Fall break '09!

So this has been a great couple of days! Andrew has been on Fall break since 4pm on Wednesday, which means so has Cyndy, Ceilidh, and Graeme! ha Since Andrew would have more time at home, I decided to use the gift certificate Randy and Suzanne gave me to Aveda for my birthday. All I can say about the experience is THANK YOU!!!!!! I called to schedule my facial, and the woman told me that all facials were 20% off in the month of October. So.... I got a facial, a LONG overdue brow wax, and STILL have some money left on my card. Yes Randy, I found a deal... I know you are proud! wink The facial was AMAZING!!! It was 90 minutes of pure bliss. It was so awesome, that I even fell asleep for a minute or two. My aesthitican (sp?) and I were laughing at the guy in the room next to us, b/c he was in a full-blown snore. I told her I wasn't going to fall asleep b/c I didn't want to miss anything. HA I wasn't out that long.... but I definitely woke up with a snort/jolt which she and I both then responded to with uncontrollable laughter! I guess the lack of sleep really is catching up with me! Thanks again Randy and Suzanne!

Friday morning we headed out to spend the weekend at the beach. Nicole's parents, Sam and Debbie, graciously allowed us to stay at their beach condo. Thank you Sam and Debbie!!! We have really enjoyed ourselves! Graeme has enjoyed his first trip to the beach. He slept under an umbrella, and Ceilidh jumped waves all afternoon. They both were in heaven! Oceanfront views and sounds, days at the beach, Seafood Hut, and Dunkin Donuts... couldn't ask for a much better weekend! I will post pictures when we get home... I don't have the USB cord.

The other cool thing about this trip, was that I learned I might have a Jewish heritage (besides my spiritual Jewish heritage). We met an older gentleman on the beach that through talking, found out he was from Gastonia. Obviously we started taking about names since my parents live there, and he recognized my maiden name. He said, "Smoak... They are an Orangeburg, SC family name." I told him that my father's family is all from that area. I knew 'Smoak' was of German descent, but that is all I really knew. Well... according to this man, who is a self-acclaimed German lineage historian (ha), the surname Smoak, was actually 'Rauch' in Germany. It wasn't until Johann Rauch immigrated to Pennsylvania, and then to SC, did the name change. Rauch means smoke, which is where the translation came from. I think this is very cool, as I would love to be of blood Jewish descent. I need to do a bit more research to verify all this, but the preliminary search done on the internet last night verifies what the man said. Caitlin... I might have to start teaching you Hebrew now! HA

Anyway... I am just rambling now; but really what are blogs for if not for rambling. I will post pictures tomorrow.