The thing About Gravity is...

Gravity is always waiting for me.  It is relentless, simply relentless.  And it won't stop until I am lying flat on my back on the ground.  Apparently, I am not the only one suffering the effects of gravity.  Please see photo...

On our most recent camping trip to Heise near Julian,  I, being the kind and understanding spouse that I am, took the kids for an early morning stretch to leave Ginny reading in the quiet solitude of our trailer.  We just went to the other side of the campground, up a hill, around a bend, you know.  The kids on scooters and I was riding my bike.  

Everything went great going.  As we returned to the trailer, we came to the hill we climbed earlier.  I thought simply reminding the kids that they should proceed with caution would be sufficent for them to stay safe, and we started down.  I was in front keeping what I thought was a slow pace, when I hear the crunching sound of what can only be a aluminum scooter grating on asphalt, I stop and turn just in time to see Cole crumble in a heap near the side of the road. Addy flies by, watching in terror as Cole goes down and loses control of her scooter and skids by me on both knees and her rear.  

Now, it is like 7 in the morning and we are screaming at the top of our lungs.  Way to start the camping trip.

Cole suffered a pretty good scrape on his elbow there, Addy got both knees, but her biggest wound can't be photographed, if you can pick up what I am throwing down...

They are both fine now and Cole shows everyone we meet his badge of courage.  Which, as you can imagine, makes for great grocery store conversation.  

"hey mister...want to see the wound from when my dad sent me down the hill on a scooter with no brakes?"  

Well, we survived and ended up actually having a great time.  Here Ginny and Addy are enjoying a chick flick as the boys and I play games.

Tyler and Cole met some camp kids and they built this great fort.  They spent the weekend covered in dirt. 

We also recently started a treehouse.  Here are some shots of it under construction.

So I am Lazy...

About three weeks ago, I realized two things...

First, I really takes me a long time to mow our lawn.  Even with a tractor.  Usually takes about an hour to an hour and a half.

The second thing I realized was that Tyler was probably heavy enough to weight the automatic cut off switch, which turns the tractor off if you stand up.  

As a result of the previous two realizations, I give you: Farmer Tyler

We, of course, make sure he has his hat on and that he has plenty of water.  He does a pretty good job too.  We pay him $2/ mow,  he is free next weekend. Any takers?

Country Living...

Fall again,

Of course all that means here is you have to wear pants.  

It also means pumpkins, and living right next to Bate's Nut Farm, we will get plenty.

Here are Ty, Cole and Addy deciding which pumpkin is the best....

And of course here is Ginny being very blassee about the whole thing..

Bates was super crowded, so we didn't stay long.  I have never seen that many people there before.

We ran down, checked in our scarecrow entry, grabbed a pumpkin and bailed.  We will head down next week after all the excitment has died down a bit. 

Here are the kids and their "Fireman Frank" entry into the scarecrow contest.

We are pretty sure none of these items will ever be heard from again, that's why Frank is waving goodbye...

Here is Frank demonstrating his disco moves as he awaits to be judged.  (Frank, is the one in the middle, with the orange head...)

There were some great enteries, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Michael Phelps, the Little Mermaid, and some other really great scarecrows.