"wouldn't it be nice if we were older..."

Colton (spelling ?) at the lakeside beach at an undisclosed (and misunderstood) Alberta location. He looks angry here - or maybe it's just the big water gun...
SDJ took some beautiful pictures of the lake and Rocky mountains surrounding it. I only put a few on here, but trust me that it is a gorgeous place!
SDJ & Buck. Yes, I am crazy about taking pictures of the 2 of them - or maybe I just make SDJ carry Buck everywhere. She has been complaining that her arms hurt for unknown reasons. Hummmm...
Colton & Alex shivering near our spot on the "beach."
A neighbor named Brock who is 3 or 4 & has these strange tattoos on his legs. I am assuming that they are henna or some type of removable - but knowing his parents, I'm not sure. Also, I love the contrast with the Disney Crocs!!
Kent (Colton's little brother) pulled Buck around the lake in their raft for what seemed like hours! I have a crush on Kent as he has the biggest "surfer attitude" for an 8 year old who doesn't surf - he is so mellow and laid back. Another kid kept playing with the oars which were left on shore and Kent kept saying, "Just put them down, Man - please, just stop touchin' my stuff." It reminded me of Huntington Beach kids.
Although he looks uncomfortable here - Buck loved the boat and hasn't said "boat swimmin'" all day. I guess he will be a sailing buff like uncle 'superman M." (SDJ's dad).
A close-up where Buck is smiling.
SDJ near or in the water. This really captures the day - she was having a great time!
Yes, I am so brave that I am putting a picture of myself in a bathing suit onto this very public blog. And not for purient purposes, I assure you. Maybe I'm just prepping myself for Hawaii. Besides, I think that the my late 30's are a time to just forget about obsessing with how I look and just start living.

It obviously didn't rain yesterday and we went to the hidden lake with the neighbors. I received a healthy dose of humility as I reprimanded SDJ for leaving a wet surf shirt on our dry stuff - the other moms were very put out with my abruptness & demonstrated this by being exceptionally loving to their children. I probably deserved it, but I don't think I'm going to be winning "neighbor of the year" anytime soon. Ironically, when I talked to SDJ to make sure she wasn't hurt or anything, she didn't know what I was talking about. That was all that mattered to me.

It was a good time. SDJ had a great time swimming and shooting water guns and just hanging out. Buck had a great time in the raft. I guess kids sort of force a person into making friends with other people one might not actually love. It's a good lesson in authentic charity, I think. I failed miserably, by the way, and continue to ask myself how someone who fought her way up the dismally political high school food chain simply has no stomach for false friendliness now. Maybe that's why...I guess that this blog will be mini therapy for me (uhhh - yuck).

Today, we went to Heritage park with a friend of mine and her kids. Probably the same lesson for SDJ in reverse. Poor SDJ was almost forced (seriously) to tell stories (movies & books she's read) to a crowd of 4 little kids ages 10 - 4.

At least we did get to go shopping this afternoon and bought a bike (thanks for the suggestion, Dad!) and stopped at Sephora for some lipstick. I needed some lipstick. It's been a strange week (and it's only Wednesday!)