two random, unrelated incidents

last night, i went to the park after pilates. i saw someone walking a ferret. a. ferret. like it was totally natural to put a small vest on a rodent and walk it on a leash. his name was bandit.

you know what makes you feel old, even though you look like a college freshman? talking to the little girl you used to babysit and getting invited to see her dorm room, like she's old enough to be there or something.

happy birthday, becca boo!

it's my little sister's birthday! 25 years old--man, you're almost catching up to me!
happy birthday, bubba. hope it's fabulous and can't wait to see you soon.

isn't she just gorgeous?

fun things you may already know about rebecca:

-i was the one who decided to call her "rebecca," which is actually her middle name.
-she's the funniest person you'll ever meet.
-her laugh is infectious. you can't help but laugh with her. or at her. whichever.
-she looks better with blonde hair than brunette. please don't ever do that again.
-she's always fashionable. looooooves a headband.
-she hates to be late. i think i contributed to this in high school. sorry, bec.
-she is always so hungry she could throw up. just once, i'd like to see her do it.
-she looks way cuter in a baseball hat than i do.
-she loves little kitties, but is a bit allergic to them.
-she has a million and one funny sayings that she just blurts out.
-her nickname in elementary school was laffy taffy. she hated it. and probably still does.
-she's sweet as pie, but can cuss like a sailor.
-she might possibly be the best professional babysitter ever - b-rec and the biz.
-her tan is something to be envied. she got all the dark skin in our entire family. what i can accomplish in two weeks at the beach with some serious sunning strategy, she can outdo in 2 hours at a pool. anna and i look like irish sisters, while becca could pass for another nationality in the summer.
-she's so much fun, and i miss her so much!

carolina in my mind

once again, i'm back from vacation with a big case of wanderlust and general dissatisfaction with my current geographical standing. however, every time i bring up the subject, the job-searching law graduate ever-so-kindly reminds me that 1) it is more realistic to get a job in our home state, 2) bar exams are expensive and not exactly in our budget, and 3) no one is going to hire him and pay for him to take the bar in a new state. sigh. but not really the point of my post. the real point of my post is to update you on our lastest cross-continential trip.

after a late night and an even later start, we arrived in carolina for a weekend visit with tim, sara and olivia. after about 9 hours in the car, we arrived to a home-cooked dinner and fabulous dessert (i'll post the recipe once i get it) and just hung out. saturday morning was a bit rainy, but nonetheless we drove up a big blue mountain (with limited visibility due to fog and rain) to pick blueberries. we were soaked in a matter of minutes, but the berries were delicious. we did have to abandon our trip out to sliding rock though. we went back home for fabulous italian takeout and a walk downtown. sunday began with church and lunch out. miss olivia did fantastically--hardly got upset at all! we drove to jump off rock to get a view of 5 different states over the mountains. you don't actually jump off though. there's a railing preventing people from being too literal. we went to park to walk around and let olivia watch the skater kids, then came home and cooked out. can i just tell you my fabulous sister-in-law cooked us not only dinner and desserts, but breakfast? i never cook breakfast, unless it's 9 am on a saturday and i have nothing to do. we had such a great time visiting with tim and sara and playing with olivia, we just hated to leave. she's so fun now! she's starting to crawl and has 4 teeth. she's starting to eat table food and will constantly talk to you. she especially likes to walk with you. she's so sweet i could eat her with a spoon! i'll leave you with pictures of the cutest family member:

olivia

2 brothers and a baby

winding down and gearing up

well, summer is almost over. not that i get summer break or anything, and not as if mississippi weather recognizes the passing of months as incentive to adjust temperatures and humidity levels accordingly. it is so hot, and so humid you could drown outside if you break a sweat. hello, august.

the law graduate's social life has come to pretty much a screeching halt. at least while he was studying for the bar he got out of the house a little bit. okay, he only went to the library, but there were other people there. but now his routine is pretty low-key: running the trails with the roxy, job searching, reading sports chat forums, finding new low-budget historical drama series in the on demand, and completing lists of emailed househusband tasks from yours truly. that's. about. it. the couch is involved a good bit in this routine.

we are about to take our last vacation together before the new school year starts. oh wait, no one is in school this year. weird. anyway, we are headed to the hills of carolina to visit the brother-in-law and his family. our niece olivia is, in just the past few weeks, already crawling, teething and pulling up. she'll be in high school by the time we get there this weekend.

olivia

i've enjoyed the general laziness that comes with summer. it's actually too hot to do much anyway. but as it winds down, other things gear up. namely, SEC football (and in-town traffic.)

i'm so very excited. i'm throwing a shower for my friend kayla and her unnamed unborn son, and my very bestest friends, jules and mandi, are both coming to the first game the same weekend.

mandi and jules - party animals

i'm already on the hunt for the perfect game day attire, but there is a serious lack of cute maroon out there. i can't wait to see old friends, endlessly tailgate, cheer on the bulldogs and ring my cowbell illegally. and if you have anything to say opposing that, kindly skedaddle. go dawgs!!!


i've also managed to agree to teaching more pilates and/or cardio classes at the studio. why?? i taught my first cardio class last week. one girl left early, and another almost passed out at the end. fail.

speaking of gearing up, i sure hope the job market does soon. the law graduate would prefer to stay in mississippi (i'm a bit less than ambivalent), but is applying all across the lower portion of the country. right now we are waiting bar exam results (september 16), and will reevaluate after that. stay tuned for more updates.

and last but not least, today is my daddy's birthday! the big 5-5. happy birthday daddy, even though you don't read this blog. i'd love to be able to go to bristol with him this weekend to celebrate, but the niece is just too cute.

prayer requests

so, while blog stalking this morning, i found this post. please pray for this family.

also, one of my dearest friends has been in the hospital this week battling an infection. she should be able to go home in a few days, so pray for her upcoming release and recovery.


(Matthew 9:35 NKJV) Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

(Psalm 30:2) O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.

picture post

so, a picture post as promised. mostly boston, but also lake pictures, engagement party and mom's new cat. maybe i'll upload more photos off my memory card. i need a new camera. i'm about to go old-school with kodak disposables.

bella and lulu, aka milo and otis.

after the game

becca got engaged

lunch at cheers

sight-seeing

fenway family fun

july 4th margaritas. i promise i have on a swim suit.

memorial day

crashed a bachelorette party to see a few good friends

hung out with sweet sistersmarsey, mandi and kissey

mandi's entourage