Princesses Gone Bad

Elise the Pre-Pre-Teen

Every Monday, Benjamin goes to Gymnastics with my nephew Marcus. Marcus leaves his baby sister at our house to be babysat. It is one of the highlights of my week. I do enjoy this little cutie so much.

Katrina followed her around one Monday, snapping pictures. The kid moves so much, it's hard to get a good one. So all the photos were blurry.

I just ran them through Photoshop to blur them a soften them even more and I think they turned out pretty cool.

I love this little gal. She's got SOOO much personality.

She just turned 2 and I'm excited to have 16 more years of her hanging around, making me laugh!

Ben "Whips It!"

When my brother was visiting, we went to the opening night of Drew Barrymore's Directoral Debute: Whip It! I really liked it . . . although I wouldn't recommend it for teen girls . . . too much lying to the parents and making bad decisions, but overall, the message was fun and the action was great. I got all pumped to go to my local roller derby, but then, the theatre was packed with local roller derby girls. When I saw them in the light, I changed my mind.

The main stars of the movie Roller Derby Action were: Smashley Simpson, Babe Ruthless and Maggie Mayhem . . . now I just need a stage name for my own personal Roller Babe!

He's practicing for the big time . . . if he falls, he just bounces right back up!

He can get going pretty fast . . .

He skates in rain or shine, or menacing rain clouds . . .

He always wears his big brother Josh's ball cap, it makes him look cooler . . .

Uh Oh, he's goin' down!!

Give me some ideas for a good name for Ben, the Roller Derby Start (of my heart!)

Halloween for Kids

I finally published the photos on my last post, if you're interested. And now. . . the children!!

Rachel and her cousin, Eliza were DEAD BRIDES. Gross. The best part was that we found some great half-inch high heels in Rachel's size at Goodwill and she has some great new shoes for church.

Katrina wouldn't dress up for school. She DID dress up for the church party, but decided not to wear the witch hat. She's quite picky. Ben isn't pictured because he wouldn't dress up for ANYTHING! I bought him a really expensive costume last year, complete with a fancy gun and tried to get him to wear it this year to no avail. He told his teacher, "Last year I didn't wear my costume and I still got candy, so I'm not wearing it this year!"

Josh designed his own costume, even making himself a shrinky-dink necklace. He was the lead drummer in the school parade. He kept the beat quite nicely for all the other drummers for the kids to march to. He's a Rasta Hippie.

Halloween for Adults

My good friends Jen and Matt Vranes throw a GREAT Annual Halloween Party. They decorate their house to amazing proportions and always entertain with their amazing costumes. This year, the whole Vranes clan dressed in SHREK costumes.

The best costumes of the night went to my dentist and his lovely wife. Can you tell which is which? This costume meant a lot to me, a former Synchronized Swimmer!

Damian and I went as Genies. But no one could tell. Everyone thought Damian was a pimped out Elvis and I was an Egyptian. I'd show my whole awesome costume, but it made my slender figure look fat. And my stupid costume made so much noise I gave myself a headache and had to go home early.

My sister-in-law, Christine has a serious fear of Oompa-Loompas. No kidding. She also doesn't really like midgets or "little people." They just creep her out. It's weird and not really PC, but I think she may have conquered her phobias at this party. I wish you could see her fancy socks/shoes. She went all out, and that's their real hair, not wigs!

My other sister-in-law, Tiffany only listens to Jim Brickman and other Easy Listening Type Music. At least, I'm pretty sure about that. Anyway, she and Justin totally ROCKED as Heavy Metal Badd A- - Head Bangers.

This couple made me laugh so hard. . . Misty's husband is the life of any party. In fact, at a recent camp out, he taught all the kids how to drop quarters into a can, from his butt-crack. He's nuts. He did a few kicks and somersaults that really shook the house, too!

Lastly, my good friends, the Higginsons came as "The Blue Man Two." They are so fun.