Puppy's Big Day

This is puppy.


Today, puppy went for a walk ...


climbed the jungle gym ...


rode in the big swing ...


and went down the slide.


Whew.

Puppy is tired.

Missing Cee-Cee (Part II)

Once Cee-Cee left, Owen and I knew we had to stay busy to fend off our sadness. So we ventured to our local Humane Society (and Beamer's former residence) to drop off a donation of old towels and food bowls, scouted out a new playground that we are going to try out tomorrow, then ducked into the supermarket for more chocolate soy milk.

After lunch at home we headed outside to enjoy this glorious weather - bubbles, car rides and laughter.




Then back inside to make a calendar so we can count down the days until C comes home again!



As you can see from Owen's arms, he's come a long way since the days when he came running to me in tears to wipe the stamp off his hand after Tumblekicks!

Not Goodbye, Just See You Later

We're a little (well, no, more like a lot) sad today ... Cearra left to drive to Virginia Beach to stay with her mom for the rest of the summer. Lucky for us, she'll be back for the Mechem family reunion in a few weeks, then her and Owen's birthday party, then my family vacation.

But boy, we are going to miss her until then.

My Hair Idol and Other Creatures

Owen likes to tell me that my hair is "messy"; I prefer "playfully tousled". Today at the Elioak Petting Zoo I met my hair idol ...


I love this guy!!

The goats, mules, pigs, bunnies and sheep at the farm were all lots of fun too - Owen is fearless when it comes to sticking out his handful of feed to be slobbered on or nibbled (just a bit). He was especially sweet to the little goat kid, trying to interest it in a piece of straw. And despite an avowed dislike of being licked, Cearra joined in for animal snack time - and I think enjoyed it!






Owen's Kazakh horseman roots kicked in as he saddled up on Captain Jack and very calmly took a turn around the ring.



Before heading home we sat a spell in the only kind of teacup Cearra will ever get into and cuddled up with one of the three bears.



What a great day with my prince and princess!

A Few Favorite Pictures from the Weekend

What a busy - and wonderful - few days!

Andrew's graduation from USNA ... visits from Nana and Pop-pop and Nanny ... lunch and shopping with the "girls" ... Andrew's graduation party and spending time with family ... making blue and red sprinkle cupcakes with C and O ... the Westminster Memorial Day parade ... and a cook-out and fun afternoon with good friends.