Summer's Here

Summer has been here for at least a month weather-wise, however the neighborhood kids just got out of school this week, which to me means that it is officially summer. Since I have just had nearly 2 weeks off and I don't get vacation pay (because I guess they think we don't need it), the next several weeks or actually until I take my next vacation the end of July I will be working 4-5 days a week. I don't really like working 4 days a week and I despise working 5. So by the time I have worked my 14 shifts in June (I've already worked 2) and my 14 shifts in July, Summer will be almost over. However I will still make a bucket list for summer, even though I know it is going to fly by faster than fire flies, as you never know when I will be able to squeeze some fire fly watching in.

• Eat lots of sugar free popsicles from Aldi
• Organize something; maybe the pantry
• Try new summer recipe's
• Take a spur of the moment weekend trip somewhere fun and new
• Keep falling for Handsome Man
• Learn a new song on the piano
• Read President Monson's Biography (Got it for Christmas and have only read a bit.)
• Get someone to power-wash at least the moldy side of my house...it can't all be fun
• Find something new in the workout department. Sometimes you need to mix things up.
• Relax at least once a week at the Middlebrooks pool.
• Learn how to make a quilt or at least get started on cutting the squares
• Keep those toenails painted
• Take some of my favorite kids in my ward to a matinee
• Go with my girlfriends to The Help in August*Can't wait for this one!
• Get started on the annual Christmas book for mom and dad
• Blow bubbles with my nieces and nephews
• Make some major, life changing decisions...

Garage Make-Over

Mom and Dad are staying a bit longer than the others so of course they weren't getting away without helping me organize my garage. Remember back to my New Years Goals? I have now accomplished 1. I have worked the last 2 nights and came home to sleep for an hour before handsome man called. Oh, how lovely that was, even if I sounded like I was still sleeping, which I was. I couldn't go back to sleep and I knew mom and dad were getting started on the project so I got up to help, considering of course that it was my garage.

See the school supplies that I bought to donate for the start of last years school year?

Yes, I have my year or at least 6 months of toilet paper. You never want to run out of the good stuff.

Dad had already taken some of the junk out of the garage before I got I made him stop so I could take a picture of the before and after!

We worked a few hours, threw lots away, and with 6 hands doing the work it got done rather quickly. And the finished results...A new paint job would make it look better.

Don't you just love every thing hanging? I sure do!

That's my pot that still needs flowers in it. It'll happen eventually.

I think I could now park 2 cars in here. Maybe it's time to buy a new one.

I love baskets that organize my "things." And yes, that is the globe that my sister sent to me when I moved to CLT that I bought at a yard sale in Utah. Didn't ask for it, but she wanted to get it out of her house. I'm sure the movers charged me at least $50 to move it. I can't seem to toss it though. Mom put it in the basket. Not quite sure why.

The rest of the afternoon was spent at the Middlebrooks pool relaxing, book in hand, strawberry daiquiries, and lots of chatter. I think my parents actually quite enjoyed the way us southerners relax. Tonight mom made me a meat loaf. I have been requesting this for at least a year and I finally got it. It was so yummy. I have left overs and will use it this weekend when I get to work nights.

Brattonsville

This morning before Tenielle and Tanner left we went south to Brattonsville, which is one of my favorite things to do close by. It is a southern homestead where they use to have slave quarters and such. Much of the Patriot was filmed here.

This time was very warm and so we didn't stay hours like we had previous, but still had a good time. I love the magnolia trees. They smell magnificent and are so beautiful. You never see such in the west.

Of course they couldn't leave without having some BBQ so I took them to Billy Bob's, which is to die for. They all loved it of course because they have the sweet BBQ sauce and not just the vinegar based BBQ sauce. We sure had a great time. I'm glad that mom and dad get to stay a few more days.

Hilton Head Beach Trip 2011

Silly people, can you tell which foot is mine? It's the one needing a pedicure.

Last Friday mom, dad, Tony, Tanner, and Tenielle flew to Charlotte. That evening we had us a lovely southern storm. Friends of ours met us at my house and then we had dinner at this great diner in town. After dinner we went back to my house where we played cards and chatted. The next morning we headed to Hilton Head where I had a medical conference. I figure everyone else brings their families, why not me. My cousins who live in Alabama had planned on going to the beach that weekend in Alabama, but decided to meet us in Hilton Head instead; the more the merrier indeed.

Carson testing the waves.

There is something relaxing about walking on the beach, wind in your hair and waves crashing against the sand.

This was an awesome jelly fish,dead but still awesome.

We had a blast doing whatever we wanted, like lots of swimming, eating, basking in the sun, eating, reading, eating, walks on the beach, eating, lots of sitting around, eating, laughing, eating, being crafty, eating, relaxing, and eating some more. Emily is a great southern cook and we had our share of butter; because southern cooks use a lot of it. Of course I attended my classes for the first 5 days we were there, but they were only in the mornings, which gave me plenty of time to bask in the sun. We stayed only steps away from the beach which was fabulous. I will say it was quite hot and very humid most of the time, but that's to be expected and gave us the excuse to put our hair up.

Macie Clair having fun in the pool!

Wednesday Tony flew back to reality and so some of us drove to Charleston for the day. We really didn't have time to be tourists, but we did make the time to go to a lovely southern restaurant for lunch called Fleets Landing (I discovered this when I took my cousin Deborah to Charleston in the spring), where we enjoyed Crab Cake Sandwiches and Shrimp and Grits. They of course loved it; who doesn't love southern food?

Do you ever buy a shirt and wish you hadn't? Don't think I'll wear this one again. I look like a pink, fat flamingo.

Dad got the shrimp and grits which was to die for.

On our way back we stopped at a cute little place and got us some yummy southern boiled peanuts and cherry jam.

One day some of us also went to Savannah where we took a tour of the town, ate at another very southern place called the Pirates House, and about died from the heat and humidity.

Dad really got into the pirate theme!

Don't get me wrong I do love the south, but there are a few places where it is just too hot, Savannah and Charleston being two of them. We did have a lovely time touring Savannah. I love the sights and history there. We found us an awesome candy store, but just enjoyed the A/C and a few samples without buying anything, I know surprising given my sweet tooth.

I don't know what this fetish I have with doors, lamp posts, and windows lately is, but I found there were many different styles, colors and great photo ops in Savannah.

I love porches in the south. No wonder people rock at all hours of the day, even with the heat and humidity there is relaxation in rocking.

The last morning we had breakfast at my favorite diner in Hilton Head. They have the best cheesecake ever, so of course I had to get it to go. I could have just had it for breakfast, but brought a little piece of Hilton Head with me to Charlotte for later.We sure had a great time. Can't wait for our next beach vacation, when I don't know but I know there will be one again in the future.