Still working on my as yet untitled period piece comic. I'm excited. I've got 13 pages done. Well, penciled anyway. I'm undecided how to proceed.
Do I computer color it? This would be MUCH easier to do...much less time involved. But I really want to watercolor this thing. Problem is, I see it as an ongoing series (well, 7 issues or so) and can't think of where I'd find the time to do all that painting.
I'm thinking about trying to learn Adobe Painter. It's supposed to give you more painterly effects the photoshop. We'll see.






Also working on my China story. Kinda played around with a character design. I LOVE autumn time. We don't really have seasons here in Florida so I've had to draw on memory or fall colors. I like this piece. I wish I'd had more time for it.



Some of the cards I sent out as thanks you's for out wonderful time in CA. Takes me forever to do a watercolor and drawing (yeah, I know I complain about that alot!). But I had fun.





Every once in a while after I drop Barry off at the office I take the kids over to Festival Bay (a sorta kinda mall/tourist trap place). Fox and Chloe have become really familiar with the place and know where these coin operated rides are. Fox goes NUTS because one of these gadgets is a car and Chloe goes nuts because she likes to make me spend money. No, really.





It's hard to get pictures of the whole family together. Luckily I always have my camera with me. So I ;l;lk a few in.



We got a package from Mawmaw. The kids went nuts. Chloe fell in love with the outfit that she got--it has orca's on it. I occasionally can get her out of it long enough to wash it.



Same with Fox. His has trucks on it and he couldn't be happier.



He was the one that discovered the tin of homemade chocolate chip cookies in the box. He lunged for that in spite of seeing the truck outfit first.



Molly waits patiently for her cookie. Sorry baby : O (

Good note on Molly. WE got her last PKU results and she had her lowest numbers EVER!!! She was 3.1!!!

Her numbers before that were some of the higher numbers--4.6. Don't know what changed but I sure hope she keeps it up. Dr Malone said that her numbers were ALMOST normal!! There never will be a true "normal" because this is a genetic thing, but the fact that her phe levels are down really makes us proud, happy and more then a little relieved. We can't add meats to her diet at all yet--who knows when or if, but we'll take good news when we can get it.

We had our 2 year check up for Fox and 9 month check up for Molly on the same day. They both are doing really well. Fox is in the 95th percentile for size still. He's just turned 2 and is 37 inches tall. He weighed almost 40 lbs.

Molly was 26 inches tall, was in the 75th percentile for her group.

Dr. Kahn was kind of concerned about her head size. Who'd a thunk head size would be an additional problem. Anyway, he said she's in the 95th percentile for her group. He's concerned because her head seems to be growing rapidly. We have to take her back to see him Sept 13th. He's going to measure her head again and see if we need to do a CAT scan. He thought her head size could also be familial. I'm not too worried about it. I'm betting it's just genetics.

But we try to make light of if. Her super hero name is now: Noodle noggin or Super Noodle. We also say her head size is because of her advanced cranial capacity.






Took the kids to the park (the one down at the end of our street) for a few hours yesterday. It was fun.



Molly LOVES the swings.



She's always in such a good mood. Curious about everything.




Such a handsome kid.





He's never without at least one truck1





My rough and tumble Chloe.

Bought tickets to SeaWorld yesterday. I'm glad we did. We can't afford Disney (who can!!!) as they keep raising their prices, and Seaworld appeals to the kids more because of all the animals.



Fox had been there before but this was Molly's first trip out there. Chloe couldn't wait to get to the Shamu area. And the dolphins. Had to see the dolphins.







Tried to get Fox to pet a dolphin but he wasn't too interested.



The underwater viewing area on the other hand was a BIG hit!!






















The kids are looking forward to when they can hitch a ride on a dolphin. Save up know babies.

Here's a few more picts of our wonderful trip to CA.




We got to stop by the cemetery my Dad was buried at. I think it's the first time Barry was here. The kids came, of course, but I didn't tell them what the place was.





Chloe is the only one who would have been interested and she has such a fascination with macabre things I'd never had heard the end of it (oy, I'm still dealing with the death of our bird, Stonecold). We didn't stay long but it was nice to drop by. Meant a lot.




After, we went over to my sister Jolene's house for swimming and hamburgers. It was awesome! See, I'm both blessed and cursed with two of the most beautiful, kindest and intelligent sisters you can have.




Fox is fascinated by Jo's jacuzzi.



The kids had a BLAST in the swimming pool.







My Mom gets a snuggle with Molly. Neither seem to mind.

Later that night...



>

Mission accomplished! Exhausted kids!!!!

Totally creepy thing...we walked in later that night to check on the kids. Fox was SITTING up in bed...eyes still closed just sitting there. We freaked.

I wish our CA trip could have lasted longer. 3 days with my family was too short.

Mom sent us home with far too many gifts.





















Anyway, here's some photos of Molly in her beautiful new dress:












Molly does her scrunchie face pose.






Good thing we can't see her face 'cuz she was mighty scared standing up!

We came home and Barry and Thomas got ready to head off to Chicago. Or was it North Carolina? Anyway. While those two went, Rene', the kids and I headed off to...Disney. Of course. Tradition has it was ALWAYS get a hotel room when the guys go to conventions.


This time we stayed at Coronodo Springs. It was beautiful!















While Rene' checked us in, the kids colored. The loby here is beautiful. Very rustic mission kinda feeling.


We had a character breakfast at The Grand Floridian.


Fox and Molly didn't like the costumed characters. He'd turn his head and try to act like they weren't there. It was funny.








It's funny, Fox doesn't hold a grudge, because he now recognizes Pooh merchandise and doesn't go into fits. Guess he's gotten over it.

Chloe had NO problems with meeting the characters.






With Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter.





Fox got bashful around Alice. He loves the ladies!

Mary Poppins!






And Tigger, too!












It was a great weekend! Nice to get away. As luck would have it, it was the weekend our air conditioner went out...again. It was miserable to say the least. Glad we got out for a few days.

How did people do Florida (anyplace!) without air conditioning???

Stopped off at Pop Century and let the kids run amok at their outdoor water area.










Chloe loved it. Fox wouldn't get out of the stroller. Even though there was a car at the other end of the water spout area, he froze in the seat.

The other day we went to Festival Bay Mall. The kids like it. For me it just needs more stores.

We got ice cream and sat by this really cool indoor fountain area.










I feel bad, because of Molly's PKU, she can't have ice cream. So she just kinda sits and takes in the scenery while the kids ate. She did get a little tub of mixed vegetables. Mmmmmm...veggies.





There is this area where they demonstrate an entertainment speaker system...very flash. It has smells, the floor shakes, and it snows (well, soap bubbles...but this IS Florida after all).

The kids must have played there for over an hour. It was fun. I just chilled out on a chair and watched.