Gilli and Julie

Gillian has been wanting an American Girl doll for a very long time. Finally, Julie arrived for Gilli's 9th birthday. They are pretty much inseparable.

Drew and Gillian often sleep in the same bed. In this case it was the couch. I'm not sure how they do it all tangled together like this but it is pretty cute.

I do have another child named Gavin. Really I do. But he's 15 and he makes sure to steer clear of the camera. Last week was rough for Darren and Gavin. Darren missed work Monday and Gavin missed school Monday and Tuesday. Their burns were pretty severe. Darren's was the worst and his lips are still scabbed. Our neighbor Nathan didn't use sunscreen at all on Rainier and missed the whole week of school. I've never seen such bad sunburns. Hopefully they've learned their lesson. Apply and reapply!

Little caretakers

My girls are pretty deft with the ear thermometer. Ever since Gillian has decided to be sick most mornings we have had quite a lot of use from the thermometer. Anything over 98.6 is an emergency in her mind. So the other day I was napping because I didn't feel very well. I begged everyone to just not bug me for a little while. I was mostly asleep when I heard the door open very slowly. Then I felt my hair being moved and something put in my ear. I was half asleep so I slapped at my ear and then I heard little feet scurrying away. Gillian was offended when I woke up because I didn't let her take my temperature. So funny. She cracks me up. Love that girl!

Burned faces

Three days ago I had a laser resurfacing treatment on my sun damaged face. It hurt. Now my skin is rough like sandpaper and shedding like a snakes skin. It is probably a good thing that I live in this sun starved climate and not in California or Hawaii like I wish. I love the sun but my skin does not. Therefore, I got a Fraxel laser treatment.

Yesterday Darren and Gavin went with the scouts on a hike up Mt. Rainier. It was cloudy and they put on sunscreen at the beginning of the climb, knowing that you can get burned through the clouds. There was slushy snow to trod through but it was rather warm for hiking. Probably in the 60's, which to Washingtonians is a heat wave. Plus they were at high altitude which did not bode well for their well-being. Darren and the rest of the guys sweated profusely throughout the hike and didn't bother to reapply sunscreen. Gavin is burned but nothing like Darren. Darren is oozing yellow liquid from blisters on his forehead and neck and it looks like he's had lip implants. He has forbade me from touching his lips.

Gillian turns nine

Gillian really wanted a sleepover party for her birthday. I told her that she could have 3 friends. So it was Kassie, Isabelle, and Natalie O. They watched Flicka and had treats and giggled all night. In the morning Drew and Sophia woke up and made pancakes for the girls, served me pancakes in bed, and cleaned up the kitchen. They are such amazing girls.

Then, up to see Chuck. Drew wanted to bring him down and in the process got a black eye. Chuck whipped his head up from grazing while Drew was standing next to him and caught his head right in her eye. Ouch.

Chuck was in a bit of a mood but I got him calmed down enough for the girls to ride around the arena.

Cowboy Steve and his awesome spurs

Del Cabo San Jose, Mexico

Last week Darren and I were able to go to Mexico for 4 glorious sun-filled days. Mom flew up to watch the kids. The trip was paid for by our financial advisors--Mercer. They fed us, entertained us, and sent us (me) to the spa. We really needed the break. It was my ideal vacation, blue sky, beach, pool, SUN, and no cooking. I know that Darren would have rather gone to Alaska but he still enjoyed himself. I think that this needs to become a tradition. We went to church on our last day there. It was a pretty little building in the middle of a not so pretty town. Half the people were wearing jeans and there was a kid in a cape holding a mylar balloon. Classic. It was cool.