Friday, July 31, 2009

Penelope "Penny"

This is Laurel's baby (our nanny). Isn't she adorable? The girls are so excited that the baby "poped out".
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Trailer Fabulous......

So anyone who really knows me, knows that I have the largest extended family known to man. When you have a large family you have lots of diversity. When I say diversity I mean I have one uncle who was in politics to homeless siblings. My paternal grandmother was a German Jew. I could go on and on about the extremes in my family.

My sister, Nelly (this is not her real name but I can spell it), always teases me about the fact that I have trailer park/hick gene's. I grew up with a mother and grandmother who were VERY proper. I learned the proper way to set a table, greet your guests, write thank you notes for everything, table manners (til it hurt), no matter what goes down at the party you ALWAYS keep your composure, and so forth. I can't believe I'm admitting this but I did not know that people did not have matching silverware, slept without a top sheet, did not set the table for every meal, that people just opened presents at Christmas with out taking turns and thanking everyone for what you received, or talked about "bodily functions" while eating a meal until I was older. I am not kidding when I tell you I was absolutely shocked when I went to a friends house to spend the night and she had a bottom sheet and she slept with her sleeping bag every night and that was "normal". People that rocked my world. I was never snotty about it (because I had manners), but my poor mind was always tortured by my discoveries. So when my family became extended through including my birth families and marriage my eyes were opened even more. My husband loves to tell the story of when I went to see my birth mom Debi, sister Catherine, and new nephew Hunter in Olympia and everyone wanted to go to JJ North. I had NEVER been to a buffet before (my mother feels it is gluttony). I whispered in Gregg's ear "what do I do"......his response "grab a plate and dig in"....I was horrified, kept my composure and grabbed a plate. It has been over ten years that I have learned the ins and outs of how people really live. (For goodness sakes my mom got white carpet when I was a teenager and it was kept clean.) I have to admit that I have embraced the "other side". I love hanging out and just being. My house is not spotless (or even clean). However, I struggle with the fact that I know what is not clean and what needs to be cleaned on a daily basis. I do not know how to just pick up. I only know how to deep clean and my life does not allow me to deep clean so I struggle with this delima on a daily basis. It drives my husband crazy.


I threw a baby shower for my sister Nelly and on the invites I put "regrets only" and who to call. Apparently people wanted to know who died. This second time around for my sister Crystal I have wised up and just put RSVP. So I know I am using my sister Crystal and Nelly as examples but they tease me about it and so I know they will not be offended. So when my sister Nelly received an air conditioner she sent me a picture......it really sums it up and I love it. I would not change my life for anything.

Take careful note of the Huggies and Cheerios's boxes that are displayed.

Nelly I love ya! You make me laugh. Thank you for accepting me with all my craziness, not judging me, and laughing with me. You have truly made my life better!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

UP Date on Summer Fun!

Our summer has been full and the past week we have been trying to be creative in how survive the heat. Today we decided to hit the lake. Apparently EVERYONE else was also thinking the same thing. I phone my friend Maria, who seems to know everything around town, and ended up on a little beach down the road from all the crowds. It was fun. The first picture is the kids with "snacks" . Snacks are always involved.
Madison in her tube. It was so wonderful to float in the water. I could of stayed there for a few hours more.


Patience and Emma enjoying the waves splashing them while they look for rocks.


Emma was extra safe!

Patience and Emma they really are the best of friends except if one of them touches the others things. We always ensure to bring double.
The girls and I went to the Library for thier live concert on Friday. It was great! We had fun and then went to the spray park to get relief from the hot weather.