A long overdue update
It's been forever since I've updated. A lot of it's been due to busyness. Some of it's been due to laziness, when I've had the time to be lazy.
Life's been good. Chris started his new job in the middle of May and he really enjoys working from home. This job is infinitely more challenging though, so it's harder work. Plus he only gets two paid weeks of vacation a year, so we really have to pick and choose our trips.
We attended May War this year. It's been 2 1/2 years since our last event and we decided it was time to get back into it. The kids are now old enough that they don't require constant attention, so we felt we were ready. We'd sold our old (very difficult to put up) pavilion a couple of years ago so we bought a new one. The new one is roughly the same size as the old one, but since it has slanted walls it doesn't require perimeter poles. Old one = total of 31 poles. New one = 8. MUCH easier setup.
War was awesome. We all had a great time. Jennifae made some more garb for the kids, secretly taking the remaining fabric that Chris had given Becky (who made him a new coat and tunic) and surprising us with a matching tunic for Kieran and a dress for Killian, in addition to two other pieces. So the three of them had matching outfits, and it was so cute. It took about a day to convince them that they had to wear garb. They weren't too keen on it at first.
Chris had a good time back in the fighting game, and I actually got a chance to relax and read a bit. The weather couldn't have been more perfect, and we got a prime spot under some very shady trees. By the time Monday came around, the kids were bummed that we had to leave. We're definitely looking at Great Western in October.
The entire Potrero photo set is here.
The following weekend, Michelle & Brendan came into town so we had a small gathering for a BBQ and some hangout time. It was awesome to see them again.
Yesterday for Father's Day the kids presented Chris with a cool gift and some handmade cards. We went to brunch at Karl Strauss then came home and set up our new pool. The last few summers we went out and bought little kiddie pools, but they're a big pain to take care of because you can't really cover or clean them, and they take a decent amount of water. So we finally decided to go the route of my brother Dave and got an above-ground pool. It's 12' in diameter, so it's a decent size, and 3' deep. It comes with a filter pump and all, so it's a "real" pool, just small. We're learning all about pool care now.
It took about two hours to fill up with two hoses. The kids had a good time. Because you know, kids love to play with hoses.
They also love their new dolphin ride-on.
And Chris, who has dreamed of having his own backyard pool since he was like, ten, finally got his wish.
Life's been good. Chris started his new job in the middle of May and he really enjoys working from home. This job is infinitely more challenging though, so it's harder work. Plus he only gets two paid weeks of vacation a year, so we really have to pick and choose our trips.
We attended May War this year. It's been 2 1/2 years since our last event and we decided it was time to get back into it. The kids are now old enough that they don't require constant attention, so we felt we were ready. We'd sold our old (very difficult to put up) pavilion a couple of years ago so we bought a new one. The new one is roughly the same size as the old one, but since it has slanted walls it doesn't require perimeter poles. Old one = total of 31 poles. New one = 8. MUCH easier setup.
War was awesome. We all had a great time. Jennifae made some more garb for the kids, secretly taking the remaining fabric that Chris had given Becky (who made him a new coat and tunic) and surprising us with a matching tunic for Kieran and a dress for Killian, in addition to two other pieces. So the three of them had matching outfits, and it was so cute. It took about a day to convince them that they had to wear garb. They weren't too keen on it at first.
Chris had a good time back in the fighting game, and I actually got a chance to relax and read a bit. The weather couldn't have been more perfect, and we got a prime spot under some very shady trees. By the time Monday came around, the kids were bummed that we had to leave. We're definitely looking at Great Western in October.
The entire Potrero photo set is here.
The following weekend, Michelle & Brendan came into town so we had a small gathering for a BBQ and some hangout time. It was awesome to see them again.
Yesterday for Father's Day the kids presented Chris with a cool gift and some handmade cards. We went to brunch at Karl Strauss then came home and set up our new pool. The last few summers we went out and bought little kiddie pools, but they're a big pain to take care of because you can't really cover or clean them, and they take a decent amount of water. So we finally decided to go the route of my brother Dave and got an above-ground pool. It's 12' in diameter, so it's a decent size, and 3' deep. It comes with a filter pump and all, so it's a "real" pool, just small. We're learning all about pool care now.
It took about two hours to fill up with two hoses. The kids had a good time. Because you know, kids love to play with hoses.
They also love their new dolphin ride-on.
And Chris, who has dreamed of having his own backyard pool since he was like, ten, finally got his wish.