August 16, 2008

Catching up

I just downloaded, labeled, and filed the digital pics on our camera. In one month we took 172 pictures. This process took me almost two hours, and then I uploaded a bunch of them to WalMart photocenter to order. I like having them organized on my computer: I have file folders for Hope, Grant, Ross, and Dory. I rename all the pictures too, so that I have some idea what they are when I glance at the list. When Bonnie reads this she'll probably roll her eyes and laugh. I am so linear in my approach to projects. Actually, I think the time I invest in filing and labeling digital pictures is one of the reasons I don't blog as often as I'd like. Going through all the photos makes me want to write and post pictures.

I took Grant shopping for new tennis shoes on Friday afternoon. Who knew it would be so hard to find a shoe he liked in his size? We went to Kohl's, Penney's, and Herbergers and each time Grant found a shoe he liked they didn't have any left in his size. It was insanely busy everywhere we went, too. I guess we should have done this earlier in August, but I really didn't think things would be so picked over already. Finally, we went to Stride Rite and Grant found a shoe that 1. he liked, 2. they had in his size, and 3. fit well. I plopped down a bit more than I had intended on spending, but Grant is worth it. Besides, where else would we have gone? Scheels? That'd probably cost even more than Stride Rite. And Grant wears his tennis shoes literally EVERY DAY. He prefers tennies to flip flops or sandals. I know we'll get our money's worth.

Here are some pictures of our summer fun...





August 7, 2008

Poor Dory


I got home this afternoon and opened the back door to let Dory in the house. She was sleeping on the deck, but she didn't come when I called. When I approached her she was so still. When I touched her and felt how stiff she was, I knew she had died. Her collar tag had gotten caught between the deck slats and in an effort to free herself she choked. Poor Dory--she must have struggled so much because the collar itself was twisted twice around at the buckle and the metal D-ring to which her tags were attached was bent. We are sad tonight. She irritated us sometimes, but she had just passed beginner's dog obedience with flying colors and had finally become housetrained. She was a sweet and loving dog. We will really miss her.

A grateful heart

I started going back into the office on Monday, even if just for half a day, which means the kids went back to daycare. The boys are at Jo's until school starts, where they have always been, but because of new infants starting at Jo's I needed to find a new daycare for Hope. It took most of May to find something, but we were very blessed to find Joyce. I'm relieved to share with you that the transition has been quite seamless--Hope seems to like being there and Joyce tells me that she smiles, chatters, and giggles often. She is eating and napping well, too. It's incredibly hard to find quality infant childcare, and to have it be affordable is even more of a challenge. We have been doubly blessed as parents to have found both Jo and Joyce. Thank you, God.

I am required to be back at work on August 18, and classes begin on Aug 25. Alas, the summer appears to be over. It will be nice to see colleagues and students again, but I am not looking forward to the morning and evening rush of meals, dressing, Ross-wrangling, baths, and the like. I will really miss my time with the kids here at home during the day, but at the same time I am well aware that many moms do not have the benefit of summers off with their children. So although I am a bit wistful, I write this with a grateful heart.