gymnastics program

 We headed over there today in the rain for the program.  It was fun.  They did a great job.

 It's a low-key Park and Rec program--no competitions or anything involved or stressful,  but over the last two years or so, the progress is amazing.

 It's different to see all this in context, rather than the usual flips and cartwheels in the family room.

 Beautiful job, Jule!

Love, Mom and Dad and the rest of us

things that have been said

 Last time we were up at the lake, this child got up at 4:45 am.  Heidi was a bit crisp about the whole situation. As the child made demands at breakfast, Heidi snapped, "Just stop it now.  I'm not taking demands from terrorists."

A little while later, as she sucked down a cup of coffee, she said, "I'm parenting in a hostile situation."

There was a pause and then she said, "I'm pretty much the hostile one."

Oh, honey. 4:45 will do this.

Little Jay has gone away with Katie's family for a week and we are watching this noble creature.

He is sassy and can be a little demanding.

I think Jay and Katie kind of spoil him. He's not used to this smaller tank or being told no.

He's doing fine, actually.

 He's very cool, and has so much more personality than I imagined.

Speaking of people who don't like to be told no, and who have personality in abundance?

 She vigorously styled her grandpa's hair with the utensils from the play kitchen.

 It was definitely somewhat painful at points.

 And here's Tim, in a mild, enjoyable moment with young Elin.

Last time we were at the lake he went out to the shower house to take a shower.

Very good.

Except he forgot to take along a towel.

So there he was after his fine shower, with no way to dry off, his clothes sitting there on the bench, folded.

And him very drenched.

He said this, in all honesty:  "I really don't know how dogs do it."

Oh, Lord.

I shouldn't laugh that hard. It took my breath away.

And now it's now.  Kirsten is back in Florida again, on vacation with Little Jay.

We are here, doing what we always do.

Life is good.

Love forever, MOM

graduation weekend!

 Maria and Sean in the middle, siblings all around.

 After the very fine graduation party this babysitting of Little Jay's bearded dragon was attended to.

 This guy is just beyond cute

 So is she.  So is her father.

 Okay, this is a good story.  One cousin wanted to steal another's baby doll, but she screamed, "She's stealing my baby!!" Deflected.  She then stole a vulnerable baby from a different cousin out by the swingset.

As the cousin screamed, she clutched the stolen baby in her teeth and RAN.

I told Heidi, "There's always that ONE kid..."

Whee.

In time? Civilized behavior will prevail.  No worries.

Not even a single one.

 And here's our lovely, patient graduate with her Dairy Queen cake frozen like cement.

Delicious, but challenging to serve.

Leaving it all there.

Maria, you beautiful graduate?

Thank you for being our girl.

Nothing but love,

Mom and Everybody

kirby kind of friday

 She had the idea last night that we should do something fun this morning, so we headed for the park with some kids and we had a great time.

Julia and Kirsten made sandwiches before we left, and they were delicious.  It was a gorgeous day, 70 degrees, bright sunshine.

She fell asleep on the ride home, and yeah she slipped on the stairs and has a little bruise by her eye.

A lovely day eventually moved on to a lovely evening.  Kirsten went and met our niece's new baby and we had supper and now they're watching a movie.

In the morning, very early, we're driving to Wisconsin for Maria's granduation!

 Fridays do not come any better than this one.

Love forever, Mom

a great thursday

 We went shopping for flowers this morning, me and her.

 Before this though, I was dozing on the couch during Curious George.  It was my favorite episode where Yellow Hat has poison ivy on his hands and has to give a presentation to scientists about how to use a special shovel.

Well I've seen it dozens of times and fell asleep.  The little girl does this thing when I doze off--she seems to always notice and she knocks on my face like it's a door.

Tap-tap-tap.

I peeped open an eye and she held up one finger with poop on it.

Whoa!

I was so wide awake then, dang.

 She builds a nest under the table every day and lines the nest with all the doll clothes and costumes.

It's fine.

 We had fun.

And then at suppertime, THIS GIRL showed up from FLORIDA, where she lives it up in the sun.

It's been months now, and we were so happy to see each other.  It was a fun evening with her in the house.  The kids were happy too.

And Maria took this funny picture out on the patio earlier.

That's the end of a beautiful Thursday and Kirby is here.

Maria's college graduation is on Saturday,

So happy it's today and now.

Nothing but love,

Mom