Ummm...I See Paris... I Think.

M:  Hey Lulu, let's practice that silly rhyme we learned in camp.

Lulu:  O-Tay.

M:  OK, so it's "I see London, I see France..."

Lulu:  I see France, I see... who did I see, M?  I forgot.

M:  No no no, Lulu.  Let's try again.  I see London, I see France,  I see...

Lulu:  I got it!  I see France, I see Paris...

M:  NO!  There's no Paris.  I see London!

Lulu:  Where?

M:  NO LULU NO!  I see London.  That's the rhyme!

Lulu:  O-Tay.  I see London, I see Paris....

M:  NO NO NO NO.  You're doing it wrong!  Say what I say!  I see London, I see France....

Lulu:  I see France?

M:  Yes, France.

Lulu:  I see France, I see London.

M:  NO LULU NO!  You got it backward.

Lulu (Grinning)

M:  Humph!  I said, "I see London, I see France...."

Lulu:  I see London,... (pause)  Have I ever seen London?  MOMMMMMMY!  HAVE I EVER SEEN LONDON???

M:  Focus Lulu!  One more time!

Lulu:  Ummmm...I see Paris,... I think.

M:  AW, JUST FORGET ABOUT IT!  I'M OUTTA HERE!

Patio Progress

In my last patio post, you could see a large hole dug in the ground behind my home.

M has enjoyed the pit of dirt.  She likes to jump around in it.  Go figure.

Any excuse to leap!

Anyhoo, here is some of the progress we have made over the past four days.  First, the truck arrived.

He dropped off this:

Let's all sing the song... SAVE BIG MONEY AT MEN-AAAARDS!

For real, we did.  That always makes hubby happy.  Which is important when he is carrying 150 bags of rock and sand around the house.

M was a huge help.  First she held the bags down so they didn't float away.

We couldn't have that now, could we?  Floating bags of sand and rock.  Thanks M!  What would we do without all your help?

We set up our music and drink station.

Then we went to work.  Open bags, dump, rake, level, tamp, level, repeat.

Oh and hold down those dang floating bags... with our neighbor, B.

We did have some AWESOME entertainment this weekend during the building of the patio.

The US Navy Blue Angels were in town for the Dayton Air Show and they flew low right over our house!  It was the coolest thing EVER!

I would love to fly like that, except I would barf all over everything the whole time.

More patio progress to come so stay tuned!

The Tipp City Arts Festival

M's gym was invited to do an exhibition at the annual Tipp City Ohio's Arts Festival.  Many of the gymnastics were at summer camp or were on vacation, but we were able to go and represent!

The festival is set up in the streets of historic Tipp City.  So after rolling out the mats and putting together the music, the group starting warming up...

and stretching out.

The competitive cheer squad joined the gymnasts for the exhibit.  Cheerleaders are in black.  Gymnasts in white. 

Now it was time for tumbling!

M has got her roundoff back handspring (times two) and is now working on her back tuck.  Translation:  She can flip up in the air lots of times -- sometimes without using her hands!

We are really proud of her!  I personally can't wait until competition season starts in November.  I think she is going to do very well!  Go Gem City!

Summer Fun ~ Part One: The Titanic

This summer we have done quite a few fun things.  One was a visit to the newly opened Titanic Museum.

I think it is a one-half scale model of the actual ship, or just the front part of the ship.  I don't think the original looked sawed in half.

This thing is so very impressive!  Note the iceberg on the left.  Inside the ship you can feel the iceberg -- it is actually made of ice and it is freezing cold.

They didn't allow photography inside the museum so we had to settle for outside shots.  I wish I could have taken photos inside as there is a complete re-creation of the grand staircase that you can walk down!

Now that's an anchor!

If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend a visit! 

Why I'm Almost Too Tired to Blog

Shall I illustrate to you what we have been doing the last few days? 

Loosen, dig, shovel, haul, empty, repeat.  Loosen, dig, shovel, haul, empty, repeat.

I SHOULD have arms like a pro wrestler by now.   But no.  I do not.

My shadow is testimony to my arm and it's flabby bits.

Anyway, back to the patio.  Yes, that is what we are doing.  We are building a patio.  We've never done this before but I feel confident that we can do this and do it well.

The girls are not as confident as I.  As a matter of a fact, they laugh hysterically at the very notion that I know what I am doing. 

Well, they laugh until I tell them to go grab a shovel and come join the fun!  Then they scatter.

In case you are wondering where I am putting all this dirt that we are digging out.  I built a new flower bed around two new trees.

So with a little of this (which also sends the girls scurrying away screaming, "EWWWWW!!!" and holding their noses, 

And my stash from Spring Hill's clearance sale,

I hope that the new flower bed will look like this next year.  I built this bed last fall.

This one sits near the garage.  I just found the old watering can at an estate sale.

I really love my garden!

Beautiful Smiles

Finally! Guess who lost her "tw-woo frownt teef"?  It only took FOREVER for those babies to come out. 

Just call me Gummy!

Hey, it could definitely be worse....   She could have Bubba teeth. 

Lulu found these in a .50 gumball machine at the movies and insisted on wearing them out of the theatre, then to the grocery store.  Grinning, of course.  Of course.