In the thick of it....

summer, that is. and here's a photo to prove it:

oh, wait, but first this one, entitled:

I am Baby... Hear me Roar (or smile... impishly, as it were)








but back to being in the thick of it:

that's you know who in one of our raised garden beds, at the height of the pea harvest. We just pulled those vines, as they were tumbling over onto the beets and carrots. We've just started to harvest the beets and they are sooooooo sweet, its divine. Time to put in another few rows for the fall. The carrots are not turning out so great, which is a bit of a bummer, but everything else- kale, chard, lettuce, peppers and tomatoes and now zuchini, are going nuts and keeping us well fed. i'm barely buying any produce right now cuz we're not keeping up with what we've got in the ground. i lost some time this week with an intestinal flu bug that had me eating more white flour to uh, you know, bulk stuff up, than i have in years. strict orders from my doc: no vegetables!! what?!

so, yup. we're in the thick of it.

Liam is, as you can tell, someone to contend with. He is as sweet as can be though, with huge smiles and grins and shrieks and giggles. He does this thing sometimes when you smile at him, he shudders before he sighs and smiles back, like he's so full of joy and happiness and energy he just doesn't know what to do with it. Well, flapping his arms is a start... He's totally social and loves being talked to and smiled at and cooed over, though he's still figuring Raelin out. He always looks a bit horrified when she comes tearing over, sticking her face about 2 mm from his eyes and crooning (loudly), "what'sLiamdoing?what'sLiamdoing?hilittlebaby!Mommyhe'slookinatme" Repeat. Repeat. Smother and repeat.
A good friend of mine also has a daughter a son, similar age difference but all 1 year older than our kids. Anyway, awhile back i asked her if P (the daughter, about 3) was playing with L (baby son) and she said, "well, P mostly plays on L." I laughed, though didn't really get it. yeah, I get it now.
I assume that someday Liam will kind of get used to this and enjoy the whirling dervish that is his sister, but i gotta say, he doees shoot me looks like,"is she for real?" and i can only shrug and nod sympathetically. I ask myself the same question everyday. at least 50 times.

Yes, Raelin is our ever burning light and keeps us in stitches- mostly laughing, occasionally crying. the other day she was walking on the edge of the frame of the garden bed and slipped. Kevin looked up from where he was watering and said,"what's the matter Raelin, did you lose your balance?"
Raelin looks up at him and says, "No, daddy... My balance is in here!" and pats her chest.

Sigh. Gotta love that kid.