The Hugh family does not mess around when it comes to sandcastles.  We headed to the beach this weekend for some PERFECT weather, nice water, great sand, and a ton of new friends (all made with our sandcastle.)  Seriously, the entire beach came to visit us at one time or another which was pretty fun.  Unfortunately the top of it got a little too dry by the time I wanted to add some pizazz, so all it had were two little turrets, but it was still pretty fun.  The nicest bit about such a big sandcastle is that after we're done making the little slave child dig the moat, he's plenty tired and sleeps really well at night.  I might have to dump a beach full of sand in my yard so we can do this every day....



After looking at the post picture I think I need to clarify.  I guess it should have read "slave children" as both Peter and Oliver slept really well last night.

Oliver had a good time in the water this year (always a crap shoot with him), though we didn't spend a ton of time in it — there was work to be done, you know.  I must disclaimer all these photos with "crappy camera".  Does it seem strange to you that I abhor one camera and love the one that isn't working?  I really need to fix this situation...

And why didn't I crop that person's feet out of the picture below....too lazy to do it now.  There are still lunchbox notes to be written...



So we did these family photos and I was shocked to see all my child's ribs.  I mean, ALL OF THEM.  He doesn't eat ANYTHING so I can't imagine why I'm surprised.  He subscribes to the beige diet.  Breads.  whole grain at least.  pastas.  brown rice at least, but no sauce.  Pizza.  6 grain rye with no sauce.  I asked him what else he eats.  "I eat yogret."  great.  add that to the list.  When he was little he would eat ANYTHING.  I think maybe we should have kept feeding him instead of making him live off his baby rolls for the last five years...then maybe he wouldn't be so picky....



We had this large pile of sand because of the moat so I decided we needed a Yoda sculpture:



Peter really wanted to carve the face so I told him to have at it.  Gizmo from Gremlins, no?



I really messed Peter up from the beginning.  I needed to make the forehead a lot bigger, but there was that darn sandcastle there. 

Anyway, to end a perfect day we got to eat at my favorite restaurant ever...(okay, I may have to revise.  I do love the friendly toast more than anything in the world, but then there's that awesome restaurant in Las Mangelas - Unwine'd - which I haven't been to in ages should anyone want to invite me....)



ooooo, I forgot.  Add pancakes and fake bacon to the extensive list of beige things I can come up with for Oliver to eat....



Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend.  Was lovely to see something other than rain in NH.  And what a gorgeous weekend it was.  Rock on sunny days!  Off to lunch-box-note it up.  Sweet Dreams!

I'm absent for weeks on end and then two blogs in one day.  weird.  100th entry too.  random. 

On with it, shall we?

Chelsea's recital was really cute and she was just the ham I thought she would be.  Just like her mama.  Though her mama tried to blame her daddy, no one was fooled.  Even those who didn't know the family!  Some guy in the front row nicknamed Chelsea "Center Stage".  Very funny.  We all had a good time and a lovely lunch together afterwards.  We only had about two seconds in the park with everyone for photos.  And my camera is *&^#!%* acting up again so I have miserable photos of the recital.  I shouldn't say "again".  "still".  Someone PLEASE yank the thing from my hands and take it to the shop for me because it's clear I'm just going to keep right on being bummed about it, but never actually take it in.  So, despite the cruddy photos, I must post them as there are grandparents and a great grandma up from Florida who may be looking for photos.  And Granny and II in NH are probably looking for photos too.  Hi Guys!  Like the photo from the post earlier today, this one is not a great photo, but Chelsea's personality sure does shine through...and, as always, her personality makes you laugh and have a good time with her! 



This could, quite possibly, be one of my favorite photos of all time.  I love these three people so much!  (yes, I'm missing some other loved ones in this photo — please don't send me divorce emails again!  It *is* possible to love more than one photo.)



The photo above got me to playing with frames.  The Vignettes above were provided by Sande Krieger.  The frames below were Rhonna Farrer.  Wendy will probably have to take a wet wipe to the screen over the next two frames.  Messy, just the way *I* like them.  I can see her sitting at the computer screen saying "Chelsea, what's on your arm?!?"  I will be sure to send her neat, clean photos.



hmmm, having trouble with the next picture — I've adjusted the levels and color but for some reason the new photo won't upload.  If everyone could please just deal with it for now so the family can view it, that would be SUPER!  Wendy, I'll fix it before getting it on a disk to you.  And maybe since my camera AND computer aren't working it's operator error.  Maybe someone needs to bring ME to the shop.



The rest of the gang had to leave after only a couple minutes in the park — some silly thing about a wedding rehersal dinner or something.  Oliver was We were bummed so I was trying to think of some way to cheer him us up.  So we had this great idea that we would play "photoshoot".  I know.  You guys are like "you ALWAYS play photoshoot."  But this was a GAME.  This was not a photoshoot.  well it was, but not really.  Games are way more fun that real life.  Oliver and I like to live games.  We took turns.  First I got to pick a photo and we'd take it.  Then he got to pick a photo and we'd take it.  We played with the timer on the camera.  Super fun running back and forth to get in the photos and set them up the way we wanted to.  There are a lot of tongues and a lot of bums in photos (I'll let you guess whose choices those were....well, the tongues were mine, but the bums certainly were NOT.)  We had THE BEST time together.  THE BEST.  *AND* I actually have some pictures with my child.  Not just one six months away from another.  But a ton.  AND I even like some of them.  Especially the tongue ones.  So I'm giving you all homework.  Go play photoshoot with your kid.  Let them pick every other pose.  You'll get some good creative shots (and tongues and bums...).  Some you won't like.  Some of their shots will be torturous.  (yeah, I think my spine was broken one photo as he JUMPED on my back to make it into the picture before the timer went off...)  but it is a whopping good time.  And a little glimpse into that head of theirs which is sometimes tough to figure out what's going on in there.  AND you get some pictures with your kid(s).



Just as a note, the pictures above are RANDOMLY picked from the millions we took today — they are not necessarily my favorites or the most fun.  Just the ones I clicked on.

"Mumma, mumma, sit here.  I'm going to stand next to you.  Okay press the button and sit!  Sit still.  Almost....beep...beep...now I'm going to stick out my tongue and ....."  SLURP! 

"AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGG!"

You've been warned.  sweet dreams!

Okay, so after a TOTAL (yes, that is all night's combined) of 5 hours of sleep for the past four days I am back in action.  Okay, my math isn't so good since I actually GOT sleep last night.  Monday night I got four hours.  Tuesday night, 1 hour and then BBBBAAAAAAARRRRRFFFFF all over the bed.  Not me.  My poor little boy.  Who is fine now, thank you for asking.  Then worked all of the day, went home to shower and change my clothes, then went BACK to work.  I was falling asleep writing.  Then I was falling asleep standing up.  I know that lack of sleep is an interogation technique.  If they combined lack of sleep with design reviews I do believe it would be considered a war crime.  But that's all over now.  I got home and fell into bed (without brushing my teeth — ewwww — the GROSSEST mouth this morning!) at 6pm and did not wake up until 8am this morning.  And I feel human again.  And loved.  Apparently when Peter and Oliver got home last night Oliver climbed onto the bed and gently kissed me so as not to wake me up (a mac truck rolling over me could not have awakened me!)  Then this morning I went into his room where he was playing quietly.

K:  Good morning!  When did you wake up?
O:  Momma!  Did you see your surprise?!   {more like...} 
O:  Momma!  Did you see your surprise?!?

We go back into my room and there is *BREAKFAST IN BED!*  So so nice.  A little plate of goldfish, Sesame Street letter cookies, a fruit leather, and some crackers.  I so wish I had a camera.  It was delicious sharing with that smiling little face. I was so proud of him for doing that all by himself (my husband was at work.)  And he let me sleep in.  I asked him what time he woke up again and he just replied that he doesn't know time.  I'm sure he was up for AT LEAST an hour.  Uh, what a sweet wonderful child I have and I am so thankful.

My friend Wendy has been keeping me sane these past couple weeks while work has been a bit much. I have some pictures to post of an outing we had and I'll get to that, I promise.  But for right now I must get ready to go.

Do you remember Grand Master C?


Otherwise known as Chelsea?  This is not a good photo from her photoshoot, but it totally cracks me up.  Mostly because she came up with all the poses herself.  What a ham.  Anyway, she has a dance recital that Oliver and I are VERY excited about, so we must be getting ready.....  Can't wait to see the drama she has on the stage!

Have a great day and thanks for checking in and sticking out the chirping crickets on my blog. 

We're off and running! 

Am not actually up to snuff, but feeling like I really need to post pictures of our weekend.  Sweet Peter made the request for some pictures to be blogged so he can show them off at work tomorrow and he never asks ANYTHING of me, so must do my best to make that man happy in whatever little ways I can. 

The weekend was ... well there is so much to tell.  Peter, Oliver, and I left the house at 1am to drive down to Annapolis and make it for the lunch with the Plebes.   Specifically, our Plebe, Andrew.  We arrived in plenty of time (as did his mom and fiance from NH, two aunts from NH, and an uncle that lives down there.)  We caught a speech about Plebe summer prior to the start of liberty which was great.  Then we met up with Andrew by the "H" sign and everyone was *SO HAPPY*.  Seriously, it's just been a month....but what a month it's been, eh?  (I believe Andrew would say that it was MUCH MORE than a month and felt like the longest time in his life.)  Look how happy he is to be free!


We ate lunch in King's Hall.  Mmmmmmm....choke, gag, splutter.  Oliver and I had PB and J not being much for ???stewed??? mystery meat.  Before I get started on the day, can I just make an observation to the Navy?  Thanks.  Uh, you require everyone to be neat and spotless and then issue WHITE uniforms for liberty.  HELLO?!?! 

Anyway, despite the fact that he needed to stay spotless, Andrew was amazing to Oliver. 



Had him swing around and hold the left hand so he could still salute when necessary, let Oliver sit next to him at lunch (now that is TRUE bravery sitting there in that white uniform!), and gladly Tide stain sticked himself when necessary.  This is not a paid advertisement, but let me just tell you that if you happen to have white polyester clothes, it works really well.  Haven't tried it on anything else.  Shout wipes are also pretty handy and great.  Not that I would ever use them on myself, but I'll be buying them in bulk for care packages...

We made Andrew do a bunch of photos.


And then Oliver wanted to stand like his older brother....he's been trying really hard to salute since we got home.  Will have to have Andy show him that next time.  I cringe every time I see Oliver salute — definitely need Andrew to show him how to do it properly.



We got to catch up with Andrew, have some dinner, meet and spend some time with his host family (family away from family while at the Naval Academy.  Andrew's host family lives right on the base — James graduated from the Academy in 2003 and will be teaching there this year.  It was great to meet them — they are super nice!), and then it was time to take him back for the night.  The next morning they were having a parade.  This was news to Andrew.  It was kind of funny because he was asking *US* questions about what he was doing over the weekend.  Apparently they keep the Plebes COMPLETELY in the dark.  The parade was really cool for those of us who were over 5 years old.  It was agonizing a little long for those who weren't.



Anytime we are looking for Andy I am reminded of "Where's Waldo."  Only it's MUCH MUCH harder because they all look alike.  And Andrew is not allowed to wear that totally awesome striped hat.  oh well.  Below is Andy's company.  He's the last one turning the corner, so basically looks like the last in line in this picture (though he's actually the second to the last row.)  It's amazing I caught any pictures of him because I had NO IDEA where he was when this started. 



second row from the back on the end. 

Someone from Andrew's company lost their cover.  I do hope the company doesn't get in trouble for it.  When in a parade if ANYTHING falls off, you must keep going and not show the slightest change in anything....



UH! THIS POOR PERSON!  This shoe was the talk of the parade in the bleachers for a long time.  I'm sure this person is STILL buffing out all the scuffs caused by all the people who had to march over it.  This one, thankfully was NOT in Andrew's company.

Last picture of Andrew marching...he's on the far end.



After the parade, we caught up with Andrew and took him back to the hotel for a shower (ahhhh, luxury.  Ten whole minutes!!!  I guess he gets less than three this summer.  You'd think they'd give them longer after what they make them do.  No wonder they wouldn't let the parents into the dorms — they were probably too smelly!) 

He caught up on email and texted some friends.  Then we headed to the mall.  Andy wanted to see The Dark Knight while he was on liberty.  GREAT MOVIE!  Andrew and I had some comical beginning when we were separated from the group (hey, we needed sustenance!)  The guy who took our tickets told us "the first theater on the left."  The lights were all out and the movie was already playing so we just headed to an empty seat and sat.  We were confused.  Why didn't anyone in our group flag us down?  Why was the movie playing already...or was this some sort of advertisement thing?  Looked at his watch.  Finally figured out that there were SEVERAL times that Batman was playing and the guy had told us the wrong theater.  We walked out, went into the next theater, and sure enough, we had a whole section flagging us down.  The movie rocked and there is a new Terminator movie coming out!  Whoooo.  Andy is really excited about that.  So hopefully he'll go with me.  When we were coming out we noticed the movie theater was having some sort of Star Wars event so I found Oliver (he was hanging out with Daddy and Aunt Amy during the movie) and dragged him up to the movie theater.  He was so excited!  Of course he wouldn't go up to the people, but did get his picture taken with them as a background.  And we are so looking forward to seeing the new movie when it comes out THIS WEEK!  (two movies in the span of two weeks?!?!  That's over my quota for the YEAR!)



After the mall, Andy just wanted to chill and drive (ride) around the area.  It really is beautiful out there.  Too bad I only had the cruddy camera with me.



We ate dinner at a marina at about 8 or so at night.  Didn't get out of there until it was time to return Andy to the academy.



Were waiting at the academy in the morning when Andrew was released for his last day of liberty.  He had more stuff for us to bring back home.  There is just no room so everything comes back.  No complaints — it's just different to me.  I think he has less stuff in his room there than I bring with me camping.  One of the things that he sent back with us were his targets for shooting.



He's holding one of the the rifle targets above.  He got expert marks in both pistol and rifle (though I can't remember which order the pretty ribbons go in — see below.)  The red, yellow, blue and white ribbon is for signing up for service while there is an active war.



The pistol target below he received perfect marks for — everything landed within the "coke bottle".



We headed back to the hotel for another luxury shower, another few minutes on email, and then out to brunch.  After brunch Peter, Oliver, and I really needed to head back since we drove.  It was 1pm.  It should have been an 8 hour drive max.  We drove in at midnight.  Traffic SAT or crawled at 20mph for much of the drive.  Oliver drew a gazillion pictures that will no doubt find their way back to the Academy in a care package or two.  I entertained myself with the camera when I was not driving sitting behind the wheel.



And that quickly - in just the blink of an eye - our weekend was done.  Fifty-thousand times more quickly for Andrew, I guarantee it.  I'm sure I did not do the weekend justice.  I may come back and edit when I'm not so tired.  Sweet Dreams!

Photo shoot today with my good good friends.  The little girl is going to be a model.  Seriously.  This was a photo shoot for some head/body shots to hand over to an agency.  But she is SO GREAT to take pictures of.  She's never had a "real" photo shoot and all poses are her own concoction...she had me in stitches all day.  Hey Wendy, at least she's put your drama to good use.  Yes, I said "your" — she is definitely YOUR girl. 







Yes, I made her sit in the middle of the road for the RR paint.  She ran right home and told her mom on me....  (Nevermind the fact that I had her playing on the railroad tracks for 20 minutes earlier.)









Frames by Rhonna Farrer.  Love her stuff...





Below — for her Daddy the basketball star... (I left out the picture of her KICKING the basketball. shhhh, don't tell.)





Probably not one the model agency will chose (below), but I love it...I'm trying to decide if her hair is tickling her nose, or if she's wiggling it like the "bewitched" chick — maybe she's trying to make me and my camera disappear?!  The morning shoot was great, but bring in Oliver and Jackson playing in the background and ... well it's no fun to be at work when your friends are at play...



HA HA! Escaped to play with friends! [Intermission from the photo shoot for some of my non-"professional" photos.  I'm all about capturing the moment.  Oliver's face is a little squashed, but inside his belly's doing the salsa...oh how he loves Chelsea.  Poor Jackson....he looks so sad and left out in this picture.



That's my girl!!! She has both the boys in a headlock!  Nice!  And oddly, Jackson is happier to have his head pulled from his body than be left alone....to each his own.



This next picture is so very Jackson...I think it's one of my favorites from the day. 



I felt guilty that my favorite picture of Jackson for the day did not even include his face, so I dug this one up....





At this point, everyone was so very tired.  Wendy revived everyone with a miracle some chocolate cake and the kids played for a bit before Oliver and I hit the road.  In reality it was a long day — though Oliver told me when we were leaving (some 9 hours later) "That was the shortest day ever.  It's not fair.  We only stayed for A MINUTE!"  indeed.  Time does fly.  I leave you with another of my favorite photos for the day — and I'm off to do lunchbox notes and get my stuff together for work for the week.  Yeehaw!  Sweet dreams after some get up and GO!  Don't forget to stop and smell the flowers in this sweet life of ours!

I thank you all for your nice comments (although I'm TOTALLY not sure what Paulette is talking about — am I gassy?!?!  I don't think so.)  ...the emails I received after my MIA post on the other hand....PEOPLE!   I am *NOT* going through a divorce.  I am not sure what gave all of you that impression.  I have gone back to read.  I'm stumped.  Sweet Peter is still in the picture...in fact, he's pictured somewhere below.  Work just sucks — family is good.  Thank you for putting my life into perspective.

Life is still busy and because of the hiatus, I'm WAY behind on the blog.  No creative projects, but I did manage to sneak in a few activities with my child along the way, so here are the pictures.  Not much writing tonight - I'm beat.

Blueberry picking two weeks ago.  Oliver is the perfect blueberry picker.  He likes to pick, but doesn't like to eat them.  I loan him out to canners.  Poor Oliver....he picked until his little fingers were black and blue...kidding.  Just blue.




Here's Sweet Peter.  Living proof.  no more divorce emails, 'kay?  I think we got to go to the beach for an entire hour this day.  You haven't seen much of Peter on the blog lately because I haven't seen much of him lately.  Work has sucked balls for him too — I've claimed the late at night work so he's been forced home to watch Oliver, which means he gets to go in on weekends (mmm, triple arm pump to that....SARCASM!) when I'm home to watch Oliver.  Who can say NOT ACCEPTABLE?  LOUDER PLEASE.  Gotta fix this soon...does anyone know where to get a flame thrower?  ha.



LOOK!  A picture of me with my child!  Dorky, but one, nonetheless.  I wonder if I will ever get used to this hair...GROW FASTER!


Playground at the campground.  BLAST OFF!



"HEY!  That's our water for the weekend.  It's not a drinking fountain!  Didn't your mother teach you how to get a cup....oh wait.  I'm your mother...Carry on then."  sheesh.  You'd think maybe once in awhile I'd teach Oliver what he's supposed to do, rather than let it slide so I can pick up the camera and take a picture.



I'm off to finish up some artwork I am doing for Oliver's school.  It feels good to create, though I need some un-constrained, let it all loose, do what I want to do creating.  This is a good start though.  Perhaps I will stay up all night and do something really great.  On second thought, maybe I'll go to bed early so I can be a good parent tomorrow.  Sweet Dreams!

I wholeheartedly appreciate the vast amounts of email I have gotten over the past couple weeks.  I apologize for not responding.  I apologize for not blogging.  Please be patient with me.  I am so thankful for your interest in me and my blog...  I have tons of stuff to blog and just haven't had the time or energy.

It appears that my bullet-proof positive attitude is not as bullet proof as I'd like.  I seem to have purchased the lesser-quality flak jacket and am in the ICU at the moment.  I promise to upgrade my positive attitude armor in the near future.  (Or get rid of the cubby farm which is bringing me down.)  Seriously, I KNOW why there are so many cranky people in the world.  Creativity fills people up — it's sunshine for the soul.  EVERYONE is creative.  Just give it a go.  When I don't get to create I am a downright b!tchy little girl.  I've decided this is probably true for everyone — only not everyone practices art so they don't know why they're miserable.  If there were more art in the world everyone would be happy.  Instead there's technology which shrivels us up and turns us into little prunes.  So until I have time to create....yup. prune.

In the meanwhile....a HUGE thank you to my friend Scott who is ALWAYS there for me.  Through cancer.  Normal everyday irritation.  The evil-nasty cubby farm.  COLLEGE PHYSICS.  More family than friend.  And again HUGE THANKS for my friend Wendy who seems to have this weird amazing knack for knowing when to call and pick me up.  Today rocked the socks off my day and Oliver and I both thank you for it.  Much needed!   

And for the rest of you blog readers, thank you for sticking with my blog which has been chirping crickets lately.  Hopefully my highly entertaining child (at least to me) will entertain you...
 
Baseball Movie

Missed my Aunt Carol's birthday by a day.  Uh, bad niece.  My Aunt Carol is my mum's baby sister.  Baby sister by one year.  Yes, one year and two days.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNTIE CAROL!

You may remember her from our vacation photos.  The handsome boy is my Uncle Al.  This probably will not be their favorite photo, but it's mine.



We could have at least been there for her birthday, you say?  Well, yes, but Annapolis wouldn't rearrange their schedule to fit ours.  Plus, she's off galavanting around the UP (Upper Penninsula — that'd be in Michigan) for her happy day.  All you crazy Yoopers out there make some noise!  I miss my summer trips in the UP.

Today was a brilliant day.  So I've been having a TERRIBLE time at work lately.  And my child has been BEGGING me to come home at night, AND sleeping in his doorway instead of his bed, which is just killing me.  I have been so looking forward to some time with him.  Today was our day together.  I decided I could share him with friends.  Because I was able to keep my selfishness in check, we ended up with a FABULOUS day with friends AND some good Oliver/Mumma time in the afternoon.  LOVE THAT!  Oliver and this little boy Colby play together at school so well.  We met at the beach today and they had an amazing time.  And Colby's mum is super cool too!  I look forward to more days with them!

The ex-cel-lent beach with a playground structure built in.  Party on Wayne.  Party on Garth.



The water was actually clean.  The brown water reminds me of a 8th grade field trip we took to a river for a science class.  The teacher kept talking about the trees leaving tannins in the water (that brownish tinge).  What do you know?  Something in school pennetrated my thick skull! 



Racing on the slide.  I think Colby has this one in the bag!



And I thought Oliver was a ham for the camera!  I bet Colby would give me some good Jazz Hands on the swing.



Love these next two photos. 

...She's number one and it's time for fun and now it's time to play.....
(that would SORT OF be a Fraggle Rock song if any of you are fans.)


So her name's not Mimi.  Or Booboo.  Or Vern.  But she's all three.  And of course variations of those.  We love nicknames.  And we love HER whatever her name.



My mum's birthday was today and we had a lovely time over at her house this afternoon.  I charred the pizzas on the grill and she still ooohed and ahhhhed about how wonderful lunch was.  (Aren't mom's great?  They might not all be, but my mum is.  I was pretty darn lucky to end up with her.  And likewise for Oliver.  For all intents and purposes, Oliver has three parents.  Lucky for us and lucky for him.) 

Today was the first time my mum has seen me since the scalping haircut.  Although she'd been warned, I think seeing me without long hair was a little shocking.  Hopefully my hair grows out before any of us get used to it....  [SMILE]  And a GIGANTIC THANK YOU! to Cameron for leaving a comment to make me laugh about it.  Now if I only had that bike!!!

True to form, it wasn't quite clear who's birthday it was.  Seems my child can sweet talk anyone into "help" with the presents and the candles.  I REALLY need to get my camera fixed.  Totally missed the flame (AND SMOKE?!?) on the candles.  Grrrrr.



besides the burnt pizza, of which mine had some zucchini from our garden, everyone had a lovely salad with lettuce from the garden.  I'm getting antsy for some more lovlies from our garden to be ready.  The garden is coming along nicely.  We jailed it put it in protective custody.  What with the bunnies, groundhogs, chipmunks, birds, deer, etc...nothing lasted more than a day down in the yard.  This was a total disappointment to us as we had a nice raised garden at our old house.  From the raised garden at our old house which was quite small, we really learned that you can CRAM a whole lot of stuff in a very little space.  The bonus to this is that you don't get many weeds because there's really not room.  The problem is that you grow a whole lot of stuff, but don't get a TON of anything.  But it's good because you eat what you grow.  So we decided this year that tomatoes and cukes were just not going to cut it for us (last year's container crop.)  So we have basil (two different varieties), oregano, mint, rosemary (I NEED to make some rosemary, olive oil, garlic bread.  YUM!), thyme, broccoli, zucchini, asparagus (won't be ready for another two years), lettuce, strawberries, cukes, summer squash, artichokes, watermelon, and two different varieties of tomato.  In this little space.



Next year I'm hoping to expand our porch so we can grow a bit more.  The containers are working out nicely and it's kind of cool how it's managing to find ways to grow overboard:



Although we were not supposed to get strawberries until next year we have already gotten a few and they are DELICIOUS!





One of my favorite meals is breakfast for dinner.  I've been having a heck of a time at work lately — barely been home this past week.  Yesterday, as a sort of celebration of the end of a LONG week Peter made pancakes.  If any of you have read my blog in the past, you may already be aware that Peter is somewhat of a pancake artist.  Last night was no different.  Oliver requested an X wing fighter from Star Wars.  (Sorry about the x-wing model link, but I got sick of looking for a picture of one from the movie.  In my search I did find this which was pretty darn funny!)  After Peter made it, Oliver came running outside to pick a strawberry.  Bit the hat off, stuck it on his pancake and happily declared "R2D2".  Indeed.



I shall wish my mum a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! one last time. 
Although she normally does not read the blog (which is why she didn't know what the scalping looked like), she's working tonight and someone's supposed to help her get on the computer to see birthday photos. 

THANK YOU to whoever helps!  Hope everyone there is having a nice night! 

And sweet dreams to the rest of you out there who are NOT working third shift. 

Been in a funk lately.  Been working WAAAAYYY too many hours.  As my friend Liz wrote to me "No vacation goes unpunished."  But work was bad BEFORE vacation.  So it's reached new levels.  16 hour days this week.  Stressful days.  And I haven't seen my child which just sends me into a tizzy.  Tizzies are bad.  Bad things happen in tizzies.  Had a Brittney Spears breakdown moment...

Seriously, all I went in for was my monthly covering of the greys.  I have been considering donating my hair for YEARS, but didn't think I could stand to be without my hair.  20 years the same length.  Freaked out and told my stylist to cut it off.  I had ponytail holders with me because, SURPRISE, my hair was in braids when I went in.  So she did.  And now I feel naked.  There's a whole 'nother shirt or some upper body covering that I'm missing.  I miss my hair terribly.  I *AM* happy I can help a child who needs hair, but I do so hope mine will grow fast.  I HATE it gone.  I don't want to be negative here, so please save the "it looks cute" or "it'll be cooler in the summer" or whatever other happy advice you have.  I miss my hair.  Terribly.  I can't say it enough.  18 inches (I measured!) — 3 years and I'll be back to normal.  And hopefully there will be a child out there who's super excited to have my hair.  It treated me pretty well, I hope it treats him/her well too.  xo






For those of you blog readers who've never seen me with my hair down, I'll include a bad picture from our vacation.  In the picture, my hair is sort of tucked behind my shoulders...honestly, it was mere inches from my navel. 



Sweet dreams, jellybeans!