My Friend's Big Question

I had lunch with Sebrina and Judy yesterday at La Siesta. Sebrina and I were planning on taking the kids swimming today, but Judy wasn't going to be available, so we set up the lunch date instead. Christopher and I still went swimming with Sebrina and John Ryan this afternoon, though.

Sebrina and her husband, Todd, will be celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary next June. They've decided to renew their wedding vows in April. While at lunch yesterday, she asked me if I would be her maid-of-honor. Of course I said yes! I've never been in any wedding other than my own, so this will be a totally new experience for me. It's just going to be a small, low-key ceremony. She is planning on wearing her original wedding dress, which probably means that I'll have to get a real bridesmaid's dress. I asked today what she had in mind and she's thinking the color Lilac or Lavendar. I like either color and, since it'll be Spring, think it's appropriate. I'm for any traditional, perky color and am not picky. Just don't stick me in something like a drab green! Yuck! We're gonna go shopping whenever we can get together and have the husbands keep the kids.

Thankfully, it's all here in Murfreesboro, so that means no traveling! She originally wanted the ceremony to be at a cute little back-woodsy wedding chapel in Gordonsville (about an hour away), but she was going to be over the maximum capacity by ONE stinkin' person! So, she chose something here in town instead.

Like I mentioned, Christopher and I went swimming with Sebrina and John Ryan today. Here are a couple of pictures:

Mommy and Christopher














Mommy, Christopher, Sebrina and John Ryan














That was the first time we were in a real pool this Summer. He's played in his little wading/activity pool in our backyard, we've been to the kiddie wading pool at Patterson Park Community Center, we've been to the waterpad in Smyrna (concrete slab with a bunch of waterpipes) and he's played in the hose here at home, but he's not been in a real pool this year until today. I started out by putting him in a little boat-looking floatie and he just seemed SO content floating around for about 10-15 minutes. Then, he was ready to try without the floatie. As long as I held him upright up against me, he was okay. He didn't like it when I tried laying him on his back or stomach. I did dunk him once and he didn't cry, but it scared him, so I decided not to try that again since we start swimming lessons on Monday and I don't need a traumatized child! He had fun "jumping" off the edge into the water (he was holding my hands and basically just stepping into the water). After about 30 or 45 minutes, he was all done and ready to get out. I could've stayed in that pool all day long! It felt SO nice and warm! I miss my pool from home!

My mom finally sold her house (still hasn't closed though). It's going to be so sad not being able to go down there to swim! That's the house I lived in from 1984-??? I guess I officially moved out when I got married in 2000. So, that was 16 years. I'd still go back and visit my mom there until she bought her current house back in 2004. I hate divorce! Even though I'm grown and out of the house, it stinks!

Nothing exciting on the agenda for this weekend. Richard will be down for his regular Saturday visit tomorrow and we'll probably go out to eat somewhere. I think Shad's planning to do a few household chores such as mowing, etc. sometime tomorrow, too. Other than that, though, we'll probably be bored out of our minds.

I can't wait until July 20 when Shad and I go to Fall Creek Falls for 2 nights. We're dropping Christopher off at Richard's (my first night(s) away from my baby!) on Friday the 20th and will be returning on Sunday the 22nd. I'm confident that Christopher will do fine (as will I), but it's going to be so hard for me to not see him for 2 DAYS! Plus, I'll miss putting him to bed 2 nights in a row! I know I have to take this step sometime, but that doesn't mean it's easy!

Well, it's bedtime. Shad went about an hour ago and has probably turned the lights out already. I told him I'd be in shortly, but I'm still not tired. I heard some neighbor shoot of a few fireworks about 10 minutes ago and just hope there's no more! I can't stand the days leading up to and after the 4th! We actually called the police last Friday night because some rude kids were riding their bikes after midnight shooting them off right outside ours and Christopher's bedroom windows! Shad literally got up out of bed, threw on some clothes and ran after them to tell them to quit! He was very angry! Thankfully, Christopher slept through it all! Okay, I'm really going this time! Good night!

4th of July

Yesterday was Christopher's 2nd 4th of July. Last year, he was only 6 months old, so too young to enjoy the festivities. This year, though, he LOVED having friends over to swim and play in our backyard with him! We grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and ended up having about 15 adults and 6 kids. The kids ranged in age from 3 months to 4 years. All the kids had fun swimming in Christopher's pool and playing on his swingset.

Despite not having his full 3-hour nap, I decided to keep Christopher up for the firework show. When it got dark, we walked across the street to an elementary school ballfield to watch the MTSU show. Unfortunately, we weren't able to see much since they either moved the show a little bit or the trees grew a lot (chances are better that the trees just grew a bit too much). The only ones we were able to see well were the Grand Finale. :P Some of the people with us decided to go around the school to see if there was a better view. When they came back, they said it was a great view, so we'll have to remember that next year.

Shad and a few other people who were near us shot off a few of their own fireworks before the MTSU show and it scared Christopher to death! Therefore, as soon as the "big" show was over, Richard took Christopher home and put him to bed for me. That was hard for me since putting Christopher to bed is MY job. Richard enjoyed it, though, and he's going to have to do it again in a couple of weeks when Shad and I go to Fall Creek Falls.

Here are a few pictures of Christopher and his friends in his pool:

Lilly (12 mos) & Christopher with Journie (3-1/2) pulling the wagon














Christopher just lounging under the palm tree


















Jenn (Lilly's mom), Lilly, Macy (18 mos) & Christopher














Christopher playing in the spraying palm tree