Summer's Here

We're not having as much of a heatwave as mainland Europe, but today it's supposed to get up to 85. We're planning on packing a picnic to take to the park.

Jane is still in school for three more weeks. She just found out her new class.

In no particular order:

Andy took a long bike ride a few weeks ago to plead that a store replace his headphones. They said no, but he got some nice pictures. (Then he complained online and they finally said yes.)

 Jane with orange hair

 Jane got a unicorn facepaint at a friend's birthday party

 Andy and I went out for a drink yesterday

 Alice came to the pub too.

 Alice is so much spittier than I remember Jane being.

 Who loves purple cupcakes?

Alice is wearing a pair of Jane's old PJs. Monster Jamz from Uncle Keith!

 I love this picture because for some reason Alice's face looks melted.

 On the walkway between home and the grocery store, there are roses,

 apples,

 blackberries.

 Unicorn

Jane with her sister

 On the way home from the birthday party, our Uber driver offered Jane this abandoned brolly after learning that her favorite color was purple.

 Alice sits at the table in a highchair during meals. She doesn't eat yet, but she likes being with everyone.

 Jane controlling Alice's fist

 Jane had a day off of school last week and we went with her friend Charlotte to Blaise Castle.

 It's a small picture, but Jane (in pink) is bouncing on the trampoline at Charlotte's house.

 Andy's friend Leah sent a gift for Alice. This onesie has spikes on the sleeve!

 What is this grass of which you speak?

 I DON'T BELIEVE YOU MELISSA AND DOUG. NO SUCH THING.

Four months old

First, a story. Alice and I were walking home from Jane's school yesterday. We had a choice to go up a road on a steep hill where they are doing construction (barricades, noisier, potentially walking through lots of dirt/dust) or a less-direct route. I didn't hear any equipment running at the time, so we headed up the hill, Alice in a carrier on my chest.

As I said, there are barricades up, so the open part of the road is just wide enough for one vehicle. I saw a van reversing down the hill. Construction workers were higher up the hill. As I thought "that's a tight fit," the van hit a tree with its right bumper/brakelights, which shattered.

I just thought someone misjudged their space, but I came to realize no on was driving the van, it had just rolled down on its own, right toward me and Alice.

So. That happened. But it could have been so, so much worse!!!!

Painting of Wills Memorial building, where Andy works (at a visit to the M Shed museum)

Down by the harbour before our boat ride! Yeah, I wrote harbour. Deal.

It was raining on and off all day, and unfortunately "on" during the half-hour boat ride.

Jane was apparently in need of a doctor.

And a brownie sundae. Shoutout to Mrs. Pott's chocolate house for having GF brownies!