Garden Tour

Well, while we were in France, the garden went totally haywire. I heard that it rained a lot while we were gone. Here is mom, helping me to get the climbing rose under control. It helped a lot, but as soon as it starts raining again, I am in trouble...

Clyde, the helpful wonder kitty.
Tomatoes are not nearly as tall as in years past, we seem to have the dwarf varieties....We still have more tomatoes than we can eat, I may have to make sauce this weekend.
Nasturtiums...
Chard...
And lots of pumpkins coming in!!
Caroline and I were already discussing jack-o-lantern faces today. I don't think I can make a scarier one than I did last year...

Fun with Hillyers

Mom and Dad got up here on Saturday night, and we were supposed to go hiking on Sunday, but it was raining, and only supposed to get worse. So we decided to go bowling. Half the lanes were under construction, which is a good thing because the lanes we were on had a very definable tilt toward no one getting a spare. (have to blame something!)

Dad in action!
Stefan and Owen and Caroline keep track of the scores...
My sister, tearing it up...
My mom, showing us her League Form from the 70s. Miles is excited for her...
The whole gang!

Soccer Season

Well, the LVR Blue Vipers were UNDEFEATED last year, 2006. They did tie a few, but technically, I think that is still undefeated.... Two games into the 2007 season, we are still undefeated. That is a pretty good record. We are a very cohesive team, we have played together and with the same coach for 5 years. This year there are more kids on the field, so fewer subs going in and out, and the field got humongous! Check this out!
That is our adorable coach, Sean, in the foreground and there is the field--look how small they are! Miles still excels at defense, and running around in a way that seems to confuse the other team as to what his plan is, distracting them long enough to give our guys a chance to get the ball. We never seem to win by a blowout, this day was 3-0, but we have a couple of Really Good Goalies, which is important, of course.
There is Miles in the middle in the blue doing that running thing.
This is the first year for everyone on the big field, so all the kids were moving pretty slowly by the end of the game, Miles looked like he put on his cement sneakers.
Here's how you perk up at the end of the game!

Concert for you

Here she is!...playing the song we just can't get enough of!

Cute Pics

I forgot that I changed memory cards halfway through the Stefan and Caroline Birthday party. We always take photos of them together, starting with when they were 6 and 1. It is cute to watch them grow up together.

New Piano!! Lucky us.

Wednesday:
Caroline has decided that she is for sure sticking with piano. She loves to play, but for a while has complained that our 100+ year old piano is not in tune enough. Well, the last time we had it tuned, Jack Hopfinger (no lie), the piano tuner said he tuned it to itself but it was a half step off. Since we have to listen to a LOT of piano playing, we decided to upgrade. Nick talked his way into a screaming deal down at Sherman Clay, since they have been schmoozing him to buy a piano for almost a year, it paid off.

Exciting day for us! Out with the old.....
Here comes the new one, ooo, shiny.

Wow, those dudes are strong!
Ta Da!!!Everyone welcome to a Caroline Concert, any day!

First Day of School!!!!!

OK, Wednesday was the first day of school. We always take a photo here in front of the tomatoes. Although the plants themselves look a little puny, they are as prolific as ever. We are going to have a LOT of tomatoes in about a week ripening up......


The children, on the other hand are not puny at all. I cannot believe that Miles is starting his last year of Elementary School! Kristina took Caroline for her annual birthday pedicure on Tuesday to get ready for school. She got butterflies on her big toes, there. Cute. She also chose to wear her Paris skirt and shirt for her first day outfit.
Here is Miles with his teacher, Mr Miller. He sure seems like a very nice chap. Here is a link to his website, if anyone is interested in what Miles is doing this year. Click here: Room 108.
Miles really like him, report is that he is "awesome." Here is Caroline with her teacher, Mrs Villanueva, otherwise known as Ms V. Caroline says she is really nice, too.