Breezy's Graduation Trip to California

As I previously posted here, my baby sister Breezy graduated from high school.

Sniff. They grow up so fast.

I told her we would take her on a trip to California to see the beach and do whatever she wanted. And she could take her BFF Lili (awhile back they came over to baby-sit the baby Lily, and I had three different Lilly/Lily/Lilis in my house when you included the cat).

It was a little chilly.

They were just going to dip their feet in, but they got pretty wet.

It probably didn't help that one would fall over and she would take the other one down with her. I saw Breezy's shorts come down a couple times. Good thing they had suits on.

Other than the beach, they decided to go to Universal Studios.

On the tour tram.

We rode the different rides and went to the different shows. Breezy and Lili were pretty hilarious in the House of Horrors. Before you go in, someone tells you not to touch the actors and the actors won't touch you, but they sure get as close as they can. Reminded me of someone putting their hand right in my face and then saying, "I'm not touching you." (When I thought about it later, after I was done screaming.)

There was one section that had different mirrors, and it was confusing because you weren't sure where to go. Right before that one of the actors popped out and really scared Breezy. She started running full force...and ran head on into a mirror. That didn't stop her. She turned and ran...right into another mirror. And then she did it again.

She told us, "I went in brave and strong, and I came out a sissy la-la."

Hehehehe.

We did another beach day. Here are the girls out on the pier.

I told you he likes to be buried.

I had nothing to do with the mermaid.

I thought it was a really good trip. I hope the girls had fun. I sure did.

And I have a few more reasons to love Joseph just a little more.

Reason # 2,578: He gets angry over the trash left on the beach. He then picks up the trash and throws it away.

#2,579: He has a great memory and knows where he's going when driving on the twisty, confusing roads of LA. There's something really attractive about a man who knows where he's going.

#2,580: He supports me when I want to take my family on vacations. He could tell me no, I'm not spending hard-earned money to go to a place I hate (he hates LA). But he is such a sweetie pie. I really appreciate him. And I think he sets a really good example for Lili and Breezy - they need to find the good guys in the world instead of the jerks.

Baby Girl

I got to hang out with my little two-year-old friend Lily on Saturday.

She took her shoes off, I swear I put shoes on the child before she went outside.

She got sand in her shoes when playing in that dirt pile and didn't like the feel of it.

Joseph was playing a game on his X-Box, and she told him, "My turn." He promptly downloaded a drawing game on his iPad to keep her busy. That didn't stop her from sucking on his controller when he wasn't looking.

Here is little girl Lily chasing little cat Lilly. (No, I did not name my cat after the child, that was what the shelter named her.)

Look at what the Lilly cat did while we were outside.

And over here.

She chewed up the pom-poms. Bratcat.

That's my toy bin.

This was so cute. She would run in and grab his leg.

We don't own a high chair. I had her sit on my lap for lunch, and it was Joseph's turn to feed her dinner. Guess who got to change the poopy diaper? Good thing I can hold my breath for a while.

Overall is was a good day. That is one well-behaved child. There was only one tantrum. I walked away from her and was going to let her scream it out. Joseph came into the room, sat down beside her, and calmly talked her out of it. When I told Joseph how impressed I was, he said, "I learned that after dealing with you for the last five years."

I would be mad, but it is true.

Although I don't throw tantrums, I pout, and there is a difference.

It was a good day. Lily can come hang out and play any day she wants.

If any of you parents are getting ideas, just remember my policy. I don't watch the ugly babies.

I don't know what is going on with Blogger, but it wanted to do some weird things and underline my font when I didn't want it to and smushed my pictures together so I couldn't type between them. I had to go to the Edit Html option and mess around in there. This blog took an extra 15 minutes. I guess I could have left it alone. But it would have bugged me.

Joseph's Arbor

Joseph loves his garden. He has tomatoes, cucumbers, blackberries, strawberries and who knows what all else. He decided he needed some grapes as well.

This is one grape plant that he planted against the wall. That trellis is huge. I guess he's anticipating a thriving plant. He refused to plant his second grape plant next to it, because it needed room to grow. So what did he decide he needed? An arbor.

He's so spoiled.

Well, after unsuccessfully trying to make a square (I used the pythagorean theorem and everything) and experiencing anxiety over a permanently cemented structure, we decided we needed professional help.

But Joseph did help. And I did too...I went on two hardware store runs, and the second time pointed out that they were going to need shorter nails.

I'm still The Brain.
Although we did learn a few new tricks.

It still needs to be sanded and stained, but it looks good. I wonder how long it will take a grape plant to cover it. Joseph can't wait to sit under it and eat some grapes.

Breezy's Graduation

My baby sister graduated from high school this year. Being the middle of nine children, it's such an odd feeling now that everyone is all grown up.

Joseph and I took Breezy and her BFF Lili out for a photoshoot for their senior graduation pics.

I think it turned out well. It really helps when your subjects are drop-dead gorgeous.

Things I have Learned from Zumba

1. It's all about the instructor. To experience the full joy of Zumba, you must have a fun, energetic, slightly crazy lady. (But not crazy to the extent that she makes up moves that involve you rubbing your tush. Dano and I didn't care for that instructor.)
2. No one cares that I don't know what I'm doing (they don't know what they're doing either!), so I may as well have some fun and jump around and make up my own steps.
3. Note to self: Never, EVER wear gray or yellow pants. Sweat shows on gray and the dark underwear underneath yellow just isn't pretty.
4. The old ladies are freaking awesome and I hope I am that spry when I have white hair.
5. I really respect the overweight ladies (and gentlemen) because they are trying.
6. If the instructor tells you to do something, you'd better do it. She may be tiny but she looks like she could do some damage.
7. Joseph is willing to give me money to go to class. I asked him if it was because he knows I have fun or if it was because he doesn't want me to get fat. He paused, then said, "Can it be both?"
8. The four to six people in the front are groupies and know all of the steps to all of the songs. If I can't see the instructor, I can follow one of them. Or watch them as I continue to make up my own steps.
9. It is important to wear the proper underwear. Dancing for a full hour with a wedgie is unpleasant. Doing this while standing behind the woman in the yellow pants and dark underwear is really unpleasant. Watching the woman in the yellow pants pick her wedgie and experiencing jealousy is extremely unpleasant.
10. After work when I change into my workout clothes, it's really important to remember my second application of deodorant.
11. It hurts less when I smile.
12. I can gauge how hard I worked by licking my upper lip and testing the sweat content.

Adirondack Chairs

I love the beach, and the ultimate beach chair is an Adirondack. I fell in love the first time Joseph and I were in Belize, and have wanted some ever since. They sell some gorgeous ones at World Market, but they're over $100 for just one chair. Joseph and I have been looking around for years, but we could not find one for an affordable price.

Until we went to Home Depot, and ran across this:

It's unfinished, but it was $29.99. Joseph and I really hate painting, but we weren't willing to spend an extra $70+ (per chair!) just to get out of painting.

We picked up two boxes, picked out colors, and went to work.

Just in time for summer.

Another Headboard

I had foam left over from making my own headboard. Awhile back I told my sister Danielle she could have it if she wanted a headboard of her own. We finally got together and made her one.

My mom came to the rescue with a thimble...the only thing I forgot...and non-cotton thread. Don't use cotton thread for your buttons, it's not strong enough.

I didn't do a step-by-step this time - if you want that you can check out the old blog.

I taught her how to use my staple gun. My heart swells with pride.

We did a different design with the buttons and I think it looks better than mine. I might be a little jealous.
Her dog Rosco Biggs has to be near her. Who wouldn't want to be...isn't she gorgeous?