and the distance doesn't care

Yes, we've been home from vacation for almost 2 weeks now. And yes we did lots and took lots of pics. And if any of you are right now thinking something like, "Kristen hasn't posted because she's melancholy and missing her family, and too depressed to post", well....shut up, because you'd be wrong. Completely. Terribly. Horribly wrong. Probably.

take my hand, we'll make it I swear

Yes, that title is a Bon Jovi reference, and if you knew that, I am your friend. If not....well, I'll still be your friend if you don't slam Bon Jovi. So really, are you surprised at another blogging lapse?? Hopefully those of you that read this have come to accept that you can have absolutely zero expectations of me other than that I am highly unreliable. The lapse is due to.....(hang on, give me a minute...), uh, see....hmmmm. OH WAIT! I have 5 children.

Did anyone else notice that its August? That is crazy. I wasn't as good at posting summer happenings as I had hoped, but I'm going "bullet" a few things to make up for it (which of course doesn't) and move on:

• we are SO leaving for vacation in 5 days. You don't even know!! If you haven't yet heard, the Warren tribe is actually crazy enough to put all 27 of us (do you want me to list all the names? probably not) in one cabin together in the Smoky Mountains of TN. for a week. the hooplah that will ensue will be of monumental and legendary proportions, and a few of us will most likely post some pictures and highlights to document the fun (but in reality its more that we'll be trying to make you jealous).

• Dave the Babe finally took me to see Dark Knight! He paid CJ to fly out here and babysit. no, really he did. for realzzzzz. ok, so please don't tell me something like "oooh, I don't really like comic book stuff". this one was as phenomenal as the last, and topped solely by a ridiculously A-MA-ZA-ZING Joker interpretation.
  

• hmmm....ever have a talk with your pre-adolescent daughter about "sensitive" stuff. I finally did. your daughter wasn't as funny as mine. trust me.
  

• after at least a year of coveting, I finally have Keens (courtesy of the Babe's early birthday present to me!). I am now happy.

• inspired by my sister Annie (along with some sage advice from fashionista blogs) I got rid of most of my clothes. at this point I'm mostly glad that I read an article about what you can't wear anymore after turning 20-10, and what you need to have in your wardrobe. I was breaking rules. frequently. my closet is a lot leaner, and I have many holes to fill, but it feels good to not have junk (that I hated anyway) cluttering up my view. the point is, if Shelley would wear it, I probably have no business.
  

• I've been trying to read more and so far this year have completed several books. but an impressive favorite is Wild Swans, which Mom bought me almost 2 years ago. it sat on the bedside table, I read maybe 1 chapter and forgot. oh man, I don't know why I didn't know how great it would be, but I'm so glad I read it. WOW! go read it.

Most likely I won't be popping my head in here again until after WarRusSlaWel Convocation 2008 (Dad really named it that), but will try to be more regular about filling you in on SlaughterHouse happenings after that. So, here's hoping that your summer didn't seem to disappear as quickly as mine.