The Enquirer

Emily has an inquisitive mind. I think she may one day become a journalist who digs deep for the big story.

Maybe she'll be a detective or private investigator. She loves Nancy Drew.

Possibly she'll unlock the mysteries of disease and genetics as a research scientist.

Em is always wondering how things work or what people are doing or any number of life's little puzzles.


This is when things slow down and she isn't asking, delving, questioning to know for herself.


Any guesses what this is?

It's what stopped Emily from landing on the driveway.

This is the view straight down from Em's window.

It was after ten last night when the girls were finally getting ready for bed. We heard Emily cry out and found her with a scrape on her arm. "What happened?"

Em said she'd heard some older kids outside at the neighbors' yard across the street. Of course she was curious, so she put her face against the screen, cupped her hands around her face and went for the big look-see.

Happily we're in the market for a new screen and new window treatment (the blinds got trashed) rather than a neurosurgeon. No traumatic brain injury, just a little scratch. We're very grateful Emily's okay. Hopefully she'll be more cautious the next time she gets curious.

Not 20/20

This is a picture of Emily as we were getting ready to go snorkeling in Cabo San Lucas last fall.

So happy!

This is a picture of Emily after we went snorkeling and her glasses went overboard. The cutest glasses ever, now live at the bottom of the Sea of Cortez.

Very sad.

Emily spent the next 3 days blind. She was a good sport about it all. And she now has extra cute glasses again... when she can find them.

Love this girl.

20/20

What do you do on a Saturday morning when you can't find your glasses and you want to watch a show with your sister?

Get creative.

We got these nifty prescription swim goggles for ten bucks at swimoutlet.com. Who knew they'd be so versatile?

I came downstairs to start a load of laundry and saw Em wearing these. She didn't stomp around and get frustrated looking for her glasses. She simply found a solution. She's a problem solver that girl.

Thankfully Em hasn't lost her glasses on a Sunday morning. I can't quite see the blue goggles with her Sunday duds.

{Remember when George Kastanza lost his glasses at the gym? He ended up sporting his goggles as well. Ahh Seinfeld.}

Sweet Ralphie

Sweet Ralphie Prancer

1995 - 2009

Today our boy died. He had a good long life, nearly 15 years. He only barked when the doorbell rang. (he hadn't barked in a long time as he was deaf and couldn't hear the doorbell anymore.) He'd been losing his eyesight for some time and in recent weeks lost all vision. He was getting hurt running into things and falling down the stairs. It was time to let him go. Even though it was the right time and the kindest thing we could do for him, our hearts are aching.

Rich built a casket and we buried him in our yard in one of his favorite places. Emily wrote her goodbye on the wood and taped a doggie treat on as well. Sarah and Emily filled in the grave. Sarah did it almost singlehandedly... she insisted.

We love him and will miss him dearly. We're hoping tomorrow will be a little better.

The Whistling Season

I just finished this book a few days ago.

It's not scary, suspenseful or action packed. There are no passages filled with passion. It's just a beautifully written story. Mind candy.

I highly recommend it.

Cabin Finale

[Warning. Cuidado. Ridiculous amount of photos ahead.]

This post wraps up the tale of the cabin '09. If you were curious as to what we do there when we're not riding four wheelers or eating, speculate no further.

My fabulous sister-in-law Connie is the camp director. Every year she sets up some craft activities for us. It's supposed to be for the grandkids, but there are usually some grown ups who jump right in as well. It's very therapeutic. This year, Megan (assistant camp director in training) had so much fun doing tie dye at girls camp, they decided to do it at the cabin. Megan led the way with this activity.

Badminton court clothesline

The artists

We do puzzles and play games. Rummikub and Racko are faves.


We do some target practice.

We read.

Hang out in the playhouse.

Multitask. Note the remote control laying on Dad's lap.

Scene from 1980:

I turn off the TV. It's after midnight.

Dad- "Hmnh? What? Don't turn that off Sis. I was watching that."

Me- "What were they talking about?"

Dad- "I'm not sure, but I'm listening to that."

Me- "You're drooling. Goodnight Dad."

Some people like a glass of warm milk. Some like the glow of the TV.

We cook so we can continue to feed. Rich & I are making bruschetta. Megan & Connie are making roasted corn salsa with fresh lime, cilantro, avacados, etc. Oy.

We unwind.

Next activity. Custom covered journals with all the scrapbooking supplies a girl could want.

We observe.

We graciously pose for the annoying daughter with a camera.


We wrestle. New this year but it was so fun,

we may have to bring it back.

The clinch! Hona going for blood.

Tatiana triumphant.

We have the best time. It is our girls' favorite event of the year. I think they were more excited for the cabin than they were for our cruise last fall. Thanks Connie for getting us there and to Joyce and Earl for sharing. Thank you to my family who makes it a priority to be together. Love you all!

The Cabin - installment 2

One of the fun things about staying at the cabin is all the four wheeling.

Yay for Uncle Tony! We love it when uncles take us for rides.

Often, you'll find a group of us on the back porch. It's a great place to sit and watch the parade of 4 wheeling enthusiasts go by. There's a little path that runs around the cabin so this is a good spot for waving and sending our riders off into the wilderness. Okay. Dirt roads. But thats pretty wild for some of us. It's also the perfect spot for photo ops. For example, how on earth could we pass up this splendid opportunity? (see photo below)

This my friends, is the white and delightsome leg of my brother, Tony. Please note the black sock and black pants exquisitely framing the flesh. It is a tad blurry and overexposed. I was just laughing so hard it was difficult to concentrate on photography. Tony is a very sharp dresser and generally speaking, a fastidious man. Way to shake it loose Tonyboy.

Little Henry, Megan (recently crowned 1st attendant of her high school's homecoming royalty - she truly is all that) and Sarah bear.

Big Henry with his girls.

Rich and young master Henry. "Twice around the cabin and then down to the beaver pond will be fine James."

This photo was taken 2 years ago. When the grandkids were on the smallish side of tiny, Tony and then his boys Clark and Chase in turn, would hitch up the wagon and take the little ones for rides. When did they get so big?

We are missing Chase. The people of Chile are blessed to have this young man serving among them for two years. I'll say it again. We are missing Chase.

LOVE this pic. Love my baby and her papa more.
Life is so good.

{stay tuned for another installment of The Cabin}