63/365 Milk

I started the trend. I was in La Leche League and several members had their milk delivered. I wanted milk without hormones and the idea of milk delivery in this day and age caught my fancy. I signed up.

Travis didn't believe it the first time at 3 in the morning there was a milk truck idling on our street. Called the company to see if it was legit. I assured him it was. What do you mean you get your milk delivered?

The Paxtons and Stricklands were next. The McAllisters followed. The Wymans got it for a while but I don't know if they still do. At this point, I'm so spoiled by having milk delivered, it would be hard to go back. I know that in the heat of the summer or dead of winter, I have milk, and if I plan ahead a few hours, I can have eggs, butter, yogurt, cheese, and so forth. There's no last minute trip to the grocery store with a crying baby when it's 5 degrees outside. We have milk.

Plus the chocolate tastes like pudding. Or melted chocolate ice cream. Divine.

62/365 Summer draws to an end

One last weekend before school. Run as fast as you can.

61/365 By the Bushel

I told Fiona and Daisy they could earn a dime a cucumber, pick as many as they could and they could split the earnings.

They each went upstairs with $1. That's 20 cucumbers. We're so sick of cucumbers.

60/365 Adults at the Barbecue

They played washers for a bit while I sat and talked with Zelda and Tara. Later Bobbie and Kyle came over and we talked school. Their son is starting at a new charter school sponsored by the same university (charter schools in Missouri have to be sponsored) as Oak Grove. Discussion of kids' sports and activities; a long ode to homemade ice cream.

Jake sat with Travis and Justin and talked about something--probably politics since Jake has a hard time not talking politics, frankly--and the afternoon unraveled slowly.
Billy fell asleep on my lap eventually and we went in to get ready to go to my parents' house for dinner, but it was hours of sidewalk sitting and hot dogs and koolaid infused kids and the summer moments you remember instead of the days on end of heat and looming bored children. This is summer.

59/365 How to get your kids to spend more time outside

58/365 Barbecue Moments

Justin and Naomi relax under the pavilion tent; Bree and Iris wait for the meal to begin. And the barbecue heat warps the view--I liked this photo a lot.

57/365 Getting Ready for Barbecue

It was almost completely spontaneous. Frank and Christy sent an email earlier in the week. They wanted to have a barbecue, but Christy described her backyard as "ridiculous." I understood. She thought maybe we'd have it in the front. Perfect.

Joy lives on the next block, and she brought her kids down. Everyone else just kind of rolled out of their front doors and onto the sidewalk.