A Song for Nan

Nanny, I just want to let you, and the world, know how much I am enjoying the Elmo keyboard you gave Beau. I know it was really a gift for Beau, but truly, it is the gift that keeps on giving. Not only did it make the 6 hour drive for North Carolina just fly by, it just fills my day with beautiful, soul touching music.

My son has been given a gift. It would really be selfish of me to keep it all to myself. So this one goes out to Nanny.

Aunt Jackie's Graduation

AAgggh. It is so hard to get motivated to post recently. I just don't know why. But looking at my other blogger friends, it seems like I'm not the only one. Maybe it's the weather? Maybe I'm so upset about Jon and Kate I just need some time...?

I mean, I don't even have a lack of material... I have yet to post pics of Jackie's graduation (done...see below!), Beau had his 15 month doctor visit, Memorial Day, and the endless material my husband and dog provide me with... I guess I will try a little harder.

Anyway, I have these great picture of Jackie's big day. She looked beautiful, as usual. I spent the entire ceremony outside with Beau, who preferred running around in the lobby with all the other crazy kids. Leo is a very talented man, but taking pictures is not one his strong suits. All the pictures were blurry/not of Jackie/awkward/completely dark/you get the idea.

He did get this one good one. Yay Leo. And yay Jackie!Beau and his granddad.Such a good picture of these three! Leo, Jackie, and Ben.

Candid moment. Love it. Mostly because Leo is smiling "for real" and not the "Leo" smile.Which I am so graciously demonstrating here... One "for real".

The Furlongs.

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Slide Show Time!

A slide show for your viewing pleasure. There were a million more, but you better believe I only included the flattering pictures of me in my bikini. Yeah, thanks.

I know the pictures are tiny, so here is the link you can see the full size ones, if you are moved to do so. http://picasaweb.google.com/heather.furlong/May09?authkey=Gv1sRgCIWWv7vu9uyRLg&feat=directlink

Mother's Day Beach Trip

We went down to Ormond Beach, FL this past week for a few days. Even though the weather was overcast most of the time we were there, we had fun. I know an excessively pale member of the Furlong family who will remain nameless, Leo, found it to be quite delightful.

Beau is quite the good little traveler. We purchased a portable DVD player before going, and thanks to that and a half dozen Elmo, Nemo, Baby Einstein videos, those of us in the back seats were thoroughly entertained. Between movies, meals, and naps peppered in, the eight hours it took us to get there flew by.

So, it turns out my baby is a total beach bum. We put him down when we first arrived at the beach and he made a bee line for the ocean and ran straight in. He wouldn't sit down for a second. He had better things to do than just sit in the sand and play. So we walked...and walked...and walked... He loved saying "hey!" to everyone he passed.

As I am sorting through the literally hundreds of pictures we took, I'll let to peek at these two videos. Now, the first one I took, and you will see how I try to capture my son enjoying the beach. We will really be able to look back on it and remember the great time we had...The second one I only included to show you people why I can't give my husband the camera. Make sure your sound is on.

So I will get on those pictures...check back soon.

The other half of the week we were up in Charlotte/Greensboro NC for Jackie's graduation from UNCG! A whole post for that coming soon too!

I'm Baaaaack

*clearing throat

Um. Hi.

I don't know if you remember me, or even if you are still checking in with us here...as it's been a while. But it's been a crazy couple of weeks, and things have finally started calming down and easing into the laze of summer.

Anyway, Leo is out of town this week, and before he left I had two requests from my husband: Don't go to Target unattended, and post some pictures of Beau. Well, I figured I could do at least one of the two...

So this is how we spent our Cinco De Mayo... Strolling around the neighborhood in Ralph Lauren, and hanging out in our Pottery Barn chair watching Sesame Street and HGTV. We had spaghetti for dinner. Ole.

Tweet Tweet

So, in an effort to stay young and hip, I decided to give "Twitter" a go. I linked my updates, or "tweets", over there to the side...right on top....see it? I do like that I can do quick updates via my phone. We'll see if it is really worth all the hype.

After my show closes this Sunday, I'll have a lot more time for blogging... This weekend is sold out! Yay!

Oops.

We are recycle freaks. Or, I should say, Leo is a recycle freak. I really am trying. I want to be. I am tired of Leo going to put something in the trash and fishing out a scrap of paper I scribbled a note on and reprimanding me for not putting it in the recycle pile.

The thing is, we don't have a recycle pick up here, so we spend the weeks accumulating a massive amount of food boxes, magazines and newspapers, plastic bags, and, well, beer cans... We have a huge beat up laundry basket that we dump things in. Then, every couple weeks, Leo loads it, and all the other boxes and bins, into the truck and takes to the big recycle drop off.

Leo and Beau went on a walk Saturday morning after I left for work. As they rounded the corner Leo told me he saw said laundry basket on the street at our neighbor's house down the street.

Weird. That looks exactly like our beat up bin.

And upon closer look, seemed to be very VERY similar to the things that we use and recycle.

Come to find out that our recyclables had been removed from our garage and strewn about the street. Our down-the-street-neighbors just collected what they could from the road and put in on their curb so as not to have trash blowing around the entire neighborhood.

It must have been the neighborhood kids! What hoodlums! They must have come in our garage while it was open and decided to cause a bit a trouble.

Wait. A. Minute.

It all starts coming back to me.

Friday night after I got home from rehearsal I realized I pulled in the garage a bit too far. I had checked to make sure I didn't run over anything important, like my craft box that I keep right there in the garage. Phew. Just the recycle bin. It was already broken anyway. Good news.

Bad news. As I left for work on Saturday morning, it seems that the recycles tried to hitch a ride. The basket was attached to the front bumper somehow. NO, I didn't hear it Ok? That's the first thing everyone asks when I tell them the story. I guess I was already rocking out before I even left. Somehow, I pulled it all the way out of the driveway and pushed it along our street, I guess until I made the turn. Where it then sat, blew, and rolled all over the neighborhood.

*nervous laughter* Oops.

Easter

Before I get into the Easter photos, I would like to take the time to thank my guest blogger, Leo, for that, um, riveting and witty post last week.

On to Easter! We went to church with my family and then over to my mom and dad's for lunch...with close to 20 other friends and family. Hey, we love to party over here. HE is Risen! Please pass the mac and cheese.

So, my assignment was dessert. I decided to try the cake pops I saw on one of my favorite baking blogs Bakerella. Hers are much cuter and better done than mine...but I guess that's why I don't do a baking blog...right? Anyway, I was pretty proud of myself.

I had high hopes of a great family picture of us dressed in our Easter finest. This is the best one we got. All Beau wanted to do was run around in the yard...as you can see in the following pictures.

J Crew catalog? Anyone?

Definitely not interested in taking a picture with Mom. *sigh*

Hope you all had a Happy Easter! And your photo opps were better than mine.

Extra Extra, More Teeth in the Furlong Household

Beau has doubled his tooth count in just one day. Yes, you heard correctly. Beau now has two teeth on the bottom, and two teeth on the top. Pictures coming as soon as we can get them.

-Dad

Smoke on the Mountain, Fire in my Heart

What's been taking up all my time...and a shameless plug.

I will be in a production of "Smoke on the Mountain: A Homecoming" April 16-26th. It's spring 1945 and the Sanders Family is getting together for one last "sing" at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church before the family takes off in different directions. I play June, the only member of the Sanders Family that doesn't sing. June does, however, sign for the deaf...or something like that...

This show will mark the fourth time I've gotten to play June. (Sanders Family Christmas, 2004 and 2005; Smoke on the Mountain, 2005; and now Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming.) The Sanders Family is a favorite around these parts. If ya'll need a good laugh, come on down and see me.

"Smoke on the Mountain"

"Sanders Family Christmas"