Off with a Bang!

Hello again!  We’ve got a lot of catching up to do . . .

This hadn’t happened in probably a year or more, and it hasn’t happened again since then either.

                     
These sorts of things happen quite often though.  In the second picture, Naomi is observing nature—she pulled up a chair to watch a snail go by. 

We greeted Uncle Jonathan in the usual way.


We also made heavy use of his superb construction skills.

       
Monkey learned to play the piano and a work crew took over some garden space.


Then there was a medieval battle in which the enemy knight/ogre/dragon hid himself within the castle, yet he was still soundly defeated by the overwhelming power of giggles.  And yes, all princesses wear hippo pajamas.

                               
More of this and a little of that.

Oh yah, Jake was still here then!  Except he was getting ready to go to Bridgeport for a month.

    
Taking in the sights as we walk down the beach to find a nice spot to watch the fireworks.

              
Just hanging out and enjoying the SoCal scenery.

Freight train!  We don’t see these go by during the day, so this was extra-exciting (and super long)!

                                
Breaking out the glow stick toys means we’re almost there.


Happy 4th of July!  (Which just points out again how far behind I am here.  Oh well!)  The first photo gives you just an idea of how great our view was: the rockets going up on the right are our own fireworks (San Clemente), the large burst on the left is Dana Point and the faint set low on the horizon in the center are (I think) San Juan Capistrano.  The cumulative effect made it the best fireworks show I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen more than my fair share of them.

  

Also in June

Lucky for me, it seems like June was relatively non-photogenic.  I was probably letting the camera have a moment/month to prepare itself for what was to come (which would be Jonathan and Mom and the ENTIRE month of July).

Around the house:

                         

          
The mustaches were goofy gifts from Logan’s birthday.  Regarding the umbrella, no, it wasn’t raining.

Things we made:
(We seem to have been craftier than usual this month.)

This has been expanded and refreshed a couple times but it’s STILL here. 
                         
The bears were made (by me!) from clay dug out of the yard; the boat was made by Logan (and Dad) from a kit which was another birthday present.
                          
The castle was created right after Logan’s birthday party and only recently came down.  The painting was hung for the 4th of July because I thought it looked roughly like fireworks over a large lawn.

Pretend City (is still awesome):

                           
They added a gym near the fire station.
                       
Uncle Drew, the fire station was the very first place both of them ran to.  
                           
                             
Farm to table, right?
They put on a show and the crowd went Wilde!

 
                        
                                                   

Next up: July!