Chris is 34 years old & did I mention he has a hot girlfriend!

Chris turned 34 years old on Friday! Did I mention his hot girlfriend is 29? And of course, his hot girlfriend took that AWESOME pic on his cake! I am so AWESOME! I didn't tell Chris what we were doing for his birthday but the girls were included too. After me obviously NOT listening to Chris' wants over the past few months, I was running out of time and even after asking him to repeat what he had said, I was left with few options. He did state he wanted an iPhone, which I called to see if they had them in stock and how to get it added and activated with a new number to the Apple store at Crabtree, however I wanted to do something different AND something he wouldn't think of. Thats what makes it kind of fun!

I got the crazy idea of taking them to ParacleteXP. Wonder where I got that idea from? Wasn't sure if Chris would like it, but guess I would give it a try. I called them several times asking questions, and I actually had picked up hours on his birthday and wasn't scheduled to leave work until 7p, so the last possible time I could book was 10pm. They had almost everything open on Saturday, but Friday was his birthday, so doing it on Saturday wasn't the same.

I found out Thursday late afternoon, that Teresa Cole could pick up my 3p-7p hours, which would put me out early, so I sent Chris a text and asked him to try to get off work early so we could get on the road. He wasn't going to know until Friday if he could but even if he couldn't we would still get on the road quicker than if I was getting off at 7p so that was great.

Chris ended up getting off early and he met me at the house and we got on the road. Im not sure who was more excited, the girls or me. The girls kept asking me to give them hints and couldn't stand it that they didn't know where they were going but were so excited. Kind of like around Christmas time! We got on I-40 and headed east...got on I-95 and headed south...got off in Fayetteville and here Chris thought I had rented the 'sombrero' out at South of the Border! Boy was he going to be disappointed. We made our way through Fayetteville and kept driving, I had a copy of the mapquest directions and were following them out loud as I needed help looking for places to turn. The last turn we needed was to make a right turn onto Brock Road..so about the time I said that, Chris says 'I've seen that place before'. As I looked up there was the sign on Emilee's page "Indoor Skydiving".....um, well, 'That's your birthday present'. I told the girls we were here and they saw the sign and Allison yelled 'Indoor Skydiving'.

Wasn't sure how everyone was going to take it, but we proceeded anyway. I could have booked myself with the family plan but I wanted to take pictures too bad, and I don't trust alot of other people to take pictures. I would rather take 200 and have 10 great shots than take 15 and have NONE.

I went up to the desk and checked us in, signed all the waivers and the girls and Chris got armbands (the girls favorite thing) and we proceeded to the elevator to floor number 3. When we got off, we were immediately looking at the tunnel, there was a couple before us that were getting ready to go in and we still had to get through the class. Chris and the girls got into their suits, knee pads and all and then Rick, our instructor went over positioning and hand signals.

They proceeded into the room where they were going to actually go into the tunnel one at a time with Rick. Everyone voted on Lauren to go first, which she didn't mind. I tried to take as many pictures as I could and and video. When I turned on Chris' video camera it wouldn't focus and since I rely on Chris to know everything, it was too late for me to ask how to fix it. I took some video and pics with my camera. They looked like they had a great time and they were all so awesome. We will definately have to go again. Below are some of the pictures that I took along with a video clip of Allison and Chris. Hope you enjoy!

Heres the birthday boy! See Chris, I don't think you've gained THAT much weight(or was it that they turned up the pressure in there?)

Allison was a little hesitant to go out for the 2nd round, but she did smile at me and it really did look like she was having fun!

I think Lauren had the most fun, even if it wasn't her birthday. She did go the highest and she would have enjoyed it more if she would have kept her eyes OPEN! She did make sure we all knew how high she went.

Here are the two video clips I took with my awesome camera! Oh did I mention its the camera Chris got me for Christmas last year!! He is awesome too! I think thats why we get along so well, we are such an AWESOME couple!

Enough said...

The ex-husband decides to text me late last night with a reminder to check where I had water leaks a couple of years ago. HELLO? I think I have that under control...so when I got up this am, I felt a little 'sarcasm' coming on...so I texted back about 0615 and told him Chris had already checked.. ha ha.. Boy, did that feel good! Then the texting battle was on. He proceeded to tell me that I needed to 'quite taking advantage of every situation that I can'. He also told me that his equity needs to be paid so that he can 'finally turn the last page in our 20 years of knowing each other'. Turn the last page? Heck, I burned the darn book when you chose to meet another woman at a bar, while having her drop you off at the house at 0530 with me and your kids sleeping inside the first night you met her! Can I get an amen? Hello???? I may be blonde but im not THAT stupid! That is a situation that your mother may forget about BUT will NEVER be able to change. He also advised me to pay for the gloves that last year were given to me as a present from the girls. Also, I guess he is on a kick to, again, keep asking for things he has left at the house, one piece at a time! Now its the video camera from his mother. Next week or month, it will be a salt or pepper shaker from 15 years ago, or maybe that one lost black sock from 7 years ago that was left outside? Can anyone feel my pain here? I did tell him that as much as he wants the world to see me like he does, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN, because, Im a much better person that what he wants to make me out to be.

I have never once since calling her a ***** the first night I got confirmation, ever said a word about her to him, the kids or ANYONE, yet every single conversation that he and I have, Chris has to be brought up in some way. Yet, I plug along and continue to keep my mouth shut. When I asked him one day about how I could do that and he couldn't, his response was 'i guess your just a better person than me'. Uh? Heck yes I am!

I guess lots of our friends that know Chris and know me and know him, are realizing what an *** he really is and not the all around guy that he thinks he is. One that does more for ANYONE else than his own kids.

At least when he does call, it makes me laugh, not sure if its the ringtone or the nice picture that comes up, and all of you who know me, now exactly what Im talking about. But it does bring a chuckle EVERYTIME!

Someone's birthday is coming......

So Chris' birthday is coming up on Friday, as I have not listened to him (as he has told me several times), I am attempting to surprise him with something. Since I've asked him what he has told me that he wants despite me not listening, he has only told me an IPhone. Thats not a birthday present is it? So off to planning something else.

I made some calls today, trying to set up something, and since I picked up 12 hours on Friday and now not getting off until 1900, Im trying to fit it in before time runs out. We could do it Saturday, however, thats not his birthday! Can't really say much more because he may actually read this! More to follow!

VIR-What a difference a year makes!

I love going to VIR, (Virginia International Raceway, for those of you who don't know) mainly because its so close! About 30 minutes north of Durham past Roxboro. Its the newest track that we go to and is pretty nice for camping for a long weekend.

Last September the girls and I went, mainly so that they could see their father race. We weren't allowed in the pits with Rod so we ended up camping outside the pit area and in some turns where I had planned on taking pictures. Sarah went with us so it was me and 3 girls! Fun fun. We actually did have a good time, even though Rod only came to see the girls a couple of times, mainly to eat and then he headed back to the pits. I did have his camera at the time and took pics of him along with pics of Chris, because I have known Chris for many years. It was kind of nice because at least Chris would talk to me.

Fast forward to a year later, which is now! Chris and I are together and in 7 days it'll be a year since I figured out that the moon has 2 rings! Anyway, we packed the cars and headed out Friday. We had a pretty smooth drive up and set up camp. Chris got the bike stuff out and the girls and I attempted setting up 2 tents. I have a HUGE 2 room tent, but we were told by the girls that 'you guys can't sleep in here'. So we set up Chris's and slept there. We forgot that the last air mattress we had leaked the last time and we tossed it. So needless to say, after sleeping on the thin padding, we were going to have to get an airmattress or we would be sleeping in the car. The temp was supp to be 41 on Saturday night and we did not want to endure that!

We headed out on the track with our bicycles Saturday after all the events were over for the day. Lauren started out and said 'Im going to beat you guys' Needless to say after the almost 3 mile course, she did. At one point I told her to slow down and she said 'But mommy, you guys are going to pass me and Im not gonna win". Got to love the competitiveness! I love it!
When we came back and came back through the pits we came across what Lauren called the "Mack Daddy' motorhome. She had even taken my camera earlier in the day and rode her bike to take pictures. So, Chris, I think we have officially found the race hauler for us! Not that the size was impressive enough, it had a section in the bottom that you pulled out an entire kitchen, including a sink! Hello, is there any other one that could be better? It was definately impressive.

Sunday, we got up, Chris had one practice session and then his race was slated 2nd so we thought we would be out shortly after mid-day and then head back to the RV show at the new Convention Center. Chris headed out for his race, which ended up being a group of experts, and 2 groups of amateurs. A 3-wave race. Not sure if thats such a great idea. We were still waiting on Brian to show up. Chris called him right before he left and Brian was past Roxboro, but was going to cut it close in getting there on time. Chris left for his race and we headed to pit road to watch.
The green flag dropped and off they went, so Lauren was timing, I was taking pictures and Allison was yelling. So we knew to start watching about every 1:30 seconds. Well, everyone was coming onto pit road after the 1st lap. Ok, which group of idiots went down that is now delaying the race? So I called Brian, and found out he was at the gate. I told him that they were sitting on pit road and hadn't restarted yet. About 10 minutes later, they sent them out again. Again, the green flag dropped and Brian showed up. Ok, we are all good now. Around they went with lap 1. And back onto pit road for lap 2. WHAT? You've got be kidding me! They sat on pit road for a few minutes and then sent them back to the pits and were now moving their race to AFTER the 2 hour endurance race which was AFTER lunch! WHAT? What sense does this make? How about letting the experts race and then moving the 2 groups of amateurs after lunch? I don't know which PhD is making these decisions but it makes no sense. So now we knew we weren't going to get back home before the RV show was over, but hey, we just found the one we want, right?
After the 1st practice, I am totally done with this camera. Oh do I want a Canon 40D with a 70-200/2.8 lens...oh the AWESOME pictures I could get. I hate taking pics that aren't perfect. Rewind, last year I got some great pics of Chris despite what Rod thinks he took. Hello, I took those 900 pics of Chris. NOT YOU!

Did I mention, Chris is riding MY bike? Im a pretty nice girlfriend, huh? A 2006 Yamaha R1. Pretty sweet, huh? I definately couldn't ride it like him, but I would sure look good on it and it would be '20 years old' like my other one, that he keeps reminding me of.

Chris finally did get his race in around 2pm. He finished 7th out of a expert group of 18, I think. Not too bad. I told him to pick off 3 riders a lap and he would be good. He didn't listen to me. I think its a man thing. He doesn't want to admit I was right.

We did start to get everything loaded and Brian took off on Allison's bike. I think Lauren took this picture! I think its Brian's perfect size.

We did have a great time and it was great to get away from Raleigh! The girls are still tracked out one more week and then back to school until after Thanksgiving! I can say this was way better than last years trip to VIR! WOW! What a difference a year makes!

Check out the clip I got on the warm up lap to Chris' race on Sunday. Doesn't he look soooo HOT!

The BEST pop-tart EVER!

While at the grocery store, Lauren saw a box of pop-tarts that had college logos and it showed the UNC logo on the front. "Can we get it mommy?" "Lauren, just because it has the picture on the box, it doesn't mean that its in there." "I don't care", Lauren replied. So I said ok. So morning after morning, we opened another wrapper, until today...YIPPEEE! This is the BEST pop-tart EVER!

Dr. Vinson....here's Lauren!

I went ahead and scheduled a consultation appointment for Lauren when I had made Allison's appointment. I felt we were getting started late with Allison, so I wanted to make sure we were on track with Lauren. Lauren had no problem playing the Wii in the middle of the waiting room! Golf and tennis! We had a different girl this time,that walked us through everything. She had just moved here from Florida!

Lauren was taken for her pictures and even though Allison had told her what it was like,Lauren was ready! ha ha. Dr. Vinson, came in and went over the same things as with Allison. Lauren will in fact need braces. He wants to follow up in a year but she wont need her 'vein' cut as certain ex-family keep telling her. I guess now she can believe it since the orthodontist told her so.

IDK my BFF.......NOT!!!!

The email notification of my new wireless bill being available came on Tuesday. So I pulled it up and WOW was I shocked! Someone had some overage charges that added up to more than $100. Lauren lost her phone over a month ago and I haven't replaced it yet so I was hoping that no one had used the phone and was now racking up charges. And then I wondered if I had talked to Chris too much! Since last month I had to up our plan minutes b/c he isn't on Cingular/AT & T to an additional 500. And, Allison was always within her boundries. So which one of us was it?

As I started reviewing the breakdown... Laurens phone was just the basic charge and no added cost.. so Lauren was off the hook. My number was ok and so I guess I was off the hook. Could it be Allison? I did warn her a couple of weeks ago that her texting limit was 200 a month. And her fingers seemed to be working that keypad quite a bit. So off to Allisons part of the bill.....and yes... not only did she use 200 it was wayyyyy more! What? I couldn't believe it was that much more!

So I called Allison about 10am and, of course, she wasn't up yet.. I said "Allison, I got the phone bill today, and remember when I told you that you only had 200 text messages? Guess how many you had?" Her response was "uh-oh." I said 'take a guess... remember you had 200." She said ""400?" I said "1367!" She said "jeeezzz!" She then added that 'but it's not all me mommy, my friends text me alot."

I had already changed her plan to UNLIMITED and told her to text away. I then sent my lovely account rep an email requesting her to rerate my bill and they took off the extra $130 in overage charges! Yeah!

So as shocked as I was...I later heard that one of the other RN's daughters had over 6700 text messages in a month. Her bill was over 200 pages long. 6700? Thats around 200 per day! How could you sleep? Was she in school? So now I know Allison couldn't top that... so the unlimited plan was the way to go! Yeah!

$1,131,883 with no tax and FREE shipping!

I was playing around on bluenile.com and look what I built. A 10.02 carat, emerald cut diamond. A four-prong setting, set in platinum. Does it really LOOK like $1 million? Not sure, but wouldn't mind putting it on to test it out. I think the picture would look better on my hand... the diamond itself has to be HUGE!

Off to Carowinds!

We headed to Charlotte Friday night and stayed at Dad's and headed to Carowinds Saturday morning. With all the rain lately I was hoping we wouldn't get rained on. Luckily, it started off clear and HOT. The girls and I had never been to Carowinds, so we were all excited. It was Chris' trip that his union had arranged and lunch was planned.
We ran into all the 'Nick' characters... Sponge Bob, of course was the favorite. With the Fairly Odd Parents coming in a close second. Maybe that because the girls can relate to that daily. We did manage to ride some rides and even got Chris on a water ride that got him wet. (Which he hates) So I guess we are moving up in the world.
Don't we look so cute! This was on the 1st water ride we rode. Funny, how the picture that the ride took has both girls in the front of the log we were riding in screaming with their mouths wide open! Its hilarious!
Not of course as funny as the shirts Chris found in one of the shops. I'm surprised he didn't buy them all. We headed to a shelter area where lunch was provided. Fried chicken, hot dogs, chips, baked beans and ice cream. Yippee!
Despite the rain shower we got as we waited in line for this ride, it was a great trip. It was a water ride so who cares! Carowinds has a Scarowinds in the month of October, so maybe we will have to get some adults to go back and ride ALL the coasters!