Open Letter to Kellogg's

Dear Kellogg's,

Can you please create a healthy dinner that is wrapped in a Nutra-Grain wrapper and looks and tastes like a Nutra-Grain bar? My children are officially addicted to your Nutra-Grain bar and we may even have to call family over for an intervention. Tonight my son ate a plate full of broccoli just so he could get his Nutra-Grain bar that I promised him he could have if he ate all of his broccoli. I didn't think he actually would but he'd do anything for one. Maybe your chefs could work on the pasty fillings in the middle so they could include protein like chicken or beef! Then I wouldn't feel so guilty letting them eat them with dinner or should I say FOR dinner.

Thank you,

Tired Mother of Two

Charlie Marchant Ritchey

Congratulations to John, Leah and big brother Adrey! Charlie arrived at 5:41 this morning weighing 7 lbs., 8 oz and 20 inches long. He is a spitting image of his dad in this photo. I can't wait to meet him. :) Congrats you guys...love you!

Roller Derby

Last Saturday night I was invited to go rollerskating...yes ROLLERSKATING...with some friends in Ft. Myers. These are the same friends that I used to go rollerskating with when I was in middle school. And I probably haven't been skating since. It was Tash and Amanda's birthdays and this is how they wanted to celebrate. (maybe Amanda more than Tash!) We packed all 8 of us in my mommy-mobile/mini-van and headed north. Of course we stopped at Bar Louie first because lets face it...who can skate completely sober??!! A drink may help the fall not feel so hard. We all enjoyed one drink and some appetizers and got the courage to get back in the van and head up to the rink. Just opening the door to the rink and smelling old pizza and smelly skates brought back all the memories of adolescence again. LOL We were relieved to see that we weren't the oldest people there; the most normal but not the oldest.

Shannon and Amanda were pros and looked like they've been skating all of their lives and together. They actually skated in sync with another and even bopped to the music at the same time. It was so cute; well not so cute as they lapped us casual skaters trying not to fall. We had this one little kid who kept cutting us off and falling in front of us the whole night! They made him get off the rink at one point. I mean skating and not falling is pretty hard; throw in obstacles like a falling kid and it's even harder.

We had such a great night and ended with a very late dinner at Carrabbas. It was great to meet new friends through old friends and everyone really had a nice time together. Happy Birthday Tash and Amanda and thanks again for inviting me to a very...interesting....and fun night! xoxo

We mingled at Tash's house before heading up to the rink.

(Side note: Tash just painted that room the day before -

I love that pretty blue color, especially with all that light coming in.)

Six of the girls crammed in the back of the van. By the way, see how
energetic everyone was BEFORE we went skating??

These are the girls that I spent most of my days and nights

with in middle school. Tash and I were inseparable!

Our late dinner at Carrabbas; everyone was totally wiped out!

Tash, Amanda and Shannon - The Three Amigos!

Who Could???

Who could give this cute little girl the grade of an 'F'?! She's so cute, that can't be...

All lotioned up for the waterpark!

Showing off her teeth!

Her daddy must be mistaken when he gave her an 'F' for Monday's behavior. LOL When Andy comes home from work and the dining room chairs are stacked on top of the table and on top of our bed; he never questions why. He knows why...we have the most energetic and trouble making 18 month ever! And we love her and wouldn't ever change her. We just love when she goes to bed at 7:15 so we can relax from chasing her!

Daddy's grades today...Lexi/Fafee was a busy baby!!

Congrats Heather & BJ!! They had a beautiful, healthy girl this morning...Madilyn Grace Fischer.

Enjoying the Beach with Friends

A few weekends ago Devin, Lexi and I were lucky enough to be invited to the Barefoot Beach Club at Lely Barefoot Beach by Kelly and her mother Hilda. We met up with Kelly, Brennan, Hilda, Tesa, and Blake. The kids and the moms had a wonderful time. Kelly has invited us again next weekend and I can't wait! Hopefully Andy can come this time. I know I've mentioned this before but beach clubs are AWESOME! I packed a bag of sand toys and water toys and sunscreen; the beach club provided everything else. I'm getting spoiled and I love it!

Oh and a quick side note...our beaches are beautiful and oil/tar is NOT present. It's business as usual at the Southwest Florida Beaches!

Here are some pictures of our fun day at the beach with our besties!

Enjoying the view with my favorite little ones.

Devin had a blast with the water gun!

Brennan and Blake enjoying the shade!

Brennan in his wetsuit, so cute!

Lexi is NEVER still...reminds me of someone else!

Moms and babes enjoying the waves.

Devin must have played with that truck for hours.

Lunch break...Did I mention they bring lunch

and drinks directly to you?!

Brennan practicing surfing on a lawn chair...that seems safe!

Thanks to Kelly and Hilda for hosting such an enjoyable and fun day by all. Can't wait for next weekend. :-)