too much information

hey there. how are you? i thought i would just do a bullet point update on what we've been doing/what's been on my mind. hope you enjoy.

• last sunday after church we took off for one night away at the beach! my new friend christi's dad owns a beach house in a town called oak island, so we headed there for a mini family vacation. it was delightful. spent sunday night watching "we were soldiers" and eating pasta and cupcakes. then spend most of the day monday at the beach before driving home. it was quick, but nice to get away.
• finley and audrey both have the "gunk"... you know, coughing, snotting, general grumpiness going on. today is the first day we made it to the gym in over a week. it felt good!
• finley tells everyone he is a garbage truck. today at aldi (my favorite grocery store ever), this older woman was behind us in the check out (where i dropped a jar of spaghetti sauce and glass went everywhere and i held up the line for like, ever) and she was talking to finley. he currently has a tattoo of a police shield on his arm and the lady was asking him if he wants to be a police officer when he grows up and he says, "no! i'm a garbage truck!" seriously, anytime anyone says, "you're a cool boy," or "you're big," he always exclaims, "i'm not blank, i'm a garbage truck!" trying to figure out a way to make him a garbage truck for halloween without it seeming like child abuse. 
•  i made these delicious double chocolate, white chocolate chip cookies last night. danny would have loved them.
• i went to my first sewing class on tuesday!!!! and...... i may have forgotten my power cord....... but it was a REALLY good week to forget it because we just went over the supply list and basic sewing terms and practiced threading the machine. there's 11 ladies in there and everyone is new to sewing and i think it's going to be really fun. the project we are making is pajama pants! looking forward to that.
• couldn't refuse buying the $.99 cheese puffs at aldi today. ate a whole bunch on the way home. oops.
• jake's birthday is on SUNDAY!! i'm excited. we're gonna go to dinner and it will be fun and romantic and magical i am sure.
•   have you heard the new taylor swift song? "we are never, ever, ever, ever, getting back togetheeeeeerrrrr........." i love it. l.o.v.e. it. please don't think less of me.
• audrey says thank you everytime i give her something. it's so sweet. she's saying more and more and obviously wants to talk so badly. she is saying "dankie" (blankie); "tate too" (thank you); "juuuuccceee" (juice); "suc ka" (sucker, for the sweet treat that is); "mommmmy"; "dada"; "my baby" (it's always my baby, never just baby) and i'm sure there are more. she's talking so much more than finley was at this age. 
• the mornings and night have a chill in the air now. oh, how i love thee.
• i am joining a women's bible study that starts next wednesday morning and i'm excited about it! 
• plus, next wednesday night is our first small group! we are in a married's group (spanky and lara's) and i can't wait to meet everyone.
• mom and steve come a week from TOMORROW!!!! :) :) 
• i got a library membership and am currently reading "gone girl". i've heard good things and it's already suspenseful. 

i think that's probably good for now. got the basics there for ya. oh, confession thursday..... and you thought i forgot :) (or hoped i did, LOL!)... 
i am REALLY bad at cleaning my bathroom. i knooooow, ewwww. bad as in, i don't clean it as often as one most likely should. don't worry, mom! i'll clean it before you come! :) i don't know why cleaning the bathroom is always the last thing on my list and i seem to never get to it. to be clear..... i do semi clean it regularly. like wipe down the counter and toilet. i never leave icky stuff sitting there, i just don't deep clean it very often... as i write this i am judging myself... ha! 

okay, after that load of information, i will be on my way. to dessert i go. 

oh, and then to clean my bathroom.

love to you.
mer  

some pics from the beach getaway: