AFTER

About 56 lbs less...

This is SO hard for me to do, people. You KNOW how much I hate pictures of myself. I'm counting all the flaws right now...

BEFORE

OK, you asked for it, and I'm humiliated to give it, but here goes nothing:

These were taken on September 30, 2007, and early October, 2007

recent random pics

"It looks like a dead chicken," D. said sadly as she was getting ready for church.
You can't really tell, but there are 3 different marks at the bottom of her game sheet. These marks are her name written 3 different times, starting with tiny letters, then the next one was tinier, and the last being the tiniest. She did this with her school work all year long. I usually can't even find her name. Other than doing small print, she likes changing her actual lettering almost every time she writes her name. That totally reminds me of my dad, who once said his ideal job, if he didn't have to be responsible for earning income, would be creating fonts.
D. and her preschool friend, Lauren.
No explanation necessary.
Yup, he's still flexible.

A.'s cousin's daughter's baptism

Which means she's my first cousin once removed, by marriage, right?
It's really nice that A.'s cousin lives in Davis. We're lucky to be close to some family members.

P. and Blaise

They tried giving an affectionate farewell, but P. likes to hug, and Blaise likes to kiss, so it wasn't a very happy collision!

Bye to the Wrights

I probably should've photoshopped that name out... I'll do it later.




Well, they haven't been gone long, but we already miss them. I already miss Ashley. I think I started missing her before they moved! Apparently I'm the kind of person who needs a lot of support, and she was a key member of my support group. Boo for me!

More with the "cooking"

It was messy.
Done, already?
These are the R2-D2 Treats (a frozen, yummy dessert).

You can't do Star Wars related cooking without wanting more Star Wars...

Only food not pictured: TIE Fighter Ties (pup-in-the-blanket type things except wrapping hot dogs with breadsticks and shaping them).

Cooking Class

So then the next week, I tried to reciprocate with "Tennis Camp" (playing tennis on the Wii), and cooking lessons (which is ironic because I hate cooking). We pretty much did little snacks, though. Our "class" was Star Wars themed. All of the recipes came from The Star Wars Cookbook, by Robin Davis.
These are the "Death Star Popcorn Balls." Later on they became as difficult to eat as was destroying the Death Star in A New Hope. (bah-dump-bump)

More swim lessons

This pic. of I. represents how amazing this week was. She NEVER wanted to get her face wet before.
Wow, no fighting?

Swim lessons

I feel deep gratitude for free swim lessons from Dawn, even more so because they accomplished in one week WAY more than they did in 2 weeks last year at the UC Davis Rec Pool.
Yeah, P. just wanted snacks. Surprise surprise.



D. improved SOOO much, given her temperment for not wanting to try new things. It was amazing. Dawn has a magical touch!

New dresses from Abuela

New dresses Abuela made (more of I. because that was the first time she wore it)

Friends' b-day parties

Harry Potter Cake, which was appropriate because of all the "magic" science tricks the kids did!
Jackson's 7th birthday (I.'s friend)
Rae's 4th Birthday

Rae opening presents (hard to see, she's in the purple with the short brown hair, next to Ashley, the mom)

I should cut D.'s hair (because her hair texture is weird and the top layer is completely different that the bottom layer), but this picture makes me not want to.

And still more 4th

New skirts my mom made, and new shirts she bought to match.

P.'s new outfit that my mom bought him.