I like to move it, move it...except now I'm too sore to!

So I recently realized that my recent diet plan wasn't working. Well, actually, it was working great, just in the wrong direction. Apparently an abundance of popcorn, Mountain Dew, Twix bars, and ice cream isn't that great for you.

Who knew?

I had to do something. My friend's sister, Heidi, has been trying to get me to try a Zumba class, and I finally caved in and went.

Now, if you've never seen Zumba, it's a form of exercise. Picture yourself trying to impersonate Shakira while doing step aerobics to Latin music. It's kind of like that. I used to do step aerobics so I figured I couldn't be too bad at Zumba.

I was wrong.

My friend Jessica was a great sport and went with me, because frankly it's always better to be in good company while making a fool of oneself. The idiocy began before we even got in the gym. We pulled in the parking lot and realized we'd come with no bottled water. So I drove like a maniac to a Walgreens on the corner and got two big bottles of water.

Zumba class costs $3. That's right, they charge you to look like drunken half-paralyzed Salsa dancer.

Anyhoo, we took up our places near the back of the gym and began. It was actually lots of fun, after you get past the first five minutes of realizing you have no idea what you are doing, and that you shouldn't have stood in the back because you can't see the teacher. You can only hear her say things like, "Okay! Now triple step, cha-cha-cha!". Which apparently means something to the other 62 women in the gym. The trick is, no matter what, don't stop moving! If you stop moving you stick out like a sore thumb! When in doubt, just jump around and wave your arms.

An hour later I was literally dripping with sweat. I have to admit it was fun, and I did my good deed for the day by providing the girl and her mother who stood behind me with 60 minutes of entertainment.

The Call of the Wild

We recently took the girls to Bays Mountain Park for the second time. Well, the first time Abby went she was in utero so I guess that doesn't count. If you don't know what in utero means, google it. For that matter, if you don't know what anything means, google it. I'm a big fan.

Anyway, we saw the deer and the bees. We didn't see the otter or the bobcat because they were in hiding. Or maybe they don't even have a bobcat. Maybe they just put up a fence and threw on a sign that said, "Bobcat Enclosure"....would anyone really know the difference? If you have actually seen the Bays Mountain Bobcat with your own eyes, please let me know.

Abby enjoyed the great outdoors to the extent it can be enjoyed while strapped in an umbrella stroller. She drooled a lot and chewed on things. I think she had fun.

Here is Bella looking at the wolves. The funny part was she
started yelling, "Come here, wolf!" in her little-girl voice, and one
of the wolves actually looked up and starting coming over to us.


We took a barge ride over the lake, which was nice, even though the end
result was a faint exhaust scent coming from everyone onboard. The park
ranger who was piloting it stopped by the wolf enclosure and had everyone
be very quiet so she could howl at the wolves. She howled and they
answered...so did Abby, who started making all kinds of noises.
Apparently my youngest is part wolf.

Ordinary Days

Okay, these are just a few pics of an ordinary summer day spent hanging out with my sis and her little girl. Ordinary, except that it was magical. Because already they have grown, and changed, and learned, and will never be the same.


Ashlyn and Bella in action.

This pic is so Ashlyn. Fearless and wild and full of

energy. That look of concentration on her face is not

derived from fear. She's trying to figure out how big

of a splash she can make.

I got these little paint kits for $3 apiece at Michaels

and turned the girls loose on them. The end results were

so typical of their personalities. If you ever want to

Rorschach your kid, give them a painting kit...

Wedding Bells and Ringlets

On May 15th, my brother in law Chris got married. Bella was a flower girl, the wedding was beautiful, then we came home.

If only it were that simple!

If you've ever traveled with small children you know what a chore it is to go anywhere overnight. Kenneth worked third Thursday night, and as soon as he got home Friday morning we loaded the car and headed to Raleigh. Friday night was the rehearsal, which went rather smoothly even though it took a little while to arrange everyone.

Saturday morning I made a Starbucks run with my other brother in law, Steven. When we got back to the hotel we noticed that one of the cousins' vehicles (which was parked right beside mine!) had been broken into. The window was smashed and some things were stolen from three cars in the parking lot Friday night! I felt bad for the victims, but at the same time grateful my car escaped!

The wedding was at three that afternoon, but we had to be at the church and ready for pictures hours before that. And getting five wiggly, giggly flower girls ready is no easy task! There is hair curling and hairbow hunting, finding socks and shoes, tying sashes, etc!

Thats right, I said FIVE.

And here they are, from right to left:
Kaley, age 22 months; Alexis age 3; Arabella age 3, Alyson age 4; and Emma age 5( I think).
Aren't they beautiful?


Here is my hubby all dressed up, he's so handsome!

My beautiful new sister, Joy, with all of her lovely attendants.

This one is kind of dark and far away, 'cause I was

sitting on the back row with Abby, but you can see the

stage was beautiful.

Had you asked me at 2:15, I would have guessed that Joy might end up with one or two flower girls onstage. Bella was worn out, and Kaley was laying on her mommy's lap half asleep. And being a flower girl in front of a large audience, well that's a lot of pressure for a little kid!

I was pleasantly surprised to see Bella got walking down the aisle, although I don't think she did any flower-dispensing! I was so proud to see her up there , I leaned over to the woman next to me and whispered, "That's my little girl, the second from the right!"

If you count carefully, you'll only see four flower girls on stage. My niece Alexis was absolutely exhausted from a long day and no nap, so she didn't quite make it down the aisle. She did go and sit with the other girls, and walked back up the aisle with them!

The wedding was so personal and so beautiful. There were several songs, including one that Joy's brother wrote especially for the ceremony. She surprised Chris by singing a chorus of it to them. They were married by Joy's father and Chris' grandfather, so that was special.

And it made quite an impact on Bella...she's still playing "get married"!