Home in August

I've been home all week during the break between Summer and Fall semesters.



Layla sitting on the ground when I told Zoe to "sit"; trying on Papa's reading glasses; making my stuffed animals kiss.





Allie cheering at the Red and Black game; Layla cheering for the cheering.




Allie's first day of third grade; Allie showing a cheer jump.




Zoe and Gitta; flowers on the dirt road; a green spider on a flower.

Pictures from my San Diego trip later, if I find time!

June and July pictures

Just click on the thumbnail photos to see the larger version! (Is this type size too small to read? Just let me know.)

June


Two pretty kinds of light: birthday candles and the sun setting over a cowpond.




Layla is a climber. At 14 months old, she climbed from the floor into her crib and started taking her name letters off the wall. Also, Mama and Daddy got a new dog: a stray chocolote lab or Chesapeake retriever found by friends. Her name is Zoe.




The Lum 'n' Abner festival in Mena. Allie was super-good at climbing the rock wall (I guess Layla takes after her). Also, here are Jessica and Layla. Layla got blue cotton candy all over her face. Very cute.


July


"Eat My Bubbles": Allie's swim meet.




We went up on the mountain to see the wild animal park. Layla fell asleep on the way holding her Care Bear and her stuffed stomach, but then we got to visit fawns and ride the mini-train.




Layla goofing off in a kids' dressing room (Daddy's picture) and climbing the monkey bar arc unaided. She knows no fear.




A sunflower Daddy grew, with bumblebee; Truman guarding the papers I needed to grade; maybe the smallest ripe tomato ever!




Andrea and Michael came to visit! Later in the week, we had our graduation ceremony for our students in the English institute. It's a hard thing to do, learn to speak and write conversational and academic English in a mere nine months, so they're in high spirits.

March and April photos

Catching up here...

March


Pear blossoms from the trees in front of our teaching building, and an elm seedling with phlox on the hill below my apartment.


April


Easter Peeps! Allie helped me pose the Peeps in strange places in the front yard, then we did the same with our teddy bears.




Allie playing soccer, and shaking hands after the game.




One day during spring break, I hiked the Lover's Leap trail on Rich Mountain. This is me at the top. And that's Mama reading to Layla, and Layla playing with our old toys.




This donkey at Heifer International Ranch in Perryville was very friendly. Heifer has an Earth Day celebration every year, which I enjoy because it's out in the country, chock full of animals, and educational to boot.