The One True Unsneakable Cookie

Why would you go on an afternoon bike ride in your pajamas sporting an Oreo goatee?



Because it's summer, of course.

;)AL

Post-Beach

It's tough to come home from the beach.

The leaving begins with that long drive, gas station dinners and late night stumblings into a musty home.
Instead of waking up to the sound of little voices begging for more cinnamon toast, I'm greeted by stacks of mail and piles of laundry.

No bacon and coffee waiting for me, so I send Jer out in an attempt to duplicate Mom's beach breakfasts. Though hearty, Bob Evans carry-out isn't quite the same.

Of course we had an absolutely beautiful time at the beach house -- our best yet I think. This makes the coming home even harder.

So I may stay in my pajamas today, get tidied up here and await Jen's posting of our family beach photos. We are a good looking group - prepare to be dazzled.

AL


Post-quiz: Can you count seven cousins in the photo below?

Why I Love Summer

Just one reason of many:

Li in goggles.



AL

Last Day Gifting

Believe it or not, I now have an 8th grader, a 5th grader, and a preschool Bear. That's right, she's no longer a Bunny, but a big chatty Bear.
And it's summer, so I'm walking on air.

Though I usually don't gift the administrative and extracurricular staff, I decided to now, as Max is the first child of mine to have remained at one school for the entire K through 4 experience. I mostly purchased books that I originally fell in love with at the library, each related to the teachers' area of interest: music, art, etc.



The newspaper apples are for Kirby's teachers, per his request. And while they would have been very simple to make, plastic fruit is expensive (a lesson learned from Carmen Miranda) and paper maché is on Kirby's list of 'Messy Things I Will NEVER Take Part In'. These were only $1 each at Michael's.
The Mexican wrestler in blue attached to one package? Well, that's what you're forced to play with if you are sent to the principal's office here. I thought I'd add another little guy to her already impressive collection. Creepy, indeed.

The only homemade gifts this time, based on an item I browsed at Etsy, is the little bottle of GREAT BIG THANK YOU. I distributed these to my PTO ladies, because though pointless, I love tiny things. I found the bottles in the jewelry making section of Hobby Lobby and I printed the notes using a size 6 font.

Thank you Etsy sellers for your creativity, and while I will borrow your ideas, I promise not to sell anything that's not an Al Original.


So I love tiny things and old things... do you think Jer will shrink as he ages?

Happy End of School everyone!!

AL