Lazy Days of Summer

So lazy are these summer days that one cannot even find the energy to don matching flip flops. These happen to be Isaac's feet in a size 1 from Crazy 8 and size 2 from the Gap.

Today Ethan shoved his size 5's into Jonah's size 1's to go to the doctor to get his stitches removed from his knee.

The footwear problem in our house is 3 pronged:

1. My boys are too lazy to look for their own stuff. If it's not in plain sight, it may as well be in Mozambique.

2. My boys seem incapable of putting stuff away, or at the very least, always putting things in the same place so they will know where to find them.

3. The current state of the house is such that an archaeological dig may be required to unearth some missing shoes.

The bottom line is the boys just do not care.

So I don't care either.

What I Did This Summer: Cooking Class

Today was the last of 3 cooking classes Ethan took at the Portland Farmer's Market at PSU. Each class started off with the kids taking a shopping trip around the market to get ingredients for their recipe. Then the kids would get their cooking lesson from Chef Vanessa.

Today the recipe was frozen "fro yo" sundaes and the kids made the frozen yogurt by kicking around these paint cans filled with a smaller paint can which was filled with all the frozen yogurt ingredients.

I'm not sure why Ethan had his flip flops off...these cans were freezing cold! The effort was worth it though because the finished product was delicious. (There was a little left over for me!)

Downtown parking was not easy to come by this morning, so after the class we had to walk several blocks to the car. However, they were "park blocks" and it was a lovely summer morning and I was happy to take our time, pause to look at sculptures, check in with the Portland Museum, and listen to a street musician along the way.

Ethan couldn't resist taking a sip from one of the Benson Bubblers.

I love Portland.

Laughter is Medicine

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying laughter is the best medicine. Right now I think the best medicine will come on September 8th when the kids all go back to school. But laughter is indeed a medicine.

Today, this is what got me a hearty, tear-rolling-down-my-cheeks laugh.

I wish I could embed the video here, but alas, it's not allowed. Maybe this picture will give you a little hint slash incentive to follow the link through to YouTube.

It's a classic.

In Case You Were Wondering...

....if I've dropped off the face of the earth, I haven't.

I am, however, finding these last remaining days of summer to be particularly trying.

The house is slowly but surely being swallowed by dropped socks, a surprising number of Band Aid wrappers, junk mail and toys that seem to have a life of their own. Every day the pile grows from the confines of the bedrooms and toy room and makes its way down the hall and onto the stairs.

At the risk of sounding defeated, I feel...defeated.

Kids - 1
Mom - Goose Egg

And defeat does not lend itself to creative thought or the desire to be generally productive or do things like get out of bed.

I'll be back in a week and a half with something more positive to say.

Lopez Island, 2009

Last week we went to visit Aunt Paula and Uncle Bob on Lopez Island and had an amazing time. In lieu of clever commentary and because I need to head out to swim lessons 3 minutes ago, I'm posting this slide show for your viewing pleasure.

I Made Pickles

I've made picked beets and dilly beans, but never picked cukes. Pickle Sensei Andrea schooled me in the art of pickle making and I ended up with 12 quarts and the decision to grow pickling cucumbers in my garden next year.

Next in the canning line-up: peaches, pears, tomatoes, salsa, applesauce.