Wii Fit is awesome. The video here is a riot and worth watching, especially if you love sarcasm. I have made a new rule that the kids can only play Wii, no other video games. It is active and they actually interact with each other instead of staring blankly at a screen. I love hearing them bounce around and giggle while they are playing tennis or whatever. I know it is low-tech and all, but it really is fun...sometimes simple is truly better. At least in our house. So the XBox and GameCube are unplugged and stashed. And the old Atari 2600, but that is beside the point.

There is another Wii video on the Sarcastic Gamer site that isn't as nice, but at one point has a picture of a guy with a bloody head from someone whacking him with the remote. This is hilarious. You get so into the game and think you are holding a (tennis racket, bowling ball, fill in the blank) that you have no clue what you are actually doing.

Parts of the presentation had kids dressed up as the Founding Fathers. It was really cool. The adult presentations have sets that are literally six figures and run for a week. Tal got to be in that one (they mixed kids and adults last year), so his program was on billboards all over town! The building was specifically tailored for these amazing productions. Every summer they do a neat program called SummerSing, where they let the kids build the sets, learn to use the A/V equipment, then at the end of the week, it culminates in a program they've practiced all week. We registered early to hopefully get the coveted guitar and set-building classes this year.

So Tal wore the jeans and red T-shirt for most of the program, then ducked out for a costume change (how exciting!) toward the end. They actually made this for him...is this adorable or what? Such talent! I'd never have thought to put that blue with it, but it looked absolutely fabulous. And the buttons on the back! There was a fifer, drummer, and flag-bearer on each side that came through the audience during the Battle Hymn of the Republic, and he was the fifer. I loved how there were special parts for most of the kids this year.

I love seeing Tal with the other kids. He seems so grown-up at home, and yet so small and sweet with the other kids there. He held the door for people, knows his way around, and in this place where I was so busy for so many years, I'm now simply "Tal's Mom." It's great.

On another note, Mom stayed home with the Rs and Cam so I could go in peace. They watched the program online--it was live streaming video! Can you imagine? I often download the sermons for Travis' iPod, which is just amazing to me. I forgot my camera, but my Dad is more dependable than the sun coming up. He was at church in his regular spot, camera in hand (after having picked up Tal for practice so I wouldn't have to). Also, Potter can always be counted on to take kids out for ice cream after any event. Always. Too bad dos McDonald's couldn't be counted on to have functioning ice cream machines.

Tal says I'm dead meat for posting this picture of him running away, but I couldn't resist showing these buttons. He looks so adorable.

Okay, Cinco de Mayo didn't happen, but we did have some fun on the 9th. We made cookies that look (sort of) like sombreros. We will be stepping on the little colored candies for the next cinco years. We have swept them, mopped them, vacuumed them, and they keep reappearing.

Things are crazy around here. I considered why I like Cinco de Mayo so much:

1. No gifts to buy.
2. Not in the middle of a bunch of regular holidays.
3. I love Mexican food.
4. So many fun options, like pinatas, silly sombrero cookies, etc.
5. If you research it, you find that it isn't the Mexican independence day at all, just a celebration.

So no pressure at all, and if you miss it, no biggie. Ah, the joy of the Cinco de Mayo. If only the rest of the holidays were so carefree.

I'm obviously going to need more space...this is Reagan, after all!

This is the best-ever Hand In the Cookie Jar picture. Even better, RILEY grabbed the camera and took this random shot (you can tell by the perspective). The KitchenAid looks hot here.

On the right, we have the adorable Rs in matching crab bathing suits. Only Reagan put his on inside out. He puts it on SO fast when Travis gets home, it is adorable.

Camden makes the most ridiculous face and says "Cheese" now when the camera comes out. So we won't get a normal photo of him for another five years, I'm afraid.

A word about the hand. It is huge. We once saw a litter of Rottweilers (of course Travis begged for one and I was the bad guy and said no) and their paws were SO cute. Naturally, we knew they'd grow into those paws. Travis and I giggle about the kids--their hands are SO big, and we often think about those cute puppies...and wonder just how big these kiddos will get. They feel even bigger than they look!

Just love the picture on the left. Classic Cam when he finally settles down.

Trying on a (girl) friend's Crocs. He is into shoes almost as much as Reagan was. But Reagan still takes the prize.

This crib scene is what I deal with every day. Nice.

So I'm sad to say it wasn't a typical day, but the kids on this particular day went swimming, then found a Florida Softshell Turtle (as if I know), tortured it for a while (they have the blue thing here because it was moving so fast--so much for the slow tortoise theory), then put on a wacky sprinkler and got out eight Bond Clinician umbrellas and played Mary Poppins style, then came in and demanded that we bake cookies. How could I resist?

To all seven of you adorable cherubs from both sides of the hedge: Thank you for a wonderful afternoon...may all your playtime be as creative and carefree as this one was.

I decided to get creative with some summer stuff. Attempts to cover the ugly fireplace have failed, so I decided to go simple. Tal and I had ordered starfish for his room before, so we got three more (these are $1 each...www.qualityshells.com). Travis even got involved with the sand.

Other art project was the software-inspired chalk marbles. We are chalkboard fiends around here. Mostly home school work lists, but sometimes we get fun things up there. And once in a while, something worth saving.

Someday I will get this fireplace refaced. But now, I'm signing off to go unplug the microwave that is turning itself on.