Just chilling

I love summertime. 

I love the summer foods, the summer fruits, the summer colors, the summer clothes, the summer activities.......just EVERYTHING about summer (except the intense heat and humidity).

We've outgrown the cucumber, mint, and lemon or lime water.

We're trying this today instead.

Just chilling in our refrigerator is:

Jar #1:  Cutie slices, Strawberry slices, and Blueberries.

Jar #2:  Strawberry slices, Blueberries, and Cherry slices.

We'll see how it tastes.

I am such a lucky girl

I have come so far.

I think about that young little girl living by herself, trying to raise two little kids, and working at a job that was really great......it just didn't pay enough.

I remember crying at night and wondering how I was going to do it.  How I was going to take care of my boys.  And of course, you all know how much help I had from my ex.

Thankfully, my parents stepped in and helped where they could and my in-laws did what they could.

Now I am this older person and things are so much better.  I am so incredibly blessed to have married the perfect person for me.  To have kids that are off and building their own successful lives.  To have family in Tucson who are there for us no matter what.  And to have a successful business (even though it causes a whole lot of extra stress in our lives).

I sure have come a long way from that sad, scared and lonely little girl just trying to survive and be a good mother.

Sometimes it's nice to just sit and remember those days that molded you into the person you are today.

The debut of Memory Lane Monday

I was just scrolling through some of my posts, remembering things that we've done, and getting a smile on my face from the memory.

Then I came across this little beauty and it cracked me up.

Had to share it again.......it's a classic!

 I'll try and post a new picture every Monday that comes from my "vault".  I have so many darn picture and it's fun to go back and look at them here.  Someday I might actually get to putting them all in my scrapbooks again.  Ho hum........

Thank you Baby!

Not everyone is so lucky to marry the perfect person.  I didn't get it right the first time, but I sure did a good job the second time.

This man works his butt off.  He's at work right now covering for two employees who were stupid and got tossed in jail.  We both worked late last night covering for these same clowns.

Now he's so busy making pizzas he doesn't have time to answer the phone.  He transferred the calls to me and I'm taking orders.  Of course I'll help this guy out.

He loves me.  He loves me even though I'm not perfect.  He loves me and even puts up with my children.  He loves me and takes me on fun vacations.  He loves me and takes good care of me.

I just want him to know that I love him back.......and I love him even more when he's patient enough to let me take goofy photos of him.

This man is the best husband ever! 

Here's a sneak peek

Lots of pictures to share and of course the story of our journey to Miami.

Need to get it all posted here before I forget it.  Here's a few pictures to get you excited.....we took LOTS of pictures this trip.  Bet you're excited about that!

Enjoy!

Oh how I love being on vacation.  Although, I really need to work on not looking so much like an obvious tourist. 

We're kind of excited

We are t-minus 36 hours away from our trip.  Just got off the phone with my "better half" and we both declared that we are really kind of excited for this trip.

Now don't get us wrong.......we love going and visiting the family, but when we're off traveling by ourselves -- it's just a whole different thing.

Our last trip was to Tucson.  We loved being with our family, but there just wasn't enough time and sometimes the pressure of trying to fit in everyone, and trying not to hurt someone's feelings, and trying to be everywhere at once.....it gets stressful sometimes more than restful.

The trip before that was to Santa Fe.  Going and visiting Aaron is always fun.  I love watching how thoughtful he is about making sure that we have lots of fun things planned.  He knows that we're not the kind of people that like to visit and just sit around.......we like to be doing things and exploring new places.  He has always done a great job of entertaining us when we go and visit.

But the trips that I take with my husband alone are always packed with fun, excitement, surprise, and spending quality time with my best friend in the whole world.  It's easy for just the two of us to be out doing things.  It's comfortable.  There is not any stressed involved......we just "go with the flow" and do whatever looks like fun for that day. 

My husband has surprised me on many occasions by suggesting doing something that I had not thought of.  That's what makes our spontaneous vacations the most fun.

And this trip that we are planning on taking in the next few days, will be no exception.

Can't wait to share it with you.

My secret life as a travel agent

There really isn't much time to get work done when I have to be doing my other "full-time" job as the family travel agent.

We just got back from Tucson.....well umm....like 2 weeks ago and we've already got our new travel plans booked, bought, and paid for this weekend.

Original plans were for a road trip to Gainesville, Florida to look at ovens and then to Clearwater, Florida to see the GoGo's.  That fell apart last night when the guy we wanted to meet with was going to be out of town.

So the search began for the ultimate Gainor trip.  Lots to celebrate:  a FRIDAY OFF!  (that never happens unless it's a holiday and we have the day off) and WE SOLD OUR STORE!  Yay us.....we need a celebration and a trip!

We've looked at place, after place, after place searching for just that right spot that will be fun and exciting.

So is it a road trip?  Is it a cruise?  Is it flying?

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Okay.....it's a plane trip to Fort Lauderdale/Miami.  So we are still going to Florida......just a little different place.  We plan on partaking on seeing as much Jai Alai as we can, maybe driving down a little way through the Keys, and you know that concert we were going to see in Clearwater?  Well it just so happened it will be in Hollywood, Florida (which is right in between Miami and Fort Lauderdale) on Sunday night at a CASINO!  Oh yeah.......we just booked the most awesomest trip ever. 

But I've only got 2 more days to get everything done so I can get trip stuff packed.

Last trip for awhile though......I really need to stay home and get some work done :-)  ha ha ha!

P.S.  Not quite done with my travel agent job for today though, Aaron is calling me back later this afternoon so that I can help him find his tickets to Houston next week.  Life is busy.