A very busy day...

Three hours of moving water from one container to another. I guess we could have taken him to the pool?

Oh dear. Apparently, it's Duncan's turn to explore....and get into trouble.

A new haircut (notice the bangs?) for a new 1st grader. (The expression is amazingly NOT annoyance, she's just in a heat-induced coma.)

Look what jumped into our truck.

Look who likes it!

Fly

Right Now

Meme blatantly stolen from RedMolly's blog...

Three things in my fridge that define life right now: Fresh fruits and vegetables, because we're trying to take advantage of their seasonal abundance and eat better. Rotting fresh fruits and vegetables, because by dinnertime, chicken nuggets or cereal for dinner sounds just fine. Vanilla rum, because it's yummy with Pepsi and knocks the edge off the day. (Can you tell the kids are running me a bit ragged right now?)

Three recent acquisitions: This lovely trench coat (I can't wait for the weather to cool a bit so I can wear it!), a new clock for the kitchen, and Thomas the Tank Engine underwear for George (think good thoughts this weekend, as he goes cold turkey on the diapers).


Three classics I reach for every day: Coffee, the computer, and a book or other such reading device.

My kids right now, in three words or less: Bored with Summer.

My sweetie right now, in three words or less: Beer in hand.

What's on my to-do list: Figure out George's preschool situation for fall, pay a couple of bills, finish writing my next DSP class, put dishes in the dishwasher, start prepping dinner, create social story to prepare George for this weekend, walk away from this computer...

What I do often that relates to the season right now: Sit and enjoy the sun.


What I'm listening to right now: The soundtrack/effects of the Transformers video game and Emma talking to herself as she plays it.

What I'm worried about right now: My to-do list.

Which news stories I'm following right now: Hmmmmm....I really try not to pay attention to the news. I have enough to worry about.

What I'm reading right now: I just finished reading Body Surfing by Anita Shreve.

What I'm looking forward to right now: Going to Amy & Dale's house in Portland tomorrow for a visit!

A thought I keep returning to right now: I believe in fate, everything will work out as it should.


One small thing that's making me happy right now: Two small things actually, one hanging from each side of the apple tree. Don't know why we waited so long to do this:

Still here...

We've had scads of family around for the past few weeks; most recently, Jason's brother and family all the way from Denmark. Tons of fun had by all, kiddos going in all directions, good food, great music. Today, we're digging our way through loads of laundry and all the other assorted chores that tend to be forgotten when company is visiting. AND the county fair starts today! I can't wait!

So, I hope to have lots of photos to share soon, but for now, the washer is calling.....

Family Reunion

My Great Grandmother was one of six sisters, known as the Tate Sisters. They established a tradition of gathering with their families that is still going strong today, long after they have passed. Every summer, on the first weekend in August, the descendants of these sisters gather together for a picnic. Here's my immediate family's branch...

And the whole group from this year's gathering....

Totally cool to see that so many people are still interested in coming each year. I keep thinking that the tradition will end, as the relations spread further apart and all of us 2nd cousins, 3rd cousins once removed, and so forth, really don't know each other. But still, we all drive up to the picnic spot, fill out extensive name tags that delineate our heritage, and enjoy the day. Tradition is good.

Oh, and my favorite picture of the day.....
There were several babies and many teenagers, but no one right around Emma's age. Luckily, at family reunions teenagers don't find it so horrible to play with little kids and even grandmas find the time (and energy) to kick a ball around with speedy little girls.

Never thought this day would come

George had his first "real" haircut yesterday. And check out this cool photo that Emma got of the process!
I hope it looks as good on your screen as it does on mine, the colors are so fun and I just love the blur of the stylist's hands! And let me tell you, she was moving FAST!! George is eating an M & M in this picture, not gasping in fear, they were a great distraction. He really didn't seem to mind her at all (though the clippers were not a hit, and had to be put away), but he got bored with sitting in one place. But she was great, everytime he moved, she moved, and after about 10 minutes, he was done and looking far more handsome than my sad attempts at haircutting ever made him.

We're starting to look for a Big Boy Bed, too. Sigh. When did my babies stop being babies??? I must have missed that point!

Happy faces

I am trying to remember that Emma is on summer vacation. When George is in school, there are more entertaining things to do than following me around the grocery store or house. We've been to the park the last couple of days. I think she likes it.

We live on a pretty severe hill, and a fairly busy street, so she hasn't ridden her bike (outside of our basement) since last fall. I love the fact that she would rather ride her bike or use her roller skates than sit inside watching TV. I must remember this when we're getting on each other's nerves from being together 24 hours a day, every day, all summer! This park isn't too far from our house, and heck, we have a minivan! Load that bike in it and go!