Children
Off We Go!
Roadtrip Day 1
With just a few meager weeks of summer left to us–if was obvious that a huge, wonderful, amazing trip of some kind was in order. Not just any trip, but a real, live road trip.
A magnamonious one.
We are indeed ready and waiting…seat belts fastened…sippy within reach. If you’ve been following carefully, you may have a clue where we’re headed. If not, just follow along.
Here we go!
We have about 7 or 8 hours of driving ahead of us–so toddler entertainment is essential.
Big people entertainment is dang important too. We played the license plate game that kept us busy for a lonnnng time. We even spotted a Maine and Alaska–clear out here in the mid-west. Stunning I tell you. But I’m holding out for Hawaii.
Well, I am.
Pretty easy to tell when we crossed the border into Wyoming because there were THESE stores all over the place, but since the type of fireworks they carry in there are totally illegal in our home state…we just kept on driving.
Til lunchtime that is. Taco Bell is a lovely place to take a break. Oh, and I showed my BagBag–the one made from Taco Bell bags–to the Taco Bell ladies. They told me to send a picture to the corporate because, “they’d be dang impressed.” Who knows? Might be good for a free Chalupa or something.
Most of us were just glad to get out and stretch around for a minute.
Then, of course, it was back in the car, for more…
of this…
and this…
and this.
Luckily, we had a bit of “Ponyo” going on as well. This, my friends, is one high-tech road trip.
Which is lucky, because there was a heck of a lot of this to look at. Beautiful, yes…but after a few hours…
even the most stalwart travelers get hazy.
The scenery was occasionally broken up by construction cones–we have them at home, thank you very much–and…
huge piles of sand. Almost thought we’d driven clear to Egypt when I saw this one.
After the pyramid thing, it was pretty exciting to see a semi-truck filled with Burmuda onions.
Filled, I tell y0u.
At the end of the day we were so pleased with the good natured, patient, happy little travelers we have here.
Yes…yes. What good-natured, patient, exhausted travelers we have here.
Sleep good my lovelies.
We have a big, big day tomorrow!
Beasty
I’d like to introduce you to our dearest and most beloved kitty from my childhood. Laurie and I brought her home in the wagon one day. A neighbor lady from down the block saw us playing with the kitten in her yard and came out and said, “You can’t have that kitty, but…” handing us a different kitten, “you can have THIS one,” you know, like we’d won the grand prize or something. We felt pretty dang lucky–winning the kitty lottery like that, so naturally we took her and ran all the way home.
Now Laurie was a little older than me and much smarter–at the time–so she briefed me on the plan. See, Daddy didn’t particularly like cats. He liked dogs…big dogs…that don’t really get along with cats. But mama–she liked cats, so it would be important to get to mama first, waaaay before daddy caught on. Because if we sold mama on something, then it would be so. She could talk daddy into anything. ANYthing. Trust me on this.
So, I stayed out on the side of the house while Laurie went in to see if the coast was clear. It was. No daddy in sight. We brought the kitty in and she purred right up to mama and that was that. We gave her some warm milk and fixed her a snuggley box bed with an old towel for a blanket. By the time daddy came home that little cat was curled up fast asleep in mama’s lap and we’d already named her Beasty.
Poor Daddy never stood a chance.
The Parakeet Who Was.
When I was a rolly, polly, rubber-doll of a baby, we had this parakeet named Percy. From what I’ve heard he was a friendly sort and let even the scariest of creatures hold him–as shone above. Apparently, we kids could just walk around with a stick or pencil for him to perch on and he’d just sit there like his life was in no way being threatened by the 100 ft. baby. Yikes. The story goes, that 1-1/2 seconds after this picture was snapped those sweet, dimply baby paws grabbed up that poor unsuspecting birdy and gave him the toddler version of a one handed bear hug. My mama had to pry him from my grasp before he became “The Parakeet Who Was.”
Fear not. He lived.
Didn’t particularly care for baby-face Nelson any more…but he lived.
I swear. I can prove it.
You see, he went on to star in several family Christmas cards before finally passing on to the big Animal Kingdom in the sky…of causes completely unrelated to the baby grip of death.
But he always liked my big brother the best.
No earthly idea why.
heh.
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It’s the VERY last day to enter the ClearPlay Giveaway!
Summer Wisdom
These things I believe to be true…
Some damsels just aren’t interested in being rescued…they’d rather redecorate.
The perfect frame will bring the sunshine into any room.
Bruchetta is positively scrumptious with mostly fresh ingredients. More on this later.
There is only one proven way to keep wee folk out of the freezer when there are Popsicles inside.
A variation on a theme of oatmeal is still oatmeal and therefore…good for you.
Watching a cul-de-sac on fire is a splendid way to spend a summer evening.
It is perfectly acceptable–sometimes–to let someone else make the dessert.
Cottonwood is a magical, floating, fairy-like thing…unless it makes your sister sneeze–then, of course, it should be banned from the kingdom.
When you’re not quite 2, it’s really ok to be a great, big chicken.
Water really does taste best from a garden hose.
Amen and amen.
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Those Relations
No kidding. Today is honest to goodness “National Aunt’s and Uncle’s Day.” We love all the sweet aunts and uncles at our place.
What would Lily ever do without Uncle Dane to watch hot air balloons with?
And how would Baby Chomp ever play such a great game of Peek a Boo…
without Uncle “Bald Kid”…
or stay as safe and warm as in Aunt April’s arms?
Aunt Lyndi’s lap is a perfect place to watch a parade from…if you’re baby Beckham.
And positively everyone wants to be on Aunt Jillian’s lap–all at the same time.
We are so blessed to have the loving family all around us as our babies get bigger every day. What beautiful lights they are for these little ones to follow…
indeed.
What about you? Do you have a favorite Aunt or Uncle?
Happy National Aunt’s and Uncle’s day!
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