Leaving Before the Finale

Phillip's company decided to bond over baseball a couple nights ago . . .

. . . so I took the train into Boston . . .

. . . and met Phillip for a date at Fenway Park.

Although I find baseball pretty boring on TV, I enjoy watching it person.

There's something fun about cheering or groaning with the people around me,

and rooting for actual humans down on an actual field.

Maybe it feels more real to me, since most things I see on screens aren't real.

I also enjoyed getting to know Phillip's new coworkers, 

including Dr. Todd (pictured above) and Eva the Stylish Secretary 

(I just made that last part up--it's not her official title).

As for the game itself, the Red Sox spent most of it a few runs behind,

so Phillip and I left after the eighth inning to beat the crowds.

Of course, the Sox staged an epic comeback in the bottom of the ninth and won the game.

I kind of wish we'd stuck it out to see that grand finale,

but I was happier to arrive home before midnight and get a decent night's sleep.

I must be getting old. :)

Discovery with Daddy

We headed back to the Discovery Museum today,

partly because it's a fun place . . .

. . . and partly because we wanted to show Daddy some of our favorite things there.

After he lifted all five of us with the da Vinci lever . . .

. . . we went inside to make sand funnel art . . .

. . . a custom ball ramp . . .

. . . and music with plastic pipes and old flip flops.

I also made an interesting discovery at the heat image camera display.

I was pointing out to the kids that our fingers are much colder than our arms,

then I noticed that the only one on the screen with purple (i.e. cold) fingers was me.

 I knew I had poor circulation, but I didn't realize it was THAT bad.

No wonder my hands always feel cold in winter!

Unexpected Errands

The kids and I headed to the mall today to buy shoes for school.

They've outgrown or worn out last year's shoes,

and flip flops won't cut it when the weather turns cold soon.

Unfortunately, when we arrived at the mall the shoe store wasn't open yet . . .

. . . so we went a few doors down to get Anna's ears pierced.

She's been wanting to do that before middle school starts,

and we decided that today was the day!

We also browsed the shop next door

which had gobs and scads of candles.

Apparently the difference between a pleasant aroma and a noxious fume

is entirely a matter of opinion.

And yes, we did eventually make it to the shoe store.

Daniel and Todd both opted for slip-on tennis shoes,

since they don't know how to tie shoelaces.

I should probably teach them that basic life skill at some point.

Maybe next year.

A Familiar Classroom

This morning we took a tour . . .

. . . of Todd's new classroom at our town's older elementary school (grades 3-5).

Todd got to find his desk and meet one of his soon-to-be classmates.

He also discovered a jar full of transparent dice

with little dice inside them.

Numbers galore!

Todd wanted to roll ALL the dice!

Todd has the same teacher Anna had when she was in third grade.

She enjoyed seeing her old classroom and teacher again,

and smelling the familiar air freshener her teacher likes to use.

As for me, I thought the message on this mirror was funny:

"You are kind"

"You are smart"

"You are important"

"(By the way, your hair looks great today)"

This sign is still my favorite part of the classroom though

(aside from the teacher, who is awesome).

Hats and Beans

As promised on the birthday milk jug . . .

. . . Joy treated Anna to an outing today.

They decided to be all matchy-matchy and wear fun hats,

but before I had even left the parking lot

Joy called my cell phone to say that Anna was already tired of wearing her enormous hat

and they wanted to stash it in the car.

The girls (and Luna) enjoyed some white chocolate cocoa . . .

. . . and picked up a box of Bertie Botts Every Flavor jelly beans.

As Albus Dumbledore had the misfortune to discover in his youth . . .

. . . vomit-flavored jelly beans truly are revolting.

Later in the day, Anna used her birthday cookie scoop

and the birthday apron a friend made for her

to whip up some cookies.

They tasted much better than the jelly beans. :)

A Milk Jug Gift

It's Anna's birthday today!

She requested a birthday dinner of sliders 

out in our screened porch . . .

. . . and cream puffs for dessert.

Anna was excited to get a cookie scoop as a gift

since she loves baking . . .

. . . but the most interesting present she received by far

was an empty milk jug covered with a masking tape message from her sister

promising to take her on a fun outing tomorrow.

Happy birthday, Anna!

I love your cheerful enthusiasm

and your compassionate heart.

Anna's Birthday Swim Party

It's Anna's birthday this week, and summer vacation is almost over . . .

. . . so we decided to host a birthday swim party at our swim teacher's family's pool.

Highlights including trying to swim in the inflatable palm tree decoration . . .

. . . (which lasted about two seconds) . . .

. . . and whipping our own cream to go with the key lime bars

that Anna and Joy made for the occasion.

It was a delightful way to celebrate Anna and friendship . . .

. . . and good old summertime fun.