Disappointments

Well, Cameron's team lost their game today--and Cameron didn't score any goals either. As he drilled 4 the last game it was a bit of a let-down for him. (A welcome lesson in humility in our view....)

Strangely, even though he didn't score a goal today he wanted ice cream after the game. Fortunately we had some leftovers from the night of the previous game, so the kids combined to finish it off.

Yes, three kids in soccer and 1 in JH volleyball.

Yes, holes in our heads.

Yes, we're keeping busy.

Everlasting Gobstopper fingers?

As everyone who sees her knows, Ally loves to hold onto something silky (the object in hand is aptly referred to by her as 'Silky') and pop her right index and middle fingers into her mouth.....(and would it be improper of me to add)....'and she really sucks'??

Anyway, recently we have been asking her what her fingers taste like, and they seem to change flavors on an almost daily basis.

They are often 'chocolate' and other tasty flavors.

Yesterday Cindy asked her the usual question, and she replied, 'Like leaves.'

Cindy commented, 'leaves? But little girls don't eat leaves!'

Allyson replied, 'No, but baby giraffes do. And that's what I am!'

Great. Along with her rotating flavored fingies she also dabbles in shape-shifting!

That would raise the question, if the latter is true, is she a Cylon or a Theilaxu?

Calling Marlin Perkins! Calling Marlin Perkins!

Cindy just called to say that our yard is like 'Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom.'

On Sunday morning Cindy was shedding tears over the impending fate of the big, cute raccoon we trapped in the cornpatch. She was heartbroken over what was going to happen to the coon.

But what a difference a couple days make!

Just 10 minutes ago Cameron came rushing into the house, and blurted to Cindy, 'THERE'S A BLACK SNAKE IN OUR YARD!! CAN I SHOOT IT?'

With nary a hesitation, Cindy replied, 'YES!'

By phone I have just been informed that Cameron, David and 2 BB guns have done the trick. The snake has passed on. Yes, the snake is no more. It has ceased to be. It has expired and gone to meet it's maker. It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace. It's kicked the bucket, shuffled off the mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the choir invisible! It is an ex-snake!

(Bonus points for recognizing the source of the above eulogy.)

Maybe Cameron will skin it and put it on his wall like the rattlesnake skin of the snake he and his cousin killed in CA.....??

It ain't an 'ox in the mire' anymore.....

From now on, in our family it will be 'A coon in a trap' whenever something not suitable for the Sabbath must be taken care of on a Sunday.....

The pelt is drying nicely.

Cameron is a grinning fool.

Dad learned that there is more than 1 way to skin a coon (but they are all rather distasteful...especially when doing such out in the corn in 90-degree 90% humidity weather.

A Midsummer's Night Dream

With apologies to 'Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree'


I looked out the window and what did I see?
A raccoon dangling from a snare in the tree!
Summer has brought me such a nice surprise,
A corn-stealing Mama Coon before my eyes!
I could take a BB and make her bleat,
Too bad she slipped away before she was dead meat!
It wasn’t really so, but we wished she’d be,
A coonskin cap on Camerino’s wall-y.