Favorite Friday Foto or is it Friday Foto Fun?

A quick peek at one of the photos taken last weekend by Jenny Gegg. Watch for more next week! Kind of amazing that any turned out as it was about 100 degrees on the evening of the photo shoot. Thanks Jenny!

Sports and Me!

Last night, Maddy and I went out to dinner with our friends, Mei and her mom. We were chatting a bit about school starting soon and the various sports and activities that begin in the fall: soccer, volleyball, gymnastics, dance, etc. Mei loves sports -- she's doing it all -- or as much of it as she can talk her mom into signing up for on the dotted line! When Mei asked Maddy, what sports she's doing -- Maddy responded, "None - I don't like sports!" Aackkk -- what have I done?? Do I have a little couch potato on my hands? Have I turned her into a mini-me?!!! Yep, you guessed it -- I am not very athletic. Oh yeah, I go to the Y nearly every day over my lunch hour, but that is really so that I can eat more chocolate -- not because I really enjoy it and using a treadmill or elliptical is hardly athletic.

I tried some sports in junior high and high school -- softball -- that was the worst!! I remember it like it was yesterday . . . I was the girl that everyone knew was an automatic out every time up at bat. I could not hit that ball to save my life. Really, I think I played a whole season without getting a single hit! It was excruciating!! I cringe even now thinking about it! Then, I tried track -- surely I could run -- everyone can run, right! Yeah sure, and somebody's gotta be last -- but did it always have to be me??? No, track was not my sport, either. How about tennis? I tried that so I could play with the Mr. and the boys. I LOVED the outfits, but could not get my serve in to save my life. Are you noticing a pattern here?? I guess the moral of the story is that I tried. And I still exercise and so that's the important thing. It's ok to not excel in sports. Somebody has to be there cheering the real athletes on, right. There we go -- that's my talent -- I'm a really, really good spectator!

Maddy does like tumbling and gymnastics, so we'll give that a try again. And I'm signing her up for a little theater class called "The Teddy Bear Picnic" with the hope that it will help her to speak louder and give her confidence a boost. Since there's a Teddy Bear involved, I think she'll like it. In the meantime, we will do the everyday sports of walking, running, jumping and encourage her to exercise, try new things and have fun. After all, that's what being an athlete at her age is all about.

A Shout-out to Mr. Tennis

Interrupting my regularly scheduled blogging for a quick moment to give a shout-out to Mr. Tennis on our 31st (!!!) wedding anniversary!! Oh my -- it really hardly seems possible that it was 31 years ago on a very hot morning that we were married. As many of you may now be guessing . . . yes, it's true, I was a child bride!! :)

Fun now to think back on our wedding and how absolutely clueless we were at the time. Right after the wedding (no, we did not go on a honeymoon) -- we moved to lovely Philadelphia where the Rickster started law school at the incredibly beautiful campus of Villanova. He took a really cool high-speed line train to classes every day from our little down-and-out rowhouse apt. I took the dirty (smelly) scary el-train to my little job in downtown Phila. We were in culture shock to be sure after growing up in slower, not-so-metropolitan cities. Oh my!! I remember nearly screaming on the el train one morning when I saw another train coming straight at us. Ahem -- I didn't realize at that time there was more than one set of tracks. Luckily, I simply stared in horror and did not actually scream. I was so relieved when the other train veered off on its own tracks. That was only one of the many stories of our adventures in moving from the sticks to the big city that my friends at work would find to be quite hilarious!

So many, many things about Philadelphia that we absolutely loved -- our neighborhood bakery that would save brownies for me; NY style pizza; Philly cheese-steaks; the Mummers; trips to the Jersey shore; riding the high speed trains to the mall or the movies; walking to the grocery store and home again with my little cart, and the delightful life-long friends we made there. We had no car, but managed just fine. Wow -- what a little walk down memory lane I'm going on today, eh!

Anyway, we've had some great adventures and some scary times (his heart attack -- being the scariest), but there's no one I'd rather be sharing this life and our wonderful children with than the guy I lovingly call Mr. Tennis! Yeah, we're still having fun and you're still the one! Happy Anniversary Hon!

Swimming with Maddy and Mickey

We're roasting here in the Midwest and have been trying to go swimming a bit more lately even though I do hate getting into a swimsuit. I almost feel like I should wear my Spanx under my suit to keep that tummy under control! And speaking of Spanx (I'm not kidding here), but Maddy and I saw one woman putting her Spanx on before she changed into her swimsuit - ouch! Now I admit, I did have one of those "Miraclesuits" one year. I actually think the miracle was squeezing into that suit and that I was somehow able to peel it off after wearing it! Yikes -- it was so snug -- guess that's how it performed the miracle of holding my flabby tummy in -- but it was NOT comfortable. However, my sister did point out that she thought I was looking a bit voluptuous -- so, oh yeah that's what it did -- pushed the flab upward -- not a bad idea I guess.

Another one of my phobias about swimming besides sharks and frizzy hair -- my white legs. The Rickster always makes me feel so good and not self-conscious at all when he says "wow, haven't seen that much white meat since Thanksgiving." Sweet, eh!

Anyway, back to the point of this post . . . I know you're wondering if there is one. We've been going swimming a bit more this summer and I seemed to conquered at least some of my fears -- the white legs, the flabby tummy, etc. Maddy loves to swim and splash about, so that makes it all worthwhile! And if you know Maddy, you know she doesn't go anywhere without at least one stuffed animal. Maddy swimming and Mickey watching, how fun!

A Confession

Well, I didn't think it would happen, but it did. Yes, I have a confession to make . . . I really missed those eyelash extensions I had put on for my son's wedding after they fell out!! I thought I could get along without them and I really tried, but I just can't!! Feel like I look so tired, old, worn out, haggard (hmmm- any other words that mean tired???) without them. So, I'm having them put on again. I know, I know, I admit it -- I guess I'm kind of vain -- but really, they make me feel so much better -- like having a great new outfit, losing 10 pounds or getting a fabulous haircut. Seriously, I am not one of those "high maintenance" women -- I get a couple pedicures during the summer sandal season; rarely, if ever, get manicures or facials or massages, so I think it's ok if I have this one little expense since it makes me feel so good. Plus, think of how much I am saving by not having to use mascara!!! Yes, there's my reasoning -- I won't be spending so much on mascara since I won't really need mascara with my long, full gorgeous eyelashes! Just had them put on and already am feeling so much better. See, aren't they lovely!!

Walking Into Spiderwebs

Seems as if we've been walking into spiderwebs in more ways than one! There are spiderwebs all over the place lately. I hate it when I walk into or near one and can feel the web, but can't really see it! Aren't spiders quite the little creatures??



Our local Children's Zoo has this cool spiderweb for kids to climb on. It used to hang upright and I was always standing close-by in case Maddy would fall - she never did. The zoo moved it this year to a new space and it is located on the ground. Still loads of fun to climb and can be a little tricky in flip-flops and a dress. Climbing it is one of Maddy's favorite things to do, after pony rides, feeding the goats and the camels, having a snack herself and visiting the gift shop -- which is her all-time fav thing at the zoo! She's never met a stuffed animal that she didn't like or want!

Calling All Readers!

Every single summer when I was a little girl, my Mom would take us kids (and there were 6 of us, and yes, my mother was a saint!) to the library and we joined the summer reading club. Did you too? Wasn't that fun? Really, I loved it! It was such a treat to go to our city's big downtown library, find some books, check them out and get a sticker or pencil or whatever they gave out at that time for reading 10 books during the summertime. I still love reading. . . though I don't do near enough of it just for me. I'm generally reading to or with Maddy. Last night we read Amelia Bedelia -- what a fun book! Though I don't think that Maddy really got it and thought it was funny (and it does lose a bit when you have to explain it). Now, I've got Maddy in the summer reading club and she loves it too -- maybe more for the stickers and stuff, but someday I hope she'll remember it fondly like I do.


Anyway, the real reason for this post is this bookmark that I found recently . . . on the sale rack, no less!! Don't you love it!! It's a Brighton bookmark. My Mom and I chat every day (and I don't think that's excessive, do you??), I immediately thought of her when I saw these bookmarks since we often talk about what book we're reading, if it's any good, etc. So, even though her birthday isn't until November -- I bought her a bookmark, had it wrapped and sent to her. Of course, I bought myself one too. It is just too darn cute to not have one. Don't you love it?? I think it's time to use some cool bookmarks instead of dog-earring pages, using post-its or random scraps of paper -- don't you agree??