Just a swingin’

 

The swing that Uncle Brian hung in the tree in our front yard a year and a half ago has been used on a nearly daily basis by many small children. Today, it bit back.

Think I should help her?

Sterling, revised.

One little boy’s freckled, speckled nose

now holds a pair of blue spectacles.

He’s enjoying the game of pretending he’s upset about them.

Every so often, though, I catch him making faces at himself in the mirror

and smiling.

9 months.

Little Man Pierce is getting so big. He’s now 9 months old. He’s finally broke through his first tooth. He can pull to stand on me, but hasn’t pulled up on anything else yet. He doesn’t crawl, but he does try to scoot. Mostly it just makes him mad. When he’s mad, he’s been known to hold his breath until he’s purple.

Temper, much? He’s sweet often, crabby often, and rarely anything in between. He loves his Momma, his brother, and his swing outside. And riding on boats. And anything engine-like that makes a loud noise.

He has been 9 months for, um, 5 days now. But since I’m not a full month or even a week behind, I’m saying it’s on time still. My blog, my rules. Sort of.

A boy after my own heart.

Pierce has a new favorite food. It even trumps Momma’s milk.

Espresso ice cream.

Don’t ask me how I know.

Give away smell-away?

Dry Idea sent me a free deodorant to try out – and three coupons to give away to you, my lucky (and sweaty, if your climate is anything like mine these last few days!) readers.

Dry Idea took me through a camping trip. No one complained, so I’m going to say it worked up to it’s claims. You can find them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/dryidea and also at www.dryidea.com.

Care for a coupon for a FREE Dry Idea AdvancedDry deodorant so you can stay fresh too? Leave a comment and I’ll draw for three winners on Monday.

Your loved ones will thank you.

25.

Tonight, I made zucchini boats for supper. I mixed them up, got them in the oven, and they had to bake for 25 minutes.

In 25 minutes, I gave two boys haircuts, the same two boys baths, and took a shower myself. I made it just in time.

But if you see a bald spot, a crooked cut, or a few hairs missed - just remember: 25 minutes.

Home again.

After 10 days, 2,147 miles, one dog, and eight people more or less living out of a 12 passenger van for the duration, we’re home. In one piece. After driving all night and arriving home this morning at 6am, we’re all a little exhausted. Me more than the kids – so much for a nap.

The van is a disaster. If we get it emptied and vacuumed today, it will be a grand accomplishment.

We camped, fished, saw friends, saw family, saw the badlands, chased after the runaway dog, turned the radio up louder to drown out the baby’s protests to his carseat, and turned the radio up louder to drown out the toddler’s protests to her carseat. We ate more hamburgers and hot dogs than I can count, and slept in multiple rest areas when we couldn’t stay awake to drive any longer. We weathered one rain storm, one very windy night, and just a tad of hail.

I did dishes one time in ten days. I washed one load of laundry in ten days. Many, many thanks to Grandma for her laundry and dish washing services and Uncle John for taking on the dishes we all dirtied during our time there.

Now, to go get pizza for lunch. Why break the no-cooking run now? Coming soon: photos. Just as soon as I get the camera unpacked. And maybe a nap.