YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE...

what I did this weekend. The Kendricks brothers from SBC have been at it again, and are preparing to shoot a new movie. Auditions were held on Saturday, and I went!! And, yes, I even auditioned. For a main role! Now those of you who know me are probably thinking, "What was she thinking???" From the first time I heard about the movie, I have felt that I was supposed to participate in this. Never before have I had any ambitions of being a movie star, and I have no theatrical experience. Thus...the audition was a flop. Of that I am certain. No call-backs for me. But that's okay. Maybe my purpose in auditioning was to make the next gal look really good! And I am perfectly okay with that. I'm certain there will be some way that I can be a part of the movie in a (much) smaller way. There's always the need for extra's. In the meantime, I have comfortably stepped back into my box, and have no plans to venture out anytime again soon...unless somebody's got a good idea for me?!?

UPDATE

You know, from time to time Oprah and Montel do shows where they re-visit past guests and topics, to give viewers an update. So I decided to join the ranks of the talk show hosts and do that on my blog. Here's the latest...

Hello? Is Ayone Out There - apparently, I'm still typing. I'm here as the long as the comments keep coming in.

Sleep Deprived - falling asleep at night is now no longer a problem. Instead, it's getting up on time that that's becoming a challenge. On Monday of this week, I overslept by almost an hour!

Confession is Good for the Soul - ummm, still an addict...

It's a Girls' Night In - when Clint was on duty last weekend, three friends and their girls came over for a High School Musical 2 premier pajama party. Fun times with the girls continue!!

America's Got Talent - and the winner is... Terry Fator. He's an awesome impersonator / ventriloquist, and definitely worthy of winning the million (if anybody is worth $1,000,000 that is). Our pick, Cas Haley, won 2nd place.

Kid-Free Weekend & Back to Status Quo - we're down to just one kid most of the time. It seems like Cassie is always off with volleyball or the BF or somewhere. Oh, the life of a teenager!! At least we have Riley to keep us entertained!

A Fond Farewell to Summer - School's back in full swing, complete with homework, lesson plans, phone calls from parents, and late nights grading papers. I did manage to squeak in some time to read a book in the pool this weekend though! :-)

Sick - all well now. 24 hours without any medicine. Praise the Lord!

I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!

August is a month jam-packed with birthdays in our family. We start with Cassie's at the beginning of the month, my mother-in-law's at the end, and a total of 9 cousins have birthdays somewhere there in the middle. It seems like every weekend we've been attending at least one birthday party. I haven't bought and wrapped so many presents in such a short period of time since Christmas!

Don't get me wrong - I love a birthday party!! I was disappointed that Cassie didn't want to celebrate with her friends this year. I love making the invitations, picking out the themes and decorations, planning the food, and all of the excitement that comes with it. I love singing "Happy Birthday" and watching the candles being blown out. I love to watch the gifts being opened and to see what everyone picked out.

I especially love MY birthday!! I love having a big fuss made over just me. Not because of any great accomplishment or achievement - simply because I'm here. I keep hinting that I want to have a real party to celebrate one of these years. Something like Putt-Putt or the bowling alley. Maybe I'll just plan it myself. I could keep it simple. Just close family and a few dozen friends. That wouldn't be too much to ask, would it?

Anyway, if I've missed you this month - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! And just in case you're wondering...mine's only 59 days away, but then...who's counting???

SICK

I feel like one of those bobblehead toys. My head feels so heavy that sometimes I can't hold it up straight. Stuffed up. Runny nose. Ah-choo!! Box of Kleenex at my side constantly. Red nose. At least my throat doesn't hurt...anymore. Sleeping on the couch - again. Daytime cold medicine. Nighttime cold medicine. Nose spray. Stuffed up. Runny nose. How can I have both at the same time??? Makes no sense to me. Then again, I'm the same girl who can't hold her head up straight. It's okay. I'll feel better...in a week or two. :-)

A Fond Farewell to Summer

Today is officially the last day of my summer. It has been a time to relax and take a break, and I have enjoyed it thoroughly. Here's what I will remember from this summer:

• A trip for two to Disney


• A girls' beach trip to SGI with the Baker family - thanks, Penny, for the invite!


• Starting my own blog, and stalking several others - thanks, friends, for the great reading material!


• Many hours floating in the pool, reading many good books (that's what I'll miss the most)


• Way too many turkey melt sandwiches


• A cookout for 30 or so family and friends who supported my two missionaries to Peru


• Countless trips back and forth to the UC to and from volleyball practices (that's what I won't miss at all!!)


• Thousands of Kinzcash dollars earned playing some fun games


• Lots of time just hanging out with Clint - rocking on the back porch, cruising in the Jeep, running into town on some errand or another, staying up late watching movies


• Sleeping until 10:30 a.m. (OK, so that's that's what I'll miss the most)


• Torturing Riley with Regis and Kelly episodes during breakfast

However, with all that said, I have a lot to look forward to as well. A new school year brings so many new opportunities - a new classroom, new subjects to teach, new ideas to try out, new school procedures and policies to try to follow (ugh!). Most of all, a brand new group of students to teach, to pull my hair out over, and to love. I'm thankful that God has placed me where I am, and that he has blessed me with the opportunity to mold these tender lives for the next 180 school days.

Back to Status Quo

Get your dirty clothes up off the floor --- whose flip flops are in the middle of the living room? --- breakfast??? it's 12:30!!! --- turn that tv off --- no, you can't watch a movie --- did you finish that book yet? --- yes, you have to make your bed AND brush your teeth --- don't forget to put on sunscreen --- the dishwasher needs to be unloaded --- hurry, or you'll be late for practice ---

Yep, the girls are back home, and I'm glad!!!

Kid-Free Weekend!!!

The girls left Friday afternoon going to Tampa with Clint's parents. We have the whole weekend to ourselves, and Clint actually doesn't have to work!! It's been kind of quiet, but peaceful too. Here's what we've been up to so far:

• Cruising around town in a friend's jeep while the oil was being changed in my car
• Swimming (or rather floating) in the pool with no fear of being splashed
• A trip to Maggie-Moo's for ice cream
• Book-buying splurge at BAM! where we ran into our friends the Nowack's and got to see their precious new baby Tyler
• Tried out a new Hawaiian chicken recipe for dinner (it was delicioso!!)
• Read in silence for hours on the couches
• Slept in until 10:00 a.m. this morning, with no real plans yet for the rest of the day

All was feeling wonderfully indulgent until Cassie called last night. After telling us about the fun things they had seen and done at Busch Gardens, she happened to mention that they were currently stuck in mid-air on a skylift ride. Several minutes later, Riley got on the phone. I could hear the fear in her voice. Before the end of the conversation, she was crying. All I wanted to do was give my baby girl a big hug. Yet she was 5 hours away, terrified, while I was reading blissfully on the couch. Thankfully they called back about 20 minutes later, safely in the car on the way to get something to eat. All's well with the world again. I know they'll have a great time during the rest of their stay, and Riley will have great story to tell all of her friends. Meanwhile, I've got some more reading to do...while I float in the pool...with no fear of being splashed!