Sunshine Cake

I forgot that I took this picture! On the last day of school (June 19), we made "Sunshine Cakes" to celebrate, and to encourage the sun to actually start shining. It was a fun way to mark the beginning of our summer break.

It must have worked, 'cause it's 83 degrees today!

Book Worm

The library kicked off it's summer reading program last Monday and gave kids the goal of reading 20 minutes a day for a total of 1000 minutes this summer.

M finished hers on Friday. Yep, 1000 minutes in 5 days. Listening to books on CD counts, too, so she racked up a few hours that way. But still.

I took this picture of her reading her new favorite series, "The Secrets of Droon." She says this is what her face looks like when she's reading an exciting part.

Her next goal? To help E reach her 1000 minutes. They're well on their way and now take a book everywhere we go and even count the 4 minutes it takes to drive in the car to the store. Now that's an obsession I can support!

An (Virtual) Author

I am currently writing my first e-book. It's about beach weddings (no, I didn't select the topic, it was given to me). Over the past year, I have just ghostwritten articles for the internet through a friend of mine's company, and this is the first time she's offered me an ebook package. I got first pick of topics: beach weddings, Deer ticks, or HD Radio. Hmmmm, let me think about it... ;)

It's supposed to be about 50 pgs long and is due July 18. I'm sort of halfway done. ;)

Just wanted to let you know why there might not be as many posts here for the next few weeks!

Aloha!

Always Be My Baby

This morning...

E: "Mom, what do your parents call you when you grow all up?

Me: "Well, they're still your parents, so you're still their daughter. That never changes no matter how big you get."

E: "So, even if you're a grown up, you still call your mom "Mom," and your dad, "Dad?"

Me: "Yep. And they still call you their daughter."

E: "Or honey. They can call you that, too."

Father's Day 2008

For P's first Father's day in 2000, I started a scrapbook just for him called "Daddy's Hand Book." Each FD, we do handprints, a pic of the girl w/dad, and a blurb about all their favorite things to do together. It is one of our favorite traditions and we try to remember to include things we're likely to forget, i.e. favorite book, game, or song. Here are the pics that will go in this year's book...IF I ever figure out what went wrong with our printer and how to fix it (spent 2 hrs w/tech support and still don't have it resolved. grrrrrr).

The Longest Nightgown Ever

Look what E and I made today! Simplicity patterns were 2 for $3 yesterday. When we first looked at the pattern book, I couldn't find the nightgowns, so I went on to look in a different book and E kept going in that one. A few minutes later, she'd found just what she wanted! It was cute, too, 'cause the gown on the pattern was blue, and she had a hard time understanding that hers didn't have to be blue, too. Of course, she had definite ideas in mind and picked out the pink princess fabric and fancy ribbon. Also, it had to be a nightgown that covered her feet, way down to the floor. I expect her to be able to wear it for a few years (as long as she doesn't mind that her toes start showing).

(And no, for the record, I'm still not feeling so great after my surgery, but I've used up all my "sick days" around here! And, yesterday, I accepted an assignment to write an ebook and the rough draft is due on the 26th, so I figured I'd better get this gown out of the way first or I wouldn't hear the end of it until it was completed.)

Our Gymnast

Little E has been taking gymnastics at the YMCA for a few months now. Today was her last day of the session, so we stayed after to take some pics, since we're going to take swimming lessons instead for awhile, (and then try to get her into their ballet classes). She has done great in this class and has a mean forward roll. Her coaches LOVE that she listens carefully and follows directions exactly. And I just love watching her! The last day of each session is especially fun b/c they set up a huge course through the whole gym and the kids just jump and tumble through the entire time. Look how pink her cheeks are! What a great workout!

You Should See The Other Guy

By popular demand, and against my better judgment, I've decided to post some post-op pics. Here's how happy I was 12 hours after surgery...



24 hours later..."What are YOU looking at, buster?"




I took this one when I got home last night. At least I can finally smile. I can't open my mouth very wide, and I still talk w/o moving my jaw much, but we're making progress. Nice bruise, huh?!

Good-bye, Wisdom

I am flying down to Fresno CA this afternoon so Paul's cousin can take out my wisdom teeth tomorrow morning. I am going to stay with his aunt & uncle until Thursday. I am trying really hard to focus on the gratitude I feel for all of them (which is a LOT of gratitude), as if I had the surgery here, it was going to cost $3000. I still have butterflies, though, both b/c of the surgery and b/c I'm leaving my little family behind. It's been strange to pack for just me! I am grateful that P could take sick time off to take care of the kiddos while I'm away. They're going to have a great time, I think, 'cause Daddy is pretty much a party.

The best part is that the weather is supposed to be great. The thought of sunshine makes it almost entirely worth it!

Actually, I Blogged Too Soon!

Well, it turns out having an "attitude of gratitude" doesn't go as far as it used to. P picked up the van from the mechanic (leaving his behind, b/c it was squeaking a lot), made it up the BIG hill, and it DIED AGAIN!

1. I am thankful that it wasn't raining on him, 'cause he doesn't have a hood or an umbrella in that car.

2. I am thankful that our neighbor spotted him, flipped her car around, and gave him a ride home.

3. I am thankful that the mechanic felt really bad and fixed P's car (the new belt needed tightening), grabbed another guy at the shop, and drove P's car to our house to pick him up, then drove back to where the van was. Then they (the mechanics) drove it back to their shop (15 min away), thus saving us a small fortune (and hassle) on towing.

It turns out that our fuel pump was the culprit. The owner was highly apologetic about the whole thing and didn't charge us for the labor of the spark plug project ($100). But I don't know if I can say I'm thankful that it "only" cost us $660! I actually did pray aloud tonight that the cars won't need any more repairs for a long time. I don't know if I've ever prayed aloud about a car before (plenty of mental prayers - and curses - though)?! Hey, at this point, I'll try anything!

Always, Always, Always Something To Be Thankful For

My mom (and my SIL, Laura) have that saying on a plaque in their homes, and I kept thinking about it today. So, here's what I'm thankful for:

1. I am thankful that when our van lurched, sputtered and died, we were close enough to walk home, and not somewhere between Puyallup and Bonney Lake (i.e. on Hwys 167, 512, or 410!)

2. I am thankful that E and I wore coats with hoods, as it was POURING down rain.

3. I am thankful that it wasn't cold, 'cause I was wearing capris (as we were returning from yoga at the YMCA)

4. I am thankful for M's primary teacher, who happened to notice us as the tow truck was loading up the van (when we left the house to walk back & meet him to give him the key, it wasn't raining, but of course, it soon was back to the downpour), swung around and picked us up so we didn't have to walk all the way back home.

5. I am thankful that the repairs actually aren't going to cost that much. I thought it would be something major, but it's not...just needs new spark plugs! (Of course, if either of us had any idea how to replace spark plugs, we would be spending even less, but this is a post about gratitude, people!)

6. I am thankful for my little 5 year old who didn't complain once about the walks in the rain. In fact, she was thrilled to wear her rainboots on the second trip.

7. I am so thankful that we aren't having to decide whether to pour more $ into the van to fix it, or cut our losses and get something "new." We aren't prepared to do that, and I was sweating it!

8. I am grateful that it wasn't 90 degrees outside, or I REALLY would've been "sweating it!"

Thank you, Lord, for all these tender mercies!

(Should I go pop in my "Savannah Smiles" DVD?!?)

"Happy Birthday, Princess!"

I will apologize in advance for this song, as it might get stuck in your head. This, I think, was the highlight of E's bday party. She's still glowing.