Africa Hot

It's crazy hot here, in the 90s in my house. Expected to be up to 110 in Olympia, which is unheard of! Record breaking heat. We have no A/C, like most people here, because this just usually doesn't happen. It's supposed to cool by the weekend, into the mid 80s, but until then we are now looking at the two hottest days of the week. We are sticking to indoor/cool activities, spraying the dog down with the hose, sleeping in the basement and we filled up two inflatable pools. DH told Butters having two pools makes us rich!

We had a fantastic visit in Kentucky, it was hot there but I think they are much better prepared!

We saw my family, played with my cousin's kids and all their toys, including the water slide.

(This isn't forced perspective, he's actually holding a giant piece of chalk).

We visited the Newport Aquarium on a rainy day. Did Coney Island in the evening-Butters road all the rides including the 4 story drop-Scream Machine, the swinging ship and Ferris Wheel. Here he is on the last ride of the day. E wanted to ride everything, but for some she was too short. She did the planes, train and the giant slide.

And the carousel of course!

I went to the farm with the guys and the girls did a shopping day. I tried to represent my gender well-I climbed a ladder to spray paint the cabin (painted the ladder) and I pull started one of the four wheelers after my 13 year old nephew offered to do it for me.

We also celebrated a very important 40th birthday, complete with a fireworks display. No picture of the birthday girl, I don't want to embarrass her, she doesn't like attention.

Lastly, we tried to get the elusive photo of all the grandkids. And it was the girl that caused all the problems!

Home Improvement

DH painted, scrubbed, refinished and built things while we were on a trip. Here's a before and after of the corner in the sun room.

He painted the walls a light brown and the bottom wall/rail blue (leftover from the living room). Added a trip around the rail and put in new non-sagging shelves. We are going to need to find a new place for our cactus, it's nearly touching the ceiling.

PS. I HATE blogger, I tried to fix the layout on this several times and it still shoves the text over.

The Lost Photos

These are the photos that never fit in with any posts but I still like them.

Me reading one of the Twilight series books, pretending to cook dinner.






Butters in motion. This will make a good before photo, DH did some home improvements, I'll show you soon! We are trying to make one section of the house not have any toys in it.







Looks like she's writing out the pink lady pledge:
To Act Cool
To Look Cool
and To BEEEEE Cool.

'Til death do us part, think PINK. (who can name this movie?)

By the way, congratulations to all the minimum wage earners who got a raise yesterday. I've represented these workers and I know you've earned it. Also, a disproportionate number are women (two-thirds), so you felt the earth shift a bit yesterday it's because women advanced just slightly.

Walks in the Woods

We did a lot of walking in the Spring. Both kids do well on closed in, wood trails. Most of these are from an off leash dog walk we like to do. Usually 'hiking' for around an hour. I like the pics of them ducking! Those shots are from April, trying to cross off my To Do list!

We Have Returned

We're back from our trip to Ky. I know I've got a lot of posts to catch up on. We had a great visit, the planeride went fine-even with the DVD player running out of juice after 20 minutes on the way home! I re-read the same Star Wars books. E spent a few moments on the floor, but I got a compliment from our seat neighbor that I handled the kids very well, so that's a plus.

I need a day to upload the photos and get back to this timezone. Here are two older photos, E at the height of her fever, falling asleep watching TV. We are getting furter testing done, it turns out she had a bladder infection and at this age you need to investigate.

And my life for the next several years-Star Wars. Butters is enthralled by it and I need to learn all about Luke Skywalker to stay in the know. DH saved all his old toys so we have a bin of hours and hours of play.

I Spy a Fasten Seatbelt Sign

Taking a trip to the great Midwest! Just Me, two kids under 4 and a 5 hour flight. I spent some free time this weekend sewing activity bags with pencil/marker rolls and new drawing pads, a puzzle and stickers. This should last about 10 minutes. The portable DVD player will provide the rest of the entertainment. When it comes to pissing off people around you, getting booted off an expensive plane ride and saving my sanity, I'll take the technology. There's only so much 'I spy' I can do on a plane, only so many books I can carry and only so much entertaining I can do in a small space. The sad thing is, I'm not bringing any knitting. I'm just not that optimistic. I am bringing a book. Kite Runner. I can read with one hand at least.

It doesn't take long for me to think of what my travel bag would look like sans kids-a lace knitted project, sock knitting for downtime and some Pride and Prejudice in the DVD, but the trip wouldn't be nearly as much fun!

More Rules

These used to be my rules for dressing My Girl:

1. Shoes should match or compliment the outfit.
2. Pink and purple and girly-girl is okay as long as it makes a good statement.

3. Fun and funky but still wearable-eg: reasonable beach shoes

4. She should look like a girl.

5. No pajamas outside the house.

These are my adapted rules as MG like to pick out what she wears and she squeals if you try to force any issues whatsoever!

1. Clothes should be for this or the adjacent season (ie. no snow shoes in summer but spring rain boots in summer are okay).

2. No visible boys underwear outside the house.

3. Only one piece of pajamas outside the house-pants or a top.

4. She can wears Butters old clothes or even current clothes as long as she can still climb and run.

Boo Hoo

The reason for the high fever, sleeplessness and irritability (not mine, hers): bladder infection.

Boohoo but at least we know how to make things better.

Picture from last week at the animal farm.

Now, Fair Public, I'm behind on a few posts that are swimming around in my head, but I figure I won't have time to put them all into words and pictures. So, what do you want to read and see?

1. More on P. Mookie's visit (I know this will get at least one vote)

2. Details on the circle sweater

3. Rejected and approved clothing options by E

4. Walks in the Woods

5. My favorite photos that never got posted

Leave a comment if you want to hear more about any of the above and I'll do the post.

Happy 4th For Some

The guys had a good 4th of July-shooting fireworks, catching frogs, sailing, paddle boating and fishing. We went to Pattison Lake Resort, also known as Grandma and Grandpa's House! Butters reeled in his first fish, the rock bass pictured above.

The girls spent much of our time attached to each other-E had (still has) a 103.5 + fever, chills, and vomiting. She alternated between feeling okay enough to throw rocks in the lake and tell us what she didn't want to not letting me put her down for even a second. She was so out of it, I managed to sneak a dress on her!

The Husband and I did manage to sneak away and have a date-it had been months since the last time (rollerskating in April I think).

I've got some blogging to catch you up on. I'll see what I can get posted in the next few days. Here's the self portrait of how I got this one typed...