Dear printer,
I love/hate you. Because I go in spurts with using you, when I do use you I print a photo that’s less than acceptable, so I run through cartridge alignments and printhead cleanings and test pages, and maybe get one or two more photos out before an ink cartridge is running low. I forgot and continue to forgot ordering a replacement cartridge for at least a month, so by the time I come back to you with a new one it’s time again to go through our game. Why must you treat me this way? I think I know the answer: despite cartridges being $30 each, and you being a greedy little bastard and demanding eight of them, your prints are GORGEOUS. And so I continue to come back for your abuse.
Love,
Me
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Dear internet,
I miss you. How are you getting along without me? I still suck up your existence and offerings on a daily basis, but sadly for work purposes only. No more playtime for Jenn, at least not now.
XOXO,
Me
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Wall-E was awesome. I think my favorite part of the movie was Wall-E showing his trash compacting capabilities to Eve, and after spitting out a block of trash going, “Ta-dah!” Alyssa loved the movie. She enjoyed popcorn and a blanket (movie theaters are COLD!), and only whispered a few questions and observations to me during the entire duration of the movie. Previews included.
Dark Knight was also awesome. I’m totally up for seducing Batman. I don’t care if it’s Keaton or Clooney or Bale or someone else entirely behind the mask, that suit is HOT. Rawr. *sizzle*
Dan and I took the kidlets to the pool on Sunday. We met my mom and brothers there, and the seven of us had a blast. We managed to score one of the eight picnic tables under the covered pavilion (somewhere to stash our stuff! no grass and dirt and twigs to tromp through to get to our stuff! shade!), and headed of to the deeper end of the pool, where most of the kids and their mommies are afraid to stray into. Gotta love a crowded pool that still has near empty sections. ;) It wasn’t even that deep, either… 5′ – 6′.
We figured out the secret to keeping Ryan from having a meltdown at the pool. Take him directly to the pool, load him up in his ladybug, pop him into the deeper end where it’s quieter and not crowded at all, and start dragging him around. Also bring along a sippy cup, pacifier, toothbrush, Little People and a few water/splash bombs for entertainment. Also let him watch people going off the diving board, since he seems to like that. Always keep a hold of him, and always keep him moving. There’s nothing that kid hates more than inertia. Standing still = agony.
Alyssa has no fear of the water. This is good and bad. Good, because she isn’t like my brothers, who only Dan was only able to coax to not only try to actually swim, but to 1) jump in the deep end (10ft-12ft) AND go off the diving board (I’ve been trying with them for the last five years). Bad, because… she has no fear. Twice today she managed to get over to the deep end/diving area in a flash. Once she was near the diving board. The second time? ON THE GODDAMN DIVING BOARD. What the lifeguard was thinking, I don’t know… probably assuming she could swim (since there was a boy in front of her who wasn’t much older and was diving and swimming perfectly), but gearing up to fish her out if need be.
Let me tell you, this fat girl can run. Especially if her daughter is standing on a diving board that’s suspended above twelve feet of water. I ran from what seemed like five thousand feet away, screaming her name all the while. She froze, then scrambled off the board. Thank God. I know the lifeguard could get her, and probably the few people standing around the diving area, and I can swim pretty well, but I’d rather not have that kind of drama!
I’ll probably take Alyssa for swimming lessons next summer. This summer, it’s all about introduction. The water is your friend (except for the big, bad diving area). She frolics in the pool, walks in deep enough for the water to be at chin level, loves to ride in her float all over the pool, likes to be carried, and loves to be thrown around, even when coming down means going underwater for the split second before we haul her back up into our arms.
Today Dan was doing the throwing, and the one throw I caught on camera was HILARIOUS.
Dan tosses Alyssa into the air.
For whatever reason, Alyssa goes through Dan’s arms. His expression here was totally, “Huh? Where is my daughter?”
A sputtering Alyssa is cuddled and apologized to.
Also caught on camera: a funny dive that resulted in Dan smacking his face into the water. Everyone at the board heard it, and groaned in sympathy.
A few more photos:
Yes, my husband is hairy. No, I don’t mind. Really. Men are supposed to be hairy. And so long as his back isn’t hairier than his chest, it’s sexy. Rawr. :yummy:
your children are adorable! I remember being a lifeguard in high school and all the parents that didn’t seem to care where their children were. And I remember having to jump into the water to get them before going under. I can see you running and screaming!
That looks like a fun day! LOL at Dan and disappearing Alyssa!
I’m glad you figured out what to do for Ryan to stop him freaking out.
You know you aren’t allowed to take anything like a floating device or fun stuff into our local pool? That’s just pathetically stupid to me.
P.S.
awesome picture of Alyssa water soaked.
The pictures look great. Looks like you had a lot f fun.
The Dark Knight was easily one of the best movies I’ve seen this summer. Hancock comes in second. Bale makes a way sexier Batman I think. Yep, definitely way sexier. :drool:
Great photos! Gabriel has the same ladybug. Kids look so adorable in those. :D
I’m so jealous you got to see The Dark Knight!
Looks like you’ve been having a lot of fun, swimming rules.
I love those pool pictures! They’re fabulous and fun!
I loved Wall-E too. Hopefully I can go see The Dark Knight soon… all I’ve heard are good things.
Mmm mm mm Christian Bale is so fineee
I love the pictures you took of your family at the pool. It’s such a nice quality too. May I ask what type of camera it is?
We’re supposed to see TDK on Thursday evening, if the plans keep up.
When Taylor went to see Wall-E, she had one moment where the whole theater was quite (toward the end…) and she says in a normal speaking voice “Is Wall-E okay?” Which prompted some grins and giggling in the audience because… omgosh, adorable! She did spend a lot of time whispering questions into my ear, and she totally loved it. We’re already planning on seeing Madagascar 2 and a couple of other kid flicks.
Hehe, I like the photos of the disappearing Alyssa. It looks like everyone had a fun time at the pool. My local pool doesn’t allow people to bring pool toys, so it’s pretty cool that your’s does.
I think Alyssa and Tyler have something in common with their love of the water! Tyler has no problem jumping in our pool (which is an above ground- same depth pool), whether or not he has his water wings on. I would definitely run my ass to get him if I were in you position too!
P.S. My man Jon is hairy, too, and I don’t mind it one bit. In fact, he used to shave is chest hair and such in high school and I laughed at him lol, so he stopped!
The second letter sounds like me! That water looks so delicious!
Awww, your children are so beautiful. [Handsome for your son. =D] And I love the name Alyssa, so pretty! Ok, seizure-over-cute-things over.
Your camera takes AMAZING pictures, like no grainy-ness at all. Mind telling me what kind of camera it is?
http://www.queenofpith.com/2008/07/thanks-holly.html
I nominated you for an award!
That close-up of Alyssa is AMAZING. I must have your camera!
Men with chest hair are sexy….I agree entirely.
I think the best thing that you can do with Alyssa in the water right now besides just introducing her is working on floating (especially on her back) because not only do girls float better, kids who are more comfortable floating end up adapting to swimming and being less afraid of not being able to do it. Just tell her to pretend she’s a starfish, lay her head on your shoulder (tell her it’s like taking a nap and your shoulder is a pillow) and take a deep breath to get her to float on her back. The front is a little easier, it’s the same “pretend you’re a starfish!” but kids seem to be more comfortable with it.
I can almost !00% promise you that this will make her first swim teacher’s life a lot easier!
Your photos are the best. Looks like you guys had a blast!!
Those pictures are…wow. You know that Alyssa is going to have to be a model when she grows up because she’s obviously so natural around cameras and is adorable?
I hatea that my photos never turn out like that