Birthday Shenanigans

****Before I get started I'll give a quick Crosby update. I'll post more later once we know more but Crosby had to have two spots removed yesterday. One is confirmed cancerous and the second is inconclusive. We'll know more once the biopsy comes back but Derrick and I are in full on helicopter parenting mode and smothering her with constant attention...much to her annoyance. She's rocking the Frankencros look though and we've decided to stay optimistic that the surgery will eliminate any and all cancer. Prayers, good vibes, and general happy thoughts would be appreciated. We're head over heels for our girl and need her to be OK.

****

Last week was my birthday and I was thoroughly spoiled. Alison and I spent the whole day on the Saxapahaw river paddleboarding. I absolutely love paddleboarding but Derrick and I have such busy summers it's impractical to try and add another regular hobby. So Alison and I just rent boards once or twice a year to get my fix.

This was about the time I realized I had totally forgotten sunscreen on my back. I got everywhere else but in the excitement of getting our boards and getting on the water I forgot to ask Alison to get my back. I'm still feeling it. It was worth it though! And Mapleview ice cream is amazing!

When we got home Derrick was on his way back to the house and he told me I had to leave for about 15 minutes. Jack, Alison, and I took Cros around the block. When we got back Derrick handed me the first clue to an extravagant scavenger hunt around the house.

It was so fun and he put so much work into it! I had to get help with a few clues but I eventually figured out the code to the box in the backyard and found my present. 

Derrick got me a really nice fossil purse I'd been eyeing. It smells soooooo good. Leather reminds me of my riding days. I feel so fancy with such a fancy purse!

During our family conference call my parents gave me a wheelbarrow and pitchfork so I can mulch the yard. I've already filled an entire wheelbarrow full of weeds once and it's so much easier than hauling buckets!

Birthday night we met Beth and Alan for dinner and bowling.

It as an awesome day and I'm lucky to be so spoiled by great family and friends. Thanks to everybody who made it great!

Crab Cut

Crosby got her summer cut last week and I accidentally gave her a bad bowl cut. She is so good when we shave her. She just sits there and takes it for about 45 minutes. I think she realizes how good it's going to feel. She was getting super fuzzy and I think she was pretty hot. 

Alison was there during the cut and I was going through pictures just now and found this one. I almost fell on the floor laughing so hard. What a face! 

A proper before.

 

And after.

 

 
We always forget how much grey she has under there! Derrick thinks this is more than she had last year but I'm not so sure.

 

This is the first year I cut her ear fluffs off. I love her ear fluffs but everybody thinks they look crazy with her shaved body. Actually...most people think they look crazy even when she's not shaved. This is where her accidental bowl cut happened. I didn't know where to stop and then I tried to fix and then we ended up with:

I took some pictures of her sunbathing yesterday so enjoy these. She loves this....I turn the AC off and open the backdoor and she lounges in the sun or down in the grass. She's really good about it and just stays in the backyard, coming in to check in every so often.

 

 

 If you see her, tell her how nice her haircut is and that you can't tell she has a bowl cut at all!

Paper Plants

Did you know my last post was my 400th post? Of course you didn't know that....who the heck keeps count of that. I didn't know either until I logged on to post this one. 400....that's a lot of over-sharing. 

A couple weeks ago I had a creative streak. I have these streaks where I'm not feeling it and then I get hit with the urge to make something and  it has to happen right. that. second. So I drove straight to the store to get everything I needed. This resulted in an hour long hunt for brown paper tape but a mission is a mission!

I used tutorials I found online so I do not get any credit here. I am not the brains behind these...just the brawn cramped fingers. 

The first one I tried my hand at was a pilea perperomioides or the Chinese money plant. I actually just googled this for the first time to get the photo below so I was just taking her word for it that it's what they actually looked like. Here's the real version:

And here's my paper one.

 

Adorable right? And no water, sunlight, or care required! I had that pot left over from an old orchid. Orchid's are my favorite real flower to have around the house and they always come with a cute pot that I keep after the orchid dies.  It was in the guest room but Jack has moved in for the summer so I moved it out to the mantle for now.

That was day one and I was officially hooked so on day two I made a heart leaf philodendron. Here is the real version.

And here is my paper version.

 

I think I like it better than the Chinese money plant but it is better in person. The photographs didn't do it much justice. I was running out of wire and feeling in my fingers so I didn't make it as full as it could be. I can always add to it later. I also could only find a pretty stiff wire so I think if I found a thinner wire it would hang more naturally.

I have my eye set on a paper hydrangea but that's going to take some time and patience so I haven't started that yet. I am loving adding these little details around the house though. Nothing like starting brand new projects when you have 100 unfinished ones already.

College Nationals 2016

I have been completely exhausted after this past weekend. I took a nap on Monday afternoon for 3 hours and then fell asleep on Tuesday afternoon for another couple hours. College nationals wiped me out!

Jay arrived on Thursday evening and Mom and Dad came in Friday morning. Games started at 2:30 on Friday afternoon but we arrived a little early to eat lunch, check out the facilities, and lock down good seats for Wilmington's first game. While we were there we also stopped by the Triangle Ultimate tent to see my new banner!

The weekend did not turn out quite like we were all hoping for. Wilmington got a bit of a slow start and they weren't able to recover and make it into bracket play. It was disappointing for Jack and really hard to see him so upset. That being said, it's an honor to even make it to nationals and Jack still played like the rockstar he is. Check out this ridiculous catch. In true Jack form he was making plays like this all weekend long. 

It was very fun to be able to watch the games with friends and family all weekend. I loved having a huge crowd there cheering on Jack and his team.

I was able to test out my new camera while at the games and was very pleased with the quality of the pictures. I took over 300 so I'll put only a select few on here.

On Sunday we were able to celebrate Adnan's birthday and have some quality family time minus Jack. We signed up for an escape room and it was the cherry on top of a disappointing weekend. We didn't escape in time. It was still fun though and Adnan's first escape room!

Birthday cake for all!

Memorial day was a fabulous weekend! It was awesome having the whole family in town. I know nationals didn't go the way we were hoping but these are the best of the best. Wilmington played so well but it wasn't their weekend. These other teams were just a bit more in sync this weekend. Jack always makes us proud and gives 100% all of the time. He's impressive to watch and we're looking forward to watching him on big stages in the future!