Sharing the gorgeous

I love my time with Thing Three at the bus stop. Sometimes it's foggy and we can both see and feel the approaching mist. Sometimes it's windy and we sneak glances for the bus over our shoulders if the wind is in our face. And some mornings are just gorgeous, even when he groans as I take out my phone to shoot "yet another sunrise." Perhaps I need an intervention. Until then, I'll share. 

I especially love it when there is a sunrise ahead and the moon quietly setting behind! 

 

Breakfast, the most important meal of the day

I'd like to say that Liam takes breakfast seriously, but if you've ever been in the tri-state area when he's supposed to be eating breakfast, you'd more often hear my voice reminding him to eat than you'd actually hear him chewing. I suppose I should be grateful as I hate hearing the sound of chewing. Licking is even worse. 

Anyway, Liam does however take the making of breakfast very seriously. He loves weekends so he can putter about in his robe (and sometimes hairnet, of his own volition, don't ask) and whip up pancakes and French toast and his favorite meat, bacon. An added bonus is that PaPa gave us his old griddle; you'd have thought we'd handed Liam the moon. 

                                          

At least we know that once he's out into the real world he won't starve to death when there are breakfast ingredients at hand. Dinner is a different story, but one thing at a time. 

End of summer visitors

For those of you reaching for the pumpkin spice, you can just cut that out. Until next Sunday night, it is still officially summer. 

I was stealthy and got close to a groundhog who had his back to me, contentedly munching away on our apples out back. He wasn't quite sure what to do when he did figure out I was there, haha!

Pap came with his dog, Precious, to celebrate his 76th birthday. We love having both of them around. Pap gets into mischief with Dada while Precious helps wear Bosley out. Everybody wins! Except Pap, who then ends up in the doghouse...

I told Aunt Chris we were borrowing her monsoon. We received warnings on our home phone and cell phones about "severe weather alert" and "severe thunderstorms in your area" and sure enough, it came down pretty hard for about two minutes. 

Then the sun showed up again and I scurried outside because I just knew there'd be a great chance for a rainbow, and I was right! Woohoo!

And then it rained some more.

We decided to take off with an idea our friends Randy and Jess had success from and started Friday Night Games to kick off the fall season for small groups. We want to be a fun, safe place for kids of all ages to hang out, especially the ones who aren't interested in sitting through football games. Two families came over to play with us so we got some Ticket to Ride and Settlers of Catan action along with snacks and fellowship. I should have taken pictures...

Anyway, bring your favorite games to Lalaith Havens at 6:30 on Friday nights. Or you can play some of ours. Or both. Just come play with us!

Then the almost full moon came out in all its gorgeousness.

Sunday we had to almost call the fire department over Pap's candles...

We had a chuckle over Pap being the one on the smartphone while both the boys were reading actual books. Don't despair for those Generation Z kids; they're better than you hear.

Happy birthday, Pap! We're glad you came to see us and that you're home safe, too. 

Everybody enjoy your last few days of summer!

A Taste of Spring

Some of you also experienced unseasonably warm weather last weekend and were able to enjoy the great outdoors as we did. The kids ran around outside (blowing the stink off) most of the day while Triskal and I putzed around, tidying and supervising. Dada got to go to krav and grappling alone as we'd squeezed all our required classes in early in the week. 

Carrie had built a lean-to our first fall in this house. It was still standing, so of course she decided to take it down and use the supplies to build a bigger one. She commandeered helpers. 

Apparently they're done with one side of it and the other side needs work. I haven't checked it yet to see if it's withstood the wind and rain we've had today. It kept them pretty busy for a good while, but it is hard to find good help these days, and sure enough there were soon light saber battles:

And breaks for love:

Then we had a campfire to whittle down our ever-expanding woodpile. Dada and I used the warmth and light to prune some growth off the apple trees and he attempted to clean up a gooseberry bush. The moon came out and we had a lovely fire, though sadly there were only three large marshmallows left in the bag, so no s'mores.

Moon, moon, pretty moon, with two eyes, a nose, and a smile... (and other stuff)

Did anyone get to see the fancy schmancy moon last night? We got to see it at about half and then a tiny sliver and then the clouds took over and we haven't seen it since. I've seen photos by friends of friends that are terrific, but we just weren't in a good spot, apparently. 

Anyhoo, it was another whirlwind weekend. Friday afternoon our poor Pepe the Pilot was scheduled to have a tire checked out as it had been losing air. On my way to our Honda dealer, two separate Good Samaritans pulled alongside me to let me know it was flat. Once I got there, I was sadly informed that there was a hole in the sidewall and it was irreparable. We knew we were in the market for tires anyway, so it came as no surprise, really. 

Once Pepe was all fixed up and road-tested and reset, I headed home, a bit too late to get the Thingz to karate. We went to the park to meet the rest of our home group and the kids had a great evening running around into dark. 

Saturday morning meant we had to get up and make up the karate class we missed on Friday, so up we got and did class. Then we raced home to finish packing for Boy Scout camping down the road at the historical museum. I made several trips back to our house to feed the dog, put the dog away for the night, let the dog out first thing Sunday morning, etc. I got back in time for tear-down and breakfast:

That was the line for pancakes, sausage, hot chocolate, juice, milk, and coffee. 

I forgot to mention there was some of this the night before:

This is the hot dog, the uncooked hot dog, that this child snatched from the table and began to eat, along with his bread.

Whose children are these anyway?

Said hot dog was snatched back, stuck on the above grill, and cooked as it was supposed to be, then returned to above child. What a nut.

Speaking of nuts, and seeds, this child found these:

And learned that they're way easier to cast if they're dry and fluffy instead of matted together straight out of the pod. It didn't stop her from spreading them with glee, it just slowed her down. I suppose she is her mother's child.

Oh, no, she can't be, because check out what she found in the creek behind the house once we got home:

Yes, that would be a bin full of snails. I ask you...

And look at the mess on the porch from that girl and those boots! Good thing PaPa wasn't here. He'd have had canaries. 

I can't believe there's an entire post about Boy Scout camp with no pictures of the Boy Scout. Shameful. He was there, I swear, drinking cups of hot cocoa, throwing footballs, hollering to gazillions of other boys, and generally having a good time. 

They all want to go back.

They can go back with their father. 

Sunsets and cookies

 

I am certainly not the photographer my brother is, but I tried to get a sunset that was spectacular to my eyes... it's pretty here in the photo but certainly not as vibrant as we saw it. Carrie came outside with me and we "ooh"ed and "ahh"ed as it deepened.

 

We had a funny literacy moment as I was driving Damon home from preschool. We were stopped in traffic right beside Insomnia Cookies, which is a cookie shop which will deliver cookies and milk until 3 AM. Can I just pause there and rejoice? What fun! They claim they can be for study sessions, late night meetings, whatever. Fabulous idea. And I must have way more self control than I thought I possessed, because I have yet to set foot in there AND I haven't called. Yay me! Anyway.

Their neon sign was lighting up repeatedly, and I hear from the backseat, "O-P-E-N... cookies!" Cracked me right up. I pointed out that under the chocolate chip crescent moon logo that "C-O-O-K-I-E-S" spelled cookies and "O-P-E-N" spells open. It was a great discussion and I love that he's looking around and figuring things out. Reading is such an amazing process, to me anyway, and I am excited that he's starting that journey.

A One-derful year

Damon turned one yesterday. I know! How can our Doodlebug possibly be one already!? But he is. He celebrated by being one of two babies in his Sunday school room at church. There were four ladies. Hehe! They were thrilled to share his birthday with him. We putzed around an outdoor shopping center later on, and Dada gave him ice cream and the inside of soft pretzels. Last night he devoured, not kidding- DEVOURED crock pot chicken, carrots, and potatoes. It was as if he thought, "if they know what I'm eating, they'll take it away. STUFF IT IN!" He was using both fists and we couldn't even get it onto his high chair tray long enough to cool down before he had it in his cheeks. Nothing fazed him. And he had more ice cream. And, of course, he was mad when that was all gone. Happy birthday, sweet Bebeeeee.

I figured we could celebrate with some quotes. How bout it? Here's the rest of the quote board from Fall 2010- Spring 2011. Enjoy!

C, end of second grade: Adishon, Subterakshon, Times.

Mama: I burst my button! That's what I get for trying to fit my ego in size 2 pants!

L, age 5.5: How come old men use walking sticks?
Mama: Cuz their legs aren't as steady as they used to be.
L: Mine are steady.
M: You're young and fresh.
L: Yep, I'm young and fresh. And you're old and yucky.

Dada: "Wildflowers" is the Latin word for "weeds."
Mama: *#&^%)#&^%@#^% Grrr!

L, 5.5: Oh, you stupid poop! I wish I did not have a butt!

Mama, impersonating Jeff Foxworthy re: tornado, disaster, etc.
C: Why are you speaking Cowboy?
M: I'm speakin' Southern, darlin'.
C: Where's Southern?

L: There is a black, flying, hopping, and crawling bug in the bathroom. Maybe it flew out. Or maybe it is just camoflauged on my underpants. On the ink part.

M to Dada: Can you please get unplugged and go (help w/ getting kids ready for school?)
D: Yep. As soon as I learn how a human cannon works. *GRIN*

Liamism #278: potty pumper (answer at bottom of post)

Dada, checking Carrie's teeth: no, no, no, no, and no. Go brush again.
C: which ones?
D: In this general direction (pointing to the entire mouth) where your teeth are!

Mama: Liam, what're you doing?
L: I'm brushing my teeth. That was one half. Three more halfs and I'm done! (We brush for 2 minutes in these parts...)

Mama's almost out of Caramel Marvel sauce: does that mean it comes outta the grocery budget?
Dada: that comes outta the Makes-My-Baby-Loooooooove-Me budget. Woot woot!

Liam's all-purpose number: one hundred ninety and eight-two.

Liam: Who was on the moon?
M: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldren...
L: Buzz Lightyear Aldren!?!?!?

Dada, singing: Hot lovin' every night...
M: *smirking* that's the only line of this you know, isn't it?
D, continuing: Woooo-ah! Hehehheeh!

April 2nd, Mama: WHY are there fruit flies already!?
L: What? You got fertilized!?

To get this one, you have to have read A Sock is a Pocket for Your Toes, which is an absolutely charming, rhyming children's book with wonderful art. Dada: a bellybutton is a pocket for your lint!

C, reading: forklifted and raced...
M: "frolicked", Carrie, "frolicked"

This one is for my Dad. PaPa, remember how I used to call shredded wheat "hay"?
L: why do the mini wheats have frosting?
M: to make them even yummier.
L: even yummier than the straw?

C to Pap: can you guess what music this is?
Dada: yeah, what movie about a young wizard who goes to school?
Pap: oh yeah, that's a good one. ..... "Billy Potter."
C and L, indignant: NOOO! HARRY Potter!

Dada: does anyone want scrambled eggs?
C: what kind of eggs?
D: whaddaya mean what kind? the kind in the little shell packages!

Dada: Liam, please pee and wash up for dinner.
L: I did! (long pause) Yesterday.

L: once, twice...
M: thrice
L: what's fource?
M: Hhehehehe

Dada, musing about 2011 garden: Hmmm. I don't think I've ever spelled "broccoli" right. It's like E.Coli. Not sure I wanna remember it like that!

Mama, reading Harry Potter to Carrie: Professor Quirrel... zombie...etc...
C: What's a zombie?
M: they're called Undead. Something that came back to life. They're not real. Like in the Michael Jackson video (Thriller, which scared her to death)
C: So... Jesus was a zombie? He came back to life! I'm confused.

And the answer to what Liam's potty pumper is a plunger, as many of you would have guessed. Have a super week! It's our first week of summer vacation, so if you see SOS smoke signals, come quick! =D