Weekend pictures

We went for a hike this weekend. Lola came too! The kids playing at a stream.
Aunt & Uncle's sneaky secret birth control plan to recent high school grad who is college bound: "Can you watch River for a minute? I'm sure it'll be fine. M'kay? Thanks."
I do it myself!

Hiking = happy
Daddy & River
Mike holding a crawfish. Moments before he threw it at his wife.
Grin after throwing said crawfish at his wife - who called him nasty things after screaming like a school-girl.

Summer rocks.

We all say things we don't mean just before we get rich...

You have to go here.

Before and After

Meadow was pretty bald until she was about two years old. The only time it's been cut before today is for a few bangs from time to time. Here's how long it was this morning: Apparently she throws gang signs?
Strike a pose.
Not really sure what this is about.
She's had enough of me.
Here's how short it is now in the back:

I actually love it. More importantly, she loves it.

The Daily Show

I posted a clip from The Daily Show last week or maybe two weeks ago. Apparently, it can't be accessed from the you tube embed anymore which blows. So I tried to upload the video from The Daily Show site while I was looking for another clip and, well, apparently you can't do that EITHER. So instead, here's a link that I think will take you to some Daily Show goodness, in case you haven't seen it (although you have to watch a commercial first). Then there's a new clip from last week here.


I think Wyatt Cenac is awesome.

Coming soon: Meadow's first haircut. She's been begging for two years so I think she's serious. Tomorrow my baby girl's hair that has been with her since babyhood will be gone. I'll take pictures and post them after I recover from the shock. (I have no idea where she gets her dramatic streak from.)

City bitch

One time I had this friend. And then we were roommates. And then she saw me washing grapes. And she called me a city bitch. Because I washed my grapes.


And now she washes her fruits and veggies. She even uses a scrub brush to get rid of all the pesticide and wax.


City bitch.

Sometimes being a home owner can suck it

I love having our home. But sometimes, I miss being able to call a landlord. The last few months have looked like this:

• basement flood
• main floor bathroom toilet seal broke
• sprinkler system had to be fixed
• garbage disposer had to be replaced
• garage door broke last night

The garage door and I aren't friends. The first year we were here one of the springs broke and it was a couple hundred bucks to fix it. Next year, the other spring broke and it was another couple hundred bucks. Additionally, it has always been a little psychotic. It opens seemingly without reason from time to time. Which is why I'm an obsessive garage door locker. Then, last night, River and I waved to Mike and went to shut the garage door. It went half way down and then came back up. And then it died.

Note to house: SUCK IT.

On notice:

• Summer colds accompanied by fever
• Elmo
• Anyone who doesn't get the greatness of Tiger Woods
• The old lady who motioned for me to slow down in a parking lot
• The biggest bee I've ever seen, EVER, in my house
• New actors playing old characters on soaps
• The serious lack of bon bons here

Random Picture Post

So I lost the magical cord that puts pictures into the computer from the camera last week. Mike found it Friday so now I can post pictures again!

We had a busy weekend. My parents were here, it was Meadow's end-of-year performance time, and it was our town's festival/fair weekend. And Father's Day! We had tons of fun. I'm just going to go ahead and spout off about pictures and call it good for today.

This is Meadow laughing during the performance with the audience when her side of a "ballet wave" finally remembered to "wave". I'm sure it has a real, ballet name - but I have no idea what it is and you get the point, right?
River this morning. His face is all healed from last weekend's fall. You'll see those in a minute here.
At the parade over the weekend.

This is a picture of the kids and their Aunt and their cousins in the parade. I've smudged faces of people I don't know and stuff that identifies family and the town because I'm a security freak like that.
Before we left the house for the big show.
I know it's blurry, but that's the best shot I've got of Meadow during this part of the production.
Another part of the performance...
She got a black eye about two weeks ago when she smashed her poor eye into something large and metal at a store.

One of the only pictures where Hunter isn't blurry from moving out of the picture because he still thinks it's cool to mess up my attempts to capture his smart ass.
River was giving some love to his cousin with Aunt Lenae at the Farmer's Market.
She's watching River.
Face is jacked up. Picture doesn't accurately depict jacked-up-edness. (That is too a word!)
That's all folks!

A heavy heart

About eight or nine years ago I became interested in politics. I went to my first rally, I started watching political shows, I began volunteering, I got involved. I have been Tivo-ing Meet the Press and This Week for years. I am in shock and I am so very sad for the family and friends of Tim Russert. I can't imagine what Sunday morning will be like without him. Election night won't be the same without him. I'm not even sure what else to say, except that he was a fantastic journalist and he will be missed.

Name that blog

I want a cool blog name. Only I can't think of one. So I want to hear your ideas. If I like it, I'll use it and you will receive my profound gratitude. Cool prize, eh?

So how creative are you? Oh, and for those who know us - no play on the last name please. Security & such. If you forget, I'll have to delete your comment and that just stinks.

Show me what you've got.

Ah-ha moment

NOW I know why Lola hasn't eaten River.

He feeds her bacon.

More random bits

We survived! In fact, it was so much better than I imagined that we may do this again. The kids were great. We took everyone to a park and didn't even lose any of them. River took a spill and is pretty jacked up. I didn't take any pictures last night, but I'll try to soon and you can see. Jacked up.

Also, I am apparently a hippie in my soul. Reason #1: this is one of my favorite things. Seriously, it's awesome. Reason #2: I am totally addicted to this place. Specifically all the ceramics and pottery. Reason #3: I love hugging trees!!!

Okay, so I made the last one up. Does Mike's inexplicable love for all things tie-dye count?

Random parts

We are doing a double sleep-over tonight. One friend for each big kid. We stocked up on snacks and candy and more snacks. Clearly I have gone insane.

Mike lost a bet at work and had to shave his head last week. It was so HAWT! So he shaved it even closer today and it is even HAWTER.

I don't have to show up for jury duty next week and somehow that exempts me from serving for the rest of the year. Woo-hoo!

They finally posted all our grades today and I am free to enjoy the pool without worry.

I hear noise that leads me to believe someone stepped in dog doo... Better go, don't want it tracked into the house. YUM.

Toodles.

She had to expect a certain amount of shit

While listening to the news...

News: "Hillary Clinton is set to end her campaign tomorrow..."

Mike: "Already? {long pause} Quitter."

Me: *laughter*

Gone swimmin'

Lost Daily

Dudes! This is totally funny if you enjoy Lost. It's especially funny if you like Lost and politics. It's worth the 4 minutes - I promise!

A conversation

Ohmigod. She just turned Pink off and put Celine Dion on.

Gross.

We can't be friends.

That's not a we-can't-be-friends-moment, that's a throw down.

For real.

Yes We Can - Barack Obama Music Video

Posting this again because we finally have our nominee!!! Now on to the election in November. Rock the vote people. CHANGE. This is OUR time. This is THE moment. Restore America.

Holy terrible twos batman

I always thought people exaggerated the whole terrible two thing. I've always thought three was waaaaaaaay worse.

Correction. I always thought that until I met this charming young man:

Do you see how he's looking at me like: "Um, are you kidding me lady - with the pictures? Enough already. Pick me up and haul me around or I shall screech as you have never before heard someone screech. Additionally, I require snacks and drinks at will and I detest anything that means no. Again, kindly refer to the screeching portion. Also, you will need to repeat this until we are both so exhausted at the end of the day that you will either gladly put me to bed or poke forks into your eyes - whichever seems faster. Oh, and you'll have to understand that if screeching seems ineffective I will beat you with my tiny yet curiously powerful toddler fists. That is all."

All I'm saying is that it's really good that he's cute and a fantastic sleeper.

Awwww-yeahhh!

This is what I saw last night from the back deck.