The Mother of Geese

I am often told that Max is a dead ringer for this little guy. What do you think? Since everything tastes better outside (plus I don't have to worry about that pesky after-dinner sweep) we are eating on the grass a lot lately. (deck progress is slow and steady FYI) Don't worry Max ate a whole corn on the cob. Little piglet. I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that my Jack Daniel's Ribs are a first food right? (have you tried the EZ marinades? they are so EZ and so delish.) Aunt Anne said he is looking less like Jack Jack and more like this character. What do you think?

In the good ole summer time, In the good ole summer time, Strolling thro' the shady lanes, With your baby mine. You hold her hand and she holds yours, And that's a very good sign That she's your tootsy wootsy In the good ole summer time. After the mass crypto outbreak last summer I have been a little hesitant about public pools and poo-poo panties. Its just wrong to have the runs in the summer. So we'd like to thank Costco for sponsoring our water time activities these days. (boo that the super big slide was gone, but we love this one!!!)

I love summer. I have declared it over and over again this week that I can SO DO SUMMER! I love the town I live in. I love that it has these fun traditions that we do every year that mean the start of summer. (Oh, and I also love that I had the power this year to do a great big old VETO this year on the children's parade activity. Remember this post? In the past we have gone to the fair on Family Night, meaning all rides 1 ticket or something like that. It is usually a great big reunion where we see other friends and family. This year we decided to go on: Carnie Night (And I ain't talkin' Carnie Wilson): Where Meth users unite in their purpose to rip off and hate children at the same time Or how to spend $25.00 on 4 rides. While in line for a ride I spotted this and told Anne we HAVE to take a picture of it. Classic. When my children handed in their tickets to ride the carnies REFUSED to smile. Come on! How can you resist joy like this? Max does this parade princess waving ...

My kids and I watched this while eating Cheez-its. So very awesome and American

So I thought I should update the lost fish situation. Abbie found it (several days later...) in her craft bin. (gag) She lovingly found a wet paper towell and wrapped it up with tape (because she said she wanted it to be comfortable in heaven). Nice. Yesterday I am at the sink doing dishes and she comes over with "it" wanting to re-wet the fish corpse wrapped in paper and tape. I convince her to please have a proper burial and a funeral so we can have some closure on her fish. I go to the toilet and say a few words. Big tears start flowing down her cheeks. It was a tender moment for the both of us as we flushed a good friend once and for all. In other news, the circle of life continues because last night we found 4 more baby fishes. Seriously.

Lost: One fish Name: "One of the baby ones" Last Seen: Unconfirmed Location I'm upstairs folding laundry. I hear someone walk up the stairs and wait for awhile. Finally, gathering courage Abbie comes in. Abbie: Sorry mom, but I was holding one of the baby fishes and I wanted to see what it felt like and I lost it. (choking down sob.) Me: (bad mommy came out today and since I am SO NOT IN THE MOOD for this I say)So we're killing fish today? Is that what's on the docket for today's activities? (Amelia catches on to this and is yelling Abbie you fish killah!) Abbie: What? Can't you go find it and we'll just put it back?! Me: (finally starting to settle in that she LOST the fish, not as in LOST the fish like its passed on...)speechless. Brad, seriously, you know I am not a pet person. The fish tank is nasty. The suck fish and the snail aren't doing much to combat this "allergy" issue. Come home and find the shriveled up dead fish then clean t...

(This post works better if you sing along) aaaaaaaaaaaaah! aaaaaaaaaaaaah! aaaaaaaaaaaaah! (Take your places) aaaaaaaaaaaaah! Can we fix it? Yes we can! (chorus) Brad the builder Can he fix it? Brad the builder Yes we can! Brad, Mom and Abbie and Melia too. Max-y and Yeow-ey join the crew. Brad and the gang have so much fun. (?!) Working together, they get the job done! (chorus) Time to get busy. Such a lot to do! Tearing out the old stairs With lots of poo. (not really..it just rhymed) (chorus) Loading ugly Betty With all of our hud. Working all day And feeling the love. (not really...it just rhymed) (chorus) Renting the ground hog Having so much fun Digging the holes It got the job done (but we fought in the morning about who was going to take it back. It was me. Not part of the song. And it doesn't rhyme. But its part of the story.) (chorus) Time for the concrete And help from cool Andrew They worked super late Cuz that's what dudes do (chorus) Time for the wood part I don...

I do. You may think this is just a plain old picture of Max. Notice the bruises on either side of his head? Plain old bruises? Nope. Devil horns trying to sprout. Need proof? He's a biter. Exhibit A My shoulder Exhibit B Amelia's arm Exhibit C Not suitable for this blog. So either the bruises are from his early attempts at crawling, devil horns, or me flicking his head when he bites my bits.

Step 1: Make sure you brag to everyone you know about how your family didn't get sick at all this winter. Think how lucky you are that your family didn't get a cold, RSV, strep, the flu, scabies, lice, staph infections or anything else. Think you are in the clear because its almost June so you are good to go. Step 2: Get ready to be spanked and sick Mother Karma Style. Step 3: Make sure Brad is out of town/on his way out of town. Step 4: Amelia tripping out all night with fever. Administer Tylenol and call Dr. Doublebooked in the morning. 10.00 co-pay + 10.00 antibiotic. Step 5: Max honking like a goose and barking like a dog in the middle of the night. Go to instacare for breathing treatment and decatron shot. 20.00 co-pay + 10.00 antibiotic. Step 6: Get sick yourself but you are way to tough to even take a nap or sleep in to get rid of it. (last I checked scientists have only been able to clone Dolly the sheep and she died anyway...so...can't really clone me...so......

I won this lovely contest and I'm so very excited. It has forced me to reckon with the 97 blogs I read (I wish I was kidding about that number). In the spirit of the new look I have an annoucement. I love you, but I am not linking anymore. I don't think I'm better than you---I mostly don't use my links anymore but... Promise you won't get offended if I get rid of the links? There is just way to many to keep up on--I love you, but I'm not linking anymore. We're good then? Good. get ready for the makeblogover. (oh, and how is the training going for the 10k? Awesome, especially with the supersized spoonful of chocolate frosting I just snagged from the fridge and am typing with the spoon still in my mouth. whoops. chocolate drool dripped out on my sweatshirt. Yes, sweatshirt. June 4? Sweatshirt? Suck it Al Gore). Stay tuned for my request to fill my ego.

Abbie's graduation from kindergarten? Riveting! Me taking over the garden duties and being all bossy so it will be a better system? Fascinating! Progress on the deck? Progressing! First day of Summer? Exhausting! So I'm not going to blog any of it. I just mentioned that it happened so I think I'm good. Also, this week I'm going to make my sorry self do google reader or I'm not ever coming back to blogland.