Christmas in July

Anybody interested in doing a blog exchange? Registration starts on Monday.
Visit my friend Alyx over at http://www.itsalyx.com/2012/05/es-vedra-christmas-in-july.html
Browse her blog while you are there! Alyx lives in Germany and has great travel pictures (plus she is very cool!)

Graduation Weekend

Today I am linking up with my fabulous friend Kathe to share my story of my daughters graduation. Come join in. The rules are, there are no rules! Anything you LOVE, post it!
Check out her link.

For those of you who follow my blog, you know my daughter graduated this weekend.  She graduated from Salve Regina University in Newport, RI. Google it. The campus is incredible. It is surrounded by the ocean and mansions. It is probably one of the prettiest schools I have ever seen.

The school is about an hour and a half away from us. We had to be at the ceremony at 9:15 am on Sunday morning so we decided to go early Saturday afternoon and enjoy Newport. We were taking my daughter and her "friend" to dinner. I really wish we were better planners because it was the most beautiful weekend. We should have gone on Friday.

Usually when the weather will be in the 80s at my house, that means it will be about 65 in Newport. It is right on the water. That was not the case this weekend, it was in the 80s on Saturday even in Newport.

We had the sun roof open on the way there and I got a little tan. The sun was that strong.
We Checked into our hotel and just dropped off our bags. We wanted to walk around in the downtown area.

My daughter was on the fence about going to the Baccalaureate Mass. She went to a  catholic college so the Baccalaureate Mass is a must to receive your hood. I told her to just go and we would meet up with her later.

We did a little shopping. I wasn't really in the mood.  I got a few cute baubles and I was satisfied. They have some great little shops there. I always like to look for the unusual and you can usually find that in Newport.

I had my fill of shopping and I wanted to go have a drink (I know, shocker). I wanted to go to the outdoor bar in the middle of the wharf that we had been to the last time we were there. A little back story here, the last time we were there it was pouring rain. We were at an outdoor bar and it had a roof. We had the best time. Picture a bunch of people stuck there because they didn't want to get soaked. The camaraderie was great. We were in the middle of a downpour, outside, at a picturesque wharf, drinking and staying dry.

We got to the bar and it was full. They let us sit at a table right next to the boat slip. It was really crowded and the service wasn't great but it was so beautiful out that we didn't mind.

My handsome husband getting his tan on.

Me before Cosmo's

Me after a Cosmo. It doesn't take much to make me happy.

We had a few drinks then made our way to the little Italian restaurant we were going to.
My daughter and her "friend" were a little late. The mass went longer than expected.
We ordered appetizers. The appetizers were so good. I knew we were in for a good meal if this was the preview. I was wrong. The portions were very small and not to toot my own horn, but I am a better Italian cook.
We finished dinner and walked down to my daughters favorite bar and had a drink and called it a night.

My daughter and her "friend"

When we woke up the next day, we were exhausted. I gave my husband half of my energy shot. We didn't have a lot of time to sit around and drink coffee.
We had to go pick up flowers and ended up running a little late. My daughters "friend" actually thought he had to redeem himself for being late the night before (he didn't, we barely noticed) and he got there early and saved the seats thankfully. I also want to add that he is the nicest young man . You can tell he was raised properly.

I do want to add that in all of the years they have had graduation ceremonies, you would think they would have a better set up. The seating was horrible. Unless you were in the first few rows, you couldn't see a thing.

This is the view from about 8 feet up in the air, thanks to my daughters "friend" being 6'8 and holding the camera above his head.

The woman my daughter has been babysitting for from the time she was old enough, who lives a few houses over,  drove down just to see her graduate. She left right after the ceremony. She said she wouldn't have missed it. I thought that was so sweet. My other neighbor also sent her a text congratulating her and telling her she was proud of her and she put something in the mailbox for her. I do have a few good neighbors.

My parents made it just in time (2 hours into the ceremony) because they were driving around lost for 3 hours. My daughters name still wasn't called 2 hours in, so they got to see her receive her diploma.  A little side note here, they followed us out to the highway on the way home so they wouldn't get lost again. I insisted. They needed to stop and get gas. We pulled into the gas station and my mom pulled up to the pump on the wrong side and my dad walked around the car for about 15 minutes trying to figure it out. My husband and I were waiting patiently and pulled out a bag of chips and started snacking and wishing it was popcorn to enjoy the show. How these people function day to day is beyond me. We took them out to the highway then took off.  My mom still hasn't told me if she got lost again or what time she got home.

My dad, the graduate and my mom

My mom was chomping at the bit to have her picture taken with my daughters "friend". She LOVED him and kept saying he looked like a movie star. I think she was actually flirting with him and being the gentleman he is, he played right along.

We ended up leaving our seats before my daughters name was called to get a better view from somewhere else. We ended up with a great view and being able to go down and take pictures when she got her diploma.

We lined the walkway and were right in front to see the graduates walk out. I have to tell you, my husband was out of control with his comments. There was a woman walking in the middle of the walkway (you weren't supposed to) with a big hat on. My husband said "look at that dolly, look at the hat, The Kentucky Derby was last week honey".  If you know my husband, this is not him. Sure he is sarcastic, but he saves it for private. This went on and on, he had the two little old ladies next to us cracking up. I am blaming the energy shot. It did something to him. He is now banned from energy shots, at least if he will be out in public.

All in all, it was a beautiful ceremony. I was overwhelmed with pride in my daughter. She worked very hard these past four years. I am wondering how long it will take her to decompress.
She will be back home today or tomorrow. She had to finish cleaning out her apartment.
I hope she is as excited to be home as I am to have her back home, at least until her next chapter unfolds.

My daughter and her roommates.

I am one proud mother!

Just as I am about to finish this post I received a text from my daughter. "S" just asked her to be his girlfriend and she said yes. So take out the "friend" parts in this post and insert "boyfriend" I am too lazy.

The happy couple

A letter to my middle child, "G"

Dear G,

As your college commencement approaches this weekend, I find myself with a mix of emotions.
When you were born, I swear you had a smile on your face. I was going through pictures and in every single one of them, you have the biggest grin ever . You were the happiest baby I have ever seen. Your happiness carried over into childhood. 
You were quite the source of entertainment for all that know you. We started calling you "The Politician" because you wanted to make every one happy. You also knew how to work your parents and every one around you (you still do).  Your brother actually used to call you "President Of The World". 
You have always been so bubbly and kind to others. You have such an engaging personality. 
You always did so well in school. I don't think I ever once had to tell you to do your homework. You always made the Honor Roll. The worst grade you ever received was a C. That only happened once.
You sang in the chorus, played softball, ran track and cheered from the time you were 8, all the way through high school.
We had all of the after prom parties at our house because you were always so responsible.
Being the pleaser that you are, you usually always did as you were told.
Do you have any idea of how proud of you I am? I don't think a mother could ask for any more from a child. We have such a great relationship. I want the world for you. I know how successful you will be. You have great people skills and you are very smart.
I hope you look back on your childhood with fondness, because I sure do. You are not a child anymore. You are a beautiful young lady with your whole life ahead of you. Do not let the world make you cynical. Stay who you are. I love you very much. I am excited for the next chapter of your life.

Love always,
Mom

You liked leopard print even back then

Trying to get laughs even as a baby

You were a baby super model

An exhibitionist even at this age

Always the daredevil

President Of The World

Making new friends by dancing to their music. These guys loved you

I want to go back to this day and just freeze you like this. You were so precious.

You helped cook the lamb at Greek Easter even though I couldn't go anywhere near it

You studied abroad in Thessaloniki, Greece

State Champs EVERY year and National Champs

You won many awards

Happy Graduation G!

Its "OK" Thursday 5/17



I am linking up again with with Neely: A Complete Waste of Makeup and Amber: Brunch With
Amber Click the button above to visit and link up too!

"Its OK"

- That during a long conversation with my sis, she told me some things that I wish she hadn't. Her ex boyfriend would wear his snuggy naked underneath with his butt hanging out.  Please pass the brain bleach.

- That my daughter dropped off my favorite grand baby at the babysitters. She got bitten by some little boy 4 times.  My first instinct was to get on a plane and rip out every single one of that little boys teeth.   I thought I was protective of my kids.....It is even worse with my little princess.

-That thanks to my beautiful daughter, I am now the proud owner of a Scentsy warmer and I am addicted to it.  I turn it on the minute I wake up!  Who is going to sell me my Scentsy refills when I need them?

-That with my husband away again, it is obviously junk food fest.

-That with my husband away, my dishwasher is full with mostly wine glasses.

- That with said wine in my system, I made my husband a video of me singing and dancing. At least I kept my clothes on. It must have been good because he asked for another video. No I will not post the video. I have pride.

- That being at my parents house reminds me of the movie "Groundhog Day". I can only take the same thing over and over again for about an hour and a half, after that, I get antsy.

-That I worked for four hours on Saturday and we sold over $3,000 in gift certificates in that amount of time. Not one woman, it was all men, waiting until the last minute.

-That I had to celebrate Mothers Day with my husband on Saturday because he had to leave for business Sunday. He is unbelievable in the way he takes care of me. It was probably one of THE nicest days out on Saturday when I got home mid afternoon. I came home to this, where we enjoyed drinks on the deck.

-That my husband was reluctant to give me the recipe for Cosmo's. He thought I wouldn't need him anymore. Is he crazy? I have to say, mine werent as good as his.

-That I finally watched the bachelorette last night. I genuinely like Emily, she seems like a sweetheart. I feel bad for her and the douchery that is sure to ensue this season. Why do some of these men look like they got their suits in the little boys department?

-That happy hour will commence around 1ish if I go out with my friend ShaSha today.

-That I only have to rattle around this house by myself for one more night! Yeah!

-That it is my daughters college commencement this weekend and I need to go buy some waterproof mascara.

-That  my husband is in Texas.  What would you do in Texas in your down time? You shoot a gun . They not only went to the gun range, they went skeet shooting too. He hit all of the targets and it was his first time doing it. Remind me not to make him mad.

Have a great Thursday!