Roller Derby Summer

This summer, Scarlett has been very much into the Roller Derby. She went to her first game when she was five, and has gone at least twice a season since.

I don't necessarily think that she's interested in the game, as much as she is interested in the women who play. Scarlett's favorite part of the night is at the end, when she goes down to the floor and gets her program and shirt autographed by the players.

They started a junior derby this year, which Scarlett is dying to try. It's pretty expensive and time consuming, but looks like a lot of fun. I personally think she's a little too delicate and sensitive. One little girl at the bout kept getting knocked down by the blockers and spent the rest of the game crying. I can imagine Scarlett doing that.

My favorite player is Kobra Kai. I LOVE her name, because it reminds me of old times. She is one badass chick, with arms full of tattoos and lots of flair. Sadly, this year is her last as a derby girl.

Scarlett's favorite is Flash Gloria. She sports shorts with yellow trim and a lightning bolt on the rear. She used to also sport a lightning bolt on her cheek. Flash is very much the star of the show, so it's no wonder that Scarlett attached herself.



Scarlett and her favorite derby girl, Flash Gloria!

It's a great place for kids. They've got kids-size merchandise and coloring tables. In fact, each time that we've gone, Scarlett has colored a poster for at least three of the derby girls! Kobra Kai put hers up on her Facebook page!

 

Scarlett went to Paint Yourself Silly for Derby Night. All proceeds went to No Coast Derby!

Go No Coast!

The pox

Not just a thing of the past, folks. In the past few weeks, Sully has had a rash (ha!) of bugbites. Chiggers, we thought, since they appeared mostly around the diaper area and around his neck and upper arms/back. Well, when he developed one on his eye, I started to worry. One quick call later and we were on our way to the pediatrician.

Turns out, Sully had developed chicken pox. I seriously didn't think that kids got those anymore! After all, he had been vaccinated! (Or at least he's had the first dose.) The pediatrician explained that even vaccinated children can get the pox, although it's usually much milder and clears up quicker. Even so, he had only seen one case in his 10 years and that was from a Chinese child that hadn't been vaccinated!

Well, itchies be damned, everything is speeding along, as usual. Sully is starting to clear up, Scarlett is thinking about going back to school and we're trying to fit all of the remaining summer still into these last few weeks!

Argh Summer!

Wow, long overdue. I would never have thought that summer would turn out to be busier than spring. In my crazed mind, I was picturing a leisurely summer, dotted with various activities. Scarlett was going to take the summer off from three of her activities, so that would mean more free nights, right? Ha! Scarlett may have more time to play outside with her neighbors, but we have been anything but free. It’s been a whirlwind of traveling, birthday parties, recitals, household projects, library visits, and catching up with friends.

The whole family traveled to Colorado to visit Timmy in June. This was Sullivan’s first big road trip and to be honest, I was dreading it. I love him to bits, but he doesn’t let me hit the easy button on anything. Surely the 8 hour drive was going to be rife with screaming, crying, arching and general displeasure. It really is what I expected. I was genuinely surprised when the ride passed with very few hiccups. We left very early in the morning so that the kids could sleep in the car. After a little mid-morning nap, we did a little eating, reading, playing, singing, movie-watching (Scarlett) and before we knew it, we had arrived! Not to say that there weren’t a few screeches, but they were all for very specific reasons and not just for the hell of it.

 

Sully even tolerated getting in and out of the car within the next few days with little complaint. I didn’t think that he could match Scarlett’s ease, but I was very pleasantly surprised.

Ben, Scarlett and Sully throwing coins into the fountain at Casa Bonita.

Last weekend, Ben and the kids accompanied his parents to Ohio. I’m a little ashamed to say that I was looking forward to a little time alone. Of course I was going to miss my babies and my husband, but the thought of getting some long abandoned projects done put a big smile on my face. (I hope that those of you with children can relate. If not, I’m a total jerk!)

According to Ben and his parents, Scarlett was a phenomenal backseat companion. Sully was pretty good, although he did hone his screeching tones on the long car ride back.

Scarlett and Sullivan with their cousins, Micah and Lucy.

I’m hoping to get back to a more regular blog posting schedule soon. Sorry for the delay!