matching tracksuits

fun in threes, sometimes fours

the boy

Changes Waiting

Though it's hard to comprehend how we've reached this moment so quickly, the Girl is just shy of six feet tall and wrapping up her junior year of high school, and the Boy has crossed the five-foot barrier and will soon be twelve. The changes coming are enormous: L will be making final decisions about college over the summer, and the Boy will soon have a full-blown, empty-leg, teenage boy appetite.

We got a hint of that this evening.

After eating a full meal, he came back downstairs hunting for food no more than five minutes later.

"I'm still hungry," he declared. So he got a piece of yesterday's leftover pizza out and warmed it up.

Clover smelled it, sensed a treat, and followed him into Papa's room (it will always be "Papa's room"), and sat down like the best behaved pup in the world.

Return for Pickleball

Dinner Out

Lessons and Blooms

"I need to work on my Polish," the Boy recently declared, so he and K have been working on Polish lessons again. He doesn't look enthusiastic all the time, but he is (still) willing.

Almost as lovely as his effort were the azaleas blooming this morning.

Playful Monday

It used to be something we did fairly frequently in the spring: all four of us would go outside and do something together: swings, trampoline, badminton, or just a walk. I guess we all took it for granted, but soon enough, schedules shifted, kids grew up, calendars filled up, and these evening family times disappeared.

But we still have the net up from Easter; and we still have two kids who enjoy badminton. So all four of us were out playing, though never at the same time -- that schedule thing again.

First I took on the Boy. He's getting so much better, but he flubs some that should have been fairly easy. No pictures of that one.

Then K came out and played with the Boy. I snapped a couple of pictures, but not many -- not even one of K playing.

Then the Boy went inside while K and I played a bit. We're down to two working rackets, so options were limited.

Finally, the Girl returned home from getting crickets for her Australian Tree Frog -- I don't know that we have a single picture of her, but L has had her since eighth grade.

She plays with the Boy for a while, but then I suggest I take the Boy's part and the Boy take the camera.

And so I promptly have fun while making a bit of a fool of myself. L wins at everything -- it's time we face it.

K, for her part, was inside, studying.

When will the stars align again for such a day?

Conestee Sunday Afternoon

Looking for a date for the birthday party

Saturday Naps

Down at the Swing

Remember when we used to cuddle in the hammock?

Can we try again , the Boy asks.

We fit. Barely.

Friday

Tournament and family game night.

Around the House