Holiday Gratitude

I'm thankful for my sweet family. Aren't we cute?

Disneyland with Janny

I just got back from Disneyland with my BFF Janny for her special birthday visit. Don't judge but I did fly into Phoenix and then drove to California with Janet. Yes, that was a long drive but when you have great company the time just flies right by.
We stayed at the Crowne Plaza for a fabulous rate, and that was just divine. The first night we went to Downtown Disney and laughed so hard, well, you know what happens when you laugh too hard.
The next day we woke up early and headed straight to my favorite place in the world: Disneyland!


Janny and I enjoying Disneyland.

Janny enjoying her 29th birthday celebration.

Tigger and one of the many parades Disney throws at its visitors. They do not disappoint.


There we are, in the middle row, enjoying our hearts out on the Splash Mountain. Don't worry if this looks like a picture of a picture...yeah, don't worry about it.

On one of the many rides we took. We also went to California Adventure where Janny proceeded to dig her nails into the armrests of the Tower of Terror ride. That was the last time she went on that one.

We had a blast and can't wait to do it again!

My Kids Went to Boston and All I Got Was This Lousy Blog Post

I'm still so angry with my kids for going to New England without me. I try to invite myself with my kids (and their friends) on nearly every trip they go on (not to mention I invite myself to their parties too) but I just could not successfully invite myself on their latest trip. I am still so biting upset that they went without me because everyone knows how I would have loved to have gone. I won't be speaking to them for awhile (until the next trip I can invite myself on).

I love fresh maple syrup! Especially fresh maple syrup in Vermont. How dare they!

I would have loved to have gone to New Hampshire. I've never been there. I'll probably never get to go either. Thanks a lot.

I've always wanted to go to Sharon, Vermont and of course this is the week my kids picked to go. Without me. And they knew I've always wanted to go here. I bet I never get here either.

The Freedom Trail sounded so fun to me. I am such a fun traveler and walking partner. I would have run circles around these guys. But no, I wasn't invited.

Why can't I go to Maine? Maine would love to have me.


This could have been the trip that bonded Kate and me so she wouldn't have any more crying fits when I walked into a room with her. But that didn't happen either.

I just wish that someone would've taken me to New England because they knew how much I have always wanted to see the fall leaves and all the great authors' birth and resting places. I wish my kids cared about me enough to wait for me to be able to come.

Hmph.

Ode to Halloween Candy

I love Halloween because it is mini boxes of Junior Mints time! I buy several bags a week and slowly eat box by box until they're gone and I have to run to the Neighborhood Wal-Mart for more. I have a "secret" hiding place (in the freezer or in the cupboard above the cutting board) where I hide my stash from my kids. It's been just me (and sometimes the kids) eating these because Steve is still on his no-sugar diet. I love you, Junior Mints! (Even more than chocolate-covered frozen bananas at Disneyland.)

Ooey-gooey minty deliciousness.

If you eat them in these tiny boxes then the calories don't count.

I wish I could find a giant basket full of Junior Mints on my doorstep one of these days. Hint.

I am the greatest patron of Junior Mints ever!

Root Canal Queen

I just got my 11th root canal last week. 11! I pushed ahead of my mom who has had 9 root canals (of course, she's in her eighties). Thanks, Mom, for these great teeth genes. Steve just loves how much my teeth have cost (thousands and thousands of $$).


I just do them on my lunch break, just like another everyday errand.



I don't even ask for much medication because I can't stand being numb for hours after.


Actually, brushing your teeth doesn't always prevent root canals. Sometimes you're just given the luck of the draw, just like yours truly.
I'll let you know when I'm at an even dozen!

New Grandbaby

I've got a new apple of my eye- baby Evy Mae, who was born on 09/08 after a difficult labor. She is as cute as a button! So glad she's finally here because it seems like it has been FOREVER.


Elena and Holly, 2 days before Evy came. Evy gave Holly some trouble that weekend. Maybe that is indicative of her personality to come... JK.


Evy Mae! 6 pounds, 8 ounces of darling.


Holly enjoying her motherhood in her '80s hospital.


Evy is pronounced "Ehvy", with an 'eh' not an 'ee'.

Congrats, Ashworths!

Europe with Steve and Marian

I was feeling pretty bad for myself because I hadn't been on a trip for such a long time. All the people at the dentist office really rely on me to travel a lot and I didn't have anything to tell them (except for Disneyland, which I don't count) and they were getting bored with me. So I invited myself to Europe with Steve and Marian for their geneology tour.
It was...interesting.
We went to the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark. We found some of what we were looking for, but couldn't find a few names so we will have to do it from home.
It was nice but I didn't get to see all 50 castles that I usually like to see so I am a little bummed about that. Glad I went, because I was the life of the party and it would have been dull without me.


Vejle, Denmark.


Steve driving, if you "carrot" all. And Marian shoved in the back.



One of the many cemetaries we visited looking for names. Not a castle, but I am a good sport.


Legoland in Billund, Denmark. We just drove by. :(


A lovely windmill in Holland.


This is really why I came: my craving for a danish pølser with remoulade sauce. These are the best sausages/hot dogs ever.

Marian and I enjoying a rest near the Autobahn.

Denmark or Germany, one of the two.

_

Even though I invited myself to Europe and was able to go for a week, I need another trip. I will probably invite myself to go with one of my kids soon. I'm such a martyr.

It's My Birthday!

Me and some of my kids celebrated my 29th birthday at the Red Lobster and we just had a heckuva time. I just love me some shrimps and my kids gave me some pretty decent presents, so I can't complain. Another year older, another year wiser!

I was enraptured by all the wonderful conversation.

Casey telling another one of his tall tales.

Most of my presents came in envelopes, which I don't love but it's the thought that counts.

Holly has a lot of heart.

Before we launched into a discussion of why the mountains are better than books. Whatever!

Steve is always the last to finish because he chews every bite about 100 times. Then he gets a doggy bag. Food hoarder.

Happy birthday to me!

Goodbye, Michael. You were so Bad.

Memorial Day with the Fam

We had a great Memorial Day with the whole family this year. It is always nice to get all the family together because it gets harder and harder to do- just like how I've been trying to get everyone together for a family picture and my mean kids won't do it. They never listened to me before, so why should they listen to me now?

Cute cousins fighting over the slide.

Casey made some delicious jalapeno burgers, thank heavens he didn't add his homemade lard this time.

A deep discussion about dirt bikes and horses, aka hobbies they can't afford.

Cupcake for a cupcake! My, that girl can eat.

Typical family get-together.

So cute!

Preggers!

Kiss kiss!

Cinco de Mayo on the Seis de Mayo

Our annual Cinco de Mayo party at Jeanne and Michael's. This year we had it on the Seis de Mayo.

Ray enjoying hisself.

Michael grilling some carne de asada. He is the master griller/chef/host.

Michael's carne taquitos. Muy delicioso!


Melanie made a marvelous tres leches cake. Steve had thirds of course.

Pregnant but barely showing Holly. She's such a dream.

Grandmas and cousins at the Cinco de Mayo fiesta.

Maddi at the graduation party.


ConGRADulations to Holly and Nelson for graduating! It was two years of Hades and now it's over. Congrats!

Thanks, Fernandezes for a wonderful fiesta and to the Ashworthlesses for graduating!