Growing up

On a study break at the library today I came across this picture on we ♥ it

I wouldn't say my childhood was wasted, it was awesome actually. but I definitely spent most of my time and energy trying to be "grown up". 

This is something I think about a lot, usually when Jimmy and I are dancing our way through the grocery store aisles, or when I challenge someone to race to the car in the parking lot. these are things I wouldn't have been caught dead doing when I was younger, how immature. 

 It wasn't hard for me to act older as a kid, because I looked older. I have been the height I am now (5'6) since around 3rd grade. In the pictures of my 5th grade graduation I am at least 2 feet taller than my teacher. You know the Michael Jackson song, act your age not your shoe size? a little known fact about me is that, at age 10, these two numbers were the same. yes, I know, my feet are huge.

I went to daycare until I was too old to go, and had an unhealthy obsession with being like the teachers who worked there. Then, when I was 16, I became one. and it wasn't as cool as I had anticipated. Its so weird when I get facebook friend requests from kids who went to the daycare.
I am not old enough for this!

The other day some elementary schools were on a field trip on campus and while I was walking to class a little girl pointed at me and said excitedly "shes in college"  It was the cutest, and most depressing thing ever. It feels like yesterday when I was her age, dying to be this age.

Now that I'm here, I'm fighting growing up at every turn. I was probably the only person I know who wasn't excited about turning 21. and the only daughter who doesn't like hearing her parents call her an "adult". 

This summer on a visit with Grammie in Connecticut my 10 year old cousin Kate introduced us to the game "man hunt" which is essentially just hide and seek outside, at night. So there we were, a bunch of "adults" (19-21) playing hide and seek in the woods. Grammie and mom got on to us for running around like "little kids" but it was a blast!

I have always been the "mature" one. and now, I'm making up for lost time, I am going to have fun acting like a kid. even if I am finally grown up.

*side note: daycare is where I met Jimmy. He was my first crush, if you don't count Garth Brooks. my mom just found a picture of us at our pre-k graduation. I'll save the details of how he went from first crush to main squeeze for another time, its back to the books I go. adios kiddos

My biggest fan

My beautiful grandma, Evelyn, reads my blog every day. Every time we talk she tells me how much she loves and looks forward to reading it, and gets on to me if I don't write. She is definitely my biggest fan. She is the coolest grandma around, she travels and parties with her senior friends. She is a cross-word genius. She's a great cook. But the thing I love most about my grammie is that she tells you how it is, I know she'll always tell me the truth, even if its not what I want to hear.

That's why this e-mail she sent in response to the post about my Christmas wish list is so funny.

"HEY YOU!! READ YOUR BLOG, YOU DON'T ASK FOR MUCH!! IS THAT A BRACELET? HOW MUCH DOES THAT COST? AND WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH A SEWING MACHINE? ARE YOU PLANNING ON SEWING YOUR OWN CLOTHES LOL YOU KNOW MAYBE YOU SHOULD MARRY AN OIL BARRON, THEY GET MORE MONEY THAN A DR. YOU ARE SO SPOILED, BUT I LOVE YOU JUST THE SAME LOVE READING YOUR STORIES, I GET A FEW CHUCKLES..MAYBE YOU SHOULD WRITE ABOUT OLIVER, AND HOW YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET HIM A DIAMOND CHOKER, HE IS SO CUTE.. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. TTYL, LOVE YOU LOTS. GRAM"

Like she didn't have anything to do with the spoiling?!

Gram lives in Connecticut, which just so happens to be my favorite place, coincidence? I think not. The last few times we've gone up there we brought some "extras" (jimmy and beth) and there was a shortage of beds so I stayed in Grammie's room. We stayed up late talking and laughing so loud at an inappropriate joke she told that we woke everyone up.

My favorite times with Gram are the hours we spend coloring. Yes, coloring, as in coloring books. You'd think this is a memory from my childhood but it's actually pretty recent. So what if we're grown ups who color in children's coloring books, we can stay in the lines like you wouldn't believe.

Also, since I didn't post it the other day and since I got it from her, here is the macaroni salad recipe. I don't have exact measurements. just go with it.

Macaroni Salad recipe

We always make a ton so there's plenty of leftovers to eat the next few days.

• 1 pound macaroni- elbows or shells, or whatever you have really
  
• mayonnaise and miracle whip
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1/2 chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped cucumber
  
• 1 large can of tuna fish
• salad supreme seasoning
• salt and pepper

Cook and drain macaroni, then let sit and cool. Add chopped veggies (you can add more to taste, those are just an estimate), drained tuna, equal parts mayo and miracle whip (a few scoops of each), and seasoning. Mix well. Let cool for at least an hour, it always tastes better the next day though so the longer the better.

(my camera is dead & I can't upload pictures of mine so I found this one)

so there you have it, now you all know my amazing Grammie, and have her delicious recipe.

I love you Gram!
thanks for everything you do for me.

P.S. how gorgeous is she on her wedding day?! you should see the pictures of her from back in the day on the beach.. hot mama!