What a month!!!

Chris and I decided that before the insanity of a promotion (Chris’) and a new school year, we should get away to Florida for a Disney vacation and a week of family bonding with the Ahrens clan down in Captiva Island.

The last time I visited Disney was in 1994.  At the time I was a bratty high school junior/senior who was missing her boyfriend Jack.  (In all seriousness I made National Lampoon’s European Vacation look like a documentary.)  I did not make the trip pleasant.

This time was much different.  Chris and I had a blast!!!!  Some highlights included a dinner at Cinderella’s castle, a Bjorn Again (an Abba cover group) concert, a rockin roller coaster ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and a jungle safari.  Mother nature even cooperated and gave us many beautiful sunny days!!!

Unfortunately, the rain came when we drove to Captiva Island…and lasted 4 days.  At least the sky did dry at times, and Thursday and Friday were awesome beach days.  I finally got to fulfill my dream of parasailing.  (SO much fun…I highly suggest trying it if you get the chance.)  I also emceed the first Ahrens crew tacky Hawiian shirt contest and spent some quality time with the fam.

Now it’s back to work.  Must get ready for year number two of ITSdom. 

Ciao!

My journeys started off in Denver, where I attended the National Writing Project’s web presence planning retreat. It was a great weekend…I learned how to properly plan a web presence (site), sampled fantastic tequila, and watched the count get censored on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-Wd-Q3F8KM

BTW, did you know there is a pimple popping genre on youtube???  GROSS!!!!!

   So I went back to work for three and 1/2 days and headed to Darlington, SC for Pit Lizard Day!!!  For those of you who don’t know me, the Friday of the Darlington Race is a sacred girls only extravaganza called “Pit Lizard Day”.  We usually pack up the coolers, and head up to the track around 1, cause trouble and watch the Busch or I’m sorry, Nationwide race.  This year we decided to spice things up with our first official Ms. Pit Lizard Pageant/ photo scavenger hunt.  Some FABO pictures resulted.

We are still debating who won…The next night, Chris and Mr. Dex (Mel’s Dad) joined in the festivities.  The race was fantastic until Kyle Bush won and I got violently ill.

So I went back to work for 4 more days, and then it was off to Griffith for Tom’s law school graduation at Loyola. 

I had lots of fun with the in-laws.  The graduation was long and boring, but I did fire a shotgun for the first time… HA!!

Honest to God, I was like a man in a shoe store.  Guns and I are not friends.  No one was killed in the taking of this picture BTW.

So I went back to work for three days, and then headed to St. Louis for Dan’s graduation.  Honest to God, I remember feeding the kid bottles.  It was great to see Bec, Steve, Dan, Mom, Dad, and all of the extended fam that decided to show up for the graduation.  I am so proud of the newest Cameron Crazy in the Ahrens clan.

So after the insanity of graduation, I was able to finally get back to Summerville and rest for a couple weeks.  Now I am back in St. Louis, b/c Gram is not doing well…will keep everyone updated.  Stay tuned for more pics…there are plenty more adventures coming in the near future!!

Ciao!