Our Final All Saints Pet Blessinge

 At my first All Saint Pet Blessing, I brought our maltese, Bella.  It was the ultimate "fail" in my opinion.  Just as the blessing was about to begin, Bella pooped. It was a small "pellet - size" poop, but it was poop.

As I panicked, and oh, did I panic, a dad walked up and began to sit down next to me and exactly where the poop was.  My immediate reaction... I grabbed the poop.  I held the poop through the blessing.  Was it gross, yes.  It was absolutely disgusting.

Did it get worse?  You know it did.

After the poop was discarded and my hands were thoroughly and repeatedly washed. I was having a conversation with the school director.  That is when Bella decided to pee, in front of her, on the rug.

I decided to skip the next year's blessing.

However, I am always a glutton for punishment and once Dylan reached the age to attend, I was there with an animal.  Our first year, we brought a fish.  The last two years, we have brought turtles.

Luckily those animals are easier to handle.  I have even had to bring them to an early meeting morning and store them in purse.  "Oh what the noise, its just a turtle in my purse."

 Dylan is my animal lover.  The pet blessing is a big deal to him.  And, well, look at the smile.  So worth it!

Carly Rae

Talk about a fun night!  I will take away a lot of memories from Ellison's first concert, Carly Rae Jepson.  After scouring the reviews and reading multiple statements promising the concert to be rated "G", I bought our tickets.  Ellison was super excited and well, I was excited as well!

Right from the start, I wondered if I made the right choice.  The first act was loud and Ellison was trying her hardest to cover her ears.  Luckily a security guard was prepared and came over to us with earplugs - thank you.

The second act opened with a small discussion on the title of their song, "Sex".  Ellison looked at me and shook her head.  I was beginning to get really worried.

 When Carly Rae hit the stage, all of my concerns faded.  Ellison loved the opening act and watching the performance.  A few of the songs were a bit over her head to which she would look at me and shake her head.  However, we both understood "Boy Problems" and got a nice laugh.

I will add that as soon as we got home, Ellison ran straight to Graham and told him about the "Sex" song.  I will never live that down.

Riding a Bike

Ellison has finally mastered riding a bike!  Freedom!

Always Allowed

 We were so excited to watch baby cousin Reid for the day!

Cookie Time

Tis the season! 

Girls Scout cookie season is one of the most exciting and dreaded times of the year.  Exciting because the cookies are delicious and Ellison loves selling them.  Dreaded because Ellison only loves to sell them for the first hour...

 then she enlists her brother...

 and her friends...

 and then after the second hour of cookie selling, it is left to her mom.  By the way, the Mom (that's me) ends up eating her weight in cookies, selling them to anyone that will take them, and then eating more cookies while consoling herself with wine.

Winter Park Ice Rink - Almost Made It

 Well I almost escaped the Winter Park Ice Rink this year.  It was not until the last skate session of the season that the Clark Family made it to the rink.  I was so, so close... which would have been amazing.

The kids had a blast, but there is something about the process of putting on the skates, holding your kids up, as you slowly crawl around the rink that makes me hope next year will be the year.  The year that we miss this experience all together.  I am ok with that.

Future Attorney

We start them early at my office.  Mr. Reid joined me for a brief day at the office.  He comes from lawyer genes, so this could be his future.