Bubby's Boo-Boo

When I cut Gabe's hair last week, I was very close to shaving his head into a nice, low-humidity cut for our dog days here in sweaty Missouri.

But something told me to just shape up his would-be faux hawk; and keep it long on top.

I am so glad I did. I think that extra fluff on top kept his injury from being really nasty.

You see, we set up our desktop in the playroom. So I can work down here & be more productive, as they work at being productive play'ers.

And also, so our girl, the computer genius, can get her game on in the comfort of her bitter-green walled space.

And whilst I was upstairs preparing dinner, she must have pointed out her latest boo-boo to her Bubby. A teensy spot rubbed raw by her sandal. And the sweet Bubs that he is, he bent down to kiss the top of her injured doggy.

He raised up with force, & hit the top of his head, on the bottom of the monitor (which is definitely not a dangerous object). There is a small round piece, which I assume everyone's monitor has -- and wouldn't you know it, that's the exact spot his head made contact.

He let out a cry, differentiated from the other fighting with sibling type of cries, that sent me sprinting down the steps. When I got to where he met me, the gash had started to puddle & was starting to roll down his crown.

When we got him to the bathroom, it had covered his face & rolled in his eyes. Quick thinking enabled me to grab a RED wash cloth & surprisingly, Jeff did not faint (& luckily he was only in the driveway leaving for his soccer game).

It quit bleeding in record time. He must've been working on dad's side to keep dad from being late to his game.

And these kids, have I mentioned how tough they are?? -- after I told him it would be fine, he immediately quit crying & let Jeff hold pressure on it, and wash it, let us check it.

Here's how great it looked the day after:

I would've made a way bigger deal out of it, had I been here alone. I tend to TOTALLY FREAK OUT in emergencies.

And now, five days later, it's just a dime-sized ding.

I thought it was fitting that he was wearing this shirt:

You better believe it Bubs, your mom is blogging this....your first big one.

Happy on the Fourth

Photos from the FIREWORKS EXTRAVANGA (I couldn't have named it better myself).
Hey, who says a cell phone can't take a good photo? (I've NEVER been able to capture firewords with a camera):

For the first time in their lives, I allowed my kids to live la vida CARNI.

And they rode rides that are probably rarely inspected.

I didn't let them ride anything higher than 1 feet off the ground & made Daddy ride the crazy strawberry ride with them:

Our family photo ended up all Blair Witch looking.

Okay, now on the actual FOURTH, we decided to go strictly family home time & haven't left these four walls.

I took a quick break from my VBS preparation to coordinate some fun art projects...

Gabe was all business making his patriotic flag slash fans.
After playing with the bendy capabilities of her straw, she was able to concentrate on the task at hand, FIREWORK art.



Notice the symetry in FJ's art, versus Gabe's random style.


I was actually impressed that he blew -- I was afraid he would be confused & do the opposite.

Then that would've been a different kind of art.

Next on the list, taco salad & red rice cripy treats.

Livin' la vida liberty!

Safe Cheese

Flynn was so excited to get, try, & enjoy her first (that she remembered) package of 'american' slices of soy cheese -- that I had to capture it on video (pardon the cell phone quality).

Why I'm So Busy

Getting this ready.

Remember the Videos I Promised to Post

Here they are, in all their glory:

part of the reason I married my hot hubby - his mad dance skillz.

Details on how to Mosaic YOU

I actually stole the whole mosaic idea from my new blog pal, Becky. And had fully intended on giving her the credit & giving you the steps to do your own.
But then, the weekend...the fireworks....the cotton candy...and the trying to re-coop, all got in the way - and between me & my laptop.
So, I finally am sitting down & bringing to you, step by step directions to your own mosaic. Now, if you do it, comment & let me know so I can come check it out. And see how similar it is to mine (cuz I noticed that Becky & I had a photo alike on ours).

Okay, here goes friends:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.

b. Using only the first page, pick an image.

c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

1. What is your first name? AMY
2. What is your favorite food? PASTA
3. What high school did you go to? EUREKA (hence the flooded aerial shot of my alma matta)
4. What is your favorite color? ORANGE
5. Who is your celebrity crush? HARRY CONNICK
6. Favorite drink? SIERRA MIST (FREE, BUT DIDN'T SEE THAT ON THE FIRST PAGE)
7. Dream vacation? HAWAII
8. Favorite dessert? BUBBLE GUM ICE CREAM
9. What you want to be when you grow up? TEACHER
10. What do you love most in life? GOD
11. One Word to describe you. HUMOR
12. Your flickr name. ORANGE MOMMA

Go, have fun, & make little baby mosaics.

The Me Mosaic

My Daughter, the Model

Go to the site of our favorite photographer here in StL:
http://greatervisionphotography.blogspot.com/
& check out the cutie at the top.

Then scroll down.... you will see the photo we (sneakily) had done for Father's Day as a suprise to Jeff. And a little further down to see the G'man's debut.

If you are anywhere close to STL, I highly recommend Starla. She is patient (she should be, she's a mom of 5), she listens (to my crazy ideas, like Flynn wearing her pink high tops w/ her tutu), & is a real pro.
I recommend! I recommend!!

When I do go in with the free coupons to Picture People - now I leave disappointed becuz, well, they're just not Starla.

Sicky

I have been sick since Tuesday. Actually, since this past weekend. Actually, if you want to get technical, I bled for 27 days. Then went to the doctor to see 'what's with the month-long period?' only to find a cyst in my left ovary. But that's beside the point.
Over the weekend, and our camping goodness, I happened to run out of singulair - just in time for some one-on-one with Missouri mold. Which may have been a spring-board for the most miserable allergies I have ever had in my life. These last few days have given me a new-found sympathy for my girl, who faces these symptoms, day in & day out.
SO ....
meanwhile, while going back on the pill to stop the month of bleeding, my blood pressure has decided to fight the hormones by going on to 165ish over 100ish. Consistantly, for the last few days.
Now, the medical professionals will tell you that there are NO symptoms for high blood pressure. But as someone who has had high BP for close to ten years, I will tell you: hogwash. As a matter of fact, ther ereason I knew my bp was going up, was the artery on my neck started to feel 'bulging.' And the headache, oh the headache. And that headache got so bad Wed night that it made me ill. Literally. I spent 1/2 the night sitting on Gabe's potty stool in an intimate position around the toilet.
It topped the charts as one of the top 3 times of being sick.
And I've had some doozies.

I am very guilty of being one of those people who scolf at allergies, roll my eyes at ulcers... guilty of not being sympathetic til given opportunity to be empathetic. In other words, I don't feel bad 'til I walk in your shoes.
And let me tell you, allergies suck.
If that even is what I have.
This feeling of having a dull hunting knife jabbing into the side of my head & being twisted. Or a random swelling of my right eye, wherin it nearly closes & tears.
Good times.
Memories.

So, I lay here - thankful for Vanessa in the next room playing with the kids, keeping them safe & happy. And I throw back the benadryl, take the tylenol to stop my headache, & check the bp.