Miserable

We had a busy weekend. Dave went to his second to last soccer game of the season on Friday night. J slept over at Gramma Viv's house that night, so it was just me and the boys at home. Mom came over to eat dinner with us and then I did her hair. She brought the movie Robots for the boys to watch and they freaked out. I don't know why but hey had an instant aversion to the movie. We watched it while they played in the other room. Logan warmed up to the movie but Toby kept coming in to watch and then he would leave a few minutes later. Obviously, the robots bugged him.

Saturday was our usual trip to the Farmer's Market in the morning. We dropped off all the food at home and went straight back out to run errands. I drove so that Dave could finish the new Harry Potter book before he went back to work on Tuesday. We went to Aaron Brothers for frames and IKEA to look at furniture for Dave's office. Dave and I couldn't resist a cheap hotdog on the way out since we were starving. J got an ice cream cone and the boys ate gummy rats. yuck. I love IKEA! So many great ideas and inspiration there. Here are a few favorites and on my wish list for our home.





































































After a quick snooze at home we got up and went to Joey and Gayle's for dinner. We didn't realize it would just be the guys watching the fight. They had 3 huge platters of meat, potato chips/dip and soda. Not exactly our idea of dinner. We ate and stayed for awhile then came home. I had been feeling a little strange since early afternoon, but I started feeling very weird as soon as we got home. To make a long, painful, itchy story short- I woke up at 2 AM Sunday morning with hives from the soles of my feet to the top of my head. I was doubled, covered and smothered in hives of every shape and size until Wednesday. Even my hands, feet, ears and lips were so swollen that I looked like I had a strange disease. I could barely walk until Tuesday when the swelling and hives went down on my feet. It was awful! I figured out on Monday that it was the kettle corn from the Farmer's Market which I ate on Saturday that caused the reaction. I ate a few pieces Monday morning when I gave the kids some and broke out again a few hours later. Thank goodness Grandma and Grandpa Bennett took J and TJ on Sunday and Dave was home Monday and Tuesday. Otherwise, I wouldn't have made it alone with the kids. I jokingly referred to myself as the polka-dot princess when Jessie was looking at all my bumps. She thought that was pretty funny and called me that most of the week.

The week was pretty much a waste as far as my to-do list and I'm so glad that is over.

It's amazing how fast the week goes by when I feel better. Some photos to remember the past week.
I suggested to Dave about 2 months ago that we go buy our produce at the Farmer's Market on Saturday mornings. We went the next week and have been every week after that. It's nice to meet the people who actually harvest the food and support our local growers. I'm sold. Both sides of the family are hooked also. We see all 3 Gramma's at the market, and have a wonderful time sampling all the delicious produce and munching on kettle corn. Here's just a little taste of the beautiful fruit and veggies we feast on every week, plus a splurge on my favorite flower.







Jess and Toby peeling their own cucumbers. They are small, stubby and delicious. The cukes and the kids. heehee.











Silly Coop. This boy is going to have the healthiest prostate in the family. :) He eats baby tomatoes like candy- chipmunk style as you can see. We bought a bag of "baby 'matoes" as Coop calls them and he ate half the bag in one sitting.
















Sometimes the kids surprise me with how much trouble they can get into while still being so quiet. Every afternoon we have 'quiet time' for a couple hours while Logan naps and the rest of us have some down time. This afternoon J and TJ couldn't resist coming out to show me their handy work. This is Toby in 3 layers of shorts and at least 6 shirts. Jessie is ready to go boating or save drowning toddlers from the bathtub. Their room is a disaster amidst all this dress up and yet I thought they were both laying down. They certainly keep me on my toes- the sneaky little goobers.

Welcome home Dan!

Little brother Dan came home last weekend from his service in Africa.
our entire family went to the air field to welcome him home.
Mom and I made a scribbly sign in the truck on the way there.
while we waited in the hanger the kids ran around and the adults talked
we munched on fresh kettle corn bought at the farmers market that morning
the planes came in right in front of the hanger where we were watching
they were loud!







it was quite a show
after some pictures, Dan gave us a tour of the plane
Toby's favorite part was uncle Dan giving him some Oreos from his stash on the plane
Jessie's favorite part was waving the 2 big flags Grammy let her use and watching the planes come in
Logan loved waving to Mom down below from the window up in the cockpit
Lauren is happy that her man is finally home
Dan is happy to be out of the heat
I am thankful for his service and for ALL those who serve in our Armed Forces!
THANK YOU!
It was a great follow up to the 4th of July week

noise pollution

You know that ear-splitting sound that a balloon makes when you pinch the top together and let the air out? My kids love to do that....until I can't take it anymore. Now the bird imitates it perfectly. He won't shut up!

Just one more reminder of all the noise in our house during the day. And an 'I told you so' from Dave who says I am way too sensitive to it all.

officially hot!

Growing up in Utah, I am accustomed to "small town" 4th of July celebrations complete with parades, picnics, fireworks, even a sunrise flag raising. Most of the cities here in the Bay Area are pathetic when it comes to 4th of July celebrations. Our city has just recently started a parade, but fireworks are illegal so there's not much to stick in town for.

So we've been having a nice mild summer until yesterday. It was HOT! We spent the 4th at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom up in Vallejo with Aunt Tori. The heat almost sucked the life out of us because by around 5:30 we were draggin'. Our friends Tom and Jen came up for a few hours too. Thanks guys, for driving all the way up only to roast with us for awhile. The kids loved seeing Shouka the killer whale and going on all the rides, especially the water rides. We stayed for the fireworks show and didn't get home until midnight. It was well worth it!