My boys at Kate's recital

Every year, Kate has her annual dance recital. We missed a few years because Jim had a race the same day but it worked out for 2008!!!! It is SO adorable to watch Kate on stage and we enjoy heading to Augusta for a family weekend. Jim knows however that this recital is 3-4 hours long and though he loves to see Kate, it is a bit tough for him to sit through it all! We were prepared for the boys to get a bit antsy too! So, we took the Nintendo DS's for waiting and breaks only. We needed good seats so the wait is a bit long on top of the show length. I promise I didn't let them do this during the recital but here they are waiting for the start! I looked over and thought they were rather cute!

Kiersten

Welcome to the swamp!

Well, we survived Fay! You think I joke with the 'swamp' comment but really, I do live in a swamp! We are in a very rural part of Central Florida and we are surrounded by flood zones. The rumor is that gators wander from pond to pond (though I've never seen one ) and the bugs and frogs are louder than you can believe and we have no street lights or paved roads or public water. Deer wander through our property, you may have seen the lost Donkey post last month and horses and goats are everywhere! When I say 'rural', I mean it and we love it! It's quiet, we have space to play and do what we want and the area is full of laid back families.

We are 12 miles west of 95 so pretty darn close to the coast and when you saw the outer bands of the storm over Brevard County, we were not having fun. Now, those coastal areas are in a mess and there was major damage there. We are just in "OMG, this storm is NUTS" mode, though you will see below that some of our neighbors aren't so relaxed at this point. As the storm passes, all the water from those of us up higher will drain toward the lake and lower areas so unfortunately, these people are not done with this storm.

We bought 5 acres two years ago then built and moved in last year. We are 1 mile off of a huge lake, Lake Harney. SO many people asked us why we picked our lot, why not in a more easily accessible area or why not on the lake! Well folks, now I have pictures to show you. Of this entire area, about 90% of the lots are in flood zones. Ours is not. When I pulled MLS listings and sorted through them, 8 or 9 out of 10 listed always were thrown in the trash because it was wetlands every time I searched. There were areas we liked better but this was a 'set in stone' rule from my builder husband. We are "high and dry", but we still built in a swamp!

So we certainly got wet! I'll show you some of the houses around me first. All are within 1-3 miles of our house. Welcome to my local tour!!!

This house is a few lots from us.

This nice driveway is maybe 10 lots from us. That would be a 10 year old standing in this homeowner's only access to their new home. This family is not the homeowner, they were out touring and taking pictures just like me!

These houses are on the lake and here is the reason why we personally could not build here. The stress these families must feel when a storm is coming is not worth any view, in my opinion! These houses also were not in the bad area as obviously I could get to them. Most of the road is flooded and I can't imagine what those homes look like. The newer homes out here have learned and are built up higher but many homes are like these.

This is tough to make out but what looks on the left like the top of a car with no body, is what you see. The body is completely under water.

See his boat?

This is tough to see but you are looking down his driveway, through his carport and onto Lake Harney. This is right off of the lake and is a private airport that 18 homes have access to. They fly really cool (but I'm sure dangerous) planes with fun canvas looking wings and bright colors. Well, here is their runway!!! In a couple days I'm going to show you a new hanger they are building that has a secret door on it--it is so cool!!!!

Here's part of the road that the houses on the lake are on. Wonder how they are getting home? That's my Carter waving Hi, he went touring with me!

Now I end the tour with my property. This is from the road. You can kinda see my house behind all this.

Here is my pond. I'm actually liking this! It is a cool pond but not this big! It is stocked with Cat Fish and Blue Gill and the boys can't wait until the fish get bigger so they can go fishing. Jim usually rides his 4wheelers in a loop around the pond. You can see the grass inside the pond, well that is usually the outer edge. I wish it would stay like this!When we built, Jim built the house up quite tall. The property slopes and from the other side, it is what he refers to as "4 courses" high. I don't know if I got that right but I think that means 4 blocks of concrete high. It seemed excessive but these days make me realize how smart my husband is! Our pool house is lower as well as the barn and garage. We had to drain the pool 5 or 6 times to prevent it from overflowing so we still have some vulnerable spots but basically, if our house floods this entire area is a disaster. It was a nice feeling knowing water wasn't coming through any doors for sure. Our driveway is a bit fun too! Someday we plan to extend the concrete and days like this make us realize why we need to . . . It's just muck today!

I hope you enjoyed my little Fay hits rural Central Florida tour! This has been a long week so at least I have this to remind me of the craziness we have had. News reports said we got 12" of rain within 24 hours and it rained much longer than that so it was quite the downpour and our first storm here. It is late Friday now, it is still raining but it seems Fay has moved on and I hope we can put our pool deck back together this weekend!

Kiersten

First Day of School!

I am thrilled that school is back in session! I thrive in stability and needed a set schedule to resume! Here are the boys on their first day! I, of course, have many pictures of them just standing and posing but one is smirking or squinting or frowning or looking away. For some reason, the only time they appear to both be happy is when they are messing around. Yes, welcome to my life. This is how they always are! So stability resumes only to have what happen? School was canceled day #2, #3 and #5 of the first week! And day #4 should have been canceled instead of those three but I won't get started on that . . . We were in the midst of Fay, the wild storm that sat near us for what felt like forever! I plan to take some pictures of our area later today. We are thankfully not in a 'devestated' area but just one that got tons of rain, probably some flooding for a few folks and just a MAJOR storm for this area.

So as I type this on the Friday of the first week of school, my kids are watching TV and just hanging out! There's always next week . . .

Kiersten

Starwars Party Ideas

A friend of mine asked me for ideas for a toddler Starwars party. I held one for my then 4 year old a couple years ago but must admit I did not do too much in regards to Starwars as it was a water party. BUT, my invitation was cute! Here is a photo of the scrapbook page it is on above, pardon the flash glare. It says

Four years ago,

in a galaxy

far, far away,

Jedi Carter was born.

Now you too have been chosen,

to train to become a jedi.

The starwars mission

will take place in

the Galaxy of Torcaso park on August 6th at 2 p.m.

Water Training is required

So future jedis

must wear waterproof stormtrooper

uniforms

It is your

destiny . . .

to come to

this party.

If you have seen the movies, you know this is the format of the opening lines and all you do is keep changing your font as you go.

Our party was at a little water park so I gave out blow up swords found online that we called "lightsabers" and for a 'goody bag' I wrapped each child's trinkets in a big blob of tin foil and then gave them each their "astroid" as they left. They loved that actually! And of course we did a cake with a starwars theme. Otherwise, they played in the water.

If you are doing this at your home, you could plan for "jedi training" and set up lots of different Jedi centers whether it's a craft or a game. There is Starwars music so get it on your ipod and having it playing during the party or at least as they enter!

Some center suggestions would be:

• Make a lightsaber (cut pool noodles in half and use different electrical tape for the handles) or decorate a lightsaber if you buy basic ones
• Some type of race but have them be rockets or pods or something Starwars inspired. They could pretend they are a ship and give themselves a ship name.
• Lightsaber training. An adult teacher them different moved and gives those moved fun names.
• Duel with darthvader. An adult in costume or a punching bag with a mask.
• Play Stormtrooper says using their lightsabers. Having an adult in costume would help make this exciting. Stormtrooper saying to raise your lightsaber with your right hand, etc.
• Make their own name tags with Starwars stickers
• Alien face painting
• Pin the Saber on the Jedi
• pinata but have them use their own lightsabers
• Astroid hunt--wrap candy in tin foil and play just like an easter egg hunt or make it harder for older kids with clues

Okay, those are just a few ideas since I have ALL the time in the world while I'm sitting here watching Faye rain, rain and rain on me! If you ever need birthday party ideas, I'd love to share but I will tell you that THE experts are at http://www.birthdaypartyideas.com/ ! Basically, anyone who is proud of a party they threw writes out every single thing they did. It's hard to sort through it all there is SO much information but if you can tolerate reading a lot, you will find great ideas!!!

Kiersten

A Twin Is Having Twins!

I have been so sick that I haven't been able to blog. The Kim Twin is having twins! This may just be the miracle I've been waiting for. I have always pictured myself as a mother of 4. We had our son in 98 and our daughter 26 months later. We immediately (really, she was only 3 months old) tried to get pregnant with #3 because I wanted to have my 4th by the time my oldest was in kindergarten. That was THE PLAN. Well, 4 years later and a ton of clomid later, nothing. We were told we couldn't get pregnant, I had no progesterone in my body. They called it secondary infertility and we moved forward thankful for the 2 we had. Magically in 05 I became pregnant only to miscarry. In 07 I became pregnant only to miscarry after being DOPED up on progesterone. We were then told NOT to get pregnant. "Your body will not accept progesterone and you CAN NOT sustain a pregnancy." Well, 13 months later, I am pregnant. We are praying hard. At first I was very nervous and felt I was doomed for a 3rd miscarriage, all the while praying and wishing. Once I heard it was twins I immediately thought "Ah, God is rewarding me for my patience and all those painful memories will have a happy ending!!!"

So, here I am, 8 weeks pregnant....feeling hopeful, taking progesterone which is awful, feeling like I need a million prayers, feeling as sick as a woman can feel, praying I stay sick since that means I'm still pregnant & praying Spring comes quick and I see 20 little beautiful toes.

Autism is a myth

This is my son James and he is on the autistic spectrum. It's just something that "is" and isn't much discussed. Well, until this morning when I heard my boys fighting. James was yelling at Carter. Carter was speaking calming but he was obviously annoying James. So I called them downstairs to discuss what was going on and James begins yelling "Carter says autism isn't real". Carter interrupts and says no, "I said autism is a myth. I just don't believe in it". I asked why and he then explained how you can't see it and it's not on tv so it's not real. Oh boy. So then I started listing other medical terms that they will grow up learning about and asked if they are real like heart disease and lung cancer and diabetes. My point was for them to say they weren't sure so that I could say 'they are real and just because they aren't on your tv shows doesn't make them not real' but diabetes caught me since they apparently know all about this from a Jonas Brother? Anyway, I explained to Carter that this is something that James was born with and it's part of his brain and you can't see it. They both wanted to know how to make it go away. Good question. I guess I'll need to provide some more information for Carter and it's no wonder James struggles with his friends at school when his own brother doubts this confusing 'thing' that you can't see.

James is the sweetest 9 year old ever and had so much fun making a gingerbread house at Aunt Kim's last December. I don't remember this little girl's name but she is one of Kim's friend's daughters and she was SO sweet and friendly to let James help with her house. There is nothing I think parents can instill more in their children that the ability to accept other kids for what they are and be a friend regardless and this little girl was a prefect example of that!

Fall is Coming

I am so excited that school starts this week! That means that fall is coming! Fall is my favorite time of year. The weather is gorgeous, the colors are classic, the food is a bit richer and more decadent, it's not rainy like spring is in Florida and the clothes are just my favorite! Here is a picture of my mother and I eating appetizers last fall, what is better???

Here We Are, July 2008

We went on a cruise with 7 other girls that we have known since we were little! We had a great time!!

It's a Pirate Party!

While I'm talking about parties and a treasure themed PTA event, how can I not show you my treasure cake for my son's Pirate Party! Again, this is a while ago, I think 4 years ago. FIRST, you must realize which twin is typing here. Kim is the baker/caterer/master of all things food. I'm the crafty girl who sews! I have my talents but it's not in the kitchen. Designing a kitchen, that's me, using it's appliances and tools, not so much. Oh, here, I'll show you this. This is my hood in my kitchen--doesn't this tell you I don't cook??



It says "Kiersten's Kitchen, -chef wanted".


Okay, so now that I've prepared you correctly that you should not have any expectation from me in the kitchen, I hope you will appreciate the only birthday cake I have ever made! Here is my treasure cake!



See the crack through the treasure chest? I hope you think it was meant to be there. But it wasn't. I had a friend over through the entire assembly and she had to take over a few times as I couldn't even spread the frosting without getting crumbs in it. But the vision was all mine! I am GOOD for a vision but BAD for actually executing anything that has to do with an oven!

Okay, three posts in one day! I'm so proud!!!

Kiersten

PTA Welcome Back Teacher Breakfast

So I'm in crazy mode right now with my first event for PTA this year. I'm such a sucker with volunteering that not only did I agree to take on this very busy position for the 2nd year but someone else really really wanted to do it and I, along with my partner Kay, put our claim on it and insisted we do it! We are a little crazy like that.


So next week is my first event for the year. It is a tough one because it is before school starts and I have to juggle my kiddos while cooking, decorating, setting up and cleaning up! We do our first event around the school's theme which is "Wild about Reading" this year. There are many directions that you can take the theme "Wild" but the school is going with the Camo/wild outdoors theme since we live in a rural area. I'm having fun with that theme and will show you that once it's over and I have pictures!


Last year, the theme was "Reading for Treasure" and here are a few pictures of our set up. The treasure boxes are from my son's bedroom and the map I made in front of the TV with some ink pads and a marker. The boat belongs to the school's past principal who passed away from a long fight with cancer the year before. It meant a lot to the staff that it was worked in to the start of their first year without her and it was a nice touch.
Here's another view of that area showing the oars. The flowers were in black plastic as they had been in the boat but we had to take some out. Kay grabbed paper towels from the bathroom and wrapped them--talk about quick improvising!

We set up a coffee bar elsewhere but the rest of the drinks were at one end with the hot food at the other. Here is the entire table. The little boat by the drinks is filled with tea and cocoa packets and topped with a tray of mini marshmallows.


Each table was reserved for a grade level or a group within the school as this breakfast is a meeting as well. We couldn't do a treasure theme without giving each teacher and staff member a little something so I made 70 of these tags. Making one was easy but I was regretting it by the end of this project-it took me hours! They loved them though so it was worth it!

I'm excited that next week is my last year of serving breakfast so early the week before school starts but am also looking forward to a fun year with this position. Kay is awesome and we work great together and it's a great school so it is worth it!!

So perhaps instead of writing about this event, I should be working on it? I work great under pressure so I'm sure I'll keep blogging!


Kiersten

Spongebob Square Pants Birthday Party

I have started using Creative Memories Memory Manager and LOVE IT! It makes organizing your digital photos very easy. I am finding pictures that I haven't seen in years and now they are at my fingertips. There are things that are very "pre-blog" but I thought they would be fun to share so I figured, why not? One would be some simple ideas for a Sponge Bob Square Pants Birthday Party. We did this for my son James several years ago.

The kids craft was "Make your own Sponge Bob!" We set out yellow sponges, pre-cut yellow pipe cleaners, googly eyes, black pompoms, black marker and felt in brown, red and white. You'll have to decide how easy you want to make it. If the kids are young, it is helpful to precut the felt for the pants, shirt and tie and an adult should then perhaps be in charge of the marker! All these items are quite simple and easy to grab! We premade one for an example and then let them at it--it amused them for quite a bit and they all loved taking them home!

At another table, we had premade star sugar cookies, frosting dyed in pink, green and purple and mini M&Ms. What's all this for? Their own Patrick of course!!! We set out a very high end container for them to use to hold their Patrick, coffee filters! Just like the Sponge Bob project, I premade one for them to use as inspiration. Some tried to make Patrick, others just loaded on the frosting and M&Ms and ate it. Either way, it was a hit!

This took up the first hour while everyone arrived and mingled, then we ate and the kids played and we ended the party with a cake and pinata. Simple but with a few fun, unique things and the party was a hit!!!

Kiersten

When Does a Quarter=$615??

We have had ongoing dryer issues for a few months now. It is a good dryer; here is the type we have because others that own this should know all about this too!! Though anyone can have this issue.

Here's the run down of events:

The ‘power failure’ (shows PF on our machine) warning came on in April. The service company that we called said it was electrical, not the machine—paid him $145.

The electrician came and moved the machine around, checked the plug, tweaked the electrical panel and moved the machine back and viola, it worked—paid him $85.

Fast forward to July and it happened again. This time we started with the electrician first. Seemed obvious right? Well, he’d tweaked all he could and found nothing wrong so sorry but I don’t know what it is—paid him $85.

So then we called the service company again. He at first said it must be the electrical but when we argued about the electrician already coming and looking at it, he said he’d investigate further. Well, he opened up the inside of the machine and laughed. He then proceeds to show me all the money in the mechanisms of my machine. Like 9 coins!!!! Two coins were lodged in with the electrical connectors and one quarter in particular was the issue. Well, wait, lets back up, the ISSUE is really a husband who can’t take his change and screws and business cards out of his pockets! Okay, so the repair man takes the quarter out of the electrical connector and look at this quarter!! Who knew a quarter could burn????? He handed it to me and said “here’s your expensive souvenir”. Yikes.

So he takes the money out but surprise! It still doesn’t work. The surges from the coin and shock to the system have crashed the main power board. So he replaced it and now it works—paid him $300!!!!!!

He said this was probably the same issue back in April but our moving the machine around jiggled it enough to let it work for a while. $615 and ALL of this for a quarter! So I figured out the start of the joke “When does a quarter=$615?” But I don’t know the actual punch line. Regardless, it’s not really funny now is it?

Here are things I learned about this issue as well as some washer issues:

-Many dryers let money get out of the drum and into the mechanisms but these frontloaders allow it to happen more often—it just slips right through the filter and the electrical is right below. SO, avoid all coins and also don’t let your filter get too full. I started a fire in another dryer by washing a dry clean only rug that just broke apart into lint years ago so I can speak on this too. Ha! As in, flames and extinguisher kind of fire. Yup. My husband was as amused with me then as I am with him right now.

-Screws and nails can fall through the holes in the washer, which is something that my husband also leaves in his pocket, and then as the drums spin, it will slice electrical lines and slash the outer drum in the washer that holds the water. Uuummmmm, that sounds expensive.

-Who gets a musty smell in their washer? I do! I thought I’d bug him with questions while he was working and he said that all front loading machines get some odor but some can be worse if your water isn’t great. I have a well so there ya go. Because of the high efficiency and low water levels, the machine gets a build up and never really rinses off. They sell tablets that you can use but that hasn’t worked long for me. Not only are they expensive but I have also ordered them online since they are hard to find. That’s time consuming on top of costly. So here’s his tip: Once a month put cascade dishwashing powder in the machine and run it on whitest whites or your longest wash. He said it doesn’t sud so no problem. It cuts grease and breaks down the lime build up and removes the issue! I will try that soon. Once I’m done catching up on all my laundry that is!

I always thought that the problem with coins in pockets is that it is ANNOYING to listen to, I had NO idea it was a risk to the machine and an obvious safety hazard! Show this to your husbands!

Kiersten

Builder Jim

Have I introduced you to my husband? We'll call him Builder Jim. He's a residential contractor and he works very hard. And he also plays very hard. This is a white shirt. What else can I say? I stay inside and drink wine when he's acting like this but even I, who avoid all things dirty and boyish, have to venture outside to get a photograph of this. This was many weeks ago. I just did laundry today and saw that this guy actually washed this shirt. I assume he's worn it again too because it was in the clean laundry today. That's ridiculous. We can afford a new tshirt, no problem. I threw it away. Don't tell him. I'm sure he's proud of how stained it is. I can find lots of pristine, dressed up pictures of my husband but if we are going to be real on this blog and speak of our real lives , then here it is--my husband at his happiest!

I don't like it, but I do like him happy so I deal. The next time he puts on a golf shirt and gets a manicure, I'll photograph that too . . . but don't hold your breath.

Kiersten

Dental Makeover, here we go!

Here are the first pictures of what I am sure will be a long dental process for my 9 year old. His upper jaw is not big enough for all his teeth! Before we even get into braces, he will have to have an expander to widen his jaw and then some other appliance to pull his upper jaw forward. I'm sure this won't be fun. Here he is the day they did his records and his "before" dental molds.

Kiersten

Bye Bye Appendix

I have never broken a bone or had a stitch, I just don't have 'medical' issues. So waking up to this insane PAIN in my tummy was odd. I was sure I had food poisoning or something nuts as this was not your normal "upset tummy". So I lie around all day and literally took 8 naps--umm, that should have been a sign right? By 6 pm the pain had all moved to my lower right side, right inside the hip bone. My friend Kay had just had the good ol' Emergency Appendectomy and I had listened carefully to her symptoms and became alarmed for myself. I went to the ER and by 2 am was told I indeed needed surgery ASAP. I was home by noon the next day, though rather pathetically!

My sweet bunko babes sent me flowers so here I am smiling for a picture so I could email them a thank you! This was about 5 hours after surgery. I had quite the set up with my laptop and phone and remote. This was not much fun, but for emergency surgery, it wasn't so bad and I was moving by Friday! Not quickly or gracefully but I was moving.

Kiersten

Oops, I guess I've been neglectful.

Okay, I'm here! Yes, a few weeks later. See, I had to recover from all the kiddos at my house! While Kim was pointing out what a slacker I am, I was doing this! I kind of love how the two in the back of the cart are in a seatbelt while the others are just sitting in a trailer. We refused to let them get off their bottoms though, we're cautious like that.

This is how we play here in Rural Florida! See, Kim is in Augusta (home of The Masters) and this is so NOT how they use golf carts there. And the brand of this cart is also an issue as it is not their cart of choice, but it belongs to my friends. We went there to play and do a bit of yard work. In neighborhoods, you help others plant flowers on porches and talk about if someone's tree is dropping leaves in someone else's yard or whisper about the person who never edges at the sidewalk. In rural areas, we talk about things like when it might work out for us to come over and help with our Bobcat or the best way to catch moles or how many deer will come through your yard soon or the lastest lost pets that roamed through your front yard.

It was 7 am and the boys just woke up for school and this is what they saw in the front yard! How fun is he?? Within the hour, the owners came and got him. Yes, he is someone's pet! We have lived in our rural area for a year and we've had lost horses and lots of wild cats roaming our property, along with deer. But he was the most fun! Yesterday, there were chickens here! We don't even own a dog, truth be told, so this is quite amusing to us! You know you are in a rural area when instead of seeing signs that say "Lost dog", you see "Lost goat"!

So, I promise to blog more! I'm the bad twin but I will do better I swear . . . . .

Kiersten

Happy Fourth of July

My contribution to a pot luck 4th of July Celebration. Yummy

That Chick On The Right Is A Slacker!!

I'm on the left. I'm a busy girl but I'm at least trying to blog. Aren't you proud of me? That crazy chick on the right...slacker...that's the other twin. She's just as busy as I. However, she's not trying as hard is she? As I post this my two kids are at her house trashing it and causing her to work extra hard while I sip wine. But......still.......

Oh, that cute chick in the middle...our sister-in-law. She was brave to marry the twin's brother. We try not to meddle too much and we try not to out talk her...she can hold her own. ;)

Let's see how long it takes Kier to see this post....he he he. I'm gonna sip my merlot now.

Oh...I should add...I tell Kier everything...I'll likely mention this tomorrow.

Perfection, Adorable Perfection

I am simply smitten with my children. You always know you're going to love your children. I guess I just didn't realize I'd be so impressed, amazed, and so proud of these little creatures I, we, created. It's fairly incredible.....they are wonderful children, beyond wonderful. They astound me actually. I could list all the qualities that they exude but it would be a long list! They share so many qualities yet they are so different at the same time. I thank God for them everyday, I love being their mommy.

Oh, since my husband is in this picture I should mention that I'm smitten by him as well, still. I hand picked him so of course I'm smitten. ;)

The word blessed is an understatement yet I can't think of a better word. Cheesy post of the week. ;)

We've been in our house for 1 year!

We had a great party! You know it's a great party when you forget to take pictures right? I wish I had more. I have one with 2 great friends, Dawn and Tracy. If you knew Dawn, you would know why we are holding her hands. Love you Dawn!!


I also like how only 1 of the 3 candles in the background are lit. Isn't that another sign of a good party, when the candles burn out on their own? I think it was a hit!

Kiersten

Last Week Of School....Why Bother?

My mommy is a teacher, so is my mom-in-law. I want teachers to have a break, they deserve it, they work hard. It's the last week of school. I understand that not much teaching is going to go on this week and I understand that there are logistical details to take care of.

My daughter came home 2 days prior to school being out to tell me that all the desks in her room are gone. For the next two days she won't have a desk. She'll hang out on the floor all day? She's a little thing, 1st grade, so I'm all for circle time and such. But all day? Why send her? I'm thinking she's not learning a thing. There's no reason to remove desks from a classroom that is in use by children and I can't be alone on this.

I say teachers should infuse fun into school the last week of school but should still have a little bit of instruction time and I certainly think my child should have the privilege of having a desk the entire school year, not just most of the school year.

The History of Kim Hankins Via Concerts

I like music more than the average person. I just saw Garth on TV & it reminded me that I saw him in concert. I thought I'd list all the concerts I've seen. I"ll have to ask my girls (the 12 pack, my high school friends) which ones I forgot.

~WHITNEY HOUSTON, Jonathan Bulter opened. Our first concert. Amazing, it was during her "I Want To Dance With Somebody" days.
~STEVIE B in Miami. Crazy, it was so hot the firefighters were hosing us down and causing trips to the hospital because they were pointing it too close and burning people with the pressure.
~MILLI VANILLI. My proudest moment, really. This was such a excellent concert!
~NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK. "Oh oh oh oh oh..." If you don't understand this, I can't be your friend.
~DEBBIE GIBSON.....twice. I loved this chick. She had an all white stage and I just loved her!
~JODY WHATLEY. All the guys at our high school loved her so we called her a naughty name, we were jealous.
~ MICHAEL W SMITH. I loved Christian music even in high school & I loved him!
~AMY GRANT. She sang Friends with my friend Michael, awesome.
~PETRA. I don't remember loving them, but they were at Night of Joy (Disney for you non-Florida folks) and I always went.
~DEPECHE MODE. This was the night prior to graduation practice & we girls went with college boys. We should not have been allowed to go. They were fantastic but I saw lots of naughty stuff.
~METALLICA. Awesome, a very great day in my life, huge party prior to this concert.
~GUNS N ROSES. Awesome.
~FAITH NO MORE. It was scorching hot in Orlando's arena and we were losing our buzz, this was miserable. I vividly remember misery.
~GEORGE MICHAEL. We had awesome seats and he was so great. We pulled over to hairspray our hair again before we got to the concert, were we hoping George would notice us?
~DEF LEPPARD. The concert was "In The Round" I love them but they were too produced and not as exciting as we had hoped.
~BILLY JOEL. Piano Man. College. AKPsi. Perfect.
~ELTON JOHN. It rained, awesome though.
~GARTH BROOKS. Dinner in downtown Orlando then a horse and carriage ride to the concert. Great night. I'm from Sebring Florida, Friends In Low Places has special meaning to my life
~CRANBERRIES. The soundtrack of my life in 94. However, they stunk. She did everything slow for fear of moshing at The Edge. Moshing. Hilarious.
~COUNTING CROWS. Anna begins, phenomenal.
~WEIRD AL YANKOVIC. Is this music or comedy? I did not pay for this concert but I am child of the 80s and this may prove it.
~HOOTIE AND THE BLOWFISH. About 5 times. Fun when he's in a good mood.
~NICHOLE NORDEMAN. Oh, love her. I had never heard "I Am" prior and it's now a song I listen to all the time.
~COLBIE CAILLAT. My princess and I love Colbie. Any concert on a golf course with good weather is perfect.

~JOSH KELLEY. Katherine Heigl's husband and a very good singer!
~CELINE DION. Went to Vegas just for her. She's seriously beyond amazing. No one can top Celine. If you argue with me, you are simply wrong.
~BB KING. Eric and his dad like him. I'm amazed he is still singing. I will admit this was not an exciting concert but I had a great day with Eric and his parents and it was awesome to see someone so talented.

These are not in chronological order. I'm a bit fuzzy, I'll admit it. I know I'm missing many. That's why I'm making this list...so I won't forget. :) I just read this list to my husband and he agrees that I'm forgetting a lot of college concerts...things from Gator Growl and UCF Homecomings and such. I need to keep thinking.

My biggest regret in life: I didn't see Madonna. I can't believe I didn't see her! I just asked my girls why we missed it, Tia reminded me that Madonna was pricey even in the 80s. We were spoiled but not that spoiled. Good point.

Mom & Dad...you're perfect. I can't believe I saw all those concerts back when I made no money. ;)

In my spare time . . .

I love a good event! For that reason, I decided that I'd love to throw parties for free! Yes, if you are a busy body Mommy, you have probably guessed it, I am Hospitality Chair for PTA. I actually co-chair with someone who is awesome and that helps but it is still lots of work.

I love a great theme! For this year's Teacher Appreciate luncheon, we decided to do a Mexican Fiesta! So what does a busy working mommy with little spare time for this decide to do? That's right, build a margarita bar! Of course! Luckily, I have a builder for a husband so I will admit, I just designed the structure and he built it for me. Our favorite employee is amazing with a saw and 2x4's so this was a nice break for him. Then I spray painted it and shopped for fun stuff to cover it with a Viola, Margarita Bar! We had a 'bartender' there throughout the entire 3 hour event serving regular and strawberry 'margaritas' along with lemonade. It was lots of fun!

I and my awesome partner are taking on this position for one more year and then I will need an easier job!!

Happy Mother Day From The Twins

"Mom...I've got issues"

My little ballerina went on a playdate today. She got in my car and said "mom, I've got issues" in a very sassy (yet cute) tone. I said "what honey" and she said "my friend has TWO tvs in her room and one of them is a FLAT SCREEN and she has a BATHROOM in her room and I have none of that and it's not fair". I later figured out that the child has her own room with a tv and her own playroom which is the location of the flatscreen.

I'm not one to judge (ha ha, that was funny) and everyone can raise their children how they would like. But, come on, you're making it hard on the prudent parents don't you think?!! This is the same year that my daughter wrote a note to the tooth fairy to tell her $1 was not enough because all of her friends are getting webkinz for a lost tooth and she didn't want money, she wanted a webkinz.

Naturally, I told her that we thought tvs weren't for bedrooms and I didn't have a tv in my room until I married daddy (the truth...I didn't have a tv in my room until I lived with daddy) and she didn't need one now. I told her I'd her buy one for college. The bathroom....since we only have 2 kids I bet she'll have her own bathroom as a teenager...but I did not tell her that. ;)

-Kim

The Fairest Of Them All

I showed land today and got a sunburn....it's Monday morning. I went to my office & 3 people were in the lobby and one said "did you go to the beach??" Ha Ha...."no"....I patiently replied. I simply have no ability to tan and I stood outside looking at dirt for 20 minutes and I now look like I've been to the beach. People that tan have no idea how hard it is for us white folk. I say white...but come on, we're pink. :) I won't even go into our ability to blush even when we're not at all embarrassed, it happens hourly...I just blush if I think or don't think or whatever and I'm sure people wonder why, there is no why except I'm pink and go from light pink to dark pink daily. I'm sure people think I'm easily embarrassed, that's not it, I just turn pink easily. :) I prayed my children would not get my skin tone, my oldest has daddy's tan complexion but this one came out hot pink. ;) The only thing we have going for us is that when 'they' call us "The Fairest Of Them All" they are correct. ;) I have that written on my pink daughter's wall "You Are The Fairest Of Them All". She is and I am. as well.

-Kim

Hey Y'all....Paula Deen

My friend Gwenn & I went to Atlanta to the Metro Food & Entertaining Show. Paula was there. We had great seats (4th or 5th row I suppose?). Her sons are adorable and hilarious. They made 3 recipes...each with mayo. She made 3 recipes as well (well she spoke and her husband make the food). She made the orange brownies I had made for guests just the night prior...I thought that was quite a coincidence! I'm brilliant!! (ha ha)

Paula is just as funny and cute and as sweet as I thought. She was quick on her feet when she let the audience ask her questions and she was simply hilarious. One lady in the middle of the auditorium wanted one of her brownies and asked Paula to throw it. Paula did but it didn't go nearly as far as that lady wanted. Then the lady yelled "harder Paula!!" and Paula died laughing and moved on. Someone else made her a CD with a stick of butter on the cover. She truly impressed the crowd when Smithfield workers (her sponsor and a company that has union issues now) came up to her and yelled "Miss Paula" and Paula said "yes" and one of the girls said "how do you feel about how Smithfield treats its workers?!" Paula was definitely shaken for a moment and had to think for a minute. Then she said "Y'ALL...I'm not your chef, I'm your cook. I'm YOUR cook. I'm not your doctor. I'm your cook...not your politician". Everyone yelled and cheered for her, about 7 cops came out and the Smithfield girls walked off and she went on being funny and adorable. It was a GREAT two hours.

Prior to seeing Paula & her sons we shopped at the expo and learned about clingvinyl (brilliant) and went to the "Wine, Beer & Spirits Tasting" (you have to pay to get entry and it was well worth it). We didn't want beer or spirits but quickly found the wine area. There was a very nice man there serving tiny sample sizes and we said "we like wine, we're with you". That sold him, he loved us. Forget the sample sizes, he was filling us up every time. We had a wonderful wonderful wonderful time! I love Paula.....and Gwenn. ;)

-Kim

Bye Bye sewing machine

One thing I do for a living is sew. It was a BIG deal when my good old singer sewing machine broke while finishing a job. Of course I was at a client's house with a deadline. I rushed to Joanne's and bought a new one. Who knew that new machines have a self threader??????

My new machine is very similiar to my old one as they are both Singers. The bobbin is the same and it was quite simple to use. I taught myself how to sew out of sheer frustration at the cost of high end pillows and window treatments. I knew how much fabric cost and knew I could pull it off. In no time I was sewing for others. I enjoy it and love the creative process of finishing a project and learned with no 'bells and whistles'--I just sew straight lines! So I call my Mom to tell her that "my" sewing machine died. Which was her sewing machine. Which she then tells me that when I was in middle school, she bought it from the school's auction and that this machine was a cast off from 80's home ec classes--it wasn't good enough for 12 year old to hem dad's old pants on! Seriously. She thinks it was new in the 70s! And this is how I started my sewing career? It's funny right? A bit pathetic too but still, pretty funny!

The Most Thoughtful Home I've Ever Seen

Y'all know I'm a Realtor, right? I just showed a home that, for a moment, took us by surprise until my clients and I figured out that we were looking at the home of the nicest and most thoughtful man alive.

We enter the large laundry room. The washer & dryer are normally on the ground, as you know!! In this home, the dryer is on a very high platform, built in and tiled to match the floor. The dryer, on it's platform, is to the far left, by a wall. Then the washer is to the right and then next to that is another platform, not as high as the dryer platform with a laundry basket on it. We stared. It was a high end home given the price and size so we expected a traditional laundry room. I finally figured it out. This super husband built the platforms so his wife could lift the laundry from the hamper to the top loading washer without bending. Then she could take the wet clothes from the top loading washer and put them right into the front loading dryer without bending...all because of the platforms. We were impressed. Then we turned around and noticed he had taken a table and hinged it to the wall so it could fold down for folding and go back up for easy storage. We ventured upstairs. You know those little lights that come on when it's dark, they are flat and you can buy them at Lowes?? Well, he had two each on every stair, perfectly lined up. It wasn't the prettiest thing aesthetically in a home like this.....but boy is it thoughtful! THEN we entered a room and my client said "uh, Kim, what is this?" and I looked. He turned a bedroom into a dance studio for her. He laid hardwood in the center of the floor (with carpet on the perimeter) and she had a large mirror and there was a disco aerobics cd on top of her cd player which was right next to her work out bike. She has a whole room just for disco aerobics!! In the master, he took out part of the hanging area in the closet to give her a make up room. She had built ins for her curling iron and hair dryer, it lit up as you walked into the closet and it had hollywood lighting like ever queen deserves. Oh, every closet, even the pantry, lit up when the door opened. I could go on.....every room had a special touch to make her life easier!

This woman is living her dream! It was not the perfect home for my client but we all agreed that no man could love a woman more. Oh...if you're interested in the home...the flat screen is free. He put the flat screen in (yes 'in') the wall and put wood trim around it, I assume his queen preferred that look and now he can't take his tv. What a husband!

-Kim

Kim's Most Favorite Thing of 2008

Wicked could not have been better. I hate to sound like a crazed fan....but I am in love with Wicked!!!! The people that wrote the book and later the play are brilliant & I adore them!! I loved this show! I can't believe how dark the book was compared to the humor infused in the show. It was hilarious. Go see Wicked if you grew up watching Wizard of Oz. I think you'll miss out if you don't see it. I have twin flying to New York this year to see it (I kid not).

"It's good to see me, isn't it? No need to answer, that was rhetorical."-Glinda

"I happen to be genuinely self absorbed and deeply shallow" -Fiyero

"Something's Wrong, I didn't get my way" -Glinda

"I'm so happy I could melt" -Elphaba

"Magic Wands. Must they have a point?" -Glinda

-Kim