Summer in our neighborhood means that there is never a shortage of playmates.  This group truly astounds me with their ability to play all day long with each other.  They even happily include Shortcake (who adores every one of them).  This photo was taken at the door of a fort made with lawn chairs, a toddler slide, sheets, and towels.  Seven kids were inside, sharing a communal lunch of fresh strawberries, cheddar cheese, crackers, and juice–arranged entirely by the kids.

This day, they were playing some crazy imaginative game, during the course of which I heard these snippets:

“OK, your brain surgery is now finished!  Let’s get out of here!  Quick!”

“…pretend you didn’t know I was an archaeologist.  You know now, but I told you I was just a scientist.  And you’re beginning to ask questions…”

“Oh no!  Something happened!  Dr. C!  Do you know who this is?  Do you know who I am?  (gasp)  He doesn’t know who we are!  Stay here, I need to go check out this alien!”

The entertainment is well worth the 100 popsicles a day.*

*mild exaggeration.  It’s more like 50.

I’m going to just keep blogging and ignore the fact that at any given second, the blog-o-floor with give out beneath  me.  Really, I’ve been expecting all hell to break loose with this switch in web hosting, but it seems to be eerily peaceful here.  A smooth transition?  Gawd!  That would be boring!  Maybe it’s just the calm before the storm.  Anyway, once I feel settled and confident in the stability of this here blog-o-floor…

yeah, i said it again.  what.  blog-o-floor.

blog-o-floor.  hmph.

…then I will try to explain it all–where I am right now, what this photography upheaval means, the direction I’m headed, the cure for cancer, the key to happiness, the meaning of life.

Look at this kid.  How cute is this kid!?!?  Last night he gave himself a nawsty little road rash to the face.  To be sure, it is only the first of many (nawsty little road rash incidents).

You totally just kissed your screen, didn’t you?

Alakazam.

I feel like the magician standing on stage with the bird still in his hankerchief.

I said…  ABRACADABRA!

Go!  Fly!  Be free!  Disappear!

I’ve done what I thought I was supposed to do, and yet, here it is, my website, still here.  I have reinventing to do!  Go!  Shoo!  And then come right back.  OK?  (I’m talking to the website, here.  Not to you.  And not to myself.)

I think I forgot the pixie dust.