Litte Bitty Things

I want to introduce you to my new friend, Sandy.
She has a great blog that talks about her family -- mostly her beautiful children.  :)
She also talks about her Etsy Shop.  She makes some amazing wet bags that come in various sizes -- she customizes also!
I bought a wet bag from her awhile ago and have not had time to post about it.  Let me tell you something -- it's AWESOME!!!  I bought a medium sized one to fit all 3 children's bathing suits and it works wonders!  I used to use a plain plastic grocery bag... but I would more often than not, come home with wet everything else that was in my big swim bag!  But now, with Sandy's bags, nothing is wet... except for what was already wet! (phew)

See below:

So that's my big swim bag that my friend, Kate, gave me at least  4 years ago! ( I carry their towels on top).  I put their extra dry clothes, hair brush, sunscreen, etc. in the big swim bag. The bag on the left is the wet bag Sandy made me.  All their bathing suits and goggles go in there.  She lines all her bags with a special material that does not leak so nothing else gets wet!  (AWESOME!) Then there is that matching smaller purse... cute, sin't it?!  That's where I put their travel soap and shampoo for after swimming.  (They shower at the swim center -- saves water at home - score!).  When swim lessons are over, I'm grabbing that mini purse and using it for my own stuff!!!  (just a few more weeks and it's mine! lol)

So, now, don't you just want to pop on over to Sandy's blog and read about her life and CONGRATULATE her on her pregnancy?!!!  DO!!!  (it's #4!)
Afterwards, pop on over to her Etsy shop and buy some of these cute wet bags she has lovingly made.

Thanks Sandy for your awesome bags!!!!
  

BFF

One of her BFFs moved away this summer.  She requested a gift that would allow the two of them to "connect" even after the move.  We came up with this - her BFF will wear this one:

 Simple but just small enough for an almost 8 year old to wear and cherish:

BFFs are the best.  I have a few and I know that they are the ones I can call whenever I need a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen to my woes.

No matter the situation BFFs, they just don't judge you.  They don't care that you go swimming with them without shaving your legs because you didn't have time.  They don't care that you actually finished that whole BIG plate of pasta that you ordered and everyone made a comment that it's REALLY big!  They don't care that you said to meet at 10AM but you actually arrive at 10:30AM.  They don't care that you read a few of their novels and bunny eared the pages because the bookmark was *just* too far away to reach.

I hope her BFF in the future will allow her to be who she is -- just like  mine allow me to be who I am.

A special order

My dear fiend, Kate's daughter, Madison, special ordered this for her and her friend...
Why is this a special order?  Because Kate and I have been friends since 1996.  I just graduated from college and was just hired to teach for the first time.  I did not know the curriculum so she helped me.  She also helped me through a great deal of pain when my father passed away suddenly in 1997, only 6 months after I was hired to teach.  We had just met but she helped me through so much and without knowing me for too long she invited me back home to VA to meet her family... where she announced that she was pregnant...  I was so honoured to be there when she did so!  Of course, I cried... Her baby was born December of 1997.
Fast forward....
A few weeks ago I received an email from her daughter!  The baby I held when she was a few weeks old.  She now has her own email and is considered a "teen!"  And she placed an order for her friend... She is leaving for camp soon where she will present this to her.  How sweet is that?
I miss you Kate...I hope to visit VA soon!

This is a photo of her when she and her family stopped by for a brief visit in 2008 -- when my youngest was about 6 months old!

Kate sent me this picture of the two of them right before leaving for camp -- such beautiful girls!  :)

On fire!!!!!

Thanks to Rachel of Cool Bean Mommas, I'm now on fire!!!  She is a lovely lady with the best sense of humor.  I read her blog posts and I laugh A LOT!  She makes me smile... and a few times made me say out loud, "OMG!!!"  If you want to know more... you've got to stop by and read her blog!

In order to accept this award, I must share 7 things about myself and then pass this award onto 10 other bloggers who continually fan the flames of passion and inspiration through their blogs.  

So here goes...

1) Hubby and I have known each other longer than we have been married

2) All 3 of our children were born in August!

3) I don't like worms, caterpillars, etc and call them "friends" to make them less intimidating to me (i know, pretty silly!)

4) I don't like durian but my husband LOVES it

5) My favorite ice cream is... plain vanilla (yes, i'm boring like that)

6) I followed hubby (then boyfriend) to UCLA, even though I had never been there when I applied

7) I stay up waaaay too late editing wedding videos for my hubby's business

And now... 10 blogs that are deserving of this award (in no particular order):

1) Of Mice and raMen

2) The Silly Pearl (Handmade)

3) Hoo Goes Where

4) Little Bitty Things

5) Learning Ideas - Grades K-8

6) Katherine's Corner

7)  Grandma's Briefs

8) A Day in the Life of a Five Foot Momma

9) Mom Blog of Two Little Monsters

10) Mommy LaDy Club

Alrighty... I am hoping to get back into a consistent routine of blogging... but really can't make any promises.  I love being with my children this summer (even though there have been days where I count down in my head how many days before school starts again!).  We are keeping very busy!

Another proud sorority moment

same sorority sisters - just a different look:

Congratulations Jacob!

A new graduate...

His parents are very proud! Wouldn't you???  Amazing how time flies!
Congratulations Jacob!