Friends who....

The word says it all.

I just ♥ Florida!

It was a  great trip surround with great friends!

One friend, (the one on the right) stayed the full 7 days with me.  The other 3 all came on different days and stayed different amounts of time.
These are 2 of my oldest and dearest friends.  We have all known each other since 7th grade!  We were all in each others weddings and this was the 1st time in probably 20 years we had a slumber party!


This particular evening we actually went out to eat at Bonefish.  While we were in Florida there was a gas explosion that shut 2 counties from there gas supply.  A construction worker hit a gas line that was miss marked.  One tiny 8 inch whole caused one man 50% of body to be burned and over 8,000 business, homes and hospitals to be left with out gas for over 5 days.  This made dining out very difficult.  Most places were only serving salad and more places choose to close than remain open.

After a delicious dinner we headed back to the condo to find a Christmas tree full of decorations.

Even though Christmas is a month away, this just seemed way to early for decorations.

This is my home away from home....


This stairway

leads to

paradise!


Although I prefer the pool to the beach..
.
nothing beats the
sun & sand....

and

FRIENDS

who drink!

Miss you already, Florida....

See you soon, I hope,

Another swim weekend has come and gone.

This meet was a big one. It was D1's last meet as an 8 year old. Yep, she age groups up next Friday on her birthday. She will then be swimming against the 9 and 10 year old's. It is also the last meet that D1 & D2 will swim against one another. From this meet on we will be true swim parents. Attending the meets all day instead of either a morning session or an afternoon session.

A freak occurrence happened at this meet. Gabby and Bella swam in the same heat of the 25 Butterfly. Somehow Bella got put into the top flight of swimmers. The poor thing is only 6 years old and she was swimming against the 8 best times.

Here is a video of it. Gabby is in the middle lane, number 5 and Bella lane number 1.

After watching the video all Bella could say was "I just got last place! That stinks!" It made me laugh out loud.

It was a great swim weekend.  Both girls shaved time on almost all races and had fun doing it.  However, the highlight was D1 ending her 8 and under career with this....

Out of over 55 girls and with 155 seed points,she proved to be the top 8 year old swimmer of the weekend.

Yes it was a good swim weekend!

Her friend Alyssa came in top place for the 7 & under girls. 


4 sisters who are team mates and friends.


Melts my ♥ ... have I mentioned how much I love swim club!!!

Enjoy the week, this swim taxi momma is off to FL for some friends/sun time.  I will be spending the next 7 days with some of my favorite people! 

See you soon....

From this to.....

After four long, ugly years of this, 90's pink and mauve


And 7 long, weekends of non stop work.





We finally completed the girls upstairs bathroom!


Taaa daaa!  Isn't it soooo much better?

I honestly thought it would never be completed.


My father in law framed the mirror out to make it look more up to date and modern.

After weeks of painting, and striping; and dust and clutter we finally have a beautiful completed bathroom for the girls.

It was a long time coming, but so worth it.

This is a close up of the floors my mother laid with her own two hands.  And the cabinets that I sanded and painted.  I blogged/bragged about my father in-laws handyman work here.

This project was truly the work of blood, sweat and tears.


We spent $100 on the entire project.  $30 for the floors (thank GOD for clearance) $50 on the light  $20 on paint, everything else was scrap wood that was collecting dust in the garage.

It is always amazing to me what a fresh coat of paint can do to spruce up a space.  The sink counter tops use to drive me crazy.  They were ugly, but now I don't seem to mind them at all. 


It has motivated me to finish my own bathroom, but I think I will take a vacation first.  Maybe after 7 days of sunshine and sleep I will come back ready to conquer the rest of the upstairs.   Get ready SW Florida the girls are coming to town!

SNOW.....

Urghhh....

It's snowing!

How can this be? It is only early November!!

It sure does look pretty, but oohhhh it is soooo cold!

Thank goodness, my girls trip is in 4 short days!

Sun, sand and beach ... thats my kind of weather.

Enjoy your day, where ever you may be.

On the weekend....

D2 has become quiet the student.  We are so please by her work.  For only being in Kindergarten and having only completed 9 weeks of school we are so proud of her.  Every Monday, her teacher makes them journal what they did over the weekend.  They are to write by sounding the letters out and then illustrating a picture of what they just wrote about.  The teacher then goes back over it them and writes what it really says.  

Here is a picture of Bella's Journal.


For those who don't read kindergarten writing, this says " I went to my swim meet at Penn! "  Complete with a drawing of the 25 yard pool that she competed at.

I am proud of my student/athletes.  Not only was it Halloween Weekend,they swam there ♥s out.

Monday evening after practice this is what they found  in their file folders.

Ribbons! 

My little fish rocked that meet.

D1= 4-1st, 2-3rds, 1-4th, & 1-5th
D2= 2-3rds, 1-6th, & 1-7th

Yes swim season has officially started,  and we ♥ ♥ ♥ it!!!

Watch out NASA,  We will be at your pool this coming weekend.  It will be Gabby's last meet as an eight year old.  We are keeping our fingers crossed that she will end her 8yr old career with a high point trophy.  

For Ms. Bee

One of my favorite blogger's has been writing several posts about how boring golf is.  Her take on the game is real been quiet funny.  I thought I should show her the flip side to golf.

This is the cute side of golf. 


We teach them young.


Golf is not just a sport for old men.


It's a family event. 


And even though these are on a pretend course,
it is still golf...


Of course Ms. Bee you are correct about one thing,

It's all about the outfit!