tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-146097992024-03-07T15:23:28.444-05:00A deviated path...is my life now. I was resigned to being childless after over seven years of trying. I pictured travel to Vegas and exotic locales; and buttering up my nieces and nephew so I wouldn't die alone and forgotten. Now, Surprise! I'm a mother! This blog is about my new deviated path, my life with my daughter.Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.comBlogger3286125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-48940114629404954232012-04-21T23:25:00.000-04:002012-04-21T23:25:07.318-04:00I'm aliveHmmm. That was quite a hiatus wasn't it? Not to say I'm really back. Who knows. I think the blame is squarely on Facebook for taking the wind out of my writing sails. I just ran out of things to say and it felt like a chore. I'm not even sure I know how to operate this thing anymore. Sigh.
Emma is seven and Jack will be three in two weeks. I feel like I've robbed Jack of the awesome record of Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-54560845313888365022010-08-18T16:18:00.004-04:002010-08-18T16:53:03.694-04:00Camp Noni and Popi - Day Five (Thursday)Noni says:WOW!! What a great park. We've lived here since 1973 and this is the first time we've been there - shame on us. It was the best $4 we've ever spent. The kids had a blast in the lake, swimming to the island and fishing and picnicing. The weather was absolutely perfect, blue sky and fluffy white clouds. The kids had fun with the fish swimming around their feet. Jack had fun too wading in Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-91232442537443335602010-08-17T18:01:00.001-04:002010-08-17T18:02:30.693-04:00CorrectionToday's update includes a correction to yesterday's post. It had the wrong description. Not that anyone noticed.Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-84445045118609556392010-08-17T17:45:00.003-04:002010-08-17T17:59:05.031-04:00Camp Noni and Popi - Day Four (Wednesday)Noni says: Another slow day beginning, but we geared up at just the right time. A few episodes of SpongeBob Squarepants opened the morning while I was packing lunches. We loaded the vehicle and headed to Great Run Pool. Great pool! Kids had a wonderful time. After a heavy rainstorm we loaded up again to have dinner with Popi's mother (the children's great-grandmother) at Park Gables. The kids didHighlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-83945993734903321632010-08-16T20:55:00.005-04:002010-08-17T18:01:14.138-04:00Camp Noni and Popi - Day Three (Tuesday)Noni says: Day started slow and easy. Big breakfast. Jack, the girls and I went to the Children's Museum, while C hung out with Popi. Popi scared C when he took him to the barbershop with him. He thought Popi was going to get C's hair cut, but he really only intended to get his own cut. Lunch at Mickey D's then to the new playground on Stone Spring Road. Capped the afternoon off with a swim in Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-83389233606149612402010-08-12T19:29:00.003-04:002010-08-12T19:36:38.300-04:00Camp Noni and Popi - Day Two (Monday)Noni says: We had a nice picnic lunch at the South River Falls Picnic area and then hiked down to the falls - a little over two miles round trip - seemed like TEN!!!! Everyone did well - minimal complaining. Lots of rest stops and water. Even little Jack walked a good bit. Popi carried him back up though. What a hero!! Then to Big Meadows for ice cream and some playtime. Great Day!! Real troopersHighlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-19386976803370067552010-08-11T17:01:00.004-04:002010-08-11T17:08:23.861-04:00Camp Noni and Popi - Day One (Sunday)Noni says:Things are off to a good start. First things off to church. Time with the cousins all together at Alex and M's; next pool time; last but not least the great meal and ice cream at the church ice cream social. So many different flavors - hard to choose. Now Jack is in bed, J is reading to Emma, Popi and M are working a Sodoku and C is chilling out with his DS. Great day (only one "I miss Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-77195692886034926962010-08-05T20:37:00.002-04:002010-08-05T20:41:59.905-04:00Second annual haircutEmma had her second haircut of her life last week. No, it hasn't finally grown longer, it's just that she was getting that straight hair veil over all her curly hair again. It just looks weird that way. The hairdresser cuts the straight stuff so it will blend in with everything else. Honestly, I've about given up on Emma's hair. I mostly let it run wild. When she was little you couldn't put a Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-24092594782199680152010-08-05T20:23:00.000-04:002010-08-05T20:24:39.338-04:00Pretty in purpleHighlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-37379934831233604832010-08-04T12:02:00.000-04:002010-08-04T12:02:00.404-04:00This trash bag is singing...Says M, doubling back from his walk out to the truck to get rid of the trash. "You're welcome to go through the trash bag if you want to find out what it is."So I did. It turned out to be the Leap Frog Fridge Wash n Go. The big part. We've already had to fish vehicle halves out of the trash before. I guess it serves us right for having the trash can near the fridge. I'm telling you, everything weHighlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-57394867557419036262010-08-03T20:55:00.002-04:002010-08-03T21:07:18.889-04:00They have no earthly idea...of what they're getting themselves into.I'm speaking of Noni and Popi. Next week they're both taking the week off from work to host all their grandkids for the week. All of them. We've dubbed it Camp Noni and Popi. Or if you prefer Native American sounding names in your camps it can be Camp Popinoni. Or Nonipopi. Whatever. Anywhooo...I'm thinking that having to keep track of Jack, by himself, Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-68030555444083493862010-08-03T20:47:00.001-04:002010-08-03T20:48:58.268-04:00One of eachHighlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-41576335505724237272010-08-03T20:39:00.002-04:002010-08-03T20:44:37.650-04:00Something you don't see every day...For the last several days there's been a roadkill deer carcass lying by the side of the road on my drive to town. This morning, instead of the usual turkey buzzards hovering around, there was an American bald eagle perched on top of the dead deer. He never moved as I drove by. I think that's the closest I've ever been to one. Couldn't mistake it for anything else.Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-8238640755056444962010-07-28T22:49:00.001-04:002010-07-28T22:51:04.433-04:00Per Uncle B's suggestion...This one is for the hardworking mommies.Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-26573094776558596812010-07-27T20:24:00.002-04:002010-07-27T20:35:07.505-04:00Sunday at the creekWe were invited to join a group of friends at "the creek." It's property that belongs to the aunt of one of them. It's just a regular old creek which you can see as you pass by on the road. It has one nice pool where the kids can swim and have a good time. The adults like to take their beach chairs and set them in the water and sit with a beer and chat.Here's the view of the swimming hole part. Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-67045954812316771952010-07-27T00:42:00.002-04:002010-07-27T00:44:34.349-04:00Baby StrongPhotos as requested by Noni...Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-54270534091367833252010-07-24T23:10:00.002-04:002010-07-24T23:17:41.752-04:00This is for the men we love...So true!It's so awesome it broke my blog! But I like it so much I'm going to leave it just like that.Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-60521118549202164872010-07-21T19:41:00.002-04:002010-07-21T19:44:20.032-04:00Chipmunk cheeksOne night last week we had shrimp for supper. We give Jack some, he seems to like it just fine. We'll usually cut one shrimp into about five pieces to feed them to him. Halfway through dinner he threw a big fit and wanted out of his chair. His cheeks were stuffed so I figured he'd finish his dinner eventually. Yeah...some of it was still there an hour later. He did finish it though. Takes after Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-314382362507723762010-07-21T18:47:00.002-04:002010-07-21T18:58:46.737-04:00June RainbowThis is M's rainbow photo from last month.And this is my favorite rainbow song. Kermit the Frog's "Rainbow Connection" comes in a close second ;)Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-8007132693031451672010-07-20T17:46:00.002-04:002010-07-20T17:49:55.534-04:00Parade!On Friday night we went to a Fireman's Parade and Lawn Party. I was excited for Jack to see the parade because he's totally into passing traffic. He got to see all kinds of firetrucks, rescue squads, trucks, tractors and motorcycles. Emma was the same way when she was little, she loved vehicles of all types. Jack seemed to be into it, as you can see from some of the pictures.Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-48705731929593364292010-07-18T15:41:00.002-04:002010-07-18T15:47:29.906-04:00Small plane and ultralight showWe went out to a local airport near Noni and Popi's for a small plane and ultralight show. We watched lots of planes coming in and taking off. They were giving plane rides to children eight years old and older, who were being recruited for the Young Eagles program. We also saw gliders coming in. We missed our chance to see one being towed into the air. We've seen this guy flying over Noni and Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-88490738860768628542010-07-15T22:02:00.002-04:002010-07-15T22:22:17.440-04:00July 5, 2010$1000 retail + 45 minutes = AWESOME!EDITED TO ADD: Not my $1000, of course.Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-54135605048063663992010-07-14T14:40:00.002-04:002010-07-14T14:43:38.891-04:00That'll do pigEmma hugs a pot-bellied pig she met yesterday at a library program. They offered to let her kiss the pig, but being the southern belle that she is she told them "never on a first date."Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-35006584682960642402010-07-13T17:39:00.003-04:002010-07-13T21:21:22.419-04:00I HATE COWS!!!Just in case you're thinking this is some sort of karmic justice for my cow hatred let me point out that those bastards started it. And keep escalating it. Really, I've done nothing to them, except seethed. But this really takes the cake. I went out to the car to load Jack into his seat this morning. My car handle, painted to match my car, was chewed clean of paint. Yeah. I am not happy. What theHighlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14609799.post-7763968293534719322010-07-12T21:13:00.003-04:002010-07-12T21:19:00.104-04:00HousekeepingI did an update of my blog "Friends." I updated Jessica and Sunita's links. I dropped a couple that have gone invitation only. If you've merely moved and would like to be added back, let me know. None of the changes were personal, just based on the status of your blog. Hell, I even kept people who haven't posted in TWO YEARS! By the way, where did "Nice Mommy, Evil Editor" go?Highlandgalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07703233755160914600noreply@blogger.com0