Great American Backyard Campout

How cool is this? If you missed camping out last night, that's ok. Just do it next weekend!

Your own backyard can be just as much fun as a trip to Yosemite and possibly more, depending on how things go. Just think - your backyard is safe and everything you need is conveniently close in case you're worried about forgetting something. Sure, it takes just a little bit of the adventure out of the experience...or does it?? If you've never spent the night in your own backyard, that will be an adventure in itself.

(In case you're wondering - no, we didn't camp out, but only because I've had a cold. We will get out there soon. Hope you will too!)

More Companies Smell the Coffee

This article doesn't just highlight the fact that more companies are offering adoption benefits to employees, it covers a host of other issues and you don't even have to read between the lines!

Yes, adoption is tough on the wallet and insurance doesn't typically cover any of it.

Yes, adoption is an emotional roller coaster even though pregnancy hormones aren't directly involved.

Yes, family leave is just as important for any family with a new baby at home regardless of how old that baby might be when he or she arrives.

Bravo to all of the companies already offering benefits!

If your company isn't - yet - perhaps you can print out the article and strategically drop it off on the desks of a few key executives. If that doesn't work, perhaps you can do it every week until they suddenly think it was their idea in the first place to offer benefits. :-)

More Than Just Your Average Bear

Do you know who this is?

He may look innocent enough, but he is much more important than he may at first appear. To us, he is far more than just your average bear.

Sure, he is a cuddly companion and he certainly brings us comfort, but not simply for the obvious reasons. This particular bear signifies a very important milestone for our family. This particular bear was given to our son as he officially became a US Citizen.

Now, that's comforting!

Happy Father's Day!

Bike Gang

We thought we'd have a few years before we needed to worry about it, but the evidence is to the contrary...

Travelin' Man

Island Boy has been racking up the frequent flyer miles again (well, if we had actually bought him a seat he would have been). We're just back from spending time with Grandma and Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles and cousins. Island Boy love love LOVED his time there. I have to say it was awfully nice for Mommy and Daddy too.

Getting there and back, however, was a bit less nice. Let's start with the flight out. Other than the fact that hubby was called away on business two days before we were scheduled to leave, everything was just fine. Mommy managed to pack herself and the little guy up and make it most of the way across the country before meeting up with Daddy for the remainder of the trip. Although that first portion of the trip doesn't seem that bad in retrospect I wonder if it is like labor - you tend to forget just how painful it was? Oh, and once we landed (several hours late), the hail storm didn't start until we were tucked in for the night. On the return, we arrived a full five hours behind schedule which meant an arrival at roughly 3 am LA time which was the equivalent of 6 am for us. Island Boy sailed through the entire ordeal in much better spirits than many of our fellow travelers.

Island Boy spent the entire visit outdoors (or so it seemed), just like I did when I was growing up. Other than the brief hail storm and a few showers here and there, we had beautiful weather, including a record hot day. We had good food, lots of toys and books and the great, big, wide-open outdoors to share lots of time (although never enough) with our family. We celebrated my birthday with my parents for the first time in longer than I care to remember and even attended our first golf tournament.

Island Boy enjoyed his time so much that he shook his head rather vehemently when we asked him if he was ready to go home. Just to be sure, we asked him if he wanted to stay with Grandma and Grandpa and he nodded enthusiastically. We can't wait to see them again!