The few things I dislike about Summer

We all love summer right? The warm weather, being outside in the fresh air...I could go on for hours. There are some things that are really ANNOYING about summer. I know they don't out weigh the winter's crappiness, but they do exist, so let me tell you what I don't like.

There are only 3 (thank god, any I experienced all of them last night)

#3) Mosquitoes.
I would venture to guess we all hate these little buggers. At least we can repel them. This is why they are at the bottom of the list.

#2) Firecrackers.
Since having children, I have grown to HATE, HATE, HATE them. The people of the neighborhood are always firing them off when my children are sleeping ('cause it's dark). The home schooled kids down the street happen to light 'em up in the street, and scream at the top of their lungs. It kills me. I guess it is that time of year, and not much can be done about it for the next month. Thank god for the sound machines we purchased for the kids a few months ago. They muffle out a lot when they are on the highest setting, although, last night they were awakened at 10pm by the last pops of them. This too can be stopped after 10pm when the noise ordinance kicks in. It's just a quick call to the police station.

#1) Ding Dong Ditchers.

In our case since we do not have a doorbell, the little bastards either knock ferociously, or in the last situation, kick the door so hard the knocker we have knocks with the aftershock. I was watching a movie at about 11pm, when I was startled by the sound of someone kicking my door in. I slapped my husband in the face a few times (who was sleeping in my lap) to wake him screaming "wake up, didn't you hear that?". I heard the punks leaping from the stairs, and scatter. My first instinct is to open the door an let my trusty hound out to "sick 'em". But I didn't. I put Louie's leash on, and walked around outside saying,
"OK Louie, find them. Hey punks, should I let my dog find you, and you can square it up with him? Next time I will, and I'll tell the cops you were trespassing".

I saw a little punk kid scamper across the street and dodge behind a house.

There isn't much you can do. Kids will be kids. I guess it's payback for my husbands behavior as a teen.

All in all, summer is fantastic! If it was only a few months longer.

I'll scratch your back, if you'll scratch mine

My friend Katie and I have begun kid swapping. We started this after we watched each others kids a few afternoons to get some errands done. I finally said to her,

"Hey, why the hell aren't we doing this once a week?"

So, the birth of "Kid Swapping".

I LOVE it!! Who wouldn't? I have 2 free hours a week for anything. The best part is, it's free and guilt free since I then watch her son.

These past few weeks, all I've done is accumulate supplies for my yard. Overall, I have worked a total of 8 hours doing yard work during naptime. It is finally looking pretty nice. I have a few more things I'd like to do, but the maintenance alone will keep me busy all summer when the kids aren't.

Imaginations Gone Wild

Last week, my lovely daughter told me that she was going to run away. I was changing her diaper, and she looks at me and says

"Mom (yes Mom), I onna run way."

"Your going to run away?" I asked

"Yep Mom, run..aaaaway" and she points her finger towards the door.

"Where are you going?" I asked

"I, I , I live at store!"

I decide to inquire further.

"What will you eat and drink at the store?"

Without hesitation, " I eat Thai food, and drink coffee" she replies

"And who will change your diaper and give you a bath?"

With a big smile, "Katie will change a diaper" (she's our good friend).



After lunch today, Vaughn and I were talking about Daddy.

"Vaughn, what is Daddy?" (they usually reply"A Man")

"Daddy a bird"

"Daddy is a bird?What color is Daddy?"

"green, yeah a green bird. He fly away, to far (reaching to the ceiling) to high, can't reach 'em"

"And Mommy is...?"

"A yellow...bunny rabbit"

"What are you?"

"A green bird, no... a bunny rabbit bird" I guess her understands the blending of DNA.

"You are a bunny rabbit bird?"

"Oh" ("Oh", means "yes" to Vaughn, it's an Italian thing I think)

"What is Avery then?"

"Avey a red (her favorite color) bunny rabbit too."

It is so funny to watch how much they imagine every day. I've learned a votive candle can be a baby's bottle, a fig bar bitten a certain way can become a boot for your finger. Spitting water from your mouth makes you an elephant, and a dust bunny from under the couch is a mouse.