Girl Time: The Happiest Place on Earth

(I have not even been able to BEGIN to put together something to showcase our awesome Disneyland vacation from Spring Break... I don't think Blogger can handle the number of pictures we took, nor can I whittle the number down... It will likely come together in some sort of memory book some day, but we did go, we did have SO. MUCH. FUN. and it was epic. As an example of the number of pictures, this little montage just has the selfies from our 5 day (3 in the park) trip...)

Yes, you did faceplant on the playground a mere 2 days before we left for California, leaving a busted lip and chin, but that didn't slow you down, you were ready to roll:

We got to the park early on Sunday morning, and after a quick ride on a rollercoaster with your brother, it was time to hang, just us gals, while we waited for the boys to return from their turn on the ride.

The beginning of you being the best sport in the world.

Who did your packing??? Obviously they forgot your shades.

Having to squint was less than your favorite thing to do.

That's ok... the second chin I appear to have developed for the photo op in front of the ferris wheel is not my favorite thing either...

Ohmygoodness, did I have fun with you. I cherished every moment I could watch your face light up.

Fortunately for us, there were lots of those. Like, constant.

Did I mention what a good sport you were?

You weren't a fan of some of the rides, and some you were too short for, but you were always game to try, and if you knew you didn't like something, you were the most fun, explorative, good natured waiter/cheerleader while others took a turn.

I will forever remember the dance party we had after lunch right outside of Flo's Diner while your Dad and Cooper went on the Mater ride one more time.

We made our way over the watch them (and sit on the tractor) but only after we found a courtyard and danced and played chase for about 20 minutes (who cares who was watching... I think they were just jealous)... I would have been!

Sure, sometimes you needed a quick "disco" - you were pooped!

And who could blame you.

We walked around the park for no less than 8, and sometimes up to 11 hours a day...No naps, a few breaks here and there...

But you ALWAYS rallied.

And were ready to roll again.

I had the time of my life.

At the happiest place on earth...

With my favorite people.

Bye Bye Baby (curls)

A month ago I would have sworn that either (1) you would end up like Rapunzel with a never-ending head of hair, or (2) your father would go behind my back and chop it off, and your first haircut would be the end of our marriage (or, at the very least, the beginning of a VERY big fight). That, my friend, is how ADAMANT I was that we were NOT going to cut your hair. Ever. Thankyouverymuch.

Then... after MANY times of trying to get your hair brushed for your dad before I left for work and he was left... doing everything else, and at least the millionth time of my wondering what in the world you do at night to create so many knots... I finally said that you should join Cooper and Dad for a haircut on Sunday. You initially agreed, fairly... ok (though decidedly not excited) at the prospect. I may have slightly fudged about things in order to get you on board and said somethind about "all of us" getting our hair cut, when, clearly, I meant, all of us, minus me.

When you realized this, you became slightly annoyed, but were still on board.

However, after she did the first snip and handed me those beautiful baby curls, you became fairly, shall we say,PISSED OFF.

I did my song and dance (read: got you a sucker and told you how GORGEOUS you looked).

You remained skeptical:

And perhaps grew even more so:

Ultimately, you were consoled with one more sucker:

Then, FINALLY, seemed happy.

We all tell you how great your hair is, and how great you look. And it IS and you DO and your Dad is SO happy to be tangle-free (or less tangled). And it so absolutely IS adorable. But if I am honest, I am a little sad. Those baby curls are gone (or at least, now reside in an envelope marked with the date of your first haircut).

At least, after enduring my second grade haircut, I know, with certainty, you can always grow it back.

And in the meantime (and until you can reliably brush your own hair), it truly is ADORABLE and BEUATIFUL and so PERFECT on you.

And I cannot keep you a baby by refusing to cut your hair.

Apparently this does not work, either.

In related news, check out this handsome dude, who is old enough to tell his hair cutter to "take a little more off the top."

Good looking kid:

Hangover

Since we only served bottled water and Capri Suns, the title more implies the proverbial "hangover" ... the one you get from overindulgence... the one that you get after looking a little something like this:

Exhibit A:

Seriously, does "The Kid That Wants for Nothing" truly need all this stuff?? (even if he is delightful enough to deserve the world??)

And because over-indulgence in our place is a family affair:

Sure we cut back some... no balloon artist/face painter this year (poor kids, must have been bored out of their minds).

But we did have a bounce house...

A treasure box (for kids that "won" the game... or claimed to have "won" the game as it turned out)...

A hot fudge sundae making station...

And most importantly (for my sanity), beautiful weather.

We made up for anything that was lacking with a "big kids only" meal at the Rain Forest Cafe(cause the elephants scare the living you-know-what out of our littlest crew member)

Love you, Booperton! May all your birthdays be this cheeful (but with slightly less noise, perhaps, for your mommy's sake?)

Penny

Penny has been MY cat since... forever. Like back when I started high school forever. I have since started college, law school, business school... a family sice then.

I had Penny roughly 3 times as long as Cooper has been alive...

This is just my sad musings and me taking a moment to mark a loss to me. To our family, sure, but Lord, I have had that cat through ... everything, it seems.

Together, we lived:
- in my parents house in Austin, while I went through high school.
- in my first apartment when I moved to Lubbock for college.
- in my parents house when I first came back to Austin to finish undergrad at UT.
- in an apartment with my best friend from childhood.
- in a house with the same best friend, and another roommate (who turned out to be a bit crazy).
- in my parents house between places, when the prior living arrangement went to hell (due to said craziness).
- in a garage apartment for the family whose kids I watched all through high school and college.
- in a high rise in Hyde Park Chicago, when I started law school.
- in an apartment in Houson (that didn't have AC for the first 72 hours in June).
- at my parents hose in Austin when I went back there for a 6 week internship.
- in a TINY studio apartment in New York.
- in a house we rented in the Heights in Houston.
- on the first floor of a 3-flat in Wrigleyville.
- in my parents house for a year when we rented it from them.
- in a downtown apartment in Chicago.
- on the second floor of a house in River Forest.
- in our house now.

I wonder if I am leaving something out...

She was terminal. She was "livign on borrowed time". Ultimately, she was suffering.

I know it was the right thing. That didn't make it any easier.