Yeah, who wanted that cool hornet nest we got down from the front tree, anyway?  Smashing it with a rock is soooo much more satisfying than calm admiration. (I wanted the hornet nest!)

My very first Thanksgiving dinner.  Massive mess cleared off of the redwood table?  Check.  Shopping done?  Check.  I am feeling pretty good about this.  Festive, even. 

Oh, how to tell if those cries of "help" are legitimate...

It didn't rain that much last night!  After intense bailing, very cold feet, paddling to the boat ramp, and pulling it up onto the trailer, our boat rescue was complete.  Thank goodness for the unseasonably warm day and glorious sunshine.  Maybe next year we won't wait until November 20th to take out the boat.  Maybe.

Lower Elementary's Annual Poetry/Movement/ Music Performance

I could see him obsessively licking his lips from accross the room.  It was the only clue that he was nervous.  Then he stood up twice and performed as part of a small group (once with a drum and once as a "dancer").  It was amazing.

Perhaps I expected too much of an impromptu after school playground trip.  A few smiles followed, but were short-lived.  The sun had dropped so suddenly, too, turning a warm afternoon into a surly, cranky scene!

The leaf fairy seems to have been to every house but mine!
She also forgot to take

the slowly rotting pumpkins...

This little man stayed home from "cool" sick today.  He recovered

enough for a rousing bubble bath this afternoon, though. Mostly

perked up by that point, he kept saying with feeling, "I need to lay  

my head down because I am really, really, really sick." 
Cue my stifled laughter!

I thought that candlelight

might subdue the intense rowdy energy

that bounds right into dinner time.

Actually, it worked quite well.

Oh, yeah...I'm playing with fire...

folding laundry and drinking red wine at the very same time.

I guess I have to put a little excitement into my Friday night!

Seeing the gaping hole in his mouth, I can suddenly and clearly remember having one in my own.  How big those new teeth are, just waiting for the face to catch up!

My little sickie stayed home today with a stomach bug.  First time throwing up in his almost 7 years!  He is already on the mend, though, and basking in the doting mommy care!

 

ALL days recently are filled with the shriek of

"I can do it by myself!!!  Hmph."

Lots of deep breaths are required on my part.

testing, testing