EARTHQUAKE!

I was sitting in my den chatting online with support at an online computer store trying to decide what adapter I needed to buy for my laptop. Frog was in his room and Sweetness and Sunshine were outside playing with neighbors in our front yard.

I heard a loud noise and felt a little shaking.

My first thought? "Frog stop doing whatever you are doing up there!" but then I realized, there was nothing Frog could do upstairs that would make the floor downstairs roll.

Having lived in CA for several years, I knew what it was, and it was not my first. In fact,I kept telling the girls, "this is just little. We're going to be okay." I don't think it being "just little" compared to, say Japan or CA, was any comfort to them. Sunshine and our neighbor girls were terrified. Sweetness was curious but rather laid back by the whole ordeal.

Frog's response, "was that an earthquake? Awesome!!"

And there you have it, the all important answer to the question on everyone's mind...and every news channel on the East Coast, "So what were you doing during the D.C. Quake of 2011?"

Inquiring minds want to know, don't they?

Little Chefs

Swan gave Sweetness and Sunshine new aprons for their birthday. They of course had to test them out immediately...while making Clone and Swan's Farewell Breakfast..blueberry pancakes.

Clone is not the only artist around here

Swan is an artist in her own right...Sand Sculpture

Tattoo Artist

Often when Clone tells someone he is an Art Major, he hears the comment that he should become a Tattoo Artist.  He's not in the least interested in that career but at the beach he practiced a bit anyway...first with a sharpie marker than with nail polish.  Not too bad! (and this mama is thankful its the ONLY type of tattoo that Swan is interested in.)

Photographic proof of my earlier Mom Brag

A mama's favorite view of her son's first solo flight.....safely back on the ground.

Frog's Flight Instructor pinning on his wings

Silly Sisters

Subliminal Sabotage?

Summer is coming to an end in our household.  It is time for Swan and Clone to return to school.  Clone is reminding us frequently not only is it the end of his summer but it is the end of his time residing in our home.  He's really moving out for good now and will only "visit" from now on.

I'm handling it okay but I will say my kids, Swan especially, are trying to catch me with tears in my eyes. (Thank goodness for summer time and sunglasses!)

MWC is being his typical roll with the punches self...or is he?  Is he secretly trying to sabotage Clone in his departure?  I present to you the evidence to let you decide.

Background:  Clone is still in a cast and on crutches and therefore needs a lot of help packing himself up and getting his car ready. 

First incident:  Clone's car keys are AWOL. 
**MWC did the pre-trip check on the car, changed the windshield wipers, checked fluid levels, tire pressure, etc.  Missing keys found in the ignition after his preparations.

Second incident:  Clone's car battery is dead.
**MWC had left the trunk of the car open slightly ajar after preparations on the car.  Trunk light drained the battery?

Third incident:  Clone's crutches are AWOL.
Clone is in den but where are the crutches?  Crutches do not walk off on their own and neither does Clone without them these days.  Sure, he may hop around short distances but the crutches were not within his hopping range.
**MWC had taken them to load up the car and wanted to be sure he left space for them.  He had left them in the garage.