last summer weekend hoorah that was actually pretty low-key

On Friday we went to Logan to Owen's birthday party (Happy 3, Owen!), then stayed overnight, in theory so John could go help Mike and Bodie mix the new CD, but instead we celebrated our tenth anniversary by going to Fred Meyer Smith's to buy a shelf, then to the parking lot of Chili's where we decided not to go in and get the molten chocolate cake, then to Lee's to buy some ice cream (Spotted Dog Huckleberry Chip and Blue Bunny Bunny Tracks). You are all jealous of our intense partying.

The always-hospitable Grandma and Grandpa Huff.

Saturday we went to the fair, saw fairish things, then let the kids brave infection and abduction on the rides. The Hulk thought he wanted to go on something called the Gee Whiz, but he was grossly mistaken. When it started rocketing him around he had a flidwobbler and was screaming, purple-faced, until the carny paused the ride to let him off. We assured him that Disneyland isn't like that.

pre-freakout

Superman on his way to Krypton in his spaceship.

Saturday night we went to the rodeo, which was weak. I'm not saying I would get on a bucking animal for eight seconds, whether it parteth the hoof or not. I'm just saying that lots of other people do, including most of the contestants in previous years. Whatever.

Today was the first day of school, and Captain America and the Hulk got their chores done on time, ate most of their mush, and got out in front of Vilda's house before the bus arrived. Woohoo! One day down.

I couldn't get a non-blurry picture of the Hulk, but he is handsome all the same.

Tall, blond and handsome.

Captain America asked me this morning why we have to eat mush every day. Umm, have we met? Because I'm mean, duh. John asked if I told him that he's genetically destined to eat mush every day for his whole childhood, because John maintains that he had to eat Cream of Wheat every day while he was growing up. We had mush this morning and yesterday morning, but before that we ate cold cereal (or "prepared cereal," as Grandma Kelly would say) every morning for about three weeks.

of course the lawn mower is broken

So today I was feeling pretty good about myself. Clean floors, clean toyroom, laundry folded and mostly put away, plus I've got some stuff ready to enter in the county fair. Then my dad shows up with my sister to mow our lawn. Poke! goes the pin. Whoosh! goes the deflation of my self-esteem. I feel bad that we bring shame on the family. Someday, perhaps, we will not be creating a black hole with our superfluous suckitude, but don't hold your breath. On the bright side, our lawn looks way better.

please to be advising us

We're taking a trip to California, and we are wondering whether it's worth it to go to the Wild Animal Park. So, please weigh in with your opinions. ALL OF YOU! We've already decided that the San Diego Zoo is not on the agenda, because I am mad that the last time I was there I had to wait in line forever just to see the panda's nasty brown backside, and John is upset that they had seemingly every boring kind of deer you could possibly imagine. ("This here's the Appalachian Whitetail Deer, over there is the Appalachian Creamtail Deer, and way over there is something really rare, we're so excited that we have one, that there's the Appalachian Eggshelltail Deer.")

We're doing at least 2 days in Disneyland, maybe 3, a day or two at the beach, and a day at Sea World. Plus there's the day-plus of driving to and from, because we're poor and can't fly. (You can't see me, but I'm tightening the rope belt around my burlap sack dress right now.) Yay or nay to the Wild Animal Park? Leave your vote in the comments.

it's a miracle anyone survives to adulthood

This is the cooler that was full of pee.

It is no longer full of pee. It is full of water and Simple Green.
Superman is crying now.

While I was cleaning up the pee mess, this is what Pinga did:

She is awash in shame and remorse.

hey, dude-lookin', whatcha got cookin'?

So I look like a dude in all of our family pictures, and our kids look like they're in an altered state of consciousness. Bodie is very talented, to be sure, but either I'm not photogenic, or I'm just not as good-looking as I thought. I'm going to say not photogenic. Also my hair looks stupid, like Carol Brady and Rachel Green had an illegitimate child. Why must I fail at every attempt at masonry?

We have a guy making cabinet doors for Pinga's kitchen cabinet--it's going to be super cute. I will post pics when I get it finished. It's going to end up being not quite the steal I wanted it to be, but such is life. Hey, if I don't do my part to keep this economy moving, the terrorists win.