He's Here...

And his name is Ziggy.

And he's just taken over our lives. 

:)

(and my sleep)

Home

Steve got home last night

after 10 days in Australia and Indonesia.

I'm used to his travel schedule

as are the kids

but this was a long one.

I shouldn't complain...

all the years we spent in the military

prepared me for him being gone.

Steve brings gifts for everyone 

when he returns.

Batik's for us from Jakarta...

A rugby ball for Will from Australia..

He's also started a doll collection for Hannah...

one from every country he visits.

He always smuggles kinder eggs home too.

When we lived in Germany

our landlord, or Oma as Stephen called her,

used to give these to him all the time.

Apparently they were banned here in the U.S.

because it contained a "non nutritive object imbedded in it"

Give me a break.

Anyway, the kids love them.

A chocolate egg with a toy inside.

We're glad you're home!!

Still Summer

It is still summer.

I was at the grocery store this morning

and could not bring myself to buy pumpkins.

I'm not there yet.

It's sunny and 80

and still summer on the calendar.

So Griffy and I went to the beach.

Today was the kind of day that I look forward to all summer long.

This is why.

See that?

Not a car or a person near me.

Except for the guy with his metal detector.

We had the beach to ourselves.

Thank goodness because Griff was C.R.A.N.K.Y.

And then he chilled for a while.

And then he fell in the water 

and could not recover.

So we left.

But, I am grateful for the few quiet hours on the beach today.

Because in a few days..

he arrives.

:)

I'm sad the U.S.Open is over.

If I can't play tennis

the next best thing is watching it.

Such a great match.

The kids and I had so much fun watching!

And Steve has started his journey home.

He's been in Australia for 9 days.

We are SO ready to have him home!!

9/11

my little street

we will never forget

I Hate the Mall

After school yesterday I took the kids shopping.

Big mistake.

I don't know why I put myself 

or my kids

through it.

Will doesn't like anything. 

Hannah likes too much.

Griffy just wants to run through the mall.

Stephen doesn't even go.

Sometimes I really wish my kids had to wear a uniform to school.

Griffy wants nothing to do with wearing fall clothes.

He got up at 5 with me today and has been a grump

ever since I put the long sleeved shirt on him.

He cried, and pulled at it wanting it off.

I told him if he wanted to ride with me to get Stephen at rowing

and take Will outside to the bus

he had to wear his shirt.

And jeans.

Not happy.

So, after the last kid left for school this morning

WE went back to sleep.

It poured buckets all morning

  perfect time for a sleep.

We woke up

in better moods.

 Bagels with cream cheese

and strawberries helps too.

And

shopping online is the way to go.

I'm reading Caucasia now.

Anyone read this one?

I like it.

Around the House

Has anyone read this?

I finished it a few days ago and can't get it out of my head.

I read it in 2 days and basically locked myself in my room to finish it.

I was up all night thinking about it

and woke up the next morning and started re-reading it!

It's that good.

Back to school for me means packing 3 lunches a day and lots of driving.

If I don't like not knowing what's for dinner by 3:00

I certainly can't stand the morning rush and asking what everyone wants in their lunch box.

So, when I make out my weekly dinner menu

I make out a weekly lunch menu too.

These days I'm up at 5:00

FIVE!

Stephen rows from 5:30-7:00 so after dropping him off

I come home and make lunches. 

In the dark.

Half asleep.

It's so much easier to just read off the list what everyone is having.

I can barely open my eyes at that time

let alone think.

My coffee table.

Someday it'll be stacked with interesting books

and pretty decorative things.

And I'll look back and yearn for the days when it held

card games, Farkle, and bananagrams.

Griffy's favorite seat in the house these days.

:)

I Too Go Bus...

...That's what Griffy has cried all morning.

He really misses the kids.

After the last one got on the bus

we went for a walk on the beach and to the playground.

Stephen...a junior this year.

That simply cannot be right.

Hannah..8th grade.

Last year of middle school.

She is on the BEST team this year!

And Will...4th grade.

With an AWESOME teacher too!

Although we were sad to see our summer end

I think it's going to be a great school year.

Happy back to school!!