Frankly Scarlet

Well, it's no secret I have a love affair with Gone With The Wind. The story is stuck in my brain. It's a book unlike any book. Even after reading the book I still love the movie! It's a beautiful story!

With all that being said I have a second love, Vera Bradley!

Now, what brings the two together....

Frankly Scarlet

It's one of the new fall colors. Now, I will admit it's not my favorite but I think I will have to have one. How can I pass up on having my favorite handbag named after my favorite book? lol

I'm really thinking about getting the travel items I have been wanting like this...

Hanging Organizer or this Cosmetic Case .

Oh, well... That's all the wishing I have time for today.

If you don't have a Vera....what are you waiting for? LOL!

VBS Week...

We had our first VBS at our new church this week. In the past we've done VBS (Vacation Bible School) at night from like 6 pm -9 pm and we only lived 5 minutes from the church. This week it was from 8:15 am to 12 noon! Did I mention we live 40 minutes from church! I tried to leave the house by 7:15 every morning. I had to get myself ready, the girls ready, breakfast and pack a lunch for us to eat on the way home. I refused to stop at McD's everyday.

The first day we had over 300 kids! The total went up daily! For the past few year at our old church I tried (in vain) to get them to do the boys vs. girls offering challenge. Well they do it every year at our new church and it was such a blast. Each day the boys and girls took turns winning. They collected over 1,488.00 worth of change!!!!!! I was so shocked. They would send a boy and girl from each class to pour their change into the buckets labled boys and girls. They would have two big boys hold each bucket steady. Then when all the change was collected the boys would let go and the bucket with the most change would swing towards the floor. The whole time you would have 300 + kids screaming "BOYS" "GIRLS" then the group that won would go crazy!!!!! It was so much fun. BTY we interpreters got really good at signing "Boys" and "Girls" at the same time. It's kind of like can you pat your head and rub your tummy at the same time? hahaha

I worked with the deaf kids. We were low in numbers this year do to a local deaf camp running at the same time. But I tell you with the 6 kids we had .... we had a blast! One of the highlights of the week was seeing one of my deaf kids Ryan winning a trick bike Friday night during the rally. He was so shocked! I know that myself and several others were praying, "Please let one of our boys win!" Our prayers were answered!!!!

Each day that you attend VBS your name is added to the drawing for a new bike. They give a scooter to the preschool kids, a girl and boy bike to the kindergartners and a girl and boy bike to the 1st -6th graders.

What a week! By Friday the girls and I were so tired! We spent the afternoon with Mrs. S (the assistant pastors wife). She let us hang out so I would not have to drive home and come back for the rally and carnival Friday night. We all went swimming and had snacks and rested. Then it was back to church for the carnival. The girls were so tired but they had a blast. They got to spend their Billy Bucks (money earned during VBS), eat cotton candy, have lemonade and popcorn. I think they played all the carnival game 2 times each. Then we headed home. I think before I left town all 3 were sound asleep. They went straight to bed and woke up grumpy as all get out. So, now one is still napping the other two are watching cartoons and I'm ready for them to get back to bed....how long till 7:30 pm? lol

Today...

Today the girls spent 3 1/2 hours in the pool! I know! They are little fish! The one good thing is that they are dog tired by 7:00 pm. I can put them in bed at 7:30 and they are out like a light. Today we came in at 4 they had a bath and got dressed. Aunt C picked them up and they went to town to eat supper. They were back home by 6:30. We all settled in to watch a little TV before bed time.

This was N at 7:15 tonight.

R did not want to be left out...

This is how R loves to watch TV. Can you tell she is laying on my legs. She does this to me and her daddy all the time.
J was on the floor watching Tom & Jerry can you tell she was tired? While the girls were out to eat we had a nice summer storm roll in for about 30 minutes. We had some nice hail. I tried to take a few pictures of it. If you look real close you can see it.
Yes, those white things are the hail falling.

We really needed the rain I only wish it had lasted a little longer.

On a side note. I went to read to the girls tonight and we could not find our book so I tucked them into bed and said I would just tell them a story. R sat up and said, "You mean just out of your mouth?" I said, "Yes, just out of my mouth with no book to go by!" LOL I guess we have been reading out of chapter books to much. I need to tell them made up stories a little more often.

Scarlett & Rhett

Ok, So I got lost again. It's not too hard for me if its a good book.

Scarlett was like reading Margaret Mitchell. I could not tell the author was a different woman. She did a great job. She picked up right were Mitchell left off. It was a perfect sequel. I will have to say that the last few chapters dragged a bit but the ending was worth it.

Rhett....What can I say. I love and hated this book. It starts with Rhett's childhood. You don't even meet Scarlett till the middle of the book. I first expected it to be about Rhett and Scarlett but it's not in the least. It's about Rhett and why he was the way he was. (profound I know. lol) Once I was over the shock that Scarlett was not the center of this book I really enjoyed it. You find out who Belle Watling is to Rhett, The whole story behind Rhett's imprisonment for killing the black man, Where Scarlett got the yellow sash to give to Ashley and a few more twist. Now, Rhett Butler's People has a different ending than Scarlett. I liked Rhett's ending better. His book is not really a sequel. You could read it without ever reading Gone With The Wind although I'm not sure why you would want to. :) It follows Mitchell's story with only a few side tracks. You can tell it's written by a man due to the amount of detail difference in his writing style and Mitchell's. It was a refreshing and flabbergasting read!

All in all if you have never read Gone with the Wind, Scarlett or Rhett Butler's People...What are you waiting for. Take a trip into the deep south and enjoy the ride.

Thanks Sue for the books! One of the best graduation gifts a book lover could want!

Peace Lily

I got this peace lily when Pops passed away. I was 18 weeks pregnant with the girls and he was so excited to be a grandpa. It was so unexpected but every day I see a little of him in each of the girls. This was one of the many flowers that were sent to our family when he passed. I have managed not to kill it but for the past 5 years it has really struggled to live. When we moved into the new house it really seemed to like the big windows of the sliding glass doors. It has flourished. This past week it bloomed for the first time! I almost cried. So here she is in all her glory. I hope there are many more blooms. I think my black thumb is turning green. :)

PEANUTS!

Yesterday we took the girls in for their 5 year check up. I can't believe they are 5!!! When did that happen? So, It takes several hours for all three to get their check up so R & J went before lunch then N had her appointment after lunch. I take her in the room. She is drawing a picture of her family when Dr. L walks in and begins his exam. He tells N that she smells so good and nuzzles her neck. She is all smiles and just love Dr. L. We are chatting while he checks her ears, eyes and throat. When he steps away I asked him what he had put in her mouth. He told me just the tongue depressor. I said well what is causing the allergic reaction? He looks and was like I have no idea. N had hives at the corner of her mouth and going down her neck. Dr. L's was like she needs some benadryl. I said I had some and got it out.

I asked him, " Did you by chance eat any peanuts for lunch today?"

He replied, "Why yes I did...you know those cheese crackers with peanut butter." "But I washed my hands and brushed my teeth!

"You know N is very allergic to peanuts! Right?"

"Yes, but I don't understand I have brushed my teeth and washed my hands several time?!?!?"

" I know but that does not always work. If you have crumbs on your shirt or miss a spot when washing you can contaminate with the allergen."

"Lord have mercy! I feel awful. I'm putting all of this in her chart. How much benadryl are you giving her? Is it liquid?"

"12.5 mgs and it's a Fast Melt Strip they work so much faster than liquid."

"I'm writing all of this in her chart..."

Needless to say Dr. L was very upset. He knew it could've been really bad (her reaction) but thankfully it was mild. The benadryl works fast and in a few minutes the hives were going away.

So, He walks out of the room and hear him telling the RN's what happened. He was so upset. Then he walks back into the room and shows me that he had been snacking on peanut butter cereal at his desk before seeing N. It never crossed his mind that the cereal was PB. So, even though he had brushed his teeth and washed his hands he had eaten PB before coming into the room. He washed his hands in the room but it did not take care of the PB that was on his face. When he nuzzled her neck he passed the allergen to her.

Did she eat a peanut...NO! Did she touch a peanut....NO! All it takes is someone eating or touching a peanut/ peanut product and her coming into contact with them or what they touch.

I hear people say all the time that they know so and so that's allergic to peanut butter. Well, it's not just peanut butter. It's ANYTHING made WITH or NEAR a peanut! It's not so simple to say well we just won't let her eat a peanut/ peanut product. We have to protect her from everyone else eating a peanut/ peanut product and all they touch.

Do we think peanuts should be banned from the earth. NO but it would help if others understood what it means to have a peanut allergy.

We read every label! If is says, May Contain Peanuts / Contains Peanuts / Processes on Machinery with Peanuts we don't buy it and she can't have it. We don't even let J or R have it...Why....Because they could eat it them touch her.

If you want to learn more about food allergies go here to FAAN.

10 year Anniversary!

The hubby and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary this weekend. He surprised me with weekend at Myrtle Beach.

We stayed here....

We ate Japanese ...

And we went to see the Le Grande Cirque !

It was a great show. I can't wait to go back and take the girls. The acrobats are amazing!!!! If you find yourself in Myrtle Beach go see this show at the Palace Theater.

We had a blast. This was the view from our suite...

It was a relaxing weekend and we came home to 3 sick kids but it was all worth it. :) Now, tomorrow we are all off to the Dr.s for the girls 5 year check up and have the Dr. check on their coughs.