She Doesn't Slow Down...

Today Natasha and Randy had Dakota's birthday party. I cannot believe that she is now 2 years old. She actually turned 2 on October 11, but today was her party. I spent most of the day chasing her around getting pictures like these because she just would not be still long enough to get pictures. She is on the go all the time. If only I had 1/8 of her energy I would never have to worry about not being able to sleep at night! She and Allyssa both were giving the swing set for their birthdays. They both love to play on it, but Dakota likes the sliding board the best, I think. She was on it more than anything. She occasionally layed in the swing on her stomach but most of the time you would see her on the slide!
You know, just getting the family together is sometimes a little too much, but when you have blended families like we do it makes it a little more too much! Natasha and Nicholas' dad and I have been divorced since 1989. I remarried in 1996 to Vincent. So you have their dad, his parents, my parents, me, Vincent, my sister and her 2 teenage kids, Natasha, Randy (her second husband) and Allyssa (from her first marriage) and Dakota from her current marriage, she is pregnant with their 2nd girl together, Randy's parents, his sister and her husband and their 2 kids, Natasha and Nicholas' dad's teenage daughter from his second marriage and then you have the rest of the invitees; friends, etc. It makes it tough. You have so many different living styles, opinions, ways of doing things that are different from when you were growing up, (like respecting the elders) I know Dakota and Allyssa had a great time, but I am glad that it don't happen very often. Dakota was sitting in front of her Sesame Street birthday cake and took 2-3 swipes with her finger at the icing because it was taking her mom too long to get the candle and after she blew out the candle, she took Elmo licked the icing off of it, put it back on the cake and did it again then looked at me and said "here nana" handing me Elmo! She cracks me up.
Yesterday I met Mom and Alpha at A.C. Moore. I bought some patterned paper, (like I really need it) and some colored cardstock. The store was having some make it take it projects and they had the coolest gadget, a chocolate fountain! I was totalled amazed by it. I know I have seen it advertised but when you see it really working it is the neatest thing. It continually has melted chocolate flowing from it and you just put your piece of fruit, pretzel, cookies, anything that you want chocolate on under the the chocolate and waa-laa you have a chocolate-covered whatever! I will post a picture of it later, but I could have stayed at that table for a while, but I am sure the make-it-take-it would have been about 10 pounds added to my frame that I did not need to have to worry about "carrying out" in my hands! I had to nearly drag my Mom away from it! just kidding, mom!!!!! Alpha actually is to blame for it, she is the one that went looking around without us and come back with chocolate-covered strawberries! We made little brown halloween bags with the new Cricut machine and they had a table that was making little pumpkin earrings. I will post a picture of both tomorrow I will have to take the pictures first.
Deborah and Asheton met us at Taco Casa for lunch. We had a really good time laughing and talking, Alpha said she learned some things that she did not know before from our conversations. Of course, I am not going to repeat any of the conversations because some could be considered at least a PG rating! Then after we ate lunch as if we really needed something else to put in our stomachs we headed to Atlanta Bread Company. ABC is a almost definite stop for whoever is with us on Saturdays. Mom and I started the "tradition". But now if you are with us on Saturday you have to go with us to ABC. Of course, I have pictures of that too that I will have to post later.
Next weekend we are suppose to be going to the beach. From Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. If it pans out I cannot wait. I need a day of complete I-dont-have-to-do-anything. I could sit on the beach all day just watching people and the waves coming in and going out. Kinda of relaxing and soothing at the same time.
I got up this morning and took a bike ride. I woke up with it on my mind so I took off. Of course, I woke up yesterday thinking about going for a job (what????? me????? jog???????) I don't know where that came from and of course, I did not give in to that way of thinking. I turned over and went back to sleep! Maybe the next time I wake up with it on my mind I will take it up on it!
Well, gotta get ready for work tomorrow. Vincent went to the store since he slept the rest of his afternoon away and should be pulling back in the driveway at any time and I need to get a shower. The weather is cool at night but it gets kinda warm during the day. We turned off the air conditioning last week and have not turned it back on yet and it does not take much for me to get all hot and sweaty. I hate that.