*Warning*: I feel like whining

And since this is my blog, I'm gonna. But I warned you, so feel free to skip this post if you don't wanna hear me gripe.

Let's see... here are just some of the things "wrong" in my World today:

1) I woke up at 4am this morning for the stupidest reason ever. A couple of nights ago we had a cook-out in our backyard with some friends, and I was eaten alive by mosquitos. So, this morning, my bug bites were itching me to death... and finally forced me out of bed before the sun came up to desperately search for some Benedryl cream. I am NOT a morning person, by any stretch of the imagination (and had just gone to sleep a few hours earlier), so I wasn't a happy camper, to say the least.

2) After searching for (and finally finding) the Benedryl cream, I was pretty much awake... So I sat on the couch and started channel surfing (it's very hard to find a channel without "paid programming" at 4am, by the way). So, I ended up on the Home Shopping Network, where they were having a "Scrapbooking Pajama Party." I'm a huge fan of buying scrapping goodies on QVC, but HSN has really crappy stuff in comparison... so this wasn't really as exciting as it sounds. But, I watched for a while and the sun started to rise and I actually felt "inspired." I decided to take advantage of the quiet morning and dashed up to my room to clear off my scrapping desk and scrapbook. ahhhhhh, heaven! NOT. Wouldn't you know it, my children (who usually sleep in until around 9 or 10am during the summer) both came wandering up to my room at 6am. Avery was whining and crying and babbling about some kind of crab that was in her room and biting her ankles (I don't know WHERE she gets this stuff... but maybe she has bug bites, too?!?!). So, I reluctantly turned off my country music radio and turned on the Disney channel for the kids, who curled up in my bed. I did manage to scrap for a couple of hours, but it wasn't nearly as much fun with tired, whining children in the room with me.

3) Last night I had to pass up two fabulous opportunities for an evening out of the house. Some of my Mom's Group friends were gathering for our monthly "Mom's Night Out"... All You Can Eat crabs. Yummmmmmm. I didn't go because Nick was on call all night, and Fridays are usually busy for him. I also didn't really want to spend the money. Then, I got a phone call around 6pm from a scrapbooking friend, who was inviting me to a crop last night. That would've cost significantly less money than eating crabs, but Nick was still on call... and didn't seem willing to take the kids along (not that I really blame him for that). So, I had to turn that down, too. Major bummer. I don't "get out" very often, and it really stinks to have to turn down an evening out, away from the kids, the dogs, the house, the husband, etc. So, I'm still upset about that, even after the fact. I know, I know... get over it, Erin. I'm trying. I'm promise.

4) I had a really crappy week work-wise. The people that I work for have recently started using a "new and improved" program/Web site thingy. It's supposed to make it easier for us to transfer files, for me to accept/decline work, etc. All week I've been reminded of the saying, "If it ain't broke, don't try to fix it." This new system has been nothing short of a pain in the rump since we started using it. And I'd love to meet the person who decided it would make my life "easier." Hmpf. The deadline for my current issue was set for last Wednesday... and today I still don't have all of the files that I need to complete the work (yet, I feel guilty for missing the deadline... twisted). This new system also leaves me with a lot more "Admin"-type work on my end, which I technically don't get paid for... and I really have a problem with working for free. Of course, the geniuses who implemented the new and improved system work in-house, which means they have a nice salary (or at least get paid by the hour) and benefits, so I can see why this is working well for THEM. I'm a little bitter (in case you missed that).

5) Rent is due today. Every month it physically pains me to hand my landlord our rent check. Luckily, we HAVE the money to pay rent (so I know it could be worse), but I had really hoped that by the time I was 31 years old, married, with 2 kids that maybe, just maybe, I'd be in the position to buy a home. And, the really depressing part is that if we lived anywhere other than where we live (where the housing market is nothing short of outrageous), we might actually be able to think about buying a place. But I'm slowly coming to the realization that as long as we live HERE, we're going to be writing out rent checks (unless we hit the lottery, which I'm not counting on... especially since I can't afford to PLAY the lottery). Nick and I have discussed relocating... again (yes, we've tried this once or twice before), but that's a very overwhelming, not to mention expensive, task. And, like I said, we've tried it before with little success. Sigh.

Well, now that I feel pretty ridiculous for complaining about trivial things in my World (when in reality I KNOW that my life is pretty good and I'm a lucky person), I'm going to spare you any more whining. It's finally threatening to rain here (and Lord knows we NEED some rain)... it's thundering and my cable modem keeps going in and out, so consider yourself spared by Mother Nature.

This fish needs a bigger tank

Damon spent 3 entire days this week nagging me to clean and fill up the little pool outside.

I finally gave in and spent 45 minutes out in the heat of the day with a sponge and a bottle of Lysol cleaner (the pool was REALLY nasty).

And, after 10 minutes of splashing in the pool, Damon decided he'd had enough. He came inside, took off his suit, and never returned outside to the pool for the rest of the day (grrrrrrrrr).

I learned a few things from this experience: 1) I really should empty the pool and put it up when the kids aren't using it, so that it doesn't get funky, dirty, nasty, requiring 45 minutes of scrubbing the next time; 2) I shouldn't waste my time scrubbing it (because we all know I won't follow through with no. 1) because my children are fickle and won't spend enough time playing in the pool to justify the thorough cleaning; and 3) Damon is WAY too big for the kiddie pool/slide. We just might have to upgrade to something more "his size" next summer (see the following video for proof).

Determination

When Avery was born back in 2003, we were given the cutest ever little shirt at the hospital. I've kept this shirt tucked away in the top drawer of her dresser, as a memento.

I certainly never expected my chubby 3.5-yr-old daughter to WEAR it. And when she came out of her room the other day holding said shirt and told me she wanted to wear it, I informed her that it was a "baby shirt," for newborns, and there was no way it would fit her now.

She loves to prove me wrong.

And, actually, once I saw her in it (cutting off the circulation in her arms and stretched to the max), I realized that I never took a picture of Newborn Avery wearing the shirt announcing her place of birth.

So, now we have the pics. Better late than never.

Not a new pic, but...

Here's a digital scrapbook layout that I completed this week of Diva Avery and her new swimsuit. I haven't digi scrapped in ages, so I was quite proud of this one!

The journaling might be hard to read... it says: "Avery picked out her own two-piece bathing suit, and she couldn't be more proud of it!"

Credits for this one are pretty simple... everything is from Shabby Princess (my fave!), and I used a sketch from my good friend Cherie's sketch blog as inspiration!

The Land of Tummy Troubles

That's what our house has been for the past week or so.

Damon was the first to fall "ill," so I'm blaming him for infecting the rest of us. Although, he had this stomach bug while we were camping last weekend, and it certainly didn't slow him down one bit. Nick and I even wondered if he wasn't "faking it," because he'd run to the bathroom 100 times a day, but then act fine in between dashes to the potty (very suspicious behavior, lol).

A few days later, though, we both unfortunately understood what ailed him (I'm sure this is payback for doubting the poor soul!).

Nick and I have been "sick" for several days now... and although I don't feel bad other than my gurgling stomach and the 1000 trips to the potty, I am feeling weak and dehydrated after 4 days of this!

And, for the past 4 days, I've just been grateful that Avery seems healthy.... so much for that. Today it hit HER, too. God willing, the dogs won't be next (ewwwwww!).

(I know everyone loves pics, but you should thank me for not including visuals to accompany this post! Although, I did edit my post from last Tuesday to include a cutie patootie pic of Baby Addie... see below!) Now I'm off to feel sorry for myself for yet another day.

I'm going to have to re-name my blog...

"The Baby Announcement Blog!"

I just got a call from one of my oldest and dearest friends, Emily... she delivered a bouncing baby girl this afternoon!!!

Helen Claire weighed in at a WHOPPING 10 lbs, 1 oz! (and so, I'll soon be on my way to Carter's to exchange the 0-3 month outfit I bought for her last week... or I guess I could just send it for baby Addie instead, LOL!)

Congratulations and lots of love to Emily, Jason, and big siblings Madeline and Brady!

A new baby to love!

I'm so thrilled to announce that there's a new baby in the family!!

My cousin Carrie and her husband Tim welcomed a sweet baby girl, Addison Leigh, to their family in the wee hours of this morning. I'm anxiously awaiting the first pics of her, that I'm sure will soon circulate via the family e-mail chain!

I was lucky enough to visit with Carrie last month... she was 8 months pregnant and positively glowing! I can only imagine how thrilled she is this morning to finally be holding her daughter in her arms.

Every time I hear of a new baby being born, I can't help but think back to when Damon and Avery joined us (although it seems like a lifetime ago now!). There's no experience quite like it, and although I'm glad that my baby-delivering days are a thing of the past, a part of me yearns for those first moments again.

So, Congratulations to Carrie and Tim!!!!! I hope that you'll both savor each and every "new" moment to come, because they pass all too quickly.... before you know it, your baby will be starting First Grade!

ETA: Here's the first look at baby Addie! Isn't she positively adorable?!?! (maybe one of these days I can talk her Mom into starting a blog for her!)

Our First Family Camping Trip!

And I survived to tell the tale!

Friday evening when Nick got home from work, we packed up the little truck camper (which actually belongs to a friend, but he parks it at our house, so we decided to take advantage and use it for a change!) and headed to a State Park campground about 30 minutes from home. I wasn't fully convinced that I'd actually ENJOY a weekend at the campground because, well, I'm just not the great outdoorsy type, truthfully!

But, we had a wonderful time. It was actually a huge relief to be away from home and "civilization" for a couple of days. I didn't even miss my computer (and Nick thought I'd suffer withdrawals! lol).

Of course I took a million pics of our exciting camping adventure.

Here are some pics of the camper and our little site:

Avery, gathering wood for the fire (she's a good worker bee!):

Nick and the kids fishing:Major excitement... Damon's first sunfish! He caught a few sunfish (or maybe the same one three times?!?!) and was unlucky enough to hook a couple snapping turtles, too (boy, they're nasty creatures, blech!).
Avery was actually the first one to reel in a fish... with her SpongeBob fishing rod, lol. She caught a little catfish (not pictured because he's really ugly and I didn't figure anyone really wanted to see him). The kids enjoying the playground:

And here are some more random water/fishing pics that were among my favorites from the weekend:

To sum up, camping was a huge hit for all four of us. We hated to pack it up and return home today... although I will enjoy sleeping in my own bed tonight! I see lots more camping trips in our future!

Please just go to SLEEP already!!

It's 11:22pm. My kids have been officially "tucked in" in their beds for 1.5 hours.

Damon has drifted off to Dreamland without much protest. Or, if he IS still awake, he's at least being silent and staying in his bed, which is fine with me. Avery, on the other hand, is still standing at the gate at her door, trying her darnedest to look pathetic and work on my pity (NOT working, by the way), and screaming at me.

I will never understand why young children think bedtime is a fate worse than death. I wish someone would force me to go to bed every night. Okay, well maybe I'm lying... a little. I'm a nightowl by nature and always have been, and going to sleep in not my most favorite thing, but still... I really don't think I ever screamed like a banshee when my mother tucked me in at night. Of course I didn't. Not me. Avery acts like I've sentenced her to death every night while I'm waiting for her to give up and fall asleep.

Right now, she's sitting on her bed, but she's hysterically crying and I'm saying a silent prayer that she doesn't choke herself and vomit all over her bed. Seriously... it's that bad. In fact, Damon (yes, he IS still awake) just yelled from his bed and told her NOT to choke herself and throw up. Good grief.

As with most things "Avery," I keep reminding myself that I've gone through this once already... Damon wasn't always a cooperative 6 year old... in fact, when he was Avery's age, he was ten times worse (think Supernanny bedtime horror stories; that was Damon). But, we survived it, and Damon grew up on us, and now he's very easy-going and is in his bed right now offering advice to his hysterical little sister (that part is actually kinda cute! lol).

I know that one day I'll look at Avery and wonder where my little girl went... I will miss lots of things about her being small. But, THIS bedtime nightmare will NOT be one of them.

My kids love dirt

And Comet the Moose loves his rope toy...

The cutest little body I've ever seen

Avery got a new swimsuit today. So far this summer, she's been wearing a suit that's two sizes too small... so I figured it was time! We're going to a pool party tomorrow afternoon, and I just couldn't see forcing her into her too-small suit yet again! I let Avery pick out the suit she wanted, and she insisted on a two-piece (have I ever told you what a DIVA she is?!?!). Apparently she's very excited about her new suit... it's been ON her person since we brought it home from the store this afternoon, lol.

She also got a new tube for the pool...

And, of course, I can't take pics without including some close-up shots! Avery even insisted that we take one "together." So, you see, the mysterious Mommy person who is almost always behind the camera really does exist!

Hip Hip Hooray!

Last night, I received a phone call from my best friend, Christie... she called to tell me that her boyfriend had just PROPOSED! She was beside herself with joy, and I was so grateful to share that moment and a little of that joy with her.

Christie and I have known each other since Kindergarten! And although we were friends/acquaintances over the years, we didn't become really "close" until our Senior year of high school... over 13 years ago now. Since then, we've seen each other through countless ups and downs, sharing a lot of laughs and too many tears along the way!

At this point in our lives, to say that we're "best friends" doesn't even come close to describing our relationship. On one hand, we're more like sisters (although, even THAT doesn't sound good enough). Christie is, without a doubt, "family" to me... in the purest sense of the word.

Over the years, I have felt her pain as if it were my own. So, today, it thrills me to no end to feel her joy... on what is, I'm sure, one of happiest days of her life! I've cried many tears of heartbreak with Christie, and just knew that ONE DAY we'd cry most-welcome tears of joy together... even when SHE doubted it, I knew that happiness was waiting for her somewhere!

Oddly enough, I have yet to meet Duke. I've never spoken to him and know very little about him... only that he is the reason that Christie and I cried tears of joy together last night... and that's enough for me... as of right now, I'm adding him to the "people I love" list, lol!

So, the hugest Congratulations are going out to Christie and Duke. I know this is only the very beginning of a lifetime of joy and "happy tears." And you better believe that I'll be there, every step of the way, to celebrate what's to come with both of you!

YAY, Christie's getting married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love you, CAD, unconditionally... but you already knew that! *wink*