Furry Mayo

Boy brains fascinate me. I love to hear what's going on in there. This morning after I got out of the shower, I hear Tucker's little voice from the depths of my bed: "Come snuggle under covers." (He's been saying this since he was two). So I get dressed and climb in with him.

After a few minutes, he says, "Wish Dad was here, too. Then we could make aTucker sandwich." (This is where Sean and I smoosh a kid between us in bed; Sean and I are the "bread" and the kid is the "meat". They love it.)

Just then, the cat jumps in and Tucker sticks him between us. So I say, "What part of the sandwich is Lincoln?" Without pause Tucker says, "He's the furry mayo and I'm the bloody turkey." Of course. Because what is a sandwich without furry mayo and bloody turkey?!

It's been a crazy week. Last Wednesday Kate and I ventured out on the fifth grade overnight field trip to Mount St. Helens. It was good to spend time with my Kate and gain some insight into the inner-workings of the 5th grade social scene. Outside of getting pummeled in the face with a basketball during a game of Bump and having to sleep on the floor of a high school gym, the trip was fantastic.

Sean, Grandma Susan and the kids picked us up in Chehalis and we took off to Newport, Oregon, where we stayed for two nights. Grandpa Dale joined us on Saturday. The kids swam and swam at the hotel and played in the sand on a chilly beach and we all ate way too much. Saturday morning Sean won the Newport Marathon and set a new time record, 2:22:47. He's got some cheetah blood in him. We're very proud. He also brought home a stunning three-foot-tall trophy of a wood-carved blue heron mounted on a piece of driftwood. Curious.

Speaking of Sean and boy brains, I have two Seanisms regarding our new dog. (Lisa, these are for you...) I'll preface the first -ism by saying that the dog we bought was not cheap and the cat we own was free. So here goes.

Seanism #1: Fletcher the dog and Lincoln the cat are playing, and Lincoln bats his claw at Fletcher. Sean springs from his seat on the couch and shouts, "Hey, free cat, leave my expensive dog alone!"

Seanism #2: We're on a leisurely family walk and Fletcher cuts sharply from the sidewalk to the street. Sean yells, "Get the dog! That's some expensive road kill if he gets hit!"

Tucker's baptism is this Saturday. We're so excited! Can't wait to see some of you there. Have a great week~ Mara

Tanner, beach and ball (but not a beach ball :)

My girls

Busy beach bodies

I was going to ask for opinions on what brand of carcass this is, but Dale and I did some digging and pinned it as a wolverine...the things you find while beach combing...

Man on a mission (near the finish line). Look at that set jaw. Grrr.