Waldo Lake

The water is so blue, someone said it's like looking into a vat of blue kool aid when you paddle out to the middle.

We camped for two nights, which was the max we could stand with our dirty little mosquito-bitten sidekick not sleeping well in the tent. It was great fun, it really was - but also a LOT of work.

We camped with three other families. We were: twelve kids ranging from one to 16, eight adults, three dogs, one canoe and at least four bags of marshmallows. We would do it again - with this group it was so easy. Delicious meals magically appeared on the picnic table, dishes were done with minimal complaint - even the kids pitched in.

But we'll wait til next summer to try camping with the Goose again. It took a full week for her to get back on a good nighttime schedule, and at least that long to get all the laundry done....

dog days

The dog days of summer are upon us en force. The thermometer in my car read 101 yesterday, although KLCC said it was only 97. In any case, it's hot. Lucy and the dog and I spent the afternoon on the patio, cooling off in the feeding trough cum baby pool, drinking iced coffee and panting.
Not that I'm complaining, really. Before this heat wave, I did feel the first hint of fall around the corner and I'm not ready. We're still enjoying our summertime, thank you. I'm not ready to give up dinners on the patio, naked babies running around, and lazy mornings where the boys stretch out on the couch and read books until noon.

front loading

Luce loves her new bike seat. We took it for a whirl yesterday to the park and then to campus to get frozen yogurt with our friends (see next pic). It's a European style seat, so she's in front with a view. She got sleepy on the way home and if I wasn't working so hard to ride up my hill with 20 extra pounds to pedal, I'd have taken a picture of her sound asleep, helmet against handle bars.

Top, from left: Miles, Walker, Milo.

Bottom, from left: Emma, Chloe, Meredith, Lucy, Liam

celebrating lucy

Admittedly, it wasn't really for her. I mean, it was, but really we just needed an excuse to have a party. The grownups had as much fun as the kids, and there were cupcakes all around.

Meagan helped dole out homemade ice cream.
Alex and Lucy hung out in the ladybug tent.

And for a one-year-old's birthday party, some people even got a little rowdy. Here's Joel and Ayren at the end of the evening, taking a break together in the garage. You've heard the term "bromance?"

portraits from petanque

Four years ago, MICE built a backyard Petanque court for Dave and Arica. Petanque is a french version of Bocci. So every year they hold a very serious tournament on a summer afternoon.

Last year, nine months pregnant, I won the tournament (that's my silver trophy in the picture above). The year before Joel won it. But this summer the Davis reign came to a close - we were both out by midafternoon and spent the rest of the day drinking pastis and pink wine, and cheering on our friends.

Rohanna, sizing up the court.

Mark explains the virtues of pastis to two-year-old Alice.

Rebecca, courtside.

Lewis, Alice, and Dave.

Jess, Rebecca, Jamie and Vivie, chatting on the sidelines.

Gasquet

It was the sweet kind of reunion, the kind where you know each other so well that you can pick up right where you left off months, or even years ago. The kind where you don't count the new lines around their eyes because all you see is the wild teenagers they used to be, and the graceful mamas they have become. 

We knew each other before car payments, before diaper changes, before boyfriends even. We get together once a year now. This year in Gasquet, on the Smith River, it was nuts. Three days, four kids, five pints of blueberries, one minivan... 
and two strollers later...

We all agreed: next year three night minimum, and no toddlers. 

But even so, I love these girls - and their children - like family. I will always be willing to stay up too late, lounge around, drink too much wine, listen, cry, wipe their child's nose, snuggle, laugh...with these, my chosen sisters. 

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Lucile May. Also known as Lucy, Baby ShiShi, The Duce, Woosy, Luce, The Goose... As of July 29, our girl has completed one year on this planet. 

She is a feisty little lady, fearless and determined. She rolled over at two months, walked at eight, and said her first word at ten (ball "ba"). She gave me her first kiss the other day. Lucy is speeding through her babyhood, resolutely keeping up with her best friend (two year old Alice) and her big brothers. We think, slow down! We can't keep up! Stay a baby for longer... But she'll have none of it. Every day brings a new thing - stepping down stairs rather than climbing down backward, a new sign for "all done" or "more," willingness to give a hug when asked. She is a social butterfly; she loves anyone big or small who is interested in singing a song, bouncing on the bed, or reading a book. She is a tough, sweet girl, the best kind. 

We love her fiercely and she loves us back. Her smile in the morning is the sweetest part of the day.

Some pictures from her birthday evening at Nonny's - Joel's mom JP.  (Documented on the iphone).  The hottest day of the year, it was 106 in Eugene. ....

My grandma made an angel food cake. Lucy's the latest in a long line of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to partake in this family tradition. The candle holder, a little duck, was on my mother's first birthday cake in 1953.

Lucy and cousin Sylvia (2) opening presents)