Camping, take two

Okay this is a super long post, and probably not too exciting for ya'll to read, but I wanted to make sure I wrote this down so I won't forget any of it. So you've been warned if you get bored :) Pics to be added later.
     Brad, Raelee and I headed down to Vero Beach, Florida this weekend for our friends, Logan and Maggie's wedding. Brad and I had a great idea to save money and have an adventure with Raelee by camping instead of  paying for a hotel room for just one night. Raelee was so sad when we went camping without her, she's been telling us ever since that she wanted to go camping too, so we thought this would be the perfect time. Well...it did not really work out that way. When we arrived, it was pouring rain, like the can't see out the windshields, brakes don't want to work so well because of all the puddles you've been driving through kinda rain. Thanks to my sister the weatherwoman of the family, we knew that in 2 hours it should clear, so we drove on down to Vero and found the hotel the wedding was to be at and then went and ate dinner. Sure enough at 8pm, clear skies, so we drove back to our campground. Now I've camped alot in Florida, and have always had great experiences at the state parks. This one broke that record. We will not be going back there. First the mosquitoes were out of control. Brad was ate alive while he set up the tent, Raelee and I stayed in the car for our own safety during this. Then all night we were being bit by bugs, we thought it was mosquitoes in the tent, we kept squishing them, but we still kept being bit. Well after getting some sleep last night and talking to our parents, we think it was some sort of sand gnat or no see-ums that were getting through the tent screens. I was so tired, I didn't put it together that none of the other tents had their screens open. Yeesh! Poor Raelee looks like she has chicken pox on her tummy and back. So anyway, back to the adventure. Lights out was supposed to be at 11pm, but other campers were still blaring their music at 1 am! I was not a happy women. We quickly decided that this was not the family campground we are used to staying at. When I had went to the rest room earlier, Brad escorted me so I didn't get snatched, and the women in the restroom were very drunk and very obnoxious. Right after I went in, a guy walking up to Brad and asked him if I was his girlfriend. Brad replied that I was his wife and the guy went on to say "she ruined it man, she ruined it" and walked off. Ummm...okay? weird. So back to our night, at 2:45am Brad was cracking me up, he was so sleep deprived he told me and Raelee to pack up, we were going to a hotel. I had to talk him outta that one lol. We got up at 6am to get ready for the wedding. Raelee pee'd in the middle of the public bathroom floor and then I dropped my dress on the wet floor. At least it had just been cleaned and mopped. All in all, I think we looked pretty good for no sleep AND having camped. I'm sure the other campers were very confused by us walking out all dressed up lol.
     The wedding was awesome. It was on the beach. Super beautiful and chill at the same time. I fell, holding Raelee when we walked onto the sand. I recovered quickly though and didn't even get wet sand on my dress. Score for me! But I pulled a muscle in my thigh, that's killing me today. We got super nervous because while we were waiting in the chairs on the beach it started to drizzle, but when Maggie walked out the sun burst through. It was prefect timing. I loved the little touches they used to personalized everything, Maggie's dress was one that had to be laced down the back, and she wove a green ribbon through it to match Logan's tie. It was so unique and super cute. Then Maggie's nephew had a bucket of colored sand that he walked down the isle and threw on the white sand. They had two bottles and the guest wrote messages to the couple and rolled up them up and put them in the bottles. Then I really like how after the best man and maid of honor spoke, Logan and Maggie each spoke about their love and families. It was really sweet. I'm so glad we were able to go.
     We were really worried about the drive back to Tally due to the lack of sleep, but it turned out to be a really good drive. Brad and I had some really good conversations and it was a really good time to kinda reconnect. I realized again how blessed and lucky I am to have him as a hubby. So all in all the trip was worth it for the memories, and Raelee says she had fun camping, but I definitely will not go camping the night before a wedding again. But it was nice to save the moola :)

Camping

Brad and I went camping this past weekend for the first time in FOREVER!!! Our trip was to celebrate our anniversary(which isn't until May 11th, but the month of May is too crazy to ever be able to celebrate). It was so fun as we set up camp to reminisce about some of our camping gear. Most of it we received for my bridal shower and as wedding gifts. Best gifts ever!!! We have 2 big Tupperware containers that over the years I've been throwing stuff in that I thought could be useful on camping trips, and I was impressed that we ended up using most of it. It was so wonderful to get away and especially to get away from technology for a bit. It was so peaceful. We went to bed early and woke up at 7am every day, which is not our norm. The beach was AMAZING!!! We seriously wanted to move there after coming back to Tally. The breeze, ocean, and lack of allergies...sigh, that would be the life! We spent all of Saturday on the beach boogie boarding. So.much.fun! Except I have a bruise on by ribs from hitting the board all day. So worth it. We spent some time in Seaside and WaterColor, those towns are so cute. We drove home on Hwy 98, instead of taking I-10. It was fun to see the coast line all the way home. We definitely will be doing so more camping in the near future. and will be taking Raelee with us. Her feelings were hurt that she was left at home. She kept saying "me go to!" "me go camping!". I know that she had a blast at my parents house though. It so nice to live by all our family and to have help with Raelee. Definitely not something I take for granted.

Blessings

Brad and I have been so very blessed in our lives with the people around us. We have some of the best family, friends, co-workers and neighbors you could ask for. Seriously. Not to mention the best daughter:) We have been super blessed in the last two weeks and I just wanted to document so I won't forget in the future. We needed a new wheel bearing on my car, and it was going to run us $300.00. Well, thankfully Brad's dad knew how to change this part, so he was able to direct Brad on what to do. Awesomeness! I'm so glad that between our dads and granddad's, we've been able to save so much money with our house and cars, plus learn life skills. Second blessing is our neighbor. I LOVE our house and location and size of our yard, but our yard's been out of control since before we move in. There was so much work to do in our house, that the yard was never a priority. Well now that Raelee is getting older, I want her to be able to play and not worry about the sticker bushes, snakes, etc. so I've been slowly chopping away at the crazy overgrown yard we have. Brad was able to chop down alot of the bushes and trees running along our front fence, but we still have a LONG ways to go. Our sweet neighbor started clearing away the bushes and woods between our two house to keep the power line clear, and he asked if we wanted him to clear some more. Um... YES!!! That side of the yard looks amazing now! He has done an awesome job!!! It's given me hope for the rest of the yard. I can't wait to get it all cleared and fenced(which I know is still quite a ways off, but at least I can picture it now).Pics to be posted soon.

Raelee update

     I was lucky and ended up with a week off from work. Raelee and I have been having a grand ol' time! Raelee's  been learning her letters and knows way more than I realized she did. We were putting her to bed the other night and she started pointing to letters on my sweatshirt and saying what they were. Like I said, it was way more letters than I realized she knew. She's been learning a new letter at Marquesas's every week, so I decided to really start working with her more on the days that she's home. Today we made flash cards through F(that's the letter at Quesas Care this week). Raelee knew A-F and which were "big"letters and which were "little"letters. She also knows pretty much all the colors. We're still working on the counting, She always starts with 2, can not get her to say 1 lol. We've made roads for her cars, played outside, played dress up, stickers, colored, and made a paper bag girl (Raelee named her Sally).  We've also been going and working out, not every day, but the days that I can. Raelee works out with me, has her own weights, she's stays and does the whole video with me. Kinda scary how observant she is, whenever the video comes on, or I mention working out, Raelee pulls her shirt up so that her tummy shows, because that's how the women on the video are dressed. Eeekkk! Not good! Oh and speaking of not good, was my decision to let Raelee watch Beauty and the Beast yesterday. She kept waking up all night saying she was scared from the monster. Haha, she calls it Belle and the Beast. And when she sees pictures of the Disney princesses, she calls Belle, "Jingle Belle" lol. Oh and Raelee loves to drum all the time now. We asked her who taught her how to drum and she said "Miles!" She's cute when you ask her who her friends are, "Stokes, Miles, Abby, and Quesas". Anyway, these were just some random thoughts I wanted to get down before I forgot them.

Baseball

     Today was Brads high school alumni baseball game. It's the first year since we started going that we've had AWESOME weather! I could'v stayed out there all day. They picked teams once everyone was there. They used to do Alumni vs the present team, but the alumni have won the past 3 or 4 years, so I guess they decided that wasn't good for morale for the present team lol. But to be fair, when Brad played in HS they did win state champs  in 2001, the only baseball state win for the high school ever. The finale score today was 5 - 6, Brad's team lost. BUT Brad played awesome, good base hits and base running, awesome slide at home, and great plays as catcher. I'm sure his legs will be nice and sore tomorrow. Brad's parents came and watched too, that was fun to be able to catch up with them and have help with Raelee. Rae had a blast playing with sticks and pinestraw, she and Jan made a stick house and were using pines cones as people, Raelee LOVED it. Then we came home and had a 2 1/2 hour nap session. Perfect day :)

Thoughts

1. I'm super excited that Romney won Florida tonight!
2. I'm really nervous how this election is going to end.
3. I will NOT work the day of or the day after the general election this year. That was the worst day of my life EVER 4 years ago, how I was treated by some of my co-workers was shameful. Never been raciest, but the reverse racism that day almost put me there.
4. Worked out today! Whooop whoooop! Felt soooo good. Level 2 of the shred. Love it!
5. I can not wait for summer. I'm excited for Raelee to learn how to swim this year.
6. Brad's HS alumni game is Saturday. My one chance a year to see him in baseball pants :p
7. Raelee being sick is pretty much the saddest thing ever. Breaks my heart.
8. Cooked our super yummy and easy crock pot chicken mushroom soup dinner last night.  Pretty sure I could eat it every day!
9. I've got to figure out my hair. I want to chop it off so bad, but I know once I do, I'll want it long again.
10. Just can't seem to get into the Bachelor this season. Not a Ben fan.
11. Saw Sherlock Holmes 2 with the bestie's last week. LOVE Robert Downing Jr. Seriously gotta be one of my fave actors ever!
12. Only 1 more day off work, booo:(
13. So glad there's a library right down the road. Ordered in 13 new books, waiting to be able to pick them up.
14. So thankful that A) I know how to read. B.)Books are so easily accessible.
15.Need to order some new photos from Snapfish to put in frames.
16. Dang these parents of some of these girls trying out for American Idol need to buy their daughters some clothes that fit and cover whats supposed to be covered.
17. I'm kinda wanting to buy some Tom's. I used to think they were so ugly, but I'm really digging them now.
18. Hunger Games Movie comes out next month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
19. The bestie mentioned IKEA today and now I want to go shopping there sooooo bad!
20. Hmmm...am I going to actually be in bed asleep before midnight? I don't think so!

28

Today was my birthday. Year 28. Yeessh! How'd that get here so fast? Since it was 70+ degrees today, this is what I decided to do. And it was BEAUTIFUL!!!