WOW!!! Has it Really been 19 Years?!!

Can it be true that 19 years have passed since Marc and I were married in the Atlanta Temple?! Wow, I guess time flies when you're having fun! I am thankful for every day that I have with him. Besides being an amazing husband and father he is my best friend. So here's to another 19 years, honey! And another...and another...and another...


Then

Now

A Day at the Beach!

Remember when I said I wasn't really crazy about the beach? Well, I guess I just hadn't been there in a while...

Friday, the kids and I met up with some friends and had a great time -

where? AT THE BEACH.

So, I take it back!! I do like the beach!! Plus, it is pretty cheap entertainment for the kids.

I didn't get a lot of photos - too busy having FUN!

But, I thought I'd share the few I did take.

I know what you're thinking...I do not have that much color in my skin! Can you say "spray tan??" Also, I have NO idea what I am doing with my hands. I wasn't sure where to put them and I ended up looking like an octopus!

The girls. They'd been playing in the waves (which were strangely calm that day) and took a break to catch some rays!

Chillin' in the shade (notice how I am gripping the arm of the chair? Wonder what I'm thinking? Well, it was something like: "oh great, a photo in my swimsuit! PERFECT!!")

Ariel and Cecily (Andrea's girls) playing nicely in the sand...I think...

Me taking a picture of Andrea and Lisa taking a picture of themselves - such randomness turned into a lovely picture, don't ya think?

Hey! How'd that get in there?? That is not the beach I am pretty sure. Looks like scout camp to me!! And, I think I recognize my son under that Boonie hat but can't be too sure!

Well, lookie there...another one. This time I am sure that's Justin! I recognize that look - I see it every morning at home!!

(Actually, I included these because Marc and Justin did not return from scout camp with enough photos for me to blog about but I wanted to share the couple I did get. Plus, I somehow missed snapping a photo of Justin at the beach, darn-it!)

Kindness

Lately I've been thinking about the choices we have as human beings. Every day, we make choices as to how we will treat those we come in contact with. Will we choose to be kind and loving or will we choose a different path? While some appear to delight in the humiliation, embarrassment and sufferings of others, I honestly believe there are more who wish to build, encourage and support their fellow man. This video is a gentle reminder of the choices we make. I hope it touches your heart as it did mine.

GRE Woes

Just a quick note to say:

1. that I am taking the GRE tomorrow, and
2. I think I may be crazy!

All I could think of the last year and a half was how I could not wait to get out of school.

But, then I heard about this great new ESOL Master's program that is taught entirely online. Next thing I knew, I was submitting an application to graduate school and signing up to take this crazy test.

Will someone please slap me back to my senses?

Anyway, I take it first thing in the morning and here I am, it's almost midnight, and I cannot sleep.

Did I study you ask? No, not really!

If anyone still reads my blog, please say a little prayer for me.

You can ask that I do well on the test or that my sanity returns in the near future.

Either will be fine.

Thank you.

Ouch!

As some of you know, for about ten years I worked as a group exercise instructor, coordinator, and personal trainer. I used to be in really GREAT shape! But, about four years ago I decided to return to college and at the same time retired from my exercise career. I loved working in a gym. Mostly because I got paid to workout. I also loved experiencing the changes people made in their lives. You see, I was a chubby kid. And, I was a REALLY chubby teenager. There are various reasons why I was the way I was. Part of it can be attributed to the delicious southern (fried) food I grew up on and the fact that I LOVE to eat. And, part of it had to do with the fact that I am was just a little bit lazy!

Well, I decided this week to get back in shape. I am now finished with school (at least for the time being) and really have plenty of time on my hands. My teenagers are NOT chubby (like I was) but have both expressed an interest in working out. So, Kendal and I got started by signing up at the local gym (Justin and Marc are at Boy Scout camp but their time is coming!!!)

Now, another thing you might not know is that I had surgery three weeks ago. Not major surgery - well, okay MAJOR surgery - but not life threatening (at least as far as I know!) My doctor recently gave me the all clear to begin exercising again. Of course, he was sure to emphasize starting off slow and pacing myself. So, I did, well sort of....

What exactly is "pacing yourself" when applied to an out of shape former gym rat? Would you say 30 minutes on the treadmill + 20 minutes on the bike + 15 minutes on the elliptical? Hmm...I thought it seemed pretty easy. Well, at least until today that is!

After two days of that "pacing myself" routine, I can barely move my legs and my hips are on fire! How sad is that? I mean, I used to run and teach multiple aerobics classes on the same day. When did my body rebel against me?

That being said, I refuse to give up! There are several reasons why:

1. I'd like to live a long and healthy life. You see, I used to work out to look cute (not that I don't want to look cute.) But now, I just want everything to function as it should for a really long time. Living the sedentary lifestyle I'd adapted over the last few years isn't going to lead me to my goal.
   
   
2. I want my kids to live a long and healthy life (oh yeah, and Marc too): Let's face it teenagers can be lazy! Almost as lazy as adults, lol! It has been a lot of fun working out with Kendal this week! She has been my motivation and it has been great having a workout buddy! Next week, I'll have Justin and Kendal to keep me company and hopefully we will be able to talk Marc into coming a few times a week (Marc just isn't the gym type but I'm hoping he'll go and play b-ball or something.) I just can't think of anything I like more than an active, healthy family=)
   
   
3. I don't like being told I can't do something: Perhaps this should be number one. I really don't like being underestimated and although I am aware of the fact that I am no longer in my 20's, I don't see any reason why I can't be just as fit as I was back then. Maybe I am delusional but let me dream, will ya?!

So I begin my quest to reclaim my lost physical fitness. I will be making regular posts of my progress. Somehow, saying (or in this case typing) it out loud feels more like a commitment.

Vacation!

Those who know me well, know there's nothing I'd rather do than go on vacation! In fact, my dream job would be to travel to vacation locations just to "try them out" for other folks.

Most summers, we head north to the mountains. It is kind of funny actually. Most people head down south, where we live, to enjoy the beach with all of its beauty.

Not us.

I've lived near the beach my entire life, and while I do recognize its splendor, I really have no desire to vacation there (okay if someone was giving away a free beach vacation I would take it!)

You see I am white. No, not your ordinary shade of white. I am really, really white. Like, Irish white. Growing up near the beach was somewhat traumatic. All those high school girls with their golden tans, while I struggled to make the Q-T self tanning lotion look natural. And, we all know it did not look natural!!

Not only am I really, really white, I have black hair. So, I am somehow expected to tan. Which I don't. So, why (pray-tell) would I want to go to the beach and risk blinding all of those poor vacationers with my whiteness?

Don't get me wrong. I do take my kids to the beach. I mean it's really close by. But, when I do, I spend the entire time completely covered in sunblock, a hat, and whatever else I can find. So, when I'm thinking vacation, the beach is NOT my first choice...or my second...or...

So, anyway, we usually head to North Carolina to enjoy the cooler temperatures and the mountains. Marc's parents retired there several years ago and built a beautiful home in the mountains. Their home is warm and welcoming and a delight to visit (and you don't need a tan to go there.) We love our North Carolina visits!

This year, I'm not sure what happened. It could have been the stress of completing my senior year of college while being a wife and a mom. I don't know. But, when Marc asked me what I'd like for a graduation gift, I said that all I wanted was to leave town. That's right! LEAVE TOWN!

Now Marc, being the wonderful husband that he is, told me to decide where I wanted to go and we would go. Wow! Talk about music to a vacation lovers ears! Imagine the possibilities: Italy, France, Australia, Greece, New York City, Monterey California (used to live there - always wanted to go back), etc, etc....

But, then I started thinking...well first of all - I don't actually HAVE A JOB YET...I sure hate to spend too much money...but I sure DO want to go on vacation...I really want the kids with us...hmm..where can we go that wouldn't break our budget....where we could toss our cares aside for a week or so...where, oh where...

And, then it hit me! Where is a place that is within a day's drive, that you can cast your cares aside, that won't break our budget, where we've been before - so we know we like...I GOT IT!!! YES!!! I know where we're going!!!!

So, ask me: "Susan Ottinger - now that you've finally graduated from college - what are you going to do?"


And, I'll say: "I'm goin' to....

DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!"



Yep, that's it!! Disney World here we come!!

Catching Up!

Since it has been quite some time since I blogged, I thought I'd get back into the swing of things by first highlighting what's been happening with the Gulf Coast Otters the last six months or so.

In February I had yet another birthday. Despite the fact that it seemed impossible (and somewhat painful) that I could be another year older it was great to have good friends to share it with. The kind of friend who "get" me and who make me feel like I am still twenty-one (okay, maybe twenty-nine...) We went to Texas Roadhouse and laughed, cried, and then laughed some more. We loved it so much that we...

...went back for Lisanka's birthday. Now, for Lisanka - this was a really BIG birthday! So, we were sure to make it BIG.

Lisanka, being the good sport that she is, didn't mind when we asked.....

...for her to sit on a saddle while we sang to her. After all, it was TEXAS Roadhouse!

We had a very quiet Spring Break. We stayed in town but still had fun. I took the kids, with some of their friends, to the movies and to the museum. Unfortunately I did not get any pictures of those activities. I did, however, snap a few of Kendal and some of her friends at the beach. And, although the weather was a bit chilly for us southerners we still managed to have a great time! After spending the morning in the tourist traps shops, the sun finally came out!

So, we headed back to the beach where...

the girls had fun burying each other in the sand...

playing in the water

and just being silly!

And, to wrap up the last six months, I finally graduated from college (with honors no less)

Kind of made all of the hard work, sleepless nights, and grey hairs worth it!

Some of my friends and family members threw me a surprise graduation party! I enjoyed and appreciated it more than words can express!!

Marc's parents even came down from North Carolina!

And snapped this family photo for us
Kendal completed her 7th grade year with honors and performed in her last choral concert


Justin finished his 9th grade year with honors

(and realized that he is taller than his principal!)

My mom got a new puppy (Lizzy.)

Who Kendal adores holding and playing with...

...as does Justin!

Well, that is just about it! Now that I am caught up, I promise to be more faithful with my posts. More importantly, I promise to drop by your blogs on a more regular basis. It feels good to be back!