Once again

Back today from the north woods of Wisconsin. It was crazy hot, 100 degrees some days and humid like the inside of a just-used running shoe, which meant we spent all of our time in various ponds, lakes, and rivers. It was beautiful and fun there, and we got to see almost all the relatives... Matt and I went golfing together for the first time in six years with John and Roger. I didn't suck as badly as I thought I might after all that time. Great Grandpa John came and visited a few times. Grandpa Terry built a play set at the campground and dragged the beach at the campground lake, and all around took great care of us.

We stayed at Grandpa Terry's campsite in a popup for a few days, then into Auntie 'Licia's camper for the rest of the time since she has a/c. There were toads, clams, and fish to catch in the lake (okay, clams don't really try to get away but that doesn't detract from the fun for the 3-5 set). Kyra and Nora got to play with their second cousin Amelia a lot, including planning a pirate trip with the map of Wisconsin, and I got to hang out with Melissa, which was bonus!



I learned a few things: brown leeches don't care much for people, but still have their creepy fu regardless (the first one I met was about six inches long!). Mosquitoes live in the grass there, and still like me and mine better than almost anyone else. Clintonville fireworks are still the best I've ever seen. Catching lots of fish is the best ever for the kids, but takes a lot of work for the poor parent who has to keep removing the hooks from those tiny hungry fish and rebaiting the hooks with worms. I cannot swing from a rope swing (no, there is no video evidence, thank you very much). I now know the best way to cook a tenderloin, thanks Grandpa Terry!

Next, perhaps an update on the driveway farm...

 

 

 

The Easter bunny hauled her ass out of bed at 5:30 this morning to put out the 50 some eggs for the girls to hunt for. Not exactly passing along a survival trait, but it makes for a fun morning. I'm going to have to call mum and tell her to come early I think. There was a high level of excitement from the under five set yesterday, and I think our brunch might have to be a breakfast.
Tomorrow the sis-in-law arrives with hub and dot. They at staying at a hotel, but I'm still seeing our house through hostess eyes and cringing about the chipped paint in the door frames and lino that needs to be replaced etc. Yesterday was spent returning things at Ikea, power washing the flagstone, and washing dogs, except for a brief interlude podcasting, which I was completely brain dead for and probably should have passed on. Sigh.
I've been planting the driveway farm. Have beans, carrots, peas, potatoes, corn, and tomatoes in. These are all in very small numbers, mind you. The asparagus has been coming up, but never in quantities large enough to do more than supplement what we buy at the store. I am excited about this year, hoping it does better than last year.
Oop, one child awakes! Not the one who will bounce out of bed ready for the egg hunt, but this means I need to get going.

The weather is so dry here we've been using a humidifier in the girls' room. The other morning when I opened the curtains, Kyra saw the condensation and asked, "Mommy, is the glass melting?" Fantastic!

I picked her up from preschool today and we went to ice cream at the place down the street for the first time. It was really pretty lovely. I had been thinking of taking her for a sail at Lake Merritt but they were closed, so ice cream it was.

Nora fell down at school again and has a deep scratch on her leg from it. She's a brave little champ, but she does crash a lot.