Pictures

Holy hell, Batman!  What happened to August?  September is next week, which is totally surreal.  I need to play catch up and post pictures of things that we've done over the past few weeks, so if you're easily bored, skip this post.  You can always read about the mental breakdown I had yesterday.  I'm better today, thank you.

First up, the beach:

She's chasing that seagull.

I'm guessing by the girls' reactions, this is not the most comfortable tree when you're in a nightgown.  I love this tree.  It's at my Mom's beach house, and I remember climbing it and swinging from it constantly.  It also reminds me of Poltergeist, which is not so awesome.

Trevor and Victoria with their cousin Caylin.  Sophie was done by this point.

SC State Flag in real life.  Very cool, except I looked it up, and on the flag, the moon is on the left.  Whatevs.

Beach before sunrise.

The sun was hidden behind clouds, so it wasn't as glorious as usual.  Still beautiful, though.

My second attempt at capturing the sunrise.  I was obsessed with this shrimp boat.  It was so close- much closer than normal, and it was so gorgeous against the early morning sky.

Another shot.

Yet, another shot.  I have about a billion more, because I'm challenged when it comes to my digital camera, and it was hard to capture exactly what it looked like without it being to blurry, to light, or too dark.  I guess I should read the manual at some point.

Clouds again, but still gorgeous.  And the hubs was with me, which was nice (for the most part).

This is Botany Bay, which is a more secluded little beach on Edisto Island.  I love it, and I had never been until a couple of years ago, even though I've gone to Edisto practically every year I've been alive.

My MIL is going to kill me, but I just love this picture.  Sophie was so attached to her the entire time they were there.

Another one they're going to kill me for, but it was sooo sweet!

Sophie took this one, in case you can't tell.

Sophie at the Market in Charleston eating ice cream.

Vic at the Market after some lady put these cool plastic rainbow swirly things in her hair.

Probably one of my favorite pictures from the trip.  This is my son and my MIL tearing out of the ocean because a little girl a few feet away was screaming bloody murder from being stung by a jellyfish.  Trev had already gotten a small sting, and Marilyn feels the same as I do about ocean water.  We only go in for the kids.  Notice my FIL chillin' in the background just daring a jellyfish to sting him.

Next, the photo from my family reunion.  Why only one you ask?  Because the photographer (not me) made some interesting choices and took some creative chances that I wasn't a fan of.  That's a nice way of saying this is the only one I liked:

That's me on the left, my cousin Stephanie in the middle, and my sister on the right.  I posted the other horrible ones of me here, if you're interested. 

Finally, here are the ones from my last day with the kids before school started (tear):

He seriously drives like an old man.

Pissed that her car wouldn't go faster.  Also side swiped the parked go karts on one of her laps around.

Trev took this one while Sophie and I were on the go karts.  Pretty girl.

Doing their Regular Show impression.

Telling me not to take a picture.  You can be sure she's not smiling.

Laser tag.  The baby loved the glow in the dark aspect but refused to wear the vest.  She just ran around in front of me, telling me where to shoot.

Me being strapped into the Drop Zone (aka instrument of death).  Can you see my white knuckles?  Trev was the photog for this one.

The death trap from far away, so you can see how high it goes.  Vic insisted that we do it.  I made the baby stay with Trev the first time, so she cried the entire time Vic and I were on the ride.  She insisted on riding the second time, and she giggled throughout the ride.  Not one scream.  Not one tear.  Looks like I have 2 daredevils on my hands.

My racing buddy.  This was the adult track, so it went pretty fast.  Her little legs were flipping and flopping around, and she just laughed and laughed.

This machine was total bullshit.  It had full-sized candy bars, and Sophie actually got the claw to pick up a Reese's Cup. Well after it does that, it drops it onto a platform, and then this other thing has to push the candy into the dispenser, but that only happens if that part is full of candy, too, which is wasn't so she didn't get shit for her efforts.  I know it probably doesn't make sense the way I'm explaining it, so all you need to know is that my baby was cheated out of a Reese's Cup, and I was pissed on her behalf.

Old man Trevor driving on the adult track and being lapped by every other kid out there.

Vic trying to do DDR.

Lunch at Five Guys.  

Guilt, sadness, and nostalgia led us here.

 It was a fitting end to an awesome summer.  We really did a lot over the past few months, and I couldn't have had a better time with the kids.  I already miss them terribly.

Like a Ton of Bricks

Today is the first day of school for all of my children.  This includes my little 3yo shadow.  I thought today would be all about celebrating the silence and peace, but the silence is deafening, and I'm thoroughly depressed.  I'm supposed to be out starting my Couch to 5K program, and I had intentions of finally putting my multitudes of Pinterest pins into action, but instead I'm bawling my eyeballs out.  I never went through this with the other two.  Hell, I didn't go through it with her when I put her in daycare at 6 weeks old.  I don't know if it's because she's my baby, or because I've been home the last two years, or because I'm realizing that my work as a stay at home mom is coming to a close.  I never wanted to be home with the kids, but when circumstances changed, and that became my life, I really did enjoy it.  I guess it surprised me how much I needed it and how sad I am now that it's over.  So today, I'm going to feed my emotions with terrible food, distract myself with a lunch outing with my friend, and cry intermittently throughout the day.

First Day pics and then some tearful songs to bring you down as well.

This soundtrack is playing in my brain, and that's part of the reason I can't stop boo hooing.

And another one from that film that's even more approriate.

And just to torture myself to the fullest, the video I made for her 3rd birthday.

Michelle 2.0

I always knew Sophie looked like me, but damn...My sister was at my mom's house and came across some old pics of yours truly, and it seems that Sophie Grace is her mother's child right down to the pug nose and condescending smirk.

Me a hundred years ago.

Sophie about a week ago.

First Haircut

A couple of days ago, I cut Sophie's hair (at her request), and it dawned on me that it was her first actual haircut.  I mean, I've cut her bangs a million times before, but I've never touched the rest.  Her hair has a gorgeous curl to it, unlike the nappy squirrel that graces the top of my head.  So, when she asked me to cut her hair short like a boy, I obliged, thinking that a short bouncy cut would be super cute.  Only, I refused to go as short as she wanted.  I am not Angelina Jolie (obv), and she is not Shiloh.  I'm not nurturing her "I want to be a boy" feelings, because I want her to look like the pretty little girl she is, and I don't want to clean up urine from her attempts to pee standing up.  When she gets older and can save up for her operation, I will fully support her transition into maleness, but for now, she's still my baby girl, and will look like it.

Before:

Right after when she was so upset because it wasn't short enough:

A few hours later, when she had settled down about it (excuse the hub's photobomb):

From the back.  And, yes, she is cleaning my shower.  She seriously begged to help me. 

Movie Night and More Summer Pics (Groan)

A few days ago I planned to do a movie night for the kids complete with a themed dinner, as in one containing food you would find at the movies.  I decided on hotdogs, nachos, and popcorn, and I searched on Allrecipes under "movie" to see if I could find anything useful there.  Low and behold I found something called Movie Theater Floor, which was perfect.  I replaced regular old boring popcorn with my new awesome recipe and received rave reviews from the fam.  Ha!  I'm totally kidding!  They were total dickheads about it, beginning with the husband who said he would only be able to eat a bite or 2, the 10yo who forewent forsook  skipped the dish altogether in favor of the leftover candy corn, the 6yo who just picked out the candy, and the 3yo who screamed bloody murder because it wasn't "regular" popcorn.  I'm here to tell you they're all morons, because this stuff is delicious.  I'm hesitantly going to post a picture of it, because it literally looks like someone scraped the bottom of the movie theater floor and threw it into a bowl.  I know that's the point, but still.  I'm also going to post my recipe, because the person who originally posted it said to put jellybeans in it, and that's just plain fucked up.  Why would you put something fruity in something like this?  Oh, and another person commented that they added Red Hots.  Seriously? "Oh, I just had some Tic Tacs lying around, so I threw them in, too." Don't fucking do that shit.  Follow my recipe, and I promise it will be delish.  1 out of 5 people in my family approves.

Movie Theater Floor (God this needs an easier name.)

Ingredients:
1 Bag of microwave popcorn (or about 3.5-4 cups of already popped)
1/2 Bag of Fritos
5-6 oz of nuts
3 Movie boxes of various candies (I used M&Ms, Reese's Pieces, and Butterfinger Bites- don't try to deviate from this awesome combo)
7 oz of candy corn ( I honestly hate this shit, but I could barely taste it, so you might as well include it.)
12 oz bag of white chocolate chips

Pop the popcorn (duh).  Make sure you get all the kernels out that didn't pop, so no one cracks a tooth.  Or, just buy the pre-popped bag of popcorn, so you don't have to worry about that.  Then mix it in a big bowl with the fritos, the nuts, the awesome candy, and the disgusting candy corn.  Melt the white chocolate very carefully, because if you don't, that shit will separate and be useless.  Put the whole package in a bowl and microwave for 30 seconds.  Take it out and stir.  Microwave again, and stir some more.  At this point, mine was melted.  I highly suggest that you stir for a while because the heat from the bowl will continue to melt it.  Once it's liquid, poor it over the popcorn/frito/candy mixture and stir, stir, stir.  You will have carpal tunnel and/or hand cramps by the time it's sufficiently mixed.  You're supposed to let it cool, but I say go ahead and have a sneak taste of it.  Oh, and it's really the Fritos that make the dish, so definitely don't forget them.

Here's what it will look like:

Again, I know it doesn't look appetizing, but it really is.  And the kids should get a kick out of it, if they're not total demon monsters.

Here are some other pics that I haven't uploaded, yet.  We went to the park, the lake, the pool, and Monkey Joe's and those little bastards couldn't feign some sort of appreciation for my efforts.  Anyway, here they are enjoying themselves.

Just FYI my kids need to straighten up, because that little baby in the stroller is the best kid ever, and I was thisclose to trying the old bait and switch with one of my own, so I could take her home with me.  All of the kids were spectacularly good and got along famously.

Those are Sophie's sunglasses.  Not ones she borrowed from me.  Hers.  She picked them out from the store, and I love them on her.  Also, I'm happy to report none of us is suffering from flesh eating bacteria or that brain eating amoeba thing.

And, finally, here is my super brave toddler who is now jumping full force into the pool.  This week she also decided to finally start pooping in the potty instead of demanding a diaper, going into her room, locking the door, loading said diaper, and smushing it on her butt while she plays, requiring use of half a package of baby wipes each time.

On a side note, I really need to use the camera my mother got me for Christmas, because it's really not the same with phones.

It's That Time Again

It's been 2 months since the 6yo's cast came off, so naturally we were due for another crisis. The 10yo always seems to be good for that.  This poor kid has my luck and grace, so if it's going to happen to anyone, it will be him.  He's already broken all of the bones in his hand, gotten stitches in his forehead from a rogue golf ball, and sliced the bottom of his foot open on an oyster shell.  Before it's all over with, the kid is going to look like Frankenstein.


Today he somehow managed to split open his arm while playing Hide and Seek INSIDE the neighbor's house.  We still can't figure out what he cut it on, but it required 4 stitches and a sundae from McDonald's.  Poor kid.


Time to reset the counter.

Downtime

Although I'm desperately trying to get back into the work force and put all of this school schmool stuff behind me, I am still technically a student, so that I can continue to defer my student loans until a point in which I am gainfully employed again, and we can afford to begin paying them back.  To keep up with the ruse, I am supposed to register today, and I actually found a couple of classes that will be useful in a multitude of career paths.  Well, my college is notorious for its difficulties with registering- people not getting classes, system not being able to handle too many people registering at one time, etc., so I am always ready to go at 8 am on the dot on the first day of registration.  I always get kicked out of the system multiple times, which is super stressful, but I have always managed to get my classes due to my perseverance and preparedness.

Today is supposed to be the first day of registration for Fall, and the 2 classes I found are offered online, except for 1 meeting for an hour and a half 1 night per week.  It would be the easiest schedule I've ever had, and I could still work during the day without having to drop the classes.  It's ideal to be sure.  Of course, I hadn't counted on the registration system being down all day today, so I've been sitting at the computer ALL MORNING LONG waiting for them to fix whatever the hell is wrong, so I can sign up for my classes as soon as the system is up and running, and move the hell on with my life.  My poor children have been neglected and forced to care for themselves, and I know I only have a short time until this turns into Lord of the Flies The Hunger Games ( I actually read this one), and my kids start fighting to the death for their own preservation.  I also still need to go to the grocery store as well, so it really is about to be The Hunger Games, and I can promise I will win that shit, so it's best if it doesn't even become an issue.

Since I'm stuck here anyway, I've decided to post some pictures proving that today really is the only day of neglect, because I've been running around all summer like an insane person trying to keep these children entertained.  We've been to a few parks, the zoo, and the pool just about every day.  All I'm saying is that I'd better be about 50 pounds lighter come August 23rd.  Oh, and I probably should note that it's really my neighbor who's forcing me to be a fantabulous mother.  She's active and fit and fun, and she's dragging me into that healthy lifestyle with her.  And I couldn't be more grateful.  Without her, there may have already been a murder-suicide at my house.  You can see her adorable little boy in some of the pics below.

Proof to my children's future therapists that I'm not a terrible mother:

 They are all clothed, FYI.

 He's seriously, the most well-behaved kid.  Hopefully mine won't ruin him.

 The girls in a rare moment of cooperation.

 I had to include this one.  This is my father-in-law fixing Sophie's blanket for the bazillionth time.

 Water balloons.  We ended up throwing about 70 total.

She had just thrown a balloon at me and was so happy.