Spring Breaking

Spring Break Panama City Beach '97!

MTV and Spinnakers.

Just kidding.

I begged my parents to go to PCB during my senior year of high school for spring break.

I got down there and drank alcohol for the first time in my life.  I got toasted and then a bit ill.

Then I sobered up, and realized that having drunk people making out around me and finding sand in my bed at the Holiday Inn wasn't exactly my scene.

My friend Missy and I were rescued by her parents who drove from Gulf Shores to retrieve us after like 2 days.

She was a wuss like me.

Thank the lord.

That officially ended my one and only wild spring break experience.

Until now.

We started with a broken washing machine on Saturday.

G and I took dirty clothes back over to my old house, which is currently between tenants, for some old school laundering.

We stopped at for a cake pop.

She was wearing her spring finery.

When we were in the house I showed her my bedroom and told her how I lived alone and paid all of my own bills and really had a wild and fun life with Kashmir, God rest her soul.

I then shared that I prayed for a kind and smart man to love and that then I met her father.

Her response?

"Well, daddy isn't the smartest man in the world."

What a pill.

I have no idea how she comes up with what she says.

On Sunday we attended tiny church and then went shopping for a most exciting appliance.

Take a picture, momma.

Yes, yes, I will.

Two things that really know how to agitate.

On Monday we rolled south to Owensboro.

It is a 3 hour drive and my kid slept the final 25 minutes.

She asked me today for an iPad.

What the hell?

She spent an hour talking to her Rapunzel doll and playing during the ride.  Then she sang and talked to me for the other hour and a half.

I love that she can entertain herself with crayons and toys.

Like a real child.

Hells to the no on that iPad, sister.

Although my girl does love some TV.

I'm not that good.

We had dinner at Mellow Mushroom with Abby and Papi.

There was pizza throwing.

G really knows how to engage in conversation whilst eating bread knots.

Abby had her Easter banner flowing.

Owensboro's weather was beautiful and 76 degrees!

We shopped at KidStop, my all time favorite children's store.

It is just amazing.

G tried this dress, but she didn't say yes to this dress.

She got lots of new bows and some gold sandals.

Abby caved and bought her a doll.

We managed to visit Orange Leaf twice in 24 hours.

As you all know, I'm a cake person.

Froyo ain't my scene.

Abby and G can put it down.

They had their usual coconut and pineapple.

On Tuesday we kissed the grandparents goodbye and drove to Newburgh to see sister.

We visited Nicole and her gals.

Nic is 23 weeks preg and was in no mood for a picture.

Actually, she always hates pictures.

Caroline and Genevieve were fine with my paparazzi skills.

Caroline is 9 months older than G.

My child is gigantic!

Katie took us to a toy store and they had Mrs. Grossman stickers by the roll.

The last time I saw stickers by the roll was when I was a kid.

I had a slight sticker obsession.

I would stand in Kit & Kaboodle at the Keystone mall forever, select each sticker collage carefully, then fold along the perforated line and rip.

I can still hear the sound!

The funny thing was, I just hoarded them in a box and looked at them.

I didn't stick them anywhere.

Weird.

The only kid weirder than me was BFF Courtney.

We would sit and trade stickers in her cedar closet.

She would pull out stale Easter or Halloween candy for us to eat, depending on the time of year.

It was opposite of the time of year you would think.

If it was the fall/winter we would be eating old chalky chocolate bunnies.

Spring brought whiffs of hard ass candy corn.

Now I think Court was a bit of a hoarder.

I texted her this picture without any words.

Her quick response?

"Meet me in 10 in the cedar closet."

We both also collected Madame Alexander dolls that were for DISPLAY only.

Don't touch them! 

We finished up our visit with a viewing of Caroline's softball practice.

This little one found a mitt in the dugout and practiced her catching skills.

God help me if she actually wants to play.

More spring fun to come!

Gals About Town

We have been running around town lots lately.  My Aunt Cindi gave us tickets to see Peewinkle's Puppet Show last weekend at the Indiana State Museum.

G was giddy with excitement.  

She was mesmerized by the puppetry!

She loved it so much she demanded her own puppet, also known as a string puzzle for her mother.  

We brunched at The Garden Table.  We toasted with milk and the Gals Who Brunch champagne cocktail.

Sweet T had a Bloody Mary and manned the camera.

Our waiter tried showed Little Miss some balancing tricks.

This weekend Katie, Caroline, and mother came to visit for a night.  Katie did some damage in Tory Burch while the cousins iPadded.

Robby invited us over for a special 3D showing of Moana.  

In typical brother fashion, he purchased a DVD for the 3D TV that my dad gave him and a family set of 3D glasses.

G loved on Baby Robby.

Katie and Caroline bought popcorn at the movie theater before we left the mall.

The whole crew loved it!

On Sunday Mother treated us to a Beef and Boards experience.  We saw Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, which is sister's favorite because she is a nerd and cheesy as hell.

It is bright and flashy and catchy.

I loved it as a kid.

Two other kids really loved it too.

Genevieve gave the whole experience a double high 5!

Li'l Robby

Last Sunday Li'l Robby was baptized!

We had a lovely morning as a family giving the baby some Jesus.

Trinity and I posed with our precious godson.

That's right, now I'm Godmother times two!

The joy of being the middle child means both older sister and younger brother think I'm the bee's knees.  

At least that's what I tell myself.  

Now Genevieve did not handle having her mother on the altar with the priest very well.

Shocking.

Even though I had explained to her that her father and I would be going up front and holding the baby beforehand, hearing it and actually seeing it are apparently two very different animals.

We were introduced at the beginning of mass and she climbed over the back of a pew into YaYa's arms while wailing "Mama!  Mama!" like she was 18 months old.

Embarrassing.

I ignored her and pretended that I didn't know who she was.

Thankfully the priest called the children to go to "tiny church" and she missed the baptism part.

I think we might have had a scene worthy of Sally Field if she had witnessed that!  

This precious babe did not make a peep during the entire mass, even when he was doused with the holy water.  

We ended the celebration with vittles and cake at Robby's house.  

The cake was decorated with Robert Mattew,

a common typo in the baking business.

Except it wasn't typed, it was written in icing.

Mother was thrilled.

Abby and Papi and 65 degrees

Abby and Papi came to visit over the long Presidents Day weekend.

The weather was great and we had fun going out to eat.  

We dined in Fountain Square, which is quickly becoming my favorite area in town.

Papi ordered some serious appetizers.

Abby was the queen of the visit because she brought Shine to match G's Shimmer.

3 cheers and a toast to Shimmer and Shine.

I slurped my hard cider to join in the merriment.

We were able to get outside and stroll around too in the beautiful weather.

Our girl was glowing from seeing her grandparents.

January and Most of February

This is just a mix of random happenings in our world.  January and most of February have flown by.

I got G's big girl bed set up.

Actually Trinity did after I practically had to arm wrestle him to get him to do it.

My school children continue to be just delightful.

I have been so thrilled to be back in the classroom again after so many years doing various other things.

My 2nd year back has brought me another darling group.

I snapped a picture of flowers that I received from a student a couple of weeks ago.  

Another teacher took this picture of 4 of my babies walking down the hall holding hands.

Firsties are the best!

We have brunched at Yolk.

G continues with her "work."  

I can barely tear her away from her constant writing and drawing to get her to eat.

That's a Medieval Times cup.

Awesome.

She constantly writes me notes that say Love, Genevieve and hearts all over them.  She writes MB MBMBMB all over them, which stands for Momma Betsy.  As if she has another mother somewhere and she has to be specific?

Katie turned 40 last weekend.

She surprised G by going to her Super Snack Day at school.

G was beside herself with joy.

Katie met G's bestie, Lungel.

They posed in the kissing booth.

I rounded up all of Katie's skanks for dinner at Harry and Izzy's.

I provided the cupcakes.

Duh.

Trinity took us to Scotty's for dinner for Valentine's Day.

G had to take her work on the road on Valentine's Day morning.  We buzzed through Starbucks for teacher gift cards and G filled out the cards before we rolled on.

G is still Lord of the Dance.

I sit and giggle while I take pictures that showcase her prominent rear end.

That's all I have for now!