Booger Horseshack

After a long day at the beach we arrived home to find one of our butterflies had hatched! It was enormous! I don't understand how such a big butterfly came out of such a small chrysalis! This morning we set him free.

Oh, Drew named it...Booger Horseshack. No, he hasn't been watching reruns of Welcome Back, Kotter...but here's to our winged friend...and Brooklyn!

What a Busy Weekend!

We've had such a busy weekend. We first started Friday night off with a block party which lasted until late in the evening. I just remember seeing the little kids running down the cull-d-sac with flashlights, chasing something.

Saturday we had friends visit for lunch on their way to their rented beach house in Emerald Isle. The kids had fun seeing each other and the grownups had a chance to chat and catch up. I later went to work and had some fun there too! After a sleepless night we headed to the beach to spend the day with said friends. I was a little apprehensive because the weather forecast predicted dangerous rip currents and very large waves, but I thought that the kids could at least skim board, right?

It was awesome! We were just about a 1/2 mile down the beach from where we stayed at the beginning of the summer. The waves were just fine, not too rough and the kids had a blast. There was a beautiful breeze which made sitting on the beach with Charlotte and Drew, while they dug in the sand, bearable. We played on the beach until 6:00! We then stayed for dinner and heavy hearted-ly headed home. The little kids were asleep by the time we reached the bridge of the ICW

It was so nice to end the summer where it all began...on EI with great company and a cold beer!

New Bern Made the Big Time!...I love My Second Job!

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Woo-Hoo!

The school year has officially started for us! We are back to some resemblance of a routine, sort of. I think I found a carpool, the kids are happy...it's only the first week and there's not been any homework, yet. Today, they are engaged in community service projects throughout the city of New Bern. One is working in a nursing home and the other is planting trees and shrubs.

Next week the party will be over and it will be time to "buckle down" (I always hated that expression).

What I Miss the Most...

...and this has nothing to do with Paul...I miss Patricia, my cleaning lady from Virginia!

Last Day of Summer V-A-C-A!

Wow! Where has the time gone? It seems like we were just winding down the school year last week, and now we are going back tomorrow! I am the mother of 2 middle- schoolers...YIKES! Am I supposed to feel older, more mature, more serious? FYI, I don't! I think I have a little PTSD from all of the running around that goes with the school year. Everything will start up again by the end of the month...dance, sports, clubs, etc, and now Drew will start "playing" soccer. I only have to last approximately 8 more weeks, right?!

Last week my sister-in-law, author, former English teacher and all around wordsmith came across this Emily Dickinson poem and dedicated it to me on her blog. I think she may have been trying to get me to say that Paul will be home in the fall...PAUL WILL BE HOME IN THE FALL!! Woo-Hoo! Since I don't have an actual date, suffice it to say, I hope to get the best gift for my birthday in October.

"If You Were Coming in the Fall"

If you were coming in the fall,
I'd brush the summer by
With half a smile and half a spurn,
As housewives do a fly.

If I could see you in a year,
I'd wind the months in balls,
And put them each in separate drawers,
Until their time befalls.

If only centuries delayed,
I'd count them on my hand,
Subtracting till my fingers dropped
Into Van Diemen's land.

If certain, when this life was out,
That yours and mine should be,
I'd toss it yonder like a rind,
And taste eternity.

But now, all ignorant of the length
Of time's uncertain wing,
It goads me, like the goblin bee,
That will not state its sting.