Smiling Just At The Edge Of The Frame

new favorite

It's like Ferris Bueller grows up and becomes an villainous Congressman

The Summer Ends?

 We're forming traditions. The GDS Fair is one of them. Equal parts rusted rides and busted livestock. Plus there's a carney that genuinely believes I'm the guy from The Hangover and for a fleeting moment I get the VIP treatment. 

Pregnant lady on the ferris wheel!

How many rides can you squeeze into frame

Not a master at the rope climb yet

She insisted on the pink dragon

 Met Susie and Eileen so they could guide us thru the chicken house

Round two, well into the night

Watered Trees To Watch Them Die

song of the day

I don't go to enough parties that have panthers, or listen to enough music with saxophones

The Whys Are Unclear

I want this. Do you know them? It still works if you don't. European slang or penultimate gentle-math-rock midwest band of the 90's. Take you choice...

My Guts Go Nuts On Cronuts

A few weeks ago we won the lottery. That is to say that after three weeks of trying we finally got thru to the Dominique Ansel bakery and got us some cronuts. I've never had to schedule a baked good before, nonetheless drive two hours to actually get it.

It was totally worth it

This is the line I didn't have to wait in

There they, are in all their coconut-y glory

I had to stop Laura from licking the box

I ate two right off

I led a little treasure hunt thru the city, of which the reward was the prize, but when I ran into Greg I just gave it to him

After a little thunderstorm came out of nowhere, basically cancelling our day in the city, we headed over to IKEA and got some ideas for all this home remodeling. Yuula ride me the whole time so, that was fun.

I have just the place for this

On the ride home I ate the final cronut, since they only have an 8 hour shelflife, and shed a single tear as the final flaky morsel dissolved in my mouth, knowing full well I will probably ne'ev gain dine on such a delectable confection. That is until I start making calls this Monday. September's flavor is figgy marscapone!

3rd Annual Come-Stand-In-Our-Backyard-Wearing-Casual-Attire-To-Partake-In-Discussion-On-Current-Events-And/Or-Common-Interests-While-Eating-Hamburgers Day

 Seems like everything we do all summer builds up to the party we throw. I say this because I haven't lifted a finger to even water a plant or trim a bush since Sunday. Maybe I'm just beat. Probably I'm just beat.

Matthew was eyeing these girls, and eyeing their watermelon.

This patio was the surprising gathering place of the geriatric club this year

Thanks to Tyler the kids had something that kept them more than occupied

When dusk fell we broke out the movies and they fell right in line, adorably

Place looked nice

The next morning we had a dozen for breakfast and Yuula gave the kids checkups, as she's known to do

We had a quick cleanup Sunday evening and when the dust settled I found myself completely alone on the backdeck with a beer, and it was good

Not Even For The Tacos

I have not watched a single game, a single inning. I did hear they won today.

I could care less. I heard they lost Harvey to possibly Tommy John.

I care a little.

I don't know if I've finally given in to the absolute boredom that occurs while watching a game, nonetheless of a terrible team, or if I just genuinely have better things to do.

I'll go with the latter.

I guess it's still possible that we go to a late season fall game, get Yuula a new life experience, eat some of those delicious Citi-tacos.

Mmm cilantro.

Somebody find us some cheap tickets.

Last Within The Week Of

Summing up is all I have the will to give right now. It's probably all you have the will to take.

Yuula did the Peanuts dance at Panera

We had a complex game of musical chairs

Laura busted out that pregnancy gown

I had major invasive toe surgery in a janitors' closet

We signed Yuula up for dance classes

She got a tent and an old carriage

Dave and Cheryl came to visit

I Just Might

song of the day

I won't

Mountain Folk Make Birthday Fun

Seems like I'm always playing catchup as of late. This was quite the week. Start where we left off.. the girl turns three...

We took her and Isabella to the park in the woods, amusement on acid, where the staff is all friendly because they're all family, Knoebels. I'm still not convinced you should pronounce the K.

I guess we came to the right place

 

This carousel hit 45 mph before the final passengers could buckle up

The cutest helicopter pilots

This gives Laura the heebeegeebees...

...see.

But they were having some fun

Then we gave them more sugar

I'll stick with my extinguisher

Where's the rest of this train?

Daddy's favorite ride

She's got a thing for ferris wheels

And then she got inked

Before we pulled out of the parking lot

Back at home we had cake ready

 One step closer to having the credentials to back up those daily checkups

Grandpa can never clock out

So that was her birthday. Her actual birthday. But it was only the beginning of what apparently became a week-long celebration. Don't get used to it girl. You only turn three once.

She Three

Laura cried last night after we put her to bed. Something magical about the age of two, now gone for her. But I have a feeling three will be fairly exceptional. Learning to spell her name, dance classes, now she can play with all those toys labeled 3+... The world is her oyster. At three. Four is a different story.

While I waited for the girls to wake up this morning I checked out who shares Yuula's 8/20 birth stamp. I don't really know what relevance these connections have (other than none) but it's fun to think there is one and how it speaks to Yuula herself. The list is long and complicated, but we'll overlook names like Fred Durst and Slobodan Milošević for the likes of Isaac Hayes (speaks to her funky soul tendencies), Ron Paul (speaks to her sense of personal freedom (hopefully)), Robert Plant (speaks to her ability to go solo), Don King (speaks to her misguided gusto), Amy Adams (maybe she'll grow into her red hair), and Al Roker (her ability to go to extreme measures for a little extra screen time?). 

Oh and this guy, who just happens to star in a Beach House aptly named birthday video...

Neither here, not there, it's her birthday and we're off to have some fun.