Blogging absence

I have been away from blogging for a while.  It's not because I no longer wish to write.  Quite the contrary.  I have so many thoughts and opinions and stories floating in my head that need to be set free.  On my To Do List, I have "Blog Freedom Fair" and "Blog Chelan Trip".  I want to tell about how Drake is getting the hang of school, how Flynn is evolving his sense of "style", how I am more socially awkward at 37 than I was at 17, how I attacked Camp NaNoWriMo.  I have to let it go and face forward.  It's almost October.  I need to not feel guilty for not completing tasks I am under no obligation to complete.  Time to cut myself some slack and move on to the next writing topic.  But, I will leave you with this: my deranged beauty queen.

Now, picture him wearing pants and waving a small American flag,
and that's how we went to the store last week.

Firsts

One of the great joys of having children is watching them experience something new.  To them, it is exciting and daunting and sometimes scary.  Here are some of the "firsts" experienced by this household as of late:

First family vacation to Chelan
First time back to Chelan since our honeymoon 13 years ago
First time on a motor boat (Drake and Flynn)
First time napping on a motor boat (Flynn)
First time fishing (Drake and Flynn)
First wasp sting (Drake)
First kayak ride (Drake and Flynn)
First model rocket building and launching (Drake and Flynn)
First kite flying (Drake and Flynn)
First model (Drake)
First Brussels sprout (Drake, Flynn, and I... seriously, I don't know how I made it to 37 before eating one)
First day of school (Drake)
First sob-fest watching big brother go off to class and leave you behind (Flynn)
First day at the new daycare (Flynn)


Here's to many more.  :)