Bonding Moments

Nate and Ben sure do enjoy them some good root beer! The cousins took their frosty beverages outside to the fort, where they commenced watching the construction workers put a new roof on the church behind Ben's house.

Heroes

Guitar Hero is addictive. And very serious. And fun to play in your underwear.

We all like to play it, but some people make fun of me when I play. But I am pretty darn good, especially when you compare me to my brother, Sam:

Even Charlie could tell that Sam wasn't very ... comfortable playing [thanks to Jenn for the ellipsis education]. Charlie dropped his ball in Sam's lap. And then Sam got booed off the stage.

Sometimes you get the songs stuck in your head and they won't leave. Like "Slow Ride."

The Best Dog in the World

You have missed Charlie, haven't you? I am so sorry for neglecting him here in Blogland. Don't you think he's a good looking guy? Some people (I refuse to name those people) say he's funny looking, but I think he's gorgeous.

Did you know that even the guy at the shelter tried to talk me into another dog? And the treat giver at the drive-thru today said, "Is he okay?" Charlie does have kind of a sad look about him, but do not be fooled. He is spoiled. And loved. And indulged. And appreciated.

Just One Complaint

As much as I love, adore, and cherish Ro and Newt, I confess that I do tend to jump at the opportunity to travel without them, so when I was presented with the chance to join Anthony on a trip to Los Angeles, I was all over it.

I've been to California many a time in my life, but we generally stick to the Newport Beach or San Diego areas. Truly, I don't know if I can say that I've ever been to Los Angeles, really, before this trip, and I have been to Santa Monica once, but that was a business trip, and those trips just aren't the same.

Santa Monica was beautiful and interesting and fun, and we just wandered along Santa Monica Boulevard and I only purchased one item: a pair of Roxy flip flops. I love them. I really should take a picture of them. Because they're so comfortable and pretty and chocolate brown and they make me taller.

And I ran into this handsome man at the beach, and amazingly, he didn't object to having his picture taken. Had he known that said photo would end up on my blog, he might not have agreed so quickly, but what he doesn't know won't hurt him. Right?

If you were to drive to the Griffith Observatory at night, you would be rewarded with this spectacular view of the city:

I only have one complaint about our trip: it was much too short.

Tagged

Tagged by Monica! I've been tagged before, but I'm not very good at playing. I decided that I'd better follow through this time or the bad luck of the tagging could catch me, much like an ignored chain letter.

Four places I visit over and over:
1. Costco
2. The pool
3. The library/Barnes & Noble/Borders
4. 24 Hour Fitness

Four people who call/text/e-mail me regularly:
1. Anthony
2. Brent
3. Mom/Dad/Mary
4. Christopher

Four favorite foods:
1. Dark chocolate
2. Salmon
3. Strawberries
4. Lime -- on almost anything



Four places I'd rather be:
1. Disneyland with Ro and Nate
2. Hiking in Millcreek Canyon with Anthony
3. Shopping at Harold's with my mom
4. Crab Cooker with Ted & Mary

Four movies I'd watch over and over:
1. Pride & Prejudice (the six-hour miniseries)
2. Billy Elliot
3. Gladiator
4. Lost (I know. But maybe it will be a movie someday.)

Four bands/groups/musicians I love to listen to:
1. Gwen Stefani
2. Jack Johnson
3. Elvis Costello
4. Diana Krall


And now, because I played, I get to tag fellow bloggers, too. So consider yourself tagged, Blog Soup (Brent) and Overthinking Everything (Jenn).

Never a Bad Idea

As often as possible, I take my boys to the pool. They haven't been in summer camp the past few weeks, and despite the frequent field trips and movies and sprinkler time and Slurpees, they often complain that they are bored.

But just an hour at the pool is like magic for them. They work off a ton of energy, they are refreshed, and you know what else?

They're even nice to each other!

Train Tracks

Can you believe Ro is old enough to have braces? Neither can I. But it's time. He has a wicked crossbite that is in dire need of assistance. He is being a very good sport about his new canine adornments, but has been dipping into the wax quite frequently to help his poor lips adjust to the sharp metal bits.

(Nate doesn't like to be left out. Ro had to do some tricky work with his left hand while I was taking his picture to keep Nate out of the picture.)