What a difference a week makes

30 degrees. Weather should not be a major preoccupation in the modern era, but living in a little house with little insulation, a poor heating system, and no air conditioning changes that a bit. I check the weather before getting dressed in the morning and before planning the days activities and outings. Last week the high temps were hovering around 100 degrees. Today it didn't reach 70. I enjoy warm summer days, but that is a little much. It isn't so much the 100+ outside as it is the 85-90 inside that gets to me.

Leaping lizards

This morning I went out to pick up the patio umbrella that had blown over. As I moved it a lizard scuried out from underneath. How cute, a little lizard, I thought. It wasn't moving very fast since it was still a little chilly. I like having the little bug eaters around. I just don't ever want one to find its way into the house. I moved the umbrella closer to the house and started to put it up when a second lizard fell from the top. It startled me a little and I was certainly glad it hadn't dropped on me. When I looked up I saw the shadow of a third lizard sitting on top of the umbrella. I was pretty glad that it was on the top and not the under side. I don't mind the little lizards in the yard, but I don't want one scurrying down my back. Then I saw the fourth lizard on the underside of the now partially raised umbrella. This one gave me the shivers and I jumped back a bit. Buddy boy thought it was fascinating and pulled a chair over and climbed up to get a closer look. After a few minutes in the sun the one on top ran to the edge and jumped off. The one on the underside was probably to cold to move much so I tried to help it out by shaking it off. It stuck. I tried some more and finally knocked it down. It fell to the table and after a minute in the sun was able to move when I dumped it off the table. I'll have to watch in the mornings outside and beware of the sluggish lizards.

It's Raining

Buddy boy loves to make it "rain". He waters the flowers and also waters himself in the process. He has fun, but we have to change clothes afterward.

Boats and beach

Buddy boy just can't stop talking about our trip to the beach. He climbed on rocks and watched the boats at the yacht harbor. We weren't there very long, but it was a lot of fun. There was a volleyball tournament at the beach that Buddy boy found interesting. So interesting that I had to pull him out of it a couple times. What a nice evening. We like going to the beach in the evening after the crowds have gone and you can park reasonably close to where you want to be.

Lots of fun.

Toe muncher...

She found her toes a little while back and tasty things she thinks they are too.

Arrgh matey

We had a fun little pirate birthday party for Buddy boy. His favorite books lately are How I Became a Pirate and Pirates Don't Change Diapers. He can quote the first page and a half of Pirates Don't Change Diapers. It is pretty funny. Everything is all about pirates and treasure chests (when it isn't dinosaur bones) so a treasure chest cake was perfect for the occasion. No pirate party is complete without digging for treasure so we made a map and hid little chests full of chocolate treasure in the garden. I think they likes the chocolate better than if it had been the real thing.

A Snoofy?

A snoofy, what's a snoofy? Buddy boy kept saying, "Snoofy, a snoofy". I couldn't figure it out. There didn't seem to be any particular pattern to it except it was usually when he wanted to say something to me and he often pointed up while saying it. I didn't know if it was a noun, a verb or what. Well, I finally figured it out. A snuffie is Excuse me. What a polite little boy.

Favorites this week

Favorite foods:

'stacios and Bunny Mi-mallows. These are the favorite foods for the past week or two. What's a mom to do when Buddy Boy wants 'stacios for breakfast, lunch, and suppper, not to mentions snacks in between. Then it's the Bunny Mi-mallows for dessert. I can't blame him. I like them too.

Favorite books:

Do you notice a theme here?

Trucks Trucks Trucks by Peter Sis

Fire Truck by Peter Sis

Pancakes Pancakes by Eric Carle

Running circles

One of Buddy Boys favorite activities lately is "running circles" which is pretty much what it sounds like. We go out into the front yard and chase each other in circles. There are a few rules I have discovered as I play. 1) This is not a 1 player game. It requires at least one other person and preferably a grown up. Little sisters are allowed, but seem to damped the fun a bit. 2) There is no particular objective. You aren't trying to get anywhere. It is more of a process driven activity. Just running in circles, a little chasing and tag, a little spinning around and falling down, but mostly just running in circles. I would feel a little silly playing this game by myself, but we have fun together.

This made me think a little bit about how easy it is to focus on the objective or the purpose of something rather than just enjoy it as it happens. Much of my day is spent doing things that are quickly undone or that are just a part of the daily process of keeping the house and home together. As much as I like to get things done and feel like I have accomplished something it turns out I like running in circles sometimes too.

More baby pics

Here are a couple of the latest photos. She is really starting to smile a lot now. I love it.