Flashback Fridays

In my efforts to think of something to blog about, I just came up with an idea on a whim. I've decided that Fridays will be declared, FLASHBACK FRIDAYS!! (say that in a game show voice) 

I'm a VERY nostalgic soul, so this appeals to me. And now you will have to amuse me, okay?

Today I'm starting easy, and because of my post the other day, I already had my siblings on my mind. 

I always wonder what my kids will look like when they grow up, and how their relationships will develop. 

I wonder if my parents wondered the same things about us?

GOD BLESS THE 1970's. 

And sad to say THIS is the most recent picture I could find of all three of us. I'm actually 5 months pregnant with Hope here. Of course, the next time we are together I will remedy this...

And just because, I thought you might want to see my natural state. Going off about something. Who turned out the dramatic one?

So let's roll with my new idea, shall we? I'm excited about FLASHBACK FRIDAYS!!!

A j-o-b.

So, guess who got a job?

Like a wear real clothes, put your makeup on, and get your rear out the door on time, kind of job?

Yeah, that would be, ME. 

Paul was the one who brought up the idea first of me getting a part-time job once the kids were both in school, but secretly, I had been tossing the idea around in my head. But of course, I like to make him think he's abusing me with this whole GET A JOB, situation. 

A few criteria went into the job hunt. 

1) Part-time work.

2) The ability to take the kids to school, and pick them up from school.

3) Be on the same schedule as kids, in regards to breaks, etc.

4) The opportunity to blog and tweet as I wish.

So, with those criteria in place, I was thinking my only real option would be in a school. I submitted a few different resumes and got nada. Then I talked with my friend Karen who told me I should call the pre-school she teaches at and see about becoming a substitute. 

I immediately submitted an application, and yesterday I got the call! 

After 8 years, I have a j-o-b. 

I am thankful for this opportunity, and hopefully it's a perfect fit for our family. 

And with that said, being the wimp that I am, I'm sure I will be exhausted and dramatic.

 Please feel free to virtually slap me across the face, and tell me to shut it. 

The Oreos.

Last night was the the much anticipated, FIRST BASEBALL GAME! 

We loaded up the car and headed to the ball field, and of course I was unsure of where I was going. Which stressed Pierce to no end, but I eventually found the park and we started to frantically look for his team...

G: "Pierce I think this it, oh yes, this is it. Shew."

P: "Mom, I don't see my team. Where are the Oreos?"

G: "The what?"

P: "The Oreos. You know my team!"

G: "Oh! Yes, the Orioles, buddy."

(Of course, The Oreos is a WAY better team name in my opinion)

At this point, he was ready to just GO, but I couldn't have that. A picture was a must. 

And once we found the rest of the Oreos  Orioles, he was BEYOND excited.

And THEN to top off the excitement, he ran into an old buddy. They go way back, you know all the way back to 1st grade! And let me just say, it was one of the sweetest things to watch these kids hug each other in excitement when they saw each other. 

Have I mentioned it was raining? Oh yeah, it was RAINING. THAT was fun. 

I might have kind of asked a few times, "SO, they cancel for rain, right?" 

UH NO. 

Hope and I just huddled under the umbrella and attempted to make the most of it.

Besides the grassy feet that annoyed me, I was frustrated by how difficult it was to hold and umbrella, take pictures, text, and tweet.

But I gave it my all. 

Unfortunately my camera could not capture Pierce playing in the field very well, so I just had to settle for some warm up picks. 

You want an already dramatic woman to act up? Watch her when her son gets up to bat. I did my best to capture it on camera, but let me show you what happens.

Your son gets a hit, and you jump up and down and scream whilst taking the picture, and then it turns out badly. 

Maybe by the next game, I will calm down and get better pictures for memories sake. 

But overall, despite the rain, first game went really well. Pierce had a great time, played great and cannot wait for the next game with his OREOS!!

I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils.

Here's a little back story on Ginmommy. 

I am the youngest of three.

I have a brother, Chris who is 9 years older.

I have a sister, Johanna who is 6 years older.

Then along came Gretchen who developed the nickname Gin. (The nickname ginmommy is not because I consume alcohol on a regular basis.) 

With that kind of age gap, in many ways, it was like being an only child. Jo and Chris were always off playing Star Wars together, while I was busy being the whiny baby of the family. Just ask them, they would LOVE to tell you stories of what a brat I was. 

Whatever, they were punks.

I digress.

So, my sister and I weren't really what one would categorize as close growing up. There were just too many years between us, and we had nothing in common. 

She may have mistaken me for a big whiny baby unfairly and unjustly, and even beat me up on occasion.

And even though I was a legitimate brat who deserved to be smacked around, we eventually outgrew all that, and actually started to like each other.

A lot.

And once she gave birth to Cody, it was a whole new world.

I would spend hours at her house. We would hang out all.the.time. Eating weird snacks, taking the baby out to run errands, getting 18 vanilla cokes a week, and reminiscing as only siblings can do. THOSE were some sweet times.

And one of the best things about our relationship? We virtually have the same sense of humor, and keep each other in STITCHES.

And here we are today. Things have changed. Her life has taken different turns, and my life has taken me to B.G.

We can't see each other everyday anymore, now we must settle for occasionally. 

With her work schedule it's been very difficult for her to come down here, but Friday night she finally had the opportunity to come see us. And THAT made me very happy. 

And she came in style no less, sportin' her new ride.

Representin' her Louisville Cards too! Woot!

She drove down to see us after working a full week and was totally worn out, so there was only one sensible solution. Time to rent our very favorite movie. We had to go rent this movie because the only copy I have of it, is on VHS. Crazy.

I wasn't sure we would be able to find it, since it's 14 years old, but lo' and behold there she was in all her glory... 

We snuggled in so we could quote our favorite lines over and over....

I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. 

 And see that's the thing about a close sibling relationship.

You may have beaten each other up at one time in your lives.

But you get it.

You know the back story.

You've got the stories, the songs, the movies, the styles.

You have the history.

You were both there in the beginning, and you've got it till the end.

Don't cry shopgirl. Don't cry. 

I love it when a plan comes together.

I think it was Tracey that said it was time we meet up one day in E-town for some girl time.

No brainer. I was in. 

I had an hour drive. ALONE. That might spell misery for some people, but I love it. No one asking me any questions every .2 seconds, and the best of all?

I crank up my music and sing my brains out. 

As much as I was enjoying my concert, I was VERY happy to join up with this girl here.

We tossed around a few ideas of how to spend our time together, and ultimately decided a pedicure was in order. We know nothing about E-town or where anything is, so we were blindly trying to figure out where we could get our toes did. And anyone who knows me, knows I am of ZERO help to that cause. I could get us lost in my own house. Thankfully, T, had a GPS to rescue us.

She held it the entire time like an elderly lady.

But check it out! She was like a modern day Lewis and Clark, and got us to new undiscovered lands.

Where I happily gave the lady my feet.

And I even more happily spent time chatting it up with this pretty face.

We both decided on this blue/gray color. Pretty cute! That's my ugly Fred Flinstone foot on the right.

And then like the young hip ladies we are, we went and ate at Cracker Barrel. 

And after our time rubbing elbows with the senior crowd, we went to the place that beckons us every time we are together...

And just like that, our time was over.

How come it ALWAYS goes so fast? Blah.


But you know no time with us is complete until ridiculous pictures are taken....

Okay, this one isn't ridiculous, but somehow she always manages to end up with MY camera....

Mercy sakes, she cracks.me.up.

In the wise words of Mr. T., I love it when a plan comes together.

But gosh, I'm sad when it's finished.

Until next time....

Fun things are on the horizon.

So, there hasn't been a whole heck of a lot going on around here, but I know of at least two people who want updates (hi mom and dad) so I'll show you what be up. 

Yesterday, it was a virtual daycare, all up in here. 

First I had the pleasure of hanging with my buddy, Lukey Bear. 

THEN, I got to hang with my pal Jackson.

Momma gave me permission to blog his pictures, so no need for anyone to report me for abusive internet behavior.

Been a while since I hung with a baby, but we were cool.

I took a bunch of pictures, because that's what I do.

I finally exhausted the poor child.

But look who still has the touch. BOO-YAH.

We've also been spending a lot of time at the ball field.

First game is this Monday.

And we are pumped! (Who am I kidding? I am nervous. Pierce is pumped)

Lots of time at the ball field, leaves Hope to get super creative with her idea of fun.

But fun we have.

And I'm even meeting this one on occasion for hot lunch dates. I mean seriously, how could I not refer to him as Rico?

So, that's it mom and dad  everyone! I am rather boring at the moment, but fun things are on the horizon!