Raising Savages

  <- Just because I love this picture of Matthew lying in wait for his prey. In this case, his cousin Kayla and sister Kassie (as well as any unsuspecting grandmother, aunt, or others who might come his way).

He's armed and dangerous with a nerf bow and the armband tattoo is a real nice touch :)

Score!

  Sometimes I have nothing to say (and yet, inexplicably, still say it). Today is such a day. I have a deadline tomorrow so no one is safe. Be warned.

Just a quick page from the album to show that soccer isn't all kicks and glory. Sometimes it's just standing around waiting for the action to come your way. Matthew did get a chance at some action and can kick that ball out with the best of 'em.

Otherwise, though, it really is true that goalie always seems like a good idea and then ... isn't.

Nothing

I've been kind of down lately and it has been suggested that I'm having a mid-life crisis? Um, what???

Don't I get a Corvette and a comb-over or something with that?

I'd hate to think I'm at some half-way point and don't know it but then, maybe I passed it years ago in which case I DEFINITELY don't want to know. (Really, there's a bright side in there somewhere). Oh well, I guess the way to look at it is the only alternative to getting older is NOT getting older - and who wants THAT?

Just to prove that I really WAS young once, here is me at age 6 (just, y'know, 24 short years ago ;) ) with my baby sister, Cara. I'm sure, at the time, I thought she was my own personal doll and I got to keep her. Sadly, no. Probably for the best, however. I did have a propensity to cut off all my doll's hair and paint their lips and cheeks with permanent marker. That might not have looked so good on her.

Manly men

So the manly men are back from the "Lad n' Me" cub scout campout. First, kudos to the Cub Scouts for coming up with the most emasculating monicker imaginable for an otherwise cool enough event. Lad n' Me? Seriously?

I still can't really say it with a straight face.

A good time was had by all - but yet again it rained. This prompted Brett and Kevin (former survivors of the much touted "rain camp Labor Day '06" to call me throughout the evening and chortle "it's cold, it's raining, my sleeping bag is WET! -- all that's missing is YOU KYM!!" and then hang up.

Funny guys. Good dads. :) They sucked it up (soaked it up?) and spent the night - all except for K. (you know who you are Kevin!) who slunk on home.

Not sure if that makes him a quitter - or just smarter than the rest of my friends :)

Rain rain go away

I suspected I wouldn't be much good at this blog thing and darned if I wasn't right!

Just a quick and pathetic recap so that August 24 isn't the last thing herein.

Spend Labor Day weekend camping with friends. I use the term "camping" very loosely here, mostly to describe standing in a cold, driving rain while huddled around a fire and under a canopy for warmth. Yes, we did have the canopy OVER the fire. At that point, I was figuring that if the canopy went up in flames, at least we'd be warm, however briefly, when the fire was burning above our heads.

We spent Saturday through Monday believing in our hearts that CNN was right and the weather would clear.

It sure did - on Monday. Just in time to pack up all those wet clothes and go home.

This is our weekend.

Friday - set up camp in rain.

Saturday - 3:00 a.m.-ish - wake up soaking wet as tent dumps gathered water on my sleeping bag.

Saturday - all day. Huddle in rain (see above).

Saturday night - A FIRST: travel to laundromat and spending evening drying out sleeping bags which, as it turns out, won't dry when hung out in driving rain. (See above).

Sunday: See Saturday, rinse, repeat. Brief flurry of activity when friend's child falls from scooter and breaks collarbone. Dustin (breakee) notes wryly that "I'm always with the Seabolt's when I break something."

Who says we bring nothing to the party?

Monday. What is that bright golden orb in the sky? Could it be? Is it sunshine? We recoil in horror unsure of ourselves. It's been so long. We don't really recognize the sun. Children take brief, one hour tour in pontoon boat. We all race to the docks to watch Coast Guard oversee recovery of a mini-van that has been completely submerged in the lake. This was terrifically exciting for quite some time. It is sad that this is so. Van is recovered without incident (or anything really interesting happening).

Come home. Do laundry for ten days straight attempting to catch up.

Repeat to self: "I love camping. I love camping. I love camping."

Happy (Almost) Birthday To You!

Happy (Almost) Birthday To You Dear Granny!
I'm sure all the family joins in wishing you a happiest birthday ever tomorrow (with plenty of cake and "Granny's Frosting" to boot!)

We love you!

P.S. You know you can add "comments" (readable by all) by clicking on that link below. Feel free to share a good "Granny memory" if you wish :)

I’ve been told that if I were a cartoon character …

I've been told that if I were a cartoon character, I would probably look a lot like this

Honestly, I think it would be more: