First Gallery Show

Tillie proudly displayed an original piece of artwork at the hotel's waffle house.

Natural Historian

Travels

Cousin Canon

Local Flora

Traveling Light

Beach Babes

Tillie and Django went to the beach with Uncle Mike and Auntie Amy. Being knocked over by waves, popping seaweed nodules, digging for sandcrabby thingies, building sand castles, finding shells, chasing the ice cream truck, eating Popsicles, and jumping on Uncle Mike. It was an Adventure!

Treasure Map

Sometimes her drawings blow me away!

Anticipation

Tillie is excited about our trip to California.  She made a list of all the things/places/people she wants to do/visit while we are there.  I'm getting kind of excited too!

"Party" Doesn't Quite Describe It

Yesterday we celebrated Camile at her parents' house.  It was the third birthday party of hers that she did not attend.  Our kids are now old enough to run up the stairs to her bedroom and change out of their wet bathing suits and then race back down for cupcakes.  I wasn't a four year old when I did this, but I was still a child with childlike joys.  Like me, Tillie did enjoy the ever-present, eat-what-you-wish candy bowl filled with "nemanems" (even though she was disappointed to discover that M&Ms are all chocolate, never vanilla).  I miss my friend.  I'm glad we all know what to do on July 10th.

Tough Guy

Screen Time

Sometimes they get along.  Usually it involves a screen.  Is this a bad thing?  Mama guilt overfloweth.

Clowning

My niece Wyley impressed me (and Tillie) a while back by making balloon animals as gifts for the 4- and 5-year-olds at her little sister's, Raphie's, birthday party.  She is not yet 9 and already a delightful party guest!

The hyenas feasting:

Freedom

It is fun to teach your kids to love America by having a day off from school/work, taking them to the movies, eating hot dogs and French fries, drinking delicious beverages, going swimming, lighting sparklers, being brave around loud fireworks, and chasing puppies.

How to Drive a Tractor

Step 1: Hop on board.

Step 2: Engage the clutch and put it in gear.

Step 3: Raise the front loader.

Step 4: Put on your farmer hat.

Step 5: Drive away with farm dog in pursuit.

Step 6: Now it's Salim's turn!

Crack-Ups

These two crack me up!