So Some Stuff Happened This Summer

Kristi came to town to pick strawberries. That girl is one of the funniest people I know. By funny, I mean witty. Also, she is brave. She drove here from Utah without her husband. This is Talmage and Bentley on the complimentary tractor escort. Kristi and I new better than to lug six children in wagons out to the fields. In the rain. Uphill both ways.

This is how kids get good character: working in the fields - rain or shine.
Here is Clara, on QC patrol.


MOVING ON ....

What sort of a parent lets their kids have markers in their room at bedtime?

They look like warriors. And rulers (see below).

The cousins spent the night a couple weeks ago (it was D&J's Super Date turn). They somehow coaxed a caterpillar into their clutches and named her (?) Kendra. Kendra? Anyway. They loved on Kendra so much. ("Pretty bird. Pretty bird."). Lots of loving and attention to her habitat and nutritional needs. She had her own private Matchbox Car and lots of leaves and sticks. She was examined and petted and loved and loved and loved ... I found her curled up in fetal position the next morning. Unsure of her prognosis, I set her outside and wished her good luck. The next day they asked where Kendra was. Poor Kendra.


A quiet lull in their bedtime games. Notice how Sydney is touching her nose with that sheep? She'll lightly rub the tip of her nose, usually with Letter, when she's powering down.

Finally! A day over 79 degrees!

Andrea came to visit for a day. She saw Clara's mullet and insisted it be cut off. Immediately. I handed her the scissors and walah:


An experiment with freezer bags: how much air to vacuum out to achieve maximum preservation rate of lettuce. Answer: The washed, vacuumed-flat lettuce turned into soggy mush.

It's been five months with no treats ("treats" being subjective).
Smoothies are not a treat.

Hillsboro Parks and Recs and Libraries know how to entertain the troops in the summer. A gaggle of kids enjoying Shoehorn Jimbob or someone. He tapdanced AND played multiple instruments simultaneously. His sax tunes were cool. This summer we've stopped in for a few of their free lunches in the park. Last Friday they had pizza. Pretty fancy.

Jack and Talmage

One night when the partying got a little crazy:

Clara pulled this plate out of the dishwasher and this happened:

Sydney, dramatically and mournfully, "Oh no! Now we're never going to have that type of plate!"

Heidi and Emily were in Sound of Music. Two appreciative audience members below:

It was a good production. Heidi was a nun. And Emily was Gretel. Every time Emily said or did something, I was alternately beamy/teary because she was so dang cute.


Then there is this little story. Heidi lent me her beautiful earrings. Well, I sort of ripped them out of her ears. That's a true friend. We were at the park one day and she was helping consult on the family photo outfits/accessories and I'm all like, "Heeey... your earrings would coordinate perfectly." And she says, touching them delicately, "Well, they are family heirlooms, but sure. You can use them. Just be sure to give them back."

And then I kept forgetting to give them back. Like a true friend. And also I didn't end up wearing them after all. And then I was getting nervous that I'd lose the earlooms. But she lives at least Four Dollars in Gas Away. So I vowed to mail them. And this is how they arrived:

Which is funny because nuns don't wear earrings, right? And also, this craft made me think I, for a moment, was following in my mom's footsteps because I used my own brain to be creative -- and didn't consult Internetland at all.

More summer to come. But for now. The end.