Topless

We're so lazy. We post nothing for weeks, then just this one picture.

Connect the Dots

Spring came, and I resolved to make this year the year that I actually do something about the severely boring river of rock in the back yard. Just because every house plant I've ever had has wilted within 48 hours of arriving on my doorstep doesn't mean I'm not going to stop trying.

Here's me, 3 weeks ago, "Guys, you can't mix the birdseed with the potting soil, OK? Find something else to play."

Here's me, 2 weeks ago, "Dude! They're sprouting already! My thumbs are so green! My morning glories are going to be glorious!"

Here's me, last week, "Why do all my morning glories look different?"

Here's me, today, "My potted weeds are glorious."

Later, May

There is no way that I am going to keep this kid from the soccer field.  The cliché kills me.  Please, God, don't let me get sucked into the "Soccer Mom" bumper sticker.

Sharing Germs in the Southwest Metro

I try really hard to not buy pink clothes for Greta, because my experience has been that is materializes in her closet without me.  I confess to buying this dress, however, despite it's extreme pinkness.  I have a thing for kids' clothes with hoods.

Greta at Chutes and Ladders park, Bloomington.

Ava is possibly one of the most beautiful children ever.  No, not possibly.  Definitely.  Here she is with her future godfather.

She wasn't into the chutes or the ladders.  I was envious of her not-filthy hands and her not-skinned knees and her lack of shoes filled with sand at the end of the day.  Lucky.

Love You This Much

Flashback to the house I grew up in, in the summertime with the plastic pool in the yard.  There is a garden hose connected to the kitchen sink, snaking out the kitchen window, filling up the pool with warm water so we don't have to wait all afternoon for the sun to warm the icy well water.  I have to credit Dad for this, although I don't know for sure whose idea it was.  Just a guess.

I bet my kids wish I were handy enough to manage a hose to faucet connection.  Or they would, if they noticed that the water is icy.

Trains With Faces Are Creepy

We've been to this train museum once before. Like last time, we left less-than-gracefully. There is no easy way to pull Noah away from a train table. No amount of shame will pressure him to share one of the four blue Thomas trains he is hoarding. If you ask nicely, he'll just steal your Percy too.

Greta tells the train, "Bye-bye, choo-choo"



Not pictured: the button Noah pushed one thousand times to make the train circle around the town.

The Uphill

Hikers.



The day before a haircut.


This day.

Time spent on the road to Frontenac State Park: 1 hour.
Coercing unwilling kid to use an outhouse: 30 minutes.
In outhouse: 10 seconds.
Combined hysteria surrounding outhouse, skinned knees, riding in the backpack, not riding in the backpack, diaper changes, clouds of gnats, trying to go for a hike at nap time on a really hot day: Eternity.
Time spent on the road back home: 120 glorious, noiseless, out cold, taking the long way home minutes.

Bird Watching at Inner Forest

Thank goodness for pictures of Memorial Day, because I seriously couldn't remember where I was. I do remember what I was wearing. The exact shape of my tank top is burned into my shoulders. The SPF 50 is reserved for the children.

Birdwatching at Roberts Bird Sanctuary, Minneapolis.




Really, I love sundresses.

Bird Watching At Inner Forest - Cornelius