Friday Hodgepodge

Friday Randomness

{one} It's Friday the 13th, yikes! I'm not overly superstitious, but let's just say if I see a black cat in my path, I plan on crossing the street!

{two} After taking the week off from running, I'm hitting the road again Monday--no excuses!



{three} I have learned 2 things this morning:

Never try to finish a post once Gillian Grace is awake for the day. Something that should take less than an hour, can easily take five! {Hence the later than usual Friday post!}

It only takes my daughter minutes to undo the cleanliness it took me an entire day to achieve!





{four} On a personal note, just as I was about to publish this post, I got a call from my mom---My grandmother was rushed to the hospital with chest pains just a little bit ago. Being a firm believer in the power of prayer, please include my Mama Phyllis when you say yours today.


GG and her Great Mama Phyllis, December 2009


Five Question Friday

Yay for 5QF fun hosted by Mama M.! If you'd like to participate head on over to My Little Life and link up.



{one} Have you ever visited another country?

My first trip to a foreign country was to Aruba, years and years before the world would come to know the tragic story of Natalie Holloway. Since the hubs is/was an avid water sports enthusiast, Aruba was a perfect choice! Bret did a little wind surfing while I lounged poolside! And though we've talked about taking to the skies for a little more globe-trotting in the past few years, I've yet to step foot outside the U.S. since Aruba! {Okay so, I'm totally kidding about that last part---Bret just reminded me that we attended a wedding in the British Virgin Islands about five years ago. Whoops, my bad! That trip was awful from start to finish---mosquitoes, intense heat, sunburns, etc. etc. It's no wonder I blocked it out!}


Image found here

{two} Where is the strangest place you have ever been?

My life is truly boring---I cannot think of a single "strange" place that I've visited!


{three} What is your favorite season?

Honestly, I like certain things about each season and do not really have a favorite.

Summer means long days, family barbecues, and lots and lots of pool time! Fall is all about the pigskin, and not the kind that comes deep fried in a bag, but college football! Winter means cooler temps and Christmas, hands down, my favorite holiday. While Spring is beautiful with new life and an abundance of vibrant colors!



{four} What one song will always cheer you up?

Any song by this man...



Shocker, right?!

{five} What Disney character do you resemble most?

Okay, don't laugh---I'm going to say Pocahontas is the Disney character that I most resemble. And according to my Great Aunt Ruth, there may be actual proof to back up that claim. Great Aunt Ruth once told my dad that I was 1/64th Native American and had genealogical ties to Pocahontas herself. Now whether or not any of this is true has yet to be determined, but regardless, it still makes for a pretty good story wouldn't you say?


Image courtesy of Disney


Flashback Friday

{Dad and me, 1985}

When you grow up along the Gulf Coast, you learn at a very early age that the only way to survive the sweltering heat is to hit the water. With summer-like weather for nine months out of the year and a pool in my backyard, I spent so much time swimming, it's a wonder my pruney water soaked skin ever recovered. One of my favorite swim buddies was my dad; we'd spend hours playing games and splashing around!

Now Gillian Grace is following in my footsteps, already developing an early love for the water and swimming.

One of the presents Gammie and Grandad gave GG for her birthday was an inflatable pool. The "ish" (fish) pool, as GG calls it, has practically become part of our evening routine, we spend so much time outside swimming.



And since I think this pool is just about the greatest thing since sliced bread, I'm going to give one away. All you have to do to win the "ish" pool for your lil' water baby is be the first to answer this question correctly:

How old was Gillian Grace when she took her first dip in the pool?





Happy Splashin', y'all!