Friday, July 12, 2013

I Stand Corrected

I'm sorry, it's actually not been like "Summer in Seattle" here.  In fact, Seattle's been more than doubly dry than us.  According to today's newspaper, we've more than doubled Seattle's rainfall total for the year - 42 inches compared to Seattle's measly 18.05.  WTF, Mother Nature?
There was a point in time when I thought sun showers like this were beautiful.  Now they just make me want to stick a fork in my eye.  Enough.  Already.  (And if anyone is tempted to utter, "First-world problem," beware of forks coming for your eyes.)
 

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Summer in Seattle

Oh wait, that's right, we don't live in Seattle.  It's just that with the cloudiness and rain, day after ever-lovin' day, it's hard to remember that we're not in the Pacific Northwest.  Or the tropics during rainy season.  Or wherever else on earth it rains EVERY.  SINGLE.  DAY.  When the sun does make its rare and short appearances, we dash outside and soak it in.  In between, I think we've visited every indoor attraction this city has to offer.

Or we practice bedtime yoga (tree pose).
 Or we babysit.  Ben has a very soft spot for this cutie pie.
 Or we play Mancala.
 Or we sucker Mom into paying for this "Hurricane Simulator" at the jumpy place.
 
Or we trade baseball cards.
Or we read books about snakes to our sister.  "And the python squeeeeezed its prey to death."
Or we paint on the back porch.  You're getting the picture, right?
Lots.  Of.  Rain.
But occasionally, the sun has poked through and we've taken full advantage of it.



 Go Braves! 
 And other times, Mommy's just so sick of being inside, she makes everyone play outside even though it's sprinkling.  Then, we just get resourceful and make a fort.

Shockingly, it rained on the 4th of July and all of the festivities were cancelled.  So instead, we headed down to celebrate Grandpa's 70th birthday.
 
 And on the way home, there was this moment:
 Heart-meltingly sweet (despite Noah's fake sleeping).
 But no fake sleeping here.  We put the kids in PJs before we got in the car in the hopes they'd sleep on the way home, but Ben complained that it was too light out to sleep.  A little while later, it was quiet and I turned around to find this.  Again, resourceful little boy.
 The next day I celebrated my birthday with my sweet family ... in the rain.
And lastly, you know who this is, right?  If not, you can check her out here and you should definitely get your hands on a copy of her book.  I was thrilled to go meet her when she came through town on her book tour.  Fun moment.

Great Exuma

Jess and I got away to The Island of No Kids Great Exuma in the Bahamas, thanks to the awesome childcare offerings of the kids' beloved Aunt Julie.  It's a place where the natural beauty is almost too much to take in, a postcard with every turn of your head.  And, while I know you're here for the cute kids, I'm going to be that annoying neighbor who invites you over to look at pictures of their vacation, kay?
 
 


 
 And while a starfish that's bigger than your head is pretty amazing, it's nothing when there are ... SWIMMING PIGS!




Supermoon in the Caribbean.

 
 

Beach Trip 2013

  The beach.  Not much commentary needed.  Sun, surf, and siblings.  Word.
 
 Mid-day:  Eliza was napping.  Boys were watching a movie.  Jess was in the ocean.  And I was in heaven:
 
 







Second-Worst End-of-School-Year Mom Ever

So ... school ended a month-and-a-half ago, you say?  Right.  Here's the thing - I was tired.  By that last day of school, I.  Needed.  A.  Break.  This blog post pretty much sums up how I was feeling.  But now?  After a month-plus of sleeping in, beach trips with and without the kids, and four days into a camp where all three are gone for FOUR HOURS?  Now, my friends, I'm feeling rejuvenated (that 90-minute birthday massage last weekend may have helped).  So, here come a bunch (probably nauseatingly so) of pics from our summer so far.  But first, the last day of school:

 
  And this.  Because, while I know it's important not to focus on a little girl's ability to be nice and pretty (awesome initiative on that here), I mean, come on.
On her way to her last dance class.