I can't believe it is Fall already! Where does the time go? We had a good summer; although a little more low key than usual with having a new baby in the house. The other night I was reflecting on some of the fun things we did over the summer and made a list of things I would like to be sure to do next summer. While I was reflecting, I started thinking about some of my favorite childhood summer memories. Soon my mind became flooded with memories of good times with family and friends, and I decided to write a blog about it to list them out. Here are my top twenty most favorite childhood summer memories, in no particular order!
1. Trips to the Dairy Queen: Of course this would be listed first;) I always loved going to the DQ with my family. Sometimes we enjoyed a full meal with ice cream for dessert, and other times we would just go for an evening snack. My favorite meal was the footlong hot dog and onion rings. Well, really just the batter on the onion rings considering I pulled the onions out and threw those away. My absolute favorite Dairy Queen treat was a Double Delight. When I got older I also enjoyed the Blizzards, with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough being my favorite. My brother's favorite was an Oreo Blizzard.
2. Our Dance Recitals: I LOVED dancing and was always so excited and proud when recital time came around. It's funny how certain sounds and smells can evoke certain emotions within you, because to this day I still feel butterflies in my stomach when I hear Kenny G songs (this music would play prior to the start of the recital).
3. Playing Spotlight: I always enjoyed playing Spotlight at night with my brother and sometimes our neighbor friend. I am still very proud of my best hiding spots under the neighbor's tree and lying on top of the monkey bars.
4. Idlewild: I remember being very little and getting so excited to go to Idelwild park with the family. It was kind of like a small reunion and we always started with a picnic/BBQ. My favorite ride at Idlewild was called The Spider or something like that! I hope to be able to take my children to Idlewild one summer.
5. Summer Thunderstorms: I always enjoyed the nice breeze that blew before the start of a storm and the sounds and sights of evening/nighttime storms. Unless, of course, this storm occurred anytime after bedtime, in which case my brother and I could be found sleeping on the floor of my parents room:)
6. Beach Vacations: I have always loved the beach and enjoyed our family trips to the ocean. Some of my favorite trips involved a car ride to North Carolina where we rented a condo for the week. Once we went with extended family and another time it was the 4 of us. Both were great times!
7. My Birthday: My birthday is in July and I always looked forward to celebrating with family. My favorite party was the year my parents held a swimming party for me at the Holiday Inn! My mom always made whatever dinner I wanted for my birthday, and I almost always requested Chicken Divan!
8. Catching Lightning Bugs: It was always lots of fun catching lighting bugs on those warm summer nights. I can remember my mom not being too happy with me because I kissed one of my lightning bugs once before releasing it!
9. Trips to Library: I have always loved to read, and I really enjoyed taking trips to the library with my dad to stock up on some good reads. I remember borrowing lots of Sweet Valley books.
10. Summer Food: I still think BBQ food is delicious. I especially loved my mom's BBQ chicken and the way she made iced tea.
11. Holiday Inn: One of my favorite things to do was go with my dad and brother to the Holdiay Inn for swimming. After we swam we would always play the mini golf course or play in the arcade. And many times we would get food from McDonalds to enjoy there or afterwards. Sometimes before or after we would also take a trip to my grandparents house.
12.Community Pool: Every summer I looked forward to swimming at the local pool just up the road from our house. After fun in the pool, it was always great to grab a snack from the vending machines and drink a "Yellow Mellow" as my brother called it!
13. 4th of July: Independence Day was always a time of fun and I loved getting to go and watch the fireworks. One year we rented a hotel and watched the fireworks from our room which was very special!
14. Trips to Maryland: We took many trips to Maryland when I was younger and I always enjoyed getting to stay with my Aunt, Uncle and cousins. My brother and I loved swimming in their pool and playing in their treehouse. I still can remember riding in the back of my Uncle's Truck and going to get Sno-Cones very often:)
15. County Fair: I loved going to the county fair and always had a blast. I will never forget my poor brother throwing up on the Bumblebee ride.
16. Riverfest: I also enjoyed the Riverfest activities, including attending the pageant and going to the festival itself. Our dance school performed there on several occasions and that was fun.
17. Summer Cheerleading: I absolutely loved being a cheerleader and enjoyed every minute of practices, games and performances. Our cheerleading camp was held locally in the summer, and this was when we would learn our competition routine and the new cheers we would use for the year.
18. Coal Show: One of my fondest childhood memories still includes Coal Show Week. The Coal Queen pageant was always entertaining and exciting, and I loved reconnecting with friends who I hadn't seen all summer, The cheerleading competition was also awesome, especially when I was a part of it. When we were younger, it was a blast to go to the Coal Show carnival and ride the rides and play games. I also enjoyed watching and participating in the bike parade and especially the pet parade. I will never forget one of the years we entered our Cocker Spaniel Brandy and she was too nervous to walk in it so I had to carry her the whole time, and by the time I got home that night I could barely even straighten my arm out from holding her for so long! Finally, I loved the Coal Show Parade. Whether participating in the parade itself or just watching as a spectator, it was always great fun. I still remember how proud I was when I was in the parade for the first time with my dance group. I would have had to have been 4 or 5 years old. And in high school. I enjoyed marching with our band and riding on the fire trucks with our cheerleading squad.
19. Flips in the yard: I remember spending hours and hours out in our back yard practicing flips, jumps, and many dances. I was so proud and excited when I got my back tuck and loved throwing it
20. Family Gram: My last favorite memory from summer is getting the Family Gram. This was the booklet that announced which Teacher/homeroom teacher we would have and who was in our class. I remember wanting Mrs. Brioli in 6th grade so bad that I chanted her name over and over in my mind for days before, and especially on my walk down the driveway to get the mail the day I knew it was in there. I practically screamed with excitement when I scanned though and saw that indeed Mrs. Brioli would be my teacher and was thrilled because all my friends got her too!
I hope you've enjoyed this walk down memory lane! Feel free to share some of your favorite summer memories too!!!
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
A peek at last week
Places we went: Publix, church for my pro-life meeting, the dentist, gymnastics, and Target
Highlights: This has been an extremely painful week for me as I have a complication from the dental procedure done last week. One night we were all hanging out in the office and T was bouncing up and down on the bed and I said silently to God that I would love it if the baby would give his first belly laugh. I barely was finished praying when I heard the most adorable sound of the baby giggling and laughing at his big brother. What a fast answer to prayer!
Low of the week: As an unfortunate result of last week's dental work, I ended up with an excruciatingly painful condition known as dry socket. I would have to say that pain is some of the worst I have ever experienced. For the majority of the week I have been on round the clock pain killers, both over the counter and the prescription pills prescribed by the dentist. It's crazy because even these strong pain killers barely do anything to relieve the pain, and it breaks back through every two hours or so. Total misery!
We Watched: The RNC
Ministry Update: 14 people came out to our August meeting. Everyone there was very excited about the ministry and the many things going on with it. We have completed our website, which was a big task! We also added an awesome outreach coordinator and she has just done a phenomenal job!
I am praising God for: The many doors he has opened for our pro-life ministry
I am looking forward to: An upcoming two night stay in Orlando!
To Do this week: Conference call for pro-life conference in January, start making arrangements for National Community baby shower day event
I am praying for: My tooth to heal quickly. I read it can take up to six weeks to heal:( Im also continuing to pray for our friends and their newborn little girl. She was scheduled to have heart surgery last week but it was cancelled due to an infection she developed.
That's all for now! Check back next week for a new update!!
Highlights: This has been an extremely painful week for me as I have a complication from the dental procedure done last week. One night we were all hanging out in the office and T was bouncing up and down on the bed and I said silently to God that I would love it if the baby would give his first belly laugh. I barely was finished praying when I heard the most adorable sound of the baby giggling and laughing at his big brother. What a fast answer to prayer!
Low of the week: As an unfortunate result of last week's dental work, I ended up with an excruciatingly painful condition known as dry socket. I would have to say that pain is some of the worst I have ever experienced. For the majority of the week I have been on round the clock pain killers, both over the counter and the prescription pills prescribed by the dentist. It's crazy because even these strong pain killers barely do anything to relieve the pain, and it breaks back through every two hours or so. Total misery!
We Watched: The RNC
Ministry Update: 14 people came out to our August meeting. Everyone there was very excited about the ministry and the many things going on with it. We have completed our website, which was a big task! We also added an awesome outreach coordinator and she has just done a phenomenal job!
I am praising God for: The many doors he has opened for our pro-life ministry
I am looking forward to: An upcoming two night stay in Orlando!
To Do this week: Conference call for pro-life conference in January, start making arrangements for National Community baby shower day event
I am praying for: My tooth to heal quickly. I read it can take up to six weeks to heal:( Im also continuing to pray for our friends and their newborn little girl. She was scheduled to have heart surgery last week but it was cancelled due to an infection she developed.
That's all for now! Check back next week for a new update!!
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Places we went: Family Christian, Publix, the Dentist, and a Radio Station for our planning meeting for the big pro-life conference in January. Over the weekend, Daddy took Little T camping and they had a great time! Baby and I stayed home and enjoyed a nice, quiet time together:)
Highlights: I am loving watching our boys interact with each other. Little C just adores his big brother and is constantly watching him, completely fascinated. It was also exciting to finally be able to start driving both boys by myself. Little C did not like his carseat a few months ago and would scream the whole time in it, but he does MUCH better in it now so we feel comfortable with me being up in the front. The final big highlight last week was purchasing $350.00 worth of good homeschool books for $25.00. I am SO excited about this and can't wait to start reading the books!
Low of the week: I had a weird, painful week:( I developed a mysterious red rash all up and down my left arm, had a toothache all week, and my knees have been hurting worse than ever.
I watched: Fireproof. I love that movie!
I am reading: 1000 Gifts
I am looking forward to: Our pro-life meeting next week
To Do this week: plan and prep for meeting, call churches about 40 Days For Life
I am praising God for: A miracle that happened this week! For the past 4 years, Little T has never wanted to go to bed by himself and would cry and cry every time we tried (he normally just went to bed when I did at 10pm). This week, we decided we needed to enforce an earlier bed time and that he was just going to have to deal with it (he is normally too scared to be in there by himself). On our first night, we told him about our plan and as expected, he cried. But then we reminded him that his little brother was in there sleeping too and he wouldn't be alone. Little T's attitude completely changed as he realized this, and apparently considers his baby brother to be sufficient company because he stopped crying and actually was completely fine with it. He snuggled next to brother (who sleeps in a co-sleeper in our bed) and slept the whole night. And this has been our new routine. He goes to bed without a problem now! I think it is SO sweet that just having someone in there, even a baby, is enough to make him happy and somehow feel safer.
I am praying for: Our friends have a newborn baby girl who was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. The sweet little baby must have open heart surgery, and soon. She has had her surgery cancelled twice already due to an infection and complications. We are praying that God would heal her body of the infection and that she would be able to have her much needed surgery as soon as possible.
That's all for last week! Check back to see what all went on this week:)
Highlights: I am loving watching our boys interact with each other. Little C just adores his big brother and is constantly watching him, completely fascinated. It was also exciting to finally be able to start driving both boys by myself. Little C did not like his carseat a few months ago and would scream the whole time in it, but he does MUCH better in it now so we feel comfortable with me being up in the front. The final big highlight last week was purchasing $350.00 worth of good homeschool books for $25.00. I am SO excited about this and can't wait to start reading the books!
Low of the week: I had a weird, painful week:( I developed a mysterious red rash all up and down my left arm, had a toothache all week, and my knees have been hurting worse than ever.
I watched: Fireproof. I love that movie!
I am reading: 1000 Gifts
I am looking forward to: Our pro-life meeting next week
To Do this week: plan and prep for meeting, call churches about 40 Days For Life
I am praising God for: A miracle that happened this week! For the past 4 years, Little T has never wanted to go to bed by himself and would cry and cry every time we tried (he normally just went to bed when I did at 10pm). This week, we decided we needed to enforce an earlier bed time and that he was just going to have to deal with it (he is normally too scared to be in there by himself). On our first night, we told him about our plan and as expected, he cried. But then we reminded him that his little brother was in there sleeping too and he wouldn't be alone. Little T's attitude completely changed as he realized this, and apparently considers his baby brother to be sufficient company because he stopped crying and actually was completely fine with it. He snuggled next to brother (who sleeps in a co-sleeper in our bed) and slept the whole night. And this has been our new routine. He goes to bed without a problem now! I think it is SO sweet that just having someone in there, even a baby, is enough to make him happy and somehow feel safer.
I am praying for: Our friends have a newborn baby girl who was born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. The sweet little baby must have open heart surgery, and soon. She has had her surgery cancelled twice already due to an infection and complications. We are praying that God would heal her body of the infection and that she would be able to have her much needed surgery as soon as possible.
That's all for last week! Check back to see what all went on this week:)
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