14 dresses, 8 girls

As you can see picture's say a thousand words and we have a few to say. My girlfriend Tanya got a package of 14 wedding dresses in the mail, that were supposed to be golf clubs for her husband. The shipping company didn't want them back and the company said that they weren't taking them either. So what were her options, but to have a girls night of trying on wedding dresses and having fun. We were posing on the stairs to take picture's so she can list them on Kijiji, or Ebay and try to recoup some of her money.

We had a good time. 8 girls in a bedroom all trying on wedding dresses. Our assembly line of getting done up and undoing was down to a science. The steamer was running non stop, the measuring tape was out for the trains, Keri had the longest at 7", and I had the heaviest weighing in at at least 3pounds. Their was a lot of laughing, food and good conversation. Thanks Tanya, maybe next time we can try on grad dresses, and work on those tan lines! :o

Picture on the fence:(back) Tanya, Me, Deanna

(front)Tara, Keri, Tina, Tanya

missing Pam(had to leave and check on her teenager son with his friends)

my many hat's in a day

this morning I awoke to a mess from a sick dog. he had sh** all over the house, from my room to the basement and literally everything in between. i was not happy! so this is where my hat's begin:
1. janitor
2. runner
3. mom
4. chauffeur
5. dog groomer
6. carpet cleaner
7. chef
8. friend
9. custodian
10. laundry attendant
11. aunt
12. dishwasher
13. bathtube helper
14. bedtime kisser, snuggler
i think that i have covered all my hat's that i at one point in time wore today and some of them more than once. i was not sure why i started thinking about all the hat's that i wear in a day, but then i come to the understanding that that's what being a mom is all about, and i love my mom job.
cleaning the carpets after buddy, was NOT on my list to do today, but now it is done and i don't have to worry about doing them in the fall. ;)
for every stay st home mom, or mom that works, we all wear so many hat's in one day, that they just start melding together. we are very busy people, MOMS!!
sometimes life throws us for a loop and the old me would have been lost with my list all out of whack, but i am learning that it will all get done at some point in time.
the kids are involved in summer activities run by the town. oakly is doing a golf camp from 10am-3pm, he gets home from the golf range and jumps on his bike to go hang with his buddies. aspen and avery are in a dance camp from 12-4pm and loving it. they went to the first camp at the beginning of july and did great. i watched them for a few minutes tonight and the 3 dances they are working on were so cute. on thursday the parents can go watch them perform all the dances for the last hour of class.
tod is back to work, and just as mom's do, he is also wearing a few different hat's that are keeping him busy. i am sure that tomorrow i will throw a few more hat's in too my list and drop some that i wore today, but i welcome the new day and like seeing the old day come to an end. :0!

we are home

We have made it home, and much to our surprise our yard isn't in that ruff of shape. Nothing a little elbow grease won't fix up in a day. We had a great trip and a lot of memories that the kids will love to tell their friends.

Mount Rushmore

We are in Sheridian, Wyoming after a day at Mount Rushmore, and a thunderstorm-hail storm that hit on our way out of the National Park.

Mount Rushmore was very cool! On the way to the vehicle the rain started and then came the hail. I thought somebody had thrown an ice cube at me and then the heavens opened up. We got to the vehicle and waited for the hail to slow donw so we could leave.

Driving

We have arrived in Rapid City, North Dakota and very tired. This was a 9 hour drive, and at the end of the trail we weren't sure of where we were going to rest our little heads for the night. All the Hotels were full and we got the last room at a hotel with a pool and soft beds, just what we need. Tomorrow we are going to see Mount Rushmore and do a little hiking, it should be fun.
Oakly is looking a little green around the gills and I am hoping it is just exhaustion and dehydration, the rest of us are fine and still anticipating what everyday has in store for us.

What a day we had. . .

We woke this morning to a beautiful day and an average temperature of 100*. We were heading out to the Arch for some sight seeing and then to the Budweiser Bush Brewing Company.

The Arch was spectacular!! We rode up in these little capsules. I do remember going when I was younger, but I don't remember the ride up being that fast. It was 4 min's to the top. Avery was a bit nervous looking out the windows at first, but then she got a hold of the camera and she got right into climbing up and looking out the windows. Our trip down was only 3min's, which was super fast. The Mississippi River had flooded again, and the last time I was there it had also flooded. It was cool to show the kids what I remembered, and tell them about Lewis and Clark.

We went down to the Riverboat and had an Icee!! It was bright blue and refreshingly good! The air was hot and the humidity was crazy!!

We left the Arch and went to the Budweiser Brewery where we couldn't find a parking spot. We made the decision to go get some lunch and as we were driving around we found ourselves in the not so good part of St. Louis.. We found a sign that sent us to Subway, yay lunch. The kids and I went to get the sandwiches, while Tod went next door to the Radio Shack to find some headphones. We were in the not so good times of the city again, but this was all apparent when Tod witnessed a cop pulling a black lady to the ground and beating her with a billy club, handcuffing her hands, and throwing her in the back of a cruiser. The kids and I missed all the commotion by about 50seconds. We asked if we were eating in Subway or leaving and all Tod said was "get in the vehicle we are leaving St. Louis". We left in a hurry and didn't turn around to go back to the Brewery.

We were now on our way to Kansas City, a few hours a way. We got to Kansas City and found a Buffet Royal, to eat at. While eating I noticed a little girl and new she had some kind of disorder. She was a tiny little thing but very cute. We overheard that there was a little girl that was trying to raise money to go to a very important Hospital. This little girl was the one I had noticed, just tables away. We met her and her grandma and she explained to us that Maddy has Primordial Dwarfism. She is the youngest to be diagnosed at 3 days old. All the tips from the restaurant tonight were going towards Maddy and her family to help pay for Hospital visits. She is not insurable or covered by anything for medical. We also met her big sister Brittney, what a beautiful little girl. The kids took over a donation, to the grandma, and she gave the kids a hug. I was looking up the disease and came across Maddy's website http://maddysworld.com/ . We had a discussion with the kids about Maddy and Avery was concerned about why Maddy had this disease and would she have it forever. We are so blessed to have the children we have and even though some day's, I take it for granted I love my family.

We are stopped over in St. Joseph, Missouri, and tomorrow we are leaving for Rapid city, South Dakota, heading towards Mount Rushmore.

Traveling through the USA

We left North Carolina on Saturday and drove 8 Hours to Bowling Green, Kentucky. Where we stopped on Saturday night to go through the Corvette Museum. The cars were amazing and what awesome colors, even purple, that would be my choice. HAH!

We stayed over night at a little place called Kentucky Down Under. Sunday morning we woke bright and early to head off to the cave's of Kentucky. Our first stop was at the Diamond Caverns, it is a wet cave and there fore it has the stalagmites and stalactites. We walked about a mile for this tour and it was incredible. After we went panning for gold, the kids thought that was cool and got some pretty impressive rocks to keep. At lunch we headed on towards the Mammoth National Forest, to hit he Mammoth Caves. They are over 300 miles of know cave routes and the largest in the world.

We were set to hit the 2:00 Historic tour and Avery was quite nervous, it was said to be 2 miles, 2 hours and over 400 stairs to climb. The history in this cave system is amazing, it was used at one time for mining salt-petre, for gun powder. It is truly a Mammoth Cave and we loved every minute of it. Oakly wanted to go caving and get down and dirty.

We arrived in St. Louis last night and are on our way to start our day. We have a lot of picture's to take and things to see!

We have arrived

We made it to North Carolina and our flight was great!
We all left on Monday to go to Ocean Isle Beach, Atlantic Ocean for 3 days and the moment Tod smelled the sea air he booked another night. The body surfing and the crab hunting at night was amazing. We had the opportunity to see Dolphins swimming near us while we were out body surfing and that was COOL! We also saw a Jelly Fish washed up on the beach and when we went for a walk on the pier one night a guy had caught a Black Tip Shark and the kids got to touch it. He was only about a foot in length, but very cool still. :)
Tod did 2 rounds of golf with his BFF Earl Bohmer, from school, who he hadn't seen in 13 years. Earl and his family live by Ocean Isle Beach.
On Thursday when we left to go home we drove down to South Carolina's Myrtle Beach to do some sight seeing and shopping. I found a store that I love called Ron Jons Surf Shop, my dad used to bring me back clothes from here when he would go down to Florida for work. We stopped at the mother of miniature golf, or so we thought before we started driving through the town and noticed that there was about 2 dozen different miniature golf places that were all very cool.
We are having a lot of fun and as Tod says, "It is a different type of HEAT down here!"

packing again

We went to Costco today to get more chocolate bars and cookies for Tonya and got plenty of treats for the airplane trip tomorrow. The kids are very excited and I am praying for an uneventful trip there. I hate packing bags!
Yay!! Another 2 weeks of vacation. I am not sure what I am going to do when reality hit's and I am home for the month of august.

I am home!

well my trip home was just as event full as my departure from Edmonton. Once again my plane from Charlotte was delayed due to weather, thunder storms in the area. We were to bored at 5:05 and that was put off until 6:11. We bored at this time and ended up waiting to take off at 7:40. It was a long wait on the runway we were 20th in line for take off and behind us we could see at least 6 more planes.

In the air and on our way I started worrying about my connecting flight. I originally had under 2hrs to connect, with the delay in N.C., I was going to arrive at the airport at 8:55 and had to bored at 9:05 for Edmonton. I was directed to the terminal G8 and was in shock to find that it was going to San Fransisco. I asked again what my gate was and I was to be at gate C4. Iran to through the airport to get to my terminal to bored my plane in 2min's. I arrived to find that my flight had been delayed until 10:15. I pulled out my book and waited to bored.

We bored and were on our way. The trip was very ruff, just 3 rows ahead of me was a girl that was very sick. I was bouncing all over my seat and not holding up very well. Looking out my window all I could see was lightening, I was very nervous and just kept praying I would make it home. Landing in Edmonton at 1:00am, just over an hour after my scheduled arrival, I was feeling rather sea sick, not sure if I was going to hold up. Made it through customs and met Tod, finally I was home. We made it to the house just before 2:00am, which for me was 4:00am. I was exhausted. Glad to be home and now I am packing the kids bags to leave for North Carolina on Sunday the 13th.

Last night

It is my last night here, until Sunday night when I return with everybody. I am really excited to be going home, but my nerves of flying are starting all over again. I have my bag's packed with lots of clothes for Aspen and Avery, hand-me-downs, what a great deal. I am leaving most of my clothes here so I don't have to pack again. I can't wait too see the kids and sleep in my own bed for 3 nights. Comfy!!

A Bobcat in the yard!

Yesterday afternoon we saw something under the suburban. At first we thought it was a fox but then when it came out and stood by the wheel we could see it was some type of cat. It was scoping out the goats. He stayed there for a good 5 minutes. We went out on the porch to try to scare it away and after another few minutes it finally gave up and ran across the field into the trees, then across the road. I had James get his paintball gun just in case, because I didn't feel comfortable getting the 22 out. So if you can picture it, we are all standing on the front porch, James ready with the paintball gun, Thomas and Emma freaking out because of 1. there is a storm coming in and 2. the bobcat wanting to eat the goats. Because the storm was blowing in we had to get everything tied down and taken care of. James and I went to bring the horse into his stall because there was thunder and lightning in the distance and we saw out in the field the bobcat. He was watching us, just hanging out! Tonya was getting the porch swing down, rocking chairs laid down, plants in the house. It was an adventure!

The day before Tonya and I took a day trip up to Lexington, VA to drop Elizabeth and some friends off at EFY at Southern Virginia University next door in Buena Vista. After dropping her off and getting her settled, Tonya and I toured Lexington, did some shopping and just had fun being together by ourselves. It was a fun day. I'm going to miss my sister.

Missing the kids and Tod XOXOXO

Wow! I held it in for 11 days and then it hit me hard too day. I miss my family lots. I can't wait to see the kids and Tod. Tonya has there pic's on the fridge so I look at them everyday, but it is just not the same.
Mom Loves you and miss' you all.
It was a very rainy day here and the thunder was loud and the lightening awfully close. The house shook a few times. The temperature outside is still very warm and if it wasn't raining so hard you could be out in it going for a walk. Maybe tomorrow will be Sunny.
Tonya and I are going to Virginia to take Elizabeth to EFY. The new car is going on a road trip it should be fun. After we drop Elizabeth off we will go do some tourist things for a few hours and then make our way back home to start on our jobs for this week, painting the kids bedrooms. :')
Love mom

Garage Sale Crazyness

We are getting ready for the garage sale tomorrow. It was an all day event. Literally we were doing garage sale stuff from 10:00am - 9:30pm today. If I don't see another pair of shoes or boxes of clothes for sell I will be okay for a while. We packed the truck, the flatbed trailer, and the back of the Suburban with the clothes. The garage is cleaned! I have had my fill of spider webs, red dirt, and sweat. We better make some money off this, cuz' I need a pay check.
It will be an early morning tomorrow to setup and a long hot day of selling.
Love Mom
It was not a long hot day of selling, rather an overcast day of off and on rain. We made about $150 and what was left over we put in the back of the Hillbilly Truck, and took it to the Second hand store. I was a true red neck in the old Ford. Did I mention that it has no Air Conditioning! Hot Stuff. We stopped at Lowe's for wood and then at Bar B.Q. King for some southern B.B.Q.. YUMMY!!

Wet, Warm and Wild

We went to the Carowinds Park today. It was great!
The park is water slides and amusement type rides and games in one big area. You are actually in North Carolina and South Carolina they have a sign that tells you. We mainly stayed in the water park today and rode the water slides and the waves in the wave pool.
I was introduced to dipping dot's Yummy ;) Oakly you would love these, they look like nerd candy's, but they are ice cream and wow it was YUMMY! I tried the mint chocolate. they have 6 flavours and I can't wait to bring the kids here when we come back we will all have to get different flavours so we can share.
will all love the first one and Avery the After the water we went on 2 roller coasters. The Whitewater Falls and Carolina Gold rusher. You Gold rusher reminded mom of the Train ride at Disneyland that you loved, it is definitely a hands up ride. WEE :0
Tomorrow is back to work day. We are trying to get ride of junk and clutter so we can have a garage sale on Saturday. We have gone through lots of stuff that you know you need to get done, but it is just nicer to have somebody there to help you do it and organize with you. Two brains think better than one.
I didn't write yesterday about James and the Mud Dabber (evil bug) When we were in the garden weeding James started to run around screaming, "It's on me, it's in me." I couldn't get the words out to help him, I was trying to laugh silently, to tell him to get his shirt off. Watching him do his dance in the field and out on the road he had me in stitches. He got his shirt off and through it on the ground stepped on it a few times and ran into the house. He did get bitten twice and they looked like little donuts on him. The bite marks were huge and it swelled up around that. Well while Tonya and I were having lunch on the deck talking about these bugs we didn't know about, one came by. Well I freaked it was circling around me so I got up and jumped over to the corner of the deck and it followed me while Tonya ran in to the house. It had me cornered on the deck and literately was staring me down. I can laugh now but to see this thing it is nasty. It has 2 stingers out of it's nose and the legs dangle down from it's body, Nasty!
Today we were waiting in the vehicle for Tonya to come and her window was rolled down the kids were all buckled in, and in came the "Evil Bug" I hightailed it out of the suburban, to try to get it out but with no luck. We got it out just as I was trying to roll up the window when it came back in again. It played in and out tag with us at least 6 times. Between James and myself I am not sure who was screaming more and I was truly laughing so hard that I was crying. It is really the "Evil Bug" AKA "Stalker" by James, and when you hear it buzz around you it is different than a Bee or Wasp.
Day 6!
Miss you all and love you ;0

Still here and loving it. . .

Well I am still here and loving it on day 5. I can't upload pic's the Internet or my sisters computer is not working properly, when it is I will get the pictures up. It is gorgeous here and this house is awesome. I am trying to help out and get things into working order so the house can run smoothly. The weather has been awesome hot, hot, hot. It has cooled off in the late afternoon with a thunder storm or 2, but they really need the water. I have been running 2 miles in the morning's and loving it, the long quite road is a great thinking place. My trip will be done on July 10, and then it is home for only a short period of time. I as well as Tod, Oakly, Aspen and Avery will be returning to North Carolina on July 13. That's right I will only be home for 2 day's. We will all pack up and fly back down to pick up our new Acura.
The day I left to come to N.C. we sold the Acura and, Tod found another one on Ebay in Waxhaw, N.C.. We bought it and the guy had the stereo and DVD player installed for us and tomorrow I will go with my sister to pick it up and bring it to her place. We will be in the states for 2 weeks and make our way home the week of the 21. Tod has a friend that lives in N.C. near the ocean and he is trying to get us a Beach House for 3 nights so we can go and be Beach Bums. (I am so in :) We will have a lot of places to go and see between here and their. What an adventure we are about to embark on. The Pharis family has seen and done a lot this year, we are so very lucky and thankful for the great opportunities to see the country and be welcomed at the doors of our family members.
Oakly, Aspen, & Avery I love you all and can't wait to see you, kiss you and hold you. lots of hugs & kisses, sneak a few in there for dad too.
Love mom