what have we been up to?

Since getting locked out of cars, we have been enjoying a more conventional style of fun, starting with the our first baseball game of the season. I'm firmly convinced that AAA baseball exists for the sole purpose of providing the baseball "experience" for the cities that don't have a pro-team but still want to have a shot at cotton candy and foul balls, and that is exactly what the Red Birds do for us Memphians.

The baseball game gave us an excellent backdrop for a little cotton candy,

an adventure ride with dad,

the adrenaline buzz that followed,

a photo session with Rocky the Red Bird,

some play time on the play ground,

and a little wind down time before the big firework finish.

An Elvis tribute and a fireworks display wrapped up the night with a bang. It's Elvis week here in Memphis, which mostly just gives me a minute's reflection to remember that I know almost nothing about the man who has put Memphis on the map. I have never been to a vigil, intentionally listened to an Elvis song, or even visited Graceland (and believe me, if that sounds shocking to those outside the Memphis boundaries, I'm not the only one!!). But I did enjoy the fireworks and the tribute, and from the amount of dancing going on in the chairs next to me, I'd say the girls did too.

What else have we had up our sleeve? Adrienne's teeth have come in, restoring her to the blissful, easygoing, easy on Mom kind of girl she is. Marianna has started back to school, in our own at home kind of way, complete with her first art lesson from Rachel. Nathan has completed his first 6 months at his new job at the airport just in time for his vacation probationary time to end so that we can take off on Friday to fly to Delaware for his younger brother, Gregory's, wedding. And I have started a book that I think I'm going to very much enjoy called Same Kind of Different as Me, that came highly recommended and is so far living up to the praise.

In a nutshell, that is more or less what we have been up to, but I have saved the best for last to end here with a big finish. Today I happened to look on craigslist for no real reason at all, and I stumbled across something pretty amazing (I would say my best craigslist find ever, but since all I have to put it up against is my jogging stroller, that wouldn't necessarily be saying much, and I want to make it clear, it was a GREAT find!). I have been wanting bunk beds for the girls for when Adrienne outgrows her crib, but I had not started any serious looking since that time is still probably nine months or so away. But when I came to a listing for a "doll house bunk bed," I had to give it a look. When I clicked on the picture, I was sold. I haven't seen anything like it before, but it was so whimsical and fun I fell in love. See what you think.

Nathan and our friend Jeff are going to pick up all 440 lbs of it tomorrow. I'll have to paint Marianna's room—which is now the most unsubtle shade of pink known to man— something a little tamer, like maybe pale green, or pale pink, or pale lavender, or any shade that doesn't seem to be screaming at you when you walk in the door. This must be done before we get it assembled because Nathan said, once it's up, it ain't going anywhere, and I certainly can't blame him there. There is no denying it is on the large side. But it won't be long before Marianna will be enjoying a bunk nook in her doll house bed. Hers will be the window view, just in case there was any doubt. Adrienne, some time in the not too distant future, will take the bottom, and hopefully they will love this bed and their adventures in it for a long, long time to come.