Chandler!!!

Happy birthday to Raymond Chandler!!! Here's a nice little article from the LA Times, although a word of advice: if you're planning on being a great writer, don't confuse "nonetheless" with "much less". Hope you're having a great weekend!!!

Getting bigger all the time

On Tuesday, Jack graduated from preschool. (*Note...make that a month ago. This is a long-overdue post. We were holding it back while we tried to figure out how to include a very cute video of Jack from the ceremony, but no luck. Ah, well...here is the post.)

After almost eight years of parental servitude, I am well aware that I have missed pretty much every big movie and television release of the past decade, (except for Harry Potter, of course). Every once in a while, though, I suddenly get a sense of just how quickly the boys are growing up. This was one of those days.

Brothers!

The older students at Jack's school do these amazing chalk drawings at the end of the year.

My personal favorite.

Chilling before the ceremony...

Hooray for Jack!

We're so proud of you little growing boy.

Jack is pretty proud too.

Proud Momma and Daddy.

Proud brothers.

Hey, baby...it's the 4th of July!

This post is a little late, but we got to spend our Fourth of July with some great kids. Finn and Jack's sweet friends Lorelei and Hana came with us to see fireworks at the Rosebowl.

Luckily, we were able to set up right next to a park (and bathroom - score!) I have to admit, I missed Lacy Park a little bit, but this was definitely one of the easiest 4th of July's we've celebrated in a long time. We were able to park right next to this playground, which was also conveniently located next to an exit. That was a big help at the end of the night when we were heading out with four tired, sugar-shocked kids.

This must have been after ice cream. : )

Jack and Lorelei hanging out.

Finn dangling.

Pretty Lorelei

Finn and Hana hanging out (and being goofy : )

Jack spinning.

Patrick lounging. Yes that is his shoe he's leaning on. Using his shoe as a pillow is one of my husband's stranger - or more unique -proclivities, depending on how you look at it.

Bubble time! (Thanks Uncle Thor!)

We blew bubbles galore.

Last year, our camera got ruined by condensation on the 4th of July, so we put it away well before the fireworks. The kids had a great time, though - the Rose Bowl really knows how to put on a show. Jack also loved the musicians playing close to us. It's hard to tell, but the picture below shows Jack be-bopping along next to the big kids. (I think he was just happy they put up with him for 4 hours.) Happy July everyone!

Happy birthday to Marvelous Mr. Finn

A very happy 8th birthday to our darling, sweet Finn-bo! We had a pool party to celebrate.

The gang was all there - literally, pretty much the whole village showed up. They all waited eagerly for....

Dirt cake! Yum.

Finn and his friend Jason helped us clean out and crumble up the Oreo cookie "dirt". Julie and Thor and Scarlett provided all of the great gummy creepy crawlies.

Happy birthday Finn! (Hana, Lorelei, Lana and Scarlett were pretty patient with the hoardes of boys.)

Julie and Scarlett and Thor also took Finn fishing for his birthday. He came home from that trip about as happy as I've ever seen him. Happy and smelly and tired.

Captain Finn...

...fulfilling his dream to ride on the Nautilus.

Thor and Finn reeling one in.

And filling up.

Aw, lovies! A special thank you to everyone who helped make this such a happy birthday for Finn.

Happy birthday, sweet ocean boy.

We love you all the way to the moon and back, many, many times over.

Cy.

R.I.P. Cy Twombly. The real deal he was.