Camp David

My friendly neighbor and I have joined forces in these summer days and our 2 kids are enjoying their home-made and free summer camp, named after the Camp Owner, her teenage son David. The kids have had a very popular iced tea stand to make money for their punk rock band. Today they made tiny food out of Play doh. They also have a scooter circuit through the neighborhood. I am going to miss these days in the fall!

I paid a fortune to highlight my hair today and I don't even know why I did it now. It sucked sitting in the chair not being able to see anyone. I don't like getting my hair washed and I think it looks too bold. I was told that young people choose chunky highlights and older people get subtle, so I went with a little of both. I was trying to do something for myself, I think I'd rather have gotten another tattoo, lasts longer, its cheaper & less painful!

I can't stop thinking about this family http://hannahandlily.blogspot.com/ who just lost their beautiful 6 year old daughter. If anyone reading this could just keep them in your prayers. There is nothing harder than losing a child.

Summer is such a weird time, it can be the most fun, most free time of year. It has some of the best memories for me of any season. Yet, losing my son in the beginning of the summer 5 years ago changed the whole atmosphere for me. I can still feel the sinister side of the warmth. It seems like the worst accidents happen in the summer.

I am hoping for as much peace as possible for these people. I found every picture of this little Hannah to be inspiring, she looks like a girl who had a wonderful life.

A boy & his uncle
Dressed up for battle
working a machine

Another high energy week. Off we went to Pa to see Cool Uncle Mike, we explored his cool town and had dinner in his cool pad, on the roof. In between we went to an awesome children's museum & saw some beautiful farmland. The week flew by in a blur after that sweet start: I had my breastfeeding group, a great meeting with an amazing and informed large group of mamas. Then, 2 birthday parties in a row at the same house. Hanging out with friends and taking long walks in the morning, just bambino and me. Now today, 3 of us have been sick with fevers, but we are improving, ready to face another week of summertime.

Messing around with close-ups on one very hot evening.

7

My 7 year old reminds me of myself at 7. He is free to roam around and play outside. I was let loose on our compound in Saudi Arabia.

I would knock on the doors of all of my friends and sometimes they would play--but most of my memories are of me exploring by myself in the 120+ degree heat of the day. He does a circuit of our neighborhood each day trying to get somebody to come out and play.

My son rides his scooter, I rode my bike. He never takes it personally when kids don't come out, he keeps on cruising. I remember being told my friends were grounded by their parents & I just kept on rolling.

It probably seems weird in this day and age to let your child out by himself, but our neighborhood is filled with kids and is pretty quiet and calm. I think playing outside without me is important for him. My son and I are both the oldest kid and both of us lost a sibling when we were almost 3.

My parents were the opposite of overprotective of me and I'm the same way with him. I love seeing him out trying to find fun by himself.

A little one on one time with baby in the middle of an otherwise hectic play date at the "bald eagle place."

Its been a head spinning week. Oldest boy had magic & clown camp and we all went to the magic showand Creature-no-more had so much fun with a balloon hat and getting his face painted. The teachers did some amazing tricks. The next day was one of my best friends 40th birthday party, it was off-the-hookness! Everyone had a great time and the crowd was filled with interesting people & great conversations, all that I wish for at a party. Then, it was the Folklife festival in DC on Sunday & a playdate in the "bald eagle place" on Monday. Yesterday we tried to rest & today its a party with all of our favorite neighbors for the 4th of course.

Enough about us, I noticed something weird at clown camp. There was a little girl, probably 8 or 9, and she had a shirt on that said, "I might like you better if you shut up once in awhile." (Now, when I first saw her I was hoping it didn't say, "I might like you better if we slept together", like the 80`s song, but you never know in this world of Bratz dolls) So, anyway, I thought her shirt was rude & the girl herself was very rude, constantly grabbing magic tricks and crashing into people. After the 3rd time this child crashed into me I grabbed her gently & told her to stop crashing into people. She looked surprised. I love kids and I'm not blaming the child, but why would somebody raise a rude kid & be proud? The mom just let her wreak havoc & this child really stood out, there were more than 70 kids but only one that was totally unaware that she was not the only one there & you couldn't miss her.

Every week when school is out I try to have at least 1 or 2 days devoted to outings with the boys. This week my mom was able to be with us and we had such a great day Thursday. First we went to a greenhouse in a local park completely filled with butterflies, they were from all over the world & they hatch and live in this greenhouse, sometimes they land on you too. Its so relaxing in there except that it was the hottest place I've been in a long time. It was like a quick trip to the hottest day of the year in a Costa Rican jungle, although I wouldn't know because I'm too scared of spiders to go to Costa Rica.

Then we had a picnic in a nearby park & Karl rode alone on the zebra on the carousel for the first time. His older brother was in magic & clown camp all week so it was fun to just let a 4 year old do his own thing all day. We explored at his pace & it was great.

First Gardenia Bloom

I didn't think it would ever happen & then it did...One beautiful bloom on the Gardenia and it was so steamy outside that it showed up on film. And then it was the first Morning Glory & 2 perfect red Hibiscus blooms too, what a great way to start the day, a day that was devoted to my 4 year old sweet little boy.

New Zealand, sauvignon blanc central...

Is that beautiful or what? I'm going to buy more summery S. Blanc just to keep that landscape the way it is.

3 days at the beach

A quick getaway to Assateague/Chincoteague with my friendly neighbor's family. It was great weather and small waves for easy swimming. We climbed a lighthouse, had parties in the backyard of the adorable old house we stayed in. Now, back home again, I miss it.

Creature is 4 and not a Creature anymore.

He has finally emerged from 3 to be a sweet and happy guy most of the time. Hopefully the every-other-hour tantrums are gone. He was so happy to be at his favorite park, "the bald eagle place" with a few friends from his preschool. His older brother was the tour guide on the nature walk, and the pinata breaking was actually calm and not the usual hysteria. It was a great day!

A sweet creature at a party making his way over to his hammocking dad.

I just heard about 2 babies that were recently brain damaged after routine circumcision. One died http://healthblog.ctv.ca/blog/_archives/2007/5/22/2967860.html and one is permanently disabled. Here is an operation with a 10% complication rate, yet parents are still not given the facts, and I am just so sad about these two precious boys.

its Superhappy Baby!

Love one Another

"It is not so difficult to develop a loving attitude toward yourself and others. Rather than searching for shortcomings, love searches for any sign of light and strength. It sees how far each one has come, not how far he has to go."

Train

Train

I took the little guys on a train for kidz near us and it was a beautiful cool & clear day. It was a stay at home mama thing to do that I know I won't be able to do forever. I made new friends and did some excellent people watching.

A wonderful visit with one of Baby's friends, the precious daughter of one of my oldest friends. The Creature was fascinated with her adorableness.

It was a long week, the AC, computer, phone & car all needed fixing. The husband was in Texas for work. His return was celebrated with a happy hour and some happy boys wearing their new shirts from San Antonio.

Womb rooms

I am so glad that some Neonatal ICU`s are being improved. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/29/health/29baby.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1180792734-8KZfOTMjaK5l7xZYZSN/1Q

When my oldest was in the NICU I thought it was the most depressing place I'd ever seen. It is wonderful that little babies are being saved that might die without intense medical care, but its so hard to go from pregnant-one with your baby to being totally disconnected from your baby as baby is connected to wires and tubes. Keeping the baby close is good for everyone and its so obvious.

Many moods of the Creature

Impish,
Self assured
& curious.


Its been awhile since I did this: