let the music move you

I blew Rachel's mind when she found out she could listen to music on the hand-me-down iPod that I gave Olivia for her birthday. She kept yelling "it's music! it's music!"

wordless wednesday

Daddy's Truck

Jarrett takes a lot of pride in his ride (his words, not mine). He says truck stuff like that all the time. He is forever washing, waxing, & polishing. He likes for his truck to looknice. I have to admit, it is pretty sharp when it's all shined up. Lately, Rachel has been obsessed with helping him. Here are some cute pictures from Sunday. I should make note that Olivia was in fact outside with us, but she wasn't interested in the truck at all. She was off running & playing with the dogs. She's like me, trucks aren't her thang.

And he thought he needed a son to help him with the truck & pass along the business to - haha!

Miss Rachel hangin out between the tires.

My reflection in the rim.

Rachel worked the California Car Duster - I get one for Jarrett every Christmas.

She loves watching her reflection in all the chrome.

Spit & polish til it shines. Not sure why, but I LOVE this picture of Jar.



blue

Mama, Mama! I painted my nails! Isn't it pretty?

She did her whole left hand & the thumb on her right hand. I did the rest. All in all, not too bad for a 3 year old.

it's true - life is not fair

I just read online on US Weekly that MTV will be re-casting for Jersey Shore after the 5th season. Now, being that I love the show, this makes me a little sad. I thoroughly enjoy the antics they get into. But, my point is, the current cast members make $100,000 an episode. As in, one hundred thousand dollars! Now, just a shot in the dark here - 8 episodes at $100,000 each is $800,000!

I bust my hump sit in a cubicle all day at a computer & actually work for a living. If I got paid for going out & partying...well I wouldn't get paid because I don't do that. So it's true: Life is not fair.

make it work

some people simply cannot pull off very strawberry lipstick.

obviously, these 2 can make it work.

hey, it was a dollar's worth of fun. nevermind that it stained a couple of my towels & their faces for pretty much the whole day.

I got my hair did

Score 1 for Natalie in this epic battle against genetics.

I am a blond. It only took $55 & 2 hours at the salon. But I won this battle. It's summery. Its fun. Jarrett loves it. I think I can keep this up.

My hair transformation, chronicled in pictures.

I also got my eyebrows did. Thank goodness!

the epic battle

Natalie vs. Genetics

Here's the thing, I am destined to have a full head of white hair by the time I am 35. I have known this for quite some time. My senior year in high school, I started finding these rogue white hairs. That's right, white. Snow white & wirey as ever.

My Grandpa, each of his siblings, my Aunts, several of my Dad's cousins all. have. white. hair. I'm talking a full head of white hair. And its not something that comes when they are like 50 or older. Oh no, everyone keeps telling me that my Grandpa had a full head of white hair when he was 35. He also had 5 kids by that time (I'd like to attribute some of white hair to that - especially him parenting my Dad). Anywho...

Mine is getting worse each day it seems. I'd like to blame some of the increase on this crap-fest of a Spring I've had mentally & physically. But, I know that would just be placing blame where it doesn't belong. The blame is solely resting on the shoulders of my DNA.

 So here I am fighting the epic battle against genetics. For years now, I have dyed my hair or had it highlighted trying to conceal it. I jokingly tell Jarrett that I am going to be his silver fox & he is going to love it. I am just going to let it go & embrace the white hair. Somehow, I don't want to just yet. I'd like to wait until I am 40 at least. Then it won't hurt quite as bad.

Frankly, Loreal & Nice & Easy just ain't cutting it anymore. I dye it out of a box & within the week all of the white hairs are back. They are persistent, they don't want to conform. And when they come back, they each bring a few buddies with them from the other side. I can tell, they are all come with me, it's fun being white & getting on Natalie's nerves. She will seek you in the mirror numerous times a day. (it should also be known that I said that in my head with some kind of accent - the white hairs are funny little guys.)

I have decided, the lighter I go, the easier they will be to mask. I dyed my hair medium ash blonde - according to nice & easy. Its ok, but I think its a little flat - especially for summer. So Wednesday night I am going to get blonde highlights. I figure, why not. Jarrett always jokes that he likes blondes. I guess I will see if blondes really do have more fun.

Maybe now I will actually look like either of my siblings. It must be horrible to have been born with beautiful straight blonde hair, I'm talking to you Sarah & Tim. What a curse! I always envied their hair - no frizz, no crazy waves, not mousey brown. There's not much I can do but embrace the waves & try to prevent the frizzy 'fros that tend to come with summer. Oh, but I will be blonde.

Pictures to follow. I will be like The New Jan Brady - except I won't be wearing a short black curly wig. So maybe not exactly like The New Jan Brady. The white hairs are effecting my thinking too...

kickin off summer right

The girls & I officially kicked off summer on Sunday. We went to my Mom & Dad's to visit for Father's Day & we all enjoyed the pool. Granted, the water was only 76 degrees - and that's just on the surface. And there was a bit of a breeze, and it wasn't sweltering hot. It was, how do I say this nicely, refreshing.

Rachel was so excited to be able to swim! And I was so happy for her. Here are some pics from our Sunday swim.

And what better than a fudge pop to cap off the afternoon!

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all of the Dads! Especially my wonderful Dad & my amazing husband.



cast off

I took Rachel's wrap off her arm today. It looks great! And she says it feels great. What a relief!

Good as New - part 2

Today, Rachel had her surgery. We had to be at the surgery center at 6:45. We took her in the dress she slept in & wore all day yesterday. I gave her a bath in the sink yesterday, but she played outside afterwards & the bottom of her feet were filthy. I didn't notice them until we got her in the hospital gown. I was a little embarrassed, but then I figured - she's 3, its summer, she is going to get dirty. They have probably seen worse.

I was an absolute ball of nerves. If you know me, and I am assuming most of you do, this should come as no surprise. I didn't sleep much at all last night. That actually worked out in my favor because I was up when my alarm went off at 4:50 am.

The Drs all explained to us that her procedure was very quick & seemingly painless. She wouldn't have to have an IV they just gave her laughing gas. Dr. Johnson (her ortho Dr) said it should take 45 minutes. We were back in pre-op with her for about 40 minutes. Then they came to take her to the OR. She cried when they tried to wheel her down on the gurney. (I had horrible flashbacks of going down the 9 floors in the hospital with her screaming the whole time in the gurney.) But luckily, the super nice nurse decided it would be better to just carry her to the OR.

We were given one of those things like at a restaurant when you are waiting for a table. We were told it would buzz when it was time for us to meet her in the recovery room. We went out to the lobby. First we stopped to use the restroom & get a cup of coffee in the little lounge. I'd say both of these things took a total of 5 minutes. I texted family & friends at 7:48 that she had just gone to the OR & we were waiting. That they expected it to take 45 minutes. I sat, rather impatiently, I got up several times to look at the board that tells you what phase of the procedure they are on. Her number never updated. I assumed they hadn't officially started.

Then Dr. Johnson came out. I immediately thought something was wrong, which is incredibly silly. After all, if something was wrong, why would the surgeon leave the OR to come tell the parents right that second. I digress...The report was that she did wonderfully & was already waiting for us in recovery. I texted family & friends with said report at precisely 8:04. So I would say given our potty breaks that the whole thing took maybe 20 minutes.

Here she is with her Daddy before they called us back to pre-op.

Here I am with my girl in the recovery room. The second I walked back there she stood up on the bed & yelled "Mommy". She practically jumped into my arms. She declared that her arm felt all better & that she wanted to go home. I told her she had to drink some juice & get awake then we would leave. Well she took that to heart, she slammed that juice like nobody's business. I texted family & friends at 8:39 that we were in the car heading home.

She was wore out & fell sound asleep on the way home. She is currently on the 3rd hour of her nap this afternoon. She hasn't complained of pain at all. She got pain medicine at the surgery center. I asked her how it felt & she said fine & basically punched herself in the arm. There is just an ace-bandage that is on it now to cover the pin sites. That can come off on Saturday & then she will be a free woman. I am SOOOO looking forward to that. Let me tell ya, baths in the kitchen sink aren't nearly as fun to give a 3 year old. And the best part, according to Rachey, this balloon.

Good as New

Remember this? Well, today Rachel gets her cast off & pins out. Surgery shouldn't take very long at all. We will be in the recovery area for a couple of hours. Then my little girly will be good as new. I've been a bundle of nerves & will be until we are back home later. Good thing she is one tough cookie.

A broken elbow hasn't really slowed my girl down too much anyway.

She will be back twirling before you know it.

Lucky 7

Dearest Olivia,

Today you are 7 years old. 7. Where has the time gone?

I am more in love with you today, than the day you were born. You have stolen my heart completely. I always wanted to me a Mommy to a little girl. You have made my dreams come true. You have grown & learned so much. I am so incredibly proud of the little lady you have become. I cherish our silly moments of singing & dancing in the bathroom each morning when I am getting ready for work. You are such an entertainer telling us jokes & singing songs. You are sassy & full of energy, but also very kind & loving. You are smart as a whip. You don't forget anything. I love you the most out of anyone in the world. I am honored that God chose me to be your mother. Happy Birthday, Olivia Grace!
All my love always & forever,Mama