August 16 // We Miss You, Hunter & Dad.

[My dad's cousin] Lenny came for a visit today
(she's in town from Arizona).

NOW it really feels like everyone is here except
Hunter & my Dad :(

Since we had the extra hands & since Lenny wanted to see my apartment; she helped my Mom, Austen, Logan & I move my new mattress to my room.

WHEN WE GOT HOME:

We decided to invite my Dad & Hunter to the party via ichat.

It was way too fun.

(My mom was present behind the camera)

August 15 // [Really] Good Day

When we (the grandkids) were little, one of the traditions we had with our Papa were early morning visits to the donut shop.
...................

We continued the tradition this morning & it was as delicious as I remember.

LATER....

Papa taught me how to drive stick shift in his

1974 Datsun 260 Z.

I've been wanting to drive that car since I was 6...

It was a freakin' great day.

(how beautiful is this car??)
(how awesome is his license plate?)


P.S
The countdown is on:
less than 1 month (29 days) until 365 Days comes to a sad end.

(but I'm still taking suggestions for what will come next)

August 14 // Fun with the [Extended] Family.

MY MOM IS IN TOWN!

...so we're spending the weekend with the family!



Our friday started with a car drive to Lancaster.



We drove by "Karen's Kitchen 3"
(but what we've always wondered is, where is 1 & 2???)



The kids enjoyed the trampoline...


& the adults spent the evening chatting over fatty dinner & delicious pie.

August 13 // Decoy.

When Matt met me for sushi today, he arrived with a brown package.

I thought it might be a present for me...

but instead it was a decoy to make his Macbook look less desirable during his Metro bus ride.

August 12 // 12 hours.

I worked from 6:30 AM - 6:30 PM

and all I wanted to do the whole time was play with my new toy:

August 11 // Meteor Shower.

Meteor Shower.
10 PM-5AM.

1AM: Kate, Matt Q & I drove up Angeles Crest Hwy to get away from cars/lights so we could get a better view.

Everyone seemed to have the same idea.
It was still pretty amazing.

I saw 5 big ones & tons & tons of tiny ones.

August 10 // Her Last Visit from the Tooth Fairy??

With Bose headphones to kill the sound & not enough general anesthetic to kill the pain, Kate braced for impact as she got 2 wisdom teeth yanked [without going into a deep coma] by Dr. Taylor.

The only way I was given permission to post her "post-surgery face" was to promise that I'd show my chipmunk cheeks from my surgery last summer....
Brace yourself, it's pretty embarrassing...

[I looked like I had a tumor in my cheek]

August 9 // Eleven 1/2.

This is Captain and unfortunately he's getting old.
He's 11 1/2, I think.

Mama B's wish of having a "Captain Masterpiece" will soon be granted as Matt began work on it tonight.

.......

He says he has a lot of learning to do to give Captain justice.
I think he knows more than he thinks.

August 8 // Container Store : Heaven for the Extremely Organized

My mom made the mistake of emailing me a promo code for a discounted price on everything in the Container Store...

Why was this a mistake?

Because I spent about 2 hours online this morning (Kate can verify). I took full advantage of the online sale & spent a little too much on storage containers [& other fun stuff] with the hope of utilizing what minimal space my side of the closet has to offer.

Why is it that you can justify spending more money than you otherwise would, because there's a sale and it's somehow saving (?) you money...

It makes no sense.
But it totally got me.

August 7 // Ben & Abby Turn 6.

Ben & Abby were only a few months old when I started babysitting them.

They turned six today.

I'm having one of my first "I'm getting old" moments.

Matt & I joined in the fun as the kids went crazy for the
Star Wars / Hello Kitty theme.
Face paint & balloons were the name of the game & the kids ate it up!

If I remember correctly my 6th birthday party was at a gymnastics studio? I don't know why this would be since I never took gymnastics, but maybe my memory is deceiving me...
Any help, mom?

August 6 // One Person's Trash = My Treasure

I found this bookshelf in a street awaiting the trash man.

I knew [Logan &] I could save it from the landfill.
And after destroying the black widow nest, cleaning, sanding & painting...

I'm pretty pleased.


BEGINNING:


MIDDLE:


END:

August 5 // The Trips Play Boys For a Day.

The triplets (who are all girls) got cast to play the role of a little boy on the show Sons of Anarchy.

Lucky for me, it was my day to babysit, so I got to accompany them on set.

Although I spent the majority of the day in the on-set nursery with the babies that weren't filming (that was what I was getting paid to do after all); I did get to step out and meet the lead actor Charlie Hunnam, watch some filming and take a photo of him & his tv baby, Abel (today played by little Riley).

It was a fun work day.

August 4 // Free.

Haircut date with Matthew.
(My hair was deaaaaad)

Followed by another sushi date.
(Kabuki happy hour is our favorite)

Came across new blog material for Matt.
(free leaves???)

Visited my long lost, best school friend, Mary.
(& bore Matt with our girly chit chat)

Mary leaves for Texas next week.
(sad day)

August 3 // The Best.

August 2 // Yes.

First day off in a long while.
Enjoyed it on the couch accompanied by Kate & a full day of The Next Food Network Star (we quickly got addicted).
6PM church service.
Saw old friends.
Listened to [my high school pastor] Albert speak.
Great sermon, great worship.
Night ended with Cheesecake Factory double date.

Good day.

August 1 // Next Hallmark Card?

These are the triplets I've recently started sitting.

Since they are baby "actresses", their Mom decided they would look really pretty in their swim hats and sunglasses for a "celebrity photo shoot".

The whole thing just really makes me laugh...

July 31 // Sushi dates

are my favorite with the boyfriend.

July 30 // Noteworthy Blog.

I want to introduce everyone to Matt's new blog,
"Things I Come Across"
It's devoted entirely to sharing the weird and unusual things that Matt happens upon.

I do believe you will like it as much as I do...
www.ThingsIComeAcross.Tumblr.com

July 29 // We're Scary..

But don't judge us.
You're probably a little scary too.

July 28 // For Sale?

This is my beloved '88 Honda Accord.
I've decided to try and sell it....
(we'll see what happens with the economy the way it is)

If you know anyone shopping in the Honda market, feel free to pass my email along:

July 27 // 500 Days of Summer on 365 Days in Photographs

cheesy title?
I couldn't help it.

Great movie.
Next on the list: Away We Go.

July 26 // Bbacher Game Night

We're becoming obsessed with this game.
and contrary to popular belief...
I don't cheat

July 25 // Sick Once Again...

July 2008 : Strep
August 2008: Tonsilitis
October 2008: Strep
May 2009: Strep
June 2009: Tonsilitis
July 2009 (today): Tonsilitis

This is my sick list of the past year.
I woke up this morning with a fever & swollen tonsils AGAIN.

My morning was spent at a new doctor's office (which was way cool by the way); getting blood drawn & other tests taken, in order to figure out why I've been sick 3 times in the last 2 1/2 months (and 6 times in the past year). They came to the conclusion that it's time to get my tonsils out.

Agreed.

July 24 // Showing Off.

It's been a few weeks since I've visited the cousins, so they had lots of new "tricks" to show me when I showed up for dinner tonight.

Oh, and we had "ma-statos" for dinner.
(or otherwise known as, "potatoes", to anyone except Landon.)

July 23 // Date Night, Game Night

A few games of Rummy with ridiculously large playing cards,

Matt Q cheating me out of a very important card (even though I "obviously" had it first & was losing by A LOT),

Kate & I killing it at battle of the sexes Cranium (which was an improvement from the tears I shed at last year's game night.....don't ask),

Me understanding Kate's interpretation of a silent "bridge",

Kate understanding my interpretation of "Monica Lewinsky"

Matt & Matt trying to be "creative cats" with their eyes closed,
......

all makes for a great night of date night, game night.