Mid-Life Questions ...

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a woman with two-toned hair ... and I totally made fun of her and called her Cruella Deville. Yesterday, I came home from the "salon" (can we call Fantastic Sam's a salon?) with a big blond strip right down the side of my face. Am I a hypocrite? Do I look like Cruella? Do I secretly long to be Cruella (minus the killing of Dalmations and draping myself in them). Is this what they call a mid-life crisis? Why can't I just go gray and be happy with whatever comes naturally?


The bottom line is that I don't feel old enough to be gray ... and I think I would look atrocious! I'm not ready to be atrocious yet! Does this blond strip make me look atrocious? Say it isn't so! Granted I could be a Grandma in the very near future and most of my children are now taller than me, but I'm still fighting it.

Oh dear. Cruella is a fighter.

Whatever. For now I will fight the hot flashes with my hormone patch and the gray hair with two bottles of color. I don't know if I will ever let myself go gray. My hair is one of the few things that I can control! And in case you didn't know this ... if I didn't color it, I would be completely gray. Oh the mere thought of it! It's not for me and I'm not for it. But I will probably try every other color except gray as I travel on this journey through aging. Fun!

Long lost family ~

Yesterday I received an email from Robert Brent McKinnon in West Valley City, UT.

He ran across this picture while he was doing some family history research on Google, which directed him to my blog.



It turns out that my handsome Grandpa is this man's second cousin. Long live blogging ... and people who thrive on family history!

Alas, this is not one of my talents ... but welcome to the family Brent (he says that his friends and family call him Brent ... and that's me)!

P.S. If you're wondering how I know that Brent isn't just some looney tune who is stalking my blog (like so many do) and just waiting outside of my house for a shot of me in curlers ... don't worry he proved himself. The man sent Pedigree charts and has more information on my family than I ever will have. Land sakes he is bonafide!

Like Christmas!

We got our first letter ... and he LOVES it!
Oh joy oh joy that boy!


My favorite quote from the letter
"There isn't a doubt in my mind that this is where I'm supposed to be."

Oh Keaton ...

This little guy grew up and left today.

Kacey cried ... a lot.

I held it together just fine ... until he walked away.


North Security Checkpoint ... damn you.

First Day of School -

I think I hear the thunderous roar of mothers across the neighborhood cheering for school teachers across the land. Actually, if I listen closer, it sounds a bit like a huge sigh of relief. We made it through one more summer. The days of trying to entertain and create diversions between siblings will come to a rest for yet another season.

For me, school is bitter sweet. Does anybody else feel like the teachers are actually giving US the deadlines for posters and homework to be finished? I do. Summers are free from a lot of the hassle that school provides ... but I suppose it's worth it all day long.

Two years ago was our last Elementary experience. This year will be our last Jr. High experience. Weird.

I think my boys are going to do great this year,
because they get to carpool with this cute cheerleader!
Sweet!

And they have a super hot Mom
who waits outside like this as all of the cars drive by!
Again ... sweet!

And they have a super cool Dad
who could beat up all other Dad's around the playground!
SO SWEET!

And they have each other.
So sweet that they don't even get it yet.

Someday they will ...

Good luck boys! We love you!

Lil' Keaton

Lately, I can't get enough of this kid.
He's getting ready to learn all about living away from home
... and winter!

Since I've done this once before,
you'd think this would come easier for me.
Nope.
I just keep chasing him down for one more hug.

I'm going to miss this face!!!

Please come to Keaton's farewell this Sunday at 11:00 -
and enjoy some yummy stuff at our house afterward.
And kiss this face goodbye.

Fake jumping ...

My daughter likes to lift me up ... literally.
I don't know what I would do without that girl!

Here we go ...

So here's the deal. Apparently I have Lupus. Systemic Lupus. I guess two rounds of blood work don't lie. I've been through the denial phase, the fear phase snuck up on me one long weekend, and now I guess I've begun the acceptance phase.

I've heard lots of bad/scary stories about people having a pretty hard time with it. I'm done with those stories. I know they're out there, but I don't choose to listen to them anymore. So we're moving on.

If you have any great success stories regarding Lupus ... something that will have me dancing in the sprinklers with my arms held up high ... then please feel free to share them!

This is going to be a place of the most positive outlook on the disease. Not a big hairy deal.

So there. I said it.

Booyah!

What do you do when life gets hard?

You run away to California ...
and you make K & K Photography bring their cameras!

I don't jump. I tried.