You know the end of summer is near when cars start appearing in local school parking lots. Ahhh...the days of light traffic and the pool after work are coming to a close.

I must say that I'm going to miss the summer. Normally, I'm ready for the cooler weather, sweaters and the holidays, but this year, I've really enjoyed the summer. I think it's because we really took advantage of the pool and even though it's been hot, it's not bothered me as much. Now, don't get me wrong, we're only one day away from August, which is typically our hottest month, so I may be singing a different tune in a week or so.

Jeff and I are a little sad, we received a notice that the pool will be closing early starting the week of August 11. It means we won't be able to go during the week anymore. We've gotten used to going at least twice during work days and once over the weekend.

I talked to my aunt last night, she just got back from a fabulous trip to Italy. I can't wait until Jeff and I can go to Italy! Not that we're planning it or anything... I love Italy! The food is delicious, the sights are beautiful, the people are wonderful! I went about 6 years ago with my friend Rashid. We had a terrific time! My favorite city was Venice. It wasn't smelly and the place was one where you could just get lost and enjoy yourself for a day.

I am so exhausted. Our station had an event yesterday and I basically worked from 7a to 4p. At least today is Sunday! Jeff is taking a cram course for real estate school. Did I menion he's working on getting his real estate license? I know, I know- how crazy does that sound? Well, we've always fancied ourselves real estate moguls in the making. I guess if you can make it work now, when the market is so down, you can make it work anytime!

Slipped a little on the diet yesterday- I didn't really go prepared to the event. That's ok, I'm going to take the little man up to the elementary school in our neighborhood. I'm thinking after Gavin wears himself out on the jungle gym, I can take him for a little stroll around the track.

Guess we ought to head out before the sun gets too high in the sky.

This evening we learned pretty quickly that hanging out by the baby pool isn't always a good thing. We spent more time chasing Gavin in and out of the kiddie pool, over to the slide, across to the swing set and down the hill that our normally relaxing visit to the 'hood pool wasn't so great.

You see, tonight we decided to "be smart and take dinner with us." Our little neighborhood pool has a bajillion gas grills that anyone can use so we decided to take some burgers and dogs and kill two birds with one stone (normally, we get back, rush to put the G-man to bed and then I hurridly try to make some dinner- hopefully before 10pm). Because we were going to cook, instead of sitting on the far side of the pool (close to the deep end), we sat next to the kidde pool next to the grills. Gavin was so entralled with all the kids running around and doing whatever they wanted, he felt the need to join in.

Now, call me a stuck-up or over-cautious parent, but I don't want my little 2 year old scurrying up the slide (with no rails) and flying down it into the mud (with another random 3 year old hot on his tail). Nor do I want my kid mowed over by the big kids that raid the kiddie pool during adult swim.

Jeff and I have decided that we're "deep end" parents. We prefer the dark side of the pool. And, honestly, there seems to be a different kind of parent on that side of the pool. More relaxed, more real...less plastic. We also know that Gavin isn't as distracted on that side of the pool.

Maybe being on the far side isn't so bad after all, I'd rather be deep than shallow!

Did I mention yesterday that I actually lost 5 pounds over the past week??? How crazy is that? I'm very excited- and a bit more motivated!

Had a great weekend in Nashville with Windy. I forgot my camera today, so as soon as I get home, I'll upload some snaps. Her baby is so cute! He's got a great smile. Gavin had a blast playing with Fisher, Windy's other son. Of course, it's easy to keep him happy when basically ever toy he played with was "new" in his mind! It was also nice to take a relaxing swim in their pool and just hang out and do nothing.

The ride back was lots of fun (not), I stopped three times before we even hit Chattanooga. LOVE an upset stomach! Let me tell you, there are ZERO rest areas between Nashville and Chattanooga- what brilliant engineer/planner/whatever, thought of that??? So we had to stop at a Barnes & Noble that I found right off the highway. $40 dollars worth of kid's books and a quick trip to the ladies later, we were back on the road. At least Gavin was occupied with in-flight entertainment. Unfortunately, the DVD player gave out just north of Chattanooga...the good thing, G-man fell asleep soon afterwards.

Donna Kay and her clan came over last night for a quick visit. That was also a good visit. It was nice to see them again- it had been over a year!!! I can't believe how much her boys have grown! They had fun with all of Gavin's toys...and Gavin had fun just watching them! They play hard, which is right up his alley!

Again- as always, TGIF!

I'm heading to Nashville in a few hours ~ very excited. Jeff's both happy and sad to see us go. He's looking forward to sleeping in and watching whatever he wants on the tube (and not Elmo or Sesame Street 24/7). However, he's going to miss us, oh, probably about 2 hours after we're gone.

Found out yesterday that my friend, Mercedes, is due for another bambino in February! Very cool! Kind of funny though, my cousin, Allison, is due around the same time. What makes that interesting is that Allison and Mercedes' first children are only 2 weeks apart! They're on the same baby sched!

I really want a bike. We looked at one a couple of weeks ago at Target. It's pink and it's name is "Roxie." Totally love it. However, the fundage is a little lacking these days so, alas, it will have to wait. We just really had such a good time last year at the beach riding bikes. We probably should have just ridden that high all the way to the store when we got back.

I'm looking forward to this weekend, on another note. I'm heading to Nashville to see my friend Windy. She and I were roomies in college. Go YHC! Anyway, she just had her second child- another boy. I can't wait to meet him. The pictures of him are adorable. His name is Cooper. Such a cute name!

I did the coolest thing last night. There's a website you can go to and upload your picture to see yourself after a weight loss of 10, 20, 30 or 50 pounds. They "enhance" the picture to take the weight off. For visualization purposes, it's very cool. I did it with the highest loss, of course, and it's nice to see what I'd look like! That's my after picture.

The website is great- you can do it for free! www.weightview.com.

I'm SO ready for the weekend! Here's freaky- some dark, thunderous rainstorm just moved through our fine town- now it's sunny outside! Ahhhh...can't wait to feel that humidity!!! Good thing my hair is up or else we'd have big troubles.

TGIF!!!

People need to stop bringing food into the office. 'nuf said.

What a vacation! We went to my parent's house in Ormond Beach, FL over the 4th of July holiday. We had such a good time. I miss sleeping in. My parents were great, they'd take care of the little man in the morning while Jeff and I slept in. There is something to be said about vacationing with built in baby-sitters...ahem, my parents, I mean.

We watched the fireworks from across the street from my dad's

house. It was nice because the noise wasn't too loud (and didn't scare Gavin). We did get a front-row seat to some red neck fun. Some idiot decided to light 3-foot sparklers in the middle of the fireworks presentation. Then, immediately after lighting them, decided they didn't want them lit. So, they proceeded to try and extinguish a 1600 degree flame with his shoe. Smart. Needless to say, the sparkler burned out, wasted in the grass. At least a fire didn't spread!

On Monday, we went to the beach. It took Gavin a little bit to get used to the water and waves, but once he got a taste of it, he had a blast! It was so much fun to watch him lay in the sand as the water came up around him. He laughed and giggled everytime a wave came in.

Jeff and I decided it made much more sense to just take our family vacation at their house when we go in August. Dad offered up the house- he said he and Deb didn't plan on being there in August anyway. Now we hope they make it! They had such a good time with Gavin. And, they both light up whenever he's around. I think it's good for all of us, actually. (doesn't hurt to be able to go on a date night without worrying about paying for a babysitter)

Today we're just getting back into the swing of things. Starting up with the diet again (that got blown over the weekend).

Off to hit up the office coffee maker- it's almost 10a and I haven't had my first cup yet! Crazy!