Thirty, Flirty & Thriving

A couple of my favorite gal pals turned 30 this past spring, and they also happen to be some of the best party planners I know.  These fabulous ladies threw themselves the most amazing 30th birthday parties, and I'm just glad I got to celebrate with them, especially considering I was vomiting with food poisoning on the night I was supposed to celebrate my 30th 21st birthday!

Miss Mary Anna Brown, aka Queen MAB turned 30 on April 12th.  That weekend, she hosted a group of friends by booking us a hotel suite in Midtown.  We noshed on appetizers and wine while we got all dolled up, and then had an excellent dinner at Sunset Grille.  After dinner we frequented a few bars including the Tavern, and Broadway Brewhouse  (mmmm, Bushwackers!).  If only the tattoo parlor had been open just a wee bit later, someone might have got a new piercing that night!  It was funny trying to explain to the cabbie who took us home why we were from Nashville but staying in a hotel.  He was a different ethnic background, and so I feel some of it was just lost in translation!  You would think that was the end of the night, but wait, there's more!  Our hostess with the mostess thought of everything.  We put on our jammies, and MA opened her gifts, then we capped off the evening with champagne and cupcakes. 

the birthday celebrating night-owls

Former roommate Stephanie turned 30 on May 21st.  Steph planned a spectacular visit to Nashvegas to celebrate her big birthday.  She came into town on a Friday afternoon where she picked me up, and we drove south to Lawrenceburg, Tennessee to spend the night with Argo.  I made Steph an awesome mix cd, titled "Steph & Da:  the UK years" with all of our favorite songs from college, so we jammed to that with the convertible top down on our drive.  I was fascinated to learn that the horrible cicadas that plagued Middle Tennessee at this time did not inhabit Lawrenceburg, and so we were able to enjoy a festive cookout at the house that night with several new friends. 

A funny street sign in Lawrenceburg- the corner of First and First

The Nexus of the Universe (you fellow Seinfeld fans will love this.)

Me, Steph & Argo with our "mascot," Dozier

On Saturday we drove downtown to yet another Nashville hotel to celebrate Steph's birthday. Likewise, this birthday hostess provided beverages for us to sip as we got dressed and ready before the limo picked us up. That's right, a limo. We had champagne during our ride around Nashville until it was time to make our dinner reservation at Sambuca. 

Here's to being "thirty, flirty, & thriving"

 "29 Until Further Notice"

Steph had these amazing cocktail napkins for us

One of the funniest things I thought about our dinner at Sambuca was that every single one of us ordered a pizza (except for Steph who got some kind of sea bass- not the mutated kind, though).  I wondered why we bothered to go to a swanky restaurant if all we wanted was pizza!  The live band sang happy birthday to Steph, and we obligingly sang along, much to the dissatisfaction of the other diners, I'm sure.

The former Sugar Shack Girls reunite

After dinner, we hit The Big Bang piano bar, and then Paradise Park on the LoBro strip.  (I love how two different weekends going out in Nashville can be two totally different scenes.)  As much fun as the evening was, I was ready to call it a night, and ready to see my little guy the next day.

These two ladies are as smart and witty as they come.  I guess that's why they were wise to befriend yours truly.  We sassy ladies tend to move in packs, you know.  MA and Steph are each well-versed in planning spectacular shindigs, and so I am thankful to have taken part in two amazing weekends celebrating their fabulosity.

More 4th of July Fun

The weekend of the 4th we went to visit Michael, Missy, Braedon, Garrick, and Addison in Evansville, Indiana. This was our sort of family get-together for the 4th of July.  It was basically a relaxing time of sitting out in the backyard and watching the kids run around, listening to music, and doing what our family does best- talk and laugh.  We had a family water balloon toss game, which Braedon and I won.  The kids swam in the pool, jumped on the trampoline, had a fierce water baloon fight and ran around together from morning til night.

Bradley & Addie in the baby pool

Mike & Mike trying to figure out the pool filter

Garrick models the latest fashion of wearing your socks with your swimtrunks

Braedon was such a good sport by letting the little ones throw water baloons at him.  He then unmercifully threw them at his younger brother Garrick and brought him to tears!

Cousins in the pool

Our 4th of July Funfetti cupcakes that Bradley helped me decorate

Cupcake time

Stupid me, I cut off Addison's face in the picture, but it was still a really cute one of her and Bradley

Since Bradley could not get enough Cheeeeeese balls at Michael & Missy's house last summer, they made sure to have a huge container of them for him this time too.  Bradley was obsessed with them!  The proof is in his orange mouth and fingers!  When jumping into the pool, Bradley was yelling "Cheeseball!" 

"Um, I think you mean 'cannonball,' Bradley," we told him.

watching the fireworks out front

Braedon reads a Toy Story book to Ginger, Garrick, Bradley & Addison

Sunday morning Braedon practiced his pitching with Uncle Mike.  We affectionately call Braedon "Justin Bieber" because he has been mistaken for the popstar many times with his shaggy hair!

Uncle Mike the pitching coach

Made in the shade

Family picture on the front porch

Thanks Michael, Michael-Missy (Bradley's name for Missy), and kids!  We had such a fun time, and can't wait to get together again!

A City Girl's 4th of July Lament

Two things you should know about me:

I am a city girl at heart and

I like to be up front and center, in the middle of everything.

So when we decided to check out Franklin's fireworks for the first time, I tried to make sure we were going to be where the action was.  Apparently the fireworks are set off from behind Franklin High School, and some internet research pointed towards Harlinsdale park as the spot to watch the festivities.  A city park in Franklin sounded like a good place to watch fireworks to me.

Imagine my shock when we pull into a gravel road on a farm.  Next imagine my horror when I open my door and step out into grass so tall it swallows my ankles.  So this is Franklin's idea of a park, is it? 

What's crazy to me is that cars were pouring in by the dozens to line up in rows, with parking attendants organizing the whole thing.  We might have come here by mistake, but there were plenty of other people who knew what they were getting into and came here on purpose!  Where was the park?  We were in a cow pasture!  Where were the playground and the manicured lawns?  Off in the distance was a barn with a silo, and right above it, we overheard, was where the fireworks would be.  So now I'm in a field, and not anywhere close to where the fireworks would be!  Sorry, but part of the thrill of fireworks is the loud booms.  We were so far off that I might as well have stayed at home and watched them through the trees.

Thankfully we brought plenty of bug spray, so we loaded up.  Good thing too, because there were flying insects swarming, and the second I started to spread out Clifford, the Big Red Blanket, I saw a ginormous spider scurrying through the grass with a bulbous egg sack on its back.  Minutes later I caught sight of another spider on Clifford.  That was enough to give me the heeby jeebies, and I was done with the cow pasture!  I was wearing flip flops, and I wanted nothing to do with the creatures lurking in that tall grass.  Mom feels the same way I do about the country, so we made the best of it, and climbed into the safety of the back of the SUV to watch the fireworks.

 They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Well this picture says exactly what I was feeling.

 I was also misinformed that the fireworks would have coordinating music on one of the local a.m. channels.  This too, turned out to be wrong information.  I guess I'm spoiled by Nashville's fireworks that draws a hundred thousand people, has live music, and are shot off right downtown on the river.  It's one of the top ten fireworks displays in the nation.  And instead, I'm in a cow pasture watching explosions so far off in the distance over a barn, that I could clap my hands and make more noise than the these fireworks.  I think we're not in Nashville anymore, Toto.

 The fireworks lasted about a half an hour, and Bradley enjoyed them.  He kept calling the multi-colored ones, "the Christmas tree ones," and this he repeated over and over.  I watched the flying bugs out of the corner of my eye to make sure none of them invaded our vehicle.  I just could not relax!

I thought Bradley's running commentary was so amusing that I took some video footage of the fireworks with him chattering in the background. 

If you want to park in a field, and watch the fireworks in near silence, hop in your cars and be home in ten minutes, then the Franklin fireworks are for you.  Not me though.  I want lots of people, and deafening explosions among the backdrop of the River, the Titans stadium, and the downtown skyline.  I want my neck to ache from craning it upwards, and I want fallen ash to float down on me.  I want to hear the Nashville Symphony play the Stars & Stripes forever while the booms and bright lights fill the sky.  You can put the city girl in the country, but you can't put the country in the city girl.  Next year, I'll fight the crowds in Nashville, thankyouverymuch. 

BTM: The Beach

Aside from the ho-hum post on our beach trip, with all the gorgeous ocean shots, and pictures of yours truly as a bronzed beach goddess, and a rundown of our food, here's the stuff that's truly entertaining and blogworthy!

The frozen drink selection at Bamboo Willies:

Steph and I chose the Williewacker.  It was a lot more fun to say and order than to drink.  The frozen concoction  was very average.

Outside of our namesake store, Sandy Bottoms, there were these great stand-ups for picture taking.  Here, Laura and I ride the dolphins...

and Steph does her best Daryl Hannah impression!

On our way to and from Pensacola Beach we drove through part of the National Seashore- an area of the beach dedicated to preserving the natural wildlife.  There was a 15 mph speed limit enforced during one stretch of the road to protect the nesting shorebirds.  We followed a car on our way home one night that must have really cared about those shorebirds because he was going way too slow.  Fr some reason the shorebirds popped up in all sorts of conversations this week.  You'd be surprised to discover just how relevant those nesting shorebirds can be to all things beachy.

Now here's real sisterly love right there.  Laura's rear end and thighs were burned, and I volunteered to rub aloe on for her.  If you're thinking this picture just "ain't right," you should have seen the angle of the other 2 shots Steph took because they were far less appropriate than this!

Blue Steele makes an appearance.  I mustered up my best model face to try on a hair bow that Steph eventually bought to wear to a horse racing event she's attending.

A photo in our condo of the owners- or at least one of them. 

I'm not sure who the lady is with our condo owner.

The street names on Navarre beach are named after states, and they're in alphabetical order.  It makes finding your street a piece of cake, unless, of course, you can't remember the alphabet.  We had some kind of discrepancy like this, which prompted Stephanie to ask aloud if we knew the song "Fifty Nifty."  Did we know it?  Please!  Laura and I proceeded to sing the tune in its entirety, which made for an amusing ride home.

The Sandy Bottom Girls and the beach monkey

A drink on the menu at the Beach Monkey Grill- I have a feeling this was supposed to be a "rajun cajun" martini.  I noticed just now too that "pepper" is misspelled as well.  I would be willing to bet this restaurant won't be in business long.  Any place who's that careless with their menu has got bigger fish to fry.  Pun intended.

Speaking of fish, our server that night, Brandon, admitted to us that he just found out that tuna is actually a kind of fish.  Is Jessica Simpson still single?  Because if so, I think we've found her soul mate!

 UK Alums pose with a picture of their flag at Helenbacks

 Having fun at the Navarre Pier

Look what we caught!

Stop.

Pier Rat

Since we didn't end up fishing, Stephanie asked a fisherman who was finishing up his lunch if she could take a picture holding his fishing pole.  Forgive me, but the innuendos of Steph getting to hold a black man's rod that day were too much!

Strange decor at the East Bay Crab House.  What is it about Santa Claus that says seafood to you?

Or how about cheap looking picture of Jesus?  Doesn't this image make you want to eat crab legs?

A photo from our cheesy beach photo session- "look over there," we seem to be saying.

We printed off a good picture of Laura and me, and then scoured a few souvenir shops searching for a classy beach frame... at least that's what I wanted.  Laura, on the other hand, found a frame of a shark, with its jaws open.  In the shark's open mouth was the opening for the picture.  I had found a frame covered in sea shells.  Since it was just the 2 of us, and we both had our own ideas of what our dad would appreciate more, I suggested we settle our frame debate rock-paper-scissor style.  Best 2 out of 3.  It came down to the last round.  A shark frame now adorns our dad's dresser.

Our condo included these two prints of Hurricanes Dennis and Ivan.  "Hurricane Bradley" could not have been more ecstatic.  There was even a dvd of a local new channel's footage of Hurricane Ivan.  I might have actually made Laura watch the dvd with me. 

The condo was decorated in a martini theme.  Laura takes a sip from the martini lamp.

 

The Pumper coozie makes an appearance on the beach!

One night Stephanie decided on a whim that 888 were her lucky numbers, and so we rushed into the gas station to buy a lottery ticket.  The gas station attendant thought we were crazy, and flirted with Steph.  For some reason, Florida doesn't have a "pick 3" so Steph settled instead for a scratch off one, and a Powerball ticket.  I am still waiting for my third of her winnings. 

 

What did we crazy girls get into down in Florida?  We played rousing games of Old Maid and Uno!  It had been so long since any of us had played Old Maid that we actually had to read the directions on how to play first.  This particular deck of cards had characters on each card.  We were each dubbed to represent one of the characters.  I was Birdwatcher Beulah.  Don't ask me why.  Stephanie was Minnie Bucks, because she was looking to strike it rich from her lottery winnings.  Laura wound up with the Old Maid, which was ironic since she was the only married one of the three of us, and she's the youngest!

And finally, I present to you as promised, drunk old people dancing.  If my camera battery hadn't been dying, I would have filmed longer, but as it is, this 48 seconds is worth your time.

So those are some of the fun and funny moments of the trip.  I am finally done with the beach blogs!

3 year stats

Now that Bradley's been three for almost a month, I figured it was time to catch up and post on his 3 year check-up!  We LOVE our pediatrician Dr. Gordon Davis, and Nurse Karen.  And it seems we have been there enough that when they call Bradley's name to go back, he runs down the hall and gets on the scale without being asked!  He also has favorite books in the doctor waiting room.  So here are the 3 year stats and an update on Bradley:

• All tests run were normal
• No shots needed at this check-up
• Strep test was negative (I asked them to do a re-check on this because I thought Bradley might be a carrier for strep since he's had it several times this year- negative result means he's not a carrier)
• Weight:  34.5 pounds (78% percentile)
• Height 36.8 inches (34% percentile)- hence we have a short, stocky boy
• Dr. Davis always marvels at how socially advanced Bradley is, and told me that he will be the kind of kid to make friends easily and be a natural leader- what parent doesn't love to hear this?
• Not to worry about the picky eating, but continue to give him a daily multi-vitamin
• Praise him for the successful pottying attempts and give him small rewards, and not to criticize the accidents or failed attempts
• Not to worry about the short attention span or the temper-tantrums
• Favorite foods at 3 years:  cinnamon raisin toast, chicken fingers, yougurt, turkey, goldfish, ice cream sandwiches, suckers
• Least favorite food:  any vegetable
• Favorite show to watch on TV:  Tom & Jerry
• Favorite movie:  Sleeping Beauty
• Favorite books:  Goldilocks & the Three Bears, Buzby the Misbehavin' Bee, the volcano chapter of a book on animals and nature.
• Favorite toy:  None.  He likes to be entertained, and play chase, although he will throw a football, kick a soccer ball back and forth, or hit a baseball for a few precious minutes before moving on to his next activity

I have heard other parents say that behavior-wise, three is worse than two so we are bracing ourselves, but I am happy to report that Bradley is now potty trained!   Praise the Lord, I do not have to buy another box of diapers ever again!  Instead, he got to pick out some new big boy undies this week- he could choose between Cars and Superheros, so he chose the Superheros.