Mojo's New 'Do

Mojo has been begging me for awhile now to cut her hair...short. We got it cut in March, but it wasn't short enough for her liking. Sigh. I'm one who believes in personal expression, and it is her hair. I told Caveman not too long ago that he didn't have to cut his if he didn't want to, and I've told Sunshine that purple hair is fine as long as she pays for it. Why would I be so reluctant to let Mojo wear her hair short? Maybe it's the feeling of rejection; those curls come from ME. That is the only claim I have to her looks. The rest of it she gets from her Daddy.
But the deed is done now, she is very happy with it, and I must admit it looks adorable on her. Though maybe a little too "grown-up" for my taste!


Mama still misses these days...


Mojo Facts:
Favorite Colors: Hot pink and purple. Preferrably sparkly.
Favorite Foods: Broccoli cheese soup, Spaghetti-O's, hand-made tamales (the way the Mexican families at our church make them.)
Favorite Movies: Bolt, Madagascar 2, The Wild
Favorite Books: The Trumpet of the Swan
Favorite Songs: "He Set Me Free", "Funkytown"
Favorite Character: Indiana Jones (though Mama won't let her watch the movies, she checks out the books from the library every chance she gets.)
Activities: martial arts, basketball, and she loves our homeschool group

Girls' Night Out

Ever since graduation, a group of my high school friends have gotten together at least once a year. Our get-togethers have gotten less frequent in the past couple years, but we've decided to not let life get in the way. Right now the plan is to have a scheduled night out every two weeks, and whoever can make it makes it.
Here are some of us on our most recent outing...


Siobhan and I met the first day of kindergarten. We've been friends for 30+ years now!

Juju's First Lake Trip

He protested loudly when I put him in the water--"It's COLD, Mama!" But it only took a few moments for him to enjoy splashing.

Quit Freaking Out

The one thing I am afraid of is wasps. I can't think of anything else that I am really afraid of, not bees nor snakes nor tornadoes nor clowns nor death...just wasps. I dream about them sometimes. I know that my fear of wasps is irrational, but there it is. The times that I've been injured enough to go to the ER--once from a motorcycle accident and once from falling and breaking my wrist--have been because of a wasp. I kid you not.
Yesterday on the front porch, an Unidentified Flying Bug came buzzing past my face. I startled and shrieked. Mojo said, "Quit freaking out about everything, Mama. Just sit still and be quiet."
Just sit still and be quiet, indeed. Do you know that every single time I have been stung by a wasp, I have been quietly minding my own business? Freaking out scares them away.
We won't mention the fact that motorcycle accidents and broken wrists hurt worse than wasp stings.

Mama's birthday!

Yesterday was my birthday! Thirty-six years. I went through a phase where I didn't want to celebrate anymore birthdays; I just wanted to pretend that I wasn't getting any older. But I've changed my tune. I've decided that I'll gladly take another year of being a beloved Wife and Mama. Even if each year brings a few more lines and gray hairs.



On Friday, the in-laws came to visit, bringing the kids pizza and a movie so that Bear and I could get away for a few hours. We went to eat at a Mexican restaurant with a live mariachi band, then we went to see the new Star Trek. Wow! I didn't think I was going to like it that much, but now I can't wait for the dvd to come out. My childhood crush on Spock has been renewed.
(Bear asked me "The new Spock or the old Spock?" My answer is neither; it's not the actors I have a crush on, it's the character!)

My birthday was a nice, laid-back day with the family. We went to church, I organized photos on my new laptop, the kids played in the sprinkler, and Bear grilled burgers. Desert was cheesecake and wine. It was a good day.