Almost Famous

So, it's no secret that we do lots of movie/dinner dates. I love the movies and we haven't gotten to spend too much time together lately. So, Sunday we went to see THE OTHER GUYS with Mark oh so yummy Wahlberg, Will Ferrell, The Rock, Michael Keaton, Damon Wayans, Samuel L. Jackson and Eva Mendez. It was a great, funny movie. (ya didn't know all those celebs were in the movie, huh?)

hello lover!

Well, backtracking a little remember when we went to Las Vegas in November? They were filming a movie. The Vegas strip was closed off for 1/4 of a mile on both sides and you couldn't cross the street. Word on the street, it was Will Ferrell. So, after lots of waiting around and talking to fellow tourists, we snapped some pictures and were on our way. These are my pictures below. You can't see the green screen but you can see the producer, camera, staff, etc.

Um hello!!! Turns out this is the main car in the movie....driven by Will Ferrell. GASP! You know I used my best whisper voice to announce to my husband "that's the movie they were filming!" I was so excited. Now, if only I had heard Marky Mark was in Vegas too. Then I would have stood in the hot sun a lot longer hoping to catch a glimpse.

No spoiler here, but the car is supposed to be towed. Go see the movie! It's funny, has a lot of one liners and lots of celeb cameos.

China

My Dad is loving China! He is there for only 2 more weeks. He said it's unbelievably clean and the people are so nice. He LOVES the food. This is a picture he sent us of a restaurant inside a cave. There are no menus. You walk up to a million fresh fish tanks loaded with everything from eel to shrimp. Then, below the glass tank, there are pictures of the dish choices. So, if you go to a shrimp tank below there might be an image of a plate with shrimp, rice and all the sides. You point to what you want and it is made fresh! This cave was an expensive restaurant so they're not all like that. The girl in the green is Lydia! She is with my dad 24/7 as his personal assistant and translator. She is 28 like me and lives away from her husband. Her job is extremely important and an honor to her family. It's funny because we all want to know what China is like and then everyone in China wants to hear about me and my brother.

Quirks

I've got quirks, we all do, but sometimes our quirks are embarrassing....to us or others. So, here are mine.

I embarrass my friends (Loma and Mary mostly) all the time because I know someone everywhere we go. But, it's not like I just know them, I remember what they wore in 1996 and where they sat in class. I can't forget. I don't know how I remember, but I visually can flash back to any date and time. I've always been able to do this. My mom is amazed at my childhood memories. I typically remember what you wore when we first met too.

I try to leave the house organized. This consists of NOTHING on the counter top in the kitchen except a tiny corner for mail. UGH, I hate when people have a million appliances on the counters. It stresses me. I also fluff all pillows, straighten the remote and make sure there is tons of light. It makes me feel better.

I go places solo. Often. I love to be with just myself, inside my own head, doing my own thing. It's very therapeutic. I realize this hurts peoples feelings but it is not personal. So, when I go to the mall, shop, run places, try new things, or go to the flea market don't be offended. I'm 100% content with being with myself.

I never make lists or write things down on paper or stick notes. In fact, I don't even have a planner. GASP! It's in my head and it works because like i said, I can see it when I need to.

I say words weird. Anything with short "a" sound HONEST TO GOODNESS I have to focus on it to say it correctly. My mouth does not work that way. Only my co-workers bring this to my attention. For example: bag=bage, dragon- dreygon, price tag- price tage. I turn it into a long vowel. As far as I know, it's only with short a sounds.

There is a weird place in my heart and you may hear me say that hurt my heart or it made my left eye cry. If I get emotional, my left eye will feel it first and it tears up easily.

I love quotes. I am a horrible writer. When I read a quote and it touches me I get invigorated.

I fight myself. My thoughts are always in turmoil between responsibility/normal and being a free spontaneous person. For example: the American dream, beautiful house, 2.5 kids, fence and a dog I think I want all those things because you're supposed to want want those things. But, I also love living on the edge and feel that I could settle in Africa, the Caribbean, or Europe, wear organic t-shirts and experience culture first hand while making a difference. I guess I want both and I'm not sure how to make that work.

Wow, my list goes on... maybe later!

I'm riding spinners...hahahahaha

Before the big storm last night I took Zane to the dog park. Usually, it's quite uneventful. NOPE, not last night. There was a big game going on at the park. It was such a big event the dog park was overflowing with cars. The parking lot was freakin' hilarious. I felt like I was in a rap video, big hair, short shorts, babies on hips, banging base music and every car had special rims. I wish Loma was with me. I kinda wanted to watch the game....lots of entertaining hoopla was going on! Luckily, I had my camera. I'm not sure why, but this car caught my attention. I have never seen something so MASSIVE, the picture doesn't do it justice. I wish I could have posed Zane next to it so I could say not actual size.

Loma and Grayson

Saturday we celebrated baby Grayson! Neither Ben or Loma have family here so the grandmas-to-be co-hosted a local shower. (okay, a lot of people came, but these ladies are my favorite) You may recognize bloggers The Eddy Family, me, Moments with the Mays and Cleared for Takeoff. The moms did an awesome job with the food table. The shrimp dip, not picture, was super!

petite fours from Ben's hometown

Grayson is set for life...or at least the first year! He got so many gifts!

cute party favor cookies (same Alabama bakery)

super cute lime and navy monogrammed diaper bag

watching Loma open presents can be exhausting...

We loved watching Jack prance around a baby....he wanted to play with her! Guess it's a good sign for baby Grayson!

Lately

....I've been super busy. I changed my classroom theme (again). I've had safari/jungle, Hollywood, camping, and now Monsters! Not scary monsters, but the cute, furry friends from the Parent/Teacher store. This is my helper board.

I got a whole set of Monster Manners and they came with pictures

The front class door

My behavior plan and monster manners around it

big red monster for my word wall

Monster borders

monster birthdays

curtain fabric

Avonlea turned one and had a ladybug theme birthday!

I think Ellie is saying "go girl, it's your birthday"

walking in her ladybug gear

some crafty cupcakes in the shape of a ladybug and the birthday table

big sister and me...for some reason we said cheese and she covered her ears

having a ball

ladybug cupcakes close up. Look at the cute plates we found at the flea market in the background.

Farm table came!!!!!! (ignore the mess)

Love the color!
It was SUPER heavy

Summer Recap

This summer brought about a lot of changes in our household. Although change can be hard, it's necessary for growth. Besides moving into our new house and furnishing it, here are a few pictures to recap the summer in no specific order:

The baby, my brother, moved to South Carolina for a new engineering job.

Avonlea turn 1! Visited my sister and bonded in Memphis!

Celebrated 4 years of marriage! Lost/gained teammates at work

Zane turned 2 (yeah, we celebrate)

Babies were born and friends became pregnant too!

(little Miss Molly Cate and baby Grayson hidden in this picture)

Celebrated 10 years of friendship with these awesome ladies and my ZTA sisters!

Pool dates with Arianna and watched her drink her first milkshake

Spent time with new couples

found a place that serves awesome fried pickles!

Lots of things both big and small happened this summer. These are just the ones I had pictures of. Now, it's back to the reality of early morning alarm clocks and schedules. I'm ready to meet my new little faces for the 2010 school year and look forward to the fall!