gilbert temple

the pool

I'm pretty sure this post doesn't need any words of explanation.

It is possible there are no words to explain…

After a long, drawn-out construction process, the pool has finally had its final coating and cleaning.

So yesterday we began filling it up.

One of the kids joked a few days ago - what do they fill it with, a hose?

Well, yes.

That's exactly what they fill it with.

Actually, we started with two garden hoses and then added a third.

Needless to say, it takes awhile.

This was last evening after it had been filling for hours.

This morning I was sitting in the kitchen when I heard a swish swish sound blow past me followed by,

"I'm going to be the first person to swim in the pool!"

I hurried out to the backyard just in time to witness this.

As he hurried inside, he triumphantly said,

"I was the first!"

That is a title I will happily let him have.

I also have another title for him -

INSANE!

double sick

 Quinny was so excited for the 100th day of school.

She had taken a bag with 100 band-aids in it to show her classmates.

All weekend she had talked about all of the cool things they were going to do on the 100th day.

Then, on Tuesday morning, she woke up sick with a fever.

Oh, the devastation!

This was a double whammy.

Not only was it the 100th day of school, she also had perfect attendance.

She didn't stay sad for too long.

She was sick after all, and didn't want to go anywhere or do anything.

She took a short break from her TV watching to play with the legos.

I found this rock in her "sick bed" that was on the couch.

I asked her why there was a rock in her bed.

She said, "That's my pet rock.  She's my friend.  Look, she has a smile."

I guess we could all use a friend that is a rock and forever optimistic.

On a completely unrelated note, I found this sick thing in the garage.

We were having a fruit fly problem inside of the house and I could not figure out where they were coming from.

Robert got this box of oranges awhile ago.

Shocker, right?

Anyway, he had put it in the garage and then slowly started piling things on top of it.

 It was out of sight, out of mind.

Well, it was not out of stink.

I walked into the garage a few days ago and thought WHAT IS THAT SMELL?

Sick.

After digging a little, I was punched in the face by the pungent aroma that emits from a box full of noxious, rotting citrus.

It gets worse.

There were hundreds of flies.

I used one of Robert's golf clubs to drag the decomposing fruit (and box) to the dumpster that we have conveniently located on our driveway.

The challenge was to stay as far away from the swarm of flies as I could.

Once I had managed to get the fruit over to the dumpster, I had to lift the box up and over the side.

The box was heavy and I was trying to keep it away from me.

I misjudged the height of the dumpster and I knocked the side of the box.

This sent a shower of flies all over me.

I said a bad word and somehow didn't drop the box.

I lifted it a little more and got it up and over the side and into the dumpster.

I itched for the rest of the day - no kidding.

Even thinking about it now makes me start scratching.

I then spent the next four days setting traps for the pesky little flies.

We are finally rid of them.

I hope.

a new year

The winter break from school seemed exaggerated. 

Then the kids went back to school, and now I find myself near the middle of the month without knowing how it happened.

Everyone except for Haley went back to school on the 6th - Haley starts tomorrow.

Haley's break was four weeks long - four weeks!

Reality is going to give her a smack down tomorrow.

Haley and Canon - January 1

 Shea, one of Robyn's best friends, is in college.

She was home over the holidays and they spent a lot of time together.

 Mia joined us on a hike.

Here she is taking a break in the beehive wind "cave".

She is delightful company and a good little hiker.

 As I was walking by the garbage can that we keep in the garage, I came across a wadded up receipt with a dollar inside.

 I texted the family.

This is how is went down…

I guess if it is Robert's money, it it okay to throw away.

 My dad needed a picture for something at church.

I'm sure he told me what, but I can't remember anything lately.

Look at this cute couple!

Love it.

Andre the Giant (our Suburban) had a birthday recently.

I wasn't driving when it actually turned 100000.

I did, however, catch it on the day it turned 100100.

 I found this little gem on my phone this morning.

Quinny was playing with my phone last night at dinner.

I didn't even know she knew how to use this program.

I really underestimate this kid.