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I thought I'd jump back with a really stellar post but I'm sorry to say that just a post is all I have to offer. Thanks to everyone who has kept checking in on us while we've been off. I appreciate your friendship and that you care about our little family.

These are just pictures I love that show just a smidgeon of the fun our kiddos had with their family in California. When I think about being a kid in summer I feel so happy. I'm so happy our kids are having a wonderful summer. I hope all of you are having a wonderful summer also.

I know I don't need to mention that Sammy had popsicle juice coating all exposed skin as well as most of his clothing after he finished this wonderful treat. He only wants to eat things if he can feed it to himself right now. I think we went through that with Miranda, but Samuel takes that need for control to a whole new level. My mom said the other day that Sammy is the happiest when he has a fork in his hand. Although he loves seeing dogs as well and playing in water.

Miranda is three now, you know, so of course I should have expected it but right now she'll often say, "It's soooo romantic!" about things that are romantic and about things that aren't romantic at all. I love it. She's also into being JUST like her dad in everything. She likes to tell me the ways she is just like her dad and then she wants me to say, "Did you come out of Dad's tummy or something? I think you did!" after which she tells me, "No, I came out of this tummy of course!" and sticks a finger into my nice squishy belly. Which is unfortunate because I do a pretty good job of convincing myself that it's not squishy most of the time. Your kids help you to face reality head on, right? I know it's only going to get worse. I can hear it now, "Mom, you're not going to wear THAT are you?" "Mom, don't say 'rad' that is SO embarrassing." Stuff like that. Stuff that maybe Fernando already thinks. Do you hunny? Don't answer that.

Anyway, she's also into directing everyday life. I think it's hilarious but also good for me as I've fallen out of practice with my acting skills and I appreciate a chance to get back into it. For example, the other day I was sitting at the computer working when I heard her come in, and then shut the door behind her. I was wondering what was up so I said, "Miranda, are you okay?"
"Mommy, pretend that I come into the door and you are just working at your computer, and then you hear something but you don't look up."
"Okay."
She walks in a makes a little noise that I'm supposed to hear but not look up. So I don't look up.
"Then you hear it and you look up and you say, "Did I hear something?"
Alright. So I do it.
"Did I hear something?"
"Then you see my little baby that I'm carrying and you get surprised and say, 'Is that your baby?!'"
Me: "Is that your baby!" suprisedly.
This went on for awhile and is typical of the type of staging I'm required to do multiple times a day. Sometimes it's hard to give a Academy worthy performance because I'm trying to keep a straight face. It's clear to me that she knows EXACTLY what she wants from each make believe scene she enters. It's a good thing she usually only plays with her mom, right? Can you imagine her "directing" kids her age? She'd probably be punched.

Well, the post turned out to be longer than I thought. Fernando made a good joke today but I can't remember it right now. And I'm still plugging away at being and doing all the things I've committed to be and do, and succeeding at very minor portions of all of it. But I'm still trying. That counts, right? Let's hope so.