Overcast here today, some rain off and on. Was sunny last night, pleasant to be outside, but not exceptionally warm, humidity must have been quite low. Should start warming up again though, with more humidity. Yay! Me like warmth. Will probably head for the lake.

Last night the kids were outside for awhile playing with Maya from next door. Then, it was bath night.

Rhonda got a Three Little Pigs book from the library, and the kids like when I read it, complete with voice enhancements and actions. Last night John was up on the bed, and he "blew me down". Ha.

The kids went to Jessica's house today. Hopefully they'll have fun again. The house was in some disarray, as it looked like some painting was going on.

A person came by the house this morning as part of us getting a different life insurance policy. John was up a bit early this morning, so I put on Peter Pan for him to watch while we were busy.

Hanna had some meltdowns last night. Maybe the adjustment of going back to Sue's house after a long layoff. She always does fine at Sue's house, but then has a hard time at home. I don't know what it is exactly, what she's trying to express.

Sometimes when John wants to have more of something, he'll say "I want much."

He likes climbing on me, or standing on me, which isn't always comfortable, so sometimes I've said "hey, I'm not a table", and John thinks that is quite funny.

Last night at the supper table, Hanna asked where Grandma went, and I said she had to go home. And Hanna said "on the school bus". Ha. (Grandma took the Greyhound bus home.)

Rhonda and John went to the library last night (and then, a secret trip to Old Donalds for ice cream!), so I stayed home with Hanna and had some daddy time. We played dolls, wrestled, rode bikes, read a book. She didn't have much of a nap though yesterday, so was a little out of sorts.

At a rummage sale, Rhonda got a little "Flintstone" car, they have some at Sue's house too, and the kids love it. They sit it in, and propel themselves around with their feet. It's cute to watch them, their little feet going pit-pit-pit-pit-pit on the cement as they motor around.

A very nice evening last night. I took John over to London Park, he rode his bike. On the swings again he wanted me to tell him a story about Peter Pan, so I mentioned the Darlings lived in London, and he noted the similarity with London Park, and said "I'm in Peter Pan's house!"

When we got back, Hanna and the others were out in the driveway, Hanna was playing with the girl next door. Then, before we went in, John wanted me to chase him around. He was sad when we had to go inside eventually. In church the other day, Pastor said young children aren't very good at managing their faces. ha. You always know what John and Hanna are feeling. Their faces don't hide anything.

Hanna wanted me to play dolls with her when I got home last night. We sat on the floor, and changed the baby's diaper. She got a new little doll from a rummage sale. She also had a couple of small stuffed things, a duck and something else, and she gave those to the doll. Those were the doll's dolls. Then, it was time for the baby to take a nap so Hanna took the doll up and put it in her own bed. Hanna got the baby some juice. Then, Hanna gave the doll her rabbit, and covered it with her blanket. Then, Hanna said we had to be quiet because the baby was sleeping. So we left the room, then Hanna said she heard the baby crying so went back in and said "What happened?" Ha. We did that a few times.

John and I briefly played "Tag" yesterday. That's the first time we've done that. I wonder where he learned that, I suppose at Sue's house.

We also got out the hammock yesterday, and the kids had great fun swinging in it, and falling out of it. Later, while I went to a business meeting at church, they were on the patio and John had fun just sitting in the hammock for awhile sucking his fingers.

Lately when we have "sword fights", John has taken to adding sound effects. Ha.

They all will probably go to the lake today. Will probably only be 80 or so, but should be warm enough to swim a bit.

We were dozing this morning before getting up, when we heard visitors coming, the door opened and two little heads came trooping in.

I took them to Bumpy Slide Park last night, and John fell off the slide. Eek. He was walking up the slide, and I'm not sure what happened. He had already walked up it several times. Hanna was on the ground and I turned to look at there, and when I looked at John he was falling over the side. He landed in the sand, maybe shook him up a bit but I think he was more scared than anything. He cried for awhile,  and didn't object to going home. I carried him back to the van, and Hanna carried their shoes. When we got in the van, Hanna was so cute. She went to John and said in a real tender voice "What happened, John?" and kinda picked at his hair, like she saw me do when looking for bumps.

We got a box of Honeycombs the other day, they like having it for a snack, and the other night I started singing that old Honeycombs jingle from the commercials, "Honeycombs big, yeah yeah yeah, They're not small, no no no" And John thinks that is the funniest thing. He giggles and wants me to do it some more.

Went to the lake again last night, as yesterday was nice and warm and a little humid. Although, not too long after we got there a bank of clouds appeared in the west and blocked the sun. Some stormy weather was rolling in so we left around 8. On the way home ran into some wind and raindrops.

When Hanna goes down the slide, she sometimes says "cowabunga!" Except when she says it, it comes out more like "kumah-kumah!"

Lately when John goes on the swing, he likes me to tell Peter Pan stories, and it's getting to where I end up telling most of the whole movie. He stays in the swing quite a long time listening. Hanna likes going on the bigger swing. I push her quite a ways up in the air, and she hangs on good and likes swinging for awhile.

Rhonda's mom is coming for a visit tomorrow. I'll pick her up at the bus station downtown in the afternoon.

Sometimes John likes pretending to be the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, and he'll find a magic wand and *presto* give me a gown and glass slippers. Then, he'll make me a coach, and he'll says "step into my coach, my dear" Ha.

Went to the lake last night, a very nice evening for it. Of course, the sun went behind clouds as soon as we got there, so cooled off ever so slightly, but still was enjoyable to splash around in the water. John was more brave about going into deeper water. He went out till the water was about at his chin, just testing what it was like. I was pulling him around on a floating thingie, and took him out to where it was over his head, and he said he wanted to get out, and I said no we don't want you to drown, and John said "I want to drown". Uh, no, you really don't want to do that. He just meant he wanted to see what it was like in that deep water. I did take him out and hold him, but when he saw he couldn't touch bottom he wanted to go back closer to shore. I also pulled Hanna around, she enjoyed that, though was less brave. When I got behind her and pushed her farther out, so she couldn't see me and only the lake in front of her, she squawked and told me to hold on in the front, where she could see me. Ha.

The other day when we were there, Rhonda had him sit down at a picnic table to eat a snack, and he liked that, so last night he wanted to have a snack at the picnic table again, so he said "Let's find a spot." And then he said something like "this spot will do nicely". Ha, where did he get that?

They both remember the siren that went off when a storm was coming, so from time to time we'll talk about storms, and Hanna will make a siren sound. She likes doing that.

I gave John his LeapPad last night, but didn't realize the cartridge wasn't in it, so when I came by a little later, he said "I need the cartridge". Oops, sorry!

Going to be rather warm here today, and quite humid. Ahhh, pleasant weather at last. We'll probably head for the lake tonight.
 
Both John and Hanna were still snoozing when I left. John was half awake so I went up and gave him a hug before leaving.
 
Classes start in my U of M program on Sept 11, I believe.  A Saturday. Classes will alternate each week on Friday or Saturday. They'll go from like 8 to 4. As luck would have it, looks like the Friday classes are the Fridays Rhonda works, so will probably have to take the kids early to Sue's house.

Had a nice time yesterday. After church, there was a sunday school picnic at the home of some people in the church. They have a pool in their backyard, so the kids went swimming. They had fun. It was beautiful day, sunny, but not scorching hot. They napped when they got home.
 
My ss class met out in the atrium,  too. It was nice to be outside.
 
When we were camping, we brought our lawn chair, and also brought two little chairs for the kids. We usually had the back hatch of the minivan open and had stuff back there, and Rhonda had brought some books to read, and we kept them back there. John enjoyed going over and picking out a book, he'd bring it back and sit down in his chair and look at the book for awhile. He did that a lot.
 
This morning when I got out of the shower, he was downstairs. He had got his milk, and was playing the sunday school songs on one of the little sing-along music books we have, and singing along.
 
Yesterday when I laid John down for his nap, he was tired and fussing a little bit, and Hanna climbed up on his bed and gave him a kiss. Ha, she's such a little mommy. The other day, when we were at the park, she fell or something and started crying, and instead of coming over to me for a hug, she walked over to John and he gave her a hug. It was cute.

Had a fun time with our first camping trip. Except for the part where John upchucked on the only shirt I brought. He seemed like he wasn't feeling right yesterday, a bit slower than usual, more clingy.
 
But, we had fun last night. Got to the park about 6, and went to the lake first thing. Both John and Hanna went swimming. Then, we went back and got the tent set up. We also got some firewood and got a fire going. So, we roasted marshmallows and hot dogs. I suppose the marshmallows didn't help John any. He was sitting on my lap in front of the fire, and he fell asleep, I was kinda rocking him back and forth, and when it was time to get him to bed, I stood up and walked over to the tent with him, and RALPH. Oh well. Poor guy. He went to sleep right away.
 
Hanna was excited by all the new goings-on, so it took her awhile to get to sleep. I could've used some more padding, so I didn't sleep too well. Plus, I was counting on wearing my shirt, and so didn't and got a little chilly. The rest of them are upstairs napping now, although I think I hear John. He got the most sleep of all of us!
 
In the morning, I broke out the new propane stove we got. It works like a charm. Just screw in the connector to the bottle of propane, and screw the other end into the stove. Just that easy. Makes a small but hot flame. So, we had a nice breakfast of bacon and eggs and toast, even though Rhonda forgot to bring a spatula and hotpad. Made cooking interesting. Handy hint: plastic utensils will melt if they get too hot.
 
After eating, we went over to a playground where the kids had fun for awhile. Then, we were pretty much all ready to head home.
 
I mowed the yard while the kids had lunch. I still need to take a shower.

The car is in the shop this morning getting the brakes fixed. Rhonda and the kids are just waiting there till it's done, walking around outside. They called me and I talked to the kids. They like hearing all the noises and seeing the cars up on the hoists. Rhonda said that Hanna walked over there and pointed up at one of the cars to show me one of them. Ha.

We're going camping later today. I'll probably leave work a little early. We got a little gas cook stove, so tomorrow morning will have fun making bacon and eggs for breakfast. They sell some firewood too, so probably will make a campfire and roast mushmellows and hot dogs.

Was awakened this morning by a little sword-wielding visitor who crawled up in bed with me. The last couple days John has slept in a bit, but he must be all rested up now.

Last night, the neighbor kids were all out and playing. They were on our driveway for awhile, then went next door. We sat out with the parents for a bit.

I'm reading Graham Greene's "Our Man In Havana". A bit of a tongue-in-cheek novel. A vacuum cleaner salesman is recruited to be a spy, he needs the money so he accepts, and then just basically makes up reports and whatnot. He sends in drawing of enlarged parts of a vacuum cleaner, and British Intelligence gets all worried that is some new secret weapon or something. Am about halfway through.

I have a deacons mtg tonight.

John tried out one of his new LeapPad books last night, it's one where the dad is trying to sleep, and on each page the kids are doing noisy things that might wake him. On one page, there's a train track, with a train going around, and for some reason that just captured his interest. I was in my bed reading, and he came out of his room and grabbed me and said "come to my bedroom" and he showed me the page, and started acting it out, he'd pretend to sleep and I'd be the train and wake him up. Funny.

John and Hanna went to Jessica's house today. This is the second time they've been there. Hopefully they'll have fun with the new set of kids again.

I took them to Lions Park last night. John likes talking into those "microphones" as he calls them. Those mouthpieces that are separated, but are connected by a pipe so you can hear someone talking.

Went to the lake last night, as it was a bit warm and humid (in other words, nice!), so made for a nice time splashing around in the lake. I waded out with John, and Hanna wanted to go to the swings first. Later she came over and got in the water for as long as she's done this year. She had fun running from the beach into the water. And of course, I had to watch her. She'd say "look at me, Daddy!" After that, we stopped by a little fishing pier across from the park entrance. John had been asking to go out there, so we walked out on it.

The contrast between the beach on weeknights versus weekends is always amusing. Saturday when we were there, it was quite full, lots of people everywhere. Last night it was fairly empty, only a few families. We were one of the last to leave. I don't know where all those people are during the week. It's such a nice area, and with the tiny number of warm days we get around here, people should be out enjoying it!

Still getting used to these new glasses and the progressive lenses. Ugh. They work fine for reading. I'm curious to see how my other pair works, the one that is more for working at the computer.

Warmer today, maybe a bit humid, so that it feels nice and summery. Just doesn't seem like we're really having summer this year.

This Friday night we might go camping, see how the kids like it. We'll just go over to that same park where we often take the kids to the beach. There's a campground in there. We just pitch a little tent, and we have a battery-powered lamp, and will probably a little gas stove.

Over Labor Day we'll probably go to Sioux City. I'll go for the ASL tourney, and the rest will come with to stay in the hotel. They can swim in the pool, and there's a park right across the parking lot.

John is up, but Hanna is still napping. When everyone is up and about, we'll go to the lake later. It's warm enough and humid enough to enjoy the lake.

John and I are watching Peter Pan. He's getting into a stage where he constantly asks questions while watching, like "what is he doing?" "what's he saying?" etc...

We found a little Peter Pan figure that must have come in a fast food meal or something. John just loves playing with it.

Well, it's official. I'm old and decrepit. I went over to the mall tonight and ordered two pairs of glasses, both bifocals. *sniff* One is for intermediate range/reading, and the other is for distance/reading. Sigh.

The kids sat in strollers while we looked, and they did very well waiting. By the end John was getting quite antsy, but it had been awhile. We then let them play at the bacon and egg place for awhile.

Greece beat Portugal 1-0 on Sunday to win the Euro 2004 soccer tourney. Portugal knocked out my English lads in the quarters (on penalty kicks, thanks Beckham for that moon shot)

Had a nice time at the lake last night. We didn't swim, as Hanna has a bit of a cough, and John's voice sounds very strange. Kinda hoarse. He sounds so different, I've never heard him like this, it makes him sound so much older!

Last night I was reading them a little popup book about Noah's Ark, and a page said "And Noah's boat was called..." and I paused to see if they knew, and John said "a pirate ship!" Ha. He's really enjoying Peter Pan lately.

As we were reading, Hanna was off busy changing her dolly's diaper. We heard fireworks outside, so Hanna said her dolly was "scared", so she hugged and kissed her dolly. She's a little mommy.

Rhonda works today, so I'm not sure what I'll do with them today. Maybe our traditional day of going over to the bacon and egg place, a couple coin rides, and then stop by Arbys for lunch.

We went to the lake Tuesday night. Some people we know from church were there with their boat, so John and I went on it for a little ride. John was just tickled pink. He said "we're on the pirate ship!" and liked when we went fast.

Hanna is doing better with her potty training.

Both kids have some skeeter bites. Goodness, they look like they've got chicken pox.