Love/Hate

Today Mario said to me, "I both love and hate summer."  I knew exactly what he meant before he tried to explain himself.   I feel like we never have a day to ourselves, and if we do, we spend it getting ready for the next thing.  I need life to slow down a little bit.  On the other hand, a lot of great memories are created with all that's going on.  A lot of time is spent with extended family and friends and so much happens that will always be remembered.  I want to have a record of all of it since I will most likely not have a memory someday (inherited).
    AJ turned 17 while I was at girls camp so we celebrated when we got home. 17-so hard to believe. For his birthday, the only thing he wanted was a big debt forgiven that he owes us. Since he is in the senior class pres.-there was some pressure to get Skyview- overly- expensive cardigans-(one of those things that is so important at the time, and then 1 yr. later, so unnecessary.) Anyway, he got his wish along with a few smaller gifts. AJ also discovered that the Lego co. is having a contest to see who can build the best Lord of the Rings set. Whoever wins gets every set of LOTR legos that they release. Suddenly he has a major renewed interest in legos. I hope he wins. He's been
working at it pretty hard.

AJ posing in his 70's clothes.  He and Audrey TP'd the office for Mario's birthday.

his standard birthday cake -Rhubarb delight



For the 4th, we watched the fireworks, then the next day had a pool party at our house.  We also did our own fireworks that night.  This is a mandatory part of Isaac's life.  Side note:  (When I first saw this picture I thought "Hey, I am looking skinnier and who's shirt am I wearing?"  Then realization hit that that was Audrey.   She is standing how I stand though and gave me very short lived joy.

 Audrey invited her best friends to spend Thurs. at Lagoon and I was the designated driver.  I took Alicia and Isaac down also to do some fun things with just them. We shopped for as long as they could stand it (2 hours).  Then I took them bowling and to Lori's house to kill time until 10pm when we could pick Audrey and Co. back up.  Lori's family was gone so the house felt too quiet.  Her neighbor was overly watchful of us making sure we were not going to steal or destroy anything. 
     We had the big Durrant reunion today.  We rented a field with a big water slide and the kids LOVED it.  I think our 3 younger probably went down it 50 times.

D taking Alicia and Mckinly down

Ian--his kinda thing

AJ made the mistake of being the first to go down.  The water had not completely covered the plastic yet and he hit a very dry spot and got a major rug burn and heat burn on his back and shoulder.  It looked very painful but he said it was mostly numb.  We'll see how 'numb' it is tomorrow.