Stingin'

On Saturday I got my first sunburn of the year.....

Summer is here. It's officially started.

I realized that with my new "step-mom" status I need to add sunscreen to the purse. I've already made the addition of fruitsnacks, wipes, hand sanitizer, crackers and some random small toy at any given time -- and now I have added sunscreen.

We spent the entire weekend outside - which was AWESOME - and we all got some good color. Thank goodness the girls take after their Dad and just get "more tan" as long as we aren't in the sun for some rediculously long time. I'm the one that pinks up first, but it's a good warning to get sunscreen on the girls.

I'll admit, we all look pretty cute with pink on our cheeks and Sam and I have some great sunglasses tans going on....

This weekend we also talked about season passes to the waterpark... It's official, SUMMER IS HERE!!

Graveyard Shifts

A lot of people think that working the graveyard shift ruins your life.

I worked it for five years, Sam works it now, and let me tell you - it has it's benefits.

I loved working it during the summer when I got to sleep by the side of the pool and wake up with a great tan every day (or sometimes a slight burn depending on how hard I slept. haha)

I love the fact that yesterday I left to run errands, Sam got up and ran a few while I was still out, we met for lunch, ran a few more together, took the dogs out for a walk, got in the hottub, and still had about another hour together before he left for work. That kind of stuff just dosen't happen when you work the day shift.

I will admit, I miss sleeping next to him; weekends alone isn't enough. I do get a bit scared sometimes when Sam instinctually says, "Don't forget to lock the door" when he leaves and then Max keeps barking ALL night long. It is a bummer when every other Sunday night Sam takes the girls to their mom's and he goes to work... and I go from an incredibly full house to an empty and quiet one in a matter of minutes.

Yet, overall, graveyards seem to work for us.

After days like yesterday they don't seem so bad.... in fact, they kind of seem like a blessing. There are few things that I enjoy more than galavanting around town on a sunny afternoon, feeling cute and being with my Babe.

PB & J

I usually make Sam's lunch/dinner for him when he goes to work. I like packing his lunch box and sending him with goodies that I think he will enjoy through the night. It makes me feel like I'm a part of his night, it's something I enjoy.

The other night I was making a PB&J for the baby girl when I thought, "I'll make one for Sam. It's something a little different. Besides, PB&J on white bread is YUMMY. He'll love it."

So, I made up his yummy yummy looking PB&J, added chips, fruit and the rest of his usual yumminess. I zipped it up and sent him off.

The next morning he told me, "Last night I opened my lunch and told the guys, 'geez, I must be in big trouble.' They asked why, I held up my sandwich and said, 'I'm eating peanut butter and jelly tonight." Apparently they all started laughing and nodding in understanding.

I told him that I thought it would be a yummy treat, that I didn't do it to punish him!! (although he might have deserved it, haha) Quite the opposite!! We both laughed and I gave him a quick kiss....

But now I know, PB&J may be yummy when you ask for it, when you are craving it; but when it shows up in your lunch box when you are used to meat/cheese/lettuce/etc sandwiches.... YOU ARE IN TROUBLE!!!

Now I know, meat and cheese sandwiches it is.... from here on out. :)

Slight Misunderstanding

COUPON DOWNFALL

I have noticed one downfall to using coupons.... we eat more processed food.

I used to be that girl that barely bought anything in boxes, now with all the really cheap food/sometimes free food that I can get with coupons I have a hard time justifying NOT to buy it.... even if it's poptarts. :)

The thing is, Sam loves this crap. The hard part is that I'm not used to using it and honestly, I'm feeling it.

I need to get back on my produce filled diet that I'm used to.

I love coupons, but I need to start being more judicious.

DIRT IS GOOD

It's spring and I'm missing getting my hands dirty. It's the time of year to be putting seeds or seedlings in the ground and starting the process of watching the fruits of your labor come alive, literally.

Last year I found a way to put vegi plants in with my flowerbeds and I LOVED it. I LOVED being able to get fresh vegis from the yard and I really enjoyed watching them grow.

This year we are going to be moving shortly and it just isn't worth it to plant vegis for whoever comes along next. I'm missing the whole process though. I'm feeling the itch to get my hands dirty.

I need to clean out my flowerbeds and spruce things up a little bit so the house shows well; but I'll be honest, I'm having a hard time getting motivated to work on something that I won't be able to enjoy throughout the summer.

Uggh... maybe I just need to plant containers that I can take with me.... that's probably the solution.

Ok, that's probably it. Maybe I'll get started on that soon.

I'm White

I was just told that I look like I have a tan. SWEET!! What a great compliment at the beginning of April!

I'm white. I'm feeling incredibly white. I have fat chicken skin legs that are incredibly WHITE.

It's usually about this time of year that I go spend a dozen days in the cancer beds (aka. tanning beds)... it helps take the glaring white away. I don't stay in there to get DARK per se, I leave that for lounging by the pool.... but it helps me feel not so chicken skin'ish.

Of course it dosen't help that everyone in my house is BEAUTIFULLY BROWN. Sam's skin is gorgeous and he only gets darker in the sun, and quick. The girls follow suit.

So here's the dilemia.... take some precious cash and go attempt to give myself cancer??? (although boost self-esteem a bit) or tough it out and probably fry the first time I throw myself under the sun poolside.

Ugh, decisions decisions.