"This isn't Barnes and Noble!"

It's difficult to remember what happened over the last few days. I guess it is because things have been fairly ordinary, if there is such a thing. I'm not complaining.

On Friday afternoon the kids went to their grandparents' house. They went to Borders where Henry declared, "This isn't Barnes and Noble!" They had a great time in the children's section and were given several new books and toys by their grandparents.

Saturday I took the kids to Costco to go shopping with their Grandparents. They sampled their way around the store. Henry insisted on going through the refrigerated fruit room several times. Miss R managed to drop and break a syrup bottle. Note to self, don't let toddlers play with syrup bottles. Grandma bought Miss R a very cute winter vest. The kids went home with their grandparents. Grandma recently replaced their VHS collection of children's classics with DVDs and they have been enjoying the increased clarity. I picked them up around 4:30pm.

Sunday I played with the kids at home until just after lunch. Then we headed to their grandparents', falling asleep on the way over. They didn't go swimming as it was too hot and there was thunder and lightning in the area. It was hot enough that someone passed out at the driving range while I was there just before picking up the kids around 5:30pm. Kate watched the kids while I walked the dogs. On the walk I saw one rattlesnake (I haven't seen many at all this year) and two deer who went bounding across the road a short distance in front of us.

Kate was finishing up a chapter of her book that was due on Sunday so Grandma and Grandpa took care of the kids much of the week and weekend.

Yesterday Kate was teaching so I got to have the kids to myself. Henry didn't want to leave daycare again. He wanted to outside and play. He had received a sticker for being good and sitting down in his chair and he was very pleased with it. We played around a little at home then had dinner before heading out to walk the dogs. Our neighbor Yvonne had a present for Lily, a stuffed chew toy. She also had some Spongebob and Patrick stickers for the kids. I let Lily off the leash for the first time and she did very well. She wore Roger out. I thought he might not make it back home.

Last night was not a good night. At about 3am the kids decided to start taking turns waking up every 15 minutes. I ended up on the floor of their room because I was tired of going back and forth to bed. Of course by morning they didn't want to wake up.

It was a parental visitation day for Miss R today, so she was returned home around 6:30pm. Kate picked up Henry from daycare and took him out to Monkey Business, his favorite restaurant. I'll let her share the details of that adventure.

Miss R and I took the dogs for a walk. Again I let Lily off the leash and she did well. We ran into our neighbor who has 2 dogs, one of which loves to play. Lily, Roger and Annie all had a great time. Thankfully Lily is faster and more nimble than the others who all look like great brutes in comparison. Miss R watched from the comfort of her chauffeured wagon.

When we returned home Kate and Henry were home. Kate put on Mary Poppins and it seems like it was a big hit. Miss R danced to the music and Henry marched around with one of Poppy's old hats on, a shirt, a diaper, two socks and one shoe. He has his own sense of style.