monday is the new saturday

This past weekend I had to work on Saturday, all day. Total bummer, so as a consolation I took Monday off for some family fun. There is something special about not working, when everyone else is. It's like those days in college when you could go up to the mountain to go skiing/snowboarding during the week. The fun gets amplified 10,000 times because all of the sudden the world has become your playground. A giant, vacant playground. Maybe some of you who have unconventional work schedules already know these fruits. The added bonus was that I felt less stress about the expectations of the day, whereas on normal weekends I sometimes feel like there are high stakes because it's the weekend. I think I unlocked a key to the universe - weekends on weekdays. Think about it people.

While we're thinking about these and other wild possibilities, let me caution you about thinking too much.

Apparently, not only is climbing on the railing is prohibited, but so is thinking about it. Wild.

The picture doesn't quite do it justice, but the water really was clear. George was in rare form.

Look at those chompers. You know George was feeling the Monday = Saturday conversion

George was telling some awesome jokes

George & Me (cliffs of insanity in the background)

Getting all artistic on ya. My idea. Ashley's execution. Liked it so much, I made it our banner.

Our new favorite trick for George is "party fingers." Oh, and walking.

With all our free time, we even snuck a quick trip to San Pedro South Korea to visit the friendship bell.

Yes, I realize that it looks ridiculous that I have the kite out 100' long and only 20' high. Ashley failed to capture my awesome kitesmanship when I had it really high, so instead I just look like an ignoramus.

Other events not captured on camera include:

• A giant/delicious diet coke from 7-11
• A family bike ride to Carlson Park to play soccer

I think I've made a compelling case for the effectiveness of weekend observation on weekdays. Who's coming with us?

free range george

Our friends Keith and Leslie are great babysitters for George. It is really nice to live in a place where there are always plenty of friends willing to watch your baby while you go out. So when they went on a vacation to Scandinavia and asked if we'd take care of their chickens Virginia and Dorothy - we jumped at the opportunity. Disclaimer, by "we" I really mean Ashley (and to a lesser extent, George). I went up a couple of times, but by far and away, Ashley deserves the medal for doing all of the dirty work.

One of the last days of chicken-sitting, George got to be a free-range kid (how we long for a backyard).

Some things you may not know about chickens:

1. They are actually quite beautiful birds
2. They lay an egg a day
3. They sometimes eat their own eggs
4. They don't peck (at least these ones)

Without further ado, I give you George, Virginia & Dorothy

"Mom, I think I just put my hand in something..."

Just looking cute. He was actually playing with the horseshoe pit stake. Horseshoe pit! Backyard. Separate garage for tinkering and storage. Yes, it's true, I have serious backyard envy.

"Well see here, I've been trampin' for so long... can't even reckon when I started. Let me grab my bindle and I'll be outta yer hair."

The hunter would quickly become the hunted

"I kid you not... I once saw a chicken at least this tall. She laid eggs like as big as my head"

"I don't know if this is awkward or not, but I figured I owed it to you, to tell you straight out, I've been eating your eggs."

"I dub thee, Lady Dorothy of Cornwall..."

Three's company

As you may or may not be able to tell, Spring is in the air. The days are getting longer, warmer, and we can't wait to start making regular trips to the beach and a lot more family biking.

"i've been sick"

My dad has a sculpture titled, "I've been sick." I really like the title, and the sculpture. Something about the admission itself, begs for some sort of recognition.

I remember hearing other parents (pre-George) talk about their kids being sick, and from their description wondering why they were describing it as some monolithic event.

Now I get it.

George has been sick for over a week or so. Lots of sore, runny noses. Crusty crap in the eyes and nostrils. Bad sleeping.

The funny thing is - when babies are sick you kind of realize how their entire life impacts your own. It's not like when your spouse is sick. You sympathize, you maybe get them some material comforts, make them food, but otherwise are able to go about your business. When your kid is sick - it sends an interruptive shockwave through your house.

You can't wait for your kid to get better, and you wonder if they ever will. You wonder if they were ever happy, or were they always grumpy and irritable.?

We hope that George is almost out of this last bug. It's taken it's toll on all of us. Less sleep, more stress.

Despite it - it makes you feel really fortunate to understand how much this little life affects your own.