We're still shy of being halfway through the sunny season and yet we've already had SO MUCH SUMMER! May just want to call us Fenns the 'Packers' because of all the crazy fun we've packed into June!
There was a zoo trip with Uncle Paddy and Kat, Uncle Gabe and cousins Cyril and Alana! Anyone want to pet a giant cockroach?
A wedding...
Birthdays (one real and one contrived)!
Fishing at GPA's pond (who're you calling a fish-kisser?):
Um...Uncle Tony and Auntie Momo?
A brother!!!
And, finally, it ain't summer unless we get a couple family pics...
So July, how're ya gonna top that???
We celebrated our little darling's birthday today, even though she's not two for another week (in fact, in 15 minutes it will be EXACTLY one week from her birth time!) and it was a wonderful morning birthday brunch with family (some from far away--thanks Uncle Tony!) and cinnamon rolls and fun gifts!
You may have noticed that Alana has started returning to her roots. What does that mean, you ask? Well when she was a wee babe we called her Alana the Pirate Princess because she frequently had only one eye open.
Now two years later when we tell our Princess to smile, we get a one-eyed grimace that renders visions of stomach cramps, not pure birthday joy.
That's okay, we still think she's adorable.
I stressed and fretted, and maybe even sweated, over what to have her birthday cake be.
Cake and ice cream at a brunch? Seemed odd.
Coffee cake as a 2-year-old's birthday cake? Seemed inappropriate.
Just have muffins? Well she really likes muffins...but still not feeling it. I had envisioned something with frosting.
And finally, 1 1/2 days before the party, GG (Great Grandma) said, "Go with cinnamon rolls" and suddenly it was so simple! Of course! It was sweet, met the brunch theme criteria, had frosting, and everyone likes them! Winner winner!
And on a whim I sprinkled hers with M&Ms (or m's, as she calls them)...her cousins and uncles also followed suit.
We had to blow the candles out as a family, but that was okay, she pulled the wax stick out after and licked off the frosting so we're not completely inept as parents.
And then there were gifts and even a cousin to help open them!
And help play with them! Note the Grimace Grin that only family can truly love.
Then it's time to share our toys with our cousins! And yes, apparently the close-eyed 'smile' is hereditary. Please also note that this time she's holding on to her cousin's shoulders instead of his neck. Hey, we're a big 2-year old now, right?
The gift that keeps on giving: once Alana gets on her new trampoline she can't help but sing (shout!) loudly the song 'No More Monkeys Jumping on the Bed' while she hop-hop-hops. Even after five minutes and she's panting from exhaustion, girlfriend doesn't give up! Someone's gonna have a 24" vertical by Kindergarten.
And one last gorgeous picture of our Pirate Princess. Happy Birthday!
And suddenly April is gone and I just downloaded 212 pictures from my camera. I would have imported at LEAST that many from my stupid iPad. However, it was being stupid, as I previously mentioned. It even made my PC shut down in protest. That level of stupidity is impressive because my PC is one tough biotch.
Anyway, here are a few things from this last month. Or so.
Grandpa's 80th Birthday Party!
So many people that the only parking spots left were in the garden...
Easter!
Birthday Brunch for April Birthdays (only the April birthdays ended up not showing--funny story!)
80+ (some even say--gasp--90!) degree weather in April. In Oregon. No kiddin'.
The youngest (note I did not say the littlest) of us did it. She graduated from something other than high school.
Several grueling interview steps followed by months of training, topped off with a challenging two-week course at DPSST (Department of Public Safety Standards and Training) and voila! She's now a Basic Telecommunications Officer.
Way to go, Mo!
Spring used to mean track & field and softball. This meant packing a lawn chair, a blanket, a down coat, a scarf and hat, a rain coat, an umbrella, sunglasses, rain boots and flip flops.
And planning to use all of them in one afternoon.
Now that everyone's all adult (said in a super-sarcastic and drawn-out tone) and moving on with their lives, spring means...well, spring. Which is great, but the 'old days' were great too.
So I did a little digging and found....
Some Softball!!!
NOTE: that is not MY finger attempting to pick my nose!
Bring it, spring!
Figure it's way past time to share another edition of what Alana's 'up to' for her uncles who are so very far away.
She's chillaxin' with Auntie Mo-Mo.
She's fixing the leaky garbage disposal with Daddy. Yes, she's playing with an electric drill--but only with supervision.
She's enjoying the Oregon Coast.
She's perfecting her fake sleeping on the couch she got for Christmas.
And as usual...she's being CUTE (which includes growing hair)!
WARNING: this post will be a little bit whiny but it has a good ending so stay with me. Thanks. Okay. Here it goes.
Once upon a time I planned a beach trip. Not a big deal, right? With so many siblings out and about around the globe, I wanted some good old-fashioned fun when they started trickling in for Christmas. So I researched my booty off for M.O.N.T.H.S. to find something that was affordable, beachfront-ish, had a game room and hot tub and could fit the family. So I found it. Created a menu sign-up, harped about pre-shopping and pre-planning, made sure everyone had maps and directions.
And meanwhile was soooooooooo incredibly excited to go on this trip!
But then I got the flu. On Friday, the day we were supposed to actually drive to the beach, I tested positive for the Type A Influenza and my dear doctor friend banned me from going on the trip. It broke my heart.
However....Sister to the rescue! While I stayed at home all alone, my darling sister made sure everyone followed the beach rental rules, cleaned like a madwoman and somehow managed to post over 100 pictures on Facebook so that while I was dying in bed my last images would be of my family, enjoying the trip.
And so I post some of my favorites here, so that the one brother who didn't get to make it home for Christmas gets to enjoy them too.
Definitely planning another one!
