The other weekend it was just me and my girl, Avery. Ash was with Hubby camping with the boy scouts. I love it when I am able to spend time one on one with my one of my kids. So of course we did as many things as we could together that only we , (Avery and I) could enjoy.

Those things included shoe shopping, flower shopping, mani/ pedicures, eating hot and oh so fresh donuts from Krispy Kreme, and driving around in a totally cool car.

A great fab weekend with my most fab daughter.

By the Way.. we were driving around Hubby's 1968 Chevy Cheville. He took the "family" car, I usually drive daily, to the scouting trip. (Acura MDX)

So we ended up in the Cheville for the weekend.

No AC, no airbags, no radio, no proper seatbelts.... No Problem.

But lots of personality and lots of togetherness in the front seat.

And lots of staring from peeps on the street.

I absolutely love this photo of Avery up above.

Doesn't she look like someone from the film, "The Outsiders" or "Rumble Fish"?

In other words.. don't mess with her..

Krispy Kreme donuts to the left. Get em while they're hot. And yes...we certainly did.

Flowers from LOWES. I love gardening. And I do love fresh dirt underneath my fingernails.

Maybe that's why I can't keep a good manicure?

Must be a growing up on a ranch kind of thing.

A Little Bit of a Fighter

We all got a bit of a fighter in us don't we?

Even my sweet lil boy Asher.

He is seriously smoked in the above picture..

But I love his spirit. Gloves up and ready. Ready to tackle that bag.

Asher workin it out.

Who knew he was so aggressive?

Guess there is more to him than meets the eye.

Like all of us.

Taking out all his cares and worries and troubles on a bag.

Go get em Asher!

What a great example of where our frustrations need to go.

Not towards our family and friends, not towards ourselves.

Not through unhealthy obsession.

But through sweat, tears, and working it out.

We all gotta fight the good fight.

I'm just trying to make sure my fight is isn't hurting the ones I love.

Because Heaven knows.. I've got a little bit of a fighter inside of me too.

A Most Excellent Adventure

RAGING WATERS SAN DIMAS STYLE!

TOTALLY AWESOME!

Today was Raging Waters in San Dimas. Yes the Raging Waters in San Dimas from "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure".

DUDE!

It's a great park. Tucked away in the hills surrounded by trees and a reservoir. Today was the final culmination of Avery's 12th birthday. Instead of a party she chose Raging Waters and invited two of her good friends. I admit, I didn't feel up to doing a big party by myself without Hubby.

Everything went smoothly until the bees. I noticed there seemed to be an unusually large amount of dead bees on the sidewalks. Turns out the park had a beehive problem up on one of the slides. Three of us stepped on bees. Myself included. Avery's required special attention though. The rest I was able to pull out the stingers.

The bees were the beginning of our little mishaps. One of the girls didn't tell us she had never been on a waterslide before and was scared to death. She went on a few. Soon she was sick. Then she was pale. Then she had to lay down. Poor thing.

Then it was little things like stubbed toes, torn fingernails, bloody elbows, cut up feet from the sidewalks.

Thank goodness for wonderful dipping dots ice-cream and funnel cake.

Sometimes I wonder if I try to do too much without the Hubby. Should I have done the easy thing and gone to a film or something?

Hmmm....But where's the excellent adventure in that? Water parks are definitely a most excellent adventure. I am happy I am young enough and let's face it...Cool enough to do it. In fact, I had an awesome time.

I'm thinking of doing a sequel.

After only one ride, Avery stepped on the first bee. I could not get the stinger out so first aid was called. He had to cut the lil bugger out. Avery was very brave. After all, she just got her ears pierced didn't she?

The kids all loved the big wave. They had a great time on it and the wipeouts were spectacular!

It was mostly cold for my taste. High was 78 degrees which, water park weather, that is not! the bright side is nobody got a sunburn.

I kept my sweater on mostly. Until realized I would be "one of those moms" if I didn't go on the rides. I went on all of them. Yes, even the ones that give you a serious wedgie. And Yes, even the really big, scary ones.

Dippin Dots are seriously one of my fav things about amusement parks. I always order some. I get banana split flavor.

I had a hard time sharing with the kids.

The kids got funnel cake as we were leaving the park. They forgot all about their boo boos and upset tummies.

Funnel cake will do that to you.

I even had good traffic there AND back.

That was seriously excellent.

Happy Birthday Avery!!!

Phew!

Is your 12th bday celebration over yet?

I'm a bit tired

Ummm..

I'm just wondering if anyone noticed my oh so modest swimsuit. It's the one I talked about in a previous post. So what do you think Karen? Am I a lady yet? Is it modest enough?

Have to admit, was happy to wear it in cooler weather and no top malfunctions on the slides :)

Avery is growing up and I might be too

My daughter turned 12 on Sunday. Since I can remember she has wanted her ears pierced. I always said 12 was a good time. Last year on her 11th birthday she said, "Only one more year until I can get my ears pierced!"

Oh No! That came too quickly! Where has the time gone??

I thought about changing the event to 14 yrs. old but Hubby said that wouldn't be fair.

He was right.

So instead of resisting change and trying to not let my daughter grow up. I decided to embrace change and embrace growth.

I got my ears pierced too!

Yes, I am a 33 year old woman whose father never let me pierce my ears. After I was 18 I thought I was cool and hip to not have my ears pierced. It made me different and "unique". So I thought. Now I realized that part of my journey to becoming a lady isn't about using outside to affect the inside. If am cool and hip or unique...it's not because my ears aren't pierced. And to tell the truth, I always secretly wanted them... but I didn't want to be like everyone else.

silly, I know

Avery making sure the marks were just right

So brave and excited!

Uh oh.... She got nervous and wasn't sure she wanted to go through with it. But did I mention I went first so she could watch me? I was a great example.

That was my brave face. The anticipation was the worst. And that was my second ear!

( That's my brave anticipation face in case you were wondering)

I know, bad example. Maybe that was the problem.

Avery, after her first ear, got queazy and passed right out!!

I guess her anticipation was too much as well!

And I wasn't even there to catch her. Down she went on the floor. I think I just caught her head.

Mother of the year that day I was not.

The poor thing didn't even know what happened and she swore it was only because she leaned too far over in the chair.

It took 10 minutes for her to get the courage up to do her second ear. She hugged onto the teddy bear the lady gave her and I hugged her from the back.

And this time I held on tight in case she went over again.

I'm a quick learner.

Yep! All grown up now.

This ladylike thing is a growth in progress...