Another View from the Front Deck

We don’t always see them, but we often have hot air balloons around town in the summer.  These two came down near our house during sunset.

 

Wesley got out of his bath to see it.  Kinda cute butt.

At the Beach. “Our” Beach.

We took Dwayne’s parents and his aunt and uncle out to see the cabin that we haven’t bought yet (we’re trying!  A post about everything that has gone wrong will be written after we have the title.)  We really wanted to go down to the beach today.  “Walking down to the beach” is as much about the journey as the destination.

The trip starts with a stroll down a forest trail.  It’s unnecessary to tell you that it’s beautiful.


When we got to the end of the trail,we have to leave a few of the party behind until they get their hips replaced.  Again, think journey.

Dwayne counted about 150 steps like this.


Until you get to the bottom where the stairs have been washed away.  Then there’s a few ropes to help you repel down to the not-too-rickety step ladder.  Darlene was not thrilled with this.  Uncle Del helped me down since I had a sleeping Wesley in a sling.


But then we are on a beach that not only is private, but is a smidgeon difficult to get to.  And, surprisingly, we are the only ones there.




I so appreciate that Darlene thinks to take family pictures!


Some one thoughtfully hung a rope swing.

Get your hip replacement hip surgery, and by the time you’ve recovered, we’ll have the cabin, and you should come down with us!

Wesley’s Funny Faces

 

When he’s really on, he can pick his nose while sucking his fingers. 

 

“I can grow my own beard, Mom!”

 

This is more of a mad face.  I bet you got that, though.

 

Wesley doesn’t hold the monopoly on silly.

Nope, Not Dangerous At All

At least one of them is wearing a helmet.

The Jam Team

Traci (who is “cousin-ish”) and I made three batches of strawberry-rhubarb jam together today.  And still like each other. 

Pretty successful, I’d say.

It’s Another 1/2!

I can’t tell you exactly why we make a fuss about half-birthdays in our home, but it probably has something to do with Piper’s half-birthday is just two weeks from Kyla’s real birthday (and vice versa, if you’re doing the math). 

Today, Piper is officially 4 1/2 years old!   This means that she gets to go on a special date with Daddy—breakfast at the local café.  And we haven’t had a kid go there yet and not order pancakes with M&Ms and whipped cream.  And sausages.  And orange juice.  It’s worth waiting for all year!

 

Kyla was so excited for her that she helped Piper pick out something especially festive to wear.  Kyla’s sense of fashion + Piper’s style =

 

There are too many things I adore about Piper to list them all here, but contrary to what I guessed about her two-year-old self, Piper is my designated Champion and Helper.  Her motto actually is “Make Less Work for Mama”.  So today when the band snapped on my unattractive but oh-so-useful watch, she took it and worked really hard on taping it back together for me, even missing the first few minutes of video time to finish it.  You’ll notice there is a big gap in the band where the the scotch tape bridges the break.  I don’t know if it will even survive being strapped back on to my wrist, but now I really love this watch…and the girl who fixed it for me.

 

Watch out for this kid—she’s going to take over the world.  And maybe…just maybe…it won’t be such a bad thing.

Fort Slumber

Between the two of them, the girls have four beds.  They each have their own room and a bunk bed in it.  So naturally, they don’t like to sleep in them.

 

But they do like building forts and last night, Kyla and Piper used kitchen chairs, bath towels and Kyla’s top bunk to make themselves twin forts.  They tucked themselves in and slept all night long.

G’night girls!