I just downloaded the last 3 months of pictures from my camera. When your LCD screen is broken it is kind of like going back to the days of film cameras. It's always a surprise when you see what pictures you took! There were a lot I loved and had to share.

I'm trying to include picture of all of us. I notice that I see a lot more pictures of my friends' kids than I do of my friends... (hint, hint).

The kids on our horse swing, way back in April when we still needed long sleeves!

Me holding my niece Lyric in early May.

Me running the limbo bar (aka yardstick with streamers) at Lily's 5th birthday party. You can also see Aden in the blue Wall-E shirt and the back of Lily in the white dress with the big pink bow.

Lily at the Mexican restaurant she picked for her birthday dinner (the kind where every single waiter comes over and they sing to you very loudly and you feel really embarrassed and wish you could disappear into the big hat and hope the free ice cream is worth it. Except she loved it!).

Derek and the big kids ready to leave for their camping trip over Memorial Day weekend.

Ronan and Aden and our cat Elton. I love the expression on Ronan's face though I'm not sure if he's giving the cat a kiss, saying meow, or just thrilled that the cat is there!

Because there were not enough trains and track in my house (yeah right), Ronan got some trains and track of his very own in June. Aden was very sweet as he showed him how to put the trains together and build a track.

When I was a teen we got the Wireless and Signals catalogs from public radio and public television. I loved poring over them (still do) though I've never bought anything. They have the neatest variety of stuff. They used to carry a celtic heart knot pendant that I particularly admired.

At some point in my college years I started planning a tattoo based on that design. I cut out the picture and saved it. When Aden was a baby I took the picture to two tattoo artists and was told that it wouldn't work in the size and location I wanted. Three years ago when my sister was dating a tattoo artist I picked his brain about it and he said he could do it. Derek and I made plans to get tattoos together in February 2007 but then I found out I was pregnant. He went and got a beautiful wedding ring design while I watched (green with both envy and morning sickness LOL).

Another year passed and it returned to the forefront of my mind. I couldn't find the design any more so I began sketching it until it was just right. Then I had second thoughts about the location (despite 10+ years of being certain) and spent another year debating alternate spots. Finally I decided on my original location because I simply couldn't imagine it anywhere else. Then I spent a few weeks deciding between color and black & white. Another few weeks procrastinating about making the appointment.

Sheesh, get the damn thing already, right?

I finally did it on Monday!

I absolutely love it! :D

Also, happily, it did not hurt much at all. More so near the ankle bone, achille's tendon, and bottom. Just when it would get so irritating I almost couldn't stand it, he'd stop to wipe it off or get more ink. It reminded me of the breaks you get in labor between contractions LOL.

Doing aerobics on the Wii Fit at 10:00 pm is a very, very bad idea if you want to get to sleep before 2 or 3 am. Also, deciding to wind down from the exercise by starting that little photo organizing project will not help. And next time, don't forget to put the cats in the basement before you go to bed. You do not need any extra clunking noises in this house to prompt your overactive imagination into picturing how you would get all three children out of the house safely in the event of a fire or intruder.

However, on re-examination during daylight hours, the idea of using a full Sigg bottle as a blunt weapon against imaginary intruder still seems sound. Those suckers are heavy. You could really bash someone's face in with one of those.