Saturday, July 31, 2010

Time Flies (When You’re Having Fun)

I told myself I would not wait so long between blog posts.  And technically, I didn’t break my promise.  But, yes, I know it’s been too long!  I can confirm that by trying to weed through all the pictures I’ve taken on our adventures!

This summer has been a BLAST.  The weather has been fantastic so we’ve spent endless hours at the pool, down at the beach, and generally just outside loving life!  Tatiana is VERY tan (enviable tan!) with great sun-streaked hair.  The kind people pay good money to achieve!  And mama is well, I’m at least tan. 

So… you ask:  what have we been up to since the LAST blog posting?  (Maybe you didn’t ask, but I’m going to tell you anyway!)  As mentioned above, we’ve been enjoying the summer weather.  Living 4 miles from one of the Great Lakes definately has it’s advantages!  Our little town is called Croswell, located on the Black River.  4 miles east is Lexington, located right on Lake Huron.  Together the two towns make 1 school district.  Hand in hand; peanut butter and jelly.  You get the idea. 

In the summer, Lexington is a different town.  Because of it’s location on the lake, we get a lot of tourists.  And so the town reacts.  Friday nights have live music playing in the park, there are festivals, art shows, etc.  There is also a great “break wall” that goes out into the lake and blocks off the marina.  It’s a great place to walk – see the gorgeous lake, get a breeze and just enjoy. 

If our own tourist life wasn’t enough, last weekend we packed up the car and drove to Niagara Falls (the Canadian side).  It’s only about 4 hours from our house, since we are so close to the bridge to Sarnia.  No offense to our own side of Niagara, but the Canadian side truly is the place to see the falls.  You get great viewing of BOTH falls, and they do a fabulous job with flowers and gardens to really make the whole city pretty.  Tatiana LOVED the falls.  I was nervous they’d be too “loud” and she would be scared, but she was amazed. 

While we were at Niagara Falls, we also took in Marineland (think Sea World-ish), and Niagara Safari Zooz.  The animal loving Tati was in HEAVEN.  I don’t think she’s stopped mentioning the animals yet.  She really, really, REALLY liked the dolphins and whales at Marineland, so Mickey, I hate to break this to you, but next spring, we may forgo you in favor of Sea World and Busch Gardens.  Sorry pal! 

Instead of uploading 100 pictures of our latest adventures, here’s a quick video.  Enjoy!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Excuses, Excuses

The dog ate my blog post.  Wait.  I don’t have a dog.  My brother’s uncle’s sister’s father’s cousin died.  Hmmm – that can’t be right either, I am an only child.  I haven’t had any electricity for the past month.  Nah, still doesn’t work – too many of you know I have been on facebook.   Plum out of excuses here!  So I guess the truth will have to suffice… the weather has been just too darn nice to be inside blogging.   I seriously don’t know how you southerner’s do it – the whole nice weather year round.  I don’t think I’d ever get a thing done!

So… what have we been up to since my last posting? 

Memorial Day:  Seems like eons ago, yet this summer has been FLYING by!  Memorial Day was gorgeous up here, 3 days of great weather, and so Tatiana and I LIVED at the pool.  Our pool is a private pool that 10 families own a share of – T and I being one of those 10 families.  Before T, I was typically pastey-white girl in the summer, but Memorial Day started me on a nice base for the year.  I haven’t blinded any small children this year, thankfully.  We went to TWO parades, a pancake breakfast and generally enjoyed the great weather, family, friends and cooking out!IMG_3212

IMG_3269  Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It’s Off to Work I Go:  Work has been crazy busy, with one super week from h-e-double hockey sticks.  I was to have 4 contracted sales pros (and one counter part) into Lansing, MI to help me work with my distributor there.  The weekend before the event was to kick off on a Monday afternoon, I still had NOT received any of the names of these “pros”.  On Monday, when the team was supposed to meet me in Lansing for training @ 2:30pm, and no one showed up, it wasn’t a pretty sight.  Needless to say, I enjoyed a very large margarita that evening.  (The beer wasn’t mine – it’s a point of reference for size!)IMAG0009

Play Fair:  Croswell’s annual fair came to town in June.  With T’s huge love of animals (and yet, fears of animals at the same time!), this was a HUGE event.  We saw LOTS of cool animals:  there were some babies that had just been born & Tatiana got to feed some goats; rode some rides: bouncy castle, carousel, the train and the cars were the most popular;  and ate food that would only be considered good AT the fair!  We had so much fun, we had to go twice!  IMG_8268 IMG_8257 IMG_8280 IMG_8290 Top Gun:   On top of being busy at home for work, we also had our National Meeting in San Diego, CA.  A gorgeous location, and a fun meeting.  Lots of fun new product on the horizon!  Full days of meetings are ALWAYS hard on a sales rep.  Since we rarely sit still for a whole day, it’s hard to keep our attention.  But it wasn’t all work and no play, the night before we left to go home, we had a special treat of being able to spend the evening out at Miramar US Marine Base (aka where “Top Gun” was to have taken place).   My friend Kellie and I decided that no matter who you are – that place was COOL!  I also divulged a secret to Kellie while we were sitting in a Marine helicopter – I always want to walk up to military personnel and say thank you whenever I see them.  But I can’t.  I start tearing up and generally look like a giant fool.  Kellie admitted she has the same problem!   IMG_8320 IMG_8306               Kellie (holding my wine) on one of the helicopters

The “Other Tatiana’s” Birthday Party:  Tia, Tati’s Russian friend, turned 4 and we went to her house to help celebrate her big day!  More swimming and playing ensued.  Fun was had by all!

Tati’s 2nd 4th of July:  My little American citizen celebrated her Independence Day with a long (and loud), hot,  parade.  We watched fireworks (far, far away so they weren’t too loud!) and played with sparklers.  Miss Suddenly Brave didn’t appreciate that mama wasn’t ready to let her run loose with a sparkler.  Once again, Mother Nature blessed us and the weather was FAB-U-LOUS.  Other than the parade and fireworks, we spent the rest of the weekend AT THE POOL.  Big surprise at this stage huh?IMG_3299 IMG_8330 IMG_8346

Swimmin’:  A note on the pool… last summer, after getting over her initial fear of the water, Tati became a little fish.  We started swimming lessons over the winter so that if anything ever happened and the little Miss found herself in water with no floaties – she’d know the basics of swimming.  At this stage she does NOT need the floaties any longer and is an great swimmer.  She tends to freak out the other mom’s at swimming lessons – partially because she looks smaller than she is but also because she’s so good!   Her only hiccup in the beginning was to remember to come up and breathe – but now she’s breathes like a pro!IMG_8215 IMG_8305

Pull-Up Free:  I hesitate to say this/post this out loud/in the public eye.  I am afraid it will jinx me.  Basically since around the beginning of May, we’ve been using the potty FULL time.  An occasional accident will appear rarely, but for the most part we have moved on!   She still wears a pull up at bedtime, but that’s it!  The big draw for her was pre-school!  To go to school next year, like her bigger cousin, Riley – she had to be potty trained.  Yahoo!  Just don’t ask me why her shorts are on her head…IMG_3203

So that’s the summer update so far.  We’re having a blast and gearing up for even more fun and busy weekends.   Hope you are all enjoying your summer as well.