Updates Aplenty!

Hello Strangers! I have been somewhat silent in the blogosphere for awhile... I have no good excuses, but here are a few highlights of what has been going on.

• First and the most exciting is that my parents came down for a visit! They stayed at my house and it was very nice and relaxing to have a "home base" instead of having to juggle the schedules between kids and the hotel. (The parents usually stayed in a hotel a few miles from TexSis's house when they came to visit, since there was no room for them to stay with us.) Thankfully, now at Hotel Arbee there is plenty of room and even thought the house isn't that big it is plenty large enough for 3 adults to visit comfortably! :) (hint, hint - now there is no hotel expense...we expect visits to be more frequent down here...possibly when it isn't miserably hot and humid!)
• Been settling into the Nursery. I'm still not exactly ecstatic about being in there, but it is better than some other callings as was pointed out to me. The funny thing about this is I am still new and learning which kid belongs to which parent; the other two regulars in the nursery got called to YW. They called another person, but she is still relatively new too! I figure as long as the kids will go with someone that comes to the door and they're all picked up...we're all good. I am probably at about 50% on who belongs with who, so at least half of the kids should get matched with the correct parent...
• Finally completed the Sister Swap with SoonerSis! We both had a ton of fun with this, and I highly recommend swapping with your sister...especially if they live in another state. I'm pretty sure both of us went a bit over our budgets on this, but in the end we were both extremely happy with our respective packages, and that's all that matters! (when I remember to take a picture I will post). I definitely stuck with the pink theme: pink KitchenAid stuff - measuring cups, spoons, can opener, pink spatulas in three sizes, Pretty in Pink DVD, sour patch watermelons, pink nail polish, pink/green mini notebook, pink rose flower pens (made by me!), pink with yellow trim apron, watermelon Extra and pink/green kitchen towels. I think that is everything... Anyway, the packages were delivered by MoM and Dad, since both of us were too cheap to mail them. It's a good thing too, since both boxes were stuffed to the gills. Mine would have fit into a large flat-rate box, but hers definitely wouldn't have!
• Bought a new toy! I decided I might as well splurge and get a good machine, since over the years I have had a few and combined they would have been the price of one good machine. It better be the last machine I have to buy. I went off the fact my MoM has had her Bernina for 42 years and it's still going... I made SoonerSis's apron with it and I have to say it sews beautifully and is much quieter than I am used to. Now, maybe I will start sewing again. I'm not much of a seamstress, but I have a bunch of apron patterns to try out! :)
• Went to see Wicked with TexSis, E and TexSis's BFF (I got to go with them since Z opted out - and TexSis had already bought her ticket). I had no idea what to expect, since I knew very little of the storyline. Needless to say the show was amazing! I wish I could sing like that...and dance. (unfortunately, I am white, white, white and am not musical in the least bit)
• Took the kitties to the vet. Came out $600+ poorer! :( Minny had an ear infection and Holly has allergies, so both have medicines. At least Holly's is on an as-needed basis and it's just eye drops. Minny had to have her ears cleaned for two weeks, plus have ear drops for a week! (note to self: cats do not like having their ears cleaned!) Plus, I got them microchipped. Not that they will need to be ID'd via microchip (at least I don't expect them to), but you never know... Not to mention, the $600 does not include Minny's spay that is scheduled for July 10th. Sheesh, these two will put me in the poor house! (At least there was no hissing/growling/bushing at the vet this time, I'm looking at you Holly...)