Just in for me at the library was The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule. Working fulltime doesn't leave me the time I would like to have to be sort of earthy-hippie-crafty - so I satisfy myself with reading blogs of those who do. But I found some really love ideas in TCF that I would like to try out.There are many more ideas to check out if this is your sort of thing.
We set up the tent for camping out over the weekend. I slept out with E the first night and Jonesie had the honor the second night (with the rain).
We also watched The Princess Bride outside in our own outdoor theater. Very fun! except for the five mosquitoes that live in Oregon - all found me and feasted. It must have been the mongo glass of white wine I was sipping that attracted them.
My knitting has been slow going this summer. Little Miss just needs a lot of attention and watching so I've only had time for a few small projects. A recent finished object is a head scarf for Em, matching her knit dress.
Our family hosted a popsicle play date at E's new elementary school over the weekend and invited all of the families in his class. We had a great turnout with 20 of the 27 kids coming, along with parents, siblings and some grandparents.
Even E's new teacher came (she's below in the cute melon-colored capris and white tee). She seems quite lovely, experienced and friendly.
E bonded right away with his classmate Audrey. I am excited that on the first day of school E will be able to recognize some new friends in the classroom.
Yeah! It's Nana & Jonesie - in town for their annual end of summer fling. E is very excited to spend the week at home with his grandparents. Lots of projects and outings are planned. Tall House, Double Cup and I celebrated four extra hands to help take care of Em - she is all over the place these day.
FINALLY - relief from the heat. It started with dinner out with the Cedros clan to air conditioning. The kids cooled off with milkshakes. 
We had such a good time with cousin Kallie in town. Tall House, Double Cup was off in Costa Rica for the week and I don't know how I would have managed without her. She and E spent their days together playing, watching Spongebob and going to the park. When I would ask E at night how his day was, he would sigh and say, "perfect." He had never had a whole week at home - no preschool, no camp, no structured activities - and he loved it. I am so glad he got to do it with Kallie.
I haven't posted a good cheesecake picture of Emme lately.
E spent a week at Grace Art Camp - it was SO fabulous! The theme this year was Scandinavian folktales - which as perfect for my little Scandi boy. E had some lasting doubts about his ability to create art. Part of his personality is wanting to do something really well right away. Writing has been a challenge because he wants to do it perfectly the first time. It's similar with creating - he wants it to look just so. I can already tell his week at art camp has given him tons of creative confidence.
This week he initiated creating a mouse house to put out in the yard. He gathered up bark and wood shavings. Then he asked his cousin Kallie (visiting for the week) to make a sign-up sheet on his blackboard for other kids to take a class from him in mouse house building. They hung out on the front steps for about an hour and got our dear next door neighbor to sign up. It was very sweet.
We went out for celebratory gelato about his camp celebration. You can see the camp t-shirt, flower crown and necklace - all things he made during his week at camp. He can also sing Mary Had a Little Lamb in Finnish!
Fiction
I wrangled the family into blackberry picking with me. What a haul we made. I need to stop dreaming and start making:
During our girlfriends' trip to Seattle to see George Michael, we stumbled upon a gem of a bakery - Macrina Bakery and Cafe. Everything was gorgeous and yummy looking. I found the cookbook at Powell's last week and picked three up - one for me, Marfie, and Auntie B. I've started baking out of it right away.
These are the perfecto Cherry Almond Scones - though I made a hazelnut version instead of almond. These are super classic scones - not the Starbucks kind that are sort of soft and muffinish but truly English scone like. The kind you would like to have lemon curd and clotted cream with. We devoured them quite quickly. Next up . . . the rocket muffins.
In this edition of Muffin Tin Madness we have pretty pedestrian offerings and yet I still stumped E with the kiwi. He HATES it (his exclamation, not mine). Hate kiwi? So sad. But I have gotten him on the cucumber salad train using the muffin tins.
E had a great session with lots of improvement. I can see the true beginnings of the front crawl.
Em enjoyed class much more than this picture shows. She went completely under at least half a dozen times and came up gulping but not crying. What a girl!
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