Thursday, June 28, 2007

Sweetie






Our daughter. Nora is nineteen months old and amazes, shocks and interests me on a daily basis. First off , she is a Scorpio and can throw a mean temper tantrum. Just the other day we were at the park and she DID NOT want to get back in the bike trailer. For anything. She screamed and flexed and by the time I got her in, the local camp kids were gathered round. I was sweating. Just can't quite shake that biological panic reaction when she is screaming. She continued to scream the entire way home. Fifteen minutes in the bike trailer. Who knows what people were thinking. When I looked back, I saw quite a picture. Nora was sprawled out horizontally across the trailer in Drew's lap (don't ask me how she did this strapped in). She was crying and screaming and sweating while her brother, pressed to the side meshing of the trailer, was calmly eating every last cat cookie in the baggie. Turns out she was just tired.

They make such a wonderful pair. Their yin and yang personalities really compliment each other.

But Nora is so much more than a screamer. She is also sweet and smart and full of life. She gets it, everything. When it is time to go, she gathers the family shoes and puts them on the rug. When it is time to eat, she gets plates and bowls and cups out of the cabinet, enough for a crowd. And she takes care of her babies by diapering, swaddling and feeding them. She says,"go, no, drew, Daddy, Mommy book doggy, spoon...and really lots of things...she is starting to bust out three word sentences and we have a feeling once she starts talking she won't stop.

My little Nora belle. Growing up too quickly in my opinion. She belongs to the world.

Friday, June 22, 2007

Time to sit back and unwind....

Although we have had a rough couple of months, we still are enjoying summer and the kids! We have had lovely weather and Drew and Nora have been backyard warriors, playing in water, sand and the grass and trees...
Ahhh, summertime.






These are pictures from the lavender festival. Val, Mom, the kids and I took a little day trip to Morseville to this lavender farm. It was a lovely little spot with lavender fields and a really cool house and barn with woods and a stream running out back. They had some musicians playing the flute and sitar which really set the relaxed mood. After the festival we went to a famous Indiana style cafeteria for some good down home cooking. It really was great!


Happy Summer Solstice! Gretchen, Jen and the kids all came over for a sweet little celebration. We sang, did yoga, read about the solstice and made painted suns and ribbon wrapped grape vine wreaths. It was great and I loved celebrating the longest day.


Willow and Joe enjoying a rinse.


Paint the paper Drew and Gabrielle!



This is a picture of Val and Drew at my parents neighborhood pool. We love to swim there and often have the place to ourselves!

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

RIP Kismet


Kizzy last week.

Kizzy, six years old (2001)

Paw prints in the car, heart worm meds sticker on the calender, blanket in the family room are all reminders that Kizzy is gone. But the hardest part is when we leave or come home...she is just not there.

Kizzy was diagnosed and died so quickly that I am still reeling from it. Yes, she was old, but not 16 like val's coworkers dog. Suffering belongs to everyone, but lately we seem to be holding more than enough.

We are so sad to be without our dog and by the calls and emails pouring in, we know that she was special. Not just to us.

She was my girl. She slept in between my legs for a good portion of her life. She was our family and we miss her.

Monday, June 4, 2007