It feels like summer! Which I suppose is appropriate, this being the first official day and all. We hit the beach today, where one stayed in the water for hours,

And another got buried

Because he'd gotten so cold. (kid has NO body fat)

The last one stayed mostly in the sand, but would brave the waves if he was attached to me above the waist.

We tried out the Kidspace Museum, which had a trike track, and trails for the kids to run and explore - I don't think Van's ever run so much in his life. Or felt so much like one of the big boys.... to a fault in fact...

After much begging and pleading I consented to allowing quilts and comforters on the front lawn - and this is where I found my boys for most of the first week of summer break:

...and, a couple random pics of boy scouts! Phew. All caught up.

Geekery

(sorry, it's link-tastic today. these are all rights reserved pictures)

HERE is a pic of our *totally awesome* family last year at Halloween.

HERE is a new costume pattern this year from Simplicity!

It's catching like wildfire - in no way were we some of the first to jump on the wagon but I fell deeply for the styles and tinkery of Steam Punk so I'm very happy that it's catching some mainstream attention.

HERE and HERE are the fabrics I am considering for Comic Con this year. I'll make it up in a vintage 50's or 60's pattern, naturally. Do you have an opinion? Care to share it?

THIS is probably the pattern I'll use this year for Halloween - with a different headpiece. And I'll make the over-sleeves sheer. And THIS for Craig. I hope I don't have to figure out my own for the boys. Pattern drafting is one of those things I'd dearly love to take a class for!

Summer window shopping

ran across a blogger the other day who makes moccasins by hand - I've been thinking about the need to find a more casual shoe and for slipons I like these tons better than loafers.

Free People: I love scarves, and this one is almost as necessary for summer as sunscreen, no?

Hooray that wide leg pants are coming back in! HOORAY!

Anthropologie:




Also, longer skirts. Not only are the maxi skirts back with a vengeance this year, but the knee length skirt is popping up more as well- so not everything is a micro mini anymore.

And there was much joy and rejoicing in the land.

I grew up with the word "spinning" in my vocabulary. My mom started doing it when I was young, and while I am not very good at it, I also learned the craft during my growing up years.

However, much clarification is needed when I say something like that nowadays. Because the spinning I am referring to is this kind:

Today, for the first time, I went to a class at the YMCA of the other kind of spinning. The kind that involves going nowhere very, very fast.

I woke up at 5:30, which has been fairly normal for me lately, and headed in. I was excited and a little nervous. Craig didn't help things by mentioning last night that he thought spin instructers were supposed to be horrifyingly brutal.

I found a bike, and by watching the people around me I figured out how to put the handle bars on and adjust the seat. Then I noticed everyone changeing their shoes and realized that I had to move to a bike with shoe baskets on it - so I did, and set up all over again. The instructor was nice, and announced amid groans of dismay that this would be her last class and that the Y was looking for another 6 a.m instructor. Bummer!

The lights went out, the music went up, and off we went!

Five minutes into the class I knew I was in trouble.

No matter that last week I ran the better part of 13.1 miles. No matter that I have birthed 3 children without an epidural.

I knew I wouldn't even be able to stay on the bike for the next 50 minutes, much less pedal as fast as they were going or STAND UP as long as they were standing. The two ladies in front of me were superhuman. The middle aged men were making me look like a wet noodle.

Part way through the class, the instructor said, "You ladies who are new, and still getting used to the bike - if you're backs are starting to hurt... SUCK IT UP!" A few minutes later, I leaned back to look at Hannah two bikes over. I did the finger-guns-to-my-head. I tried to suck it up, but mostly, I sucked.

It is now 1:30 in the afternoon. My guts have felt like jelly all day, and I cannot sit comfortably on any surface. (How are we supposed to get used to those seats? Callouses?! Down THERE?!) The only points to my favor are these:

1. I did not cry

2. I did not throw up

I wanted to do both.

It's OVER!

We crossed the finish line, and we even made it home without careening into another car. Which I have to say is rather impressive. Thanks to Hannah for driving!

Stumped around like I was crippled for the rest of Monday and most of yesterday; then dragged myself out of bed this morning to go to the YMCA and use the stationery bike a bit and back home for free weights. Can I just say that I hate exercising? It is really, really boring.

My middle bean got his yellow belt last night. (up from yellow-with-white-stripe) He is enjoying karate immensely, and he practices almost every day at home.

Tonight there are swim team tryouts for my oldest , and I get to try to get the others into swim lessons. Good times!