Del Mar & Jimmy

Josh's cousin's employee's mom (did you follow that?) had some pull at the Del Mar Horse Races. So Josh and I got to tag along for a behind-the-scenes VIP tour of the races. It was very, very cool.

I was, however, quite heart broken to hear that women don't wear ridiculously huge hats anymore except for opening day. So my fantasy of "My Fair Lady" style horse races didn't quite pan out.

The consolation prize was that Jimmy Eat World performed after the races and we were able to stand very close to the stage. It is moments like these when I feel 18 again.

She'll be Coming 'Round the Mountain, Here she Comes!

Josh met us for the weekend to go camping. Here is Mason "helping" his Uncle Josh drive the motorhome. He felt very important.

Fishing

It wasn't cold, but I wore as much fabric as I could to avoid the mosquitos.

Playing card games.

Roasting hot dogs and marshmallows.

And here is Josh relaxing with his new buddy.

Let me just say this about camping: I love sitting around a camp fire, and fishing, and sitting in a hammock, and hanging out with my favorite peeps. But at the end of the day I just want to shower and scrape off the bug repellant and smoke smell and dirt under my nails. Is that so wrong?!?! The worst thing about camping is crawling into your sleeping bag absolutely filthy and knowing that there still will be no shower tomorrow. And if you complain about being disgusting and wanting a shower you are considered snobby. Since when was good hygiene a bad thing?!?!

Utah Trip

The Madster and I drove this huge beast to Vernal, Utah to stay the week with my sister. My nephew called it my "Big House Truck." I was very hesitant to drive this monster at first, but by the end of the week I was swerving in and out of traffic and parking lots. When I got flipped off by a biker dressed in leather I knew I was a professional.

My travel buddy

There's nothing better than a pit stop at my dad's. He made us waffles for breakfast, let us use his soft bed and hot shower, we fought about politics, and hugged each other goodbye... I always enjoy my time with him. :o)

We went bowling, which is really fun until about half way through when my arm can't lift the 8 pound ball anymore.

We went to a carnival. This ride was funny because at first the girls were laughing. But the higher it went the more terrified and dramatic their faces became, until at the end they were crying.

We went hiking in the desert and played in the dirt.

And there was plenty of time for the cousins to do cousin things.

A Looooooooonnnnnggggggg Summer

Summer can get very long when you have one kid. I tried my best to overbook our summer so that we were out of town and with cousins and friends as much as possible. But when you have one kid on those long summer days she just stares up at you with big eyes until you do something to entertain her. It kinda drives me crazy.

So we have done every puzzle we can get our hands on.

And we curled hair and painted nails frequently.

And we learned and read about the solar system.

And then we created our own solar system.

And we made so many art projects that you can no longer see the wall space in our kitchen - only Maddie's art.

I cannot even begin to tell you how happy I am that school is starting up again! :o)

Summer Nights

Some highlights from our summer:

Our first time to Phittsburgh for Josh's deposition (which HAPPENED to be near the city the EXACT night as the last U.S. U2 concert).

Josh played on the Richard Harris Law Firm soccer team.

Maddie played in the beach sand. And played and played and played.... (lots of beach time!)

Maddie continued to be a very brave little girl, who isn't afraid to try something at least once (unless it is a vegetable).

We flew kites.

Josh and I went to see Sarah Maclachlin with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Beautiful!

Maddie swam with her cousins who didn't let the fact that they don't have a pool stop them from swimming.

Josh tried to fit in surfing whenever he could.

We hung out at some pools with friends.

Josh loved having friends to play soccer with in our backyard. (Almost as much as Bo loved wearing Maddie's swimsuit over his clothes!)

The entire Stucki family went to Disneyland. It was weird that I was in the "big kid" group with Maddie.

I love this picture from Space Mountain because Maddie was about to barf all over me. I wish I was one of those people who looked gorgeous in amusement park ride pictures, but it wasn't meant to be.

Josh was the favorite uncle for the ten minutes it took the kids to eat the ice cream cones he bought them. (Then they went back to ignoring him.)

A Hot Mess

Am I the only one super excited that Project Runway is back on? Josh likes to point out that it has one of the smallest viewerships on cable tv, but I like to think that means I am in an elite group. I have watched and loved and been inspired by every single season.

So inspired (in fact) that I pulled out my sewing machine and am sewing a cushion for my black & white piano room's window seat. It may not be as fabulous as runway couture, and I am a little out of practice, but I'm sure Tim would say "Make it Work."

I got a new camera and am working on downloading and organizing my pictures from this summer and finally updating my blog. (Sorry Grandma, I'll get it done soon!)

Another cousin!!

Maddie's cousins are very important to her. With no siblings around, they are her real family, and she takes her role as their cousin very serious. As you can see, she is very excited to have another one, and was very excited that it was a little girl. Josh's sister, Julianne, and her husband, Adam, had their first child: Miss Scarlett Stone. Adorable.

Best Buddy

Nobody told me that eventually your little baby grows up to be your best buddy. That eventually you look forward to summertime with your baby, instead of having panic attacks about how you are going to entertain her all day every day by yourself. That eventually your baby sits and has conversations with you at restaurants, instead of throwing food and screaming, and drawing angry faces from the unlucky adults seated near you. That eventually your baby says, "I just need to finish this last page and I'll be right there," while reading a novel, instead of clawing for your attention while you're trying to finish whatever it is you were trying to finish.

I like six.