Vacation Photos!

We enjoyed a whole week in the Middle America over the Fourth of July, packing mostly red, white, and blue clothes.

We bookended our trip with Brian's college roomate and his family (Dan, Cara, Brady, & Ellie) in Denver, and also visited with Dan's parents.

For five days and four nights we stayed in Spearfish Canyon Lodge on the western edge of South Dakota, and mini-hiked with Sarah's college roommate, Julia, who lives in the Black Hills.

We daytripped to Mount Rushmore (Rapid City, SD), Devils Tower (Wyoming), and Deadwood, SD.

We were a group of 13:  Brian, Sarah, and Dorothy Jane; Brian's parents (Marilyn & Chuck); Brian's brother and family (Matt, Katie, Erik, & Ellie); and Katie's family (mother Lynn, aunt Sharon, father Mike, and brother Dave).

Here is a photo explosion!

The Sunday Funnies

Dorothy:  Mom, is blood washable?
Sarah:  Yes, usually.
Dorothy:  Great, 'cause this blanket has blood on it.

At the pet store, Dorothy and Willa were trying to count the pink fish in a tank.  "We just need to make them stay still," Dorothy said earnestly.

We have a waffle maker that we keep in its original box and styrofoam packaging; it fits neatly in the cabinet that way.  Dorothy watched Brian open the box; she chided him, "Daddy, we already have a waffle maker!"

Image Search: Rubber Duck

I'm starting a new feature on our blog.  Today I used the image search tool in my Google Photos and input the term "rubber duck".  These images are among the results that Google identified:

Stay tuned for next week's search term:  inflatable

Pelican's Snoballs with Uncle Daniel, Aunt Valerie, & Baby Andrew

Kids at the pet store

I'll take your picture and show you what your hair looks like

Mermaid at the birthday party

The Willa Funnies

Dorothy's friend Willa cracks me up enough that I'm dedicating a Sunday to her:

Willa, Dorothy, Brian and I were taking a neighborhood walk.  We linked hands and Willa announced, "The whole family!"

Willa wore a vintage dress for her school portrait.  I loved it and she told me it was her mom's.  I said, "Do you have a picture of your mom in that dress?  I would love to see it!"  And she responded sassily, "No...I don't have a phone..."

Something we read mentioned a newspaper.  Willa asked, "What's a newspaper?"

Willa has some dental work in her mouth which she refers to as her "jewelry".  Her Jj's come out as adorable Dd's.  Dorothy is unfamiliar with dental work, and takes Willa at her word -- Dorothy refers to Willa's "doolery".

In Willa's world canned carbonated fizzy water is "busy water".

I was eating a carrot; Willa caught sight of the long orange food and chimed in, "I want a popsicle too!"

Willa was playing with some toy animals and I overheard her give the character some dialogue:  "Jesus, please let me be a duck."

Dorothy was taunting Willa over a snack of strawberries.  "My strawberries are the sweetest," Dorothy jeered.  "Miss Sarah!" Willa called, "Dorothy is saying a mean compliment!"

Dorothy mentioned that boys don't wear dresses.  Willa corrected her, "It's up de dem."

Tattoos, matching tshirts, make-up...a fun sleepover with Mary Claire

The kids' table

Before & After

Weekend in Atlanta

We saw the Braves beat the Phillies 15-2, enjoyed the Center for Puppetry Arts & its Jim Henson exhibit, ate at The Varsity, and visited with Cathy, Jamie, Claire, & Jeff