Floriferous!

 

Summer Fun

Tarp and Soap!  A friend called it Slip and Slide, Belorussian style.  We loved it!

I've told the kids that this summer, we'll go to the beach very early on the hottest day of each week.  Bliss... until the "Dangerously high levels of e-coli" sign was posted.  What!?  We've poisoned the lake.  I am sad and angry.

Paddling on the lake with friends!  Ty flipped the hand-made by Mr. W. kayak thrice, leading to him to spend the rest of the time chillin' in the middle.  :)

Meat Boy

The other day a Friend from Far Away brought some delicacies from his land, which I told the kids they must try.  "Take one for the team," said I.  They were not pleased.  BUT, by the end of the night, Ty declared that he loved frog meat with the bones.  Ha!

And then the doctora's gradi:

The Damascus Gate

 

Dearest Neighbor has been wanting to take us to the Damascus Gate for about a year and we finally went. Despite this and that dietary restriction, we had a great, TASTY time.  After, we walked through the nearby basilica.  Yikes!  Usually, I would prepare my kids beforehand, but as this was a last minute decision... Whoa!  "Don't jump down the stairs!"  "Don't go up on the sanctuary!"  "Don't touch the holy water!"  "Don't blow out the candles!"  I felt as though I were restraining a pack of wild dogs amidst a plaza-ful of pigeons.  -a sigh-  Let's just say it was training for our future visits to Rome, Paris and London.  I wish!  

Fun with the Ethiopian Hug

 

Church

 

Thanks, Ty.

 Bye, Jack.  Thanks for 16.5 years of falafel and Uzbek fire carrots.  It's been tasty.

Bonjour, Jacques!  Nice to meet you!  Here's to 16.5 years of tastiness!