Aunt Rosie and Aunt Lisa are well-loved by everyone in this house.
Rosie has been visiting, and Lisa is always good for some good-natured hair pulling.


Aunt Rosie reads, even when Momma won't.

I went to Sylmar earlier this week and ended up staying for four days or so. I slept out on the folding bed, and every night before I went to sleep, I brought Lucy into bed with me to keep from having to wake up in the middle of the night and sooth her back to sleep.
Sleeping babies are sweet, and sleeping children retain that even once they've lost all of the other charms of infanthood. I like waking up in the middle of the night to see a little face next to me, close and safe.

Nanny is sometimes over-run with chickens.
Jack is the worst to read to- all he wants to do is grab the pages and make the book his own.

They seem to like being together.

I like being part of the Fusano family. Sylmar is our town, and I like Sylmar.
I like being a Paulson, and a Menard, and a Tate, too. Look at what those families have produced! How could I not be a fan?

What have we been doing recently? Enjoying the summer! There are many wonderful things about living at Camp, but the pool is one of the coolest. Ha. Ha. Ha.
Bowden in his borrowed princess floaties.

Lucy warming up the sun.

Happy Fourth!

First of all, I have to say that no pictures were taken during the party. I invited a monkey-load of kids, and I didn't have time to take pictures, and no one else thought of it. Rosie took some of the before, and I took one or two after, so that will have to make up for it.
Bowden is lying on one of the two crocodiles I bought to wrestle with, the party being a reptile hunting party.
He wore his reptile hunting vest, and a straw pith helmet most of the time. The crocodiles were mercilessly pounded until they had huge holes and deflated. Poor crocodiles. Selah and Lucy and Bowden enjoyed lounging before the party started.
Princess Lucy in her castle.

I have decided that the parties I have from here on out will consist mostly of cardboard houses. The castle survived, being occupied mostly by princesses, but the reptile hunter headquarters?
It will live forever in our hearts.
I had princess dresses to wear, and the tea set from Grandma Tate last year ready to use.
The aftermath. Too many gifts, but not too many guests. It was insanity that lasted only three hours, but everyone got along and enjoyed themselves.
The chickens are pecking their way through the pile of gifts, excited about each one they find. I am just glad that all birthday parties are over for the year...

...but maybe next year, superheroes?