We laughed so hard when we saw this one.
Patrick insisted that we post this stuffed cat shark on our blog.
A beautiful cat shark in the Monterey Bay Aquarium (aw! we miss that aquarium!)
My two cute sharks! We've been watching Discovery channel all week and enjoying Shark Week! 
So we're thinking, we'll be with a bunch of middle aged fans probably mostly women. Were we wrong! First the place was packed--more packed than the Gipsy Kings concert Maribel and I attended a couple of months ago. The age range--14year old teens - 65 something retirees. And there were about equal number of men in the audience and they didn't look like they were forced into going by their wives or girlfriends!! They were singing along! 
Not just them, the whole place was singing along. It was one huge karioke fest!! The scary part, I sang the whole concert as well . Who knew I knew all the words but then again back in the 80s when Bradford Lipetz broke my heart (hu hu hu), I'd gather up my Air Supply cassette tapes and play them over and over again--nothin' like a good cry back then. Though the resulting swollen mole people eyes afterwards was no fun. But I knew someday I would look back and laugh at that crying fest. And sure enough, on Friday night I laughed and sang the whole night. 
Graham and Russell sang pretty well for a couple of middle aged soft rockers. Russell's black crazy hair is gone replaced by what I thought was blond hair but Sue pointed out that it was white and straightened. He still wears the funky outfits but more tattoos. Graham looks a little older--not surgically enhanced either. And only that night did I realize he's a left handed guitarist. The rest of the band, (new members) keyboardist, drummer and bass guitarist were all eye candy!! I'm not kidding! Hmmm..I wonder perhaps the reason for the younger crowd.
Sue and John were worried that I'd go into labor. I was only standing on top of the chair for half of the concert...plus I took my shoes off. Barefeet and pregnant but not in the kitchen! It was a fun night! I forgot the aches and pains of carrying a big baby but it took me three days to recoup because the following day all the aches came back. But hey! it's better than the achy breaky heartache of the 80s.
A very wise mentor recommended "The Last Lecture" to me a few months ago. It is one of the best books I've read. The author, Randy Pausch, just passed away from pancreatic cancer at the young age of 47 leaving a wife and three young kids...and leaving us a little book full of life lessons. I highly recommend it. If you don't have time to read it, check out the lecture (on You Tube) that inspired the book, or read just a handful of bullet points from his book. He said..in life we can be either a "Tigger" or an "Eeyore"--its' a choice. 
A group of us went to try out this meal preparation joint in Mobile and made a girls' night out of it. In less than 90 minutes, I had 36 servings of 8 different dishes all done and ready to be stored in the freezer.
They served us wine and bottled water and a featured dish for next month which was chicken paella. Here's Sandra, Kelly and I having a sample.
Blake & Kristen concentrating...1/8 teaspoon or 1/4 teaspoon of chile powder. I had to say the ingredients out loud so I don't get confused. Carrie was preparing coconut shrimp and realized at the end that she forgot to put the shrimp.
A photo op infront of the Honey Orange Chicken and Hawaiian Chicken Prep Bar
The best part of it all...no dishes to wash or counters to clean.
It was a fun evening out! 
It's the last Vacation Bible School of the summer for us. I'll be teaching the kindergartners this week while Ronan and Patrick attend their classes in different labs. We're all excited to learn some bible stories and doing "experiments". Stay tuned for fun photos to follow up soon!
What a difference a week makes! Last week, I didn't think I could make it to 40 weeks. I must have had a surge in relaxin hormone because all my joints were achy. But all is better now. The aches are tolerable and energy level is good. My friend Jennifer, introduced me to her shiatsu back massager chair pad. It so awesome that when I got home, I ordered one from Amazon. I'm sure Jim is relieved that I'm not demanding back massages anymore. My thighs are a frightning sight and unfortunately have to subject the public to its viewing because the boys and I have been swimming quite a bit. The water does wonders for my back and I'm able to get some exercise that way. I can no longer do the stationary bike, elliptical machine or even the threadmill for fear of falling down on my giant belly. The contractions have gone down in frequency, heartburn is back but me love my Nexium, not much change with the insomnia. I passed my 3 hour glucose tolerance test--they should really rename that as glucose torture test. I got another ultrasound of Gabriel and he is already 3lbs 11 oz!! He maybe working on coming out as a 10 pounder (yikes!), we'll see. Patrick was 8lbs15oz (really 9lbs), Ronan 9lbs 7 oz (round that to 9.5lbs) They'll probably do another ultrasound at 37 weeks to make sure he's not too big for a regular delivery. That is all the pregnancy babble for now. I groan and hobble a lot but my spirits are good!
They lit the fireworks in the middle of the street and run like mad up the driveway.
Scott and Mark lighting one of the artillery shells. Those were pretty cool stuff!
Ooohs and aaahhhss!!
-----------Kiss the cook.
--------------Kiss the maltese!
-----------------Chillin' out.
Laurie introduced me to Nuts on Clark the first time she visited us here in Mississippi. They have DA BEST caramel corn in the UNIVERSE. The problem is you can only get it online or in Chicago. A couple of weeks ago, she was in Chicago visiting her brother and family and she sent me a huge box of caramel corn along with a CD of her nephew, Sean's, band. If you're ever in Chicago, or even in O'Hare airport---you must treat yourself to some.
The last six + years, my kids have been my reality check gauge. This past weekend, Gabriel whacked me out of my sulking party. I've been having occasional Braxton Hicks contractions--the typical stuff for those entering the final trimester. But by Sunday night, I was having 4-5 mild to moderate contractions every hour and at rest. I also noticed Gabriel was not moving as much. I hardly got any sleep because of a little worry and just from being so uncomfortable. When I called L&D the following day, they made me come to the hospital where I got hooked up to a tocometer for 4.5 hours. Gabriel is fine, his heart rate never went down below the 140s but my contractions were very frequent. Gabriel moved all over the place as if there's a party in my womb. Dr. Moore did couple of tests and all were NEGATIVE for preterm labor. No cervical dilation, just a little effacement which is normal at this time. Basically he just told me to make sure I keep hydrated and to SLOW DOWN and take it easy. Slow down?!?! I thought I was slowing down already. Hello!?! I'm postponing SF trip and missing out on the Ireland trip in August! And wait, compared to all the stuff I was doing during the second trimester, I've slowed down a bit. 
I get it Gabriel...I need to go slower. I'll have no choice now anyway. My posse here has also become my slow-down police. Thanks Girls!
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