Our Very Own Waterpark

So, Ellabee's been begging to go to the water park or at least the pool but the thought of having them both at the pool by myself really stresses me out - I really think it's unsafe. So, when Tim came over for an afternoon playdate, I put them outside with about 12 feet of butcher paper and washable paints. Little did I know that very little paint would end up on the paper, but that they would paint themselves... "we want to be monsters, mommy" was the explanation.

So, from monster costuming to the hose to wash off, to "hey, we could rig the hose up to the rocket slide and make a water slide" to Mommy inserting, "let's put the pool at the bottom so you can go into water and not into rocks" to about a hour of pure enjoyment.

Monster Pals

Tim takes a swing at the water slide idea.

And of course, there she goes!

Who needs Toys

So, I had the 90th Anniversary at Camp this weekend and had to ferry items to Pell City (or the City of Pell as our esteemed Mayor calls it) and so the car seats had to come out. Apparently, the car seats provided two hours of pure enjoyment for the Stone girls. I need to file that one away in my "Wow, is there REALLY four more hours until bedtime?" file.

I think it should also be noted that the girls are buckled in here. I'm wondering how long this lasted... hum, I'm starting to rethink "the girls were entertained for two hours"... I'm thinking it's more like "wow, they're buckled in - I could leave them here for two hours" JUST KIDDING - don't call DHR.

Test 2, Take 2

OK, try this one....

Create your own Friend Test here

OK OK OK

I get it - my test is TOOOOO hard. I understand. Here are the answers... and I'll do another one:

Biggest Fear in life: Dying Naked

Favorite snack: Tria parfait

Most likely to read: People

Cities: 4 (Bham, T-town, DC, Arlington VA)

Cats: named after Jimmy Buffett

Beer: Pomegranate Michelob

Ashes: falls at camp

embarassing moment: took out my high school crush (freshman year). His name was Brooks - that's all I remember

wrecks: I was sitting still and knew all three of the people (friends mom, friend and AP english teacher)

first wreck attire: full puritan costume - on a break from dress rehearsal for The Witch that would not Hang, Mrs. West hit me and pinned me in my Celica where I had to climb out of the sunroof in the teacher's parking lot.

I do know that y'all know me - this is a hard test to make up. My students in grad school accused me of being too hard - they may have had a point.

How Well Do you Know Me?

So this is fun... Rachel had it on her blog and I ripped it off - thought it might be interesting.

Create your own Friend Test here

Some time with Toby

Thanks to Stephane and Brannon, I got to tag along to the Toby Keith and Montgomery Gentry concert last week at Oak Mtn. It was good. I will tell you that what was better was watching the women who got significantly dressed up to be there. WOW is all I can say about that.
Here are some pics:

It was pretty big and bad.

How do you like me now?

Thanks for taking me Steph!

Dance Pictures Finally Arrived

Wanted to share Ellabee's dance photos from this past year. She had a great little class with Miss Charla who we will take from again next year! Notice the bling that Ellabee added to her costume. One of the moms in the class was just appalled that I would allow her to leave it on for the photo but my thought is this: isn't the purpose of a photograph to capture a memory? When I think of Ellabee at this precious age, I'll remember that she loved to accessorize! And perhaps, if she grows up to become a jewelry designer or something, we can point to this picture and prove that it's always been something she was interested in.

This was obviously taken before the great haircut - I've got to admit it, I think she looks better with short hair!

The class picture: Ellabee, Greyson, Caroline, Whitney, Natalie, Annalise, Arianna, Simon & Hannah

Ice Cream Break - Becoming a Stone Tradition

Well, I can't blame them - they get it from me. My girls both have an affinity for ice cream! So, I've been searching for healthy ice cream that I won't feel guilty providing the girls. I've found two varieties that I like: Minute Maid frozen lemonade (2 weight watcher points with 100% of vitamin C per serving) and Scooby Doo push ups (2 ww pts with a good amount of vitamin C too).

Anyway, John had to go to Red Mtn last night for nursery duty (we had done Mountain Brook Community Church that morning because Carl Lynn - my exec. director at Restoration - was preaching) so the girls and I had some fun porch time involving ice cream.

Sharing a taste... but just a taste.

"Give me some more of that!" ... "I said, just a taste."

Ha ha! I got another taste!

Sitting on the porch and rockin'

Winnataska Hats Off To Thee!

A rite of passage for the Stone family. Ellabee spent her first overnight (three overnights to be exact) in the Chico director's hut on Chico Hill at Winnataska. I will admit that I was a nervous wreck that she wouldn't like it. I must have been smoking something because the minute we arrived, the child was in nirvana. If only she was a little bigger, she may have made it for a whole week.

I am also happy to report that there were very few melt downs (once we figured out that the key for a happy camper is at least a 2 hour nap each afternoon) and quite a few firsts... Ellabee was at camp for the first time, rode a horse for the first time, met many different camp creatures for the first time (see pictures provided) and cried when she left - for the FIRST TIME of many tears when camp ends.

Ellabee got to experience one highly traditional night activity (Indian Night), fun first night (Wacky Tacky) and Mission Impossible Night. She loved every minute of her experience and I LOVED loved LOVED experiencing it with her the first time. How precious to be able to pass along this sacred part of my life. Wow, I really could weep at the thought of my daughter going to camp.

On a different note, after I was able to bring a very tired little one home on Wednesday and head out for some time in the directors hut sans the bebes, I loved what God blessed me with. He gave me a precious gift this week - a clear head, a friend to share the experience with and perspective on my life as we continually heard about people (the mom of a friend, a church family member, an old camp friend and one of my favorite political commentators) who had passed away this week. It's shocking how quickly the Lord takes those unto himself. It's also amazing to me that life continues inspite of the loss. It seems unreal at times - this thing called death - but I guess I need to think about it on the flip side ... it's life that seems unreal. Life that slips by as we do things... life that should be celebrated. Where else to do that, but at Camp.

Here are some pics from the week - in no particular order:

Honor Hut went to Siesta, here are the leaders - Liz Barron and Caroline Ponder.

And the directors - just ask yourself... "They entrust children to these two women?"

Galahad this week was Amanda Turner (one of my former leaders) and John Michael Floyd

Ellabee with the crafts ladies. These women were so kind to her! I was so excited to learn that Kelley Feagin is out for the summer as the adult coordinator. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Kelley Feagin!

Burn baby burn - what a fire.

This was perhaps the WORST directors song EVER in the history of Camp WInnataska. I was actually pretty embarrased... none of us really (well, except Cathy) can sing!!!

The Stone Girls - Winnataska here we come!

Ellabee made a very special friend in Gaines Yielding. He was so kind to her.

Hanging out in the swimming hole.

Practicing before the big event.

A very special place.

After Mission Impossible NIght.
Ellabee petting a snake - yep, a snake.

And riding our first horse ever! Slick was our first equestrian friend.

Our hut had it's challenges, but we had a great week.

Top Row: leaders Caroline, Jessey, Sarah and Liz

Middle Row: Lizzy, Lorynn, Alex, Elizabeth, Lily

Bottom Row: Cathy, Shelby, Ginny, Abby, Audrey, Trinity, Greer, Emma, Ellabee & Molly

Campo Chico Camper!

The camp we love the best of all.

Changes in Attitudes

I don't know if it's that we're older or wiser but one things for sure, we aren't stupid. Kevin, Laurie, John and I headed to Atlanta for the Jimmy Buffett concert on Thursday night. Perhaps one of the best set lists we've ever heard, or perhaps it is because this is the first Buffett concert that I can clearly remember because I was stone cold sober. It's a much better way to enjoy the atmosphere and the music.

I knew we were in for it when we had young ladies on either side of us "tossing their cookies" three hours before the show even started. In fact, one of the young women was so long gone that her EMS friends hooked her up to a saline IV. WOW. That's bad.

Perhaps the best part of the 24 hours we were gone was not having to wake up at 5:30 and fix breakfast for the girls. We headed to the Flying Biscuit for a fantastic breakfast and then to Lenox mall for some shopping.

It was perhaps our last Buffett concert - and very worth it.

flipper man. After this picture, he poured the entire contents of his cup on Laurie and I - it made me a bit nauseated - who knows what was in that cup!

Our before shot...

Hanging out with our next door tailgate neighbors - Laurie (on my right), Bootie on Laurie's right...

Our perch on the back of the 4Runner. Laurie, Richard, Molly, Fish and Erin

Our tailgate - we did it right - simply.

Reflections on McWane

So, Laurie and I wanted to spend some time together today and get the girls (and Capp) together for some play time (I'm really REALLY sad to say that the last time we really were able to spend time together was Easter - how PATHETIC is that?). Anyway, we headed to McWane. It was a bit eerie pulling into the parking deck and having to get a visitor slip and then having the freedom to park on level B (employees have a parking pass and park on D or above). But once I walked in, I realized just how much I have missed my friends.

Laurie was about 20 minutes behind me so I took the opportunity to go up to admin and see my friends. It was great catching up and seeing the new facilities. I left on good terms, but it wasn't really the best of circumstances so it was nice to be reminded of why I loved working there - the people.

After our visit, Laurie and I took the kiddos to the new exhibit "Itty Bitty Magic City" and then to lunch and finally some time in the Mouse House (or House of Mouse - as Laurie called it - HA HA HA) and at the water table in Just Mice Size. I have to say it was nice to experience McWane as a parent again and not an employee... it was nice to walk in without having to quote the Psalms and pray for silence. It was just nice. Visit it if you haven't, buy a membership if you can - it's well worth the price AND a very worthy cause.

Here are some pics from my time at McWane - good, fun, fantastic times and good friends for a lifetime.

This was during Spring Break camps when we were the "enforcers" sent to keep the kids waiting to be collected from running into the Lobby. What a great safety procedure - would you be scared?

Human table - Jan, Laura, Kathy and Rachel.

Don't even ask - Tarby the Tyrannasaurus (no way I spelled that right). Ann, Jeff, Chandler and Janet with Tina playing Tarby.

The dynamic duo - me y Lara.

Hanging out during a Spring Break ice cream party - Molly, Clay, Molly, Amanda and Pam.