Call me Jack Hanna. And other randomness.

I'm loving the wildlife preserve our house has become. Frizzle, the caged garden toad. Turdy/Muggs (may he rest in peace). Hot Dog, the turtle that lived. Oh, and the two freaking huge barn owls that perch in our dead tree at night.

And today, the baby robbins. Who hatched 6 feet from where my children park their Big Wheels. Check out this shot that Mike got...this baby OBVIOUSLY thought our camera lens was it's mama comin' in with a snack.

These things are so tendon-y and tiny and naked-like and practically transparent that I might not know they were birds...if they weren't sitting in a nest and guarded by a nervous mama Robbin. Can't wait to watch them "cute" up.

And just so you know that things are indeed growing and thriving in this household, here is a shot of my tomatoes. Actually, this was taken last week, and since then, tomato #2 has popped it's bulbous self out. Yea me! The peppers have several bud-like growths on them, which I assume will be the fruit of my efforts here in a bit...and by efforts I mean putting them in a pot, because it has been so rainy here that I haven't watered them in weeks!

A couple of other images to warm your heart: G swimming breaststroke in her very first swim meet! What you can't see very well in this shot? The ugliest swimsuit ever purchased for $60.

I took the kids to a park with water fountains last week, when the temperature was a bit to frigid for long soaks in a pool. Couldn't you just eat them up? I love this picture, and it's a good reminder of how young and sweet they are...even as we are finding chunks of G's food in the toilet these days (her sneaky way of finishing a dinner she doesn't care for). Seriously.

So, I seem to be a bit heavy of the G shots today, but here's another. Golf lessons. And "the look".

And last, but not least...I don't even know what to say about this, except that their are novels worth of inappropriate comments and one-liners running amuck in my brain. These shots were captured last night at our friend's surprise 30th birthday party. No, the surprise was not that he would get to jump naked into a pool and wrestle with 10 of his buddies (they were clothed, btw).

Did you know you could bring fun in a bottle? Because someone did, for real. A 2-liter soda bottle, minus its wrapper, filled with water. Are you picturing a clear, weighted tube that sinks? Then you would be right on. Because this game is like water football (or rugby, I guess it's a bit physical) with an invisible ball. Very manly, contrary to the photos.

And now I am off to plan birthday surprises and scavenger hunts!!!!