Poster child for summer

This picture isn't quite in focus, but I kinda like it that way. Natalie had a spaz attack around 8:15 last night, and this was just the beginning...

Is it just me?

My cousin Amy, Me, and cousin Bob in Mendocino August 1978 (or 77)

Natalie admiring her hairdo, June 2008.


I was almost 4 (I think) in this picture. Natalie is not quite 3 1/2. I think there's a little of me in her (since she has Larry's eyes and his mom's smile and dimples!)

Every have one of those moments?

Larry and I had one simutaneously last night. I hadn't noticed really all day (except it shook me a little on how much Natalie looks like me as a little girl with her pig-tails). Suddenly, Larry and I both said "What happened to our little girl?" She looks like she is 5 pounds heavier and 3 inches taller! She had slept in that morning, she must have been busy last night, because she has grown!

Boxx Berry Farm

We headed out this morning to meet Rebecca and Griffin out at the berry farm. Luckily, my mom was just getting off of work and could meet us there too. The kids helped pick berries (13 pounds), and then we headed back to the barn where the kids rode on the mini-tractors, ate strawberry sundaes, and took a tractor tour of the farm where we got to eat carrots fresh out of the ground (yum).

Brady's attitude problem followed us there, but it seemed to be tamed by eating strawberries off the vine, and ice cream. And a couple of tractor rides never hurts.

Fun afternoon, didn't compound my sunburn, and now we're home trying to find ways to cool off! I will not complain, I'm happy the heat is here!

Brady brought his dumptruck to pick his berries into (he's done this every season).
Natalie showing off her "strawberry belly". She normally does not have a pot belly, it was full of berries (see it poking over the edge of her shorts?)
Natalie and her first-time ever pigtails (she finally let me do it, and I LOVE IT!)
Brady said the tractor driver was chasing him and Griffin, they were the last two tractors on the line, and the driver does a 360 "chasing" the end units. He was in heaven.
The kids ready for take off.
Grandma Sue and Natalie Sue on the farm tour (see mom? I can photoshop out strawberry stains!)

NW Summer

It arrived yesterday. So the kids and I packed up and headed to Lake Whatcom to spend the day enjoying it. We met up with Kate and her kiddo's, and the 4 kids got along great, which made Kate and my agenda much easier to achieve.

Our agenda was to chit-chat while we soaked up the rays. We don't get too many of these days, so we were both desperate to do away with our pasty white legs and look like healthy human beings for a couple of months.

Our Northwest roots got the better of us. Both of my shoulders are tomato red along with the left side of each calf. So that's going to look nice when the burn fades. Half-pasty, half-brown.

But on the upside, my hands and feet are a beautiful shade of brown, just how I like me.

I think I'll use the kids sunblock today at the strawberry patch...

Our little mountain goat

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It fell apart after I cut tape, but Brady and Larry made it to the top together, Brady hissing and clawing like a trapped cat. But he made it, and he's pretty proud of his moment.

Still trying to get the photos figured out, I've decided that taking photos in RAW format is too much of a pain in the ass.

One more day...

This sounds terrible, but I would love to have one more day without the children here. I got absolutely nothing accomplished here at the house while they were gone. But I'm also missing them, and want to get back in our routine (or lack thereof).

Tuesday when I dropped them off with my MIL, I was dizzy all day, which zaps my energy. Then I spent 2 hours at the doctors office (got lots of reading done!), then had dinner with Larry and called it a day.

Yesterday, I had to go to the Orthodontist and get my braces tightened and then off I went to work. I cut out early to get my toenails painted before I zipped over to play Bunco with my lady-friends (good excuse to use a phrase from The Big Lebowski).

Didn't get home from Bunco until after 9, and I just don't feel like doing housework past 9pm. So here I am, with a filthy house (I can't show you pictures of my new barstools because the house is so dirty), and on my way to go retrieve the clutter-creators (OK, I can't blame them for this mess, only 50%). I wish I knew how to just keep a house, but it seems like I'm constantly recovering from MESS. Oh, well. Any clean house guru's know how to do it? Peer pressure works for me a bit, I invite people over all the time so that I'll feel pressured to clean up my house.

Chocolate

When I was a kid, my mom would always put this rag on Chocolate's head after a procedure. She did it this weekend for Natalie too.

I got Chocolate when I was 2. I didn't love him/her (it switches all the time) until the murder of my beloved baby doll by my neighbor Joey's Doberman Pincher (I was the one who discovered her body. I'm still haunted by it). So Chocolate became my new companion. I've only seen one other bear that looked like Chocolate in the whole world, and I thought it was the ugliest bear I'd ever seen. That's because Chocolate is real, and this other bear was not. Now, I hope whoever reads this blog has the sense to know when a stuffed animal becomes real. If you don't know what I'm talking about, have I got a book for you. Have you ever read The Velveteen Rabbit? I know exactly what the old skin horse is talking about, be Chocolate is real.

Fast Forward 31 years, and my daughter discovered Chocolate. I didn't know how to take this sudden interest that Natalie showed in MY bear. I really had no intention of giving up MY bear to somebody else, I don't care if she is my own daughter, that bear is MINE.

I've tried distracting her away from Chocolate, for fear that harm or loss my happen to him/her. But the power of real proved to be too powerful. Chocolate and Natalie are in love. I have a mix of pain/separation along with nostalgia/love for the relationship Natalie is forming with Chocolate. I still don't know how I feel about sharing.

Chocolate being put to bed with a kiss from Natalie.

Chocolate has had to have many surgeries in his/her lifetime. Stuffing would get hard, a seam would pop, his/her tear ducts would plug (at one point Chocolate had a bottle and if you gave it this bottle of water, it would cry and sweat. It has long quit working). My mom would lovingly operate on Chocolate and return him/her to me refreshed and ready for more love.

Some special snuggles after they were reunited.

Natalie has been loving on Chocolate a lot too. So instead of going camping with us this weekend, Chocolate spent the weekend at Grandmas house having a little work done. But the fabric on Chocolate's neck, where the surgery took place was so worn down, that Chocolate needed a patch. A yellow butterfly patch. And this new part of her/him has helped me send Chocolate on her/his new journey. I hope Chocolate gives Natalie as much joy, comfort, and unconditional love that he/she has and continues to give me.

When we got home from camping, this is how we found Chocolate.

Thanks, mom.

Leavenworth (part 1)

Natalie enjoying some S'mores.
Lar cooking his famous campancakes.

Brady on Bruce's Boulder. He started to panic on the ledge right above his head.
All the pictures that were taken on our nice Nikon D40x were taken in RAW format, so I must enlist the help of my husband to download those (you have to convert them to Jpeg).
We arrived in Leavenworth Saturday around 9 am, and immediately went looking for a campsite (they are first come - first served). We knew we were at a disadvantage for not getting there earlier in the week, but Larry worked until 10:30PM the night before.
We drove 13 miles down Icicle Rd to the very last campsite (there were also 4 campsites closed due to flooding). Upper Johnny Creek campground was our last hope for a site, and the sign said "Campground Full". I pleaded with Larry to drive through anyway and look. There was ONE spot that opened up just an hour before we arrived. And it was the biggest site available too. Needless to say, Larry and I sighed a huge sigh of relief and happily plunked down our $13 and energetically unpacked the van.
Our site was great too, because we were next door to the campground hosts (who gave us free firewood our last night) and they had bird and squirrel feeders set up, so we had a huge population of beautiful birds and squirrels to watch (and squirrel babies!! so cute!)
We wandered into Leavenworth for coffee, since I had a moment of moron and bought cheap coffee for the trip (we only use whole bean for our home use, so I needed just a little bit of ground coffee for camping. Long story short... I bought Folgers Gourmet that was on sale. Not gourmet. Still Folgers.) We saw the Bavarian Starbucks sign and beelined it. I even bought the kids each a Frappachino, I was so grateful.
The boys got some rock climbing done, and Brady completed his first real-life climb on Bruce's Boulder. He panicked about halfway up, so Larry "encouraged" him and they climbed to the top together. What I didn't know until later (since I was at the bottom of the boulder belaying them) was that when they summited, the fellow climbers across the way stood up and applauded Brady.
Natalie had lots of make-believe games going on, and the kids played great together (doesn't happen at home). Even Brady at dinner with us (not without a fight, but he did participate in every meat) which for those who know Brady, know that this is a huge victory for us. He had hamburger and veggies the first night (I made tin foil pocket meals) and had pancakes for breakfast, and Hot Dogs for dinner the next night. It sounds ridiculous, but that is huge progress for us.
The bugs weren't a problem at all either, which is what really makes or breaks a trip for me. That is, until we stopped at SwiftWater picnic area on the way home (for more bouldering). We all walked around and I had the camera to take photos of the boys climbing. But I (and really only me, I must be really sweet and juicy) got attacked. I'm still itchy today. I got at least 10 mosquito bites and when I get bit, I welt up. I had a welt the size of a 50 cent piece on my knee. So my mood drastically changed. I'm not too fun to be around when I've been bitten and itching (and the bite relief and Off! is packed away).
Home and now we unpack. Larry has to work today. The kids are going to my MIL's house for two days though. I have a doctors appointment this afternoon, and I play Bunco tomorrow night, so Sue just suggested that she keep the kids until Thursday. I couldn't say "yes!" fast enough!

We're home

Photos to come, lots of great shots and memories! But we've got to unpack...

Off to Leavenworth!

So I awoke this morning at 6:45 (thankew Natalie), and have still not finished all there is to do. Oh well. And yesterday was a butt kicker too. We'll start there.

Yesterday I awoke at 7 and drove my car to The Panacea to get an oil change before heading over the pass. The problem with this is that they were squeezing me in, meaning I had to leave the van there. So I walked/jogged home the 1.5 miles, got myself and Brady dressed to take him to day camp and me to work.

Got home, just to watch Larry hop on the scooter and say "Somebody called. Your car is done." Wait! Take us in the truck and drop us off on your way to work!!!! Too late. So the kids piled into the stroller and we walked back the 1.5 miles to fetch the van. Didn't expect to get a workout in, but even though I resent Larry for leaving in a mad dash, I appreciate the unexpected exercise and chit chat with my kids that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise.

Came home and had a visit from Carly, I think all of us felt happier after the visit (Carly included).

Off to Haggen to load up on groceries for the trip and take advantage of their 12 hour sale. I dropped the kids off at the play land, got a Grande Iced Americano with room ("do you want an extra shot for free?" Um. Duh.) Got to the far corner of the store when I hear "Heather, please return to playland". I know who it is and what he wants. He's like a dog. Every time I take him there, he feels the urge to go pee. Pick him up, let him pee, return him and head back to the corner of the store.

I get to the meat dept when I am called again. This time Natalie has to pee. Take care of her, and finish the marathon shop. I filled 2 shopping carts.

TODAY

After we spent the entire morning packing the van and doing laundry/dishes/fish tanks/garden tending/mowing/refrigerator cleaning, the kids and I went to Fairhaven park to meet my friend Chris and her newborn daughter, Lizzie. The kids had a great time and we didn't leave until 4:45 (got there at 1:15). Stopped at Yeagers to get a new tent (Larry ruined the old one. Long story) and a couple other last minute items. My mom met us there to help, as Natalie had fallen asleep and it was making tent shopping cumbersome.

Got our of Yeagers, and headed to Costco where I waited in line to spend $70.13 in gas. I limped into the store and picked up some dog food and itunes cards (needed some fresh music for the drive!) and of course, batteries.

I have no gas left in me to finish. I need a shower desperately. I fully intend on parking my butt in the lounge chair with my book this weekend and tannin my hide! See you next week!

The Brady Montage (the finale).

Here are a few of my fav shots of B through the years. We lost of bunch of photos when our computer crashed (mostly baby pic's :( ), and he went through a phase in 2005 where he refused to EVER have his picture taken.

The photos:
1. Moving into our new home 2004 (I was trying to get a cute "we've moved" photo, but it didn't work out)

2. Brady's first carousel ride at Westlake Village in downtown Seattle. He made the funniest sound the whole ride, not quite sure about the whole thing, but very excited.

3. His birthday at Seattle Center, not sure what he was doing.

4. A leafy photo shoot with Christian, Brady, and Natalie. I eventually became the target when my camera wore out it's welcome.

5. Brady proudly posing by some cougar poop last summer at Lake Crescent.
6. Playing hide and seek at Forest Park in Everett.

7. Coach Thomas trying to coax Brady out from under his baseball mitt.

8. Self portrait of me and B at the summer Wickersham train.

9. One of my all-time favorites. We call this the "Calvin and Hobbes" photo. Oregon coast 2004.

10. The obsession begins (actually I have baby photos of him sucking on golf balls, but those are on film. Somewhere.)

Week of Brady

So the "My boy" led me to re-discover several pictures of Brady that I just love, so I plan on sharing them this week and bombarding you all with my boy. Then I'll move on to Little Miss.

But today Brady received to big deals. 1. His first pair of rock climbing shoes. I already made Larry buy him a harness because he was scaring the crap out of me, and of course all Brady wants to do in it is dangle from the belay ropes. They are called Mad Monkey and am happy to report that I bought them at Backcountry Outfitters (REI doesn't carry such silly stuff for children in their store, only online). We're going to Leavenworth this weekend, and Larry plans on making it a climbing trip too, so we figured we'd better prepare Brady to be able to participate. He's pretty good. Brady, like his dad, tend to excel at individual sports, where the struggle is with your self (golf, rock climbing, cycling, etc).



Oh. And 2. Now that Brady is 5 (almost 6!!) we finally made it down to the library and got that boy his very own bonified card. And the kids got signed up for the summer reading program. And our family signed up for some Puget Sound stream/estuary restoration project. I did stream restoration in HS and in college, so I thought it was a decent program to support.

And I just finished downloading 2 audio books to burn to CD (since the library can't download to ipods yet...) we burned Fifty Famous Fairy Tales and Peter Pan for the trip over the pass.

Professor Jones

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Brady got this toy whip, and went downstairs to dig out his Bad Bart felt hat. He has been running all over being Indiana Jones, jumping over and off stuff and cracking the whip at our recycle bins. Total crack up.

Polar Opposites

We went to Target today to get some things for our camping trip this weekend. Brady insisted he needed these swim trunks and Natalie insisted she needed the flower tee, and I insisted she needed the Wizard of Oz tee. Flowers and Monster trucks. Huh.

My boy. (mush alert!)

2008



2007




2006


2005



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2003





2002














Last night Brady came out and quietly crawled onto my lap and snuggled with me under the afghan. Soon he was asleep, and he had both of his hands over his head, just like he used to sleep as an infant. So I sat there, enchanted by him with a few tears slowly falling.
This is the boy who made me a mother.

We have quite a dynamic going on. We are both the 'older' sibling, so there is this innate clash of the titans with us. And he is stubborn like all Borton's are, so we've got that to fight about too. And it seems like just my presence sometimes causes his blood pressure to rise for no apparent reason. Like today.

The kids had their dental checkups today. I went in first with Natalie and helped hold her down while they counted and inspected her teeth (big crocodile tears that escalated into her screaming, with tools and fingers in her mouth, "Let Me Go!" as she bucked and twisted. No control issues for her either, right?)
As I was finishing up with her, I saw Brady being led to another exam room. When I got to him, he was laying in the exam chair (that's a first) and was preparing to let the tech clean his teeth (another first). But then he saw me. And then he wanted to hold my hand which turned into tears and grasping desperately to me. So I suggested that I step out of the room, promised Brady I would be back, and when I returned a few minutes later, he was halfway through the cleaning. He was laying quietly, but you could see this made him quite anxious (his expression before I left about broke my heart). But he cooperated like a champ and walked out of his first full cleaning/exam. Without me.

But then there is they boy who just comes to nuzzle in and snuggle, or get a few extra hugs. Or holds my hand when we walk around together. He makes my heart expand with joy, pride and love. He makes my blood boil with frustration and anger. But he's never a disappointment. And I'll love him till the end of time.

Oh, and another pondery. The last couple of times that I've had to haul him somewhere (he fell asleep on my bed last week, and last night in my arms), he says "I can't, I can't mom" when I stir him a bit in his sleep. It breaks my heart. What troubles him so and fills him with self-doubt in his dreams? Can't I waive a magic wand and wish his struggles away?

Father's Day roundup

Our flag (it was flag day yesterday, you know)

Woke up this morning and the boys slept in... Nat a I made blueberry pancakes and served breakfast in bed for Lar (there's a first time for everything). He ooohed and ahhed over his cards and loves his new sunglasses. I got him a pair with 3 interchangeable lenses: polarized grey, golf tint, and hi-vis (yellow). He tried out the grey and golf today.



He spent the entire day building his climbing wall on the side of our house (I just close my eyes and pretend it's not happening). So I took a nap and then read a magazine and 2 catalogs on the back deck while the kids played in the back yard with him. It was one of the nicest Father's days I've ever had.



Then we decided to head over to the Sehome Arboretum and look for a particular boulder called "the brain". We hiked all over the hill (and Brady took a stick to the butt, he's got a nice raspberry on his right cheek) and never found it. Unitl. We were walking back down to our vehicle and Larry spotted it up above us. B and L scrambled back up the hillside to inspect it, while Natalie and I discussed buttercups. It turns out we both like butter.



Dinner at Boomer's Drive-in and home again. I just got out of a nice hot shower, and the kids are ready for bed. My Fathers day was grade A. And I still hear Larry with the drill down below...

(P.S. There aren't any photos yet because Larry did something fancy to the camera and now the photos won't download. I think I took some photos in RAW format, and have to convert them to JPEG. Don't wait for it to happen...)

MIP

So I grilled some delicious chicken sandwiches (on spinach-feta foccacia), and we all sat on the deck to enjoy a nice family lunch.

Brady graciously got beverages for himself and his sister. I had water and Larry was having a glass of the sangria I made last night. Brady brings out a glass of milk for himself and a sippy cup of juice for sis.

Just as she picks it up, I look at the sippy cup. All we have to drink for the kids is apple juice and milk. This looks like V8-Fusion. Then the light clicks on.

Ran ourselves ragged!

We woke up Saturday and hit the ground running. Or walking briskly. We joined hundreds of fellow 'hamsters at the Human Race. We walked to raise money for ARC of Whatcom County and the Whatcom Volunteer Center. This was Natalie's first race, but Brady and I have walked in it a few times. Brady was the poster child for it several years ago. The Herald took a photo of a co-workers husband holding little Brady, and it showed up the next year as their advertising. Let's just say it got some laughs from the Costco crew, about just who Brady's daddy is!

Couldn't find my camera to take pic's of the event, although it was uneventful. My children lazed in the stroller while I pushed them. Their attitudes were terrible when we arrived, but were fresh and happy when we crossed the finish line.

Then we walked back up the hill and stopped at the Children's Museum for an hour or so (it was "free" day, it normally costs $10.50 for the three of us). Pried the kids away from there with the promise of kettle corn at the Farmers Market. Once again, they chose to laze in the stroller while they munched on the sugary goodness that is Market Kettle Corn. I treated myself to 3 new pairs of earrings, after realizing that I don't really have a nice selection of earrings. I have a lot of ONE earring, but very few pairs ( I still have my vacuum bag that I need to gut because I'm pretty sure I sucked up a nice earring.)

After the market, we went to Great Harvest Bread and then up to Freddie's. Loaded up on groceries (again), with specific ingredients to try out some recipes from my Cooks Illustrated. I made some Sangria from their Grilling and Entertaining issue, and oh, baby. Sneaky stuff.

Then, after all the groceries were unloaded, the children fed, and the sangria made, we headed to Natalie's Premier Performance. It was so stinkin cute!! Brady even got to participate at the end, and he was quite good himself (he was blessed with natural rhythm).

Natalie stretching out with Kaia.

Brady, Natalie, and her fren Erin watching the dance troupe.

Intermission (Natalie was relentless in monopolizing Kaia's attention.)

I bought Natalie a small bouquet at the market and gave it to her and them took them down to Sirena's Gelato for a post-performance celebration. I think they liked re-filling their water cups at the dispenser more than the gelato though, those two probably drank 3 glasses of water!

Poor Natalie fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, but Brady was up for marathon snuggling lasting until 10:30. Glad today is a day of rest and fun!

Lame Day

I got up early this morning to drive the scooter (love it) down to my foot doc for a check up. My orthotics are working well, and he likes my new Mizuno walking shoes ("the heel cup is just the right size for women"). Then, he gave me another cortisone injection into the side of my foot to "knock this puppy out". Thank goodness they freeze your foot to the point of pain, so that you don't really feel the needle journeying to the center of your foot.

Then the kids ditched me for the entire day. So I laid around and watched The Freshman with Marlon Brando and Matthew Broderick from 1990. And then at 3:30 I remembered that I had another doctors appointment to refill my migraine meds. Except that my appointment was at 2:30. Apparently I couldn't be bothered to move off the couch to walk by the calendar and remember that.

I did get my African Violets re-potted, they were in terrible shape, and I've had them for 10 years; they must thrive on abuse and neglect.

And when we got home tonight there was a message on the machine for Natalie... she has been invited to "perform" tomorrow night at the Firehouse Performance Theatre in Fairhaven. They need little girls, so they were drawing from her dance class. I'm totally taking her. Deep down, I think I might be a showbiz mom. Hopefully I'd never make it on one of those reality shows. I like to think I'm helping her find her passion, and right now it seems to be being the center of attention. What I'd really like would be that she discovers Volleyball (and keeps her dad's height). And she's so cute, she could be the next Gabby Reese. And Brady loves golf, I would love to retire and let Brady support our family as a Tour Pro on the PGA.

And right before bed, fresh out of the tubby, my kids actually look like they love each other! I get very few shots where there is love shown between them. Brady has never forgiven me for having Natalie (just like I never forgave my mom for having Rich. Payback's a bitch.)


Off to the Human Race tomorrow, and to finish all the errands that didn't get done today (because my children wouldn't come home.)

Yeah... that sunshine that was here earlier?

Um... it's gone. In fact it was here right up until I walked out of Little Caesars with the kids "hot and ready". Then the grey returned. I'm so flippin ready for some heat. I cried on a patients "shoulder" today. He lives in Santa Barbara now, and he asked me how the weather was up here. Boy, did he get an ear full. And my MIL is in Lakewood right now too. I'm sure she's not missing us up here.

So we braved the weather (because I went to the effort to pack our picnic bag and make dinner. OK, so I drove over to Little Caesars. But I did slice up a cantelope and some veggies.) And my children did run around in the sprinklers for about 5 minutes. Then there was this little guy who loved to steal pizza bones.

And the Brady found the older kids. I hate it when he plays with older kids. It starts out nice, but soon he becomes "it", or they take his hat and toss it around the playground making him chase it (which he innocently thinks is a real game). So I took Natalie to the bathroom (my mom met us for a slice of cantelope) and scooted as soon as we returned as my mom said things were quickly deteriorating in the big kid/little boy dynamic.

Oh, and on a side note I have to bitch a little. I bought a pair of sunglasses for Larry for Fathers Day at work. Everyone knew that they were going to be his Fathers Day gift, I made no secret about it. So they arrived today and I went and picked them up and they are great. Then I look at the box, and my manager wrote the price of it in big, giant, sharpie. Like, you couldn't have just told me the cost, or maybe put it on a post-it note? But no, she had to write all over the box, the box that I was giving as a gift. I might say something. But sometimes I feel like if I say something, she'll snap. Grrrr.

Nevermind

***I went back and looked at all my posts, and several were duplicate drafts, and some were drafts that never got posted. So now I'm only at like 190...)***


So I had been thinking about what I might do/say today. I can't think of anything creative or jaw dropping, sorry. I will tell you a bit about my night at Haggen last night.
We arrived, and the Kid's play area was closed (break). By aisle 2 (after produce) I thought I might choke one of my children, so we headed back to the Kids area and dumped them off.
Got my shopping in, and suddenly heard the "LOST" sounds, you know the ones where people hear the voices before something bad happens? Yeah, those. Then I figured out it was the self-check registers talking to people all at once. It was a little disorienting to say the least.
Then I also happened to be shopping at the same pace as a older man and woman (do you ever have that, where you seem to be shopping "with" somebody else throughout the store?). Anyway, I eventually overheard their conversation and it made me so sad. The woman was a friend of the man, and it sounded like he had just lost his wife. She was teaching him how to grocery shop and what foods were normally in his kitchen ("well, she had frozen OJ in the freezer, the kind you mix with water. This is the fresh, and it's on sale so it would be good for you."). My heart sank. Clearly this man had lost someone he shared a lifetime with and was lost without her. I know, I know, how can a grown man not know how to shop? But if you think, he was like 70, and if his wife had done the shopping for the past 50 years... and I have an Uncle who is a retired Orthopedic surgeon, and when my Aunt passed away, he was eating hot pockets and fish sticks. When your "other half" is gone, sometimes you are only half a person, especially if you've worked your life out to be a team, and suddenly you're the only player on the field.

Anyway, headed to the checkout and when all was said and done, I had saved $66.23, and spent $120. Not too shabby. So I blew my savings on the Hanna Andersson sale today, and ordered my barstools (Augusta).

Happy 200, the sun is finally out in Bham, I'm outta here!

Dog biting his own leg!

This video cracks me up every time I see it. This dog won his family a heap of money on Americas Funniest Videos.

I got to watch it twice last night while I was up with a migraine (there was a AFV marathon).

Then this morning I realized that yesterday was the anniversary of my dad's death. My co-worker Vickie thinks I got the migraine because of underlying energy linked to that day. I'd believe her if I didn't get migraines weekly (though this one was a doozy).

Haircuts

Yesterday we went to Freddies. Natalie and I were going to grocery shop while the boys got haircuts. Brady just got a cut at the end of may, but he felt compelled to "buzz it". So he did. Larry is reluctant to "buzz it" for fear that it won't grow back.
Natalie decided she wanted to go "with the boys". I told her they were just getting haircuts and she doesn't need one. "I want to buzz it off!" This sparked a tantrum at the entrance of Freddies as I dragged her in and her wailing about buzzing her hair off.
Now I feel the need to hide scissors in the house for fear that she will take matters into her own hands.
I'll get a pic of B today to post, we discovered that he has 2 moles on the side of his head now that it's buzzed down. I shudder to think what my head would look like if I shaved it, I know I've got an ugly noggin. I've got a flat spot on the back of my head, chicken pox scars, I'm sure I've got several moles (we're a "moley-russels-wart" family. Name the movie) and who knows what else.