Caitlin Turned six {on Instagram obviously}

I wouldn't be a blogger if I didn't create a hashtag for Caitlin's 6th birthday. It's what we bloggers do, right? Here is the story of how we celebrate birthdays for an entire week,  instead of just one day.  

Tuesday was her actual birthday.

Of course to start our day, we had a cinnamon roll cake.

Ok, it was just cinnamon rolls in a Pyrex with candles.

We sang, Happy Birthday therefore making it a cake.

I had to prove to myself that I didn't need a special pan to make a doll cake.

Or a doll coming out of a cake.

The cake part is supposed to look like a skirt.

It kind of does...?

When asked, the birthday girl wanted to go to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch.

Yeah, she's six going on sixteen.

It was a nice lunch with a special tiny sundae at the end.

They did not sing, as requested by the birthday girl.

It's her party she can cry if she wants to.

Before the day was through we had pierced ears.

Daddy was not really on board, but he gave his reluctant ok.

I was over the moon about the Hello Kitty piercing earrings.

Where were these when I was six???

She was so brave and only cried a little.

And showing just how responsible she is, she reminds me to 

clean them the required three times a day.

Because you know, mommy forgets.

Saturday was her party.

We went back to the Jungle Party house and thank goodness we did.
It was 108 outside and there were 15 kiddos running 

like chickens with their heads cut.

The majority of those kiddos were boys.

Much to Daddy's dismay.

I swear we invited all the girls in class, 

but they were no shows.

The boys had fun.

And the gifts from said boys were out of control.

A bracelet and glasses (used 3ds) from one in a

specially decorated brown paper lunch bag.

A homemade card with headbands.

A store bought card signed and decorated with hearts.

A water gun with love.

We are in for some serious trouble in just a few years 

if this is a glimpse at the future!!

Also lessons learned last Saturday.

Walmart makes excellent cakes.

Store bought cakes save lives.

Having a party somewhere other than your house 

is the answer to all your prayers.

Having said party at 4 in the afternoon is a blessing, 

even though you think it's a curse.

You have the whole day to lay around, or 

procrastinate depending on who you are (me?).

Caitlin with her two friends from class.
Jacob on the left and William on the right.
Both equally smitten with her.
How will she decide?

We celebrated all week.

It's a Hernandez thing.

And my gal was so happy with how six turned out!

Happy Birthday Sweets, and many more!

Merica {happy 4th}

Happy 4th of July! Today is the day for food, family, and fireworks!
It's also the day to celebrate all the great things about being an American.
Like the ability to laugh and make fun of ourselves.
Here are some 4th of July Funnies

source via Pinterest

Apparently we are not eating enough hot dogs.  Their popularity is on the decline. So be sure to celebrate freedom, colonization, and taxes with a foot long covered in mustard!

source via Pinterest

I think this is the most genius shirt in the world. Let's wear it every time we go abroad!

source via Pinterest

Obviously America's hairstyle of choice!

source via Pinterest

American pick up lines.

source via Pinterest

For reals. And I just love saying 'Merica!
Happy Birthday America!   And to celebrate I'm making this fatty, fatty, 'merica the beautiful, Pinterest dessert!

source via Pinterest
Recipe HERE

That would be ice cream sandwiches covered in cool whip, caramel, and peanut  butter cups.  Then covered in more sandwiches, more cool whip, caramel and  peanut buttercups. 
'Merica. F*&K YEAH!

What Fresh Hell is this? {WIW: a bald spot}

Is it just me or do you go through life thinking you look one way, then see a picture that tells the opposite story?  It happens, right?  I take selfies all the time, and think, I look pretty good for a 35 year old mother of two who isn't wearing make up and can't remember the last time she washed her hair.  It may sound vain, but I have days like that.  Where I surprise myself at how well I pull off "looking good".  My Instagram friends help too, with their encouragement.  So imagine my surprise as I was going through pictures from Caitlin's six birthday a few weeks ago, and found that I am going bald.
Let me repeat that, I, Megan, aged 35, with gray roots that put the Golden Girls to shame, with enough baggage under her eyes to travel all of Europe, with menopause knocking at the door, now has to deal with this:

Look, I'll be honest.  I can deal with a lot of this aging bullshit.  I was told at age 28 that my 'eggs' were old and that was why I was having a hard time conceiving.  Last year I was told that I was perhaps peri-menopausal, and given a pamphlet.  I even had a mammogram last year.  I've had grey hair since I was 16, only now it's progressively taking over as my natural color.  The crows feet, the laugh lines, the pooch of a belly/muffin top that will not go away with the hardest of Jillian workouts.  I agreed to all of that.  Most of that I can deal with.  I can hide it even.
You can't hide bald people.
I am just vain enough to have a meltdown about this.  I was devastated when I went through my camera roll. You would think it would have been the quality of all the photos the Hubbs took that day, but no.  Bald spot trumps blurry photos.  Always.
This has been my biggest fear for awhile.  My hair has been falling out like crazy for the better part of two years.  This whole time I've been thinking it's from my crown, or possibly underneath by my neck.  A few weeks ago I pulled a rat out of the drain.  Ok, it was a ball of hair, but it seriously could have passed for a hamster, or been given to locks of love.  I'm not even joking.  I was going to post a picture of it, but it was too gross.  All that lost hair has finally caught up with me... Right here on top of my head, for all the world to see.  Awesome.  Getting old ain't for sissies.  I can't even believe it since I got carded for beer last month!
So now what?  It's not like I can really cover this up?  I mean there is that hair powder spray in that infomercial for bald guys.  There is Rogaine.  Or as Colleen suggested, shave my head...  I'm on a mission to cover this shit up, with hats, paint, hair extensions what have you.  And before you say, just part your hair the other way, it doesn't.  I have a cow lick that makes parting my hair any other way impossible.
Until then, I thank God, I can crop my selfies like boss.

The post about race {according to Mac}

When you look at this picture you probably see 2 kids sitting with a lady wearing a big hat.  You are right.  This is a picture of Mackenzie and Caitlin taking a picture with Mother Goose at story time last Tuesday.  You can tell that Mother Goose has had loads of experience with kids in how she handles story time at our local used bookstore.  Case in point my kid last week.  It was our first time at Mother Goose story time, and Mother Goose was eager to meet my little darlings.  And it was magical and mystical until Mother Goose asked Mackenzie what her baby's name was.

"black baby", was her reply.

Cue the snickers and giggles from a few parents, wide eyes from others, and my checks a flame.

Of course Mother Goose is no novice at this gig and happily replied, "what a pretty baby".  Thank you Mother Goose.  But it's times like these that I get a little nervous about talking about such situations with my girls.  For now, they know nothing of race and race relations.  Leave it to Mackenzie to inspire a post while Paula Deen is under fire for the use of the "n" word.  What is the proper dialogue to have with a three year old who dearly loves her "black baby"?

Let's back up for a minute.  Last November my mom brought over an American Girl catalog.  Of course Caitlin already knew what she wanted and at the time Mac showed little interest.  Sometime around Thanksgiving, Mac discovered the Bitty Babies in the back of the catalog.  Immediately she started saying "I want that one!", while pointing to the black Bitty Baby.  We (my family) giggled a little and said "ok", thinking she was just being her crazy self.  Then as my mom decided to buy one as a Christmas gift we sat with her and asked her which baby she would like Santa to bring.  Every time it was the black one.  To the point that she would argue with you if you tried to get her to order the white one or the tan one.  So, I asked her why she wanted the black one, and she said "because I love it".  Well, what do you say to that?

It was and is, love at first sight.  Black Baby goes everywhere with us.  Target, Walmart, the grocery store, the doctors office, and yes Story Time.  We get plenty of stares, mostly smiles.  But sometimes I wonder if people think of us.  Do they think we are trying to make a statement?  We're not, not consciously.  It's just a girl and her doll. Showing and somehow proving that we are born prejudice free.  

That's kind of awesome I think. 

Of course with a better, more consistent parenting style I could have pushed for a better, more PC name.  Lately I've been calling her Vanessa Huxtable, only to be corrected very loudly by Mac.  Why is it that when your child yells "BLACK BABY", at the top of her lungs in Target the world seems to be listening?  It's become a comedy of errors with friends and strangers on just how to handle this situation.  Funny at times, and embarrassing at times.  Yet at the end of the day, she loves this doll, it's as simple as that.
As I get older I realize that I don't want to be so offensive.  In my former life the more it offended the better I loved it.  Maybe it's the compassion of being a mom, maybe its maturity, but I don't want to teach offensive attitudes about things like race, prejudice, or difference.  To look at our family tree you will find faces of all colors.  On both sides.  You don't grow up with a Mexican dad and a White mom, and not understand some of the sensitivities that come with that territory.  My parents were married in 1974, at the time my grandfather refused to accept my dad and their marriage.  I was born in 1978, and by that time all was forgotten.  Now I'm in a position to teach what I have learned, which I'm trying to do, as delicately as possible with a hot mess of a three year old.  I'm also not sure how to do it since "delicately" is not something I do well.
Back to Paula Deen: she's under fire for using the "n" word as some point in her life.  Which may or may not shock you.  Let's be real here for a minute, at sometime in your life you may have said something offensive.  You may have also listened to it in a song, sang it yourself, read it, or thought it.  In the end, let's try to be kind to each other and possibly be inspired by a little girl and the love for her doll, that looks nothing like her but inspires love all the same.

Hello July

Hello July I'm so happy to see you. I'm looking forward to mornings in our pjs. Donuts for breakfast. Late summer nights. Now about those over 110 degree temps...
Hello bucket list I've made it easy. I've made it fun. I've made it impossible to ignore.

Hello Red dress

I can't wait to take you to Vegas.

I can't wait to dance well into the night with you.

I can't wait to look fancy and feel great.

Thanks for being half priced.

Hello Yellow Dress

Goodbye yellow dress.

You are gorgeous and lovely, but alas

too sweet for Las Vegas.

I will miss you.

Hello regret I should have bought the yellow dress.

Hello Walmart cakes Why  would I ever bake again? Seriously $4.98 for a dozen cupcakes. Not only did you save my life,  but you made one little gal so happy!!

Yes, a Walmart cake!
How awesome is this?

Hello donuts for breakfast

You are a thing.

A thing to repeat this summer for days on end.

You make me happy.

Hello happily frosted and sprinkled cupcakes Forget what I said about Walmart cakes. You make me so happy and satisfied.

Hello Dog Days of Summer

Days over 110 degrees.

Days of driving all over town for Target stops 

and doctor visits.

Days of no make up and dirty hair selfies 

that are artfully hidden in cell phone 

pic angles and Instagram filters.

Days made for refreshing drinks with green straws.

Days that start with donuts and end with ice cream.

Hello July.

Hello Summer.

We've been waiting for you!

Inspired by Lisa Leonard and her link up, Hello Monday.