ICE CREAM CHEEKS

Chris: "Joey, your cheeks are getting big!"

Joey: "I have ice cream in them."

Chris: "Is that where all the ice cream goes?"

Mommy: "Yeah, and it goes right here on Uncle Chris & Mommy." (pokes Chris in the belly.)

WHEN YOU GOTTA GO

"Mommy, I have to squat in the grass!"

I'm driving down the turnpike at about 75 mph when Joey hollers out from the back seat.

That's my girl!

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

Yes, I know it is almost 4th of July.

That is how far behind I am in posting.

My life is too much fun, even I can't keep up with it.

Uncle Chris is teaching her to drive.

Start them young.

My first 2 fish I ever speared. (Hogfish & Grouper)

"Clean up, clean up, everybody clean up..."

HANGIN' OUT

Joey, Ryan & Casey

Of course, once you give a kid an idea, there is no stopping them.

They wanted back up. I swear, Joey is standing on her toe nails.

Once they got back up, Joey just kept going.

So Uncle Tim had to play spotter for the little monkeys.

CHICKEN FIGHT HIGHLIGHTS

We had everyone over for dinner tonight and all the kids and some adults ended up in the pool.

Of course, when you mix adults and kids in a pool, you get chicken fights. (at least in a Craven pool you do.)

Chris & I were bottoms, Madison our neighbor, Madison my niece and Austin were the tops.

Following are the highlights from the ADULTS in and around the pool.

"Pull her ponytail!"

"Austin, no closed fists, only open hands."

"Back her into the deep end, drown her!"

"Don't stop when she's leaning, pushing her all the way down!"

"Get behind her and YANK!"

TIRE SWING

We're gonna have to put a tire swing up in the keys.

I guess I never paid attention to what different things you can do with a tire swing, vs. a regular one.

I couldn't twirl her fast enough when she was sitting up, but she wanted to go gentle when she was laying down.

She could swing all day.

FISHIN' WITH THE COUSINS

For those non-Higgins viewers, the boys (Ryan & Casey) are MY cousins, not Joey's.

I think that makes them second cousins, but I don't know about the removal stuff.

Uncle Tim & Aunt Jenny came over with the boys to visit for Memorial weekend while Mom, Joey and I were in town.

They really play well together.

CHAGRIN FALLS

We went the Saturday before Memorial Day and there was a festival going on!

Joey remembered the falls from Christmas and wanted to know where the ice went.

(When we pulled up to Grandma's the first day, she asked me where the snow was.)

There is something about a pretty little girl in a dress and boots that makes everyone have to say something.

Carnival rides, carnival food, local food, free concert, bag pipe music, parades...

I love the way small town really put their backs into a festival!

She asked me about her rainbow for several days after it had been washed off.

Lots of fun! Sorry I missed the actual parade on Memorial day.

REALLY ROCKIN' ROCK-A-BY-BABY

PITCH A PENNY

We just came home from going to dinner with my parents and Chris.

(Samurai!!!)

They told us the wait would be 45 minutes (It was more like 20). So we went outside, found a wall and dug up some pennies from Grandma's purse and taught Joey how to play pitch a penny.

Against Grandpa, Chris and Mommy, she won several rounds.

Remember we're Cravens, we don't throw games... even for 2 year-olds.

She beat me half the time.

And the she ate an adult portion of Samurai shrimp.

Part of it with chopsticks.

TIRE SWING

CRAVEN PLAY-DATE, PART 2

Joey and I had dinner at Bob & Sally's and Joey got to play with little Hayden.

She wanted to pet and hold him a lot.

But Hayden wants his Mamma!

Everybody got a turn holding him but leave it to grandma to put him to sleep!

DINES ROAD

1st, Thank you Teta Vesna for the use of your car!

I promise you, I'm not going as fast as that sounds.

I have mastered the art of doing Dines road without getting a speeding ticket. I break in between hills to as slow as 20. The key to feeling the butterflies is not speed, per se, it is acceleration as you crest the hill. I'm never faster then 45.

Now, for those of you who don't know what Dines Rd is, simply put, it is a back country road with small sharp hills. My mom and her class used to even get the school bus driver to run Dines. (They have since smoothed out the bridge, which used to be the best part.)

Joey kept asking to do the "more faster road" or the "here we go road" for the rest of the trip.

RABBIT WANNA A CARROT?

Chris just told Joey:

"Rabbits eat carrots so they'll taste good in stews."

CRAVEN PLAY-DATE

Most play-dates happen at a park. Or on the carpet in the playroom, with toys scattered around.

Not a CRAVEN play-date.

Joey and her cousin, Vaughn, spent their time playing in cars, with the dog and spinning in circles upside down till the grown-ups had to quit or throw up.

Playing with the cars was main event. They pretended to drive, played with all the buttons, put seatbelts on, etc... (and took turns very well in the driver's seat.)

Uncle Tom has a 4 car garage and they took their time exploring each car before moving on to the next one.

Teta Vesna & Amy getting their spinning work out!

GIRLS GONE FISHIN'

THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN Part 1 - Teaser Trailer

So obviously, like any other Twihard, I'm super psyched. But here come the comments:

• I get that movies are different from the books they are based on. On that note, I like how the trailer, at least, shows everyone receiving the invitation and their different reactions. Nice set up. Though I wonder what is the point of a dance scene in Rio that doesn't happen in the book?
• I don't like her hair for the wedding. I was really looking forward to seeing her look EXACTLY as described in the book. I wanted to see the intricate braids. I wanted to see her look dazzling. She looked kinda plain from the 2 second shot in the trailer.
• I wanted to see the lingerie that Alice picked out. Why is she wearing comfy sweat shorts in the scene when she realizes that she's pregnant? Not cool.
• I don't know where they plan to draw the line in the book and say this will be part 1 and this will be part 2. But I know that I would end on a black screen and a babie's cry. Maybe her whispering the name "Renesme." Maybe, after her blood red eyes open for the 1st time. Gotta go dramatic cliff hanging.
• Loved that you could hear the headboard crack.

FISHIN' HOLE

SUGAR ATTACK!

SCHOOL PICS

Joey and cousin Austin

ONCE UPON A TIME