In a Handbasket

Many aspects of my life have gone to hell in a handbasket lately. In case you're thinking of going there on vacation or something, I thought that I'd post just to warn you that it's quite a bumpy ride and is not a trip worth taking. If you have a choice, I'd go to Hawaii instead.

Girls, Girls, Girls!

I know you probably got sooo excited upon reading the title of my post, hoping to read something fantastic about Motley Crue and their fabulous hair. Instead, you are lucky enough to get to read about me and my girls and our new, cute haircuts! This morning, Rophone took the boys to the park while Pen, Ginger and I went to The Hair God to get our hairs cut. The girls have never been with me before, so they were super excited.

Ginger got several inches cut off, and now sports a cute shoulder-length 'do:

 

Pen decided to donate her hair to Locks of Love (way to go, Pen!):

Everyone decided that they needed to take a picture of me. Apparently they think it's not done enough, so here are some pictures of my new cut. 

Pen shot the first one:

Ginger was going for a more artistic framing:

This is Bud's first attempt:

Much better the second time:

Rophone got in on the act:

No more pictures of me for quite a while, I think. We had a great time together, and the girls want to do something again soon. Pen is voting for pedicures, and says we might as well get manicures while we're at it. My daughters might turn me into a girl yet! 

Bespectacled

I went to the eye doctor today for a long overdue exam and, well, it looks like I am joining the ranks of the bespectacled. I don't have to wear them all of the time, only when I feel like I need them, apparently.

The doctor was very nice. My favorite part of the appointment was when he said, "Now, you don't need to wear these glasses all of the time, but they can be your friend." So, welcome, friend! 

A Little Relief

I had to post just a few more photos from the family reunion--of the older folks this time. We were all hot and definitely tired, so we all ran through the sprinklers for a little relief. I took a quick turn and can tell you they felt great!

Grandpa Fish revving up the engine:

I think we'll end with a picture of the whole gang:

Family Reunion

We just returned from my family reunion. I'd love to say that I had a fantastic time.... It seems that I have a few things to work on (like I didn't know that!), including a hump on my back, apparently. 

I decided that the most important thing to accomplish this reunion was to make sure that the kids had a good time. Pen, Ginger and Bud voted (Big abstained due to sleep) and unanimously agreed that they had a blast. So, mission accomplished. Here are just shy of a gazillion photos (I snapped many gazillions) of the kids enjoying themselves.

Ginger, watching her cousins:

The Wizard, walking the curb:

Ginger and The Genealogist (The Genealogist (6), the child of my brother Rib and his wife Aunt Jazz Hands, is a complete whiz at familial relationships):

 

Captain Tornado (younger brother of The Genealogist), waiting for help with the monkey bars:

Miss Pea, caught unawares, therefore no unicorn horn needed:

Pen, in the pool (a real life saver since the house we were staying in was not air conditioned):

Bud, cooling off:

More of The Genealogist:

Cindy Lou, eating grass again (maybe something's lacking in her diet?):

Newton--or is that Jeff Spicoli from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"?: 

George (younger brother of The Genealogist and Captain Tornado), enjoying the water:

The lack of sleep finally caught up with Big and he developed a temporary fear of the water:

This is a photo of my niece, Belle. I can't believe she just turned 16! She is the older sister of Rico, Rib II and Miss Pea. 

I think that, overall, all of the kids had a great time. Hopefully they developed some great "cousins" memories like the ones that I have.

My Day

Today was my birthday, and it was great. Rophone is good at making me feel special--he just knows me so well. We started out the morning with some chocolate muffin (I restrained myself and only ate half!) with fresh peaches and raspberries. I felt a little less guilty about the muffin because of the fresh fruit (you know, the whole canceling each other out thing).

After breakfast, I relaxed, did more to get ready for the trip, made indoor s'mores with the girls while the boys ran errands, etc. Then, just before lunch, it was present time. I was shocked at what I got, but not so much that I'll insist it gets taken back or anything.

Rophone got me a new bike...with shocks! My current bicycle is a vintage Specialized Hard Rock Sport, circa 1991. It weighs a ton...and no shocks. I also received a bike trailer to haul the boys in (and new helmets for them, too--I know it's crazy, but their heads seem to grow along with their bodies!). We went for a quick spin around the neighborhood before lunch and had a great time. Rophone knows how frustrated I have been that all of my chosen fitness options don't seem to be an option these days, so he got me the bike to help alleviate the fitness frustration. Thanks, hon! 

Here is the bike:

 

In the afternoon, my sister, Martha (and family) arrived with my mom in tow to help celebrate. We hung out while the kids played and ordered some delicious chinese take-out from down the street. After dinner was the dessert. I'm not usually a big fan of sweets, but this time I could not wait! Bud picked out my ice cream cake and he was sooo excited for me to see it. Not that I didn't already know what it looked like, since it's the 3rd time we've had it. My cake is the same that we ordered for Bud's second birthday, and then Bud has since chosen it for Rophone's last birthday and now for mine, too. I have a feeling I may be eating it a few more times.

The coolest cake ever:  

I had a great birthday! Thanks to all of you who sent or gave me good birthday wishes--they worked!

Busy Day

I love to bake, but don't really enjoy eating all I make, so the upcoming family reunion is a perfect opportunity-- I can bake and let someone else eat it. The other day I made a big batch of pumpkin chocolate chip cookies, and today I made 2 more types. If you would like recipes for any of the cookies, let me know. They are better than the pictures make them look, I swear.  I just don't have the energy to type the recipes in right now. 

My busy day today, paired with the long MRI appointment for Bud yesterday (no, I don't have the results yet), have left me a little pooped (sitting in the 100 degree heat for Ginger's game tonight might have drained me a bit, too, I guess). Anyway, don't whip out the violins-- I didn't mean this to be a woe-is-me-fest or anything.  On to the goodies!

Here are the super nummy (and really rich!) chocolate peanut butter cookies:

 

The kids had fun rolling these chewy sugar cookies in different colors of sugar:

In addition to making the 2 batches of cookies, I also made some more wands. When Miss Pea came to visit the other day, she decided that she really wanted a wand like Bud's. To make it fair, I decided I'd better make enough wands for all of the cousins to have one if they wish. Hopefully there won't be too much fighting over which one to take.  

Tomorrow is my birthday, and as much as I'd like to spend the day lounging around, I have a lot more to do (ie. laundry, packing, more treat making) before we go on the family reunion. Time for bed, I think.