cleopatra is back in town.

I've always had them.

They've always been a part of my face.

They have taken on different shapes, but they are always there.

Sometimes swoopy, flat or fringy.

They've been poufy, stringy... even sweaty.

They hide my scars, they frame my eyes.

---

They are my bangs.

Today, they got a little attention. They got cleopatrasized, modernized, and urbanized.

...

But, whatever shape or size-- they are always:

...

and the man with the indiana jones hat...

is married to me.

keep calm and carry on

hot! hot! hot!

It's hot.

It's almost summer.

The beating sun was relentless on our hard heads as we walked home from school today.

As soon as we got home I sent the boys outside gripping half moon slices of juicy watermelon and a basket of freshly filled water balloons. I guess I'm a cool mom. My oldest child told me so between deep slurps and furious lip licking.

This circus lasted a whopping 15 minutes and then the troops retreated indoors for shade and evening baths. It was fun while it lasted!

our evening trip to China.

Last night included an evening getaway with my amazing friend, Kirstin. First we stopped at the Farmers Market to stock up on things like loose leaf spinach, English cucumbers, and key limes. On the way home, we took a detour to China at the Asian market and got our fill of extra wide noodles, 27 varieties of Bok Choy, and pocky sticks.

...

At the bewitching hour of 9 o'clock, they managed to kick us back out into the street-- but not without our:

le rouge balloon.

Balloons make me happy. I don't exactly know why, but they do.

Do you know how many hundreds of balloons I let go as a child into the vast Arizona sky with a note of well wishes tied haphazardly to the trailing string? I guess I am a romantic at heart.

Instead of dreaming about balloons, I should be making a grocery list

What's for dinner tonight...?
Don't forget batteries and lightbulbs.

Are we out of dish soap?

.

More bright balloons and less boring groceries today please.

peanuts and cracker jack.

Those grey knickerbockers and red knee socks kill me! I love them soooooooooo!