My Bloggy Makeover...

You may remember that back in November I won a blog makeover from Amy at In Pursuit of Proverbs 31 during the Fall Y'all Bloggy Giveaway. It took me forever to get Amy all of the information that she needed, but as you can see, it's done!

Amy was great to work with. Check out her other blog Split Desicionz. She's got lots of blogging tips and free templates for those of us who are technically challenged and can't do anything ourselves!

New, old friend.

Over a year ago I got an email from Classmates.com saying I could send one person an email for free. I had registered with the site six or seven years ago but have never used it. Unlike Facebook and My Space, Classmates makes you pay to see people's profiles or to contact them. I honestly don't know how they've managed to stay in business. I digress...I sent the free email to my friend Erica, whom I haven't spoken to in about twelve years. As soon as I hit send a message popped up saying that if Erica joined Classmates (as in paid money) she would be able to read my message. Sneaky, sneaky, sneaky Classmates.com....I felt a little like a heal and was pretty sure that I'd never hear back from her.

A few weeks ago I got an email titled "Is this really you?" from "Chris C****". I almost deleted it, assuming it was spam. It wasn't. It was Erica. Since then, we've exchanged long emails and talked on the phone one Friday afternoon for about two hours. I learned that she was a nurse, lived in Florida, is married and has two little boys. One a bit older than Sam and one a little younger, and that she’s 13 weeks pregnant. This weekend she was visiting her mom in Connecticut. I drove down for the day and spent the afternoon with her family and a lot of old friends from high school that I haven’t seen in almost sixteen years (How is it possible that I have been out of high school for almost 16 years?). It was great.

Erica and I were inseparable, best friends my freshman, sophomore and junior year but not very close by the time we graduated. I honestly can't remember exactly what happened to change our friendship and I don't think it matters anymore. As I sat in her mom’s kitchen, all of the good memories came back and it felt like yesterday.

It took me three hours to drive home in the snow. Grace woke up as I was getting off the MASS Pike and didn't go back to bed until after 11 last night...but it was worth it. I'm so glad I went. I'm so glad I have a new, old friend.

Best seven bucks I ever spent....

I babysat for Andrew today. After lunch both boys started getting a little cranky. I remembered this little treasure that I picked up on clearance at Marshalls for $7. I was planning to give it to Sam as a reward for say, pooping on the potty SOMEDAY....Instead, I gave it to him right then, for being cranky....To say it was a hit would be the understatement of the year. They played with it peacefully for almost two hours.

Sam played with it for another hour after Andrew went home. After three hours straight he said, "Mommy, this isn't so much fun anymore." Ya think?

Loot

Bloggy Giveaways is officially over and I won some stuff!

First, from Tsh at Better Things Ahead I won my choice of a photo card design from her Etsy store, Toblerone. I wish that I had known about her when Grace was born. Cute birth announcements can be so expensive! Those of us who don't have great Photoshop skills or hundreds of dollars to spend, are stuck with generic templates. Tsh has beautiful, boutique quality designs that she will personalize for you. She then sends you the jpg so that you can print them wherever you want! She has cards for all occasions at a very reasonable price. Plus, she's super nice. As I currently don't have a need for a photo card at the moment, she is letting me hold my gift certificate for as long as I want....time for another baby?

Second, I won the most adorable little booties from Lauren at E2Designs. Lauren makes the cutest booties and ponchos. At the moment, I'm trying to decide between the brocade and fleece booties. Once I make up my mind, I plan to order a matching poncho. Not only are they cute, but they are a great alternative to big winter jackets that make getting in and out of car seats such a pain. Do you think Sam would look silly in one?

Anyone up for a swim?

I have to admit, when my friend Esther called last week and asked if I wanted to do a Polar Plunge with her today, I thought about it. For about five seconds. Swimming in the Northern Atlantic in February? No. My heart could stop and my children would then be raised by their father who is wonderful but does not know how to cook, clean or dress them in clothing that matches. End of thinking about it.

You see, in my little corner of the world, the ocean is cold in August. Despite global warming, every year, the ocean actually seems to get a little colder here. (Do not suggest that I am getting old and soft...I will ban you from my blog.) It's so cold, that despite the fact that I live five minutes from the beach, I have not swam in the ocean off of the coast of Massachusetts in at least three years. Not once. I didn't swim today either. Esther did. While she stripped out of her down bathrobe, sweat pants and sweat shirt and stood on the beach in a bikini, Tevas and socks I stayed in my warm fleece, hat and gloves and laughed like a lunatic. Not once did I wish I was swimming with her.

Firemen in a boat with long ropes and a man is a survival suit...common sense tells you "stay on the beach!."

Hmmm, wonder how hard it would be to run with the robe on....

It's for a good cause...It's for a good cause....

All the crazies....if this wan't February and you saw this picture what would you think?

Shark, right?

I think I made a face like that twice in my life...during natural child birth....

Rockstar Mommy!

The winner is.....

Number 41, Sileena at Nolanite News! Her four daughters will be adorable in their new tutu. Can four girls share one tutu?

He Flatters....

This afternoon I was lifting Sam up in the air with my feet, giving him an "airplane" ride. From high in the sky he said, "Wow Mom, it sure is beautiful up here!"

"Really? What do you see?"

"Just you."

Could he be any sweeter?