My life in the last few months.......

 

Excitement revolving around nesting birds and second chances turn to tears when we discover that the neighborhood crow gang ransacked the nest and stole the eggs......

However, tears turned into joy when we discovered not only another mourning dove nested in our tree........

 

But a little wren made her home on our terrace.  Apparently, since there were no soccer balls involved in the loss of the eggs, our backyard was left on the "ok to nest" zone.   However, no hummingbirds have returned.  I understand their bitterness.

But the joy once again turned to tears when.......

 

the lice returned.  I seriously almost lost the very last two brain cells that I possessed.   Three times dealing with this.   Three times.  So, I went all Norma Rae/Karen Silkwood on the school and demanded either they bring in the Hair Fairies to check all students or they would be soley responsible for incurring all costs at the "Mommy's Finally Lost Her Marbles" Recovery Center.   Since it would be at least a six week stay (probably realistically more like six months), they felt it would be more fiscally responsible to call in the pros.  Fourteen children later.....problem solved.  While standing around while heads were being checked, I had a chance to talk to a couple of the ladies who do this for a living and found out they charge $95 an hour......$95 an HOUR! What the!    It was right then and there I decided to make a career change.   Holy mother of nit picking.....while I was sitting there for three hours combing out his hair while watching back to back Wow Wow Wubsy for FREE (which I am almost positive is an interrogation tactic in some third world countries), I could have been making some serious chump change.  I ultimately decided against it because, well, I really didn't want to see another one of those things ever.  Again.

The lice were not the only thing we said adios to........

 

Someone lost a tooth!  He swallowed it while eating a corn dog.  Never even realized it. 

 

We got a super late start on the garden this year......Thanks goodness the garden gnome was there to supervise all digging and planting.....

 

Ta Da......Here it is as of yesterday......

 

We've got corn, tomatoes, jalepenos, cucumbers and cantelope.  I'm not too sure about the corn this year.  It looks way skinnier than last year when we started it from seed.  But the tomatoes are way bigger and heartier than last year's. 

Here's last year.....

We spent a week up in LA where we fell off of trolley cars.....

 

And ran from runaway locomotives......

 

After all the train spotting, we stopped for some frozen yogurt. I have to show you a sampling of Carlos' creation.  Yes, you see that correctly.  It's a little used topping mixture of watermelon, sour gummy worms, pineapple, and cookie dough pieces.  There were some other unidentifiable things in there that were better left unidentified.....

 

Doing some time at the cove......

 

If you look to the upper right corner of the picture you can see that we share the beach with some flippered friends....

 

 

 

That's it for now!  I shall return.....Karin

    

 

 

Comments

[teresa]

Hey Karin - we wnet through the lice thing with both my girls years ago. A friend who works in public health gave me a tip. I can't say for sure it was what worked, but we never had lice again. once they are clean - Spray their hair every day with the cheapest hairspray you can buy. you can brush it out once it dries.

hope you find the rest of the summer less eventful ----

[Debra]

I cannot believe the lice! Wow, I might be a lice lady for that kind of money. Your kids are so cute.

[sonia audelo]

WOW!! I hope you are able to enjoy the rest of the summer with no more lice. Love how your veggies are growing :)

[natalea]

I just love reading your updates! looks like a fun summer so far! and Scarlet also swallowed her tooth- the day after I told her not to worry about doing that because "no one swallows their teeth!"...of course I've heard of 4 people that swallowed them since!
enjoy the summer Karin..xoxo

[Judith Norman]

I swear, Karen, when you discover the cure for lice you're going to be PAID! I can see it now -- the infomercials. Appearances on the Today show. Maybe even a reality show. Go! Go! Go! :-}
P.S. the garden looks incredible!

[Laura Vigliarolo]

Shave them bald!!!!! I don't even have mourning doves anymore the hawks got them. Remember shaving cream and a straight razor.

[Kathy]

You know...I'm with Laura. Shave 'em down military style! That'll take care of those dreaded - ugh - lice. Loved the garden, though! - Kathy