3.0 (beta)

My little swimmer of last summer has vanished. Despite her sartorial splendor, she can only manage a scowl when she looks upon water. She’s even resisting her baths. Alack! With pools and splash fountains around every bend and endless days of record heat ahead, what’s a mom to do? 

Well, for starters, I’m going to implement some of Becky’s bathtub swimming skills. Maybe after a couple of years of that training, E will be ready for the summer traditions of my youth: wearing your swimsuit sun-up to sun-down, swimming constantly, playing monopoly, demolishing the library’s summer reading program, savoring yogurt popsicles, and watching afternoon reruns of Little House on the Prairie. ::sigh:: That’s the life.

Photo credit: Heather

We spent the day with my extended family. Mom cooked up her usual feast of ham, scalloped potatoes, gingered carrots, and steamed green beans. Then, my dad hid eggs for the grandchildren. My three nephews get the idea of an egg hunt. E, on the other hand, spent most of her time sitting in the little orange car, happy that she didn’t have any competition for it. She finally started looking for eggs, but was content with three as that was all that would fit in her hands.

Oh, and because we have a child, we took the requisite “family photo.” It felt entirely natural. ::grin::

This post won’t be fancy. Moving, the holidays, and a round of family sickness concluding with a trip to the pediatrician and E’s first prescription has kept us rather preoccupied.

The visit to Arizona was phenomenal, full of delicious meals I didn’t have to prepare, substantive conversations about politics and religion, rounds of Hearts, shopping–the kind where the thrill is in discussing what you find more than buying anything, and the delightful oddities of home that you only experience if you’re actually there.  I also was able to spend precious time with some dear friends, though I missed many more. Next time.

While in Arizona, I failed to take many pictures. But my sister captured some highlights on her blog:

• Christmas Day
  

• Remembering Oma through her beautiful things

• Girl’s Day Out

I’ll conclude with one of the rare pictures from the trip: a frame of my dad taking E for a walk in The Backpack, an activity belov’d by her and her cousins before her.