Ordinary Life

A few evenings back, we took our dinner by the pool :  Riley models dollar store couture... bathing suit, goggles, & water toys- all a buck each.    To see her all decked out, you may never guess she prefers sitting on the steps or clinging to my suit straps... 

Independence Day was a beautiful day for a picnic on the beach:  Beach  Baby (there, on the sand)  Boogie Boardin' Dude: And Dudette:  Pigskin Passers: Team Boogie:  Castle Building (& kicking) & God Bless Freedom of Press:

Clay took the children shopping for few items to get them through the warmer months. Riley LOVED her new things. She brought the clothes into the living area and hung them all neatly on the television stand. She then took them all into her room and hung them on the dresser pegs. For an entire day, the clothes moved between bedroom and living area. She was very upset when I eventually moved them into the closet. She wanted to keep them on display, like decorations. :) 

Still trying to catch up on the 'family photo album' aspect... just a rare shot with all children in the frame... and a bonus snapshot of Clay walking past... I love Riley's resigned expression in these:

PaPa and Grandkids @ Waycross 2013 This is one of those days that leave me tongue tied. Not for a lack of good things to say. Rather for trying to find a new way to say what is good and true and known and noteworthy about the man that is my father. And then to repeat that quest for the man whose Adventures in Fatherhood I get to watch in 'real time' as he plays dad & hero to my crew of 4. Words just fail me, that is all. Lots of people, in assorted tributes today,  have pointed out  what makes a man a good man- qualities that carry over into their fatherhood, making them, by default, good dads. Then there are folks who talk about what was missing- either because Time robbed them or because certain qualities or values escaped their fathers (like sobriety.) These people too, are affirming that a good man makes for a good father. Also that those of us blessed to have our father still living here amongst us are truly blessed. I think that what makes a list about any give...

No one in the stands last night bothered with the whole bleacher. We only required the edge of our seats to keep a sharp eye on the field, the coaches, and especially those umps. Each team had scored  dramatic wins in the previous week, bringing them to this third, tie-breaking match for the season championship. Those of us holding our breath were blue by the time a score finally blinked onto the scoreboard in the fifth inning. As we neared the end of seventh inning, the score had climbed in such a way (6-1) that the fans for the opposing team began to quietly celebrate their (inevitable) win behind me. In all fairness, their optimism was understandable. At this age, they only get seven regular innings. It was all but over. Only the technicality of one last  'at-bat' for our team remained before the other team could get on with celebrating their win. With gloves of resignation on their heads and the threat of tears in some eyes, our boys made the switch. I'm not very keen o...

She said "I NEED A PARTY HAT!"  We sometimes call our anniversary a "Family Birthday". Especially during seasons where sitters are scarce and we will be celebrating with the entire family. This was one of those celebrations. We have been very busy with baseball & the business and our family's 'birthday' fell during a particularly Extra Busy Weekend. On Wednesday night, as everyone was busy with Duck Dynasty (I tuned in from my dish washing station in the kitchen) I secretly concocted one of Clay's preferred treats: Jello Cake. (He's forever in the debt of his mother in law for the passing down of this recipe :)  One thing about Jell-O cake is that it calls for Whipped topping- an element that always makes for a decorating challenge... a blank, white, slippery canvas to be improved upon.  I began to rifle through Riley's small plastic toys for something quirky when I came to these two finger puppets. I was quickly inspired to dress them up...

Rye has her daddy wrapped around that pretty little pinky...