30 days of photos

So I haven't been great with the photos, it must be because my card reader doesn't like my SD card... it likes everyone else's card, just not mine. But I have finally uploaded my camera. So... here's a glimpse into our world in the last month.

This is Scott's birthday cake for his 40th party in Sioux City on June 20th.

The original, nicely fitting box broke, and there were issues with the original filling, but everyone seemed to like it.

Weston enjoying the I-Cubs game planned by me for the Onthank Company for our Summer Picnic. It was 84 degrees and so humid that Weston wouldn't eat and stuck to everything, but he seemed to have a lot of fun.
Weston calling the Play. That's the signal for steal third base when the batter bunts.
Weston enjoying (?) his first Riverboat Days in Clinton. That's the entire POS carnival in the background.
Our Riverboat Days family picture.
Weston and Shannon hanging out on the River. (in case you aren't from Clinton, "the River" is the Mississippi River (from the Iowa side.)Paisley at 2 1/2 months being tickled by Shannon. Look how Blue her eyes are! She's the perfect example of the 4th of July! Unfortunately, Zoey was with her Grandma, so Weston didn't have anyone to play with.

Aunt Linda, Great-aunt Rosanna and Mom. I don't see any family resemblance, do you? No... none at all. (Just my future.)

Scott hanging out with Paisley and Weston, who - for once - wasn't trying to put his fingers in her mouth.

July 6th, family vacation day. We took Weston to the pool. He loved it!

He even kicked enough to make his way around the pool on his own!

I put his hair in a Mohawk while at the pool and an hour and a nap later, it stuck!!! he looked so awesome!

Riverboat Days... Clinton, etc

We got back yesterday from our weekend celebration in Clinton... more pictures to follow (once I figure out how to work the damn SD card reader I had to buy to upload pictures!)
We took Scott to his first Riverboat Days on Friday... and it was a waste of $7. The carnival was not even put together (apparently the carnival was travelling without an engineer and proper paperwork, etc.) There weren't any vendors and the food was so-so. But I did win a total of $6 from the Catholic Bingo tent, and came home with $3.50. We used to call this the "White Trash Festival" but the sad thing was... there wasn't anyone around. Very few people, and those that were there were all kids or tattooed giants racing tractors. Let's put it this way... we parked about a block away. And we got there around noon... obviously not a stellar year for Riverboat Days.
Weston had fun (from a distance) with Sparklers and the parents put on a great spread all weekend. We visited with Nathan's family and played with Paisley (who napped for over 3 hours!) The best surprise? My great-aunt Rosanna made the trip north from Oklahoma for her 80th birthday. She is almost a replica for my grandma who will have been gone for 20 years in September. It's eerie. But then she talks, and it's Rosanna again. My mom has a hard time seeing her, but it's still getting easier over time. You've never met a more indulgent (?!) 80 year old. She talks about past lovers and family stories with the same ease. You forget that she's 80 and not 40. She's a tiny thing too. None of that family was tall. In order from shortest to tallest: Lula Belle (#5) 4'7", Rosanna (#4) at 4'9", Mary Jane (#1, my grandma) at 4'11", Ethel (#3) 5'1", and Leonard (#2) the tallest at 5'3". At that rate, it's lucky I hit 5'4".
Anyway, as I said... more to come later.

Just watched NOTORIOUS. Amazing! Loved it. Cried like an effing baby for the last ten minutes. My brother would be proud. Though I thought that the uncontrollable tears ended with pregnancy. Now I'll be tear-prone all night.

yesterday

I am so saddened by the great loss that America has sustained this week. 3 major icons from 3 different generations. I am happy that Farrah Faucet is finally pain-free, but that doesn't make it any easier... she's my mom's age. It's weird. Ed McMahon... well, he was in his 80s. He outlived Johnnie Carson. But Michael Jackson... that was just plain weird. Like Princess Diana. It came of nowhere and was completely unexpected. I've been listening to Michael Jackson for as long as I have been alive. My parents liked him (which is so odd considering we don't share a lot of taste in music.) My dad had a mixed tape for me of Thriller and other songs like it (including the Monster Mash. ) I remember trying to Moonwalk, and I have a Barbie-sized Michael Jackson doll with the Glove, the black jacket and the red jacket. (I know...) Somewhere at my parents, I still have Thriller and the We Are the World vinyl LPs (records.) My dad recorded (on VHS) the HBO documentary on the making of the Thriller video. I remember watching this over and over for years. He influenced every musician in every genre that game after him. The loss of his brilliance makes me sad. I felt like his London shows might have revived him. I hope he is at peace and that his children feel loved and taken care of.
I hope that the world understands the loss of this week. That the artistic loss is so much more important than the allegations of what he may have done....

I'm going to say it... I am heart broken over Jon & Kate's decision to dissolve there marriage. I admit to watching their show and reading the stories. But I had hoped they would work through their issues.

the little Prince

So... I've been running ragged for days getting ready for the bridal shower tomorrow and Scott's 40th birthday party tomorrow night. I had to make 2 cakes. and not small cakes either. I'll get pictures of those too. It was a huge ordeal. I am a masochist. Anyway, for one of the games, you have to put a veil on your head and look in the mirror. So, I attached a veil to a tiara. But before I could do that... Weston was wearing the tiara!!! and he liked it! Scott called him his little prince... that is until Shannon showed him the pearls - Scott was like, "Princess?"

Priceless.

Nathan sent me this adorable picture of Paisley in the sunglasses we got her as her "coming home" present. She is so cute!!! She's 8 weeks old now.

Things I can't grow out of...

Today I read an interview with Kevin Smith on Newsweek.com. It's great. In it, he discusses how his career has enabled him to continue being a teenager throughout his adult life, and how the mediocrity of his latest films has put into perspective the fact that his teenage side is fading away. (To which I say, just give them more chances! I loved Zach & Miri, and the more you watch Jersey Girl, the better it gets, and Clerks II, wasn't so great, but still!)

Anyway, this article got me thinking... about my teenage/college years and the things that have stuck with me almost half my life (trust me... the road to 30 is bringing back all sorts of nostalgia, it's only 6 months and 14 days away. *Which means Christmas is only 6 months and 13 days away, so get planning!) So... here's a list of things that have stuck through my teen years into adulthood:

Food:

1. Dipping Wendy's French Fries in Frosties. Chocolate Frosties, back when there was only one flavor and one word for a Frostie.

2. late night overnight snacks, these delicious tidbits always make me yearn for a Slumber Party: Brownies with Powdered Sugar (Thanks Beth), Puppy Chow (thanks Anousha), Twizzlers, and canned Nacho Cheese.

3. Pizza Hut White Sauce... you can't find it in Des Moines, which is one of the biggest disappointments of my life.

4. Dill and Greek Food... thanks to Mary Ann Tahmasebi for her fabulous cooking. Because of her, I was never afraid to try something new, especially when it comes to Greek Food. I could live on Greek Spaghetti, and now love Dill (from the rice she used to make Iraj) and eggplant. Also... I eat Ham (I know, I live in Iowa, but I swear I never liked it until Mary Ann's Virginia Baked Ham.) And don't get me started on her restaurant, Maude's... my family had some of our best meals (food and conversation) there. Maude's made me a better tipper, along with Anousha's help.

Media:

1. Natural Disaster Movies: Twister, Dante's Peak, Armageddon. I am in love with the big screen concept of "Man vs. Nature." Wouldn't Ms. Boyd be so proud!

2. Romance Novels. Beth introduced me to the "trashy novels" and I've never enjoyed a breather from real life more. Usually quick reads, most of these books get a bad rep just because they are a shelf away from the Harlequin romance section. Still my favorite (and possible my favorite book ever): Remembrance by Jude Devereaux. Read it. now.

3. Television. TV hasn't been great in years. There are the grabbing shows still but nothing like what used to be. ER, Friends, and yes, even Dawson's Creek, these shows captivated us then, and we still spend hours watching reruns now.

** a special note: I love JJ Abrams. He created Alias, possibly my all-time favorite TV show. Definitely the only one I love to watch on DVD. Abrams populated Alias with cast members of Felicity, the great characters, not the annoying main characters. And he truly seems to enjoy these actors. Alias was on for 5 seasons and the look rarely changed at its core. Love all the characters, but I still intellectually swoon over Victor Garber (Jack) and David Anders (Sark.) Can't help it, they are delicious. But seriously now, for me, Abrams went from Alias to LOST, one of my current addictions, and a tons of his actors went to Heroes, another current addiction. And then there is his directorial deliciousness, Star Trek (11). Loved it. Loved it. Loved it. My entertainment junkie alter ego is seriously thankful for JJ Abrams.

Others:

1. Cooking... I'm still addicted and keep trying new things. I love it, I love to have people eat what I create. It makes me happy when they like it, it's a little high for me.

2. Art... I am still very creative. I just don't have as much time as I used to. I still paint some, but more often I decorate cakes and other things....

I'm sure there are more. I'm more into clothes and makeup than high school, but I have retained my glam-Gothic makeup trends from college. I enjoy them every so often. :) I hope this hasn't bored you, but has inspired you to evaluate who you've become... and if things ever really change all that much.