The basics

Things that I take for granted, but which make life thousands of times easier:

Modern appliances

Healthcare

Peaceful Society

Fresh Water

Education

Human Rights

Food

Heat

Shelter

Religion

As I look through that list and imagine life without simply one of these, I get fearful. I don't know if I have what it takes to endure a life without any one of them much less several of them. Thus far I have not been tested, and I think that is a blessing. For all of those who have, it is my duty to be compassionate.

Maybe I haven't been tested because God knows I'm not strong enough.

Hit the Road, Jack!

Goodbye 8 yr old child,

Goodbye 5000 BTU air conditioner,

Goodbye small bale of hay,

Goodbye 3 1/2 dozen eggs,

Goodbye 10 chihuahas,

Goodbye 2 1/2 automobile tires,

Goodbye 1 1/2 mid-sized microwaves,

and anything else in the neighborhood of 55 pounds.

And don't you come back no more, no more, no more no more!

Summer plans

Even though we're only three weeks into summer, we might have a hard time finding a way to get to everything we have planned to do. But at least it'll be fun trying.

Last week we went to Ocean Shores to feel the soft Pacific sand in our toes. It was great. I have no pictures to show for it, sadly. Our camera was not invited. The highlights included a wonderful playground, Joel and I battling each other at air hockey, swimming in the heated outdoor pool in the cold rain, barefoot

runs on the beach, hermit crabs, engineering irrigation systems, dune climbing, restaurants, sunsets, card games, and deer sightings.

After playing the 4th of July fireworks show in the cold and rain, we jumped right into Art Camp for Joel. His teacher was complimentary of his dedication and attention to detail. He got to do some techniques I hadn't a clue about, and we have some lovely artwork to share. His daily complaints to us that camp was too long (3 hrs) and that he didn't want to go back fell on deaf ears. He secretly enjoyed it. And it seems he is a natural artist:

Clockwise from top left: handmade paper (using two-batches in landscape, and abstract with

one batch), oil painting quail on canvas, painted and glazed ceramic tile, oil painted water lilies a la Monet, charcoal drawing of a stuffed toy, and clear glue with chalk on black paper (no idea if that has a better name to it).

We also started swim lessons and violin lessons this week. Joel got a new violin and Jamie got the old one.

We spent lots of time in the sun at the water park. I took Joel on his first grown-up roller coaster rides and water slides, and now he's hooked (as am I)!

Upcoming plans include camping trips, painting clouds in the kids' room, sports camp, a week on Vashon Island with the grandparents and camp, a beach trip to Oregon, 11 days in Georgia. We've begun homeschooling, although it's been rough and intermittent. Our gorgeous garden is growing carrots, peas, potatoes, and tomatoes. And the kids are past the halfway point on their potentially underachieving summer reading goals. So, stay tuned, and I'll try to bring along the camera.

Brothers or Friends?

At the end of summer last year, I remember thinking that we had been having such a fun time together that I wasn't sure if I was ready for it to be over when the boys had to start school again.

Why is it now that I'm almost desperately looking for ways to fill our summer calendar in a panic at the prospect of having two boys who seem to vie for my favor and attention in hardly appreciated ways whenever they are together? I know I'm not alone. I'm looking through the community catalog at those week-long camps that last for solid chunks of time that scream "Errands!", "Pedicure!", "Naptime!", "Workouts at the Gym!" and any number of indulgences that I'm worried about imminently giving up when school's out. Many of them are already full. And I can't help but wish I could meet the mothers who signed their kids up for those camps and give them all a sympathetic hug.

Well, I better wind up the blogging... clock's a tickin'...

Pray for sun, so that we can take all of our big personalities outdoors.

Pray for rain, so that we don't have to pay to water our garden.

Pray for clouds, so that I can finally finish painting the boys' room.

Pray for bugs, so that the boys will have something to catch and entertain them.

And anything else that comes to mind!

We got to have a Party!

Jamie was very decisive about what kind of party he wanted. He wanted to bounce and slide like a king for 2 exhaustive hours, eat cake on his throne, and then be showered with presents from his favorite people. It was a blast!

And we're pretty sure everyone had a great time!

We even managed to photograph his big brother having fun, too, though he worked pretty hard at convincing us to the contrary.

Three cheers for good friends and silly faces!

Finally Five!

For five years of laughter, tickles, snuggles, nonsense, and pure sunshine, I love you, little one!

These are supposed to be sunny cupcakes for Jamie's preschool class. I confess that cake decorating is usually a fun and creative process, even when it means copying someone else's ideas. I can't think of a novel, visual craft of my own, but there really are so many great ideas out there to keep me happily entertained for ages and, not the least, a hero in my kids' eyes. Does that end when they become teenagers?

May I suggest the best birthday present ever? (Thank you, Mimi!)

Kids Day

So, Joel was looking at the calendar and getting upset today. He complained that there's a Mother's Day and a Father's Day, but no Kid's Day. "It's not fair." And then came the tears.

And my response?

"Every day is Kid's Day. Mothers and Fathers have a special day because kids don't thank their mothers and fathers every day for their hard work."

But neither do I thank the kids every day for their hard work. This has gotten me to thinking. I'm too tired, though, to think for long.