short shorts

• A few years ago I took an old desk that grandma had from from her grandma and stripped it down in hopes of refinishing it.  But then I got busy having George and Lila and didn't have time or energy to finish it.  It's been sitting in the garage waiting for me.  A couple years ago my grandpa painted it because it was killing him to see it out there half finished.  I'm going to strip it again and try to get it finished this week.  I got it out and cleaned it up and assessed it this morning.  I'm looking forward to getting to work on it.
• I took you little ones down to the lake to explore the shore line.  You were busy playing when we found a snake sunning itself on a rock.  No one was brave enough to catch it, so Lila, you and David ran back up to the house to get Jane.  She caught it with almost no effort.  I don't know why Jane is so good at catching animals, but she should look into a career in it.  You all ooohed and aaahed over "Silla the snake."  We brought it up to the house and petted it and loved it for a while, then took it back down to the rocks where we found it.
• Grandma and Uncle Dan were having some sort of discussion about religion in the office.  We were sitting at the dining room table and couldn't really hear what they were saying when suddenly grandma said "Screw you Jesus!"  Oh my gosh.  It was not what we were expecting to hear out of grandma's mouth.  I thought you big girls were going to pee your pants from laughing so hard.  It turns out in the course of their conversation it made perfect sense, but it sure was hilariously surprising to hear her saying that. 
• We all headed into town to go bowling this afternoon. While we were all waiting for the bowling alley to open, I got all of you to stand on the log so I could take a photo.  Uncle Dan was jealous of your booty shorts, Jane, so he made his own and posed with you.  So funny.
• We were the only ones in the bowling alley.  Auntie Becca played against the babies, you big kids played together on another lane, and Uncle Dan, daddy, grandpa and I were on the other lane.  It was so fun.  I'm so bad at bowling it's not even funny.  I can't even throw the ball...I totally roll it between my legs.  Everyone was mocking me, and Uncle Dan made it his mission to beat me simply because of my goofy style.  Well...I ended up with five more points than him.  I'm not exactly sure how that happened, but I count it a win in my books. 
• George and Lila, auntie Becca took you and David to 7-Eleven to get a treat because she took the big kids yesterday.  You all got small slurpees (good choice!!).  You were quite delighted.
• Lila, you wanted to go in Auntie Becca's car, which is a BIG deal for you.  I'm so proud of you.  You've grown so much in your confidence over this last year.  You still don't like new things, but you're more open to trying them.  In fact early this morning, David asked you if you liked bowling, and you said, "I hate it.  I don't know what it is."  Hahaha.  
• Jane, grandpa was teasing you about something and you were laughing and blurted out "Whatever tickles your pickle, Grandpa," then immediately regretted it.  Auntie Becca and I almost died laughing.  You were horrified.  You said it just popped out without thinking.  Good thing grandpa can't hear very well.  He didn't have a clue.
• After we came home from town, I laid down for a rest.  Two hours later...
• Daddy and I went to the Iron Horse for a date tonight as is our tradition.  The food is great, it's fun to be in a big log restaurant, and it's nice and close to grandma and grandpa's.  We were there for over two hours.  We had a good talk about how being home always brings up weird things for me.  I finally feel like I'm at the point where I can let them go.  I listened to a podcast a couple weeks ago about ceremonies and how important they are to every culture...and the concept of developing your own ceremony if the one you need doesn't exist.  I need to let go of something, and I've got something in mind.  Tomorrow I need to find the right objects to do that.  I'm ready.
• George and Lila, when we got home, Jane was pretty relieved to see us.  She had been trying to put you to bed, but you were being super crazy and uncooperative.  I laid down with you for a while.  You were super chatty and excited about the snake.  Jane took you down to the lake and caught it again for you while daddy and I were out.  You want to bring it home for a pet, so you'd like me to google what they eat so we can get things organized.  Lila, you said you hope it eats mice because auntie Kim has mice at her house, so we could just get mice from her.  
• Jane and Katie, you're pretty tired today.  You guys stayed up until 3am playing cards downstairs after grandma went to bed.  Crazy kids.