Reading Fever

As a kid I would hold my pee in for hours because I was so engrossed in a book that toilets were a nuisance.
It's a rare book that will engross my boy. Life is more exciting than books for him.
But it's 10:23pm and he's glued to a book.
Hunger Games.
That's my boy.

First Place!

David took Iris and Elijah to their swim meet while I drove 6 hours to pick up Claire from running camp on Saturday. David reported that Iris got last place {and if it was anything like her previous races, it was very, very last place}. But she finagled her way into a first place ribbon, which frankly, just might be more impressive than earning the blue ribbon in the first place.
When I asked her about it afterward, she swore that she was at least 3rd or 4th place, nevertheless she couldn't quite explain how she ended up with the first place ribbon.

Emphatic Stylist

She dresses herself. 

At least 5 times a day.

Here she is modeling a rash guard, thrice-hand-me-down H&M shorts, a carseat cowlick, permanent marker connecting her belly button to the rest of her chest, belly, and arm...

and these.

Yes, I allowed her to wear this getup in public (the post office and the gym). She attracted some attention, but when she becomes the next Coco Chanel, she'll know who to thank.

Best Buddies

Tonight Iris asked to have a slumber party with her best friend.

Porfirio can't sleep in Iris' bedroom because Sybil also sleeps in there and the Escape Artist needs to be locked in her room until she falls asleep. The dog wouldn't stand a chance locked in with that child. So the best buddies are in the front room together while the door banging in the bedroom has finally subsided.

Sometimes I'm amazed at how much Iris thinks about, talks about, and communicates with Porfirio.
He is the center of her world.

Back!

We are back!
Travel can be brutal. On Saturday at about 1am,  as I returned to the car from our hotel for another load of suitcases, I realized how truly grateful I am for walking. 24 hours of cartime will do that to you.
We got back about 30 hours ago which has been mostly filled with hard work, but this morning I was greeted by the most beautiful, pink Arizona sunrise on my morning run with Porfirio (by the way, Iris said she wasn't completely happy on our trip because she was sans-porfirio).

Something else I was greeted by was one of several presents Porfirio made for us:

Hence, me running into Charles Barkley at Home Depot as I was buying an un-chewed door.
I asked Mr Barkley if he was from Louisiana, he replied, "Alabama, but close enough." OOPS.

And just a sneak peek at our trip....

Our first stop was Nogales where David had a business meeting. 

This is the Mexican border. 

The wetback contemplates a return to her roots:

 Considering she said "Mom" over 60 times in 60 seconds (yes, I counted) before we even got to Tucson, I may condone such a return.

On the way down to the border we listened to an AM Mexican station report as Germany spanked Mexico in the Confederation Soccer Cup.

And so it all began....