My Summer Vacation (so far)

Since Memorial Day, my summer vacation has been wonderful. It's been full of traveling, concerts, visits from family and time with friends. We've enjoyed a lot of "stay-cation" time in the backyard pool with the grill going and trying to keep Tucker out of the pool. A highlight was a week at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica for a week in June. It had been 10 years since we were on the island where we got married and we have plans to return next June with the entire family.

We have just over three weeks of summer before school starts after Labor Day. Carson graduated from high school and is heading off to college in a few weeks.




Tim commented in the last week that I have been slack on posting to the blog. With the ease of Instagram, Twitter and Facebook (plus time on Pinterest), a blog seems *so* labor intensive in comparison. With the removal of Google Reader and soon my beloved iGoogle, do people even read blogs anymore? I personally read only a few of the ones I list as favorites on the sidebar on this site. If I have time.

The new job isn't quite so new anymore. It's been a year and a half and I'm still pleased with my decision to leave the healthcare field in its various formats that I had been in for almost 15 years and learn the world of commercial real estate. I like the new company so much that since I've arrived we have been recognized by a state publication for being one of the best places to work and most recently the number one place to work in the local area. It was easy for me to write the nominations and I wasn't worried about my coworkers answers on the required surveys for their thoughts.


More of the Kentucky family


Troy will be entering public school as a first grader. He won't have to wear a uniform. He gets to ride the bus for the first time. He's definitely growing up as demonstrated by his additional three inches since the new year. I bought him some new school shirts this past weekend but held off on pants until the weather gets cooler. He says something funny almost every day and I regret not documenting it all on this blog.


In the 10 years we've lived in our house, this year has been the best garden yield we've ever had. We have had dozens and dozens of cucumbers, tomatoes, jalapenos and green peppers. In the last week we have canned 10 quarts of spaghetti sauce and several pints of jalapeno relish.

A cucumber went unnoticed a little too long...


Our garden - August 2013


Homemade pico de gallo


Tim's birthday was earlier this week and we had the customary sloppy joes and French fries to celebrate. The tradition continues.

This weekend we're off to my parents' lake house for our neighbors and dear friends 50th wedding anniversary. Then the following weekend we're heading back to the Outer Banks like we did several years ago with our Costa Rica friends, Kim, Pat and Emily.

We're determined to squeeze everything we can out of this summer. You're only "young" once.

In no particular order, here are some of the pictures of my summer vacation so far.

Tucker!
 
Troy and Cary


Kym and Deb before the Blake Shelton concert in Virginia Beach


Backyard fun with Deb, Kim and Nadya (aka The Laugher)


Learning gun safety and proper shooting techniques at the lake.



Monkey in the middle (aka Tim)


Carson capturing the Endless Summer in Troy's room


Black dogs can jump.


Another fun weekend at the lake.

Enjoying some delicious pizza in the neighborhood.
 
Snorkeling in Montego Bay


A lunchtime stroll in downtown Norfolk.
 

Serious connect four gamers
 

Catching lightning bugs


Enjoying the lazy river in Jamaica


With my sister before the Luke Bryan concert in Virginia Beach


Tucker's favorite spot in the backyard.


What have you all been up to so far this summer?

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Random Thoughts

We've had record high temperatures lately that trickled into major spring cleaning this past weekend. All flower beds were weeded, vegetable garden raked, the grass mowed, trimmed and watered while the pool was skimmed of leaves and the hot tub was emptied, scrubbed and refilled. No wonder Tim was tired and sore on Sunday night.

I was busy cleaning the inside of the house.

After four separate visits to the post office, we finally had an appointment this week to send off Troy's passport application. We are now one step closer to our Costa Rica vacation in 14 weeks. But first, we have our annual family vacation in OBX (Outer Banks, NC) in June.



I'm certain that if I didn't vacuum a few times a week that my obituary would say I died from dog hair suffocation. One problem with having a yellow and a black lab is that where one hair doesn't show up on the floors, pillows, blankets, rugs, the other one does.

My birthday was two weeks ago which means I've had my iPhone for 54 weeks now. I would absolutely be lost without it at this point.

On my birthday, I created this video entirely on my iPhone while watching House Hunters International.

Created. On. My. iPhone.


My love for Pinterest continues. My most recent discovery from that site was a DIY solution to stubborn carpet stains. It was a combination of water, dish soap, vinegar and baking soda. All of the puppy stains from the last nine months are gone.

The Hunger Games is in theaters and I may just have to see it soon. I read the book after work one night last April and the second and third of the triology within the week. They are quite good.

*Photo courtesy of Julie Dreelin's Beach Productions.

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The Farting Double Standard

There are a lot of things on my mind these days and none are really related to each other. In no particular order, here are a few.

I listen to the radio every day. On average, it’s about 12 hours a day. Twelve.
I wake up at 6 a.m. to a particular radio station and flip between it and two others throughout the day. One station in particular has a set list that they don’t stray from and ultimately take a song I like and play it every hour to The Point that I violently grab the radio to switch stations.

The Super Bowl party we attended at The Newlyweds’ house was a lot of fun. It’s a shame they can’t have the game on Saturday. Here is a customary self-portrait with one of the hosts, Jay.


And Jay's sister, Terri, filling out her squares for the pool.


Someone in my town won $1 million for their Doritos Super Bowl commercial. I think of commercial ideas all the time.

Serious illnesses can happen to anyone regardless of the amount in your bank account. We only have one body so we need to take care of it as best we can. Sometimes that isn’t enough. But a positive attitude makes a huge difference. I’m very proud a good friend and how she has handled breast cancer. She may have cancer but it doesn’t have her.

Recent email conversation with the same friend.

Her: Hey, when was "Jane's" birthday?

Me: It was four days ago.

Her: So I missed it?

Me: Yes, unless you want to be REALLY early for her next birthday. I think you should mention you have cancer to get out of this one.

I don’t understand why there is a farting double standard in my house. If my husband or son farts, it prompts giggles and high fives. If their pretty wife/mother does it, it’s disgusting and gross.

It’s always a good time in my house when The Laugher visits. Within minutes, I was telling her about a recent Modern Family episode that she had missed and was in tears. If you are not watching that show, you are missing out. I have the first two seasons on DVD and play on syncing them to the iPad so I can watch on vacation in the Outer Banks and Costa Rica.


Pinterest is my semi-new favorite way to waste time online. I talked about it here but it's like having the Cliff's Notes to other cool websites. I tried out another new recipe for jalapeño pinwheels on Saturday that was a hit and so simple. You can find my boards here.

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Catching Up on Things

In the last two weeks the following things have happened in no particular order.

Troy and I celebrated Neighbor Mo’s fifth birthday at Chuck E. Cheese. Her parents, The Neighbors, bribed me with beer.

Caroline and I spotted a blue eyed, curly haired red headed girl and decided if we were able to mate, she’d be our love child.

We had the honeymooners over last weekend. We've only seen them once since their Outer Banks beach wedding last May.

There was some beer being brewed and "lake tea" being fixed as they say around here. Lake Tea is a 50/50 mixture of tea infused vodka and lemonade.



We dined on beef stroganoff with homemade noodles from my mother-in-law.

A very typical picture of Tim and me in our kitchen.



Troy started swim lessons again twice a week. I sit on the uncomfortable bench and watch from the other side of the glass with the other parents. It’s a great time to get caught up on my Words with Friends games.
Tim has started taking online classes for his master’s degree from Virginia Tech. It’s going to be a long three years for him and the dynamics in the house.

Commandeering every blanket and pillow in the house creates the best fort allowed if you’re a 5-year old. If you look closely you can spot the side of his head under the coffee table.


The dogs continue their training of *not* sitting in the kitchen.


After a three year hiatus, I visited the OB/GYN. My regular doctor who looked like a real Barbie and delivered Troy left the practice three years ago to be a stay at home mom. Since I didn’t want to wait three more years for a female doctor, I agreed to see the new man who had joined the practice.

After waiting in the exam room for over 30 minutes in a toilet paper vest with matching blanket over my lap (and discussing this on Twitter) he came into my room and apologized for keeping me waiting.

We were approximately the same age and unlike my pale, freckled face, he has darker skin and hair.

The next thing he said, “I really like your hair.”

This caused me to instantly blush.

Then he continues with the exam of my lady parts.

I didn’t blush at all.

Afterwards, he said, “Everything looks great. You’re easy.”

Of course I am.

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Random Thoughts

It’s been raining here so much lately that there has been an outbreak of wild mushrooms growing.

Last Friday night while eating dinner at Mona Lisa’s with The Neighbors, we saw a double rainbow. It was the first time I’ve seen a full double rainbow.



My newest favorite thing on my iPhone is Words With Friends. Where else can you make up words and get points for it? I can be found @DebThaxton which is the same for Facebook and Twitter. It’s just easier to remember.


This is us Hanging With Neighbors playing the horse racing game. It's like gambling for dummies.


Tucker, the black lab puppy, has gained 10 pounds in the three weeks we’ve had him. I think it’s all gone to his legs. He constantly attacks Sandy Paws and I think it’s keeping her “young” but more likely she’s just tired from the constant harassment.


I loved how the medical school celebrated their new building.


In the rain, we participated in the American Heart Association's walk on Saturday.


There is less than three months until Christmas.

It's almost October which means I have three months to complete my 2011 new year's resolutions. One of which is not procrastinating. I may just save that until 2012.

Here was my last installment of random thoughts.

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Random Thoughts

With every “big girl” purchase we’ve made for our house over the years we always debate which one is best, the kegerator, large screen tv, hot tub, etc. but hands down my most favorite right now is the pool.

In the next three weeks, various members of my husband’s family will be visiting. Two of whom refer to me as step-monster. I can’t wait.

It’s refreshing meeting some recently divorced ladies who aren’t fixated on starting another serious relationship.

My child swims every day and in six weeks has become a fish. He doesn’t respond to Nemo. Yet.

We may have bribed “Nemo” to swim the length of the pool for four pieces of candy earlier this week.

This is the first summer in almost 20 years that I don’t have plans to see someone in concert. I’ll miss going topless to a show too.

I’m still amazed at how a person can make selfish decisions that upset someone they love.

There is someone listed in my contacts with a Houston area code that I saved as “Mystery Person.” I really have no idea who it could be.

Wild horses on the beach in the Outer Banks of North Carolina

No, I haven’t dialed it or deleted it.

The Pioneer Woman picked one of my iPhone pictures in her latest contest. It’s of two wild horses walking on the beach.

It’s more devastating when the internet and email is down at work over the telephone system.

It’s only been a week but I’m not into Google+ yet. My internet footprint is large enough without adding another thing at this point.

I’ve finally discovered a photography class in the area that I hope to sign up for in August.

If The Bloggess ever stopped blogging, I’d surely miss her writing. Her latest adventure is with a metal chicken but her trip to Belize was one of the funniest posts I’ve read all year.

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