Happy Labor Day!

Looking through all the Facebook pictures many of my friends spent their holiday outside. We were no exception, well the kids and I. Poor Shane was working. We, of course went to the beach! While we were there Aspen looked for shells, I looked for shark's teeth and Matthew brought me garbage. Both of my kids can't walk by a piece of garbage on the beach. If they see trash they pick it up and throw it away. We usually go to the state park because there is less garbage and they can enjoy themselves more.
We found four shark's teeth at the beach today. I finally googled "why are shark's teeth black" and learned something new! I learned in Florida every spring there is a Shark's Tooth Festival. The festival even has a 10k for you runners out there! When we find shark's teeth on the beach they are usually black. I learned this is because when the tooth falls out of the shark's mouth and settles on the ocean floor it becomes the color of the sediment. The minerals in the sediment replace the dentin and enamel that makes up the tooth, then the tooth turns that color. Off our coast that is black. I did not know there are other colors of shark's teeth. Interesting!

Friday Night Lights

Lat night I went to my first football game since, well since I was in high school. I am not a football fan. I try but it seems the more questions I ask the more I annoy Shane so I stopped asking. High school football is even more confusing because it seems the plays happen so fast and because it is in front of you and not on t.v. with the instant replay a bazillion times! I think any live sports event is confusing. It took me FOREVER to finally understand off sides in soccer!
We went to the game because Aspen plays in the marching band. She plays the baritone. A large brass instrument that hides her whole head when she plays! The marching band did a great job last night. I am looking forward to more performances by them. I hope next time we get to see them in full uniform. Lat night the wore jeans and their marching band tee's. I know Aspen was relieved!

State Park

Today after I picked up Matthew from school we went to the state park to check out the waves from Hurricane Earl. We saw some cool things at the beach this afternoon! I was surprised at how busy the beach was! No one was in the water. I think this had something to do with it.

The red no swimming sign. Warning people not to go into the water. It was cool to see a guy get fussed at by the lifeguard to get out of the water.

Of course the waves were cool! Here are some larger than normal waves.

We also saw some cool stuff washed ashore. The birds were enjoying dining on Sargassum seaweed till Matthew came along!

We also learned a little something today! We learned the Sargasso or Sargassum seaweed lives off shore. It was washed ashore in large quantities by the storm. We found "seashells" attached to the Sargassum. We learned those are called Gooseneck Barnacles.

Sargassum with a Gooseneck Barnacle attached. The berry looking things on the Sargassum help it float.

We saw some girls do something creative with the seaweed.

I love the imagination of children! It was a great hour spent at the beach. I need to start packing play clothes in the car for spontaneous after school trips like this.                                                                                    

Go Away Earl

Sounds like the title to a kids early reader story book! We will be lucky and the only effect of Earl we will feel is wind and rough surf. The surf is good for people who want to surf but not for people who had planned a last trip to the beach for the summer. Aspen is at the age were she doesn't understand the impact but was hoping for a day off of school. She wanted to have the storm then look at the damage. She doesn't understand the impact that has on lives. I was an adult before I realized storms are not fun. It's not just a day off of school or work. It is possible lost income for weeks after. We have been very lucky and have not been hit by storms in a long time. I pray our "luck" continues. I also pray for others along our coast. I pray it gets pushed further out to sea than predicted.

Strange Visit Today

We had a family we did not know come over to visit today! They didn't come to see us but our house. They lived in our house when their baby was born and now live in PA. They were visiting the beach and decided to visit their old house! Their "baby" looked around 10!
How cool is that?!?!?!?
It made me think about my guys and all their firsts that happened in this house. Matthew came home to this house. He walked, talked and started school here. His training wheels came off his bike here. He was stung by a bee jumping down from the tree in the front yard. Aspen started middle school here and as of tomorrow high school! She lost her last tooth here. She has countless sleepovers here. She learned how to cook in this kitchen and how to do laundry in this laundry room.
One day will I not only ask for a picture under the address on my from porch but will I ask to come in and see if the hash marks we made to see if Matthew will be tall enough to ride Everest at Disney are still on the wall? Will the new people cut down the perfect tree climbing tree in the backyard? Will they leave candy on the porch while the whole family goes trick-or-treating? Will they make all the awesome memories we have made? Will it be just a house or a home?
I can't seem to find a picture of the front of the house on the computer. Oh well the Halloween picture of the front porch still gives the HOME feeling :)

I found my quote

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Marianne Williamson

This is the one I assumed Maya Angelo wrote.

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!?!?!?!?

Is what was on my mind this Mother's Day!!! My kids were good. My husband was sweet. So why oh why was I feeling this way?!?!? I simply like the song by Adam Lambert. And I am going to see him in concert!!! It was one of my Mother's Day presents from Shane:) I hope all you ladies had a blessed Mother's Day!

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain.
Maya Angelou

I was looking for another quote from her and found this one. I am beginning to wonder if she wrote the one I am looking for.

crazy past couple of days

Well Matthew's appointment went well. I am so proud of my little man. He was so brave during the testing on his back. I am blessed with healthy kids so that was the hardest thing I've had to do with him:( Well he has no food allergies:) He can swim in the ocean!! He has sensitivities to grass, dust mites, pollen and mold. What a relief! After talking with the allergist hives are not that scary anymore.
I have also been dealing with family stuff too. My mom is in the hospital:( She was missing (to me) for a day and a half. Come to find out she is in the hospital. She is confused and the doctors don't want her alone unsupervised. So she is going to rehabilitation then they will assess the situation there. It is possible she had a seizure. I am hoping that is it and she does not have dementia. Her oxygen levals were low too. So maybe it is that. I don't know, prayers please.

Allergist

Matthew goes in at 11 to see the allergist. Hopefully we will find out what is making him breakout in hives. Since he loves science and experiments we told him the doctor is going to do science experiments on him to see what he is allergic too. That made him somewhat excited.