Moving Day... One of Them! 189.365

 It's hottest day of the year… or so it feels that way… and we decide to move. Today was moving day… the first one. We'll have at least 2 more I think. One more to bring the rest of our furniture and the second (which is really the third) for the date we actually move in. That won't be until after we are married and home from our honeymoon.

There was a lot of work... but definitely some time for play! You can't skip the fun! After we unloaded everything, I was in my glory finding a home for our belongings in the kitchen so Mono and Meemsy went out back and played on our playground!

Since Mono is off today, he and I went down with my Mom, Dad, Nahida and the girls and we moved in. We loaded and then unloaded a U-haul and put everything where it belonged. So exciting! I had so much fun even though it felt like the hottest day of the year!

 One of my sisters left me this sweet message. I don't know if I will ever want to take it down. It's colorful, cute, and memorable.

 Having all those helping hands was a huge help! They were so hot and tired. Poor things.

I loved driving this truck! Like really, really loved. I'm weird that way. 

The Maryland girls in the Maryland truck, moving the two Marylanders! :)

I love our new home and am really enjoying this whole process. I think we are going to go back next Saturday to take care of the outside a bit. Hopefully it won't feel like the hottest day of the year again, especially working outside!

Jumping Out of my Comfort Zone

Okay, I have a little story to share. It may not amuse you so much, but it surely provides quite the amusement to Mono and my sisters. Enough so that they purchased this new outfit for me tonight...

 I have been informed that I need to own basketball shorts, athletic shorts, whatever you want to call 'em and just plain ol' t-shirts. While we were on our vacation at the beach, they all laughed at me that I always had an entire outfit, with accessories for each day. No matter what we were doing, I had my outfit on and I was happy. To me I am plain and comfortable, but to them, I look dressed up and uncomfortable. Then on the day we left, I pulled something wild out of my luggage. Something that no one ever expected. I did own a plain ol' t-shirt. Everyone commented, "Mare!!! YOU have a plain t-shirt?!" I was quite amused by this because it was never something I really payed attention to.

Tonight when I was shopping with the girls, they took me to the athletic department to look for a new outfit that they were going to be buying for me. I do own a few t-shirts, a pair of sweatpants capris and leggings with running shorts for my exercising, but that is the only time I wear them. I am no longer allowed to do projects and clean in my nice clothes. Now I have this new outfit to move our belongings into the new house, clean and do projects in... and I guess hang out in? I'm still trying to figure out how this works. haha- I have nice sweats that I hang out in, but apparently, even those are nice. 

I guess I'm a work in progress. ;) 

And for now, I am jumping out of my comfort zone into what they tell me is comfort clothes.

Hello Neighbor 188.365

Today was our first day that both Mono and I could go see our house. It has been ours for a while, but the previous owners were renting from us and they have moved out now. Technically I could have gone in yesterday, but way too much needed to get done. So today was the day. The girls and I filled up the back of the car, drove down to the house and got to work! We cleaned the kitchen cabinets, lined them with nice cabinet liners and started to fill up our kitchen cabinets!

Someone left this little gift on the counter for Mono as a house warming gift. Pretty nice. :)

 We had a very classy first meal in the house, didn't we? No furniture is there yet, so we ate like the Japanese do. What fun! I ordered two pizzas, picked up some drinks and even took out my nice dishes to eat on. I couldn't serve our first meal on paper plates! It was a lot of fun!

I think my favorite part was getting out some of my new towels to lay nicely in their given drawer! We are going back tomorrow with everyone (Mono, Mom, Dad, the girls and Nahida... oh and Jimmy too!) to bring more boxes, including our dining room table! We won't have to eat on the floor tomorrow. I will post more pictures tomorrow night hopefully!

 

On our way out, one of our neighbors across the way was leaving her driveway and she waved to me! I was so excited and waved back so she knew I was excited to see a new neighbor! haha- These people are probably thinking, who is this crazy lady waving so much!? I'm loving this whole having a house thing! I know there will be ups and downs with it, but I am enjoying this very much. I cannot wait to go back tomorrow to clean and organize some more!

Little Chef 187.365

 Meemsy is a great help in the kitchen. All the girls have their areas they like to work in in the kitchen, and she is an all around helper! Tonight she helped peel garlic for our dinner. She told me she was doing it like Giada.

Sole mates 186.365

 

Mono and I may be soul mates but he and Meemsy are definitely sole mates. :) Wherever he goes, you are sure to find Meemsy nearby. It's proven in where she leaves her shoes too!

Enjoying Our Last Day 185.365

Today may be our last day here at the beach before we leave tomorrow, but it is certainly not our last day of summer fun!

Before heading out tomorrow, we were sure to make a stop and see what the ritzy life is like...

I love the area to the back of this hotel so much. It's gorgeous and I had to get a picture of the six of us before leaving.

 

My four beautiful sisters!!!!

Nahida and the girls, all enjoying this beautiful place!

Meemsy and Mono. 

What love!

My Mom and I. As you can tell from the lack of her presence in pictures, she does not like being in front of the camera. Neither of my parents do. My Dad is behind the camera a lot on trips too. Before I got my recent camera, he was the main photographer in the family, but now I think I've taken over. As you can see by my millions of pictures!

See, isn't this a beautiful place? Glad I got a nice picture of Mono and I while we were there too!

 

I love this picture with Nahida and the roses! She looks wonderful!

 And a little glimpse of where we spent most of our time on this vacation...

There won't be many actual beach pictures on here, but I will post a few tomorrow hopefully! Being that we are traveling tomorrow and I won't be taking pictures, I will post today's beach pictures here... just a few safe ones. ;)

Red, White, and Blue 184.365

Our morning started out with a fun parade, heading straight down the main street on this gorgeous little island. We all decked out in a combination of red, white and/or blue and headed on our way to see the festivities of the day!

We lined up on the street and all waited for the famous island parade to begin.

Love these pictures of them!!

 

There was music...

 

lots and lots of it.

And fire trucks, police cars, and cool cars

 

And a combination of both!

This was surely a hit!

The highlight was definitely when the people in the parade threw candy and little goodies out to the kids lining the street. Meemsy got some patriotic bling.

Flags were given out... and then worn... 

Mon sported his in a very fun and creative way.

I loved these little girls and their outfits! I will be making these for my children one day!

These guys were funny. See the guy in the blue an yellow in the top right pic? He's scanning the crowd for a cute girl...

And it was then that he spotted her.

And he chose our girl!!

Ines!! Awesome choice!

Merima enjoyed the parade! She looks cute with her new bling as she called it. I'm so out of the loop with current lingo. Those are still just plain old necklaces to me!

 

I was waiting for these guys. I remembered them from last year and I waited until the very end to get my picture with them. Awesomeness! I wish I could dance like them - not even on the stilts. I need to get lessons from them in time for my wedding... at least that's what my sisters have told me after they saw my dancing skills lack of dancing skills.

I love waterfalls... that came from my Dad. :)

 

After the parade we spent some time at the beach, came back to the pool, cleaned ourselves up and had dinner and patriotic cupcakes!

 Boxed, but still yummy! I love the sparkly stars!

Merima nicely set the table for us to eat at. :) What a good girl!

 And then... at about 7:30 we headed down to the water to settle into our little spot for the fireworks. They were scheduled to start at 9:00.

Well, after waiting an hour and a half, they finally started a little after 10:30!!

 We were happy and the crowd cheered...big time!

After a half an hour or so of a great fireworks show, we headed back home. It didn't mean bed time, but we did settle down. Had some ice cream, watched tv and relaxed.

 

We only have one more day here, and it has been a lot of fun. Tonight was great. The whole day was! I'm so glad I am able to celebrate this summer holiday and spend time with my sisters, my parents and Mono!