SQUIRREL!

Wow! I can't believe it has been over a month since I last posted. Wait -- I can actually. Check out what we have been up to -- and I bet I'll forget something or other because that's what we moms do -- our memories go to the birds right after pushing out babies. Not sure why either end has to do with the other, but THAT's a topic for another day. :)

I flew out to Salt Lake City to do a press conference the Friday before Memorial Day, also known in my world as "Don't Fry Day." Okay, quick: some stats! Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the U.S. More than one million skin cancers are diagnosed each year. Each year, new skin cancer cases outnumber the combined new cases of breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer. One in five of us will develop skin cancer in our lifetimes. Lest you think it a disease for old fogies, melanoma (the most fatal form of skin cancer) is the second most common form of cancer for young adults ages 15-29 years old. In 2006, in the 116 largest (most populated) U.S. cities, there were, on average, more tanning salons than there were Starbucks. No kidding. Any change in your skin is a sign of sun damage and will age your skin faster than you can say, "SQUIRREL!" If you don't wear sunglasses, you are at much higher risk for cataracts. The good news: as long as you catch your suspicious spot early and get your whole body to a dermatologist, you'll probably be fine. In the meantime, try Slip, Slop, Slap, Wrap and Seek Shade. That's slip on a shirt, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a wide-brimmed hat, wrap on some sunglasses and seek shade during midday hours if at all possible.

Down from soapbox now -- whew!: THEN, I flew to Las Vegas because a friend of mine who I hadn't seen in NEARLY a decade invited me to, and I thought, "hmmm, let me check out flight prices." And $201 later, I was off! We spent all weekend lounging by the pool, and I did not damage my skin whatsoever. Yay me! TINA: we gals owe ourselves girls' weekends EVERY year -- not once a decade. :D Thank you so much for planning it. I am totally not a planner. Any of my other girl friends wanna plan a girls' weekend? GO FOR IT. I'm in!

THEN, we travelled as a family to the beach for our annual Rice family reunion. Thank you Aunt Jane for planning a marvelous trip! The weather only cooperated a couple of days, but you sure can't control that. And, hey, for all my skin cancer prevention talk, I was the only moron to come out with any sun damage in a blotch on my upper right arm. See paragraph one about memory problems. I clearly THOUGHT I had covered that spot. Damnit. Still, it was WONDERFUL to catch up with family members. Sarah is so funny. Her baby Elle is so cute, you want to huff her. Bonnie is the world's most patient woman, always playing with the kids. Maybe she was practicing. :) She finally started to look pregnant at the end of our trip. So cute! Aunt Jane was constantly doing educational programs with Aidan, who just wanted to get into some trouble with Gabe. Not really --they were (for the most part) well-behaved boys. We saw "Up" together one rainy day, and it was so adorable. You must see it. You will yell "Squirrel!" at random things afterward. Sofia played hide and seek every second. Rich and Gran spent a lot of time relaxing and reading -- bookworms that they are! But everyone had a hilarious fun time playing that new form of Pictionary Telephone. And, Tim was Elle's substitute daddy. She was in love with him. Who wouldn't be? Super cute chef that he is! (He and Rich did some amazing cooking! We were soooo lucky!)

One funny story from the beach house: Gabe was sliding down the stair railing when he racked himself in the balls, so I said, "Gabe, be careful -- you're not going to be able to have kids one day!" He looked at me like I was crazy and said, "Mooommm! Only girls can have babies!" Riggghhhtt. Never mind. Not about to explain that one... :)

Oh boy, what else? We picked up Abby, my uber-responsible teenage cousin who is watching Gabe 5-6 hours a day this summer. Sofia is still going to daycare. Abby is a writer and a reader (woo-hoo! My kinda girl!) and has been responsible for watching her 3 younger siblings AND she's a tomboy. So I'm hoping some of that rubs off on Fia, the princess! LOL!

And, now, I'm in Portland, Oregon getting ready to give a presentation on Thursday morning about sun safety to a meteorologist audience. Wish me luck!

I can't wait to get home! I'll upload some recent photos soon.

Love to all!