kitten month!

July is Kitten Month in our family, meaning our little boogerheads are with us for the whole entire month. Yay! I don't mean to brag, but our kittens are sweet, hilarious geniuses, and it's such a blast being able to cuddle and laugh whenever we get home from work. So far, Meggie has sewn a new pair of shorts for herself as well as a darling little frock for Sadie-bug. Emmy and R3 are playing Minecraft every damn day, but that's what summer is for! We're also making popsicles with lots of frozen fruit and love (fresh love, not frozen, ya'll) and watching all of our favorite shows. There's even been some balloon sculpting going on, too! (To the tune of nunchucks, daschunds, and old-fashioned tube TVs, and D --for "Daddy"-- thankyouverymuch!) I barely have a second to photograph all the precious things that happen before something else precious happens!

Now, I fully intend to brag on how darling and patient my little sweeties have been so far this month. This work promotion is taking alot out of me, and I made a point to have a family meeting and tell everyone, "I'm going to be very tired, and probably cranky sometimes, but it has nothing to do with you guys and I love you!" And you know what, they all totally get it. Once Sadie was trying to cuddle on me, and I said very matter-of-factly, "Sweetie, I'm sorry I'm not so fun right now, I have to go shower." and she replied, "It's ok! I know you're probably pooped!" SIGH. And that's just my 7-year-old. When I thanked the littles for being so good before putting them to bed this evening, R3 said, "Well, we know you're tired..." Then there's my handsome Richard, being so sweet and amazing and silly even though he's just as tired and bombarded with crazy as I am... I mean, I have the best family. :) And while my face may look otherwise, it's totally worth being tired all the time. I mean, 9 o'clock bed-times are the new thing, right? Thought so. :)

(non-fake smile is still a work in progress! ;P)

(again, Meggie MADE DIS)

The Church of St. Minecraft.

hahahaha :)

sunday date night...

R and I typically have Date Night on Wednesday, but last week was filled with anxiety and bad attitudes on both sides, so sometimes you just have to know when to say, "We'll get to that!" After a ardent love affair with Torchy's, we decided to give Rusty Taco a try, and it was very delish! The veggie tacos had hearty fillings, and the fish taco was ahmahhhzing! Plus, we got their fried apple taco for dessert, and it was freakin' wunderbar. Our hearts still belong to Torchy's, but we'll totally stop by Rusty Taco again.

We then went home and watched "Rust and Bone," which was meh. I mean, it's beautifully shot and filled non-stop with Marion's beautiful angel face, but I was more genuinely entertained at dinner when I spilled mushrooms, then queso, then a basket of chips all over myself. (3 separate spills, ya'll!) You win some, you loose some!

r3's birthday date

R3 finally got the other half of his birthday present this weekend! In addition to his Minecraft t-shirt, I told him that he could pick whatever movie he wanted and the two of us would go see it in the movie theatre. After some serious consideration, he chose "Despicable Me 2," "as long as it wasn't in 3D." (Oh, thank goodness! I don't like 3D, either!) He also got to pick-out a candy bar and soda, so this was one happy camper. ;) He even told me "Thank you for taking me to the movie theatre..." in the sweetest little voice right as the lights were going down... ughhh!

Note: The movie wasn't cute as the first one in my humble opinion, but we did see some super awesome trailers ("The Lego Movie" and "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2!" both look amazing!) which I made everyone watch on YouTube when we got home, because I'm that person.

when meg is sick...

... she makes a cake from scratch then ices it to make herself feel better. Really, Meg? No fair! ;P

daddy and sadie...

(that's my lipstick kissy mark on Sadie's cheek!)

We were chatting with Charlie's sister at his latest party, and she told us that when she met Sadie for the first time that evening, all Sadie could talk about was how awesome her Daddy is. "She just kept saying, 'My daddy is amazing! He's the best! He plays roller-derby! His name is Peter Pandemonium!'"

She's just the most adorable bundle of love. And she fucking adores her daddy. ;) 

4 little dumplins, all in a row...

I came out of our room one afternoon, to see the kittens sitting in the living room like this. (Playing Minecraft, of course...) I couldn't stop laughing!

Can not not post this angle, thanks to Sadie's face. She just always has to be a ham! :P

cosmic charlie's 4th of july extravaganza :)

As per usual, we went to Charlie's for the annual 4th of July festivities! Charlie and Charlotte really know how to have a party (even during major home construction renovations!), and we always leave so happy, dirty, and exhausted. You can't ask for more than that, right?!

Emily and R3 resting up on Sadie's lap on the car-ride to Uncle Charlie's. :)

We started out with some fishing and swimming at "Lake Charles" in the afternoon.

Deee!

How cute is this picture?!

Note: There actually aren't pictures of dinner, which is a shame because there was the most awesome macaroni and cheese that forced (forced!) me to skip the line twice to get first and seconds before it was all gobbled away.

Setting up the big show! 

While the fireworks show was being set up, there were lanterns for everyone to light up and send off into the sunset. We did it for the first time last year, and the result was so engaging and beautiful that I think it became a new tradition!

Matt & Ioana | Sadie & Bob

Meggie brought her crew. :)

Sadie, as well as everyone, had a plethora of ant bites, which did not make her a happy camper. Poor thing! Socks are definitely a must next year... ;)

Boys on their cell phones. ;P

Yes, the fire department comes! (Better safe than sorry, right?)

And then, the fiyahwerks! R is on the official firing squad (with a t-shirt and everything!), which is a very elite group of selected boys that know how to be safe and awesome. As responsible as everyone is (and as lovely as the show turns out!) I'm still happy when it's over!

Big, warm, fuzzy special thanks to Charlie and Charlotte for having everyone over for another wonderful get-together. We're so lucky to have friends with the biggest hearts and most generous spirits. Hope everyone else had a lovely holiday. We're already looking forward to next year!

life around the apartment...

All I can say is that I love these goofballs with all of my butt-crazy heart. (Poetry!)

Sadie-bug. :)

Tickle-fight!

Little 80's girl.

ALERT: MEG IS SMILING IN A PICTURE. (And doing Sadie's hair/make-up... ;P)

Some good, ole rough-housin' with Nicky-poo!

I came into the living room to this one Saturday morning... gosh, I love this sweet little man!

One of the last time's Sadie styled my long hair...

Oh, nothing, just cuddling and watching "MythBusters!"

And the big finale.

formative influences

This week, Sadie told me she wanted to change her "Princess Sassy" roller derby name. You had a good run, Princess Sassy! After a tiny brain-storming session in the kitchen, we came up with Cheeta Rita, and I got to teach Sadie and Emmy aaall about Rita Hayworth via YouTube. ("She's so pretty!") Where's my Step-Mom Of The Year Award?

speakerphones and leslie knope

I have alot of thoughts about work!

1a. The day after my birthday, one of my clients, Leslie, called me at work and put me on speaker phone with her two daughters (both under, like 6?) and sang me "Happy Birthday," and it was adorable and heart-warming and insanely awkward.

1b. Today, two of my favorite "work cousins" (a term I just invented, meaning we work for the same company, they just work at a different store), Jenna and Lisa (who do the same job I do), called me on speakerphone and congratulated me for my promotion. And then Jenna and I talked for forever because, even though we've only met in person once, we talk on the phone all the time for various things and we have a really lovely connection because we're both really good at our very specific jobs and care alot, which is super refreshing. Also, her supervisor, Lisa, and my supervisor, Michelle, are basically work-sisters, and they're like work-moms to us, so we basically are work-cousins. This is important!

2a. I got a promotion that puts me in charge of my team at a new store opening, and watching "Parks and Rec" has made me really comfortable/confident sending a million emails, specifically one for every question that I have to my new boss and my regional coordinator! It's a great way of showing people you're super enthused!

2b. One of my favorite work-cousins, Maria, and I have the same job title and we are really good at feeding each other's Inner Leslie Knope. IE, we're really passionate, are really good at our jobs, are really silly and/or neurotic, and require alot of talking off ledges all the time. Sometimes the other one is playing Ann Perkins, but most of the time we're two Leslies talking and I love it and think it's hilarious, and I adore her and how much we talk off the clock. Maria also works at the same store as R, and I've been known to email him saying, "Give her a hug today if you see her!" ;P

2c. Before I left, I told my supervisor, "I just don't want anyone to think that I don't care!" and she replied, "Ohh, I don't think anyone could accuse you of that...!"

happy list

1. My new favorite beverage: water with cucumber and lemon.
2. Cantaloupe on sale.
3. "Muppet kisses" with Sadie-bug.
4. A new sassy, short hair-cut.
5. A new sassy promotion!
6. "Parks and Recreation," season 5, aka Emotional Babysitter
7. My sweet, wonderful boyfriend and how cute and supportive and amazing and blah blah blah :DDDDD
8. Happy Hour at Ceej and Jim's.
9. Top 40 is making me really happy right now.
10. Fresh, crunchy salads.
11. Fantastic new work clothes and PJs. #SWAG