Be Afraid...Be Very Afraid

This...



plus this...



plus this...

equals THIS.

The Kat (Not) in the Hat

Oh, the joy of school assignments. By the time I get through three kids' worth of these, I think I deserve at least one more college degree.

For her latest assignment, Katherine was to choose a biographical character to study and immerse herself in all the details of this person's life. She corresponded with a pen pal, writing as her character, and then participated in a live "wax museum" where she and the other students would pose as their characters while parents and guests would come to observe them.

Katherine chose Julia Morgan, the turn-of-the-century female architect from San Francisco. My part in the project was to help her pull together her outfit for the wax museum. It wasn't a problem getting together the clothing, but we had to come up with a Victorian style hat to complete it. We raided the holiday decoration closet, the gift wrapping box, and the pantry for materials. Then, with the help of scissors, paint and a glue gun, we were able to transform a paper plate and bowl into what I thought was a pretty darn good replica of a Victorian hat. I'm not sure how many hours it took in all, but we were happy with the end results.

On the day of the big exhibit, I knew I would be able to spot Katherine because of the hat. But I couldn't find her anywhere. There was a girl who vaguely resembled our Katherine, but she wasn't even wearing a hat. But, wait. What was that thing this girl was holding in her lap that looked a whole lot like that hat that I spent all that time making? I couldn't believe, after all my hard work, she wasn't even wearing the blame thing. I started motioning and whispering for her to put the thing on her head. But, since she was a wax figure, she ignored all my attempts to get her to move. I mean, she should seriously consider guarding Buckingham Palace. I could have jumped up and down on that hat in her lap and she wouldn't have budged.

At home, later that afternoon, I made her pose with it on her head so that I would have at least one picture. Such an injustice.

Mother's Day

My favorite Mother's Day gifts ( in no particular order):

Dylan brought home a flower from school that she had bought with money she had saved herself.

Katherine made a "spa box" filled with the little shampoos, lotions and soaps from Scott's travels.

From Isaac, a half-eaten piece of bacon, accompanied by an enthusiastic "Happy Mudder's Day!"

And Scott gave me a little something to get my feet ready for flip flops. Hip Hip Hooray!

Kat's Softball

For our girly-girl, she's doing great in her first year of softball. Yes, she's more concerned with the cheers and dances from the dugout, and yes, how her hair is fixed is a higher priority than her batting average. But she has consistently hit the ball almost every time she goes to bat. It's just a good thing that there's a coach yelling directions for where she should actually run after she hits it! All in good fun!!

Camping With Dylan's Girl Scouts Troop

The Weekend Schedule

Friday

8:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m. Ice cream Social (sugar and chocolate)

9:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Night Hike (no flashlights allowed - cracked my knee on a rock)

10:30 p.m. -2:30 a.m. Hyper, non-sleeping, laughing, screaming girls

Saturday

8:00 a,m. - 11:00 a.m. Breakfast, another hike, and rock wall climbing

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Team building (swinging & walking on ropes - moms required to participate

12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Lunch, boating, archery, another hike, tie dying

6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Dinner, games, another hike

8:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Campfire with singing/screaming, smores (more sugar and chocolate)

10:30 p.m. - 4:00 a.m. Hyper, non-sleeping, laughing, screaming girls

Sunday

8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Breakfast, another hike, clean up and packing

I have no idea why I'm tired. Really.

"Take Your Child To Work" Day

Who can turn the world on with her smile?

Who can take a nothing day, and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile?

Well it's you girl, and you should know it

With each glance and every little movement you show it

Love is all around, no need to waste it

You can have a town, why don't you take it

You're gonna make it after all

You're gonna make it after all

Dylan's 12th Birthday

Dylan. From that moment when we first held that tiny little thing, to this day, when she's almost as tall as me, she has brought nothing but joy and love into our lives.

The thing I love most about Dylan? She has shown me how to TRULY enjoy the things in life that make me happy. You can't sit back and watch Dylan enjoying herself (jumping up and down, laughing, giggling and clapping her hands) and not feel happy yourself.

So, to the girl who makes us so very happy, Happy Birthday!!!