Jul 23
Everyone,
Today has been fun. We all desperately needed a down day, the boys especially. They went down for their morning naps without a fuss and then I went and took one too. Professor woke up about 4 times last night and I am beat. We all woke up about 2 hours later (too soon for me…I was still tired!) and had some lunch.
After lunch everyone had another nap (Butterfly included) and I got things ready to walk to the farmer’s market. Once Butterfly woke up (after having an accident on my bed…again!) and I cleaned her all up and got the boys up, we were able to go. Lala and Vinny came along. Flower pushed the boys in the stroller and Lala and I took turns pulling Butterfly and Vinny in her wagon. I bought apricots, nectarines, and green beans today. Half of the apricots didn’t make it home since Butterfly and Vinny and even the boys ate at least 4 each. It was really muggy with storm rolling in so we were sweaty and hot when we got home.
We ran the last half mile or so in big fat rain drops and made it inside just as the storm hit. Once Lala and Vinny went home, I tried to get our dinner started. We are trying to learn how to cook in our dutch ovens and I thought today would be a good day to do that. Well, it’s no fun to try and keep a fire going in a deluge, let alone cook in it!
Juice came home and tried to get it going again, only to create a big ball of flame and singe his eyebrows, hair, and take all the hair off of his right ear. I was watching and he looked up at me with a very surprised expression on his face, his hair smoking. Good thing it was raining and it put his hair out!
We gave up on cooking outside and cooked our dinner in our dutch oven in the regular oven. Dinner was about 2 hours late. Juice had gone by then to help one of my book clubbers move. Once dinner was done, it was very good!
The coals were still burning after dinner so we decided we should roast some marshmallows. Yummy! Butterfly had a great time and we saw the biggest slug I have ever seen. Juice came home and joined in the fun.
A great day!
Safire
Safirecooking, farmer's market, fire, Lala and Vinny, naps, roasting marshmallows
Aug 27
Everyone,
Today I went with my best friend and my mom to the Children’s Garden here. Between us we had 5 kids. (Butterfly, Pirate, Professor, Cappy, and Spider (Mink’s daughter). We had a great time! Right when you go in there is a huge sculpture of Noah’s Ark. The boat has animals hanging out windows and out the top. It sits in a shallow pool of water and at different times different animals 
spout out water. Since today was 2 dollar day, the place was packed! Butterfly instantly wanted to go into the water and waded a bit before she went with Nana over to the jumping water fountains. She loves the water.
I fed the boys, we changed several diapers, and Butterfly got very wet. So we decided to go look at the bear cave. Butterfly had a ball climbing through the ‘tiny tunnel’ down to the bear. But it was so crowded in there we left. We saw some fish, wandered around for a bit and discovered the stage. The stage was off to the side and we had it to ourselves for several minutes. That was perfect! Both Butterfly and Spider had a great time hamming it up on stage.
The only down part to the outing today was my stroller. I miss my BOB stroller! I think next time I come I may have to risk putting it through the airport. I have 2 umbrella strollers and some stroller connectors so they go together but it’s hugely wide. And the umbrella strollers don’t recline and don’t have shade. Or storage even. It was hard to get them through the crowds. And Butterfly so wanted to ride. Poor kid. At least on BOB she can.
My boys were unhappy today and we decided to head on home a little earlier than we wanted. We had lunch and I hope everyone had a nap. I know we did!
Safire
PS- The fire is still burning, but I think it’s mostly contained now. We are still getting buzzed every 15 minutes by helicopters dropping flame retardant and water on the fire to get it out.
Safirefire, kid garden, Mink and Spider, trips to Utah
Aug 26
Everyone,
We decided to go to the mall today to shop for clothes for a picture that my mom wants to do of all the grand kids together. So as we are trying to get things together and get everyone ready, I glance out the window. Huh, that looks kind of like a big fire on the mountain. (Big being relative as in I am far away and I can see a bright spot on the mountain that looks like a huge bonfire but it’s small at the moment.)
That moment did not last too long. It seemed like right before my eyes that tiny bright spot took off in all four directions and suddenly, the small bright spot was a fire. The smoke started billowing and the fire started racing. We sat on my mom’s porch and watched it engulf the mountain in front of us. My dad mentioned a few tricks he learned as a forest fire fighter back in the day. I took a ton of pictures but my camera battery died so no pictures now.
We did eventually get to the mall after we determined the fire was not going to come down the mountain and engulf the house. To date, over 600 acres burned and about 60 homes had to be evacuated (but were let back in tonight). Wow that thing moved fast!
I am frustrated with boy clothes at the moment. We found a ton of very cute dresses for Butterfly for this picture, but nothing really great for the boys! I suppose my desire not to dress the the same all the time fueled my frustration. I want them to be coordinating, not matching. So to find 2 coordinating things, along with a dress and another coordinating outfit for Cappy was near to impossible. Plus the boy clothes section is pathetic in size compared to the girl clothes section. And why do baby boy clothes need words on everything? Anyway, we left without any luck and a ride on the merry-go-round for Butterfly.
After dinner, my mom and I went back out looking and finally gave up on the whole summer outfit plan (so everyone could wear their outfit again) and went with fall/winter stuff. We did find 3 jumpers that are the same but different colors (one brown, one blue, one green) and a dress that would go for Butterfly. Hopefully she’ll wear it. She has become picky with her clothes lately.
I better go find my battery charger so you can see the fire.
Safire
Safirefire, mall, trips to Utah
