Backyard camping.

A few weeks ago, R1, W1, and L1 spent the night in our tent in the backyard. They have been asking on and off all summer to go camping, but between moving and school we haven't been able to make it happen. Luckily, camping in the backyard is just as awesome to 4 and 3 year olds. They were giddy with excitement.


Now, this was stripped-down, bare-bones, spur-of-the-moment camping. We ate dinner inside like usual. No fire, no roasted hot dogs, no s'mores.

W1, who is eaten alive by mosquitoes on a regular basis, was sure they were attacking his eyes, and wanted bug spray applied directly onto his eyeballs.


L1 was a great help digging out all the mats and bags, until he discovered that the fleece sleeping bag in it's case could be worn like a scuba tank. Then he was lost in the deep sea of his imagination for the rest of the evening.



H1, desperate to join the fun, dragged a pillow from the couch all the way back to the tent. I managed to convince her that a night spent in her crib in the AC was really in her (my) best interest.



In the morning, there were breathless stories of captured dragonflies, fireflies, and midnight visits from unknown animals.

And pleas from W1 to sleep in the tent "tonight, and every night until it gets too cold".

I'm pretty sure it was a success.

We go here a lot.

It has saved our lives many a time on a cold winter's morning and, most recently, on hot summer nights. I don't know what I'll do when my kids get too old to enjoy it.



Sometimes R1 gets to come with us. It's better than winning the lottery.

One day at the beginning of July

There were Chimney Bluffs,



W1, looking like a kid from the '80's,


Lake Ontario,



A picture of all of us, with W1 about to deliver the match-winning kick from Karate Kid,


The stuffy, sweaty, hot top of the lighthouse at Sodus Point.


and delicious cheese.

It was a pretty good day trip.

Waldo's whereabouts remain a mystery,

because our chief seeker is shirking his duty today.

RHF '11

That's Robinson Housing Fiasco 2011


Here's the short version:

Incompetent bank, miscalculations, lots of time wasted.

Sometimes, real life requires more mistrust and cynicism than I have, or care to have.



Ready for the happy ending?

The day after we found out that we would not be buying a house, a listing for a rental house popped up on craigslist. (The area we want to live in has few rentals, and they tend to be snatched up very quickly.) We called, saw it the next day, and signed the lease the day after that. Easy peasy.

A few of it's strong points? Central AC, dishwasher, 2 bathrooms, 2 car garage, backyard, all interior walls freshly painted.

We move in this week.

I can't wait to unpack all these boxes.




P.S. Never, ever use Chase Home Mortgage, okay? Okay.

A sunny summer day calls for:

A trip to the fish hatchery, pockets heavy with quarters to buy fish food.


W1 and L1 threw food in by the handful, while H1 tossed it in one kernel at a time (is that what fish food is? kernels? pellets?). All while perched precariously on the edge.

(a side note: look how long H1's hair is! it has been growing so quickly! and sometimes it is even brushed and free of food!)


Then, we joined friends on a hike through the beautiful forest. The kids already love hiking, but by the end of the summer, my goal is that they will know that hiking means that we walk along the trail, and keep walking, and keep walking, until we reach the end.


With a few stops to examine caterpillars, hollow trees, frogs, and anthills, of course.

Today I...

...added mustard to my serving of mac and cheese in an attempt to add flavor. It was strange, and I was desperate.

...went to the mall. I hate the mall. But it was all worth it when I bought two packs of kids socks for $2.06. The sock gods are finally smiling on me.

...rocked W1's world when I told him of the existence of The Empire Strikes Back. I'll tell him about The Return of the Jedi at a future time of my choosing. But those other 3 movies? We'll try to repress those as long as possible.

...had to remind myself not to watch or read anything creepy while R1 is out of town. You'd think I knew better.

...watched W1 teach H1 how to say "button".

...was reminded, again, that if I don't record all the crazy, weird, funny, sweet things that go on around here, people will think I'm lying when I recount them 20 years from now.