Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Pretty Polish!

Last year, a group of girlfriends went in together and got me a Spa Finder gift certificate.  It was a "mama gift" instead of a "baby gift" when Aren was born. 

I finally got around to using it today. (Only 13 months after the little guy was born!)

It was ahhhh-mazing! 

I went for the "relax package" which got me an hour long full body massage, a full pedicure and a full manicure.  I chose "Pear Vanilla Noir" as the scent to be used in my lotions and scrubs.  Smells divine! 

The massage felt wonderful - I think the therapist even used her feet at one point to get just the right pressure applied!  She also gave me tips on how to strengthen my vein walls so I don't have any more bursting blood vessels.  She suggested I take Vitamin C and/or put a bit of grapeseed oil in my lotion and rub it in  (just in case you'd like to know).  She then suggested rosemary and/or lavender essential oils to help with the arthritis in my back.  I think peppermint essential oil was supposed to be good, too, but she said to stay away from it since I'm nursing Aren.

After my massage I sat in my mani/pedi chair and stared at nail colors.  Now, I seem to get my nails painted about once a year.  I don't like the chemicals in the polish plus I'm pretty bad when it comes to taking care of the paint.  Ever see anyone with nails that should've had the paint removed weeks before?  That's how I am.   So I stared at colors determined to make the perfect choice for my annual painting.

So many decisions.  Do I want my toes and fingernails to match?  Do I want a bold and funky color for my toes and a quiet and sophisticated look for my fingers?  Do I want glitter?  I'm I feeling like pink?  Red?  Hmm, maybe I should even try yellow on my toes - if anything says Summer, that sure does! 

As I was sitting there all confused, my nail tech came in and apologized for being late - she was in the back playing with the magnetic nail colors. 

The what?  Did you say magnetic? 

Oh, yes!  Magnetic.  She then had the girl from the back come up and show me what they'd been playing with (the girl happened to be my massage therapist).  I gasped and said (a little too loudly, typical me) "Oh, how cute!" 

We got started with my feet and we discussed this, that, and the other and then turned the conversation back to nail colors.  I told her I didn't usually paint because of the chemicals and she assured me the paint they used was chemical free.  Oh, perfect!  However, the magnetic paint was not part of that same color line.  Phooey.  Oh well, it's just once a year, right?  So I went with the magnetic paint.

They only had two colors in the magnetic paint - blue and red.  Sounded patriotic, so I went with both for our upcoming holiday.  Blue for my toes, red for my fingers.  And they had 3 magnet shapes to use to pull the paint into designs.  I chose the star and the waves.  (I can't remember what the third design was.)

Ready to see how cute my nails turned out?? 


The kids love staring at my nails.  They think the colors are very pretty.  Aren is mesmerized.  Ajay even thinks my toes smell like blueberries.  In fact, tonight before bed he asked "Mom?  Can I smell your toes again?"  --  No, not tonight, honey. 

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Happy Birthday, Annie Auntie!

Today is Annie Auntie's birthday and since I don't have a picture of her on her special day I'll share the photos I have of the boys talking with her this morning.  It was evening time in India.  I think they each got to speak with Bino Uncle for some time, as well.  I hear Bino composed a song for his bride.  How sweet! 





They really enjoyed talking to her and were on the phone for over a half hour! 

We hope you had a wonderful day, Annie Auntie!!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Boy Scout Camp

Ajay had Scout Camp over the weekend.  On Thursday he went to a place that taught them about cowboy life.  On Friday he went to a museum.  On Saturday he went out to the countryside and shot a bow and arrow, went swimming and shot a bb gun.  Saturday was family day so went out for a couple of hours.   I got a few pics of Ajay with the other scouts on Saturday and I'm hoping one of the other parents can send snaps from Thursday and Friday. 

Ajay's group got to say the opening prayer during flag ceremony.

Alex watched.

One parent was able to cross over to help their scout with their bow and arrows.

Each scout got to shoot 5 arrows.  Ajay was disappointed he didn't make it to the target.  Better luck next time!
We left after this session so we weren't there for his swimming and bb gun sessions.  He had fun, though, and told us about singing songs with everyone.  A good experience for him, I think. 

PS - While I was there, the strangest thing happened.  The scouts were getting out their bug sprays and spraying down (I sent Ajay with a bug band so he wouldn't have to spray).  Right at that time I felt an itching in my leg.  I walked over to Biju and said "Oh, wow!  I think I just got bit by something - big!  I feel the swelling in my leg - how did a bug bite me through my jeans??"  I itched in two places, right below the back of my knee, and right above it.  When I lifted my capris up to see the bite, I relized it wasn't a bite.  It looked like it had more to do with my veins.  I had a small worry that I had a blood clot so I sought out the medic.  He didn't seem concerned and said I probably had a busted vein.  As minutes went by the itching stopped and it turned to more of a pain.  As even more time went by it only seemed to hurt when I walked.  It was fine while I stood still watching Ajay with the bow and arrow.  Later that evening Biju looked at it for me.  He lightly ran his fingers over the forming bruises and I winced at the slightest tough.  By Monday, however, the pain had subsided.  It just looked really ugly.  Even now, on Tuesday evening, I only really notice the pain if I'm sitting at the dining room table - because the chair runs right across one of the bruises - or if one of the kids comes up and pokes at it.  Both bruises are still a little swollen.  I asked one of the trainers at the gym yesterday if there was anything I should avoid.  She didn't know too much about broken blood vessels but suggested I stay away from any leg curls for a could of weeks while it heals. 
I had Biju take a picture to remember it by :)  This is just one of the bruises, I didn't get the bruise going up my leg.  The bruise not shown looks more like a diagonal slash but it has about the same coloring.

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Happy 7th Birthday, Ajay!

A little behind on getting the official birthday post up, but we've been quite busy lately.  Summer and all, you know how it goes. 

Our first born is seven and will be going into second grade.  Amazing.  He's getting so tall, now.  Well, to me, anyway.  Still a bit shorter than most of his buddies but it seems as if he's growing right in front of me, some days! 

Just like Aren's birthday, we spent Ajay's birthday quietly, at home for the most part.  He actually woke up on his special day and went straight to the bathroom and got sick.  Not sure why.  He did this a couple of times and then was fine the rest of the day.  (Aren had done this a couple of times the night before, decorating himself and my shirt during the older two boys' swim lessons.)  Ajay announced "This is the worst birthday ever!"  Poor kid. 

We met Biju for lunch and then I took the boys shopping.  I asked (several times) if he wanted me to make him a cake or buy one and he wanted us to buy one - from WalMart.  Not from our favorite bakery?  Are you sure you don't want me to make you one?  Nope.  WalMart.  So - we picked up some cupcakes. 


Happy Birthday, Ajay!!

Friday, June 1, 2012

A few photos

Getting some cake from Papa.

I think Aren actually likes being held by Ajay.

Ajay's last day of school.

Hail that landed in our yard the other evening.

Ajay called this an "Angel Cake" (made of playdough)

"Mom!  Post this on the blog!"

Enjoying the cool May weather, squinting in the sun.
I took the boys up to visit my family the day after we finished the yard sale.  We celebrated my niece Jenna's 8th grade promotion, my sister's completion of her courses, and Ajay's and Aren's birthdays.  I, however, was still a bit brain dead while I was packing for the visit and forgot our camera.  I'm waiting for those who did have cameras to e-mail me some photos :) 
I made Jenna and Aren something and I hope to create a post about those soon.