Greetings from Corolla, NC

We've been at the beach now since late Saturday night/early Sunday morning (this is a picture of the house we're staying in - I've never stayed anywhere this BIG), and I think we're all starting to feel rested and very, very full (Honey's mom has been feeding us like the witch fed Hansel & Gretel to fatten them up before she was going to eat them. It's been SO great!). I can't get over how very COLD the water is. The lifeguard stand has a sign that tells water temp, and it's been between 57 & 62 the entire time. BRRRR! The pumpkins run right up to the waves, and then run away screaming with delight before the icy water touches their toes. Their daddy & his brothers have actually been body surfing in the water. I don't know HOW they do it - us girls choose to keep a safe distance from the water, burying our toes in the sand. It's also windy, so I have to wear a shirt to the beach to keep warm. It's unlike any previous beach experience I've had! We also spend a good bit of time in the pool (which is heated), and it's got a lovely little section that's only about a foot and a half of water, so whenever Miss MA sees it out the window, she starts screaming, "POOL! POOL! POOL!" I think that's her favorite.

It's been delightful watching all the little cousins enjoy each other - there are 5 total: Miss K is the oldest at 3 1/2, and Miss MA is the youngest at almost 2. In the middle are Mr J, 3, Miss C, almost 2, and Mr E, almost 2. Loads of fun. They were having races yesterday in the living room - it was adorable. I have video of it, but haven't figured out yet how to post it. I'll get honey to help me out later.

movin' right along

In another installment of the "I'm just a little crazy" episodes, we leave Friday to go to North Carolina. MapQuest tells us that it's about a 22 hour drive from here to there, and then we get to do that all over again when we come back next week.

SO, I need HELP. I have never traveled that far with the pumpkins, and need input on how to keep us all from losing our minds while we're driving. Keep in mind that our car does not have a DVD player... Any suggestions?

surf's up!

So I think I might be a little crazy, but I've got to tell ya', every grain of sand being tracked into my house from the pumpkins' sandbox is pushing me closer and closer to the edge. It all started a few weeks ago - we had finally gotten rid of all the "yucky" sand from last summer (advertised as play sand, but was obviously NOT play sand because of all the big rocks & junk it it), and honey wanted the replacement to be white sand. You know, beach sand. As one guy I talked to called it, "white sugar sand." Yep.

Well, turns out that you can't buy white sugar sand at any store around here. They all sell quick-rete's version of play sand, that's brown and dirty looking, with flecks of stuff in it that's white & black. Gritty looking. Yuck-o, right? So I finally tracked down some white sugar sand at a gravel & sand place, and honey was able to go get a "quarter of a yard" of white sugar sand (about 500 pounds) loaded up in the back of the truck.

So, people, there's a reason you can't buy white sugar sand for the sand box. It sticks to children. To their legs, to their arms, to the dog...to EVERYTHING. Mom & Dad have the gritty quick-rete sand at their house. Guess what? Doesn't stick. I've already changed my sheets TWICE (in one week) due to sand in the sheets. I can so handle that when I'm AT THE BEACH, but not so much in my house.

I had already decided that I want to do the girls' room in "surfer girl" style. Miss K asked me if that means she gets to have water & sand in her room. We're halfway there, baby!

Tag!

I'm it! My sweet friend Kelley, who lives altogether too far away these days (we miss you down here, Kelley!) sent me the following message:

No obligation, but you've been "tagged." Read the info below and join in on the fun on your blog if you want:
1. Each tagged "player" starts with 8 random facts/habits about him- or herself.
2. A tagged person must write a blog entry about his or her 8 things and post these rules.
3. At the end of the blog, the tagged person must include 8 people to get tagged, and list their names.
4. Leave them a comment telling them they're tagged, and to read your blog.

So, I've decided to very willingly oblige, because I feel like my brain is just absolutely ASLEEP these days, and maybe this'll get it going...or at least get something on the ol' blog!

8 random facts about me:
1. I wish I could play the bass guitar, and/or sing in musicals, like Idina Menzel, aka "Elphaba" from Wicked, and "Maureen" from Rent.
2. I LOVE roller coasters. Not the old, crickety wooden ones like the Texas Giant at Six Flags (yuck-o; those guys give me headaches), but new smooth ones, like Titan at Six Flags, or Aerosmith at Disney.
3. Junie B. Jones makes me laugh (although I don't think I want my girls to read her books and learn her bad habits).

4. I love the sound of the ocean, but not getting in the ocean.
5. I'm a little too excited about the release of Pirates III (love me some Captain Jack!). So much so that I'm considering seeing it at midnight on Thursday the 25th, even though we leave at 3 pm on Friday afternoon to drive 23 stinkin' hours to North Carolina.
6. I love traveling, but hate road trips (can you say yuck-o, 23 hours to North Carolina?).
7. And yet I hope to one day buy an RV so that we can travel the country with the pumpkins. Am I a complicated woman or what??!! Poor honey.
8. Favorite things about each season: Spring: new life all around! Summer: fruit (yea for watermelons!). Fall: football (go, Cowboys, even if they didn't get the right draft pick!). Winter: Christmas.

So there's my list of randomness. I'd love to see Liz, Bek, Jen, Laur, Lin, Rae, and Sue post their own lists, but there's no obligation, girls!

treats & inconveniences

Our computer is sick. Hence "inconveniences." I knew that I used it a lot, but SHEESH it's hard not having my computer. I'm able to use honey's laptop in the evenings, so I'm not totally without...but I'm a bit amazed at how dependent I am on the dang thing.

Moving on: last week one of the girls mentioned an easy version of caramel popcorn she makes. I (being a big fan of caramel popcorn) perked right up. I found a version of it online, super easy, super good (it even looks professional!), so if you're a fan, pay attention:

MICROWAVE CARAMEL POPCORN

Prepare 4 quarts popped popcorn (about 1/2 cup unpopped, maybe a little more)

Add to 2 quart dish:
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Microwave 3 minutes, stir, and microwave for additional 1 1/2 minutes.
Stir in 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.

Pour caramel mixture over popcorn in brown paper bag, and shake vigorously for about a minute (check to see if distributed evenly).

Put paper bag in microwave, and microwave for about 1 minute and 10 seconds. Shake, and microwave an additional minute an 10 seconds. Cool & enjoy!
*Note: when I microwaved it for a minute and 10 seconds, it was too long, and a few pieces burned, so I now microwave it for about 30 seconds at a time 4 times. If it isn't microwaved enough, it will be chewy. It can also be baked in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes after you shake it all together, if you want to do it that way.