A new look, A new plan

We have a new header!  [One of the fireworks from July 4th - though pleasingly grassy].  And the orange from 1973 is gone!  Whoo-hoo.  We're trying a post-modern all-white look and will see what my brother, the design snob, has to say about it.  Google also demanded $5 from me as I've apparently exceeded my free photo storage space so I've now officially bought in to this blogging business.  Too late to get out now!   

Though I can't use all my exciting new space yet - forgot to pick up new camera batteries (again). 

This afternoon I set up the kiddie pool with the old Tyco slide in the backyard with thoughts of languishing under the umbrella with a beer and a book while the kids played, but I ended up playing catch and blowing bubbles for them instead.  I don't think my boy could've been happier, having mommy's full undivided attention.  My girl was just laughing and laughing and kept going down the slide (more or less) unassisted.  Tragically there are no photos of this but it was idyllic.  I really, really, really should do things like this with them more often.

And with that goal in mind, and to prevent the summer weekends from drifting past in a haze of parental laziness and inertia, and shamelessly inspired by this post, we made a list of things we were going to do the rest of the summer:
  ~camp in the backyard
  ~go to the science center
  ~and the transportation museum
  ~and the zoo
  ~and the city museum
  ~catch fireflies
  ~visit the giant bottle of ketchup reported to be in the vicinity
  ~actually use the sidewalk chalk we've owned for at least two eons
  ~go on a bike ride
  ~make rice krispie treats
  ~play in the kiddie pool in the backyard

I'll leave it to you to figure out who added what to the list.