Relishing my quiet time

Kids? With Daddy.

Dog? Sleeping in chair.

Laundry? Piled high as a mountain.

Dishes? Dirty. In sink. Not rinsed.

House? Needs dusting and vacuuming.

Headache? Just about gone . . .

So looky what I made!

"Problems" with Reading

Yesterday was a rainy day. Lots of TV watching = lots of commercials. John Sam is reading anything he sees, and during a commercial, he asked, "Mommy, what's that?"

I replied, "It's medicine."

"Do I need Levitra, Mom?"

"Um, no, honey. That's for grownups."

!!

US Girls' Gymnastics - Olympic Trials

I quite enjoyed watching the Olympic Team Trials for the girls' gymnastics team last weekend. Watching those little tiny girls display their athletic talents was simply awesome! Shawn Johnson is the darling, of course, and her abilities definitely warrant her fan following and her first place finish to make the team. Second place went to Nastia Luikin, and I've got to say, she is one of my two favorites. If I could just find a website to buy those legs of hers . . . LMAO! She is tall and slender, and looks like a delicate ballerina. Just looking at her, you'd think she wouldn't have the strength to perform some of the more acrobatic elements. But once you see her in action, you know she has it all: strength, power, and tumbling that takes your breath away. My other favorite was Chelsie Memmel, who just a few months ago was considered out of the running due to a back injury, I think they said. If anybody counted her out, well, she showed them they've got another think coming. She nailed almost every routine. I love to see an underdog come out on top. Goosebumps, anyone?

They all make it look so easy. They're that good! They will finely represent the United States at the Beijing Olympics in August. I can't wait to watch. Makes a girl wanna get down to the gym this minute!

Back in the day, I had Olympic aspirations, too. Here's a funny photo of me from 1977 pretending to be Nadia Comaneci on a makeshift balance beam at my old elementary school.

Sights, Sounds & Smells of a Summer Sunday

How's THAT for alliteration?!

The kids wanted to take their new bubble guns from Nana B. out into the yard. Caroline found her little craft apron in her box of dress-up clothes and thought it would protect her from bubbles. It doesn't take long for their little faces to get red and sweaty heads follow. Eagle eyed John Sam found the coolest rock around. Sam is out front trimming all the hedges and bushes that have gone wild in the rain and sunshine. I love the smell of the yard when the grass is freshly mowed! Our neighbors in the back have visitors--two huge Golden retrievers and a yellow Labrador. They bark greetings to our Tokyo, who makes a mad dash in and out of the garden... not good. She barks back and the ruckus goes on for a few minutes. The sound of the hedge trimmers and then the blower drown out the human and canine voices. As predicted, "Amarillo" (the yellow rosebush) has given us a lovely gift of bloom and fragrance. It's not long before the kids are begging to go in, and lucky me! I get to venture out to Wally World on a solo mission. Tonight, I vow to scrap some because I want to submit a few holiday pages to one of the magazines, and the deadline for it is tomorrow. Nothing like a deadline to get the mojo going.

Flowers of his labor

You're probably thinking, Doesn't she mean "fruits" of his labor? Well, yes, I will be - and it'll be fruits AND vegetables of his labor - but since Sam's garden is still a work in progress, right now we're just enjoying the greenery and small flowers that we hope will produce some tasty additions to our kitchen. Someday. The rains we've been getting have been so good for this garden, and for that, we're feeling thankful. My yellow rosebush has decided she is tired of the red one getting the spotlight. She has five new buds waiting to open! Just one or two more rainy days and she'll be in full splendor.

Summertime Rain

We've been getting rain every single day for about the last two weeks. I love to sit inside by the window and listen to the thunder and the sound of the rain pounding down, and see the lightning bursts that illuminate our skies. The kids don't mind it too much, as long as we've played outside earlier in the day.

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band said it best: "If we're ever gonna see a rainbow, we've gotta stand a little rain."

The Granny Package

Nobody can put together a care package like a grandmother. John Sam and Caroline were ecstatic at the "loot" they got in the good ole U.S. Mail! Thank you, Granny, and as usual, you've got the touch! On Tuesday, Caroline decided to bid a fond farewell to the little wispies of hair that get in her eyes. Her closeup shows the home haircut. Oh gee! Happy Thursday~~~

Happy Father's Day!

John Samuel and Caroline would like to say Happy Father's Day to their daddy! We all slept in--a holiday miracle! Then we had a nice pancake breakfast and Dad loved the card that Mommy helped us make. We didn't even have to tell him that it spelled Dad, he noticed it right away.

If you've still got your dad, call him and tell him you love him. If your dad isn't around anymore, tell him you love him, too. Odds are, he'll hear you. That's something nobody ever gets tired of hearing.

John Sam, Caroline, and Tokyo all call Sam "daddy." We love you very much and Happy Father's Day 2008!

Letter of the Day is "A"

There's a perfectly good reason the kids are holding a wooden letter "a," but I can't tell you what it is yet! **wink** I can't always get the photo I want, yet sometimes I get photos that are very cute anyway. Her hand on his shoulder looks so sweet to me. Wishing everyone a wonderful summer day.

Blog Jumping

There are several blogs that I read almost every day. The amount of creativity some people have is simply amazing. I don't know where they get their inspiration, but I'm lovin' being inspired by them. Give some of these links a click. Hope you enjoy reading them and find a little something that inspires you.

http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.com/
(Warning, Kelly is a sculptor and she does some nudes. So, if you have a problem with that.....)

http://memoriaarts.typepad.com/

http://stephaniehowell.typepad.com/my_weblog/

http://www.catherinebodine.typepad.com/

Keep that sense of humor.... it's critical!

The kids say the funniest things when they're not even trying. It's the unexpected answers to unending maternal questions that make a mother laugh out loud.

Today we took a field trip to Michaels. John Sam wanted to buy markers with the money he had saved, and Caroline wanted to buy Chiclets. I wanted Caroline to get a coloring book instead (since she filled up her Hello Kitty one) so she'd have something to do while I watched Young & Restless (otherwise called the "show-show").

Caroline: I want Chiclets.
Mommy: You should get a coloring book. Hello Kitty one is full.
Caroline: But I want Chiclets.
Mommy: It will rain later, and then what will you do while my show-show is on?
Caroline: Chew gum.

On the way home from Michael's, I reminded John Sam about the Nintendo rules and that it would rain later in the day.

John Sam: I behaved in Michael's, so can I have Nintendo when we get home?
Mommy: Yes, you did behave.
John Sam: Can I play Super Mario World?
Mommy: Not that one.
John Sam: How many minutes?
Mommy: We'll start with 20. What will you do when the time is up?
John Sam: Turn it off?

Just typing that makes me laugh. :)

Beamer #15

Canine Haiku

Face like a person
With soft ears and deadly breath
Yellow Labrador.


Today would have been the 15th birthday of Frannie's Beamer Dorado a/k/a Beamer Haas. B, you are still much loved and remembered, and still a part of our family. I miss you with everything I have.

I wrote this haiku about him in 1999 when I was taking writing classes at Rollins College. It still makes me chuckle.

Short on cash?

If you are, John Sam has been very busy making a little extra dough. Literally! He doesn't mind sharing at all~

My favorite part is Mr. Lincoln's beard. :)

Funny!

"You need to get a myspace page so you can be my friend."

--Laura Jean, as spoken to her sister, upon expressing gentle frustration at not being to share pictures with Kodak so-called Easy Share.

Another last day of school picture...

Caroline made so many new friends this year at VPK. We especially loved her teacher, Ms. Maria, and I got the nicest compliment from her. She told me that working with Caroline this year had helped her better understand her own twin girls. Caroline knows what she knows, but sometimes is a bit shy about expressing it. Reminds me of some song lyrics, "You say you find me hard to handle, well, I'm easier to hold."

It took a gentle guiding hand to draw out Little Green (nee Little Blue!), but Ms. Maria had just the right touch. We'll sure miss her, but wish her a fun and relaxing summer. Caroline enjoyed being the Center Helper and helping some of her friends to practice reading. We hope to see some of them very soon.

Last day of school smile . . .

John Sam is done with first grade! He had some bumps in the road this year, but together we got over them and he accomplished his goals. We're proud of him and as his mom, I must say it's pretty cool to be read to by such a charming young man. We are looking forward to summer activities as the sun gets hotter and the lawn gets drier. Water slide, here we come!

:)