Lazy Summer

Dear readers, are there any out there? My absence at this post has been due to too much indulgence in the laziness that comes with summer. Not to mention the laziness that comes with being in your childhood home with your mother who is doing a great job of taking care of everything for you. Hmm, feeding Callie, doing the shopping, making all the diners, cleaning the house etc. What is left for me to do. Not much, and I have really enjoyed the break. Thanks mom. Thanks also to Cameron who filled in with paying bills, finding us a home, and finishing all of his enrollment stuff. Oh, and he also wrote a welcome entry to "Mama's Turn," because he knew I was leaving you "all" hanging. There are a few things he did leave out so in this issue I will try to fill in some gaps.



Sunday July 8th, my aunt and uncle Carolyn and Bob hosted a memorial service for my cousin Debbie. Debbie was a free spirit in every way, from her flower child wedding to her love of cats and music. Her quick wit and her challenging perspectives will always be remembered. Her memorial was a perfect tribute to her life. Honest and true to who she was, wonderful comments made by family, and with a musical flare from a friend who she wrote songs with. My heart really goes out to her three children who also lost their dad about a year ago.



On a lighter note we also took a quick trip out to CA to visit Nana in Los Altos. She arranged for us to visit briefly with Brock, Lara and their new baby Brady. Nana gave us a huge box of apricots and plumbs, all from her amazing garden. Then we drove through San Francisco to Tiburon to visit Popy and Kacky Agee. Our visits were short but well worth the drive.



Since we have been here Papa and Sherri have signed Callie up for swim lessons. We had such high hopes. Callie had demonstrated a lack of fear when it came to water, ocean or pool. She loved to go under the water with me again and again holding her breath. Swimming lessons have quickly changed her mind. Sadly she cries through most of her lessons. She has also become the queen of excuses. Telling her cute and very patient coach Kelsy, "I don't want to swim, I have a poopy diaper," or "I cold," or "I hungry I wants some wunch." Kelsy has to bribe her and negotiate over the silliest things. We have two more lessons and so far Callie is really good at blowing bubbles, holding on the the side of the pool and moving hand by hand to the stairs, floating on the noodle, stretching out "like scuttle" and kicking on her tummy. She has learned a lot even with her constant protest. We will definitely continue in a class in AZ. Maybe one with other kids so we can promote the follower in her. If it works out I would even drive up to Gilbert so she could learn from Betina and see all her little cousins.

Well, I don't want to exert too much energy so I must go. Hope you are all having a lazy summer too.