the rest of the shots tomorrow. 

With all the wedding stuff, I feel like I need a vacation from my vacation!  

The big day is finally here! Tomorrow is my sister's wedding… The entire reason we came down here to the OBX.

I'm not really feeling like blogging right now. A little busy and having a fantastic time. So, to hold you over, here is a picture of Hubs and I before the rehearsal this evening. And before The Princess and I put away a pound of king crab that I am sure were caught on this boat .

We've had cheerleading performances, Girl Scout ceremonies, my sister's graduation from college, bachelorette parties, summer camps, gym classes, violin lessons, dress fittings…

Oh, and I'm still unpacking…

Oh, and we leave in 5 days 15 hours 59 minutes and 38 seconds for vacation/my sister's wedding.

So, I swear I'm not abandoning my post. I'm just a teeny tiny bit busy.

And today, we celebrate Father's Day! We love you Hubs! 

We're moved. We're thrilled. Our new house is an oldie but a goodie.

Of course there is work to be done. But it is the weekend. So that means play time (and drinking time for mama!)

There is something about being back in my home town, too. Of course I wasn't that long ago that I lived here (about 12 years or so), but so much has changed.

Here are just a couple of pictures from tonight. Once I have some more loaded on my camera (and I am soberer) I'll show some more.

My very patient, loving, understanding, calm, helpful husband… In all his sexiness… 

My beautiful, intelligent, hilarious, curious, brave daughter:

More to come… 

Tomorrow morning we load up the truck and move 30 miles south.

That's 30 miles closer to the Outer Banks, for those who care (me).

It's also 30 miles closer to 75% of our family, friends and Hubs job.

It means I'm moving back to my 'home town', where I grew up. My ol' stomping grounds.

But I have a lot to learn about the area because the last time I really lived there I was 17.

A lot has changed in nearly 12 years. And it turns out that 30 miles really does make a difference.

Wish me luck. It'll be a lot of hobbling around and ice packs for my poor ankle.

And, the blog will be severely neglected as I go on a Internet/cable/telephone blackout until Tuesday.

Lord help me. 

This evening I asked the kids if they wanted to go for a run with me. That, of course, was like asking an addict if they needed a fix.

So we go outside, and stretch, and I start running down the driveway…

And I fall*.

Hard.

I now have (in descending order) a bump on my head near my ear, a bruise on my left shoulder blade, a giant scape and bruise on my right knee ON TOP OF twisting the crap out if it, road rash down the front of my left shin AND a twisted left ankle.

I can barely walk.

I won't be running for awhile.

Oh, and we are moving on Saturday.  

Thank God for sangria, dark chocolate and the season finale of Gray's**.

*As I took my second running step (yes, my SECOND) my left foot got caught in a freakin' pot hole in the drive way and I went down. So I'm not a complete klutz. Just kinda one. 

**  Anyone else totally not surprised by ANY of the kisses that took place???? I mean there was supposed to be a surprise. I called EVERY SINGLE ONE of those kisses. And I am thrilled about every single one too!! (Any typos should be attiributed to several glasses of Sangria. Amen. 

I know… I know… I haven't posted.

Therefore, because I never posted on Mama's Day, here's a picture of me and the two little sea urchins who made me a Mama.

(Actually, it would be 3 if you count that monstrosity my chin is apparently trying to give birth to. Or, it could be my embryonic twin making a move on becoming the host body…)

Actually, here's the quick run down of my week: packing, cleaning, shopping, packing, babysitting, school, laundry, packing, babysitting again, packing, calling the utility companies, school, packing, Girl Scouts, cleaning, dishes, violin lessons, packing, more random phone calls, paying bills (good bye pay check!), packing, gym class, packing, cleaning…. You get the picture.

AND, it's season finale week for a majority of my TV shows. Which is good, so next week I won't be drawn to the TV like a crack addict needing a fix.

AND, for the first time since Saturday I was able to get out and run this week. That sucked. Actually, it was great, but I've been feeling under the weather all week, so this was the first day I really felt well enough to get out there

If my presence here is spotty over the next few weeks, forgive me. We move on the 24th and in no particular order, we have the following things happening between now and July:

1. Daisy Scout graduation to Brownie Scouts

2. Hub's grandmother's 85th birthday

3. I run in another 5K

4. Last day of school (actually, we're done for the year. But we're going to celebrate the end in June.)

5. Moving

6. My sister's graduation from college

7. Cheerleading performance

8. My sister's wedding… In another state (also to be known as our vacation!! WHOOP!)

9. I will be slowly and spastically losing my mind.

The End. 

When I was looking for some pictures for a project I was working on, I came across photos of Hubs when he was a baby.

And if I didn't know better I would think that perhaps it was Dough.

Hubs is the one on the left. I am guessing that he is about 3 in this photo. And I know the photo is kinda crappy, but that's what happens with a 25+ year old photo!  (At least it's in color! Heh!)

(The precious little pudge ball on the right is Fej, Hub's brother.) 

And here is Dough, taken just a week or so ago…

And for memory sake, here is me at about age 3. At the dentist. My faaaavorite place!

Some day I'll have to do this with The Princess, too. But I don't think there is any competition there… She looks like the mailman…