Why yes I have been busy...thanks

Well...I really have been busy so I have neglected this blog...sorry!! I have kept up with a few blogs..aka Amanda and Josh but thats really it. Its Thanksgiving this week and I cannot believe the year is passing so quickly. It will be time to pen the infamous Christmas letter that goes out with the Christmas cards...that reminds me I need to hunt some cute paper.

Christen has done so wekll at school again his year and finally getting a bit of...well lets call it recognition for her hard work. She was chosen for the Substance Abuse Council and the Chancellor's Innovation Council as well as Vice Chair of Student Affairs and Academic Integrity. She is a Senator for SGA as well. She came home last weekend for a quick trip so we we could shop for business clothing as she called it. She needed more conservative outfits since the Chancellor's Council meets with the Deans and dept heads. She had her first meeting this past Friday- she said it was really cool to be the ONLY student there with all the important Dubbies. Not me...I would have been so self conflicted. I love that about her..the fact she can walk into a room and she may be quivering inside but you would never know it physically. Simply amazing- her grades are better than ever- she is classified as a Junior instead of a first semester Sophomore and is going to have to add another minor or go abroad- I bet she chooses abroad or she will graduate next Spring 2013 instead of Spring 2014 as planned. I did tell you she was amazing right? She is also working at Randall on campus 3 times a week.

She signed up for classes next Spring last week. I told her to take it easy...she still took 15 hours. But the exciting thing is all her classes are on Tuesday and Thursdays..that means she has NO class Mon Wed or Fri..whoop whoop. Knowing her..she will work those days.. I am glad she won't have such full days 5 days a week. I pray she can slow down and talk a breath...and enjoy her amazing life. I tell her to slow down..she tells me.."I have been busy"...well duh!

Sophomore Year is here

Last weekend we moved babygirl into her very first apartment with 5 of her friends. The move itself took a truck with its bed full pulling a full trailer, 2 FULL SUV's, and Christen's Honda. My girl had some stuff I tell ya..haha The apartment looks really cute. Her room is super cute with pink and black colors. She shares a bathroom with Tina and hey chose orange and pink stuff for that. Super duper awesome for a first apt. 6 bedrooms, 3 baths, large kitchen and living area as well. She loves it and the girls she is living with. Her schedule is exactly what she wanted and she is happy with her SGA stuff and Advisory Board. Hope this year she continues with her academic success and all the demands of her extra curriculars. Last year I think she was overwhelmed so I hope she takes time to breath a little this year. She is looking for another part time job since she is staying in Wilmington permantly now (sadness for me). She helped the Freshman move in this past Saturday and said how weird it was to see a stranger in her old dorm at Cornerstone. She texted me today how she and Tina cleaned their entire apartment. I have to say I was so proud...we all know I am a clean freak.

But- we do miss her around her...lots. Hurricane Irene is bearing down on Wilmy possibly this weekend. Hopefully they will evacuate if needed. I guess we we all have to stay tuned to the weather and see what happens. I have been taking care of Carrie since her surgery last Wed and played cards with the Subletts Saturday night trying to keep myself busy so I do not miss her so much. It does seem to be working a bit or I am just adjusting better...yay me!!

I actually did really well leaving her this time. Few tears and I genuinely am happy she is so estatic about her situation there. I cannot imagine leaving an unhappy child so props o her for being sooo over them moon.

Its THAT time already?

Gosh its almost Aug 12...that means its time for my babygirl to move into her very first apartment. Now she is still on campus this year..moving off next year..but she is out of the dorm and has an apt with 5 of her friends in a 6 bedroom 3 bath apt. thats a crowded joint when the time comes I bet. all summer we have shopped for her little gadgets she wanted for the kitchen, bought her first real appliance ( a Keurig)haha. My child loves her coffee- she comes by it naturally. She picked out new bedding at Pottery barn and spent a mini fortune at TJ Maxx, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Home Goods stores. I am excited to see what this year brings her. She was elected to serve on SGA again this year and will represent SGA on the Student Substance Abuse Board for the Chancellor while heading the Marketing Committee again and helping on Academic Board again and Campus Activities. I have NO idea where she gets the time to do all she does but she loves it. Changing her major to Psych and Leadership Minor has prompted her to get even more busy I think. She sorts wants to do the Sorority thing bc some of her friends do it but I do not know where she would actually find the time. i guess thats where the excitement comes in bc she has unlimited choices. Wow...that must be so nice!!

Mom, Jimmy, Terri, Mere, Carrie, Dani, and I are headed to wilmington next Thursday night to help her move in. I found 2 futons for their living room so Christen was happy about that.

She and Katie headed to the rodeo tonight and she is going rafting/zip lining this weekend. Sounds like a great last weekend at home to me..and GNO Fri night at Maggiano's sounds yummy to me. But i really cannot believe that its that time again for her to leave me!!!

Family Beach trip (July 2011) and Summer Fun

We had our family beach trip at Atlantic beach this year at Island Beach and Racquet Club instead of the Kure beach house since Christen goes to UNCW now. It doesn't feel like a vacation for her if we do it in the city she lives in..haha. Katie was down with her parents as well so they hung out and had a great time. Christen really spent some time with us this trip so that was super nice. We did all the usual restaraunts and Beaufort. Shopped for her new suits- she got 4. Frans always has the best selection. She and Katie left after 5 days because I had purchased Tim McGraw tickets for them Friday night. They put on their cowboy boots and had an amazing time together as usual. Katie has had a lot of gigs this summer and Christen helps her at all of them. So much so, they asked her to be Katie's official assistant. She gets a cut when her EP comes out..kinda amazing that she is on YouTube and you can buy her songs on ITunes. i am very proud of the hard work they put in behind the scenes. Katie writes her own music and plays piano and guitar. I really hope she gets a big break.

We have shopped til we dropped for the last 3 weeks or so for Christen's first apartment. She has torn up TJ Maxx, Bed Bath and Beyond, Pottery barn, and Home Goods. I cannot wait to see how her room turns out this time. She is doing black and pink kinda Parisian theme. Too cute and she has such great taste- it just breakes the bank...haha

Christen had a dermatologist appt yesterday and he took a few moles off. My child is such a beast. He took that 3 inch needle and injected her skull and neck then snip snip...it was over. She didn't flinch. Amazing actually and I am so glad he just did it at that appt instead of making her come again as her time here is running out. Aug 12th is move in date but school does not start til Aug 24 so she is coming back for a day or 2 i think. I dread this move almost as bad as last year. Its been a great summer getting to know my college Sophomore again and she has a year lease on this apt so I will not see her as much next summer.

Kendall moved back home last week and Cole busted his eyebrow open at the lake requiring stitches. My sister is handling it all well and I know she is glad that kendall is finally home. They came swimming a few days ago and we had a cookout sunday with the Turners.

Its been a busy hectic summer thus far but I have loved it all <3

Road Trip

Babygirl and Katie Bug (yes I affectionatley call the girls these very names and have done so for many years) headed to Katie's college stomping grounds the last 5 days. They had a blast. Katie wrote a news song and networked with some music folk and Christen carried her guitar around- haha BUT true. Actually Christen got to sing along at one of their new friends Grandparents 50th Anniversary. They got to eat as long as they provided entertainment. Katie strummed and sang but needed a potty break so Christen was her fill in. Too cute. Would have loved to hear her actually sing aloud for all to hear.

Unfortunatly she had to come home to an Ethics exam today. Oh well- life goes on in boring D-Town. jessica Sublett turns 12 years old tomorrow. I really can't believe she will be in middle school- slex in high school, and Caleb in Kindergarten. I feel so old...still.

Missing the forest for the trees

Wow- it has been so hot around here these days. Consistantly in the 90's and our community pool had some issues so its late opening up. I have NEVER been this pale at the start of summer.

I am experiencing some summertime blues partly because Christen is hardly ever at home. I was looking forward to spending her last summer at home at the pool, vacationing, shopping, pedi's, etc all the stuff we enjoy BUT she has been out of town every weekend since she left Dub. Beach with Katie, then Charlotte, and now she is in Nashville. She will be home next weekend however because we moved her oral surgery to next Fri June 10th. Guess I will get to see then..haha

Caleb had him some oral surgery yesterday at Duke. It went well except a small snaffu when the nurses failed to read his chart post surgery. He has tracheal malaise and they thought he was experiencing an allergic reaction- he wasn't but they gave him steroids anyhow- so he was aggressive when he woke up in recovery for a bit. He came out of the fog quickly but I felt sorry for the poor guy. He was very uncomfortable. It reminded me about the saying "missing the forest for the trees". All the dum dums had to do was check his chart BUT they were too busy looking for elephants. It happens in medicine alot- I am going to try for that never to happen with me- but it does in a different way.

I tend to miss all the cool things I used to have with Christen when she was younger. Saturday morning games, friend sleepovers, parties, etc...but now that she has grown up and moved on to college- my involvement in her life has diminished. So when I am doing something with her- I still relate back to what it used to be and not enjoy it as much I think. I guess I need to adjust my vision and enjoy her as the adult she is becoming instead of the child she used to be. Easy to say but hard to practice

End of the year

Well Christen officially ended her Freshman year at UNCW is finally dunzo. She was selected as a Marshall to serve at graduation this year and she said it was amazing to see the close senior friends she has made...move on. We stayed at the beach for almost 2 weeks since she had to stay for grad anyhow. Curdle came up for a few days and so did Jimmy. Moving Christen out of her dorm took a TON of trips. How in the world did she have sooo much in that small room? As soon as we got back from the beach- the very same hour actually- Christen decided she wanted to put all her dorm stuff away and clean her closet to accommodate her clothes. OMG- it took us 3 hours to complete this task. My child is OCD

Christens grades were great and she is taking a couple of classes this summer for her Leadership minor..Ethic and Soc of the Family. Ethics is a 16 week class she is finishing in 16 days. Crazy talk

She and Katie are headed to the beach this weekend after Hog day Fri night and to Charlotte Thursday to meet Bo and the Dub Crew for Speed Street. its a country concert that goes on for days. They are also headed to Nashville at some point this summer for Katies music. We found out yesterday that Christens wisdom teeth surgery is scheduled for June 23 and he is gonna do a lip revision as well since she will be udder anesthesia. She is headed to Richmond for the OAR concert to stay with Kelly and Becca too.Then we are headed to the beach for July 4th for about 10 days again. Full summer and I know it will pass quickly. Christen is already looking for her next apt for her Junior year as there are waiting list everywhere. she is moving off campus then. I must admit I am excited about helping her pick stuff out for her on campus apt this year at the Crossing. She is starting new bc she wants all new colors this year.

But for now I am excited the pool opens this weekend. I will get my tan on hopefully.