Not A Baby Any More

Yesterday we celebrated Teddy's fourth birthday with a barbeque in the back yard.  All the cousins were here, as were aunties and uncles and friends and neighbors.  It was hot out, but the yard is shady, and the kids played in the baby pool we had set up.  Thanks to a very generous little boy named Charlie who had outgrown it and wanted to give it away, Teddy got a swing set in the back yard for his birthday.  The kids had fun playing on it for much of the day.  Here he is modeling the sweater he got from Oma and Opa

Four years old is definitely "big boy" territory (although there's still plenty of crying and whining going on).  He's one of the kids now.

Another big birthday just passed, too, although I'm not sure exactly when.  Pippa turned two some time this week.  (When I adopted her, I was told she was eight weeks old, but had she turned eight weeks that day?  Several days earlier?  It was unclear, so I made her birthday the same as Max's, August 9.)  Look at this picture of her this morning.

Those of you who know her, will see the significance -- she's SLEEPING.  In her bed, during the day.  I was actually walking around from room to room, and she was lying in her bed SLEEPING!

She's been doing this lately, just in the past week.   This puppy has been stuck to me like velcro for two years, jumping up to follow me from room to room, barely closing her eyes when I'm around, so a few times I've actually gotten concerned when I noticed she wasn't underfoot and gone looking for her, only to find her lying in her bed. *Sigh* My babies are growing up!!

My new friends

This is Shady. Shhh. He's hiding from Teddy until Monday, Teddy's birthday. In the background is Aubergine. She's looking for a friend.

Cape Cod Hydrangeas

Hobbies

Recently, I was in a group who was asked what our hobbies are.  One woman said she has no hobbies.  Then, I heard on of Massachusetts's female Supreme Judicial Court justices speak, and she basically said she has spent all her time, her whole adult life, working.

I'm torn.  It makes sense that to be really successful at something, you need to focus your time and energy.  When I think about actually doing it, though, it sounds so dull and . . . sad.

I taught myself how to play the harmonica.  I don't know why.  We had some for the boys, and I picked up one of theirs one day, and then I got curious and looked up how to play on the internet.  Then I bought a "real" harmonica and a book . . .   

I didn't practice yesterday, though, because I was busy making felted-wool stuffed animals out of recycled sweaters.  I got a bunch in great colors from Goodwill, and I use buttons from my collection for the eyes.  I had to stop, though -- time to go to work.

Getting a-head in life

What is it with this summer?

What is it with this summer?  I'm feeling distinctly discontented this summer.  Last year, we went down to the Cape a bunch of times, and it seemed so fun.  Every Friday, we'd pile into the car, grab some pizza and eat on the way down there.  We'd spend some time on the beach, have a couple of meals out on the deck, and head back home on Sunday.  There didn't seem to be any crowds or traffic, and the sun was almost always shining.  This year, every drive has been tortuously long and hot (as the air conditioner in our car became feeble and then died).  It's usually cloudy, and when the sun comes out, it stays just long enough to lure you to the beach before being suffocated by clouds again.  When it's hot, the beaches are crowded, and when it's raining, everyone gets in their cars and sits on Route 28.  

On the other hand, the boys are learning to swim in the little pool in the back yard.  It's still nice to sit out on the deck, and there's nothing like an outdoor shower after a crowded, hot afternoon at the beach.  As Troy said last Saturday, "It sure is relaxing here." I think we'll go back next weekend . . .  

Psst!

Don't tell Teddy:  They aren't really "Power Sticks"; they're cut up zucchini from the garden.