Behind

...on packing...on getting invitations completed...on housework...on my blog!
I've been pulling my hair out that last few days trying to get everything done before Cancun. We will be gone for almost 2 weeks and in "brideland" that's equivalent to 2 months! It's really hard to prepare for a trip with a 1 year old. Sam's a breeze...flip flops, toothbrush, bikini, some shorts...she's straight! But Alexa...my gosh...we have to figure out the whole bottle in the airport thing and bug repellent, and water diapers, and how much diapers do we need to pack and the humid weather out in Cancun isn't gonna help...I just know that this vacation is gonna test my patience. (How do you do it Jame?) I've only got two and I'm a mess!

In between Sunset Beach and today so much has been going on. Mostly a lot of preparation for the big trip, and a lot of little things here and there. I missed out on a gathering with my oldest friends/cousins (not old in age, but the longest time). Auts picked Sam up to join in on the fun, which was nice. She had such a good time. She took a lot of good pictures, which made me even more sad about not going :(

Her and Kira have been hanging out more, now that Jame and I see each other like 2-4 times a year instead of once every other year...LOL...and it makes me so happy to see them together. They get along so well. Sam slept over the Waters the other night and just didn't want it to end. (BTW Jame, she loves your chicken.) I know that I don't express how proud I am of Sam, but I am. She makes me laugh, and her sense of humor is hilarious. We can look at each other and know what were thinking. She loves her sister and is so good with her. This summer is gonna fly by and my baby girl is no longer a baby, is going into 5th grade! Can't time stop...or at least slow down, so that I can realize how much time I have with her. By the times I notice, years have already passed and I'm coloring my grey hair out more often. It's pretty bad when you know exactly what aisle, brand and #60 dark brown. ugh...to be young again.

Sunset Beach

Yesterday Alexa went to beach for the first time! Sunset Beach. She loved it. She even managed to sneak some shells in her mouth before I can get to her. Yuck! She was all smiles right when we step foot on the sand. She didn't know whether to touch the sand or not, but she did admire her sister rolled up in it! I love the pics of Sam and her at the beach. Sam is such a Roxy model. Her brown skin and long hair looks perfect for "surfer"-like pics! My two beautiful girls. I'm so blessed.

I also went to San Diego with 7 of my girlfriends, in celebration of my all time great friend Eleanor. They are such a good group of girlfriends to go out with. The tab is never short. We watch each others' backs. We all have fun and can laugh at ourselves. I mean, just look at us: goofballs, right?
We just have good old fashion cackling sessions when we're all together. We become 12 again. It's really quite funny! We've been friends for such a long time and have lots of great memories together through the years. Eleanor was my maid of honor and 2 others' maid of honor as well. That just shows that she such a great friend. I love her like a sister.
She's getting married in Cancun on Alexa's 1st birthday the 3rd of August. My whole family including my brother and parents are going as well. We can't wait! Our first real family trip...and it's out of the country! (I know I'm excited now, but the 5 hour plane ride with Alexa fussing on my lap won't be so exciting.)

Checked out Tone's event at Garden of Eden last night with the girls. It was nice to get out with the comfort of my girlfriends. It was especially nice to see Pola and Marianne. Mom's night out again. :) Independence Day eve with the girls was a blast. We even managed to fit all 7 of us in the minivan! And yes, we valeted the minivan! LOL! Michelle and Carol met us up there. I put on my dancing shoes on once again and worked out a few leg muscles. I'm a little sore this morning. But it's a good pain. :) I'm so thankful to have the friends I have. I'd go insane without them! Thank you Eleanor for getting us home safely!

Eleven months, 2 teeth and 1 step!

My girl is eleven months already! She's got 2 teeth, one on the bottom and one fang on her left side. Paul and I say that she has a piece of rice stuck there, because that's what it looks like, but it's definately a tooth! She took her first step yesterday in her room. She'll only do it when she's chasing something. In this case it was a remote control! Her personality is coming out. She knows how to say and nod "NO". She covers her mouth when I tell her to not touch something....then cutely says, "hiiiiiiiiii", like that works. (It does.) She loves The Backyardigans song, but the rest of the cartoon she can do without. She prefers to be fed with my fingers than a spoon. She absolutely cannot sleep without her pillow. Which is odd to me, because I never had an attachment to a blanket, pillow or doll...nor Sam, but Alexa loves her standard size pillow! She also likes the cardboard coasters at the Yard House and not to mention likes the chicken in the chicken lettuce wraps! Just the little things...

In one month we will be celebrating her birthday in Cancun, Mexico! It's gonna fly by.