Happy Father's Day!

Probably my single favorite speech from his campaign last year.

Summer Reading

What the Guzman 4 will be reading this summer:

Ed: The Reckoning by David Halberstam (history of the US auto industry and its struggle during the 198o's) and When Nothing Else Matters by Michael Leahy (Michael Jordan's last comeback with the Washington Wizards)

Jen: I helped out a bit with the annual used book sale to benefit the local autism community and picked up some classics I haven't read since high school. These three books really made me fall in love with reading and I can't wait to spend some time this summer getting reacquainted with them (preferably poolside.)

The Awakening by Kate Chopin
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Cry The Beloved Country by Alan Paton

Noe: Is into books with visual effects. He loves this scanimation series right now by Rufus Butler Seder.

Asher: Mike Mulligan and the Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton. I feel like I am back in Ms. Kelsey's 1st grade class every time we read it. We are also going to try a few easy chapter books like the Henry Huggins series by Beverly Cleary.

Mama Shoes

These Lands End trekkers are the perfect shoes for a mom with active boys. I haven't fallen in love with a pair of shoes in a long time, but these have captured my mama heart. They are versatile enough for hiking, splashing through streams, trips to the pool or beach, or just running errands around town. When Noe bled all over them a week after they arrived in the mail, I just hosed them down and let them air dry and they were as good as new. Unlike my husband's trekkers, they don't emit foul odors and are a really comfortable fit. Best of all, I can put them on without hands, which makes the getting-out-the-door process that much faster.

I may have to get a pair in every color.

The most wonderful time of the year

It's that time of year again ..... time to get ready to work full-time for the summer.

I am busy finalizing summer schedules for the boys, getting projects completed that I won't have time to do this summer, doing my version of spring cleaning, and finishing some job-related prep work. Time is ticking ....when Noe is out of school next week my time and attention will be limited.

I look forward to my summer job in many ways .... spending time away from the kids, managing whiny grown-up people rather than whiny little people, riding the pleasant 6-mile bike ride to and from work, making the extra money..... we'll see if I'm still singing the same tune in August when it's 90 degrees at 8am, my bosses are yelling at me, the house is a mess and there is nothing to eat in the fridge because nobody has time to shop.

In other news, the Post finally gave my husband back to me. He took a comp day today, which he spent digging a big hole in the front yard and taking Noe on a 10 mile bike ride in the sweltering heat of the afternoon. Poor kid came back with skinned knees and smelling like a 17 year old lineman after football practice. Right now Ed is burning holes in our hardwood floors with his manic pacing while the Lakers play Game 3.

I think I will offer to give Ed back to the Post tomorrow.

Computer time

I didn't realize how much Asher had been on the computer lately, until I overheard him "talking computer" in a halted, monotone voice when we were outside picking up toys and bikes:

"Click on Asher to move scooter over here. BEEP!"

He cheerfully picked up his toys in this manner, so I can't decide if I should start putting strict limits on his computer time, or just go with it....

Trains

by Asher

(it was the only one of the hundred he took that didn't make you dizzy to look at)

Noe's Skinny Jeans

Noe seems to be shrinking on us thanks to his self-imposed Atkins diet and obsessive biking....
even his new GAP 5T slims are looking a bit baggy. Hopefully, I'll be back into my "skinny jeans" soon, too.