Trains & Apple Pies

Mom, Michaela, the boys and I took a quick trip down to Carlsbad. It was great to see Chris & Dianna's new house! I miss the old one for the memories but it was time and I'm happy for them. Carlsbad was beautiful as always. While there, I took Lisa out to lunch and spent most of my time with her. I've missed her a lot and I wish we could spend more time together. We all watched Annie together and grandpa spent the early mornings with the boys. He was so impressed with them and I was so proud when he told me that I was doing a great job in raising them...he told me 4 times! Quadruple Whami! He also loved that they are such fruit eaters. I pawned all his fruit on them!

The big highlight of the trip was mom's idea. I had no idea there was a train right there in Carlsbad! Mom bought tickets and mom, Jeff, Lisa, the boys & I rode the train almost down to San Diego. We got off and walked the little beach streets. They were lined with furniture/decor shops and clothing shops. We were enjoying the weather and each other's company looking for...ice cream! We found a little place and were so happy! After that we headed back and caught the train just in time! Marcelus LOVED it! Here are the pictures. I didn't get many:(

While I was in Logandale, we had a fundraiser for my ONH Journey. It was a Spaghetti dinner but the Bake Sale took the trophy. It was huge and there were so many wonderful goodies. There were so many people who worked hard to donate to the Bake Sale. My aunt Debbie made lots of things including Apple Pies. They sold out really fast! The boys helped her make them the night before and they loved it, especially Phoenix. He got so possessive of that apple core machine! It was great to see my aunt Debbie and some of her kids. I don't get to see everyone as much as I used to or as much as I'd like.

Visit to California City

Before we went up to Logandale for the county Fair, we made our way to California City, which is in Death Valley. It's a long drive! I've decided that I hate that drive and even more I HATE Cal City! It is in the middle of No Where with NOTHING around it for hours! It's nothing but desert but when we got there we were surprised at the cold and the chilly wind. We had to change clothes immediately. The boys were pretty rambunctious from the drive and it was all we could do to keep them contained at grandpa's. Luckily at our hole in the wall hotel, they could jump around and be crazy all they wanted. I really regret not taking pictures of the place, funnily enough I know we'll be back. It was actually pretty fun to have our own hotel room. We used the coffee maker to heat water for cup of noodles and instant oatmeal. Grandpa James can only handle so much of us, so after one night in the Hotel, we were outta there! I was ready! We then headed to Logandale for fun at the Fair. Here are the pictures from Cal City!

Grandpa James is hilarious. The first thing he always says when we walk in the door is that he swears Shar has gotten taller since the last time he saw him. "You just keep growing taller and taller..." Sharrid really stopped growing years ago...

Shar made us some breakfast burritos. I love Shar's breakfast burritos. It's one of our Menu items........on the Menu of our restaurant we want to open someday:)

On the second day we got smart and had the boys try and watch a DVD.

Grandpa refers to Phoenix as greedy, because he's so thick...

We went over to Thomas' (grandpa's best friend). He loved the boys and Marce talked up a storm for him!

Until next time at Cal City...

Marcelus' funnies

Asking Grandpa: "Why do you have that silly stick in your mouth?"

It was a toothpick and grandpa told him it was because of his old smoking habit, he had to have something in his mouth but didn't want a cigarette.

On our way back to the Hotel for the night: "I don't want to go back to the Happiness Hotel!"

The next morning when a tray of complimentary breakfast (breakfast my elbow!) was picked up for our room: "Look, we have tea time!" It was pastries and Tampico...

Make Up 101

If you don't know me very well and you are reading this, I am legally blind, and one of the things that I have a really hard time with is applying my own make up. I don't remember the last time I tried to apply my own make up. It's very tedious and taxing for me, so I gave it up. My mom taught me how to put it on when I was a freshman in HS. By the time I was a Sophomore, I dropped it. I maybe tried to wear it a couple times after that but not that I can recall. My sister Kira has been doing my make up ever since. She did it for my prom, my senior pictures, my wedding, and she does it for random times whenever I'm home, usually for church.

For about the last year I have really noticed how washed out I always am, especially in pictures where everyone else has make up on. I have my mom's very light eyebrows which doesn't help. I have my dad's small squinty eyes, as if I didn't squint enough. I decided about 6 months ago that I was going to get permanent eyeliner to help with the problem. It is awesome and I recommend it to anyone with vision problems or anyone who doesn't want to waste a lot of time putting make up on. I might have to go in for one more re touch but for the most part, it's done. I also decided to try and wear a little make up with it. Trust me, I will only wear it if I'm going somewhere or someone is coming over. If I don't get it done, it's not the end of the world because I've always got the eyeliner on.

This is my old make up collection. That foundation is a good brand but it's thicker than molasses! The brush is nasty, and I hate pressed powder, always have...half of this stuff isn't even mine...so on to the new...

I bought this cute little bag to hold my new make up. It's so me.


It even came with some brushes. I bought the other ones in the clear sleeve. Notice I kept the instructions! I need all the help I can get!
Here is my new simple collection...a good mascara, a MAC powder with a MAC cabuchi (sp?) brush, a little concealer just in case, and one eyeshadow to test the waters. Eyeshadow is scary to me. Luckily this little guy has instructions too and it says right on each color where to put it. Now all I have to worry about is trying to blend it well... And to take it all off... WISH ME LUCK! I feel like I'm 12 again...

Did You Miss Me?

I finally got my computer back from crashing and hope that everything is squared away now. I'm cramming my posts in now because I'm leaving to go out of town for two weeks! I'll be gone from the blogging world again! Here are some random pics from my camera, which by the way is on it's last leg and I'll need to replace it soon. It seems that everything I take of late is blurry...

Thrifty outfit: Calvin skirt DI $4, Charlotte Rousse Sweater DI $6, Brown Doll Flat Payless $6...not bad.