The Boy and His {borrowed} Toy

This arrived at the house 6pm Monday night (Allen would have me specify this as the brand new!! Ferrari 458 Italia).

I thought he may ride off into the sunset and never return. But he did. At midnight. Giddy as a school girl. Proclaiming it the best night of his life second only to marrying me (which I am pretty sure was a courtesy statement).

Check this one off the bucket list.

Life lesson: It always pays to have friends with benefits.

The Aftermath

Hurricane Irene came quietly this weekend, leaving little damage in her wake (at least on the Zimmerman home front.) The only proof of her existence was a saturated lawn and a few downed branches.

Church was cancelled and our water supply has been contaminated. The only outliers to an otherwise usual Sunday.

We experienced no loss of power, no glass shattering winds. Just the soothing sounds of rain and rustling trees.

We stayed inside and counted our lucky stars. And played twister until our legs started twitching.

Electricity was savored (and let's ignore the random pieces of decor shoved and strewn about. I'm in the process of redecorating. And talking Allen into new couches...).

Puzzles were pieced. Then repeated.

Rock Stars were made.

And idolized.

Our weekend proved to be uneventful. Calm. Peaceful even.

And we couldn't be more grateful.

Just Because...

...smiles do my heart good

...my birthday present (in the form of a way-too-fancy-for-me-am-I-really-suppose-to-read-that-novel?? camera) arrived a few months early

...it's thundering and lightening outside

...we're all a little grumpy in this household

...I am too lazy to go to the gym

...these three are sort of irresistible

...it beats television

...and punching stomachs

...and "is it time for lunch yet???"

That sure didn't last long enough.

Linley Speaks

In the car on the way to the airport,

Linley: Mom, do you know where my diarrhea is?

Me: Your what?

Linley: You know, the book where I write all my secrets?

In the car on the way to the mall; her father, uncle and brother present,

Linley: Mom, how do babies get out of your tummy?

Me: Silence. But, in an effort to avoid any awkward moments, point to her hoohaw and tell her I'll explain the rest as soon as the boys are gone

Linley (in her loudest and most disgusted voice): So the doctor just reaches up and pulls the baby out of your butt (major emphasis on butt)??

Me: Not exactly. I'll explain it to you as soon as the boys are gone

Five minutes later, in an elevator; Linley, Tess and myself present.

Linley: So mom, how do babies come out of your tummy?

Me: Well, you know boys and girls have different private parts

Linley: Yes. Boys have wieners and girls have crotches

Me: Something like that. A girl's private part has a place for the baby to come out of when it is time for it to be born. Boys' private parts are different. That's why mommies can have babies and daddies can't. Aren't we lucky??

Linley (in her loudest and most disgusted voice): So the doctor just reaches up and pulls the baby out of your butt (major emphasis on butt)??

Me: Exactly. I am so glad we had this conversation.

Tahoe Times

Lake Tahoe was most certainly the highlight of the trip for every member of the family. Great Grandma Z went to every effort to ensure it was a day-of- dreams-coming-true and memories-in-the-making for all present.

Cousins!! And grapes!! And watermelon!! Tessa's dream come true: accomplished.

Meet: The Zimmerman's

The kids may have had the best 30 minutes of their life out there on that jet ski with their daddy. My little adventuresome lovies.

All the cousins with their father's on a paddle boat. That might have moved all of 6 inches in 45 minutes. Comedy.

Sweetness.

A most perfect day capped off by the most random yet rad rainbow ever.

 Blissful.

Splash Times

In an effort to continue to exhaust the children,we invaded Allen's Aunt Marty and Uncle Ken's house one afternoon. They have the most excellent backyard ever created.

Jumping Jacob

Uncle Aaron and the little man who stole my heart. He also goes by Tyler.

Of course, the day could not be complete without a manly water war.

And because three small children can never spend enough time burning off energy in water, we spent another day at the Folsom Aquatic Center.

Rock-a-billy Ryder

The day, of course, ended with a water fight. Must be genetic.

I was so in love with this place, I seriously could have married it.

High Times

One of our favorite things we did during our getaway was fly threw the air. We spent a morning with Aaron and Kelly and their kids in a huge warehouse full of trampolines. On the floor. On the walls. Into foam pits. Could this be kid heaven?

Daddy heaven?

Cute cousin Jacob.

Tess was a little cautious at first, but by the end had fully acclimated into a jumping machine.

Cousins are the best!!

I should probably be fired as photographer as well.