Horse Riding in Camden

The kids each had several rides on Bud, one of the Grillo's horses. It's become a tradition now. When we go to Camden, we ride at the Grillo's. They've been good friends with us for as long as I can remember, and we always enjoy our visits to their farm/home. Mr. Grillo seriously asked me if I wanted to ride....he was quite serious. The rest of the adults screamed in horror, "NO!!! " I wonder if I could have done it....might have been a struggle getting up on the horse I guess...oh, and the chance of falling off was not one I wanted to take. I had just as much fun watching the girls this time!

Dave, Caroline, and Anneke at The Arlington

Gulfa Gorge

This was the last place we stopped before leaving Hot Springs Village. Gulfa Gorge. It's just a beautiful, clear, cool water creek. IT was a hot day so everyone at least stuck their feet in. Juliette got nekkid and splashed around. My brother searched for craw fish and snakes...and found both. We all enjoyed one last day together as a family before half of us headed to Camden, and the other half headed back west. Again, why don't I have shots of Caroline and Dave?

Lake Hamilton

One of the Lakes we enjoyed while in Hot Springs was Lake Hamilton, a much more populated and choppy lake than Lake Desoto in the Village. It's a good lake for all speeds, though mostly high speeds. What a beautiful day it was at lake Hamilton, with only one scary incident. I have a hard time thinking about what happened because it was a teeeeny bit traumatizing. Juliette got on the tube with Uncle Dave, and I told Daddy to go slow, which, as a girl who grew up with water sports, I should have known better, but I demanded he go slow because I wasn't thinking right...I was in worry mode. Well, you really need speed to keep the tube from dragging....duh! So I basically watched in horror as Juliette was dragged face first under water for a few seconds, then dragged under the water under the tube before she popped up into Dave's arms. It was horrible to watch. The poor thing. She was just in shock.

JuJu came back on the boat, and said "I don't ever want to do that ever ever again." After holding her for about ten, she was fine, and we jumped in the lake and went for a swim. Don't know if she will be cool with any water sports next summer after this, but hopefully she can forget all about it. Other than that, we had so much fun. I wish I had pictures of Anneke and Caroline and Dave, but they were out of focus...sorry! Oh, and the the lake was choppy so my baby was just bouncing in my belly the whole time. We all went out for good Mexican after boating, and it was yummmmmmmy. Thanks Mom and Daddy!

I am NOT hunting for compliments here

This is what happens when I've hit a wall, after night after night with little or no sleep, but being tired from anemia, and just feeling dang pregnant. Well, this is what happens. I let myself go...I let my daughter draw on my entire body with markers without really noticing at all. Then I go to the mirror and start pulling bow after bow out of my hair. I look like a drunk, and frankly, I feel hungover. Juliette suspects nothing more than her Mommy has lost her mind, and so she takes advantage of me with her body art and hair styles. I love her! I'm not as in love with myself at the moment, and we can all see why. Adrian loves coming home to me when I look like this...he tip toes around me with caution, as he should. If only you could see the rest of my body from this day. Something out of a John Waters film for sure. Yep, I still lose my head from time to time. Good Ole Em.

Something else to worry about

My sister and I were talking about how we need something to worry about at all times. Well thanks to msn.com, I now have a whole list of worries. I read some article called "Hidden Hazards in Your Home." According to this article, my family is doomed. Just a few things they listed that can cause cancer, birth defects, and DEATH, were" burning candles, incense, perfume, air fresheners, tap water, antibacterial soaps, basements, radon, etc...that's the short list.

Well, I love candles, and sometimes incense. I always use Dial antibacerial body wash. I love air fresheners, and have sprayed numerous cans of Lysol as a mother. I adore wearing perfume! We haven't replaced the Brita water filter in a while, and who knows if we have radon...I don't want to know at this point. Well, I may as well have smoked a pack a day according to this article, because all of these things are apparently killing me and my family...and don't even get me started on the birth defect warnings...I can't handle typing about it.

The Bubble Bath

Mom and Daddy were not happy about Emily giving the girls a bath this time. Esp after the lecture on how the bubbles will damage the jets. It was an accident...I had no idea the bubbles would get out of control....but I laughed so hard when they did! Juliette and Sidney are the cutest cousins, esp when they are swimming and squealing in soap suds....tons of them!

Parkville on the 4th of July

This is a little late, but here are the highlights from our 4th of July. We spent an evening in Parkville where they had the carnival set up, fireworks, food stands, etc...Adrian is squeamish about carnivals...doesn't trust them, thinks they are nasty....I grew up going to the Ouchita County Fair so fairs are not anything weird or unusual to me. I defended the carnival until I watched two carnies clean vomit out of the octopus ride....they don't get paid enough.

Anyway, something else Adrian and Juliette love to do is play at Parkville Mini Golf. It's a great family outing every time.

We were also able to spend a night at friends out in Smithville, the Matthew's had a great party with a huge firework display. Juliette loves fire like her Uncle Scott....very unafraid and excited about firecrackers. It makes me want to take a strong anti anxiety pill. or something...I've become a nervous wreck about playing with fire. Never thought that would ever be the case.....

But, we had fun. I love these photos, these memories in Parkville. I'm not thrilled about living in the Midwest, but I love Parkville, our little town by the city.

The one who keeps me in check...and blonde

Randi is one of my best friends for sure. She knows everything there is to know and loves me anyway. She doesn't fuss when I make appointments every two weeks, just to have a day to hang out with her, and try new things on my hair...but mostly, I just love talking to her in that chair. It's therapy. We always have bubble tea at every appointment, and then schedule playdates with Milan and JuJu. I would drop anything to help her out in any situation, and I know she'd do the same for me. It's a great friendship, and I am really lucky to have met her. She's such a great stylist, and works at Shag Salon. She's working on opening up her own salon, and when she does, we joke about her having me be the spray tanning girl....can you imagine me with the spray tan gun...a disaster. I'd have girls looking like oompa loompas. Anyway, I thought I would include this post since I just ran across our most recent photo....taken just after the one with Les and Kell.

Blondies

This post is long overdue. Pictured: Kell, Em, and Les. Three moms who loved to have lunch and gossip more than they should, but mostly had good laughs together. Their little girls, all little blondies, were friends with JuJu. This is the last photo we took at their town homes before they moved off to become doctors wives. I must admit it's quiet in church without them. I miss you both. Don't know how much we'll keep in touch...guess we will find out! NO matter what, I'll never forget our hilarious conversations, esp at church...in the hall, when we were supposed to be in class! Hope all is well for you two. Kell, I hope you keep up with your great shoe collection. Les, I hope you continue in your running shoes every morning at the crack of dawn. You ladies keep a sense of humor up there in Michigan!

The Fam Summer 2008

Here we are at the lake house in Hot Springs after getting soaked at Magic Springs...not by the water rides, but by the rain. That is another story for another day! We didn't exactly have time to shower and put on our matching white polos for the family picture! Adrian was about to leave for KC before we took the photo and it was funny to see everyone scramble to get it together for one last shot at a full family photo before Christmas.

It's so nice to have the whole fam dam together every summer. We have had a wonderful vacation together so far. My parents always make sure we do. Every year we get together and decide where to go for the big family vacay. This year we all decided to take it easy and spend it at the lake...it's simple planning-wise, and always fun no matter what. Plus, I don't even think I am allowed to fly this close to my due date so it was nice to be able to drive down. I love driving with Adrian and Juliette. Adrian is on his way back to KC right now and I already miss him. I really do. I just feel happy and at ease when he is around, and I am almost always laughing. Last night the family went to a baseball game while Adrian and I had a date night in Hot Springs. It felt like the last time we would have one of those for a while!

Anyway, now Daddy is preparing his famous burgers and beans. Mmmmmm! I've got to stop typing and start eating.

33..34 weeks?

Okay, okay fine....I'm posting my prego pics. Here they are. I think I am 33 or 34 weeks...I lost count. My friend Hannah will think I am psycho but the only reason I know how far along I am is because she is so good about posting how far along she is, and I know I am about two weeks ahead of her...so thank you Hannah! With Juliette I was counting every day. With this one, I am totally out of it. I know my due date, but I have no brains left to count how far away that is. I only know that I am as far along as it takes to be 40 pounds heavier...that's right....I've already gained 40, it's terrible, and I am not going to be losing any weight between now and the birth. All is well with the baby as far as I can tell. His heart rate was 162 last time they checked, which was high, but nothing dangerous. It's been a rough ride so far, but there is beauty in sacrafice...I do not expect pregnancy to ever be easy and breezy.

So, he'll be here sooner than later. I am so afraid, you all have no idea. Each passing day makes it all the more real...I'm having another baby...a sibling for Ju...another person in my life, and it is so wonderful...but I can still be scared right? It's a good kind of scary.

Okay, okay...I

JuJu's First Work Permit

I did it. I took Juliette to Exposure Model and Talent Agency today. They love her over there, as she has frequently joined me there for auditions, so they already know her pretty well. Now that she is 4, she can legally be represented by the agency. SO we did it. I signed the papers and she should be up on the website sometime soon. We'll have to get her comp cards made etc....but first I have to send in for her first work permit. They told me this and I looked down and JuJu and said, "You hear that JuJu, it's about time you had a job!" A work permit for a 4 year old. It's just paper, but I think it sounds so funny. Terri, her agent, is anxious to get Juliette work asap, but I have to remember that we are in KC, not LA. They have a large client list so I'm sure she will gain good experience, but if we want the regular big time gigs we'll have to travel to NYC or LA...eventually. I'm thinking one step at a time. I'm not ready to be Livin Lohan yet...if ever. Good grief.
Anyway, while we were up there, Juliette did her "model walk." I want everyone to know that I had NOTHING to do with this. Well, maybe I have, jokingly once or twice participated in a pretend cat walk at home....I know Anna used to do this with her for fun. But somehow she learned to walk with a shake and a pair of eyes to match....it's this look in her eyes...I can hardly watch. I'm sure she learned it from TV, which makes me a bad parent. I know she watched Americas Top Model with me once. No more cable for us, that's fur sure. The last time we saw a model on TV, with very little on, I told Juliette, "She needs to put on some clothes!" Juliette responded, "No she doesn't, she's a model so she doesn't need pants." Sigh. So Terri thought the walk was hysterical. Then JuJu asked if they would please take her picture. We are in big trouble. Luckily, we will most likely go the TV/Film route...since I'm pretty sure JuJu will never make it past 5'5....Thank Heaven.

A good night

I need to laugh....esp these days...I just need somethign to laugh about. Last night I had several doses of the best medicine.
I had a great jazz gig last night. There were tons of amazing musicians in the audience and several were highly complimentary of my performance. I look up to these folks, so that was so nice to hear. I came home, and my fun evening continued. Adrian said one of the funniest things I've heard in a while...so stupid, but funny. He walked outside, then walked right back in and said,
"Someone needs to tell the June bugs that it's July."
I laughed out loud for about five minutes. I love Adrian.
Shortly after he was a good sport when Juliette told us it was time for a "show." This involved standing at the fireplace and singing into a spoon, which she was sure to "mic check" before each song. Adrian treated us with two songs, Blister in the Sun and The Star Spangled Banner. I did The Titanic song and Def Leopard's Love Bites. Juliette sang several songs she made up on the spot. Then she beat boxed. I'm taking her to see my talent agent tomorrow. No really, I am.

Happy 4th JuJu

On June 26th our little JuJu turned 4. She had the best birthday ever, and we could not have pulled it off without Darlin, Grandad, and Mamow coming up to help with the big weekend. The week of, I was able to gather energy while JuJu spent five days with her other two grandmas, Grandma Vikki and Honey. This child was spoiled, but she's been so good I don't mind at all.

Here are the pictures from her birthday day. We started off by going to Shear Madness Salon and having a "Diva Day." She left the salon with blue and purple glitter eye shadow, and what my Dad called cornrows. Glitter cornrows. Oh, and pretty polka dotted fingernails which she peeled off before the day was through...just like her Mommy!

We had her party at our house, at JuJU's request. It was a ton of work but a party I know she will remember. It was a two hour celebration with 15-20 kids, I lost count. I intended for it to be small, but you know how that goes. We had the neighborhood girls face paint and serve sno cones. By the way, one of Juliette' gifts was a Rival sno cone machine and it is officially the BEST small appliance we have ever owned. It's not a wimpy Snoopy Sno cone machine..this thing is so rad! Anyway, my Mom made cupcakes and the kids decorated them, which was a hit..a messy hit, but so fun. We served cake to the adults. We had pin the tail on the donkey, a classic. Adrian held the pinata and the funny part about that was the only stick we could find to use was this old metal pipe with red paint from our bedroom. It looked like a bloody pipe that someone found in an alley.

The kids had crafts to make, and Mom made the best goodie bags. Girls had bracelets from the Lollipop shop and princess stickers. Boys had little model airplanes.

Daddy grilled and finished the lawn for us and helped us set up the tent and tables, etc..Mamow was in the kitchen the WHOLE time, and Randi was my right hand woman...always telling me to sit down and enjoy the party.

The rest of the weekend we enjoyed with my family. We had custard on the square, bought produce at the River Market, went to church, and just enjoyed a wonderful weekend.

Juliette is the best. This child is always humming...I mean, always. She has a constant song in her head. She also has one she plays on the piano...a two note song that gets very annoying but we never say so. We can't get enough of her. Adrian is already in awe of how big she is getting, and how stinkin pretty she is. We are so happy to have her and she is so happy to have such a loving family, on both sides, always there for her. Thanks everyone. We are so lucky to have you all. Happy Birthday Juliette. We love you more than life! I don't deserve you...but I sure am glad to have you. You are going to be such a great big siss, and there are more Happy Birthdays to come!