It's either a sign of the second coming, or a sign that it's too hot. We all take refuge in the basement.

I had the pleasure of returning to my women's clinic for an annual check-up.  I grinned when I saw Jack's birth announcement on the big wall outside their ultrasound rooms.  Totally the cutest on the wall.  While waiting in the tiny room (getting the cold sweats in my flimsy thigh-high, open-backed gown) I wrote down all the names on the birth announcements they had on this smaller bulletin board.  So I present to you a sample of baby names in the Denver Suburban Area for 2010:

Ethan
Zeke
Alexander
Axel
Trace
Kaimani
Lydia
Brody
Layne
Noah
Wallace
Jon
Kailynn
Isabella
Zoey
Aletheia

Conclusion: I think if we had a girl someday I could totally pull off "Anathema."

Miranda beat me to jumping on the friendship bracelet revival that's happening in the online fashion/craft community.  But she forgot that the best way to make them is safety-pinned to your jeans.  That way when you stand up to get another Capri Sun, you can go back to knotting while watching Duck Tales in a different place because your kid brother took your spot on the couch.  

For my first bracelet I picked the most nostalgic color combination I could.  I remember thinking one day in the second grade "Gosh, I can't go wrong pairing pink and teal!" Lavender and cornflower round out the set.

I hoard craft supplies.  This is my original box of embroidery thread from 20 years ago.  Note the fancy-pants ombre and glitter threads in the upper left boxes.  I believed those cost 1.49 each, THREE times the normal cost of embroidery thread in the early nineties.  I saved them for special occasion bracelets.

I've made five bracelets over the last few days.  They are quick and colorful.  Wish I could wear them all summer until the break off.  But I'd rather not risk getting blood on them at work.

With the day off (but call tonight) I took Jack to Park Day, as hosted by friends from church. They arrange a schedule of different parks for each Tuesday over the summer. Jack is just getting to the age and ability where he can enjoy playgrounds.

He liked the slide too, but I have to arrange him at the top because he keeps trying to crawl down it head first.

Today's Park, Ray Ross in Lakewood, has a "splash pad" with water jets. I did not prepare well because I mistakenly assumed Jack would be scared to be with all the other kids splashing about.



Wrong. With shoes off, he crawled into the mini pool the older kids made by sitting over the drain. Then he crawled over to this bigger water jet after a big kid abandoned it. It was a bit much for him and he gets a little exasperated. I love how he decides to try the smaller jets, then quickly changes his mind for the big one again!



I wish we could have stayed longer. But I only brought mango and graham crackers to eat and lunch time was swiftly approaching. Also, without swimsuit or towels Jack didn't have anything to change into after being thoroughly soaked. He was too wet to enjoy the playground equipment. We tried, but he stuck to everything. Next time I'll do better. Hey, at least I remembered sunscreen and a hat today!

Amanda has been in Peru.  Among much other awesomeness, she got to see condors in the Andes.  While discussing their wingspan over Old Chicago entrees (and Jack eating his weight in garlic bread), we figured each wing is about as long as my sister-in-law, Jenn.  So of course Ben made this:

Be happy, Jenn, that we found a full body picture of you aside from the one in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.

We were suddenly in darkness.  He did it several times before I pulled out the camera.  Ben said "I guess we'll just be in the dark now."

I recorded one of our efforts to help Jack stand. He's just nervous to let go on his own.

But I happened to catch him taking a step!

Wish I was home. Ben sent this too me at work.