We've got each other and that's alot

I once wrote a post about how going to Europe made me feel like I was going home, even though it was a place that I had never been. Going to Jersey feels the same in a strange way. 

Except I've been there..oh yes, I know Jersey well.

Here (in 23 torturous pictures) is a look at our beach weekend/family reunion/crazy party/emotional journey of the last few days..

Every great Hinsdale trip starts with my dad cussing everyone out. This time it was for letting the infamous Sour Krout escape the house. 

Elly took literally 184 pictures of herself. Oh Elly..you truly are my mini me

Another Amish market!

We got donuts and bread and pretzels and every other kind of carb known to man

Then we arrived at the Jersey shore. Wildwood to be specific. I've lived there and it hasn't changed much. Stay classy, Wildwood!

Off to the beach!

It was about a mile of HOT sand to get to the ocean. 

My very favorite picture of the whole trip!

A 'real' vacation picture. Uncle Dave was keeping the kids entertained while Danielle and I changed in the car. Nothing like risking a fine for indecency. 

Junior and the kids got lost in the fun house. ha ha. We kept seeing their feet going around in circles.

One day I will get them all synchronized on a 'jump shot'

This one is for you, Eri!

After about 8 hours on the beach and boardwalk

 Our best vacation meltdown!

checking out on our way to church:) Don't my mom and the girls look so pretty?

Danielle and the girls!

We had my grandma's party at the Cape May Zoo. 

My cousin Maddy decorated everything and I am totally going to stalk her pinterest now!

My mom and her sisters

My mom, her sisters, her mom, and one of my uncles. 

Jack Jack kept saying that Aunt Debbie looked like Nana Terry's twin. They are Irish twins- born less than one year apart:) 

We Hinsdales/Monroes keep it classy at family gatherings!

The whole family picture after Sacrament Meeting. It's missing probably about 30 or more people.

So, I know this is a long picture post but I have SO MANY STORIES. You don't even know. Things get crazy when you cross the state line into Jersey.

There is the splat pig incident.

The "he is not to be disturbed" incident.

The musical number from hell.

The "don't let the kids apply their own sunscreen" incident.

And, you guys, I found someone in my mom's family who is just like me! She writes fan fiction and loves Harry Potter and she is learning to use a bow and arrow like Katniss!

I don't know if that means my cousin Ann is mature for 15 or I am immature for 33. Who knows? :)

I'll be blogging about this all week! Be warned!

Lori Ann

All the stories are true

Ok, so I just read this yesterday.

Sure it has the vaguely familiar undertones of several book and movie series: Harry Potter, Twilight, and even a little Star Wars.

But I will admit to already being addicted.

It has everything I love:

Independent and powerful female protagonists

Folklore

Betrayal

Heartbreak

Witty repartee

And cute, slightly emo gay boys.

*sigh*

Emo gay boys.

Anyway..

It's a six part series (5 are already out) and I probably won't be sleeping much until I read EVERY SINGLE ONE.

On an unrelated side note, I have to go to Jersey tomorrow.

Yikes.

Pray for me.

Lori Ann

That he was here with me

My parents defintion of a "classy, timeless" Paris pic

                                               

 My dad's birthday isn't until tomorrow.

But my 4 o'clock cancelled, so let's do this dance!

On to the tribute...

Tomorrow my dad will be 63.

63.

And yet, he is still the same dad I grew up with. He hasn't changed AT ALL.

He is still the strongest, scariest, most intelligent man I have ever met.

And he's still a great Dad.

And so I wanted to say thanks...

Thanks for all the times you: bailed me out, picked me up off the side of the road, fixed my car, moved my furniture, made me tuna casserole, brought me lunch, dropped me off at the airport at midnight, picked me up at the airport at midnight, made me laugh, taught me something, lit candles in Paris for me, bought me sneakers, slipped me money, believed in me, yelled at mean people for me, gave me blessings, taught me to be brave, and brought me delicious cupcakes for no reason at all.

It has always meant the world to me.

Thanks, Dad.

Love,

Oreo

 

But it's only in my dreams

Whenever someone says that they are going to blog about a dream they had, I get so excited. I mean, what is more exciting than someone else's dreams?

Umm..yeah...just about anything else.

I think I'd rather proof read your tax returns than hear about your dreams. (Unless you are my client, in which case I will say "Oh, that's fascinating. So what happened after your mom turned into a snake?")

Anyway, in classic TSC tradition, we are going against everything we stand for.

This blog post is about my dream last night.

So..me and my whole family were staying the little ski resort town that my sister Erin used to work out. It's literally for the super rich only. I babysat there and they gave me an IPOD as a tip.

Anyway, so it's Christmas time and we are all there.

We open all of our Christmas gifts one night when I realize that I got NOTHING. Not one gift.

And this becomes the central theme of the rest of the dream.

For some reason, shortly after the gift opening, my dad starts drinking all those little liquor bottles and is headed for alcohol poisoning. I turn to my shocked and concerned family members and say "I don't know if any of you realize this, but I got no gifts"

Of course, in my dream I had resolved to say nothing and be a total martyr. I frequently do this in real life. Of course, as in real life, my resolve lasted two minutes.

So then my mom ends up going back up to our vacation apartment (?) and is followed up there by a pot dealer.

These other thugs won't let us on a elevator to go and save my mom. Not sure why. But I keep saying to them over and over "Bottom line is, I didn't get any gifts".

I think I woke up about then. Luckily for you, dear readers.

Anyway, there you have it.

Fascinating, eh?

Lori Ann

Not crying on Sundays

 Early Sunday Evening Life Updates

I hate that the weekend is almost over. I would love for the US to transition to a 4 day work week. But it would probably only make me want a 3 day work week:) 

This is what I did so far this weekend:

Saw this movie:

It was pretty funny. I did feel guilty though as I abandoned my brother to seeing Smurfs 2 with my nieces. He is a really good sport. 

Speaking of nieces, I hung out with those crazy girls for a few hours yesterday. 

The nail polish rarely lasts even a whole day. I just want them to know it's important to take care of themselves.

Baking. I've recently gotten obsessed with making peanut butter cookies.

My mom made both the girls Amish style aprons. They are SOO cute:) 

I really wish these pictures told the whole story but they are only a small glimpse into our crazy girl's day out. These are the funniest, coolest, and prettiest girls in the whole world. 

Yesterday I also walked 5 miles. I was trying to meet my fitness goal of walking 15 miles this week. I only made it to 13 total. I had planned to walk 7 miles yesterday but called it quits after 5 when I started to feel a little light headed:) 

That didn't stop me from going to the gym at 9:30 pm yesterday night. 

Here are various 

pictures of me

when I am done 

working out.

I look so insane.

I'm not sure what 

drives me to 

take these

pictures. Besides

sheer narcissism.

My sister spoke at church today. It was a great talk. The personal confession was a little less shocking than what I like to see, but I'll give her a pass. I'm not all that sure that Danielle has much to confess to anyway:) 

Katy really hung in there until the closing hymn. That's when she finally gave up on life. 

Danielle thinks I'm singing hymns on my ipad. Hah.

Speaking of siblings, I never really got to document this. 

The mature and one year older siblings

Danielle is officially the party decorator for all parties now

My dad made these ribs. So crazy.

Their combined age and a nod to the upcoming Paris trip!

I just love this one

                   Lori Ann

Such a sweet surprise

Ok, let's make it official and call this

"The long summer of tedious health and fitness updates from Lori".

I am getting bored of this topic.

But will that stop me from blogging about it? Of course not.

So, anyway...

I am always looking for signs that I am transitioning into a healthy person. Instead of a "this is just a manic few months of working out to be shortly followed by regaining all the weight and then some" type person.

A few things that I have noticed lately that give me hope:

1. It looked like it was going to rain the other day right before I left work. I was grumbling to myself  "It better not rain and ruin my walking". Holy hannah...old Lori would have prayed for rain as a reason to get out of walking.

2. I realized today that I have been going to the gym (at LEAST 2 times a week) since April. It's August now, b@$tches!

3. I have 7 workout itunes mixes. (including the much dreaded "5 mile mix") 

4. Today, after walking a few miles and working out I was so excited to leave the gym and treat myself.  I was going to stop at the CVS and get myself....drum roll, please.... a giant flavored water and wild cherry tic tacs.  Not a box of tasty cakes. Not a king size kit kat. Not 3 cokes and a bag of pretzels. (All things I've stopped to get myself before). I STOPPED FOR FLAVORED WATER AND TIC TACS, baby!!

5. When I got to the office, somebody had brought donuts in and I didn't even stop to smell them, much less eat 2. Or 3.

So, there you have it.

Maybe I am really becoming the healthy Lori.

Weird.

Anyway, those wild cherry tic tacs are calling my name:)

Lori Ann

If I sat and smiled

It's only 9:22 am.

It feels like it should be like 3:17 pm or something.

I have seven appointments in a row beginning at 10 am.

*I just literally put my head down on my desk in defeat*

I already had an 8 am appointment.

And I walked two miles before work.

I might walk a few more after work.

If I survive.

It's 9:26. Only 4 minutes have passed.

Holy Hannah, it's going to be a long day.

This super excited and upbeat blog post brought to you by:

Lori Ann

p.s.- about 26 days until PARIS!!!