When The Chips Are Down, The Buffalo Is Empty

And other word of wisdom we learned while visiting NorthLand Bison Ranch...

So You Said You Wanted Pictures...

So...we thought we left the camera at the lake - actually just sitting in the car. So here's some snap shots of our little vacation. Do you get the sense that if Finn could say more than three words, he'd sound as loud and mouthy as a New York taxi driver (or maybe more appropriately, like a Schneeman)?

We're Back!

Camera is not unpacked yet - but I'll get some pictures posted soon. We had a great long vacation at the cabin - the boys just seems to grow in leaps and bounds at the lake. Highlights include Seamus and his highspeed dive off the shallow end raft (he doesn't know this is a highlight as he got into HUGE trouble for doing it - but Lord, it was funny). Finn ate more sand than any one child should ever try and ingest - he got to the point where when he saw me looking at him, he's just spit out the rock. Nice, Nice. It was fabulous family time and in the midst of all our remodeling it was nice to be some place where daily activities for the adults included napping and stories.

We're so excited to be back though - I feel like it's been ages since we've seen anyone and can't wait to catch up with all our favorite people!

On the off chance that Bob and Paula are checking in - fountain looks fine and we're missing you tons! Seamus asked to see you as soon as we got out of the car yesterday - he wasn't so happy that you weren't around.

We told him that life is a series of unexplained disappointments and he should get used to it (actually, we said that you didn't love him anymore...) Kidding.

Mr. Harley Davidson, I presume?

The boys have been sharing extraordinarily well considering that Finn is now all about Seamus's toys. Here's a glimpse at their problem solving skills for sharing the bike - sometimes I'm sure I'm having more fun watching them than they are actually playing.

Yesterday I made an unusual foray into baking. We're being bombarded by apples from the tree constantly and so I started making pies. So far so good (how hard is it to combine apples, sugar and crust, really?).

Seamus got to help with the dough while Finn was sleeping, and after a while my patience had worn thin and so I told him he had to "back up and watch" for a few minutes. At which point he put his hands on his hips, looked me strait in the eyes (he was on a kitchen chair) and told me - "You know better, Mamma. Go chair. Right now. Get happy." Think he's heard that before? For those of you who haven't spent a lot of time at our house, we have a chair that Seamus has to sit in when he's in a sour mood or when he's not listening...

Summer Sweetheart

Our neighbor's daughter, son-in-law, grandaughter, Bridget (age 2), and brand new baby are staying with them for a few months. Seamus LOVES having Bridget over to "play" - which has finally turned into real playing verses standing near each other and periodically bumping into each other with toys. Obviously she's warming up to the boys. :)

Corn Husker

So the other day, Seamus announced he could "clean" the corn. I gave him a bag and set him loose on the porch. To my complete amazement, he did a fabulous job, almost no hair or husks outside of the brown bag. I ran inside to get the camera and got a little distracted (it happens) so it took me a few minutes before I made my way back with the camera. He had happily sampled one of the raw ears of corn and was very satisfied. I could hardly blame him.