A Saturday in pictures

At Stony Brook State Park.



We had perfect weather and an all together beautiful day.



The park was really busy and there were lots of people hiking and swimming. But, with some careful editing, I managed to cut all of the scantily-clad women out of our photos.



You're welcome.

(Because, really, how can you hike in a bikini? Swim, sure. But hike?)

I'm not really sure what to think

Having not read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies yet, I can in no way endorse this...

Oh, and on an unrelated note, I thought this was funny.



Can you tell that the kids are asleep and R1 is at school?

Something else I have to carry around

As if my bag wasn't already heavy enough.


Well, at least it is useful.

It gets me into one of these, which is conveniently parked in my driveway.




(it is, as W1 puts it, our new blue station wagon. I think R1 cringes every time he hears "station wagon". He suggested W1 call it our new blue race car instead...)

W1 turns 3

After a weekend full of W1 asking, "Have my birthday party now?", today was finally the day.


Dinner consisted of leftovers. Lame, I know, but when I asked W1 what he wanted for dinner, he didn't seem to care, and I really didn't want to turn the oven on today (our thermostat reads 80 degrees with the window AC running). And hey, those leftovers were delicious, R1 told me so, and he is always serious.

We had the requested chocolate cake with blue frosting.


Messily enjoyed by everyone.



And then, the much anticipated present opening.

The result? Quiet, focused playing for the next hour until bedtime. Beautiful!

Expect tasty bread

- if you visit our house. That is, if I manage to create the breads described in this book:


R1 gave it to me yesterday for my birthday. I have been dying to get my hands on it, so I am especially excited to have my very own copy!

To describe my birthday yesterday, let me just tell you what was on the menu:

• Waffles with fresh peaches, strawberries and cream.
• Popcorn and chocolate milk with W1 and L1.
• Chipotle burrito (I am fully converted to the carnitas-and-pinto-beans-are-the-best-combination camp).
• Ice cream cake made by R1.

It was a fun and delicious day. Thank you to all my wonderful family and friends!



(and now I will spend today recovering and eating mainly vegetables.)


(and leftover ice cream cake.)

Ummm, no.

...is how W1 responds to a good many of my requests/questions.



K1: Go get your sandals on so we can go outside. or Are you ready for breakfast? or Did you push L1?

W1: Ummm, no.




Lately, I decided to listen carefully to determine whether he could have possibly picked this up from me.



W1: I want candy. or I want to pee on the carpet. or Mom, can I have 5 cookies?

Really, how else can I respond?




Did he learn it from me? Ummm, yes. Yes, he did.

As I work off my free-burrito-induced stupor

(thanks for the heads up Amy, and thank you Chipotle for stepping in on a night when I really didn't want to cook dinner)

• W1 has a new quirk. He likes for us to all hold hands and then he says that we are "all together". This also applies to his cars lined up side by side ("Mom, they are all together"), stuffed bears, food, etc.

• I am slowly working through Team of Rivals, and enjoying every single page. But, I've also been watching Gods and Generals at the same time. The Civil War timeline in my head is getting all mixed up.

• I really want to make a couple of these. Anyone else?

• L1 says an amazing number of words (W1, who only said one or two words by his second birthday, being my frame of reference). Water is still his favorite, but he also frequently says diaper, more, milk, juice, cheese, up, down, go, ball...

• W1 turns 3 in a week and a half. I already asked him what type of cake he wants. His reply? Chocolate cake with blue frosting. Interesting.

I'm sure we have other things going on. Just can't think of them right now.