The Lovie Returns!

There were squeals of delight and a few tears shed (by me, of course) as Billy, the lovie, returned from his extended vacation in Myrtle Beach.
[If you have no idea what I am talking about, check out an earlier post here that will bring you up to speed.]

Billy arrived Monday via snail mail from the Landmark Resort.
And it only took 9 phone calls, 4 voice mail messages, 2 un-returned calls from the general manager and 15 days to happen.

But of course, it was not the hotel's fault we left him there in the first place and we are VERY grateful that they returned Billy intact, unscathed...and not COD :)

He was, however, a wee bit stinky. I have a feeling that he found his way to the bottom of a laundry pile of dirty sheets and towels from an entire floor of the hotel - eeewww!

Thus, immediately after his arrival, he was thrown into the washer and was dry in time for Will to arrive home from school for the big reunion. As you can see, Will is very happy to have Billy back in his arms safe and sound.



Some other time I will tell the story of how Betty (Billy's sister) once had a camp out in a field all by herself. Hmm...sensing a pattern of "lovie neglect" here :)

Sing hallelujah, the spring sandal search is over!

Ok, a little background first.

Last spring, I began in earnest a search for the perfect fitting, perfect looking, perfectly comfortable sandal to last me through all three seasons of sandal wearing that we enjoy here in North Carolina.

I wanted something that could go from day time to night time, from the home office to the corporate office, something that would work with jeans, shorts, or dress slacks. I realize this is a lot to expect from one style of shoe, but I was determined.

Of course, I was searching with an economic eye, thus I began my search at Payless - nothing remotely hitting 2 of the 3 requirements I placed on a sandal. However, I grabbed these plastic flops to use at the pool from the $4 bin - score!
Onward to Target (my home away from home). The adult sandals? Well, they ranged from "4 inch heel, kill your feet" to "dime store hooker" to "crunchy granola." The sad thing is that some of the children's sandals were adorable and if they made them in a women's size 8, I would have bought more than one pair.

Sports shoe stores? Nothing dressy enough but I did end up with these crocs:
I tried to buy the traditional crocs but they made my feet look ridiculous so I settled for the irritating "between-the-toe" version. They work for home and beach, but not so much for the office. Sigh.

Then it was onto the Web. I spent weeks searching on and off and finally thought I had found something that would work. They were more than I wanted to spend but I figured, if I can really wear them every way I need and they last a few years, then perhaps it was worth it.
And so 9 days later, I received my Agnes designer sandals:
See those scratches in the leather all over the front of the shoe? Yeah, that happened in the first 5 minutes I wore them outside.
And see that back strap that is supposed to help the sandal stay on? Yeah, that was too loose to actually stay on my heel so it lived along the bottom of the shoe.
And see the really great arch support? No? Me neither, so really not such a comfortable shoe. A complete waste of $50+.

But, oh my sisters, I have hit the JACKPOT this year! Thanks to my wonderful, really cheap thrifty bargain hunting husband, I finally have my cake and get to eat it too.
Ahhhh (envision a Vanna White like sweeping of the hand and an angelic chorus sweetly singing in the background)...behold, the Ariat Reyes sandal in Brown:


They are everything I could ever ask for in a sandal. Soft, buttery leather, Ariat's "exclusive ATS technology that cushions and supports my midsole," enough of a heel to push me over 5'3", and best of all $52.03 + free shipping. Squee! I love you Sierra Trading Post.

I. am. so. happy.
So much so that I did what any smart woman would do:
I bought the exact same pair in black :)

(And yes, I have already scheduled an appointment for a much needed pedicure - but not soon enough - yikes!)


So tell me, have you made your spring sandal purchase this year? I am still open for other great looking deals out there!

Happy Birthday, dear Scottie!

Yes, that's right. Scott has finally caught up with me. For 4 months and 2 days each year I am subjected to taunting from my "younger" man. But alas, I am free now until December, when once again my age and therefore my wisdom (heehee) surpasses that of my hubby.

And now, Stefan Scott Hughes through the ages:

Such a cute, not-so-wee little man, circa 1969

Summer of '88 and, little did I know, my first look at my future husband.

Ah, wedded bliss - 1993!

I think this was Scott's first time on horse back - Utah, 2000

Exploring Ireland a few days after learning we were expecting Eliza Grace, 2001

Daddy for the first time! 2002

Daddy for the second time! 2005

Pretty popular guy around here, 2008

Happy birthday, Scott. We love you and hope you have a wonderful day.

Never

Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER, expect a two year old to actually go into a photography studio and sit and have his photo taken with his sister.

Apologies to family, but there will not be any decently taken pictures of the children within the next year. Perhaps when Will is 30 3 I will consider the torture once again :)

A quick trip to the beach

Last week we spent a few days at Myrtle Beach.

(Future football player:

hut one, hut two, hike, hike, hike)

I had not been there in decades.
Yikes - am I really old enough to claim I have not been somewhere in decades??
But I digress.

(Fun in the sun and sand)

It was nice to get away.
I was surprised that it was a relatively short car ride ~ 3.5 hours
We did not even bother stopping the entire trip home...except for the time we had to return to the hotel when I realized 15 minutes into the drive that I could not find my cell phone.
But I digress again.

(Flying a 'copter at Broadway at the Beach)

Nice things from the trip:
- Will did not wake up calling for me during the night any of the 3 nights AND he did not fall out of the bed he shared with daddy.
-The last night we all fell asleep around 9:15pm and we all simultaneously awoke at 7am.
We are talking (with the exception of the middle of the night potty run) 10 hours of sleep here people!! I do not remember the last YEAR I slept 10 hours in a row - so nice!
So sad how the "nice" items all revolved around sleep.

But once again, I digress.

(EG at Broadway on the Beach)

Not so nice things from the trip:
- it was really cold and windy 50% of the time
-the indoor pools were really not warm enough on the coldest days. In fact, Will, who normally has to be dragged kicking and screaming from a pool, asked through purple chattering lips to "goa backa upastaiws, peas"
-Worst of all, we cannot locate Billy. For those of you who do not know, Billy is Will's favorite lovey.

I am SO sad.

Much more so than Will is. In fact, he is fairly unaware of the situation.

Lately, as long as the lovey has a tag on the bottom, he is good to go. (He has a tag/thumb sucking addiction thing that is really weird.)

And yet, another digression.

I have called the hotel and spoken with security and housekeeping 4 times in the past 2 days and no one has seen him/turned him in.
I had big plans to add Billy to Will's "keepsake" box.

And since I am the mom and thus responsible for remembering every single item that my family needs, has, wants or drags from place to place, the guilt is weighing very heavily.
Sigh.

Sorry, last digression I swear.

There were a couple of funnies:

--at one point during our trip, when Scott "expressed" his exasperation with Will's continually uncooperative behavior I had to laughingly quip, "have you been in this family long??" I mean really, when has Will be cooperative since the day he turned 2?

--We have all agreed on Will's newest nickname: "Guido" from the movie Cars ( he is my FAVORITE!)

Why Guido, you ask? Well, Will has this little habit of saying "a" (pronounced "uh") at the end of every word he says. So hea sort ofa soundsa likea he hasa fakea Italian accenta.

It. is. so. cute.He even responds to you if you call him Guido.Totally cracks us all up.

So, all in all it was nice a trip away from the daily grind. Now back to it :)