I feel refreshed

After a much needed blogging break (I mean, that once or twice a month posting was a bit overwhelming), I'm back.

Our summer was simultaneously eventful and uneventful. We had too much fun with our west coast (and fellow nonblogging) friends. My parents crossed the country and landed at our house for a few days. And somehow, I'm pretty sure the Newport Aquarium, King's Island and the Louisville Zoo won't be the same after our visits. In between all the fun, there were way too many days that weren't pool worthy, way too many fights that needed reffing and insanity to be had by all.

The girls started school this past Wednesday. So far, Belle has only caused one fight between boys vying for her attention. Soon she'll be able to woo and be wooed en español, as she's in the spanish immersion program. Ava hit the ground running and can't wait for her first homework packet.

Here are the obligatory first day of school pictures. Check out how much Ava has grown since first grade!

Luke starts preschool on the 31st. In preparation for preschool, he had to ditch his nasty habit of diaper wearing. He'll be going two days a week, giving each parent a couple hours of alone time. As sad as it is, I haven't had two and a half hours of scheduled alone time in years. With that, I'm looking forward to reacquainting myself with some higher level of sanity than I've known over the past few months.

Would ya look at that?

That almost red thing slightly off center to the right is our first ripe (it's ripe today, wasn't a couple days ago when I took that photo) tomato of 2008. I've been jonesin' for a big, juicy tomato since May. So, these things have taken forever to ripen. We've also got a big fat tomato plant (I'm sure they have a name...but that's as technical as I get when it comes to tomatoes) that's really, really close too.

We don't typically buy tomatoes from the grocery store. No point. They taste like slightly wet cardboard. And lately they can make you pretty sick. Doing right by this fabulous planet and supporting our local farmers is an option we choose pretty often. But there's something about walking onto your back porch (our garden of choice to keep the local vermin from snagging them before we get the chance), seeing that ball (or oval) of juiciness and popping it into your mouth.

I'm finding this tomato obsession particularly odd because until a few years ago I wasn't a fan. Not even a little. Unless you count ketchup. In that case, big fan. Well, I like salsa too - specifically McDowell Farms Salsa which I happened upon a few years ago at Kentucky Crafted: The Market and have since found at Liquor Barn.

Happy tomato eating!

The 90s are back

It's not summer according to the calendar, but according to the sweat drenching my shirt, the humidity making it tough to breathe and the fact that school is out - it's definitely summer. I've been dreading the 90s since they left last year. Damn 90s. Actually, it's not really the 90s' fault. It's more humidity's fault. Without humidity the 90s wouldn't be so bad. Those two are in one of those troubled, unhealthy relationships. Thank goodness it only lasts for a few months. But they always seem to get back together. Therapy. Maybe they should try therapy.

In an effort to keep myself the kids from going bonkers this summer, I decided to sign the girls up for the summer reading program with the public library. Ava has to read for 15 hours (doesn't that seem like a lot?!) and Belle has to have 25 books read to her. In perfect Ava fashion, we came home from the library that first day and Ava read for over two hours. When she was at 02:57:53 (she's using the stopwatch on my cell phone to keep track of her time) I told her to go ahead and fill in three hours' worth of reading time. That caused a humongo melt down. She can't lie about how long she's read. So, maybe this is going to backfire.

The girls taught Luke how to tell knock knock jokes. Great. I thought we were done with those for a while. While they get the whole Knock Knock. Who's there? thing it's the part that comes next that they. don't. get. It's usually something along the lines of Daddy banana or pink donkey.

Gotta run. Time to hit the slip n slide!