That Month.

July.

It's always crazy. 

The good kind of crazy.

It's the month that David Seward and I got hitched.  It's the month we got Stella.  It's the month we often get fabulous Texas visitors.

It's also the month we got a new, 8-week old lab puppy.  Wait?  What? 

You might ask why we'd be ridiculous enough to do some crap like that. Well, every member of the Seward household has a different take on the answer to that question.  So we'll have to talk about that at a later date. 
But the month started with some celebrating.

4 years of good living is nothing to gawk at, man.  So we got Captain America and some friends...and we bounced.

And our visit with Gramma Seward was tops.  Some relaxing, some WA state ferries, some fun.

Quick note.  I'm adding the picture below because it looks like one of those shots you see on the evening news.  You know the ones from a security camera that identifies the criminal when nothing else can? 

Yeah, like that.

We'll talk about Stella's inability to mug for the camera later.

But now there's one more thing to discuss.

Louie Seward.

What I'll say about this fella is that it's a good damn thing he's cute. 

I mean, he's a good little puppy. Super lovey and pretty calm. But he's a puppy nonetheless.  I feel like I need maternity leave and frozen casseroles dropped of on my doorstep to get through this.  So, again, good thing for that face.  Or that old bird dog would be in trouble.

So.  Here's to the second-half of this fabulous month.

The Big Show.

We got her in the dress. 

And she had a good time. 

And there it is.

For Those About to Rock

The Derby

A couple of months ago, Henry went to his first Cub Scout Pinewood Derby. 

I'm not sure what I expected, but it was bigger than you'd think.  Or than I would think.  Anyway, it was a big deal.

The boys worked on the car for weeks.  And by "boys," I mean Henry the boy and Dave the boy who's been a Mechanical Engineer for 20 years.

If you see what I'm saying.

Anyhoo. 

Gramma and Grampa Graves also got up tres early and headed over the mountains to watch. 

And we were off.  To the Derby!

Fourteen doughnuts, three twinkies, a driver's license and a whole bunch of cheering later - Henry came in first.

It was really, really fun to watch.

It was a fabulous morning.

And a bonus was leaving the event before a single person found out what Dave does for a living.

Good job, my boys!

The Problem.

Figuring it out with Dad and Grandpa Jim.

At the End of a Season

Summer is right around the corner...thank goodness.  Cruising along all the time at 200 miles per hour loses its charm after a while. 

So we're wrapping up school-year activities, prepping for a slower paced life for a month or two.  And that always seems to lead to a relatively monumental series of events.

Guitar recitals.

Gymnastic shows.

And we've got preschool graduation and first grade EOY parties next week. 

The good news in all this is the new WA state law that allows us to buy liquor in the grocery stores.

I'm kidding.  Not about the law, of course (check my freezer).  But about being overwhelmed by all these mid-June milestones.  What an absolute joy to watch these two. Succeed, struggle, learn, get angry, get happy...lucky, lucky us, man. 

Now pass the gin. 

A Sunday Evening

We ran out of things to do tonight.

The day was full.  With gardening and shopping and playing and chores.

But we bumped up against a lull around 6PM. 

So, at Stella's request, Dave got out the facepaints.

And things were good.