Inevitable

It was looking a little ratty by the time we took them out. I had strectched Emmy's hair-do a few days longer than I should have. We were just around the corner from dreadlocks.

This is some wicked crimp job.

Can someone hand me some spandex and my walkman.
I can't remember what's on TV tonight...Mr. Belvedere or Alf.

Sorry, Ashley M*. I promised you this post a week ago!

Emmy's 4th

Emmy's birthday made me realize that she truly is a middle child. First of all, it was a week ago (June 15th), and I'm only blogging about it now (June something or other, maybe July ... I haven't looked at a calendar all month).

Secondly, Bradley's birthdays have all been major events. We've had grilling parties, camp-outs, blow-up machines, etc. Even Olivia's first birthday was a more exciting. We had gone shopping weeks before, thought about the gifts and had friends visiting from Houston.

Poor, poor Emmy. The night before her birthday, we go to pick up a cake (a fact I'm proud to admit...I had actually ordered a cake - but wouldn't a loving mother make one from scratch instead?) The cake order had been lost, so we get a different for free (thank you, Target, for recognizing your mistake). Then we proceeded to walk up and down the toy isles asking her to fill the cart with what she wanted.

Seriously?

I feel extreme guilt.

Anyway, my mom had sent her gifts a month earlier, mostly because she's the psychotic opposite of a procrastinator (is there an antonym of procrastinate ... A-type personality, maybe?) So thank goodness we at least had that. Emmy would never have known the difference but I'm sure at 14 she'll be reading through some of my blogs labeled "Emmy" and demand therapy or a new car or something...

Here's some pics either way.

Emmy and her second-choice cake.

Here she is in her new tu-tu that Grandma sent. She's had it on so long I think it fused to her skin.
Next year will be way better, Em. I'm not talkin' MTV's Super Sweet 16 or anything, but it'll be awesome. Maybe a freaky clown or something.

The Race is On

My kids just competed in a local race.
I was going to do the 10k, but Ste was on call. Oh, darn.Emmy getting all psyched up. Or something like that.

Bradley looking all sorts of ready.

They did so well and ran the whole time! I'm so proud.

A blue faux-hawk and corn rows weren't enough,
we had to get our faces painted.Aren't they presh?

My New Baby

As you can see from the prior post,
we have a new member of the family.

Our only regret is that we didn't get one sooner.

I've already paid for half of it with the students I've already acquired. It's been so fun! The kids are eager to learn and Steven's eager to remember. PLUS I even have the ability to finally tune my violin.

Thanks to everyone who helped move it. Trent (for not completely destroying it while driving the trailer), John and Matt (for breaking their backs), Steven (for, uh, organizing the move?), and Christi (for hookin' us up with some dollies).

Em's Hairy Situation

We're at the pool a lot.

A whole lot.

Daily, in fact.

Emmy's hair is slowly being destroyed. So we are trying something new.

First we did this:

But, come on! Who can take this poor girl seriously.

So we moved onto option 2:

It's been the most wonderful thing I've ever done. She's happy (well, not while I was doing it) and I'm utterly thrilled I don't have to do her hair ever day.

Plus, she's so dang cute! I'm hoping it lasts a couple of weeks.

Season's Greetings

Steven came home early on the wrong day.

He stepped out of his car and I yelled, "I'd leave your phone inside!"
It's hard to see, but he's dumping water out of his shoe.

The kids had a blast .... and so did Steven.

Two New Weekdays

I thought you should know about the new weekdays that have been put into the western world's calendar. At least our calendar at home. Let me explain.

It's the first week of summer for us,

The first week that Bradley's home,

The first week of maintaining my house with three monkeys,

The first week of Emmy giving up her throne of decision-maker,

My first week of "event planner".

I could swear to you that someone threw in an extra two days this week! ...Friday? Really, it's Friday? Finally! I thought it was Friday on Wednesday. Today feels at least like Saturday. Did you happen to not notice Junsday and Yernsday? Because I sure did. You know, those two days that God threw in this week because He thought it'd be funny to watch me writhe around freaking out at what we're going to do ALL SUMMER LONG!

Panic.