A smaller world, thanks to blogging

I started to blog in 2008.

The blog was pitiful in the early years, bless it. I had a little learning to do about the whole thing, I mean I really didn't even want to do it. Once I started to figure it all out, I also started to get to know other people, via blogs. I would wiz around the internet, reading, and then eventually stalking. Remember, this was my pre Facebook, Twitter, Instagram days. This was my connection to others in the cyber world. 

Around 2009 I started to read Jaime Mac's blog, I knew she lived near me, but I didn't know her from Adam. I thought she was witty and fun, and I liked the fact her husband was a farmer. Finally one day, I outed myself with the BLOG COMMENT. Do I comment? Will she think I'm a freak? I bravely commented from the kitchen in Charlestown, and then I got my friends reading her too. She did what any nice blogger does, she stopped by mine and commented, and next thing you know we are blog buddies. What was the next step? We decided an in person meet up was in order. Where I'm sure we both hoped for the same thing, a nice person shows up and doesn't kill you. 

It was March 14, 2010, me and Jami went and met Jaime. No one got murdered and here we are six years later and in real life friends. 

Now here's another nifty thing about blogging, your peeps that read your blog get to know your family. I mean you read about someones kids, spouse, parents, siblings, and suddenly you think you know them too! I can't tell you how many times I've spotted a spouse or parent of a blog writer and thought, I KNOW YOU, while I give them the side eye. 

Then there are times that I get a text from a blog stalker with attached a picture of my parents, I'M TALKING TO YOU BETH. I've told my parents, hey you guys are celebrities! My tens of readers know you! 

Good grief how long can I drag this subject out, am I right? And anyone with half a brain knows where I'm going with this. 

My parents like to go to this little event where customers are appreciated for their business with chili and donuts. My dad even sent me a picture that day, and I can't deny I wouldn't mind be appreciated that way either. 

He even sent me a picture of some of the other customers enjoying themselves.

Then he sends me this...

"Good grief, we can't go anywhere without your friends recognizing us!"

That's my JaimeMac! The one who I stalked so many years ago, the one who I now call friend. She knows my parents from the ol' blog, and marched herself right up to them and introduced herself. Ask me how much I loved that? I had the biggest smile on my face. Jaime works there, and now anytime my dad goes in there he will have to look her up.

Just when I was getting disenchanted with the blog, something like this happens that reminds me why I ever really enjoyed it in the first place.

Blogging, making my world smaller since 2008.

Halloween 2015

Hope has told me for a couple of years now that she wants to be a bride on Halloween. But what always happens? She gets distracted by something that sparkles, and bride goes out the window. 

BUT NOT THIS YEAR. 

She said bride, and actually stuck to her guns. 

Do you know how much fun I had with this? Dressing up your daughter and getting a glimpse of a future bride? 

OH MY SENTIMENTAL MUSHY HEART.

You know when Paul and I got married back in 2002 the tiara was all the rage. Now a tiara is so early 2000's, but pretty perfect for a little girl dressing up.

Now Pierce.

"Hey mom, I wanna be a skeleton"

UH NO.

We don't do scary.

But I caved.

I guess it isn't all that scary, especially when the skeleton breaks it down.

We were ready to roll by 2:00

Plenty of time for me to take an unreasonable amount of pictures.

These are the moments.

So we did out traditional Halloween thing

PUMPKIN ALLEY.

We go to Brittany's and kill some time, you know so the kids ask every two minutes, WHEN CAN WE GO?

Finally we quit torturing them and we roll.

Just like riding a bike people.

And Emie who has never tick-or-treated in her entire three years, she got the hang REAL quick.

Hope stopped and ate candy after the FIRST house, but I can't bust on her and not reveal, I JOINED.

The veil didn't make it very long.

Nor the mask.

Hundreds of kids out there

And Hope runs into her bestie. Lots of squeals and giggles when that happened.

I think we lasted a good hour

But towards the end

The walking turned to running.

And eventually come-aparts.

The evening ended back at Brittany's

And that was my favorite part of the night.

Taco soup, fires, friends, conversations....

Like I said, these are the moments.

Until next time

These two. 

They go way back. Way back to the playgrounds of second grade. 

Best friends for for about four years now, which when you are young that's FOREVER!

In those years there has not been a single playdate. Due to language differences and such, I could never make it happen. And that made Pierce really sad. He's asked for years to play with his friend, and for years it just never happened.

But that's the past.

An early birthday present for Pierce this year was this.....

We've anticipated this day for weeks and I'm not gonna lie, I think I was just as excited as the kids. I've wanted this for Pierce for a very long time, so I was just so happy for him.


So we welcomed our friends with generous acts of kindness...

They got right to the important stuff.

SHOOT OUR FRIENDS WITH NERF GUNS.

Pierce even bought extra bullets for the event, like HUNDREDS EXTRA.

Our poor neighbors will be finding ammo for years probably.

But seeing as he's been mentally planning this for years he had it all planned out. Bring out the big guns...

And play some X-box.

While the boys were enthralled with some video madness, the littles had their own thing going on with Spider girl.

I was so glad that little brother tagged along, he's in Hope's class and they had the best time together!

 Before we knew it the hours had passed away and it was almost time for out friends to go home, but not before a treat.

Pierce asked for M&M's.

His friend has an egg allergy and he didn't want to take any chances. He was horrified that wax was getting into the M&M's, but you know I'm clever like that.

It was a simple day. But it was the best day.

For hours I just watched them play, and I was just thankful for this moment.

Until next time friends.

Holiday World

The day we had been talking about for WEEKS, finally came. (Oh you know, back in JULY) The kids were up super early, bouncing around, screaming, and thanking me for "this opportunity." And you know, Holiday World is an opportunity! AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE FUN. 

My kids had never been, so I think they were just a little extra excited.

Pierce and I didn't waste any time, and we were in life for his first coaster.

I personally had not been on a coaster in about 15 years, so I wasn't sure how my 40 year old body would handle it.

But I wasn't gonna let that stop me.

AFTER HIS FIRST COASTER. Yeah, it sorta tripped him out, but he told me he would ride it again, so it was all good. As far as me? Um, my body was screaming at me, YOU ARE 40 NOW!

The park was pretty crowded that day.

But the weather was perfect.

Not all that hot for a July day.

We spent hours in the water park, Splashin' Safari. The first big ride that we took the kids on was a water coaster, and it FREAKED Hope out, so I was sure she was done for the day. But after an hour or two, I convinced her to ride a slide with me.

She kept looking allll the way up there and would get scared, but I knew if she would take this one on, she would have fun.

But nerves and tears.

But it was an easy slide, and as soon as we got down she asked to ride it again. SUCCESS!

Bad thing about hanging in the water park is no pics of it, but it really was so much fun.

We opened the park up that day, and we closed it out too.

LONG DAY.

But such a fun day.

The kids heard me talking about going to Disney, and they spoke up and said, WE WOULD RATHER GO TO HOLIDAY WORLD.

Well you know that would save me a few thousand dollars, so I'm good with that.

They have both told me it was one of the best days of their lives, so I'm sure it will be something we do every summer. 

And for the record today is the very last day of summer break for the kids.

Tomorrow begins 5th and 3rd grade! Whoop!