baby boo

Aside from being America's favorite pediatrician, T. Berry Brazelton is also the source of Baby Boo Boo's many names. Mandy picked up this book during last Sunday's Savers foray. She also picked up this Baby Boo shirt for 50 cents, just perfect for Baby Boo Boo.


Baby Boo Boo in the Bumbo

the many names of Aaron James

• Baby Boo Boo Brazelton
  
• Baby Boo Boo
  
• Baby Boo
  
• Baby Brazey
  
• Baby Brazel
  
• Brazey James
  
• Brazel James
  
• Brazey J
  
• Boo Boo
  
• Brazelton
  

Yes, it's exhausting. Sleep well, Baby Aaron.

Aim high, Little Man

Last week we won an ebay auction for a lot of 4 Star Wars Micro Machines, which arrived today, much to Jack's delight (and mine, too: they date to 1997 and are mint in package, with the Kmart price tags still attached reflecting a price of $5.99 each and I got the whole lot for $6.25 and free shipping!) We opened them of course, and were exclaiming over them, and Jack was detailing what he would do: "If I made the Sandcrawler, it would come with R2D2 and C3PO holding his leg, and five Jawas. If I made the X-Wing it would come with Luke and R2D2..." So I says to him, I says, "Jack, when you grow up you should get a job as a toy designer." He said, "What's that?" so I explained. He wrinkled his nose and did that sideways mouth thing and said, "Nah. When I grow up I'm just going to look on the ground for money." I asked, "Do you think you'll find enough to make a living?" He said, "I'll take my lunch with me."

the last day of summer for some

One last hurrah the night before Evan's first day of first grade. Jack has 4 weeks of summer vacation left. We'll have a hard time adjusting to Evan's schedule now. Who will go to KidzArt at Bookman's with us on Wednesday?



Really, these kids make me so happy.

4000 words

1000


2000


3000


4000

for Mama Dee's Birthday

when you were born


when you were five


when you were 10 (or maybe 12?)


nursing school?


the man of your dreams


your little blonde angels


the children of your nightmares (the 80s were not a kind time for fashion)


late 80s (what can I say other than you are one hell of a seamstress!)


I'm sure I stole many of these pictures from the shoebox at your house where they're kept. As I type this I'm enjoying a Faygo Rock-n-Rye that I bought in a retro bottle on clearance at Basha's for a quarter. Dave asked, "What's it taste like?" My reply: "It tastes like Middletown."

Happy Birthday, Mom. We love you.

feliz cumpleanos

happy birthday to you


happy birthday to you


happy birthday dear Mama Dee


happy birthday to you



Dear Mama Dee:

We started celebrating your birthday on Thursday at my friend Amy's house, when we lit 3 candles on a chocolate fire cake and sang happy birthday for you, then toasted you with "To Life!" which prompted Jack to sing, "To life, to life, l'chaim." Then on Friday we had a balloon fight in your honor. Mandy and I have been thinking of you and talking about your birthday and what we should do when you get back from CO. We're missing you and thinking of you and hoping you're having a good time.

Lots of love,

Becky, Jack, and Dave

couldn't be any cuter

They love that Brazey J so much!



They love him so much



They plumb wore him out!

baby birds abound (but some may be abandoned)

Cassie scared Mama Dove off these two babies. Pretty, aren't they?


I'm afraid I've scared Mama House Wren away from her nest for good. I spent a lot of time working out on the back patio and I guess she was too frightened to come feed her babies while I was out there. At the time I took this picture one of the three was already dead. I'm staying out of the back yard for the rest of the afternoon to see if she'll come back. This is the third brood this year in the Bejeweled House Wren High Rise. I love watching them nest; the male feeds the female as she sits on the eggs.

dog days of summer

Enjoying a cool spell here. Today it's only 100, not 114.

just hanging around

The boys set up the Playmobil train and a few scenarios this morning. This is my favorite. I especially like the boy passed out with a tankard in front of the grotto.

boys at the barbershop (dueling scissors)

Walk right in, sit right down. At this Cost Cutters they get you in right away.


Jack in the chair.


Evan under the scissors.


The results (at Village Inn afterwards)


And the incomparable Brazey J, who doesn't yet need his hairs cut

we are family (plasticville)

Plasticville


The Original Plastic Village. Snap Fit. No Glue.


We sat around the dining room table last night surrounded by our St. Vinnie's loot. DH and Jack snapped together the No Glue pieces of the Plasticville Contemporary House.


It snapped together rather quickly, but is a little less secure than a contemporary person might like.


(Look at those hands!)


Still, it made for a night of traditional family fun, spinning Oliver! on the turntable and building a model house.

culprit caught snoozin'

This is what our hearts and flowers look like. See the hearts? The flowers? No?



This is what our prickly pear cactus look like.



And the other morning I discovered the culprits snoozing in the wash behind the house after snacking on our plants. No wonder we can't keep plants alive.



There they go.



Sherman, off camera, beckoning to Myrtle and Ethel: "Come on girls, the neighbor's bougainvillea has some new growth. Let's go have dessert." And they walk off, taking their time. I lost sight of them through the underbrush but soon enough I saw the top of the neighbor's bougainvillea swaying and dipping. Bon appetit!