Idyllic Day of Sailing- not...

These two people had a blast...after we put the kids on the committee boat. We raced three races-one with children screaming- we got third in our division out of three on that race and two races without screaming- we got second and first. We had a blast, but I must say that I have sore muscles where I didn't even know I had muscles...

We gave the kids the option to go to a friend's house or to go sailing/racing at the lake. They both chose sailing. We should have known better...they HATED it.

Some of their statements included: This is the worst day of my life. Why does my dad have to love sailing! I hate sailing. I would rather be home... in bed. Assorted screams and cries... I don't want ice cream or a movie or anything except to go home. Take me home!

So when you look at the rest of these pictures...they look like they had a blast? Right? What changed? We asked them. While on the committee boat they watched two more races and watched a boat capsize. They said that they saw that they just rolled the boat back over and they were fine. (Of course T and I said this...but they needed to see it...) Whatever it was, we had a fantastic sail after the races.

Positively Happy!

Positively happy to see Ms. Rose and her friend!

Together they have taught Sunday school at Unity Village for over 100 years.

Now, that's bragging rights!

Fun times at Lake Jacomo

Oliver worked hard on diving from the boat and his famous "pencil dive" off the rubber boat. Sadie swam and jumped and pondered important questions like this;

Hey Mom- can you touch the bottom? No.

but Mom- could a giant touch the bottom?

If a giant jumped in, how big would the splash be?

Instead of sailing- we dropped anchor and played!

Swimming, diving, jumping of the rubber boat- good times.

Surprise Houseguest

Sadie's dream come true! She gets to babysit my grandmother's dog, Sassy, for a few days. She woke up to Sassy in bed with her. Such elation, such pure joy, for both of them!

Amazing

One random day I stuck calla lily bulbs in the ground and look at what I get year after year!

These? We have no idea. The only thing prospering in our garden are the random seeds from some of last summer's compost....any idea? We are hoping for watermelon, fear cantolope (no one's favorite) and suspect pumpkin. Whatever it is, we are going to have tons... What do you think?

Beat the heat...

Did we have any idea how much time we would spend at the neighborhood pool when we bought this house? It's the main reason we can never move...that and we have a little bit too much stuff...

A friend from Maryland emailed me this morning. A lovely "how's life, great here" email. In it, she asked if it got hot here. HA HA HA- heat indexes over 100 all week! Humidity at the maximum setting... Yes, Amber, its hot here!

If we're not home- check the pool!

Learn to Sail Class 2

Most people know that we have been sailing for years, but I finally sailed on my own on Saturday. T bought a wooden boat for Oliver and Sadie to use in their sailing class. (If you are keeping count, thats sailboat number FIVE, but we sold one, so we only currently have FOUR...)

This boat, unlike our others, is SIMPLE. When we sail I am always the crew- translation- hold this, reel in on this, untangle that, get me that... you get the picture...) On Saturday, I hopped in Oliver and Sadie's boat and took off for the center of the lake. Traf was hollering directions, do this, that, sheet in on this, put the tiller in the other hand...and I just took off. He doesn't understand that I am a learner by doing, not by hearing directions!!

It was SO MUCH FUN. This simple little boat was so easy to sail. I could use all my years of experience and actually skipper this boat! Without anyone, yes you, Traf, telling me what to do, I could feel the wind, navigate the waters in the direction of my choice and truly enjoy the experience...at long last.

So while out on the lake, I pretended it was my boat and I lived on the coast and was out for my morning sail before heading back to my beachside bungalow to write my book...ah, a girl can dream...

LakeFest 2009

We spent the entire day on Saturday at Lake Jacomo. First, learn to sail class, followed by Open Sail Day (sailboat rides provided by Jacomo Sailing Club) then Lakefest. Lakefest is a big outdoor festival on the grounds of the lake, a boat parade and fireworks. The boat parade included decorations on boats- Crazy KiteMan Trafton used...kites. Obviously boat rides and swimming were the highlight!

The Itty Bitty Rubber Boat Rides again...

Talent Summer Camp

Sadie and Oliver attended a summer camp called Unity's Got Talent. They had classes throughout the week, field trips, and a culminating talent show! Here are some images from the week- in completely random order! Enjoy! Sadie singing "Puppy on the Front Porch" at the Show. You can't see her little hips shaking in the picture...

Sadie loved this experience!

One of the field trips was to the Puppetry Arts Institute (http://www.hazelle.org/) where the kids viewed an amazing array of puppets and marionettes. They also learned about Hazelle Puppets and made their own. Everyone got to choose a "head" to paint and then the volunteers (all 75 years old or older...) sewed their heads onto the body they chose. After the puppets were created this woman pictured (doesn't she kind of resemble a puppet?) gave them a little class on how to do a puppet show. And, then each puppet got to get into the puppet stage, introduce themselves and share their "puppet story." PRICELESS. This place is a true treasure. Sadie's puppets name is Sofie, I believe, and surprisingly to all who know little girls, she is a princess. Almost all the 5-6 year old girls chose the same rubber head and created princesses... Oliver created a princess eating piranha. He actually ate anything including his friends owls, frogs, bears, bunnies and after his piranha ate them he exclaimed, " CHOMP! And they were never seen again." This was extremely cute the first 432 times...

Painting the piranha.

Playing checkers with a worthy opponent...How did she do that!?

I volunteered several days and assisted Ms. Francie. Good times

Drying the princesses hair.

On stage in a sleeping bag and flannel pajamas performing "The Alarm Clock Rings." A song about a boy abruptly awakened by an alarm clock on Saturday morning. Complete with smashing the alarm clock, blasting it into space and a dramatic wake up dance.

Lots of new friends.

Sadie's song was about a girl who finds a puppy on her front porch and takes her in. Like that would ever happen in our life!? Ha!