Reality Show Nut

I admit it...I watch a few reality shows. These people make me laugh!!!

This show is almost over...it's so silly - kind of like Survivor in a house...Speaking of Survivor...this show starts in a few weeks... it's our family's all time favorite...

And earlier this week on Good Morning America the cast of Dancing With the Stars was announced. Interesting...Here is the list:
Kim Kardashian, reality TV star
Cloris Leachman, Oscar-winning actress
Maurice Greene, Olympic sprinter,
Lance Bass, former N' Sync star
Rocco DiSpirito, TV chef
Warren Sapp, NFL star
Misty May-Treanor, Olympic beach volleyballer
Toni Braxton, Grammy award-winning R&B star
Cody Linley, that kid from "Hannah Montana" show
Ted McGinley, veteran actor
Brooke Burke, actress/TV personality
Jeffrey Ross, celebrity roaster and comedian
Susan Lucci, "All My Children" star

My boss & friend will be back next week!!! Yippeee!!!

After a month long sabbatical my boss and friend, Sheila will be back to work next week. I've missed you Sheila!!! Welcome Back!!! You are the best!!!

Receipe for Disaster? I think not.

So...in a couple of weeks we will be opening our home up to my son's middle school bible study group one night every week. Teenagers... a pool, a pool table, a Wii, a PS3...wait...ALSO amazing leaders, bibles, in-depth study and discussions...GOOD STUFF!!! Here's a couple of his friends that are sure to be here...can't wait! (Peter is the very smiley guy in the middle of the bottom picture -he's one of the group leaders.) More pics to come when they actually get going.

First Day of School

We have a tradition of taking a picture before they walk out the door on the first day of school.

Here are my boys this morning - on the first day of school.

Riley - 9 years old (he'll be 10 on 10/08/08).
My fourth grader - Riley.
Dylan - 12 years old (he'll be 13 next week on 09/01/08)
My 7th grader - Dylan.

(I am gonna cry. I'm not joking. These boys look so mature. They make me so proud. I gotta go find some kleenex......)

School Starts...Monday...

Our boys! They start school on Monday. I love them more than I can even put into words. I am praying they have a wonderful and successful year.

Back to work...and other random items...

Yep - my body went back to work but I think I left my brain at the beach. It was hard I tell ya - hard to go back. I'm really missing my boss who is out on sabbatical for a month but I'm so happy she's relaxed and resting. And I get to spend some "friend time" with her later this week! Yea!!!

Anyway...after musing over being married for 18 years I'm starting to freak that my oldest will be 13 in less than 2 weeks. YIKES! People - the older you get the faster time goes...ENJOY EVERY MOMENT! (Monday - our anniversary - was GREAT by the way...spending all day just doing whatever we wanted to - just the two of us - with no time limits or anything was absolutely GREAT!)

I still remember standing at the end of Dylan's crib the night before he was born (my water broke and I left for the hospital 4 hours prior to my scheduled induction time - oh and I was 10 days late...on September 1st...yes - HOLY COW!) any way standing at the end of his crib I said to Ron, "Nothing will ever be the same!" Was I ever right. I love that Dylan is our son. He's a great kiddo...we are so blessed by him and his little brother Riley. I have loved every moment, easy and hard, of being his mom. What a true joy! God is so good!

Anyway - with fall and winter approaching I'm willing myself to stay on track and keep losing weight. It's hard when we've been to the beach already and I know blue jeans and sweaters are looming ahead in my wardrobe. It can get easy/tempting to hide a few pounds brought on by little indulgences you might try to sneak in because it's "the holidays". Our vacation was encouraging though: Ron and I shared lots of meals/plates - because we've gotten use to not easing as much. We both only gained 2 pounds in 8 days. We both worked out 4 times in those 8 days. And we've both already lost those 2 pounds.

I'm also gearing up for back to school and getting us all on a schedule again. The kids go back on Monday the 25th. Dylan will be in 7th grade and Riley will be in 4th grade. (bring on more tears because my baby is about to be 10 and in 4th grade - jeez...)

Okay - just because I took so many pictures on vacation here's some more of Dylan and Riley for your viewing pleasure...ENJOY (especially you grandmas/grandpas that I know keep up with the blog to see your grandkids)!

18 Years!

We've been married for 18 years!

Happy Anniversary!

(18 years on the 18th - isn't that cool? We are spending the day together - just the two of us!)

It's over already?

It's true, time flies when you are having fun.

Here's a few final pictures from our vacation week in Destin, Florida.

You know you are getting closer when you go through the tunnel in Alabama.

You know you are more than halfway when you go over the Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge, La.

A snapshot from the "annual mom's trying to get a christmas card picture photo shoot".

The crabs that pop in and out of holes in the sand.

The birds that beg for your snack food.

Dylan with his toes in the waves.

Riley posing...people - he eats ALL THE TIME - I swear! (i only say that 'cuz i know you can see his little ribs)

I call this...digging yourself into a hole...:)

Dylan driving go carts the last night at "The Track" - gotta do that every year.

Watching boats in the harbor during dinner on the last night - gotta do that every year, too.

Dylan and Riley - still good natured on the last night...willing to take yet ANOTHER picture for mom!

Gotta stop at Joe Patti's in Pensacola on the way home to get fresh seafood!