back at the ranch

relaxing with the Beasts


the Beast that never relaxes


Nothing to do around here.


Maybe I'll watch TV.


Or maybe I'll watch a movie.


Can you believe it? They're playing Playmobil!

sushi sunday

We went to Kampai for sushi lunch on Sunday. Of course, Bin and I are the only ones who ate sushi, but Evan enjoyed his shrimp tempura and the tofu out of his miso, and Jack proclaimed the sesame chicken to be "Delicious!"


Practicing chopstick skills inevitably gives way to...


...perusal of Pokes.


Afterwards, Jack chased Evan around 1st Rate 2nd Hand, trying to get pictures. He snapped a few good ones.


And a few not-so-good ones.

arms and legs

Look who's back! Feeling better


getting older


here he comes


there he goes


reaching for Pillow, aka The Other Mother, aka The American Piz


Aunt Becky, will you play for me?


missing Daddn


here's brother


hugs for cousin


the Big Boys make smiles


that fork


Mamma's fork


practicing skills (for MamaDee!)


chickpea for Mommy


now these beans


family dinner


Jack tells, in detail, about his favorite SpongeBob episodes


after bath art


before bath art


hard at work


after bath Brazey

thanks, Dad

Thursday morning, Summer Kids Club at Crossroads Grand Cinema. Waiting at the ticket counter for the Tuckers to arrive.


They're here! They're here!


Aunt Bin told us Brazey felt a little peabrish. Evan panicked. "What's peabrish?" He has a little fever.


Seemed to enjoy the movie, though. George of the Jungle. It was pretty funny. Worth my $2 anyway.


Then we took him to Mrs. Tiggy Winkle's Toys. He likes the train table.


We took The Big Boys, too. They also enjoyed the train table.


And other things, like Roby


and swords.


Jack supervised play at the knights' castle.

We had a quick lunch at Chipotle. I had to go to camp, so Bin took the boys to her house. Later they went swimming with Uncle Dave. We were getting ready to eat crock pot roast for dinner when we decided it would be a good idea to take Brazey to Urgent Care. He felt terribly peabrish, but didn't register a fever when we got him there. (Good thing Mama Dee didn't come to Urgent Care, because a tattooed dude sat in the waiting room with his 3-year-old Patagonian Conure. Apparently he'd been in the middle of cleaning the bird's cage when his friend called and asked for a ride to the Urgent Care, because she'd had a severe skin reaction to topical anesthetic used on her lower back for her most recent tat. What could Dude do, when Bird's cage was in such disarray, but perch Bird on his shoulder and drive Friend to Urgent Care? Squawk!) Doc diagnosed Brazey with a double ear infection and prescribed Augmentin and ibuprofen suppositories. A speedy visit to UC was followed up by a not-so-pleasant visit to Walgreens, but finally we got Brazey back to my house, got him bathed and medicated, and he seemed to be feeling better.


He even drew some pictures.


With help from his friends.


Wish I could relate a happy ending to this story, but Brazey seemed to already know that his night wasn't yet over. Tuckers headed for home 45 minutes after Brazey had his meds, long enough, I judged, to be sure he'd keep 'em down. Not so. Poor child puked it up in the car, and then again when they got home. Poor Baby. Poor Bin. We're hoping for speedy recovery.

We went to see Mad Science at Bookman's on Wednesday. Here's Evan amongst the crowd enjoying the show. Couldn't keep Jack in his place; he was jumping around like a Jack in the Box.


Brazey posed in front of the sheet music.


Tiny smile.


Safe


Show not quite over, but Evan also jumped out of his seat to join us at the back of the crowd.


Feel the love.


If you go to Bookman's, you know you gotta go to Jeff's Mountain View Sports...


...because it's all about the Pokes.


Then on to Beyond Bread, where these two hungry boys played rock/paper/scissors to see who would gain the privelege of eating a tiny crumb of chocolate chip cookie before the meal arrived.


I think Jack won.


disappointed


but never mind, because here's your turkey and chips, and half a grilled cheese that Jack shared.