Proper Greetings

Finn is a parrot.  More than any other child I've had.  It is very very cute.  It will someday torture his siblings, but I think I'll back him up, because he IS the third after all, he has to have some perks.

Jack is not concerned about proper greetings to anyone ever.  He has been proud of himself in the past for socially greeting the gals that open the door in carline when we drop Abby off rather than pretending to shoot them, but it's been awhile.

Jack IS more concerned about angry birds and important things like that.

Auntie Samantha bonded with Jack earlier this year by letting him teach her how to play Angry Birds.  And then talking about it with him.

SO after months and months of not seeing Auntie Samantha, Jack greets her with, "Auntie Samantha! Have you beaten the last level of Angry Birds yet?!"

Finn must have heard this.  Because everytime Finn sees Auntie Samantha he now asks her, with absolutely no care at all for the answer, and in the tone of "Why hello there, how are you?" :  "Auntie Samantha have you beaten the last level of Angry Birds yet?"  Because obviously, he has learned that that is the appropriate way to greet his East Coast Auntie.

Surly Morning Hugger

Finn woke up yesterday morning and stumbled over to me as I was helping Jack get dressed, and kinda fell on me.  And I said something like, "Wait - Finn - hold on."  And he kept leaning toward me and said, kinda mad, "I just feel hugging today!"

MUST STOP BEING SUPPORTIVE

Do you know how hard it is to change from baby cheering mama to dignified proud but NOT loudly supportive mama?

It's hard... for me.  I'm already embarrassing the boys.

Carsland

We went to Disneyland for Abby's birthday.  Spent a billion dollars or so doing it - but honestly - I think t's worth it for the freedom to enjoy the trip.  Of course it was 108.  It was pretty fairly miserable. But to be honest?  Disneyland is fairly miserable to me during the best circumstances, so the heat hardly made a difference.  And, as per usual, it's the good things - the good memories that I've kept fresh because of pictures.  Charming, sweet, hilarious pictures.   I love my family.  I love the way their characters come out in pictures. 

family pics... TWO - who thought all I'd need are cartoons to come to life.

Finn and I did a lot of watching of Lightning and Mater while Abby, Jack and Steve were on the racers ride.

Abby was so sweet with Merida.  So impressed the gal had a Scottish accent

One reason we decided to do this was because Colleen, Joe and Lola would be at Disneyland at the same time.

Because of the billion dollar hotel room we got early access to Carsland which was very super cool.  The crowd being led in an hour later was eerie.

We never got far from Carsland with the boys and that was fine with me.  I don't know how it will feel in twenty years when Carsland has been there forever.  But for us, it was better than all expectations.  Walking into the movie like that.  So incredible.  

My favorite part was at dusk they turn on the music and the neon.  

          Oh my sweet boys were IN LOVE with being able to see Lightning and Mater

                                                            And RED!

And Mater.

And Lightning.

Did I mention Mater?

Finn was not too sure about the rides.  Jack wasn't either, but he did amazing.  Must be more the repress and bear it guy than Finn;  Who got through it, but didn't exactly want to.

Oh this look.  She's growing up.  Proud but getting embarrassed by my over-exuberant support.

Three family shots?! The bliss!

Did I mention it was hot?

Magic.

Epic Post of Homelessness

The day that started it all.  Abby's art in her first art show.  I was so proud.  Steve had the boys and had asked me to go see a house 1101 E. Altadena Dr.  I didn't want to.  We had just had a big discussion about NOT moving for a while.  But I was feeling carefree and went.  That house - the way I saw it that day was perfect.  The realtor conceded without being asked that they were over priced and she was sure her client understood the true value of her home.  I called Steve and that was the start.

We enjoyed the first days of summer at Zoozy and Grandpa's house where the outdoors was just a hop skip and a jump away.

 I smashed my contact lens the first day the house was supposed to be shown.  We went to Coronado for July 4th weekend and stayed long because we had nowhere else to be.

Pastor Greg was covering Exodus during the summer - made us feel very much at home in our wanderings.  As did the fact that Aaron & Megan were also displaced as they moved into their Topanga Cyn home.  Ryley and the cousins bonded.

We went to birthday parties. I went to Washington DC twice.

Steve and I attended the Regional Emmy's - this time in Kentucky

It was a bit of a disaster but we were happy together and happy to go home.

we ate ice cream and went to the church's Road Trip children's ministry events

We spent a lot of time together since Abby wasn't involved in any official activities for Summer for the first time since she was three.

We conquered fears of haircuts and pools and bathtubs

 Finn loved Bronx the same as always

AND...

There were A LOT of naps. I'm not sure why.  I think the kids were just plain emotionally exhausted.

Everyone had their first days back to school

Daddy went out of town and everyone missed him so much they wore his shirts to bed.

And we took Abby to a GRAND Disneyland 9th birthday adventure in which the boys fell in love with Carsland.

Halloween is up next... then life and Thanksgiving... and the big question... will we be in a new house by Christmas?